01x03 - Fire Made Flesh

[bunniefuu]

[Jean] Previously on X-Men...

Maybe it's time to think of a life
beyond the X-Men?

[Scott] You mean leave the team?

[Jean] What have we been fighting for
all these years

if not the chance
to finally live our lives?

[Scott] The X-Men need us here.

[Jean] Our son will need us more.

Just ever since I was in Gyrich's mind,

I can't shake this feeling
that something terrible is coming.

Boy, do I sound like a fool.

No, Jean.

You sound like a mother.

Connection is a fragile treasure.

One we sacrifice so much to maintain.

Only to then sometimes
watch it break in a blink

that changes your life forever.

Jean?

[weakly] I need the X-Men.

[theme music playing]

[Jean] Her mind is dense,

vague in uncertain memories.

As if her awareness
was born only yesterday.

I see a den of confusion and pain.

Some sort of laboratory.

Then, escape.

Desperate. Alone.

One purpose...

and hope.

A home?

-[gasps]
-Darling, are you all right?

I'm fine, Scott.

But who she is or where she came from

remains a mystery.

Well, this isn't gonna get confusing
or anything.

Let's call this mystery gal in the bed
"Jean Doe."

All in favor?

Hmm. Every moment
is a new and shocking valuation

of all we have ever been.

My friends,
words will fail to prepare you.

But the Jean that lies on this couch

would appear to be the actual Jean Grey.

What do you mean, the "actual Jean Grey"?

I used gamma rays

to isolate the hemoglobic properties
of both Jeans' genetic markers.

Effectively carbon dating
each woman on a cellular level.

Uh, English, sugar?

[Hank] Jean Doe is older,

the proper age.

Yours, while identical, is not.

Ergo, our Jean is a clone.

Impossible!

Jean, I assure you, the science is sound.

But I have memories.

Her mind, it's just fragments.

Your science could have been manipulated
by someone with wicked intentions.

Scott, tell them.

Scott?

Beast, confirm your tests.

-[glass shatters]
-[Jean] Enough tests!

I am Jean Grey, member of the X-Men.

One of the first.

I've fought by your side
in countless battles,

given my life how many times?

You know me.

We just...

have to be sure.

Storm would have believed me.

-[thunder rumbling]
-[Nathan crying]

Shh. It's okay.

It's okay, my darling.

Please. Not now.

Jean, um, I can take him.

He's fine.

Beast's tests won't change the fact
that I'm Nathan's mother.

I know. No one is saying that.

Just...

With the Professor and Storm gone,

and Magneto here,

it's been a lot for everyone.

Scott, I need you to trust me.

Trust the life we were going to build.

The life we brought into this world.

You and I.

Of course I trust that.

In us.

You never could lie to me, Scott.

But you always believed in me.

I don't know what to believe right now.

Just...

go.

[thunder rumbling]

We should have left
when we had the chance.

We could still leave.

[man over radio] Jean.

Jean Grey.

Are you Jean?

Hello? Who's there?

-[man] Answers.
-[thunder claps]

[beeping]

Time band's looking slick, Beast.

Must be ready soon.

Future's calling me.

Once I resolve matters
with our superfluous Jeans,

I'll be able to make
the final modifications

to send you back to your time.

[Scott] Bishop,

you said, in your future, you hadn't heard
of Magneto taking over the X-Men.

What about this?

[Bishop] Time isn't some
history book, man.

It's always writing.

Flipping back a few pages,
rewriting things,

skipping forward, headed in...

Oh, my stars and garters.

Scott, you have to get Nathan.

Hank, what's wrong?

Scientists, like artists,
have signatures to their work.

I know who cloned Jean.

A man so dark and twisted,

he can be described
as nothing other than "sinister."

I don't understand.

Who are you?

[man over radio]
Most refer to me as Mister Sinister.

But you can call me Father.

-[thunder claps]
-[Jean] You!

Get away from us!

Mother and child, what a touching display.

But you and your son
are meant for so much more.

Let me show you.

Never. You've brought nothing
but pain into our lives.

Kidnapping us,
running your science experiments

just so you could use our genes
to create...

[gasps] You want our son.

Nathan!

Yes. That's why I made you,

baked you.

So it's true.

I'm not Jean Grey?

Come to me.

Only I can usher you and your son
to your royal destiny.

You'll come nowhere near my son!

[Mister Sinister]
Every cell in you belongs to me.

Your mind, your body.

-You have no choice.
-[groans]

[Mister Sinister]
Time to wake up, my queen.

-[groans]
-Struggle, of course, is quite useless.

-My influence over your mind is flawless.
-[screams]

[Mister Sinister laughs]

[Nathan crying]

-[crying continues]
-Shh! Mommy's busy. [chuckles softly]

[Mister Sinister]
Tell me your dark desire.

They shall know my inferno!

Ah, mon ami, maybe Gambit
should have played less rough with you

in the Danger Room, n'est-ce pas?

But the cards, they're wild.

Huh. Rematch, then?

Well, let's look at the schedule
and see who's up next.

Hmm, looks like Magneto and Rogue
have the Danger Room next.

Oh, and all tomorrow, too. Wow.

Rogue's really training her stamina
with the new boss.

It don't say that. They on patrol.

On second thought,

maybe Gambit go look for Rogue right now.

-[laughs]
-Cherchez la femme.

[chuckles] Go easy on him, pal.

Think you just sent his hush puppies
up into his stomach. [laughs]

Hit the shower.

I'm gonna go see about a redhead.

Well, one of 'em.

[sighs] And then there was Morph.

[man on TV] As if he's obsessed with me.

[ominous voice] Erasing me.

[woman on TV] Like he's out there.

[ominous voice] Muties...

Uh, do you see that?

Hello? That you, Gambit?

Logan?

One too many redheads for ya?

Here.

Need some help
with those hard-to-reach spaces?

[Logan in distorted voice]
Always with the jokes, eh, Morph?

As if I don't know.

As if we all don't know.

[speaking French]

Say it ain't so.

Get on back to the swamp

with the rest of them
nasty, thieving critters, Remy.

-I have found myself a real man.
-[laughs]

[Rogue] A hero.

[grunts]

[ominous voice] Liar.

-[speaking Brazilian Portuguese]
-[gasping]

No. Not you.

Not again!

[screams]

Jean? Nathan?

-No!
-[Bishop] This can't be good.

[both grunt]

[cackles] Demerits, my boy.

Failed to sire a child
with the proper wife.

Failed to lead the team.

-Flunk and failure.
-[groans]

[man] Naughty, naughty.

You abandoned me, Bishop.

Where's your home?

When is your time?

Where do you belong, brother?

No! You're not real!

[woman] Failure!

Don't look at me like that.

-Don't look.
-This is not my son.

Mutant freak.

[breathing heavily]

[gasps] What was that thing?

-[elevator dings]
-Oh, dear.

I think one of us has the wrong floor.

[yells]

[both coughing]

Cyclops, it's like
the worst horror movie ever.

The whole mansion's possessed.

[panting] Gambit can never unsee that.

Downstairs, now!

What the heck is going on?

Haven't you figured it out?

-We're in hell.
-[ground thudding]

[Roberto screaming]

While I share Sinister's
apparent affection for Dante's Inferno,

I must ask how he's exerting
this much power

over our perceptions of reality.

No, this is... The clone!

-Roberto, look out!
-[exclaims in Brazilian Portuguese]

[grunts] "Beware the Jabberwock, my son."

Not a Lewis Carroll fan.

-A little help, please.
-[Bishop] Huh?

Yuck, you smell like b*rned hair.

[grunts]

Yo, Cyclops. Hit me.

[grunting]

[screams]

Time for an exorcism, punks!

[yelling]

[both] You're welcome.

-[rumbling]
-[Demonic Sentinel] Burn, mutants!

[yelling]

[Jean] Enough!

[Cyclops] Jean.

-[Jean groans weakly]
-Jean.

-[gasps softly]
-[clone Jean] Pathetic.

What does he even see in you?

Sinister's controlling you.

You don't have to do this.

Who doesn't? Me?

Who am I?

Say my name, Scott.

No? Allow me.

I am beyond Jean Grey.

Beyond the X-Men.

I am scorn and fury,

forged in righteous brimstone.

I am the Goblin Queen.

This was just a taste
of what waits for you if you follow.

My suggestion?

Don't.

No!

[grunts]

[Roberto] I guess we don't
get to finish the movie.

Now, who went and hired a stampede
of buffalo to do a home makeover?

Remy. Oh, I'm sorry, Remy.

Should've been here.

It okay, chère. Gambit okay now.

Cyclops, status report.

Sinister created the clone.

He made her
so he could get his hands on our son.

Mister Sinister?

Sinister's the most evil man
who ever existed.

He was a scientist in the 1800s.

Then he started cutting up mutants,

stealing our DNA to enhance himself,

prolong his life.

He can even take away their will.

I should know.

[yells] The voices!

There's too many!

She must not remember
how to entirely control her powers.

The sheer magnitude
of her psychic abilities

are overwhelming her.

[grunts] How could I lead the team

when I can't even protect my own son?

My own...

Her.

Sinister has plagued us far too long,

and it is time the madman pay
for his malevolent appropriations.

I can show you where he is.

[Scott] Are you sure, Morph?

I'm not gonna let him hurt anyone.

Rogue, Wolverine, Beast,
tend to our wounded.

I will lead the others
in a surgical strike.

Fine. Lead the way.

[bats chirping]

At last, the spawn of Scott Summers
and Jean Grey.

Do you know why you are my greatest prize,

you random writhing thing of chance?

The combination
of your parents' unique genetics

makes your potential unlimited.

Your powers untold.

But first, you must be made invulnerable.

A new breed of perfect creations
will be born this night

by my will and genius.

[laughs maniacally]

Fan out.

Remember, Jean is Sinister's victim, too.

She's under his control.

[Goblin Queen] Better listen!

I know not what I do. [laughs]

I knew you'd follow, Scott.

It's all you do. Just ask the Professor.

Fight Sinister.

Use the powers of your mind.

[grunts]

I do not want to fight you, comrade.

I don't want to fight you, either.

I want you to fight for me.

Yes, my queen.

I am power!

[laughs]

[grunts]

Give us the boy, you brimstone clone.

I applaud your magnetism.

But my telekinetic charm
extends beyond mere metal.

[straining]

Look at you,
a villain playing dress-up as a hero.

I should have you as a toy.

-[groans]
-[laughs]

[grunts]

I'm sorry. I didn't want to...

[Goblin Queen shushes]

Don't worry.

Mmm.

You'll bleed, too, darling.

[bats chirping]

[yelling]

-Can't keep the voices out!
-Come on, Jeanie.

Like riding a bicycle.

Remember how to control it.

[Jean panting]

Concentrate on my mind, Jeanie.

Just my mind. Right here. I'm right here.

Such pain.

I must help.

You will. You always did.

Remember who you are. What you mean to us.

To me.

[breathes deeply] Logan.

I remember you.

Keep going. Deeper.

[Jean gasping]

I mean all that to you?

More.

Please, don't.

[screams]

[gasps] Scott! He's in danger.

I have to go.

My dear, you are not going anywhere.

Your body is in no condition.

Beast, please. My body won't be an issue.

-[Goblin Queen cackles]
-[Jean] This ends now!

[breathing heavily]

You!

Of course.

You took my face, my husband, my family.

And now my mind.

Enough violation!

I was Phoenix.

Me! Power incarnate!

[Jean] Power?

Is that all you can remember?

Is she here?

Hello there.

Do you know who I am, Jean?

Mom and Dad called you to help fix me.

They say I think too much.

Don't worry.

All I do is think, too.

[Jean] I remember this.

It felt like the first day
of the rest of my life.

But what happened?

When did we find our power?

[car horn blares]

Annie, watch out!

Our best friend, she d*ed.

It awakened our gifts.

All this pain.

We carry all of this?

No! It's my pain, not yours!

Please, let me help you.

Can you tell me who I am?

Can you say
which of these memories are yours

and which are mine?

Can you?

I-I think so.

We are what we remember.

And you remember nothing.

You are nothing!

[Jean screams]

[crying]

[screaming]

[panting]

[crying]

Oh, Scott.

[chuckles softly]

Look, he has your eyes.

[chuckles] Well, doesn't he need a name?

I was thinking...

Nathan.

How could I forget?

He's more than a memory.

He's a living reminder
of the purest love two people can share.

And no one can ever, ever
take that away from you.

This is the greatest moment of my life.

[winces]

[groaning]

Let's go save Nathan.

[crying]

If only Xavier's orphans knew
the future we have in store for them.

What? Impossible.

[groans]

You stay away from our son!

Fools. You have doomed the boy.

[Cyclops grunts]

Your powers are nothing against mine.

It's over, Sinister.

Is it now?

"Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home.

"Your house is on fire

"and your child all gone."

Oh, God. Nathan.

[coughing]

You monster! What have you done? [gasps]

[Hank] It's a Techno-Organic Virus strain.

Sinister was likely exposing Nathan to it

in the hopes of making him invincible.

Figure it out, Beast, please.

Sinister's variant is too advanced.

It could take months,
even years, to develop a cure.

And the virus
is already spreading rapidly.

There's no time.

So what you're saying is not here,
not in our time.

But what if
there's a cure in yours, Bishop?

In the future.

Beast's nearly fixed your time band.

I do know a guy there. Smart.
Can build anything.

This band only got enough juice
for Nathan and I.

Meaning we can't go with you.

No, no, no, there has to be another way.

I won't be like my father.

I won't abandon my son.

[Jean] We said we'd give him
the best possible future.

-[Nathan fussing]
-[Jean] It's what we promised.

Don't any of you know how it feels
to be abandoned?

I won't have him feel that.

He won't feel abandoned.

I promise.

I can't be a part of this.

I'm sorry.

[Nathan crying]

[clone Jean] There'll be days
when you're lonely or scared,

where you ask yourself why we did this?

Was something wrong?

But you are perfect, my baby.

Know in our time here,

we thought about you endlessly.

How your voice would sound,

your laughter,

how you'd smile.

We love you so much, Nathan.

But owe you nothing less
than the best possible future.

-And that is one without us in it.
-[Nathan coughing]

[Nathan crying]

[Jean] Remember.

Wait.

This is your home, too.

How much do you remember?

It's strange, but most everything.

Then you know how much I've wanted to go,

to start a new life.

It's not fair.

We don't know when Sinister switched us.

Who really was the Phoenix.

Which of us married Scott.

All we have now is the future.

An unknowable future
built on an unknowable past.

My next life will be mine.

Take care, Jean.

Call me Madelyne Pryor.

[Jean] Farewell, Madelyne.

[Madelyne] Farewell, Jean.

[man on radio] Oh, it's another hot one,
Dallas, with no relief in sight.

Stay hydrated. Looks like
this year drought's sticking around.

Shame about the weather.

No summer like a Texas summer.

What I wouldn't give
if someone could just make it rain.

Speak plainly, who are you?

Name's Forge, Storm.

An old friend of Charles Xavier.

I'd like to help you
get back what you've lost.

[captivating instrumental music playing]