01x13 - Venom

[bunniefuu]

[SIGHS]

Web shooters.

Proportionate strength of a spider.

And it still takes me just as long
to organize this place as anyone else.

Who knew science was so messy?

He shoots, he...

Hits his teacher with a dirty rag.

[CHUCKLES]
Sorry, Max.

[CHUCKLES]
It's quite all right, Peter.

I'm just happy to see you
balancing out your science work

with a little athleticism.

I make room when I can. Speaking of which,

since Tony Stark took the V-252
back to the Avengers Compound,

do you want me to put
its container in storage?

No, that's okay.

It's really no bother.

In fact, we'll have more room for--

I said no, Peter. I, uh--

I like it there. Sort of reminds me
of what could've been.

Oh, I get it. Sorry, Max.

No worries. In fact,
why don't you head home?

You can come in early
and finish up in the morning.

I can't. I promised Flash Thompson
I'd tutor him before school tomorrow.

Flash Thompson?
The Midtown lad who won the Stark Expo?

Don't remind me. Flash got lucky.

And I'll have my work cut out for me

if I'm going to teach him
anything about science.

People can surprise you, Peter.
You're a perfect example.

I never would've thought
you'd agree to tutor the boy

who caused you so much grief at Midtown.

Well, he did something I didn't expect.
He asked for my help.

See? He's off to a good start.
And he's quite the football star.

I'm looking forward
to seeing him play this weekend.

Tell you what.
Let's call it a night anyway.

I can straighten
these things up on my own.

You sure? Thanks, Max.

[LAUGHING]
Oh, yeah!

Getting out earlier than expected
and not a mugger in sight.

I might actually get a good night's sleep
for a change.

Whoo-hoo-hoo-- Ah! Unh!

[GROANS]
Uh, hello, spider-sense?

Let me know the next time
you're gonna take a vacation.

I don't like being caught off guard by...
[GROWLING]

Is that the black suit?
[EVIL CHUCKLING]

Is that my black suit?

[ROARING]

And all this time,
I thought black was slimming.

[GROWLING]

So this is what it was like
to fight me in this costume?

[GRUNTS]

Well, a larger,
more monstrous version of me

who's clearly taken the V-252
to a much darker place.

[GROWLING]

[ROARING]

Because from that wet, gnarly grin,
I'd say the "V" stood for "Venom!"

Whoa! My spider-sense still isn't working!
Can it not sense the Symbiote?

[GROWLS]

Either way, looks like I need to rely
on my other gifts.

[GRUNTS]

I don't mean bowling!

Although...
[GRUNTS]

I'm still going for the strike!

[ROARING]

I know the V-252's securely
at Avengers Tower.

[GRUNTS]

So are you another one?

Because it seems unlikely
it could've escaped, unless--

Unless it bonded with Tony
before he could contain it.

-Mr. Stark, is that you?
-[ROARS]

If it is, you should know
you're really stretching out my suit.

[GRUNTING]

Unless you're just looking to see
who wore it best!

[GRUNTING]

In which case, let's just say I turned
a lot of heads wearing that thing.

Not like Tony to put people
in harm's way.

[GRUNTS]

But I have to remember the suit made me do
a lot of things I didn't want to either.

[GRUNTS]

Like throwing a bus!

Definitely wouldn't throw a bus!

[ALARM BLARING]
[HORN HONKING]

[ROARING]

That's right. You don't like that, do you?

Let's see what a cacophony
of car alarms sounds like.

[MULTIPLE CAR ALARMS BLARING]
[GRUNTS]

I was just showing off that
I knew what "cacophony" meant.

[GROWLING]

And now he's gone.

Guess there's only one way of knowing
if the Symbiote has taken over Tony Stark,

and that's for Spidey to ask him directly.

Tony, it's your old pal, Spidey.

Too friendly.

Mr. Stark, Spider-Man.

Remember that V-252 you took?

It didn't, by chance,
take over your mind, did it?

[GROANS]
Too direct.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Mr. Stark, it's Spider-Man,

and depending on how you answer
this question, you may need my help.

Oh-h*-h*, that's good! That's good.

[SIGHS]

Call Tony Stark.

MALE COMPUTER VOICE:
Leave a message.

Uh, hi. This is Spider-Man
with a message for Tony Stark.

Mr. Stark, depending on how you answer
this question, I may need your help.

You may need your help! My help!

[SIGHS THEN GROANS]

Call me back, please.

Real smooth, Parker.

-[FLASH SNORES]
-And mono ammonium phosphate

is a compound that can separate the--

Flash!

Huh? What? What? What?

You're the one who asked me here,
remember?

Now, do you wanna learn about the exciting
world of chemical compounds, or not?

[SIGHS]
To be honest, Parker, I could care less.

But my grades are down,
and Mr. Salerno says

if I don't pass tomorrow's science exam,
I can't play in the big game this weekend.

So? I'm not the biggest sports fan,
but won't there be other games?

Are you kidding me?

This game is against our biggest rival,
Truman High.

And I may not be much in the classroom,
but I am the king of the football field!

[GROANS]

A nerd like you couldn't understand
the pressures of being a hero.

A hero? Yeah, right.

Well, well, well!

If it isn't Flash-In-The-Pan Thompson!

Kevin Wyatt.

I forgot Truman High's quarter-hack
has family in this neighborhood.

-What do you want?
-I wanna see you eat turf this weekend.

But rumor has it,

you won't be able to play
because your grades are no good.

[GROWLS]

Keep it up, and you won't be able to play
because your legs are no good!

Flash, getting in a fight
isn't going to solve anything.

Better listen to your nerd buddy,
Thompson.

Nicely played, Flash.

If you really wanna stick it to him,
ace this test.

Then you can settle your argument
on the field.

You really think I can pass, tiny tutor?

Is an amoeba a single-celled organism?

Huh? I don't know!

[SIGHS]

[GROANS]

Still no word from Tony. That's not good.

Because if the Symbiote was looking
for a host like its original,

Tony and I are both smart,
we're both superheroes,

and we were both
in close contact with the V-252.

MAX:
Peter.

Didn't mean to startle you.
I just saw your--

[YAWNS]

your door open.

That's all right.

You okay, Max? You look tired.

Oh, I've been working late most nights.

It's probably just catching up with me.

What are you busy with?

Well, I'm devising a way
to track the V-252.

Why? We know exactly where it is.

Tony took it to Avengers Compound,
remember?

Yeah, but Spider-Man told me
he thought he saw it last night,

and I started to wonder.

What if the Symbiote
bonded with Mr. Stark?

Hmm. That could be catastrophic.

Fortunately, I know for a fact

that Tony is off-planet with the Avengers
on a secret mission.

Really? Heh.

That's a relief. I think.

What do you mean?

Well, that means it's not Tony.
But it's still out there.

And Spider-Man says his spider-sense
is useless against it.

Which is why I'm working
on a way to track it.

Didn't you say once
that the Symbiote gave off

a unique quantum oscillation
of 35 gigahertz?

It was actually 38 gigahertz.

But I really don't want you
getting involved in this, Peter.

Promise me,

you'll leave the dangerous stuff
to the superheroes.

You have my word.

Technically, I wasn't lying to Max,
since I am a superhero,

but I still don't feel good about it.

Fortunately, the data he gave me
comes in handy.

There!

Instead of a GPS, I've made myself a VPS:
Venom Positioning System.

MALE COMPUTER VOICE:
Let's get started.

After you.

Venom Symbiote detected.
Turn right on Broadway.

Yes! Once again,
science gets the upper hand!

And with the sonic blaster
attached to my glove,

that hand is gonna feel like a fist.

Swing left at 47th Street.

[CLAMORING]

[SCREAMS]

[GROWLING]

Okay, Venom.

Let's see how you feel when someone
sneaks up on you undetected.

-Arriving at your destination.
-Huh?

Oh, come on!

[ROARING]

You ruined my surpri--

[YELLS THEN GROANS]

[SCREAMING AND CLAMORING]

Everybody, get to safety!

And while you're at it, cover your ears!

[GRUNTS]

[SONIC BLASTER BLARING]
[ROARING]

[ROARING]

He's neutralizing the sonic blasts
with the lead in those manhole covers!

[ROARING]
[GRUNTS]

My sonic blaster!

[YELLS]

[GRUNTING]

[GROWLING]

[STRAINING]

MALE COMPUTER VOICE:
Venom approaching.

Tell me something I don't know!

Phone, call Max's fax machine!

MALE COMPUTER VOICE:
Dialing.

[FAX MACHINE BEEPING, STATIC]

Thank goodness for dated technology.

Where did he go?

[BEEPING, GARBLED SPEECH]

Gone. And it looks like
the VPS was damaged in the fight.

Based on that move
with the manhole covers,

I wasn't wrong about Venom
being somewhat smart.

But with Tony Stark off the suspect list,
who's another person that fits the bill?

Everyone at Horizon High
has had access to the V-252.

Gwen, Anya...

Miles has powers similar to mine.

He doesn't quite match Venom's size.

Maybe Max can give me a list
of all the people who worked on it.

Wait a minute. What about Max?

He's had the most exposure to it.

He's certainly smart enough.

Not to mention he's a pretty big guy.

This needs some looking into.

[SIGHS]
I won't be able to snoop around Max's lab

until he leaves for the day.

So it's a good time to check in
on Flash at Midtown--

Nerd alert!
Puny Parker in the house!

[LAUGHTER]

[SOFTLY] Sorry, tiny tutor.
Gotta keep up appearances, you know?

What's going on here?

Flash, I've told you a hundred times
not to--

Peter Parker, is that you?

It is, Mr. Salerno. How have you been?

Well, I've been better, Peter.

Ouch! I can see that.

What I mean is, I'm having a hard time

losing good students like yourself
to Horizon High.

In fact, I've been petitioning
to stop Max Modell from recruiting here.

He's well aware of it, sir.

And while I know it upsets him,
I understand your point too.

But what I meant was,
what happened to your arm?

Oh, that.

Well, I was in a bus accident,
believe it or not.

A strange creature attacked us.

Really?

But what brings you to Midtown?

Not a need to be picked on by Flash,
I hope.

Oh. [CHUCKLES]

No. I was tutoring Flash
for your big exam.

[CHUCKLES] I should've guessed,
because Flash passed with flying colors.

I-- I did?

He-- He did?

Yes!

Now you can see me kick Truman High's
butt tonight! Yeah!

Oh, I-- I wasn't actually
planning on going to the game.

I mean, I don't know if I can--

Oh, you are so there, tiny tutor!

I don't wanna believe
Max could actually be Venom.

But that attack
on Mr. Salerno's a pretty big clue.

Come to think of it,

Max was overly concerned about keeping
the V-252 canister in his office.

Luckily, he's gone for the day,
and I can check out its usage--

Max! Heh.

I thought you were going to the big game.

I was hoping to,

but it dawned on me
that with Sal Salerno petitioning

to keep me from recruiting at Midtown,

it might not be the best idea.

Oh. I see.

Oh. But you better run
if you're gonna make it on time.

Yeah. Heh.

I guess you're right.

So much for seeing
if the canister's been in use.

Although I guess
I could check its activity

by logging in to Horizon's mainframe
with my tablet.

Yeah. Why not?

I'm sure people multitask at sports events
all the time, right?

[CROWD SHOUTING]

PETER:
Excuse me.

Do you know if the Wi-Fi password
is still "Ra-ra-sis-boom...

Whoa!

...bah"?

Whoa!

Tiny tutor! Hey, you made it.
Where's your foam finger?

I, uh, must have left it at home.

[HORN BLARING]

Get this crowd cheering, Mary Jane.

Mary Jane? That's Mary Jane Watson?

Yeah. She's the school mascot this year.

Wow. Good for her. Go get them, tiger!

[CROWD SHOUTING]

Go, Tigers! Go, Tigers!

Whoo.

I'm beginning to understand why you felt
so much pressure, Flash. Are you nervous?

[SCOFFS]
I'm pumped!

Gonna crush those guys!

See? This is the way you show up
that Truman quarterback.

It's about how you play,
not how you fight.

Yeah? He's not playing tonight.

Doofus claimed he got injured
when a monster attacked him in that café.

Can you believe it? I mean, I get
that he's scared of me, but a monster?

Please.

I gotta go. See you after the game?

Sure.

And good luck.

If Max is Venom,

then why would he go after a teenager
like Wyatt?

Unless Wyatt is one of the people
who signed Salerno's petition.

Nope. Kevin Wyatt isn't listed.

Think, Pete.
Why would Venom go after a quarterback?

You're going down!

Wait a minute.

Keep it up, and you won't be able to play
because your legs are no good!

Mr. Salerno says
if I don't pass tomorrow's science exam,

I can't play in the big game this weekend.

Could it be Flash?

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

But the only time
Flash was ever near the Symbiote

was at the Stark Expo!

[CHEERING]

Gotta find footage of the expo.

I know he helped get it off me,
but could it have--

There's Flash, and there's the...

[BOTH GRUNTING]

[BOTH GRUNT]

[CROWD GROANING]
PETER: Oh, no!

[GRUNTS]

[CROWD EXCLAIMING]

Flash Thompson...

[ROARING]
[SCREAMING]

...is Venom.

So it was Flash the whole time?

I can't believe
I didn't figure this out sooner.

I was so distracted by the idea
that Venom had to be someone smart

that I completely underestimated Flash.

Everyone, stay calm!

Flash, I know you're in there. Stand down!

[HORN BLARING]

[GRUNTS]
What's happening to me?

Flash, it's the creature from the expo.

It bonded with you
when you pulled it off me.

You have to fight it!

I'm...
[GRUNTING]

trying!

[SCREECHING]

[ROARING]

[GRUNTS]

Wait, wait, wait! Flag on the play!

[YELLS]

Unnecessary roughness.

But I've got a better play.

[HORN BLARING]

-Huh?
-What's going on?

Looks like one can won't do the trick.
I need more volume.

Let's hear some team spirit!

[HORN BLARING]

[GIRLS WHOOPING]

Hit him full blast!

[HORNS BLARING]

[GROWLING]

[GROANING]

Flash, you all right?

Did I score?

Let's just say
I think you're gonna be the MVP,

Most Venomish Player.

Although the competition is fierce.

[ALL GROWLING]

[HORN BLARES, STOPS]

Uh-oh.

Looks like all the air horns
got used up on you. Run!

[GROWLING]

We need a plan.

My tutor can help us. He's super smart.

Yo! Parker! Where are you?

If he is smart, he got out of here
when Team Venom showed up.

I still need a way to separate
the Symbiote from these guys.

I can rip it off them
like I did for you at the expo.

There's too many of them.
Plus, we don't want you touching it again.

[GROWLS]
[FLASH YELLS]

We need something
that will force the Symbiote

to separate from the players on its own.

Like a chemical catalyst.

[BOTH YELL]

-[GRUNTS]
-Oh.

What about, uh, uh,
monoammonium phosphate?

It's the stuff in fire extinguishers
that separates the oxygen from the fuel.

It was one of the answers on my test.

Thompson, you're a genius!

But sadly, all I have are webs,
not fire extinguishers.

Yeah. Not a big help.

But the school has plenty of them.

Then here's the play.

I'll fake a distraction
and occupy the players.

You head up the middle
and into the school,

bringing back as many extinguishers
as you can.

On it!

Grass hut! Thatched hut! Tiki hut! Hike!

[GRUNTS]

[ALL GROWLING]

♪ A Midtown win brings satisfaction ♪

♪ Even if it's a distraction ♪

Uh-oh. Looks like a Spider blitz.

[PANTING]

[GRUNTING]

Touchdown!

[GROWLING]

Why so defensive?

[CHUCKLING]
Get it? "Defensive"?

Because you're all defensive linebackers.

Don't worry.
I only know a few football terms.

-They're almost done.
-[ALL ROARING]

Yeah, baby!

Flash cuts to the left. Then to the right.

He's unstoppable!

[GRUNTS THEN YELLS]

Ow!

Huh.
Guess it's back to training camp, boys.

[ALL GROANING]

[SIGHS]

Hope Flash makes it back
with those extinguishers.

Or this is gonna be
a brutal halftime show.

[PANTING]

[GRUNTING]

Spidey, go long!

"Go long"?

Oh, you mean "run"!

And with a little luck-- Come on, Spidey.
Don't choke!

Lots of people watching! Catch!

Yes!

I know this is not the way
fire extinguishers should ever be used,

but this is a dire emergency
and lives are at stake,

so we've got no choice.

[GROWLING]

[GROANING]

That's a first down!
Now we gotta take the rest down.

Flash, spray them all.
It won't hurt the players, because--

Because the chemicals
only affect the Symbiote,

freezing it
without ever touching the players.

[GROANS] [COUGHING]

-[LAUGHING, WHOOPING]
-Nerd!

Don't lose any of it.

Max? What are you doing here?

I heard you stayed away
because of some petition.

Well, I figure if you can't face
your opposition in a sports arena,

where can you do it?

But right now, we need to contain
the frozen pieces of the V-252,

and my equipment is back at Horizon.

MAN:
I think I can lend a hand.

These containers may not be as advanced
as your Horizon ones,

but they should hold them for now.

Thank you, Sal.

If Midtown's equipment
is anything like its teachers,

I'm sure it's top notch.

And I'm sorry
if I've come across as inconsiderate.

Maybe moving forward,

I could recruit students
based on your recommendations.

I'd like that, Max.

-Thank you.
-[COMMUNICATOR BUZZING]

Hey! I just got a text from Tony Stark.

"Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.
I was in space.

What. A. World. Huh.

Call me back."

No need to, Mr. Stark.

Flash and Spidey were on the case.

[CHATTERING]

Hmm?
[GASPS]

Well, if it isn't Puny Parker.

Come on, guys.

I'm just returning
Mr. Salerno's equipment.

Hey! No one messes with Parker.

If it wasn't for him,

I couldn't have saved
Spider-Man's neck, again!

Whatever you say, Flash.

Don't worry about them anymore,
tiny tutor.

From now on, you and I are gonna be
like two peas in a paramecium.

I mean, um--

Flash, you're my hero.

Noogie!

[LAUGHS]

Ow!