The Incredible Hulk script

[Dragon]

This script is a feature film that, like my Spidey scripts, I intend to animate.-


The Incredible Hulk



FADE IN:

THE NEW MEXICO DESERT. RISING UP THE SIDE OF A HILL. PAST
THE DIRT & ROCKS. PAST THE RANDOM LIZARD AND SNAKE. TO THE
HILL'S SUMMIT- STILL RISING OVER THE TOP PAST ANOTHER LIZARD
THAT TURNS TO GREET US LIKE A TV HOST.

LOOKING OVER THE SUMMIT OF THE HILL-

TO GROUND ZERO. A GIGANTIC CIRCULAR PIT. THE SCENE OF SOME
GREAT CATACLYSM. A NUKE? NOT QUITE. NO SCORCHED EARTH, ONLY
A LEVELED FIELD. BUT CLOSE.

THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HILL HAS BEEN TORN AWAY, MAKING IT
A CRESCENT OF ANCIENT ROCK.

AND AT THE CENTER OF THE PIT, AN IMPRESSION THAT ALMOST
APPEARS IN THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN FORM. ALMOST. BUT AGAIN, NOT
QUITE.

FLYING OVER THE DESERT. THE SOUND AND SHADOW OF A MILITARY
HELICOPTER. FLYING AWAY FROM GROUND ZERO. BUT AS WE FLY AWAY,
THE SCENE GETS MORE HELLISH. MILITARY GROUND AND AIR WAR
MACHINES. DOZENS OF THEM, SCATTERED AND SHATTERED. LITTERING
THE LANDSCAPE. SMOLDERING. FLAMING. THE SITE APPEARS TO BE
THE AFTERMATH OF THE FINAL, APOCALYPTIC WAR.

THE FLIGHT CONTINUES. MILES AHEAD MEDICAL CREWS ATTEND TO
LEGIONS OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

FIRE CREWS ARE DOUSING THE BURNING TRUCKS, TANKS, CHOPPERS
AND JETS.

ON THE HELICOPTER: Inside the Chinook; Awe, disbelief laying
siege on her face, DR. ELIZABETH "BETTY" ROSS takes in the
terrible sights- shakes from the horrible sounds below.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MILITARY BASE: PROJECT GREENSKIN - AFTERNOON

The chopper touches down. Betty, and her military escorts
disembark.

Another group of military personnel are there to greet them.
Chief among them, MAJOR GLENN TALBOT. At a glance one might
assume that Talbot wears his military uniform like a suit of
armor. Closer examination might show that the uniform is the
glue that holds Talbot together. He's developed a skill for
keeping this hidden. But not from Betty. Not from the object
of his desire. For her, his armor is the thinnest gossamer
thread. And she can see the quaking shambles of a man
beneath.

It is for this reason that Talbot only forms half a smile at
the sight of her.

TALBOT
...Betty..

BETTY
Glenn..

His eyes run side to side gesturing toward the soldiers at
attention in protest of Betty's informality.

BETTY
(continuing)
Major Talbot. Nice to see you.

He nods, granting a firmer smile at Betty.

TALBOT
..Your father is just finishing a
briefing with the President.

He turns and walks toward a nearby building entrance. Betty
and the others follow.

INT. OFFICE - CONTINUING

Talbot and Betty walk toward the office door. As they
approach, they are greeted by a blast of "FLIGHT OF THE
VALKERIES". Betty smiles knowingly.

Talbot knocks on the door. A VOICE, EASILY AS POWERFUL AS THE
SYMPHONIC ASSAULT RESPONDS.

VOICE
Enter..

Betty and Talbot follow orders. Everyone does. GENERAL
THADDEUS "THUNDERBOLT" ROSS pours a glass of twenty year old
scotch. The finest Cuban cigar dangling betwixt his right
index and middle fingers. Dangling, and yet steady. 62, stout
like an aged Greco-Roman wrestler, leathery skin, cottony
hair and mustache. The army never built a tougher war wagon.
An old time soldier.

His eyes flicker brightly taking in the sight of the single
most beautiful thing in the world to him, this side of his
horse Athena.

ROSS
Betty!

Ross rises from his chair and bear hugs his daughter.

BETTY
Hi, daddy!

She kisses his cheek.

ROSS
How's my girl?

BETTY
I'm-I'm good Daddy.

She examines her father.

ROSS
Well, darling- take a load off.
After I've taken care of a few
things we'll sit down to a proper
dinner.

Betty is slightly aghast at her father's demeanor. She sinks
into a chair. Talbot bends himself into one.

BETTY
Dinner? Dad- you don't have to
take a jubilant tone with me. On
my chopper flight we took the
scenic route. I saw what happened-
All the casualties.. The damage.
I understand that this is
something you'd need to recover
from.

ROSS
Recover?

Ross is genuinely confused at first. Then he remembers who
he's speaking to.

ROSS
(continuing; laughs)
Ah.. my sweet little girl. The
psychiatrist. Ever concerned about
the emotional side of things. How
I love you honey. Comes from your
mother. How I loved her, too.

Betty is taken aback by the patronizing, if genuinely loving
tone.

Talbot observes the father-daughter exchange with a certain
caginess.

ROSS
(continuing)
No honey.. this isn't a time to
mourn.. This is a time for
celebration! Do you realize what
we've done today? This was a
greater victory than any from the
three wars I've fought.. God
forgive me.. But I've found my
Chimera.. My Hydra.. And I've
beaten him. The loss of soldiers..

of tactical equipment are
considered, accounted for and
lamented during the planning of
strategy.. And I'm not going to
say that looking over the
battlefield in the aftermath
doesn't give me pause.. But damn
it.. We've done something great
today.

TALBOT
Indeed we have sir. Let me
congratulate you..

Talbot rises to extend his hand. Ross accepts it with Pride.

ROSS
Thank you Major! The quality of
men like you in my command make
the victory inevitable and
pleasurable.

Betty feigns a cough.

BETTY
You'll forgive me gentlemen, but
all this back-patting is raising
alot of dust in here.

TALBOT
-Betty- why would you want to wet
blanket your father on such a
momentous occasion?

ROSS
I don't understand what you were
expecting, sweetheart..

BETTY
I came to support you dad, on what
would have to be a challenging day
to say the least..

Betty is suddenly angered; By the men in the room, and by
the music.

BETTY
(continuing)
Dad.. could you bring the
Valkeries in for a landing please?

Ross, stunned at his daughter's ire, after a pause, hits the
mute on the remote control for the stereo, silencing the
music.

BETTY
(continuing)
..A challenging day.. And let's
not forget that the life of a fine
man was destroyed..

TALBOT
..That's debatable.

ROSS
Calm down, sweetheart.

Ross sips his scotch and takes a pull of his cigar. He
releases a satisfied cloud of smoke as the room becomes still.

ROSS
(continuing)
..The President made a personal
call to me to thank me. The first
time in my career I've been
granted such an honor. You know,
weeks ago, the Defense Secretary
was thinking of having me stand
down on this. They were
considering bringing in the
Avengers.. Or Reed Richard's crew.
I told the secretary, the day the
army couldn't handle a threat to
this nation is the day we better
throw in the towel.. Close the
whole thing down and retreat to
the caves. Make no mistake- this
was essential. And as for
Banner.. Well. His story was
written and the book was closed
long ago. A shame really. But no
more so than every other man that
was lost.

Betty takes in his words. And she's known her father too long
and too well to think there's anymore to say on the subject.

She finds her calm.

BETTY
...I'd like to see him.

TALBOT
(Shocked, angry)
What??

ROSS
Really Betty- You can't be serious!

BETTY
I couldn't be more serious daddy..
I'm a psychiatrist.. He'll have to
be examined to see if he's
mentally fit for trial..

Talbot and Ross share a grim, dark glance and turn back to
Betty.

BETTY
(continuing)
I've spoken with the Attorney
General and Senator Tower.. They
agree with me that Bruce needs an
assessment before further action
can be taken. I can go through
proper channels if you like daddy..

The closing word brings a smile to Ross' hard face. He
realizes that Betty is her father's daughter, and in a rare
moment acquiesces.

ROSS
Fine. Good. Talbot.. Take her to
see him.

TALBOT
(Disbelieving,
disappointed)
Sir?

ROSS
And when you're done Betty, let's
have that dinner.. Thick, tender
steaks grilled to perfection..

He winks at her, and takes another sip of his scotch.

Betty smiles and nods.

Talbot rises, doing little to show his disapproval. Ross
ignores it.

Betty stands and they exit. Ross leans back in his chair and
unmutes the stereo as the valkeries take flight again.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER - AFTERNOON

The bunker is both technically advanced and surprisingly
simple in design. Hard gray metal and stone. Everything has
a thickness and unbearable weight. Few places could be more
unwelcoming.

A PLATOON OF SOLDIERS IN SPECIAL ARMOR AND CARRYING WEAPONS AKIN TO PERSONAL CANNONS POLICE THE BUNKER.

They salute as Talbot guides Betty past them to an elevator.

He and Betty enter. The heavy doors close and the elevator
descends.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

Talbot enters a code on a keypad.

WIDE ANGLE: Enormous metal doors - fifteen feet high, a foot
thick, that seemingly were never meant to be re-opened once
closed, clang and pound as if in protest as they unlock.

Talbot and Betty make the long, uncomfortable walk down the
corridor. To their right and left, hellish devices that
appear to be weapons stand on guard. Betty tries not to look
at them.

BETTY
As an aside.. Where's Rick Jones?

TALBOT
..He's being debriefed..

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

In green scrubs, RICHARD "RICK" JONES mid-twenties, sits hand-
cuffed at a table. Groggy, clearly exhausted and unshaven
his head slowly twisting side-to-side trying to follow the
movements of his military interrogators.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

TALBOT
I don't understand you, Betty. I
don't understand what you're
looking for.. Why are you putting
yourself through this?

BETTY
I know you can't understand,
Glenn. You tell yourself that
you're sure about everything.. The
sun rises and sets.. People live
and die. The why, the wherefore
doesn't matter to you.

TALBOT
I'm a soldier. The what and the
how are my business. Not the why.

BETTY
The difference between you and I
is that I'm not afraid to look
into the abyss if it will lead to
the truth.

TALBOT
I'm not afraid of anything.. I
don't look into the abyss because
I know what's there. I've been on
the battlefield. I know what man
is capable of.

BETTY
You know what man is capable of..
You don't know his full
capability.

TALBOT
..And you think Banner will give
you those answers?

BETTY
...I don't know. But I've got to
try..

They reach a cell. Another huge and heavy set of doors. On
the left door there's a tiny window.

TALBOT
..I've got a postcard from the
real world for you Betty.. Banner,
and threats like him are an
unrelenting, abhorrent force that
can't be studied or reasoned with.
Only dealt with.

BETTY
I think you tell yourself that
Glenn, because it's any easy way
out. I think looking at the
questions that Bruce creates makes
you question your own actions.
And that's too much for you to
bear. So it's better.. It's
easier, to lock him away.. To make
him cease to exist. Then you can
ignore your own failings..

TALBOT
(Shakes his head)
If only you'd come down from that
lofty perch.

Betty and Talbot approach the tiny window.

TALBOT
(continuing)
And there he is. The greatest
threat to humanity in modern
history.

MOVING INTO THE WINDOW. There's a distance of ten feet
between each end. At the other end, is BRUCE BANNER. The

 

[Dragon]

"greatest threat to humanity" is 5' 10", 160 lbs. in glasses,
unshaven. He seems more than a little disoriented as he
struggles to see those standing before his cell. Upon
recognizing Betty, a goofy smile comes over his face.

BETTY
Bruce? Can you hear me? Are you
alright?

BRUCE
...H-hi Betty.. Yes. Yes I can
hear you. Yes. I'm alright.

BETTY
Bruce, I wanted to talk to you for
a bit. Is that okay?

BRUCE
(Pause)
Sure. I'd like that.

Talbot shakes his head with chagrin. Betty turns to him.
She's stern.

TALBOT
...I'll have a chair brought down
for you. And a walkie to let us
know when you're ready to leave.

She nods.

DISSOLVE TO:

Betty is sitting in front of the cell. She removes a tape
recorder from her bag.

BETTY
Do you mind if I record our
conversation, Bruce?

Bruce, in his cell sits on the floor. They can't see each
other.

BRUCE
I don't mind.

Betty clicks the recorder on.

BETTY
..Okay. Could we start at the
beginning?

BRUCE
..The beginning of.. You mean when
all this started?

BETTY
No, Bruce.. I mean the very
beginning..

BRUCE
You mean.. Like my childhood?

BETTY
Yes.

BRUCE
(Laughs ironically)
Okay, Dr. Freud.. Should I be
lying down?

Betty laughs.

BETTY
I just think there's more to all
of this than the physical issue.
I think perhaps the answer lies in
your psychological history.

BRUCE
Oh.. Way to make a guy feel good..
Not only am I a walking nuclear
bomb.. I'm crazy too..

BETTY
You don't mind talking about it do
you? We were starting to talk
about it before.. You know, before
all of this happened..

BRUCE
We were talking under different
circumstances.. For different
reasons.

BETTY
There's no denying the
circumstances are different. But
Not the reasons. This isn't...
I'm doing this because I care
about you Bruce.

BRUCE
Thank you. That means so much to
me. Especially now. But you're
gardening roses in a minefield.

BETTY
...Was it painful?

BRUCE
..Painful? I never thought about
it until now. But I... Yes. I
think it was painful..

BETTY
-You think?

In his cell, Bruce struggles within himself as memories long
buried rush to the fore. And yet- they seem like they belong
to someone else.

BRUCE
It's hard to say.. The drugs they
keep me pumped with.. to keep me
calm.. To keep me from.. Changing..

BETTY
-We want you to stay calm, Bruce.
Let's take it slow. Is there a..
Is there a happy memory?

Bruce thinks back. Images flash in his mind.

BRUCE
...Blocks..

BETTY
You feel blocked?

BRUCE
N-no. Building blocks. Toys..

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BANNER HOME, 1972 - AFTERNOON

A two year old boy lays blocks next to each other.

2 YEAR OLD BRUCE
C...A...T.. Cat!

Bruce's mother, REBECCA BANNER, possessed of an angelic
beauty, leans over Bruce's playpen watching joyfully as the
toddler practices his spelling.

REBECCA
That's right honey!! Cat!

Young Bruce applauds himself. Rebecca kisses him lovingly on
the cheek.

With his blocks, Bruce spells "MOM" and then "DAD".

At that moment, someone- something enters. In the cloudiness
of Bruce's memory, it appears that the presence is dark.
Shadowy and MONSTROUS. It makes terrible growls. Young Bruce
and Rebecca are frightened at its approach. THEN IT HITS THE
LIGHT- IT'S A MAN. Bruce's father BRIAN BANNER. No longer
monstrous, just angry. HIS GROWLS MORPH INTO YELLING.

BRIAN
-Rebecca! My schematics! They
weren't in my briefcase! Where are
they?

REBECCA
..Brian- how would I know where
your schematics are?

Brian glances over at Bruce who sits frightened in his
playpen.

BRIAN
Of course.. How could you know?
You don't know what the hell is
going on in the world, because you
spend every waking moment with
"the little prince"...

I guess you've forgotten how to be
a wife since you traded in the job
for caretaker of that brat..

Rebecca, wounded scurries from the room.

Brian swaggers over to Bruce's playpen.

BRIAN
(continuing)
..And how's our little "treasure"
today?

Brian grimaces at Bruce, who sits wide-eyed. Over top the
blocks spelling "DAD", Bruce stacks an "M" block over the
first "D", spelling "MAD".

Brian turns in the direction that Rebecca walked toward.

BRIAN
(continuing)
So what exactly do you and the
urchin do all day aside from suck
up every dollar I earn?

Bruce, still watching his father, stacks a "B" block atop the
"M" spelling "BAD".

Brian notices the spelled out blocks.

BRIAN
(continuing)
What in God's name? Rebecca- you
know he's too young to read- why
are you spelling out words for him?

Rebecca walks back into the room. Under her arm is a stack
of papers. She angrily thrusts them forward at Brian.

REBECCA
...Your schematics. They were on
your desk.. If you paid a little
more attention you'd wouldn't have
left them... And maybe if you paid
a little more attention, you'd
know that your son can already
read and spell..

Brian snatches the schematics from Rebecca's hand.

BRIAN
Pay attention? Pay attention your
highness? When my work eats up
nearly every fiber of my being-
and the two of you gobble down the
scraps? Why aren't YOU paying
attention?

If you could spare me just a
little of your time, perhaps you'd
be a partner to me- and not an
anchor! Perhaps if you were
paying attention, you'd realize
just how wrong things are around
here- Just how wrong it is for a
2 year old to be reading! I'm
telling you Rebecca- that little
freak is tearing our lives apart!

Rebecca, tears streaming reaches over and lifts Bruce from
the playpen, to protect him from Brian's insanity.

Brian storms toward her in a threatening manner. Rebecca
turns away hoping to shield Bruce with her own body.

Brian ***** his arm, ready to hit her, then relents.

BRIAN
(continuing)
..No. That's all I need- to hurt
you and lose what little freedom
I have left..

He turns away, stuffing the schematics clumsily into his
briefcase.

Rebecca, crying turns back to him.

REBECCA
..Brian.. Bruce and I.. we have to
leave.. It would be best for all
of us.. You don't want us here..
And we're not a family anymore..

Brian, close to the door turns back.

BRIAN
You don't leave.. After all I've
invested in you.. You stay by my
side. For better, for worse..
Till death do us part.

He swings the door open and leaves. Rebecca collapses to the
floor crying, cradling Bruce.

BACK IN THE MILITARY BUNKER

BETTY
..That's some amazing recall from
a memory that happened when you
were a toddler..

BRUCE
Are you kidding? Some of us child
prodigies can remember the birth
moment.. And let me tell you- that
could make for a shelf's worth of
books on sexuality issues..

Betty giggles.

BETTY
..That's strange..

BRUCE
What?

BETTY
..Well.. You seem to have developed
a sense of humor.. Prior to all of
this you didn't.. You were kind of
stiff..

Bruce laughs.

BRUCE
..Uh.. I guess you share your body
with a the bane of existence, you
start to appreciate the sunny side
of life..

BETTY
(Intrigued, yet
confused)
Uh-huh.. I see. So.. I looked up
your mother's case. I understand
she tried to leave your father.
But because he was working for the
government pressure was placed on
her.

INT. MILITARY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 1972 - DAY

Rebecca sits at the desk of a MILITARY SOCIAL WORKER, 2 year
old Bruce on her lap. She pleads with her for help, and is
denied.

BETTY (V.O.)
Under the grounds of national
security, because your father was
involved with Top Secret military
work and your family lived on a
community under military
jurisdiction, your mother was
denied being able to leave for a
minimum of a year.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUING

Bruce's head tilts to the floor.

BRUCE
..A minimum of a year..

INT. BANNER HOME - DAY

Young Bruce (Age 4) builds a walking robot with an Erector
Set. As Bruce starts it running, Brian is screaming at
Rebecca in the background.

He thunders into the living room, obliviously walking into
the robot. His charge knocks the robot to the ground.

BRIAN
What the hell is this?

Rebecca walks into the room sadly regarding Bruce's toppled
toy.

BRIAN
(continuing; Looking
for an answer)
What the hell is this? A real-
normal 4 year old child doesn't
make things like this-

REBECCA
That's right- He's not a normal 4
year old- he's a genius! You
should be embracing him for it!

BRIAN
Are you insane? The next thing
he'll do is build a bomb and kill
us!

Brian, raging crushes the fallen robot under his foot.

DISSOLVE TO:

BRUCE (V.O.)
..A year turned into 5 years.. My
mother and I couldn't leave.

Bruce is now 7 years old, wearing glasses, laying on the
living room floor and working on advanced mathematics.

Rebecca, dressed in a coat and carrying several suitcases,
hurries into the living room.

REBECCA
C'mon Bruce.. We have to hurry
before your father gets home!

Bruce, startled, looks up.

REBECCA
(continuing)
Come on honey!

Hesitantly, fearfully, Bruce stands up. Rebecca helps him
into his coat.

EXT. BANNER HOME - CONTINUOUS

Rebecca and Bruce climb into the family station wagon.
Rebecca inserts the keys to start the ignition. The engine
stutters but doesn't turn over. She tries again and again.

REBECCA
(Frantic)
This can't be- I had the car
checked yesterday-

She continues trying. Bruce climbs out of the car and walks
knowingly to the front. He pops the hood and looks at the
engine.

7 YEAR OLD BRUCE
..Mommy there's no spark plugs..

Rebecca is terrified.

There's suddenly a shadow cast from her left side.

It's Brian, dangling the missing spark plugs.

BRIAN
..Some people just can't be
trusted..

REBECCA
(Hyperventilating)
How could you..?

BRIAN
How? Because I did what any
reasonable man would do if his
house were filled with enemies..
I wire-tapped our phone.. While I
was at work, providing a living
for this family.. I could hear
your plans and schemes to make me
a fool..

 

[Dragon]

Brian's face twists into a picture of evil. He leans into the
window, his face close to Rebecca's fearful one.

BRIAN
(continuing)
...I think it's time we had a
family meeting..

Rebecca quickly thrusts open the car door, hitting Brian and
knocking him to the ground.

She starts to run, but then turns back for Bruce.

REBECCA
Bruce! Come to me baby! We have
to leave!!

But Bruce is frozen. Rebecca starts to run to him- but to do
so, she has to run past Brian. Brian gets to his feet and
intercepts Rebecca. She struggles to break free. Seeing his
mother struggle, Bruce takes slow, frightened steps toward
her. Rebecca, seeing Bruce walk toward her fights harder to
break free. She claws at Brian's eyes. He releases her,
grasping painfully at his face. Rebecca turns to run for
Bruce- But Brian manages to grasp hold of her collar. He
pulls her backward. With a harsh yank, Brian sends Rebecca
careening to the ground. She falls hard- the back of her
head striking the cold, unyielding pavement. She lies still.
Brian's eyes are wild with the realization of what he's done
as blood spreads over the concrete.

Bruce continues his steps toward her. He seems in a trance.
Rebecca's dead eyes are wide open and fixed on him.

DISSOLVE TO:

SCREEN REMAINS DARK.

BRUCE (V.O.)
..And that's when my world went
black..

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
..Do you know what happened to
your father?

BRUCE
...No.

BETTY
He died in the mental hospital he
was committed to after his
insanity plea for your mother's
death.

BRUCE
I didn't want to know what
happened to him. He was off my
radar.

BETTY
..But you understand that closing
yourself off from the feelings
about him.. The abuse.. Causing
your mother's death.. There's a
strong possibility that it's part
of the problem..

BRUCE
What are you trying to say? That
my current state is due to buried
emotions?

BETTY
There's got to be a reason-

BRUCE
(Cold. Calculating)
Of course there's a reason.
There's always a reason. A
methodical- mathematical equation.

BETTY
Bruce- you see- I think you're
doing it now..

BRUCE
What would "it" be, Betty?

BETTY
Shutting down.. When things get
difficult. Becoming.. Machine-
like..

BRUCE
There's an answer for this Betty..
Just down a different path.

BETTY
(Relenting)
Okay. Okay. So tell me what
happened after your mother's
death..

BRUCE
I became a ward of the state. A
special case. The combination of
boy genius with a tragic family
life made for great political
press...I was the poster boy for
"No Child Left Behind"...

EXT. HARVARD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - DAY

Bruce, now aged 13 walks across the campus. His AUNT ANDREA
BANNER DRAKE escorts him. The students making their way to
their classes take notice of young Bruce, staring at him and
making jokes to themselves.

BRUCE (V.O.)
My father's sister, Andrea became
my caretaker... Because of my
advanced intelligence, I skipped
past junior high and high school
to college. I enrolled in Harvard
at age 13.

A 13 year old, guarded by his
Aunt, surrounded by young adults.
I didn't feel like a freak at all..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUING

BETTY
..So.. Essentially you were always
made to feel like an outsider. By
your father.. By your fellow
students..

Bruce considers the theory, but finds it too painful to dwell
upon.

BRUCE
I spent the next 10 years in
school, moving from one to
another.. Harvard to Oxford..
Oxford to MIT.. MIT to UCLA

BETTY
Always the loner?

BRUCE
..No.. Not always..

INT. UCLA STUDENT UNION BUILDING - NIGHT

A student party is in full swing. Students dance, mingle,
drink. Adult Bruce stands off alone. Observing the party as
if the concept were totally alien to him. Even the other
science nerds don't hang-out with him.

Somewhat dejected- Bruce turns to leave- And nearly walks
into SUSAN JACOBSON, a pretty blonde. Susan makes a startled
smile.

SUSAN
-Oops!

Bruce backs up, gathering his bearings.

SUSAN
(continuing)
H-hi! Bruce, right?

Bruce nods, confused. Susan presents him with a glass of
punch. Bruce is far more startled by this than the near
collision.

SUSAN
(continuing)
..You looked thirsty..

BRUCE
-Did I? I don't know how- But uh..

Bruce struggles to think of what to say next.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Uh.. Thanks..

He finally accepts the glass of punch.

SUSAN
..So I hear you're the smartest
guy on campus..

Bruce adjusts his glasses uncomfortably and shrugs.

SUSAN
(continuing)
..I had a question..

Bruce is annoyed at this. He often gets this and it almost
never leads to anything good.

BRUCE
(Huffs)
..OOkay.. The Earth is 149.63
kilometers from the sun. The
circumference of the Earth is
24,900 miles. The weight of the
human Brain is 1,400 grams,
although I suspect that much of
that weight is water for most..
The average penis size is 6.16
inches.. That's right.. Average
breast size is a B Cup.. No, I
won't write your term paper for
any price.. Do you have anything
for me that's more interesting
than any of that?

SUSAN
...I just wanted to know if you'd
like to dance..

She smiles at Bruce. Bruce feels terrible.

BRUCE
Oh. I'm so sorry.. Uh-

SUSAN
Susan Jacobson..

BRUCE
..I.. I'd like to dance.. But uh..

SUSAN
-It's the one thing you don't know
how to do? Come on.. Teaching
something to a genius will up my
self-esteem about 20 points..

BRUCE
(Nervous)
Actually.. Self esteem can't be
measured in-

SUSAN
Okay. Brain off- Body on..

Susan takes Bruce's hand and leads him toward the dance floor.

MONTAGE:

Bruce and Susan together over the ensuing months. Studying,
walking across campus, going to movies, etc. All the while,
though Bruce appears to be enjoying the time they spend, he
maintains a stiffness to him.

BRUCE (V.O.)
We spent the next six months
together. Doing what a young
couple would do.. For Susan it was
a normal thing. For me.. I felt
more like I was mimicking behavior
that came natural to everyone else.

INT. BRUCE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Bruce is in the kitchen pouring sodas for himself and Susan.

BRUCE
-Coke okay?

Susan sits on the sofa watching TV.

SUSAN
Sounds great...

Self-consciously, Susan undoes the top two buttons on her
blouse. She primps her breasts, nervously hoping that she
appears a bit more buxom. She widens her smile as Bruce
enters, trying to appear seductive. She succeeds.

Bruce is aware of her campaign, and sits apprehensively next
to her. He hands her the soda.

SUSAN
(continuing; Working
to make her voice
seductive)
Why Thank you..

Susan sips the soda. Bruce's eyes fix on her lips, now wet
from the drink. Susan sees this and is pleased. But Bruce
turns his attention back to the TV. Susan is bothered.

She makes up her mind to take the lead. She moves in close
to Bruce and takes his hand. Bruce is shaken. Frozen.

SUSAN
(continuing)
Hey.. Isn't that show a re-run?

BRUCE
(Nervous)
..Is it? I don't remember seeing
it..

Susan turns herself toward Bruce.

SUSAN
Isn't there something.. Else you
want to see?

Bruce, understanding what she means, still plays dumb. He
starts clicking the remote.

BRUCE
Well- we can see..

SUSAN
(Annoyed)
Bruce..

She places her hand on his cheek and turns his head toward
her.

SUSAN
(continuing)
..We've been dating for months..
I'm not the kind of girl that
likes to rush things.. But even
I'm ready to get out and give it
a push-

Bruce looks down, embarrassed.

SUSAN
(continuing)
Don't you find me attractive?

Bruce is too nervous to answer.

She leans forward and kisses him on the mouth. Bruce's eyes
remain open, observing things as though an out-of-body
experience. Susan leans back to see the results. She's down-
hearted to see that Bruce remains as stiff as before.

SUSAN
(continuing)
Do you feel anything for me at
all?
(Pause)
Is there anything inside you?

Bruce is struck by this.

BRUCE (V.O.)
When she said those words- it was
like something popped inside me-
I can't explain what happened next-

Bruce is suddenly like a wild animal- he lunges forward and
grabs Susan, kissing her passionately- voraciously. He moves
from her face to her neck- and continues moving downward-
fondling her breasts. Susan is frightened by the sudden
change in Bruce.

SUSAN
(scared)
What are you doing?

She fights her way free of him.

Standing, she looks at him. His facial expression is
something she's never seen before. Maniacal, lecherous.

SUSAN
(continuing)
Bruce- what's happened to you?

Hearing his name seems to snap Bruce out of it.

BRUCE
(As though awakening
from a trance)
Susan- I'm so sorry- I-

Susan is confused, and frightened.

SUSAN
(Crying)
I- I have to go-

She hurries for the door.

BRUCE
..Susan please!

She's out the door. Bruce sinks back onto the sofa, saddened,
confused and afraid of himself.

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUOUS

BRUCE
..It was then that I realized
relationships.. Relating- wasn't
meant for me. I'd live a life
devoted to science.. Science was
the only thing I could count on.
People make no sense. Science
makes complete sense.

BETTY
..There's loads of mysteries and
incongruities in science..

BRUCE
There are things we don't know.
But with Science, point A always
leads to point B. We just have to
find point B. With people- point
A leads to point H- point H leads
to point E.. There's no making any
sense of it.

BETTY
Uh- huh.
(Pauses, thinking)
So you began your research of
Gamma radiation..

BRUCE
Yes.

BETTY
You're aware that your father was
also involved in Gamma radiation
research?

 

[Dragon]

BRUCE
..Vaguely..

His expression betrays that he's more aware than he lets on.

BETTY
-It's just interesting that you
would take up where your father
left off..

BRUCE
..I didn't. I was fascinated with
Gamma rays as a source of energy.
Power. There's evidence that
gamma radiation is among the
building blocks of human DNA. A
belief.. That the "Big Bang".. The
source of creation of all life,
was a gamma-charged explosion.

INT. UCLA PHYSICS DEPARTMENT LECTURE HALL - AFTERNOON

Bruce is writing a series of equations on a blackboard.

He is making a presentation before an audience full of
industrial, political and military personnel.

BRUCE
The gamma particle is the
cleanest, most easily manageable
source of raw energy in
existence... Its potential for
nuclear power, for purposes as
expansive as powering our cities,
to powering space flights, to
becoming an oil substitute;
running our cars.. is nearly
endless. In the catalogue package
you've all received are listings
and design specs for the various
applications of gamma particle
powered projects that I've
conceived of..

One of the executives in the audience raises his hand.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Yes Mr. Shinhauser?

SHINHAUSER
These are all very impressive
looking Dr. Banner.. But do you
have any practical samples for us
to look at?

BRUCE
..Uh.. Well. Not really.. As far
as any hardware, sir.. You see
gamma radiation is extremely
difficult to handle in its
unprocessed state. We don't have
the facilities here at UCLA to
work extensively with it. But
you'll find on page 200 of the
catalogue a detailed budget for
the type of lab facilities we'd
need..

SHINHAUSER
..So this is basically "a wing and
a prayer" type of operation..

He and others start to laugh.

BRUCE
..Uh.. Uh no. The formulae are all
perfectly sound..

Bruce adjusts his glasses uncomfortably as he fails to quell
the laughter.

WIDE ANGLE: VIEW OF THE AUDIENCE WHICH IS NEARLY FULL.

SUPER-IMPOSE AND DISSOLVE:

THE SAME VIEW OF THE AUDIENCE, WHICH IS NOW ALL BUT EMPTY,
WITH MORE PEOPLE WALKING OUT.

Bruce is still in front of the audience. He's clearly tired
and sullen. His voice is hoarse.

BRUCE
(continuing; Clears
his throat, takes a
sip of water)
..And you'll see if you turn to
page 542..

He looks up and notices that's he's pretty much alone in the
hall. Sadly he lowers his head and turns away.

Bruce gathers his things and places them within his
briefcase. He glances over at the blackboard and grimaces at
the equations. He walks over and begins to erase them.

VOICE (O.S.)
Banner..

Bruce turns, startled by the voice. He hasn't heard one with
such resonance since his father. Not even then. He finds
himself face-to-face with General Thunderbolt Ross. Ross
puffs on his cigar as Talbot stands just behind him. Then,
just behind Talbot is a lieutenant- EMIL BLONSKY.

BRUCE
(Sheepishly)
..You know.. There- there's no
smoking-

Bruce doesn't bother to finish, knowing it wouldn't matter to
Ross. Ross reaches over to shake Bruce's hand. Bruce meets
him half way.

ROSS
-General Thaddeus Ross..

Bruce winces at the vice-like grip.

BRUCE
(Recovering)
..Thunderbolt..

ROSS
..Only to my friends and my
enemies..

This intimidates Bruce as he's not so sure being either is a
good thing.

BRUCE
What can I do for you sir?

ROSS
I wanted to talk to you absent of
the civilians..

BRUCE
..You're interested in some of my
projects?

ROSS
..I had a sit down with Reed
Richards recently..

BRUCE
Really? Nice fellow.. His
scientific pursuits are a bit too
fanciful for my tastes but I have
a great deal of admiration for his
intelligence..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
..So you know Reed Richards? How
did you get on with him?

BRUCE
Good man.. But I couldn't see
myself spending too much time with
him.. His buddy Ben Grimm makes
fun of my preference for purple
pants..

BETTY
Yeah.. what's the deal with that,
anyway?

BRUCE
Purple is the color of my mother's
eyes..

BETTY
Oh..

BRUCE
..That was another joke, Betty..
I need a rimshot in here.. No.. I
have a wardrobe of the same type
of clothing so I don't have to
expend thought on what to wear.
...And purple is pretty..

BETTY
Oh. Gotcha. So.. Back to your
first meeting with my father?

BRUCE
Ah yes..

INT. UCLA PHYSICS DEPARTMENT LABORATORY - CONTINUING

ROSS
..Richards' Air Force pal, Ben
Grimm mentioned to me about
something you said in passing..

Bruce is shaken by the memory.

BRUCE
(pause)
Really? I don't recall..

ROSS
There's only one invention of
yours that I'm interested in
Banner. The department of defense
will finance you.. You'll work in
relative freedom, under my
supervision.. Perhaps you'll be
able to put together something
more than theories for some of
those gizmos you've got piled up
in that catalogue of yours.

BRUCE
..I'm sorry.. I.. I don't know
what you're talking about..

Ross studies Bruce with eyes that could melt steel. He
calculates.

ROSS
I see. Very well then.

Ross turns away. Talbot makes a disgusted sneer at Bruce,
then turns and follows. Blonsky flips through the catalogue,
and then notices that Talbot and Ross are walking away. He
slowly closes the catalogue, turns and follows as well.

BRUCE HEARS THEIR FOOTSTEPS AS THEY ECHO TOWARD THE DOOR. As
the clatter of their footsteps continues, Bruce looks around
the empty hall, and then at his catalogue of inventions.

As the footsteps get further away, Bruce begins to feel his
last chance at success leaving as well. Against every fiber
of good judgment in his being-

BRUCE
General!

Ross turns halfway, puffing on his cigar.

ROSS
(Smugly)
..Yes?

BRUCE
(Sheepishly)
..I think I.. I might know what
you're talking about..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
..The Gamma bomb..

BRUCE
..It was only a mental exercise..
It wasn't meant to see the light
of day. I only mentioned it to
Richards because we were both
dangling our brains to see who had
the bigger one.. Now I know.. Now
the whole world knows how
dangerous pissing contests between
intelligentsia can be..
(Pause)
The idea was in its way, noble.
A bomb that would emit radiation
that would vaporize metal and
stone.. But leave organic, living
matter unharmed. It's still
possible..

BETTY
But the army wasn't interested in
noble theory..

BRUCE
No. They wanted pure brute force.
And Damn me.. That's what I gave
them.

INT. BANNER'S LAB - AFTERNOON

ON A 6 FT. HIGH 10 FT. WIDE FLATSCREEN COMPUTER MONITOR
MOUNTED AGAINST THE WALL.

ON THE SCREEN: GREEN CGI ORBS FLOW FORWARD LIKE A SWARM OF
BEES. A SERIES OF FLOATING RED DISCS AWAIT THE APPROACH OF
THE GREEN ORBS. AS THE ORBS GET WITHIN RANGE, THE RED DISCS
MOVE, INTERCEPT AND ABSORB THE GREEN ORBS.

In front of the screen Bruce and his assistant SAMUEL STERNS
are controlling the events on the screen with what amounts to
advanced video game joysticks. And like video gamers,
they're caught in the excitement of the competition.

STERNS
Take it! Take it and eat it!!

BRUCE
And YOU for dessert!

ON THE SCREEN THE BATTLE CONTINUES- THE GREEN ORBS,
CONTROLLED BY STERNS CONTINUE TO STREAM FORWARD, ATTEMPTING
TO DODGE THE RED DISCS, WHILE BRUCE ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK THE
GREEN ORBS.

THOUGH BRUCE INTERCEPTS A GREAT NUMBER OF THE GREEN ORBS,
STILL SEVERAL SLIP PAST, MOVING RAPIDLY TOWARD A DISTANT
VERTICAL CYLINDER, WITH MANY BLUE AND RED ORBS ATTACHED TO IT
IN A SPIRAL PATTERN. THE CYLINDER SLOWLY ROTATES. STERNS'S
GREEN ORBS FLY INTO THE CYLINDER AND ATTACH THEMSELVES TO IT.

AS MORE AND MORE GREEN ORBS ATTACH TO THE CYLINDER, THE BLUE
AND RED ORBS TURN GREEN.

DESPITE BRUCE'S BEST EFFORTS TO BLOCK THEM, ENOUGH GREEN ORBS
SLIP THROUGH TO TURN THE ENTIRE CYLINDER GREEN.

BRUCE
(continuing)
AARGH!

Bruce slams his controller down on the table with frustration.

STERNS
(Smirks)
Beer's on you Banner..

VOICE (O.S.)
Can I have winner?

Bruce and Sterns turn to see Talbot, Ross, Blonsky and Betty
walking toward them.

Bruce takes particular notice of Betty.

TALBOT
..I mean.. If you're going to use
a multi-million dollar computer
system to play video games, all
the tax-payers should get in on
the fun..

ROSS
You've been dragging your feet on
this project Banner.. And now
you're playing kid's games?

BRUCE
Actually General.. Despite the
jocundity.. This is a very serious
matter..

TALBOT
Equipped with joysticks and
victory bleeps..

Bruce adjusts his glasses uncomfortably.

BRUCE
Uhh.. Be that as it may.. Sterns
designed this computer display
model to measure the effect of the
gamma particle on human DNA. This
represents the velocity at which
the gamma particle enters the
blood stream. Though the red blood
cells can absorb a good amount of
the particles and render them
harmless, at this point, just
enough of the gamma rays can seep
through and effect the DNA strand..

STERNS
Banner- take a look at this..

They all turn to the screen.

ON THE SCREEN- THE RED DISCS, REPRESENTING RED BLOOD CELLS
BEGIN VIBRATING VIOLENTLY. THEN THEY EXPAND IN SIZE, FILLING
THE ENTIRE SCREEN, WHILE TURNING GREEN.

TALBOT
Another clever little computer
effect? What is this, a power-up?

BRUCE
Clever yes.. But no joke.. This
display is progressive. It plots
and presents its theory of what
the gamma particles will do to
human DNA..

ROSS
What does it mean?

BRUCE
I don't know yet. Clearly exposure
to gamma rays will cause some type
of mutation. Perhaps cancerous..
Maybe the human body would break
down to some quivering pile of
protoplasmic sludge..

TALBOT
I thought the whole point of this
project was to produce a bomb that
didn't kill people..

BRUCE
It is.. At this point, the gamma
rays won't vaporize living matter
like all other nukes.. But it
still affects it.. That's what's
taking so much time..

ROSS
Bull-pucky Banner.. We've sunk 50
million greenbacks into this
fishing expedition.. What I want
to know is if the big bastard goes
BOOM!

BRUCE
Of course General.. That was the
easy part.

ROSS
Then we're ready to test this pup..

Bruce is aghast.

BRUCE
N-No sir! We're nowhere near
ready!

ROSS
..Don't worry Banner.. I promise
we won't have any hapless humans
on the testing grounds..

 

[Dragon]

He turns to leave. Talbot follows. Betty lingers, walking
over to Bruce.

BETTY
Since no one else appears capable
of doing the honors.. I'm Betty
Ross..

She extends her hand to Bruce. Bruce is immediately taken
with her. He forgets what the extending of her hand means,
and merely stares at it.

Betty, bewildered by Bruce's reaction, reaches her hand
forward, grasps and lifts his, and initiates the shaking
motion. Bruce looks at their hands shaking and then gets it.
He smiles at her, embarrassed.

BRUCE
Uh.. Bruce Banner..

BETTY
I know.. My father-

ROSS
(Cuts her off)
Betty!

Ross and Talbot stand impatiently at the lab entrance.

BETTY
Uh- I guess I'd better run.. Can't
keep a freight train waiting..

BRUCE
No.. I guess you can't..

Betty walks after her father. Bruce watches as she leaves.
Sterns observes Bruce's enchantment with Betty. He smirks.

STERNS
..Banner.. Have you never seen a
woman before?

Bruce snaps out of his haze.

BRUCE
(embarrassed)
-I've seen them.. Just not up
close.. Anyway.. since when are
YOU Don Juan?

STERNS
..I get my share..

BRUCE
Roadside prostitution doesn't
count, Sterns..

STERNS
Who says? Paying for sex removes
all the complications from the
relationship..

BRUCE
It removes THE RELATIONSHIP from
the relationship.. Call me a
romantic.. But I'd like to find
someone I can connect with.

STERNS
I believe that makes you an idiot,
Banner. Love.. Relationships..
Overrated to say the least.

BRUCE
Anyway.. We have bigger problems
than what to do on a Saturday
night.. Ross wants to blow the big
candle.. And we're not ready for
this..

STERNS
But you said it was operational.

BRUCE
It's operational. But I'm not
here to be the man who outdid the
H-bomb. We've got to crack the
DNA issue.. I don't care if I
never sleep again..

Sterns hands Bruce a video controller.

STERNS
-Two out of three?

Bruce begrudgingly takes it.

INT. BRUCE'S ON-BASE APARTMENT - NIGHT

Sterns sits at Bruce's computer typing. He pauses looking at
the computer with frustration. He turns and looks to the
side, and huffs with exasperation at what he sees:

Bruce is sprawled out between his sofa, the floor and the
coffee table, clearly inebriated.

BRUCE
Hey Sterns.. Toss me another
brewsky will ya?

STERNS
Are you planning to get some work
done tonight?

Sterns however begrudgingly, complies, flipping a beer from
the nearby cooler at Bruce.

Bruce doesn't move very much as the bottle simply lands in
his hand.

BRUCE
Sterns.. I know I make this look
easy- but two-fisted drinkin' is
definitely work..

STERNS
You know what I mean.. Unless when
Thunderbutt asks for results from
tonight's labor you intend to
offer a pile of barf all over his
polished shoes..

BRUCE
Don't fret Sam my boy.. That spark
of inspiration is coming..

Bruce BELCHES.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Okay.. That one doesn't count.
Anyway.. I thunk booter bin I'm
dunkin'..

Sterns looks at Bruce trying to decipher what he'd just said.

BRUCE
(continuing)
I mean.. I think better in'a
pinkin'- Ah the hell with it..

Clearly my ca-spacity for spooking
has aboondoned me.. But my drain
never will..

Sterns leans back in his chair frustrated.

STERNS
Okay, Banner.. what the hell are
we trying to do here?

Bruce pauses. His mind is focusing.

BRUCE
Okay, Sterns.. Why does a bomb
kill?

STERNS
(Shrugs)
Heat and concussive force.

BRUCE
True, but WHY?

STERNS
...It hurts alot?

BRUCE
start thinking outside the box a
little. It's a chemical and
physical process.. The bomb
releases heat and air pressure.
The heat causes a chemical
degeneration of objects living and
non-living within the blast radius
and the air pressure hits those
objects blowing them apart..

STERNS
(Shrugs)
Okay..

BRUCE
Okay.. Now what's different about
a nuclear blast?

STERNS
The radioactively-charged
particles increase the heat,
pressure and velocity of the
molecules of everything
surrounding the blast. Multiplying
the blast radius and burning of
the objects...

BRUCE
Correct. Yet again, a chemical
and physical process..

Now what's different about a
nuclear blast is that the
radiation introduces a new factor
in the degeneration of the
objects. the chemical process is
both accelerated and altered
because of the composition of the
particles.. Now what got me
thinking of the gamma bomb theory
is that if the initial charge
igniting the blast were based on
cold fusion rather than hot, the
release of the gamma particles
wouldn't generate the intense heat
of a regular nuke. Yet the
concentrated charge of the gamma
particles would generate the same
if not greater force. Okay... So-
the gamma particles would have a
varying effect on living and non-
living matter. Living matter has
a continuous process of atomic
replication and electrical
charges, whereas non-living
doesn't have those attributes. So
its the electrical charges in the
atomic structure of living things
that repels the gamma particles.
non-living things.. Iron, steel,
stone wouldn't have such a
defense..

STERNS
..So the thing that keeps us alive
is what protects us against the
gamma blast. Brilliant, Banner..

BRUCE
..It would be if it worked.. But
the gamma particles still cause a
change in the bio-structure due to
the disruption in chemical
process.. It's funny...

Suddenly Bruce grows silent and his eyes widen as though an
explosion is going off inside his head. He stumbles his way
to his feet.

STERNS
-You okay, Banner?

BRUCE
Enlightenment comes in a blinding
flash.. All this time.. I've been
trying to find a way to prevent
the gamma particles from
permeating the bio-structure..

STERNS
..Which is a good thing..

BRUCE
But.. There is a certain amount of
gamma radiation in our bodies...
What if.. Instead of stopping the
gamma particles, we increase of
velocity of the particle flow.. It
could pass through the body,
possibly having no effect at all..
or at least.. Minor effect at
worst.

STERNS
Uh.. well.. That's a way to go I
guess..

Bruce rushes over to Sterns and the computer. His drunken
stupor has all but fled from his body, replace by a deadly
seriousness.

BRUCE
I have to alter the calculations.
open the program..

Sterns complies.

STERNS
Banner.. Why haven't you let me
see the formula for the bomb?

BRUCE
No one sees that, sterns.. it
stays buried in the Venus Fly Trap
that is my brain..

JUMP CUT:

It's several hours later. Sterns is asleep in his chair, now
rolled away from the desk. Bruce is working at the computer
typing and maneuvering the mouse at a feverish pace.

ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN ARE CALCULATIONS AND GRAPHICS
REPRESENTING THE VELOCITY AND EFFECT OF THE GAMMA PARTICLES.

Bruce glances at the window to see it's MID-MORNING. Bruce
yawns and stretches. At that moment THE PHONE RINGS.

BRUCE
-Banner..
(He listens to the
muffled voice on the
other end)
Oh.. Tell the General I'll be
there as scheduled..

He hangs up the phone and turns toward Sterns.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Sterns..

Sterns jumps from his slumber.

BRUCE
(continuing)
-I meet with Thunderbolt in an
hour. How about whipping up some
coffee?

Sterns rises groggily from his chair.

STERNS
-Milk? Sugar?

BRUCE
(Yawns hard)
Black. And in a hypodermic
needle..

INT. MILITARY BASE: CONFERENCE ROOM - NOON

Bruce, still a bit groggy enters the conference room.
General Ross stands by the window, turning at the sound of
Bruce's entrance.

BRUCE
Morning General..

Ross looks at his watch and then back at Banner with
disapproval.

BRUCE
(continuing)
-Sorry.. Afternoon.

ROSS
I'd figure a scientist would have
a better appreciation of time..

BRUCE
Well.. we're always trying to find
ways to bend it..

He laughs to himself.

BRUCE
(continuing)
I've come up with some interesting
developments as far as limiting
the bomb's adverse effects..

Bruce holds up a file.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Everything is here.

ROSS
That's good, Banner..

BRUCE
General, I'm still hoping to delay
the test until all of the
calculations can be verified..

ROSS
Banner, you know what your problem
is?

BRUCE
I think we went over this before..
My slouch.. My lack of drive.. My
astigmatism.. My fear of bugs.. My
lack of military experience.. My
distaste for Bourbon.. My lack of
personal fortitude.. Have I
covered everything?

ROSS
Yes, I suppose.. But there's
another thing to add to the list:
Your procrastination! I know
something as big as a nuclear bomb
is terrifying for a fellow like
yourself. But this is something
that was given birth in that oddly
shaped skull of yours. If you
learn anything from me Banner, I
hope it's that you've got to have
the strength to let it out of your
of head and bring it to fruition.
Release Banner! Be the bomb!
Release!

BRUCE
That was about the most
frightening inspirational speech
I've ever heard.

ROSS
Bombs are frightening. War is
frightening.. Life is frightening.
But they're all realities that we
have to deal with..

Bruce takes all of this in. He realizes that beneath Ross'
guff there is some truth.

ROSS
(continuing)
But moving along.. We have a bit
of a PR problem with the
development of the Gamma Bomb.
The environmentalists have gotten
wind of the project..

Secrets are harder to keep these
days.. The damn internet. Anyway,
they've been making a stink and
congress is responding.

BRUCE
So what does this mean?

 

[Dragon]

ROSS
They've sent over a group of the
tree-hugging bastards, hoping to
deter the test. In the spirit of
cooperation, we've invited them to
observe the test..

At that moment, the door to the conference room opens.
Talbot enters, followed by Blonsky and three civilians. Two
men and one woman,

TALBOT
General, Dr. Banner.. This is
Congressman Diller.. And these
are two representatives from
Earth-link..

The second man steps forward.

SECOND MAN
-That's Earth-THINK, admiral..

TALBOT
(Correcting him)
Major..

General Ross observes the second man with restrained disdain.

ROSS
And your name is, young man?

SECOND MAN
The name is Rick Jones.

BRUCE
You're that folk-singer, right?

RICK
-And you're the mad scientist?

BRUCE
I'm just slightly irritable at the
moment.. Lack of sleep.

RICK
If I were you, I'd have trouble
sleeping as well.. Are you
compensating for something by
causing wanton destruction Dr.
Banner?

Bruce considers his response.

CONGRESSMAN DILLER
-Now Rick- We all appreciate your
passion..

RICK
I always thought it was common
sense..

CONGRESSMAN DILLER
At any rate.. We've come to have
a constructive dialogue. And
gentlemen, the third party of our
group is Margo

The lovely young woman goes about the group shaking hands
with them.

TALBOT
Well, congressman.. As we've
discussed.. You and your group
will have a front row seat for the
test.

ROSS
Well, perhaps not quite front
row.. Wouldn't want anyone to
catch a sunburn.. But you'll be at
a safe distance. Moreover you'll
be given access to the findings of
our environmental testing. I'm
sure you'll be impressed.

Bruce's eyes dart toward Ross. He is unable to completely
stifle his ire at Ross' statement.

Rick is aware of Bruce's reaction.

ROSS
(continuing)
..But.. I'm sure you're all tired
from your trip. Major Talbot will
see to your being placed in
quarters to rest up and eat.

CONGRESSMAN DILLER
..That would be very nice, General.

TALBOT
This way please..

Talbot leads them out.

Again alone with Ross, Bruce turns to him, bothered.

BRUCE
..General.. That was an extremely
presumptuous statement..

ROSS
I never presume, Banner..

BRUCE
But you said they'd be impressed-

ROSS
And they will be. Because that
report will be written to be
impressive. Do you understand?

BRUCE
But..

ROSS
Banner. we're not talking about
Watergate or Iran-Contra.. Or
Iraq.. We simply need to send
these pests off with a smile on
their faces so we can continue our
work unfettered..

Bruce breathes hard and hurries out.

INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Bruce stands, frustrated, pondering what to do next when he
hears:

FEMALE VOICE
Dr. Banner?

Bruce turns and sees Betty standing there. He completely
loses his train of thought.

BETTY
I'm fascinated with your
research.. I was wondering if we
could grab a cup of coffee?

Bruce has again lost the capacity for speech. But he finds
himself nodding.

INT. MILITARY BASE CAFETERIA - AFTERNOON

Bruce and Betty are seated at a table having coffee.

BETTY
-So.. I'm betting working with my
father is no picnic..

Bruce looks at her, looking for the words to speak, but
doesn't find any. He just manages a smile and nod.

Betty tries to make up for Bruce's lack of participation in
the conversation.

BETTY
(continuing)
..Well, I guess it could be seen
as a picnic.. If it were one
invaded by a colony of fire ants
followed by a hurricane..

Bruce releases a slight laugh. Then starts scribbling some
equations on a random sheet of paper.

BETTY
(continuing; Growing
frustrated)
..So.. I guess having a head jam-
packed with numbers and equations
makes things like random speech
patterns a moot point, huh?

Bruce looks at her. He's a bit wounded by this, but he
understands her frustration with him. After a long pause,
his lips begin to part- Just as Sterns appears.

Sterns mulls over the scene then dismisses it.

STERNS
-Dr. Banner- I've re-programmed the
simulation to your specifications.
It's ready for testing whenever
you are..

Bruce reluctantly turns away from Betty to look at Sterns.

BRUCE
..Yes.. Thank you Sterns.. I guess
that'll be best..

Bruce rises from his chair. He looks back at Betty.

BRUCE
(continuing)
..Thank you Ms. Ross.. I enjoyed
the coffee..

Before Betty can comment, Bruce is on his way. Sterns watches
him for a moment, and after a cordial nod to Betty turns away
as well.

Betty watches then walk away, mentally scratching her head,
until she notices that Bruce left the paper he'd been
scribbling equations on.

BETTY
-Oh- Mr. Sterns?

Sterns turns back to Betty.

STERNS
Yes?

Betty lifts the paper.

BETTY
-Dr. Banner left this..

Sterns walks back to her curiously. he takes the paper from
her abruptly, expecting it to be something vital. He reads
the equations, and a dismissive, twisted smile takes over his
face.

STERNS
-These aren't...

He looks at Betty and snickers.

STERNS
(continuing)
These are chemical equations for
colors..
(Laughing)
The first one is the color of your
eyes.. the second one is the color
of your hair.. I'd say our little
Brucie has a crush on you..

Betty, stunned at the revelation takes the paper.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - DAY

Betty, seated outside of Bruce's cell, giggles at the memory.

BETTY
..I thought it was sweet..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUING

A slight smile on his face as he reminisces.

BRUCE
-It was embarrassing.. One of
those moments you're glad no one
caught on videotape..

As Bruce says this-

WE SEE BRUCE FROM AN EXTREME WORM'S EYE VIEW. THE IMAGE IS
DISTORTED AND BULBOUS LIKE A MUTATED FISH EYE LENS.

REVERSE ANGLE - EXTREME CLOSE-UP ON A FLY- WITH ZOOM LENSES
FOR EYES. AS WE MOVE IN CLOSER IT IS CLEAR THAT THE FLY IS
AN ADVANCED MINIATURE ROBOT.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

A GIGANTIC MONITOR RECEIVES THE IMAGERY TRANSMITTED BY THE
ROBOT FLY. THE MONITOR IS EMBEDDED WITHIN A MASS OF TWISTED
CIRCUITRY AND WIRING, RESEMBLING A MECHANIZED VERSION OF THE
INTERIOR OF A HUMAN BRAIN.

A HAND RESTS UPON THE SIDE OF A THRONE CHAIR, ALSO A MASS OF
METAL AND CIRCUITRY. NOTHING MORE CAN BE SEEN OF THE
INDIVIDUAL SEATED WITHIN THE CHAIR AND WATCHING BANNER WITHIN
HIS CELL.

VOICE
-Indeed Dr. Banner.. A touching
moment.. If only you could have
seen beyond that moment to the
more provocative developments of
that day..

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Rick Jones lifts his head from atop his folded arms.

RICK
-Can I like, have a cigarette,
man? I mean, is this a real movie-
type "interro" or what?

INTERROGATOR 1
Sure.. Let's make this look good..

He tosses a cigarette at Rick. Rick picks it up and places it
in his mouth. Before Rick can blink, Interrogator 2 is
shoving a flaming lighter in his face from the opposite side.
Rick jumps back startled.

RICK
-Whoa Daddy! You'll spoil my
boyish good looks..

INTERROGATOR 2
I'll do more than that.. I'll have
you wearing high heels and a
purse..

RICK
From your own closet no doubt,
sweetie-

Interrogator 1 slams into Rick, shoving him, chair and all
against the wall.

INTERROGATOR 1
You make it too easy hippie- Spill-
When did you come up the plan?

RICK
Okay- Okay.. It was that first
day..

INT. MILITARY BASE GUEST QUARTERS - AFTERNOON

Rick and Margo are going over charts and specs.

MARGO
..According to the EPA the gamma
particles have a 75 percent less
chance of residual damage to the
atmosphere than the radioactive
particles from all previous nukes..

Rick slaps several books and papers off the table abruptly

MARGO
(continuing)
Hey!! What are you crazy?

RICK
Damn it Margo! Don't you get it?
A clean nuke is worse than a dirty
one! This'll give the war-
mongering bastards all the excuse
they need to push the button on
whoever they want! Wipe out whole
cultures- ancient civilizations
just because they can claim that
no residual damage would be caused!

Rick bounces from his chair and removes a beer from the
refrigerator.

RICK
(continuing)
We've gotta stop the whole
stinking deal..

MARGO
Rick- you're not thinking of doing
something stupid are you?

Rick makes a deep, wild grin.

RICK
...Why of course not..

He winks at her.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The mysterious figure watches the events in the Interrogation
room.

VOICE
-Yes.. Our Mr. Jones played a
central role in the unfolding
drama of that day's events.. And
let's not forget our other player..

CUT TO:

INT. STERNS' APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Sterns enters the modest flat. Sofa, coffee table,
television set, dining nook. All neat as a pin. In fact
all, appearing completely unused. Sterns walks past them
without a glance.

Arriving at his bedroom door, Sterns lifts a ring of keys
from his pocket and goes about unlocking the SIX LOCKS
installed on the bedroom door.

INT. STERNS' BEDROOM - CONTINUING

From inside the door opens. The interior of the bedroom door
is reinforced with steel plating. Nothing short of
explosives would be able to open it.

The bedroom is lit by infrared lights. And is in fact a
bedroom in name only. There is no bed. There is only a
network of dozens of computers and monitors, all state of the
art. Many of the monitors run worldwide news broadcasts.

Sterns sits in a swivel chair in the center of the room,
which gives him a vantage point of every monitor and
computer. There is a keyboard mounted on the chair and a
laser-mouse which can interact with all the computers.

Sterns bring up an INTERNET WEBSITE called "THE LEADER".

Scrolling through the pages it can be seen that the site
caters to hackers with a bent toward international
conspiracies. Discussions on secret plans by various
governments to maintain and perpetuate global dominance at
the cost of the lives of the common man.

Sterns opens a blog under the name of The Leader.

He types:

"Just left a session with Dr. Boom. Although still not
cooperative, all other aspects of project Green Dawn are
proceeding as planned.."

Sterns closes the blog and switches to A SCREEN OF A MAP OF
THE WORLD. There are numerous pulsating green dots placed
throughout the map.



VOICE (V.O.)
Who would have thought that these
minutia would lead us to our
current state of affairs..

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

VOICE
-Eh, my friend?

 

[Dragon]

PAN RIGHT- IN THE FAR CORNER IS A FIGURE SHROUDED ALMOST
ENTIRELY IN SHADOW. BUT A FORM CAN BE MADE OUT. IT IS
BASICALLY HUMANOID. TWO ARMS, TWO LEGS. AND THAT'S WHERE THE
CONNECTION TO HUMANITY ENDS. THE BODY IS MASSIVE. GIGANTIC.
AT LEAST 8 FEET HIGH. AT LEAST 5 FEET WIDE. WEIGHING IN THE
RANGE OF A TON. WHAT CAN BE MADE OUT AS "SKIN" IS GREENISH
AND REPTILIAN. ARMOR-LIKE. THAT IT'S BREATHING SUGGESTS THAT
IT IS LIVING. OPENINGS WHERE THE EYELIDS WOULD LIKELY BE
FLICK OPEN- REVEALING ORBS OF GLOWING RED.

The reply to the Voice's query from this massive beast is a
SNARL.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
..And that brings us to the night
before the test.. I have to say I
was surprised..

EXT. MILITARY BASE BETTY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Betty opens her apartment door to find Bruce standing there.

BETTY
Well.. I wasn't aware that doctors
still made housecalls..

Bruce holds up a bottle of wine.

BRUCE
..You're right.. I get a little..
tongue-tied.. Maybe getting in a
little more practice at public
speaking might help..

BETTY
..You've got the wine.. I'll break
out the potato chips..



BRUCE (V.O.)
It was nice..

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MILITARY BASE BETTY'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS

Betty and Bruce sit, drink wine and talk. They make a
connection and Bruce is becoming more expressive.

BRUCE (V.O.)
..Finally being able to talk to
someone and not have it be about
my freaky-smarts.. Or technology..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
-What made you open up?

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUING

BRUCE
I guess the impending gamma bomb
test.. My life was at a new
beginning.. I just didn't know how
radical the new beginning
would be..

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - MORNING

Bruce is surveying the test site. He lugs several cases of
testing equipment. He removes from one of the cases an
electronic marker and places it on the ground.

Then resting his equipment, he goes to his jeep, fetching a
potted plant. Bruce places the plant on the ground near the
marker.

A SQWAWK comes over his walkie-talkie and Sterns' voice
follows.

STERNS
(Filtered)
Banner- what's going on?

BRUCE
-Just defying Thunderbolt's
orders.. Cover for me will you?

STERNS
You've got 30 minutes to curtain,
Banner.. Get your ass moving..

BRUCE
I'll be there with minutes to
spare. Out.

Bruce clicks off the walkie-talkie and continues his business.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - MORNING

Sterns clicks off his walkie.

STERNS
(To himself)
..Well that all depends on how
cooperative you're willing to be,
Dr. Boom..

Sterns walks out of the control room and down the corridor to
the men's room.

INT. TESTING BUNKER MEN'S ROOM - CONTINUING

Sterns enters the men's room just as the sole occupant is
leaving.

Alone, Sterns appears nervous. Shaky. He goes to the sink
and splashes water on his face. Sterns lights a cigarette,
trying to calm himself. Then he reaches into his breast
pocket and removes a folded sheet of paper. Unfolding it with
twitching hands, he looks at the typed paragraph. He begins
to read aloud.

STERNS
-Dr. Banner.. I hope I've gotten
your full attention.. I've wired
your jeep with a device that will
shut down your engine.. Of course,
a man of your genius will be able
to disable the device.. But
unfortunately it will take just
long enough for you to see the
wake of your gamma bomb.. this can
be avoided if you'll tell me the
location of the formula for the
bomb.. And don't worry. I've
arranged to be long gone before
you or Ross can get to me..

Sterns tilts his head backward, eyes closed, trying to
remember the words, taking a deep breath. Then he opens his
eyes, and quickly folds the note back and replaces it in his
pocket. He exits the bathroom.

INT. TESTING BUNKER CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sterns re-enters the control room. As he lifts his walkie to
contact Bruce, he finds Ross, Talbot, Betty, Blonsky, Margo
and Congressman Diller there, ready to watch the test along
with a large number of other military and political personnel.

Sterns realizes this isn't the place to make his grandstand
play. He attempts to slip out unnoticed, but Ross catches a
glimpse of him.

ROSS
Sterns! Where's Banner? Don't
tell me he's hiding under his bed!

STERNS
..I don't believe so, sir..

ROSS
-Well find him and tell him to get
his butt in here pronto! I'm not
delaying this test because he's
got the hives over a little
explosion!

BETTY
Dad, you wouldn't fire the bomb
without Bruce here, would you?

ROSS
You're damned right I will! In
twenty minutes we burp this baby!

CONGRESSMAN DILLER
-It's funny.. But Rick isn't
anywhere around either.. Have you
spoken to him, Margo?

MARGO
(Nervous)
..I, uh.. think he's sitting this
one out in protest..

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Rick Jones is doing just that. He's in a beach folding
lounge chair- with a big umbrella, dressed in a short-sleeved
shirt, Bermuda shorts and sandals, and sipping on a pina
colada- Within 100 yards of THE GAMMA BOMB.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Sterns enters an empty back room. He takes out his walkie
and switches it on.

STERNS
-Banner- Banner come in!

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Banner is driving in his jeep. He responds on his walkie.

BRUCE
-Yeah Sterns- I'm on my way back
in- Be there in 5 minutes...

STERNS
(Over Walkie)
..Dr. Banner.. I hope I've gotten
your full attention..

BRUCE
(Absently)
-Yeah.. Sure Sterns..

Suddenly the sight of something grabs Bruce's attention. He
quickly brings his binoculars to his eyes.

HE SEES RICK PLANTED IN HIS LOUNGE CHAIR.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

STERNS
I've wired your jeep-

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce, not paying ANY ATTENTION to Sterns swerves his jeep in
Rick's direction.

BRUCE
Sterns- you're not going to
believe what's happening out here-
I'll talk to you in a few-

He abruptly shuts off his walkie.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Sterns is stunned to hear Bruce shutting him off. He looks
around impotently not knowing what to do.

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce roars to a halt near Rick, who tries to play it coy.

Bruce leaps from the jeep and runs toward Rick.

RICK
Well, Dr. Frankenstein- can I pour
you a colada?

BRUCE
Are you insane? The test happens
in fifteen minutes!

RICK
The test doesn't happen at all-
Not with me out here!

Bruce grabs Rick and pulls him from his chair. Rick reacts
angrily shoving Bruce backward. The shove causes Bruce to
drop his walkie- and stumbling, he STEPS ON IT, breaking it.

BRUCE
Damn it!!

Bruce turns back to Rick.

BRUCE
(continuing)
And just how do you think anyone's
going to know you're out here?

RICK
Someone's monitoring the area for
life forms aren't they?

BRUCE
That someone would be ME- so no,
not yet..

Rick's cool facade collapses in light of this revelation.

RICK
-Then you've got to contact them!

Bruce presents Rick with his damaged walkie.

BRUCE
Get in the jeep, dumbass!

Rick drops his colada and dashes for the jeep alongside Bruce.

They tear away from the area.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Sterns clicks on the walkie repeatedly.

STERNS
Dr. Banner.. Dr. Banner...

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce is driving top speed- WHEN HIS JEEP ENGINE FAILS.

BRUCE
OH MY GOD- NO!!!

RICK
See!! The military can't even
build a damn jeep that works!

As the jeep decelerates to a rolling halt, They are still a
good mile from the bunker.

Bruce jumps from the jeep and pops open the hood. He sees
STERNS' MECHANICAL DEVICE ATTACHED TO THE ENGINE. Bruce
looks at his watch and sees they have mere minutes to
ignition.

Rick runs over to Bruce.

RICK
(continuing)
Can you fix this heap? Or do we
just wait for the blast to give it
a little push?

BRUCE
What we do is- RUN!

They both take off as fast as they can.

INT. TESTING BUNKER - CONTINUOUS

Sterns looks at his watch and realizes that Banner isn't
going to make it. He runs out of the room.

INT. TESTING BUNKER CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Sterns enters the corridor outside the room he'd been in- AND
FINDS IT FILLED WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL there to watch the
test. Frantically he tries to push his way through.

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce and Rick continue to run.

INT. TESTING BUNKER CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sterns gets to the control room, but it to is jam-packed with
a standing room only crowd. As he forces his way through the
crowd he begins to yell-

STERNS
General Ross!! We've got to stop
the test!

But Ross, dozens of feet away can't hear Sterns over the
murmur of the crowd. Sterns continues to force his way
through.

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Bruce can see a man-made trench a few dozen yards away.

BRUCE
(To Rick)
Head for that trench!

INT. TESTING BUNKER CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sterns continues to wade through the crowd, which has gotten
noisier- counting down the final seconds till the blast.

CROWD
5-4-3-

Sterns pushes his way through.

STERNS
General Ross!-

Ross turns-

CROWD
2-1!

THE TECHNICIAN PUSHES THE RED BUTTON.

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - CONTINUOUS

Rick, faster than Bruce dives into the trench. Bruce is
about to leap-

WHEN THE ENTIRE WORLD FLASHES GREEN.

BETTY (V.O.)
Do you.. Do you remember anything?

BRUCE (V.O.)
I remember everything..

FAST ZOOM INTO BRUCE'S FACE AS HE LOOKS INTO THE HEART OF THE
BLAST.

BRUCE (V.O.)
(continuing)
As I turned into the blast, the
World ended..

FAST ZOOM INTO BRUCE'S EYE.

FAST ZOOM INTO BRUCE'S IRIS. THE SCREEN GOES BLACK.

BRUCE (V.O.)
(continuing)
I Found myself engulfed in
blackness.. No sound- No light
anywhere.

From the blackness, Bruce's mother REBECCA APPEARS. She
gazes at him, lovingly.

BRUCE (V.O.)
(continuing)
Then I saw my mother's face.. And
I knew I was dead.

Rebecca reaches for him and kisses his cheek.

BRUCE (V.O.)
(continuing)
She kissed me- welcoming me home
to her- And just like that- she
was gone-

FLASH CUT TO:

INT. ISOLATION UNIT - EVENING

BRUCE (V.O.)
-Like they say- I awoke to the
sound of someone screaming- And it
was me.

 

[Dragon]

Bruce is in a military hospital ward that has been sealed and
outfitted with plastic to prevent radiation leakage.

Rick Jones is there in scrubs, struggling with an hysterical
Bruce, trying to calm him.

RICK
-Hey you'd better get somebody in
here!

Rick is speaking to Ross and Talbot- who are outside of the
sealed room, observing through a glass window.

A MEDICAL TEAM, OUTFITTED IN RADIATION SUITS ENTER THE ROOM
THROUGH A PRESSURIZED DOOR.

The team restrain Bruce, giving him a sedative injection.

Bruce calms, breathing heavy. As he gets his bearings he
looks around, becoming aware of his surroundings.

BRUCE
..The blast.. We survived the
blast?

Talbot presses the intercom button. His voice booms over the
loud speaker.

TALBOT
You managed to reach the outer
perimeter of the blast radius..

RICK
We were pretty freakin' lucky..

Ross presses the intercom button.

ROSS
-Or the damn bomb works just the
way it was supposed to.
Congratulations Banner.. Even
though this isn't the way we
would've wanted to prove your
formula.. You managed to show that
the gamma bomb is a "friendly"
nuke..

RICK
(Exasperated)
Good God..

TALBOT
You mean Thank God, you little
hemp smokin' punk- Your stunt
nearly cost lives- And you're
still going to answer for that..

BRUCE
Where are we reading for
radioactivity?

ROSS
You're reading at acceptable
levels- and Jones is negative for
radiation..

BRUCE
-But- how can that be? I mean the
bomb was meant to be clean- but
this is impossible.. All that
radiation wouldn't just become
ether..

TALBOT
We're running tests in the area
and underground.. Your assistant
Sterns is heading up the crew..

BRUCE
(Concerned)
Sterns..

The medical crew checks the equipment in the unit.

DOCTOR
-We're going to monitor the two of
you overnight. I'm sure we'll be
able to release you in the
morning..

The medical team exit the unit.

ROSS
Get some rest Banner.. We'll pop
the cork on a few bottles of
champagne tomorrow..

Ross and Talbot leave.

RICK
..Yeah, let's all just lift a
glass to the proliferation of
nuclear dominance.. Allow me to
congratulate you-

Rick gives him the finger.

BRUCE
You ungrateful little creep- If I
hadn't pulled your sorry ass from
that lounge chair- You'd be
singing "Dust in the wind" from
personal experience!

Bruce stands up and starts walking toward Rick.

BRUCE
(continuing)
You think I'm happy that I created
this thing?

The GEIGER COUNTER left by the medical team awakes, the
TICKING growing louder.

BRUCE
(continuing)
You think I like being caught
between the military and people
like you?

The Geiger counter's ticking becomes louder still and more
rapid. Seeing Bruce's anger increasing, Rick begins to back
away as Bruce's footsteps become stomps.

BRUCE
(continuing)
-You think I like living my life
in a cage- with people like you,
Ross, the morons I went to school
with- and my father tossing
peanuts at me?

AND IT BEGINS...BRUCE'S FOOTSTEPS GO FROM STOMPS TO THUMPS.
He's unaware of it at first. BUT HE BEGINS TO EXPAND.
MUSCLES GROWING LARGER AND MORE DEFINED. THE CHANGE BECOMES
PAINFUL. BRUCE BEGINS TO CONVULSE, BUT STILL HE CONTINUES
TOWARD RICK.

Rick's expression becomes one of fear- then terror as Bruce's
body CONTINUES TO GROW- AND TURN GREEN. BRUCE'S CLOTHING
BURSTS AT THE SEAMS.

BRUCE
(continuing; His
voice becomes growls)
Impotent.. Putrid.. Pointless..
Powerless..

BRUCE'S GROWTH CONTINUES STILL- HIS FEET BURST FROM HIS SHOES-
His footsteps go from STOMPS TO THOOMS.

BRUCE
(continuing)
-PUNY... HUMAN.

BUT BRUCE'S VOICE IS NO LONGER HIS OWN. The Geiger counter
is running wild, registering at its limits. Rick is frozen.
His fear, now TERROR. Before him- what was Bruce Banner is
now SEVEN AND A HALF FEET TALL, 5 FEET WIDE, ONE TON OF GREEN-
SKINNED RIPPLING MUSCLE. THE INCREDIBLE HULK.

RICK
-Wh- What's happened to you?

The creature that was Bruce Banner's face contorts. He
searches his memory for words. They come slowly.

HULK
..Got mad..

The Hulk lifts his monstrous arms- fists clenched- And Rick
is sure he's about to be flattened.

RICK
-What do you want?

HULK
To... Be... Free..

The creature moves past Rick as though he isn't there-
SLAMMING HIS FISTS INTO THE WALL.

THE PLASTER, STEEL AND CONCRETE SHATTER AND CRUMBLE. A CLOUD
OF DUST RISES. HALF THE WALL IS TORN AWAY BY THE IMPACT.

The Hulk lifts his arms and SMASHES INTO THE WALL AGAIN. THE
WALL IS BLOWN AWAY.

EXT. MILITARY BASE MEDICAL UNIT - CONTINUOUS

A patrol jeep rolls forward and the SOLDIERS onboard see THE
WALL OF THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HOSPITAL UNIT COLLAPSE TO THE
GROUND. They speed up to see what's happening.

THE HULK LEAPS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR LANDING WITH THE FORCE
OF A SMALL EARTH TREMOR- DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF THE JEEP.
THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, BUT THE JEEP
CRASHES INTO THE HULK. HE'S UNMOVED- BUT THE JEEP IS
TOTALLED- THE SOLDIERS TOSSED IN EVERY DIRECTION LIKE SO
MUCH DEBRIS.

All stunned but unhurt, the soldiers attempt to recover.

Confused, the Hulk lumbers forward, toward them. The
frightened soldiers scramble for their weapons-

SOLDIER 1
Don't move!

But the Hulk continues toward them.

The soldier looks at his comrades, terrified. They share his
fear.

SOLDIER 1
(continuing; To other
soldiers)
Fire?

The others nod nervously.

Without further hesitation, they open fire. The Hulk is so
large a target, little accuracy is necessary.

A BARRAGE OF MACHINE GUNFIRE IS LAUNCHED AT THE GIANT- BUT
NONE CAN PIERCE THE EMERALD HIDE. WHAT IT DOES ACCOMPLISH IS
MAKING HIM ANGRY.

The Hulk snarls and stomps forward.

THEN A SECOND JEEP ROARS ONTO THE SCENE. Having seen the
exchange of aggression, THE JEEP'S GUNNER aims the mounted
machine gun and releases a blast of bullets at The Hulk. The
jeeps driver makes a hard swerve, spinning the jeep 180
degrees as it rolls past The Hulk and the other soldiers.
The gunner doesn't miss a beat, continuing the pelting of the
Hulk's body, still with no effect.

Above, Rick has fashioned a makeshift repelling rope and is
climbing down from the second floor.

The leader of the first jeep crew is on his radio making a
distress call.

The Hulk launches himself in a twenty foot leap toward the
jeep. Landing on the hood, he crushes it. The tail of the
jeep tilts and the gunner loses his footing. Both driver and
gunner project themselves from the wreckage of the jeep, as
the Hulk reaches forward and DESTROYS THE MACHINE GUN.

Suddenly- there's a SPOTLIGHT COMING FROM ABOVE ON THE HULK.

THE ROAR OF AN ARMY CHOPPER AND ACCOMPANYING CHURNING OF WIND
GUSTS CREATE EVEN MORE CHAOS.

THE HULK GROWLS at this new nuisance. He grabs THE JEEP'S
LOOSED TRANSMISSION IN ONE HAND AND LIFTS IT, READY TO MAKE
IT A PROJECTILE.

Rick runs forward, and wraps his two arms around the Hulk's
arm. The Hulk doesn't even notice his additional weight, but
does notice Rick dangling. The Hulk's angry face focuses on
Rick. Rick's expression is pleading-

RICK
Please- don't do it-

The Hulk again becomes confused. A VOICE COMES OVER THE
CHOPPER'S LOUD-SPEAKER:

CHOPPER PILOT
Freeze! Lower the object and put
your hands up!

RICK
(Yells -To chopper
Pilot)
-Are you kidding?

The Hulk makes an angry growl at the chopper-

HULK
-Bug needs swatting-

RICK
-No! No swatting!

The Hulk looks back at Rick.

RICK
(continuing)
Just get out of here!

CHOPPER PILOT
This is your last warning!

RICK
(To the Hulk)
Please!

The Hulk confused, grimaces and drops the jeep's transmission.

CHOPPER PILOT
Don't move!

Ignoring the pilot, the Hulk grabs Rick and begins to run.

RICK
(Scared)
Wait a minute!

The Hulk's strides become longer and longer.

CHOPPER PILOT
Hey!

The pilot maneuvers the chopper trying to train the spotlight
on the Hulk's moving body.

THE HULK'S STRIDES BECOME SHORT LEAPS. THEN WITH THREE LEAPS
HE LAUNCHES HIS BODY INTO THE AIR.

HIS LEAP IS SO GREAT THAT HE APPEARS TO BE TAKING FLIGHT.

The startled pilot is caught unawares by this improbable
action and can't maneuvers the chopper in time, before the
Hulk disappears.

CHOPPER PILOT
(continuing)
On the ground- sound a base-wide
alert! We've got to find that..
That Hulk!

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - AFTERNOON

Betty continues sitting outside of Bruce's cell.

BETTY
-What did it feel like? That
first time?

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - CONTINUING

BRUCE
I wish I could explain it. But
there's nothing I can compare it
to. It was the worst feeling I've
ever had.. And at the same time
the greatest. The pain.. I guess
it must be like child-birth.. Then
the rush of adrenaline.. The
power.. The unbelievable power..
I don't think any doper.. Any
human being period- has ever felt
what I did when I became the
Hulk.. At least not without dying
soon after.. In my mind..
everything has always been like a
factory that runs non-stop. Always
thinking.. Producing.. Ideas..
Concepts, equations.. Questioning
boundaries.. Relativity. Always
on. When I became the Hulk all of
that stopped. My mind became
light.

EXT. NEW MEXICO DESERT - SUNRISE

The Hulk- Rick Jones tucked under his arms like a child soars
above the desert.

Covering a distance of miles he descends, landing on his
powerful legs- and then immediately launching himself again.

Rick actually begins to enjoy the ride.

BRUCE (V.O.)
Everything was simplified. No more
wondering why. No more
inhibitions.. I was simply action
and instinct. Just as physical
reality become weightless for me..
So did mental reality.. I was..

The Hulk comes in for a final landing on a small hill. He
absently drops Rick.

RICK
Hey! Watch it!

BRUCE (V.O.)
..Finally.. At peace.

The Hulk plants himself on a rock. He leans over and sees his
reflection in a puddle of water. He's stunned at his
appearance.

Rick, standing and dusting himself off, looks the Hulk over.
What had been fear is replaced by astonishment. Slowly he
walks toward the awesome creature.

RICK
..Dr. Banner?

The Hulk turns quickly at the sound of that name and GROWLS.

HULK
..Banner.. Weak.. Can't fight..
Why... I'm here..

RICK
(To himself)
Okay.. Self-appreciation issues..
(To Hulk)
Well, Dr. Ban-

The Hulk growls again-

RICK
(continuing)
Okay.. I'm sorry.. But I've got to
call you something other than a
Hulk-

The Hulk makes another growl, but not one of anger. One of
reasonable acceptance.

RICK
(continuing)
Uh.. Okay.. Hulk?

The Hulk tilts his head and curls his lip with an "eh" level
of agreement.



RICK
(continuing)
I.. Just had to say that I'm
sorry.. I realize that what I did
is the reason this is has happened
to you.. It was stupid- My trying
to stop the test the way I did..
I was so busy thinking of myself
as some kind of hero.. so wrapped
up in saving the world.. I forgot
what my actions would do to the
life of one person.. So.. Because
of me you're trapped in there
forever..

 

[Dragon]

BRUCE
..Uh.. Excuse me.. But what are we
doing here?

Rick looks up at the sound of Bruce's voice and sees That
where the Hulk had been Bruce is.

Bruce is in near-shock. Shivering and completely confused.

BETTY (V.O.)
You don't share the Hulk's
memories?

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - AFTERNOON

BRUCE
I do.. But they're in a fog.. I
have to search for them and piece
them together.. Sometimes I'm not
sure what's real and what I'm
making up to fill in the blanks..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUING

BETTY
Well, that's interesting..

BRUCE
What do you mean?

BETTY
The fact that you and the Hulk
share memories and are aware of
each other suggests that your
condition isn't dissociative..
That is, you aren't a multiple
personality..

BRUCE
(Sarcastically)
Well that's a load off.. Now I
can take the entire blame for all
the damage the Hulk has caused.
What was happening at the base the
next morning?

BETTY
Things were jumping..

INT. MILITARY BASE MEDICAL UNIT - MORNING

General Ross, Major Talbot, Betty and Lieutenant Blonsky look
over the scene of Banner's transformation. They stand in awe
before the shattered wall.

ROSS
...Amazing..

BLONSKY
-Banner did this?

TALBOT
According to the video tape..
Well I guess its back to the
drawing board for the gamma bomb..

Ross looks out of the hole at the damage on the grounds below.

ROSS
..Hmmm..

Sterns walks into the unit, similarly stunned by the damage.
He hurries over to Ross.

STERNS
General.. I was told the base was
on lockdown and I was to report to
you- Sir.. what's happened to Dr.
Banner?

ROSS
That's classified at the moment
Sterns.. I wanted to find out what
type of readings you're getting at
the test site..

STERNS
The site is clean except for one
area..

ROSS
What do you mean?

STERNS
There's a pocket, underneath the
heart of the blast radius.. I was
getting some heavy readings there-
concentrated radiation.. But
before I could thoroughly examine
the area I was called in.

ROSS
Okay.. I want you to focus on that
area.. Blonsky here will assist
you. We're going to have to
quarantine that area.. We don't
want any aberrations.. Mutations
developing among the plant or
insect life in the area..

STERNS
..Mutations? Has there been some-

ROSS
Just get to work, Sterns..

Talbot turns to Blonsky.

TALBOT
-Blonsky you know how to handle
this situation..

BLONSKY
Of course Major..

Sterns sizes up Blonsky. He then walks off doing a
suspicious double-take of Ross and Talbot.

BETTY
Dad.. How are you going to handle
this? Dealing with Dr. Banner's
mutation is far beyond the scope
of this base..

ROSS
Before we make any conclusions
we're going to locate and
apprehend him.. Then we'll see
what's beyond our scope.. Talbot,
mobilize a platoon..

TALBOT
Yes, sir..

Talbot hurries off. Ross turns and walks off, in deep
contemplation.

Betty watches them walks away, taking a second look at the
damaged wall.

EXT. NEW MEXICO DESERT - AFTERNOON

Bruce and Rick are still in the same area.

BRUCE
I can't believe it.. I have to see
the surveillance tapes.. I have to
see this creature.. This "Hulk"..

RICK
Yeah. He seems to like that
name.. But the second you set foot
on that base they're gonna gas you
and string you up.. They're not
going to take a chance of you
"adjusting your attitude" again..

BRUCE
I've got to study it..

RICK
Hey man- this isn't a science
project! That thing could level
a city! Anyway, we've got another
big problem.. The Hulk bounced us
into the middle of nowhere..
Unless you know of a bus that runs
this route we're stuck out here!

Bruce surveys the area. Something grabs his attention.

BRUCE
Looks like you might have conjured
something up..

Bruce sees a rolling dust trail created by a military jeep
speeding in their direction.

RICK
This could be bad news..

Coming to a dusty halt several yards from the hill, TWO
FIGURES climb from the jeep and run toward the hill.

As they get closer, it can be seen that the two are women.

Once they are only a few feet away it can be seen that they
are-

BRUCE
Betty!

RICK
Margo!

Margo runs to Rick and embraces him.

MARGO
Rick! They wouldn't tell me
anything about what happened to
you! That's why I had to come
with Dr. Ross!

Betty walks up to Bruce slowly, looking him over in a state
of shock.

BETTY
Bruce- You're... You!

BRUCE
Yes.. The mutation wasn't
permanent..

BETTY
Do you think it'll happen again?

BRUCE
I'd have to assume that the gamma
particle exposure of the blast
will continue to effect me.. How
did you find us?

BETTY
We mapped your movements with the
heat signatures the Hulk left.
Then we just followed the craters
to this spot.

BRUCE
I see.. Oh. I guess that means
your father and the army can't be
far behind.

BETTY
We got a big head start on them.
They were just starting to
assemble ranks.. Bruce what
happened to you isn't your fault-
But that won't matter if the army
captures you..

BRUCE
I need time- to study my
condition.. Find a way to cure
myself..

RICK
Ross'll never let you do that-

BRUCE
I know.. That's why I've got to
find a place to hide..

BETTY
You might be able to lose yourself
in one of the big cities..

BRUCE
That won't work.. I can't take
the risk of running tests with
gamma radiation within city
limits. Not to mention if I
transform again.. The danger is
too great.

RICK
So what are you going to do- build
a lab in a cave?

BRUCE
That's a good idea..

BETTY
What?

BRUCE
I'll build a lab here in the
desert.. I'll tap into the base's
power supplies and use reserve
generators.. I've got alot of
money saved up from my grants and
my salary for working on the bomb..

BETTY
But what about getting the
equipment?

BRUCE
Well, that's where I'm going to
need help..

MARGO
We can talk to Congressman
Diller.. He has alot of
connections.. Maybe he can help
with getting the equipment
transported under the radar..

BETTY
Of course Bruce.. I'll do anything
I can to help you..

They share a tender gaze.

BRUCE
Thank you.. I'm going to need an
assistant.. But I'm not
comfortable with bringing Sterns
in on this..

BETTY
Why not?

BRUCE
The reason we were stranded on the
test site was because my jeep
engine failed.. When I looked
under the hood there was some type
of mechanical device connected to
the engine. I didn't have time to
look it over, but I'm sure it's
what killed the engine. And I
think Sterns put it there. I just
don't know why..

INT. TECNO-NEST

The mysterious figure continues to watch Bruce in his cell.

VOICE
..But the whys, wherefores and
more than a few "what-the-hells"
would soon unfold..

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - AFTERNOON

THE INSPECTION TEAM ARE PLACING MARKERS FOR THE QUARANTINED
AREA. THEY ARE ALL OUT-FITTED IN RADIATION PROTECTIVE SUITS.

INT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE, UNDERGROUND CAVERN - CONTINUING

Sterns and Blonsky, also outfitted in Radiation suits. Sterns
looks at his monitor which is registering extreme radiation
levels.

STERNS
Yeah.. We're getting seriously
high readings here.. This area
might have to be closed off for
years..

BLONSKY
Probably so..

Sterns looks up at Blonsky.

STERNS
-So what's with all the secrecy
about Banner? What happened to him?

BLONSKY
We were hoping you might tell us..

STERNS
.."We"? I don't-

BLONSKY
I think you do, Sterns..

STERNS
What are you talking about?

Blonsky back slaps Sterns, causing him to collapse to the
ground.

BLONSKY
Let's start with the kill-switch
in Banner's jeep.. And we'll work
our way back to the crazy set-up
in your apartment.

STERNS
You searched my apartment?

BLONSKY
Not yet, since you've booby-
trapped it. But I think in a
little while you'll be ready to
help us out with that as well.. So
who are you working for?

STERNS
-I'm not working for anyone!

Blonsky hits him again.

BLONSKY
-This can go hard or easy Sterns..
Personally I'm leaning toward the
former.. What is The Leader?

Sterns slowly, defiantly shakes his head.

Blonsky lays into him again.

BLONSKY
(continuing)
Is this Al Qaeda? Or are you part
of some new faction?

Sterns quivers as he gets to his knees. Again he shakes his
head. Again Blonsky hits him- But so hard is the punch, that
STERNS' HEAD COVERING CRACKS AT THE FACE SHIELD. AS THE
PRESSURIZATION DECREASES A GREENISH GAS SURROUNDS STERNS'
BODY. He collapses to the ground. Trying to keep his face
covered.

STERNS
(Panicked)
My God- the radiation!

BLONSKY
****..

Sterns is quickly overcome by the high radiation levels. He
rolls in pain. Blonsky is uncertain of what to do. He takes
out a walkie-talkie.

BLONSKY
(continuing)
Major- there's been an accident..
Sterns has been exposed to the
radiation pocket.. I'm bringing
him in-

FAST CUT TO:

 

[Dragon]

EXT. GAMMA BOMB TEST SITE - AFTERNOON

Blonsky has piled the unconscious Sterns into a military
Hummer and is driving pedal-to-the-metal to get him to a med-
unit before he dies.

BLONSKY
Sterns- you still breathin'?

Suddenly the truck is out of control- And Blonsky struggles
to regain command of the steering.

But his campaign is unsuccessful- the truck slams into a
desert boulder too set in its place to budge. The Hummer
goes into a tumble.

Blonsky staggers from the wreck. He turns back to study the
scene.

BLONSKY
(continuing; Yells)
Sterns! You alright?

STERNS
No need to yell.. I hear you quite
well..

Blonsky turns confused. Not only because Sterns is free of
the wreck. But because his voice sounds so differently. But
looking at him makes the change in tonal manner meaningless.

STERNS HAS MUTATED. HE SHARES THE HULK'S EMERALD HUED SKIN.
BUT THAT'S IT. STERNS' HEAD- HIS BRAIN HAS EXPANDED. HE'S
BECOME A SUPER-INTELLECT JUST AS BRUCE BANNER HAD BECOME
SUPER HUMAN.

STERNS WAVES HIS LEFT HAND AND IN ANSWER SMALL DEBRIS FROM
THE WRECKED JEEP FLY FORWARD AND PELT BLONSKY'S BODY. HE
STRUGGLES TO PROTECT HIMSELF WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

BLONSKY
What the hell is going on?

STERNS
Evolution..

Sterns waves his hands inward AND BLONSKY IS LEVITATING AND
FLYING TOWARD HIM.

STERNS
(continuing)
-It would appear that your acts of
sadism have inadvertently ushered
my progression via gamma mutation
into the cogent being before whom
you hover so impotently.. You
wished to know who "The Leader"
is? I am The Leader..

A WAVE OF MENTAL ENERGY PULSATES THROUGH BLONSKY'S BODY
GENERATING TERRIBLE PAIN.

Sterns, now THE LEADER turns. Blonsky continues to helplessly
levitate following The Leader.

THE LEADER
Come my friend.. We have much work
to do..



INT. TECNO-NEST

The Leader is revealed to be the hidden observer.

THE LEADER
So much to do indeed..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - AFTERNOON

BRUCE
It's ironic..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUING

BETTY
What is?

BRUCE
That I built a bomb.. And then
became one.

BETTY
More than that.. You became the
military's lust for power turned
back on them..

EXT. NEW MEXICO DESERT - AFTERNOON

Bruce, Betty, Rick and Margo remain on the hillside.

BETTY
Bruce.. I'd like to work with you
while you're trying to cure
yourself..

BRUCE
You aren't hiding a PH.D. in
nuclear physics are you?

BETTY
No.. Not in this outfit.. I want
to help from my field.. As a
psychiatrist..

BRUCE
(smirks)
I think the ship has sailed on the
question of my sanity..

BETTY
There's clearly a mental change as
well as a physical one.. I like to
work on that area with you.

BRUCE
I don't know Betty.. I'll be
pretty consumed with reversing the
effects of the gamma ray exposure.
I don't know if I can handle being
a lab rat at the same time.
Anyway- With any luck I'll be
able to cure myself before there's
another transformation.. For that
matter we don't even know how or
why the change comes on-

Suddenly, a squadron of military choppers buzz the hillside.
One broadcasts:

CHOPPER PILOT
(Over loudspeaker)
Attention Dr. Banner!- Attention
Dr. Banner! Make yourself visible
and surrender!

BETTY
Bruce you stay here- Maybe I can
talk them down now that you're
back to normal-

Betty turns to him, and her face is engulfed in shock as she
sees that Bruce's TRANSFORMATION HAS BEGUN-

BETTY
(continuing)
OH-MY-GOD...

The newly reborn Hulk snarls at the circling choppers. Then
notices Betty walking hesitantly toward him. The Hulk looks
at Betty at first with apprehension. She stirs something in
him that calms his anger. Though clouded, he maintains Bruce
Banner's affection for Betty.

HULK
(remembering)
-B.. Betty..

Betty is startled to hear her name on the Hulk's lips, but
then gradually forms a smile.

FROM ABOVE: THROUGH THE COCKPIT WINDOW THE SQUADRON LEADER
GETS A GLIMPSE OF THE HULK.

SQUADRON LEADER
Holy ****.. Look at that thing..
(Over loudspeaker)
Ready all weapons- fire only on my
command-

The Squadron leader brings his chopper in to hover over the
Hulk.

The Hulk lifts a three ton boulder over his head.

HULK
Leave... Hulk alone metal bug! Or
Hulk will smash!

The Hulk makes a warning toss that flies clear over the
chopper. Nonetheless the pilot makes an evasive maneuver.

The Hulk lifts another boulder- Then thinking he turns to
Betty.

HULK
(continuing)
Go- Betty... Danger.. Dangerous..

Rick and Margo approach Betty.

RICK
He's right Dr. Ross- we'd better
get some distance..

BETTY
But Bruce-

RICK
He's the Hulk.. And he operates on
an altogether different stress
level-

Betty doesn't want to go but relents. She, Rick and Margo run
toward the back of the hill.

The Squadron Leader spots this.

SQUADRON LEADER
-The civilian hostages are making
their escape!

The Hulk threatens to toss the second boulder. But the
BOULDER SUDDENLY EXPLODES OVER THE HULK'S HEAD. THE HULK IS
THROWN BY THE FORCE OF THE BLAST.

Stunned he looks down and sees that the boulder had been hit
by a shell fired from an approaching tank, which is followed
by several others.

At the rear is General Ross and Talbot in his command chopper.

ROSS
(To Pilot)
Move in close- I want to get a
look at this thing-

The Ross' chopper zooms over the hill just as the Hulk is
getting to his feet.

Ross spots the Hulk and is in immediate awe. Talbot is
equally struck.

ROSS
(continuing)
..Unbelievable..

The Hulk shakes his fist at the chopper as it whizzes by.

ROSS
(continuing)
Ground command- while he's stunned-
Hit him again!

Inside his M1 tank the TANK COMMANDER responds.

TANK COMMANDER
Roger that sir-

The Tank fires another shell- The Hulk sees the report- But
quickly LEAPS over the blast- avoiding it as THE WALL OF HILL
SHATTERS FROM THE IMPACT.

The Hulk lands on the desert floor with a TREMOR
REVERBERATION. He turns toward the platoon of tanks.

ROSS
Ground Command- Fire at will- put
his lights out!

The Hulk charges toward the tanks- the Tanks begin firing in
fast repetition. THE HULK TAKES A CANNON SHELL TO THE
SHOULDER. He's stumbled but there's no penetration. He
continues his charge, leaping over the cannon shells as they
fly toward him.

The Hulk slams into the tank closest to him. He climbs atop
the tank chassis, slamming his powerful fist into the tank
denting it again and again. The other tanks circle the Hulk.
The tank on his right fires- THE HULK LEANS BACK SLIGHTLY AND
THE SHELL WHIZZES PAST HIM, HITTING THE TANK ON THE HULK'S
LEFT.

Ross watches the scene play out from his command chopper.

ROSS
(continuing)
Attack choppers move in for
support!

The choppers make a formation surrounding the Hulk. The
Squadron Leader opens fire with his machine gun. The swarm of
bullets strike the Hulk's back causing no damage, aside from
stinging him. The Hulk turns toward the chopper with a snarl.

The Hulk leaps at the chopper- but the pilot spins away. The
Hulk lands with a skid. With the way clear, the crew of the
tank the Hulk had been pummeling escape their damaged
vehicle.

The Hulk leaps forward and is met with a barrage of artillery
fired from both the remaining tanks and the choppers. The
Hulk dodges much of it and is only scarcely brushed by those
that make impact. He lands next to the abandoned tank. His
hands clamp down digging into the metal- The Hulk flexes and
LIFTS THE HUNDRED TON TANK.

TALBOT
Good Lord..

The Hulk tosses the tank at the choppers. They scatter to
avoid it.

Circling behind the Hulk, the Squadron leader fires a rocket
that strikes the Hulk square in the back, stunning him. Two
of the choppers fire rockets simultaneously striking the
Hulk. He's staggered. The two functioning tanks follow
hitting the Hulk at close-range with a one-two punch that put
the him on one knee.

Dazed, the Hulk grasps at his open chest wound. He breathes
heavy as he fights to maintain consciousness. The choppers
and tanks roll closer.

SQUADRON LEADER
Squadron Leader to General- we
have the target down- should we
terminate?

In the command chopper, Ross looks over at Talbot.

ROSS
(To Talbot)
That much power in a single body..
We could study it.. Harness it..
(To Squadron Leader)
-Secure the target- we're gonna
take him in.

SQUADRON LEADER
Roger that, sir.

The Squadron Leader releases a gigantic steel mesh net from
the bottom of his chopper. It lands on top of the Hulk. The
Hulk roars in protest. The other choppers follow suit
dropping more nets on the Hulk. Twin cables descend from the
Squadron Leader's hovering chopper. At the end of each cable
is a hook. Several of the tank soldiers move-in. As though
approaching a wounded lion, they nervously attached the hooks
to the nets so that the Hulk is enwrapped within the steel
mesh. The Hulk eyes them angrily and through his pain, a
snarl takes over his face and he begins to struggle,
apparently in vain against the layers of netting. His
snarls becomes more manic, and the soldiers back away.

The soldiers becomes more startled as they see- THE HULK'S
WOUNDS RAPIDLY CLOSE. HEALING AS THOUGH HE'D NEVER BEEN
INJURED.

The Hulk's hands tear through the nets.

The Squadron Leader guns the chopper's engines and begins to
pull away.

Below, the Hulk grabs a towing cable in each hand- and holds
tight.

ABOVE, THE CHOPPER CAN'T PULL AWAY.

Within, the Squadron Leader strains against the controls.

SQUADRON LEADER
(continuing)
What the hell???

Then he feels the chopper buck-

On the ground- THE HULK IS PULLING THE CHOPPER DOWN.

Ross and Talbot continue to watch, stunned to silence.

The chopper is about 10 feet off the ground.

The Squadron Leader slams his fist onto a button

The cables are released and the chopper breaks free of the
Hulk's pull.

The Hulk rises shaking his fist at the chopper.

One of the choppers fires another rocket. The Hulk side-
steps it. A Tank fires a shell directly at the Hulk- THE
HULK DEFLECTS THE SHELL WITH SWAT OF HIS HAND.

The Hulk then raises both fists and slams them into the
ground. The resulting blast of dirt rises 40 feet into the
air.

From the within one of the choppers the pilot is engulfed in
the dust cloud.
CHOPPER PILOT
-Calling Squadron leader- zero
visibility-

The cloud begins to dissipate- and the pilot receives the
visual of THE HULK LEAPING DIRECTLY AT HIM.

THE HULK'S ARC TAKES HIM TOWARD THE CHOPPERS ROTOR BLADES
WHICH HE SHATTERS AS HE CONTINUES CANNON BALLING TOWARD THE
GROUND.

The chopper lands atop one of the tanks totaling both.

The Hulk lands and watches. He considers going back to
destroy the rest, both turns away and leaps off.

The Squadron Leader exasperatedly speaks into his patch-

SQUADRON LEADER
General- the target is escaping..
Should we pursue?

Ross looks over the scene almost in a daze.

ROSS
N.. No. We're going back to base.
We have to re-access.

The Squadron Leader breathes a sigh of relief.

SQUADRON LEADER
Roger that, sir..

The displaced tanks crews and chopper personnel climb aboard
the remaining choppers. Wounded, they turn back toward the
base.

One hundred yards away, Betty sits in the rear of her jeep,
a small video camera in her hand. Rick and Margo are at her
side. They watch playback on the monitor screen of the
Hulk's battle with the military platoon shot from their
vantage point. Betty shakes her head disbelieving what her
eyes see.

BETTY
..Incredible..

RICK
What'll we do now?

BETTY
Wait... Bruce will contact us when
he can..

 

[Dragon]

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - AFTERNOON

Betty continues sitting outside of Bruce's cell.

BETTY
And that almost brings us up to
the present..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - AFTERNOON

Bruce nods his head.

BRUCE
I suppose..

FLY'S EYE VIEW: THE ROBOTIC FLY'S EYE LENSES SHIFT FOR
OPTIMAL VIEWING.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader continues to watch Bruce in his cell.

THE LEADER
Almost, my dear.. But not quite..

EXT. WAREHOUSE - AFTERNOON

A contractor's truck pulls to a halt in the lot outside the
warehouse. Two men exit the truck.

INT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUING

The two men, RILEY and ECKERD enter the empty building.

RILEY
-So it's a simple renovation job..
Just bringing the building up to
code and complying with the
client's power and load
requirements..

ECKERD
So why isn't the guy meeting us
here?

RILEY
Well that's where things get
crazy.. I've never met him.. I
got the job through an e-mail..

ECKERD
e-mail?

RILEY
Yeah.. Guy e-mails me the specs
and how much he's willing to pay..
The money's fine but I say I want
to meet him face to face.. He says
no, so I tell him to go to hell.
Then I find that my bank account
received a down payment of twenty
percent of the job fee and the guy
e-mails me again expecting me to
start working.. I say no- and the
next day the down payment is gone-
PLUS twenty percent of what was
already there! The following day
another twenty percent is gone!

ECKERD
No ****?

RILEY
Finally I e-mail the guy back and
tell him I'll do the freakin'
job.. I'm gettin' paid for it.. So
who needs to hassle with one of
those internet hacker nut jobs?

ECKERD
Yeah.. Sheesh..

EXT. WAREHOUSE - MORNING

MONTAGE: The warehouse is a constant stream of activity-
trucks, materials and workers flow in and out over a period
of weeks.

A DELIVERY MAN approaches Riley with a manifest.

DELIVERY MAN
Okay so I've got your 5 tons of
fiber-optic wiring.. Where do you
want me to put it?

RILEY
Not my five tons buddy..

The Delivery Man looks at Riley blankly.

RILEY
(continuing)
...Find a place for it over there..

Riley signs the manifest.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

The warehouse lot is now empty aside from crates of unpacked
materials which lie in wait.

A NONDESCRIPT VAN rolls slowly and quietly into the loading
dock and pulls to a halt.

INT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUING

The warehouse interior is dark and silent, although it can be
seen that the renovation work has been completed. Dingy
walls with peeling paint are now clean and new. Weak and
wooden support beams are replaced by forged steel and
titanium.

Suddenly the entry doors -BURST OPEN VIOLENTLY. THE LIGHTS
COME ALIVE APPARENTLY OF THEIR OWN DESIGN.

Then The Leader strides in. FLOATING BEHIND HIM IN
TELEKINETIC TOW IS BLONSKY.

The Leader gazes about the freshly rebuilt housing with a
pleased expression. As his head turns- WE SEE THAT HIS
SUPERHUMAN BRAIN IS SCANNING THE BUILDING- THE WALLS FLASH AS
THOUGH WIRED-FRAMED SCHEMATICS.

THE LEADER
Well, Blonsky... What do you think
of your new home?

Blonsky tries to speak, but no words can reach his mouth.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT

The warehouse lot is again a stream of activity, but quite
different this time than in weeks past.

THE CRATES AND MATERIALS ARE BEING UNPACKED AND MOVED INTO
THE WAREHOUSE BY ROBOT CONVEYANCES.

INT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUING

MORE ROBOTS ARE CARRYING AND UNLOADING EQUIPMENT.

THE LEADER STROLLS ABOUT THE ROOM COOLLY; BUT SURROUNDING HIM
IS A MAELSTROM OF MOVEMENT. HEAVY PIECES OF METAL AND HI-TECH
EQUIPMENT SWIRL RAPIDLY ABOUT HIM IN A TELEKINETIC WHIRLWIND,
UNTIL THEY ARE PLANTED ON THE GROUND GENTLY. COMPONENT PARTS
SLIDE PERFECTLY INTO PLACE.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE LAIR BEGINS TO FORM THE FAMILIAR
APPEARANCE OF THE TECHNO-NEST WE'VE PREVIOUSLY SEEN.

BLONSKY CONTINUES TO HOVER IN A DISTANT CORNER PSYONICALLY
PARALYZED. HIS HORRIFIED EYES BEARING WITNESS TO THE LEADER'S
GAMMA-CHARGED MAYHEM. HE MAKES USE OF THE ONLY MUSCLES
AVAILABLE TO HIM, TO VIOLENTLY SHUT HIS EYES.

SCREEN GOES BLACK.

WE HEAR THE SOUND OF SNAPPING FINGERS.

THE LEADER (V.O.)
Wake-up my puppet.. Pry open those
eyes..

THE SCREEN WIPES AS THOUGH EYES OPENING.

FROM BLONSKY'S POV WE SEE THAT THE TECHNO-NEST IS COMPLETE
TECHNOLOGY TWISTING IN A LABYRINTH OF STEEL, PLASTIC AND
WIRING THAT APPEARS NEARLY ORGANIC.

The Leader turns to Blonsky.

THE LEADER
Well? Tell me what you.. Think...

Blonsky remains shocked and speechless.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
But of course I say that loosely..
Thinking was never your strong
suit was it? You were more
comfortable being the military's
blunt instrument. Well then.. You
can fulfill that purpose with me
as well. I too have my own little
army..

Suddenly A COMMON HOUSEFLY is winging its way around The
Leader. Then there are more. A BOTHERSOME SWARM OF THE
BUZZING BEASTS. But The Leader is unbothered. Indeed his
expression id a satisfied one as they fly in a deliberate
pattern around him. He lifts his right hand and on cue, THE
FLIES SWIRL INTO A PROPER LANDING PATTERN ON HIS HAND AND ARM.

ZOOM IN TO AN EXTREME CLOSE-UP OF ONE OF THE FLIES-
CONTINUING INTO THE FLY'S EYE UNTIL NEAR-MICROSCOPIC
CIRCUITRY CAN BE SEEN. THE FLIES ARE ROBOTS.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
You've heard of the term being a
fly on the wall? Well now I'm a
fly on many walls..

With that, The Leader waves his hand and the robotic insects
zoom off.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - DUSK

THE SWARM OF FLIES EXIT THE BUILDING AND SCATTER IN VARIOUS
DIRECTIONS.

INT. MILITARY BASE STRATEGY ROOM - DUSK

General Ross holds forth before a meeting of his top-ranking
men. On the projection screen runs the video footage of the
desert battle with the Hulk.

ROSS
I've watched this film a dozen
times gentlemen.. And I'm still
stunned every time I view it
again. Such raw destructive power
contained within the vessel of a
single humanoid form. We've
stumbled onto a power worth a
billion Gamma bombs.

TALBOT
..That is if we can find a way to
control it, sir..

ROSS
We'll find a way Major. This
green-skinned locomotive has a
weakness you see-

Ross clicks a remote control for a slide projector and a
photograph of Bruce Banner appears on the screen.

ROSS
(continuing)
Somehow, some way he has to return
to the form of Bruce Banner. And
that will be how we get him.

TALBOT
And if Banner is uncooperative?

ROSS
I don't expect him to cooperate.
I expect our scientists to break
him apart and examine the small
pieces until we find the source of
that power and the way to harness
it. With that power at our
disposal- and a working Gamma
bomb, the military strength of the
United States army will be
indomitable!

At that moment- A FLY buzzes past Ross' head. He swats at it
but the fly continues its assault unfettered. Ross finally
threatens to draw his side arm, and the fly shoos away.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

On the main viewing screen The Leader views the footage of
The Hulk.

THE LEADER
Unbelievable.. So it would seem my
colleague has reaped the strange
fruits of gamma rays as well..

He glances over at Blonsky.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
This presents worlds of
possibilities Blonsky.. It would
appear that our destines were
intertwined, Banner's and mine..
Yours as well..

The Leader telekinetically turns Blonsky's body toward a pair
of gigantic and most foreboding BLACK METAL DOORS.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
And your destiny awaits in there..

INT. CAVE LABORATORY OF BRUCE BANNER - AFTERNOON

THE LEADER (V.O.)
At that same interval, Banner was
trying to come to an understanding
of his predicament..

Within the desert rock formation Banner has constructed a
sophisticated lab.

Bruce, Betty and Rick look at the playback of Betty's video
on a large screen.

BRUCE
Amazing.. The gamma charge in my
system, fueled by the adrenal rush
of extreme emotional outburst
causes cellular reproduction at an
frightful rate- causing muscle and
bone tissue density that accounts
for The Hulk's nearly immeasurable
strength and durability. The
charge also causes cellular
reproduction to damaged areas.
I'd estimate that the speed of
this healing is also measured by
the amount of adrenal production.

RICK
What does that mean?

BRUCE
The madder Hulk gets, the stronger
he gets.

BETTY
It's interesting though that rage
seems to fuel the beast.

BRUCE
Well, its the gamma charge that
I'm most concerned about..
Without it, these amount to
nothing more than temper
tantrums.. Nothing a few good
belts of vodka couldn't quell.
I've got to find a way to
neutralize the gamma radiation..

JUMP CUT:

MONTAGE: OVER A PERIOD OF WEEKS AND MONTHS, BRUCE UNDERGOES
BATTERIES OF TESTS EXAMINING AND PROBING HIS BODY. RICK AND
BETTY ASSIST HIM.

ON THE SIDE, BETTY OBSERVES BRUCE, STUDYING HIS BEHAVIOR.

JUMP CUT:

Bruce is in front of a computer. On the monitor is a graphic
representing his body under normal conditions, and to the
right a second graphic representing the Hulk.

Bruce finishes typing and leans back, looking over at Rick.

BRUCE
..It's worse than I suspected.. It
appears that the blast broke down
my cellular structure.. And then
rebuilt it around the gamma
particles.. This would account
for the extreme measure of the
mutation.. What this means is that
the gamma particle is now an
integral part of my physiology..
Neutralizing it may kill me.

RICK
Doc.. There might be another way
to go.. Instead of destroying the
Hulk,, Why not try to control him?

BRUCE
I don't know, Rick.. The
transformations are triggered by
emotional outbursts.. Controlling
that isn't as simple as reciting
"pins and needles, needles and
pins".

It could take years before I
learned to control the Hulk.. And
there's no telling the damage the
Hulk could do in that time.
Neutralizing the gamma particles
would be a faster approach.. Even
if it does mean my dying..

RICK
Doc.. I know it's scary.. But you
can't dismiss your potential for
doing good.. The Hulk's healing
factor. What could controlling
that mean to the world? And I
understand you have a feeling of
guilt over creation of the gamma
bomb.. But that was only one
invention.. There's so much more
that you can accomplish..

BRUCE
...I'd like to think that Rick..
I'd like to have hope for those
things.. But I'm afraid.. It just
might be too late for me..

EXT. MILITARY BASE - AFTERNOON

SEVERAL CHOPPERS FLY OVER THE BASE.

Ross and Talbot look at them overhead.

ROSS
Three months... Three months of
searching and no sign of Banner or
his little green-eyed monster..

TALBOT
We're obviously looking in the
wrong places.. But the question
is, what are we missing?

ROSS
What would Banner be doing? If it
were me, I'd be trying to master
the beast.. Harness the power.. So-
Banner is..
(With heightened
concern)
Trying to destroy it! Talbot we
can't let that happen!

Ross and Talbot begin walking toward Ross' office.

TALBOT
He'd require a substantial amount
of equipment and a vast
laboratory..

At that moment, Betty crosses their path. She greets them
with a smile.

BETTY
Dad.. Major..

 

[Dragon]

TALBOT
Off to play with your primates?

BETTY
They're a little more
intellectually challenging than
the Neanderthals I find around
here..

She walks off.

INT. CAVE LABORATORY - AFTERNOON

Betty is administering a tranquilizer injection to Bruce.

BRUCE
Thanks Betty.. I'm okay with
injections to knock me out.. But
you're good at fine-tuning the
shots to keep calm enough not to
transform, but alert enough to
work..

BETTY
Have you been making any
transformations at night?

Bruce hesitantly nods.

BRUCE
Thank heaven the bunker has held
the Hulk long enough for me to
calm down and revert back to
myself.

BETTY
What's bringing on the change?
Nightmares?

He again nods.

BETTY
(continuing)
About the Hulk?

BRUCE
No.. about an even worse monster..
My father..

BETTY
Father issues? I really wish
you'd let me engage you in
therapy, Bruce.. I'm sure it'll
help get to the root of this..

BRUCE
No time for therapy, Betty.. But
hey, once the Hulk is gone, you
can shrink my head to the size of
a pin..

BETTY
Well we may have a problem with
that Bruce.. You were right when
you said there's no time..

BRUCE
What do you mean?

BETTY
My father has made finding you his
top priority.. Every other
assignment is on hold until the
Hulk is in captivity..

BRUCE
That's disconcerting..

BETTY
And Bruce.. This tranquilizer
therapy isn't going to work much
longer.. It's taking stronger and
stronger doses to effect you.
Your body is building up a
resistance to it at exponential
rates..

Bruce is darkly contemplative.

BRUCE
Not to worry.. I'm close to the
solution.. Excuse me..

Bruce walks away.

Rick approaches Betty.

RICK
..I'm worried about him.. I think
he's sunk into a depressive
spiral..

BETTY
He doesn't seem depressed..

RICK
-We're talking about a guy who's
mastered hiding his emotions.. I
think he's suicidal.. He'll do
anything to put an end to the
Hulk.. Including killing himself.

Betty is visibly upset by this. At that moment, A FLY buzzes
away from resting on her back.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader views the scene on his monitor.

THE LEADER
..How sad.. And completely
unacceptable.. I have use for the
Hulk's power.. It would appear
that having one of my buzzing
automatons follow Dr. Ross proved
beneficial..

The Leader rises from his command chair and walks across the
room. He stops before another series of monitors and gauging
equipment. The gauges present multiple readings, measuring
heart rate, respiration, blood cell count, skin density,
every type of measure of the function of the human body.

Then on another large monitor, WE SEE THE SUBJECT OF THE
READINGS-

A HUMAN FIGURE IS SUSPENDED WITH A CHAMBER OF METAL AND
GLASS. HE'S BEING BOMBARDED WITH CONTROLLED BURSTS OF GAMMA
RAYS. IT IS, WHAT REMAINS OF EMIL BLONSKY, HIS BODY IN THE
PROCESS OF BEING HIDEOUSLY MUTATED.

BLONSKY LETS OFF SCREAMS OF PAIN AND PROTEST- MUFFLED BY THE
GAMMA CHAMBER AND RUMBLING MACHINERY.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
I see your point, Blonsky.. But
I'm afraid protest is useless..
You've ever been a cog in the
wheel.. A part of the great
machine.. And that machine must
continue to roll forward..

The Leader walks back to his command chair.

INT. CAVE LABORATORY - EVENING

Margo has joined the group and they're sitting at a makeshift
dining table having dinner.

BRUCE
Nice to have you here, Margo.. All
of the apostles gathered, for a
Last Supper of sorts..

Rick and Betty stop mid chew. Margo is confused.

MARGO
What do you mean?

BRUCE
I don't mean to sound overly
mournful. It's just that tomorrow
we'll be firing the gamma
cleansing device..

RICK
Bruce we haven't had a successful
test..

BRUCE
Just a question of a few minor
calculations, Rick.. The failed
tests have shown me where we need
to be..

Rick exchanges a knowing glance with Betty.

Rick looks over at Margo.

RICK
Hey Margo, the cave's getting a
little stuffy.. Let's take walk in
the desert moonlight..

Margo is again confused.

MARGO
Uh.. Okay.

They rise and exit.

Betty opens her purse, revealing a small caliber pistol.

Bruce starts to laugh.

BRUCE
Hey- maybe the chicken was a
little over-cooked.. But don't go
shooting the chef..

BETTY
It's not about dinner.. I just
figured this might make things
easier for you..

BRUCE
Interesting therapeutic approach
doctor..

BETTY
This isn't a joke, Bruce.. Is this
what you really want?

BRUCE
Possibly, but it doesn't work that
way.. If I ever tried to
deliberately kill myself, the
resulting adrenal rush would
trigger the change..

BETTY
And what about your experiment?

BRUCE
There's at least a chance I'll
survive.. And even if not, the
gamma particles will be
neutralized before I can change..

BETTY
There has to be another way,
Bruce..

BRUCE
I think the Hulk has proven to be
pretty much unstoppable.. If the
only way to get to him is by
stopping Bruce Banner, then so be
it.

BETTY
This is about guilt, isn't it?

BRUCE
Look at my life, Betty.. One
tragedy after another. Inventor of
the next level of nuclear bomb,
and then I become the Hulk- It's
safe to say my contributions to
mankind are shoddy at best. I've
peaked, my dear.

BETTY
No.. You haven't even scratched
the surface..

She places her hand tenderly on his.

BRUCE
I wish.. I wish there was
something in the cards.. But I
think the Hulk will break your
heart.. Crush it to a pulp even..

Betty becomes indignant.

BETTY
I'm not going to let it happen
Bruce.. All we need is time..

BRUCE
Why not throw in an end to war and
hunger..

BETTY
You're talking to Thunderbolt
Ross' daughter, Dr. Banner.. I may
not have his taste for scotch or
artillery fire, but I've sure as
hell got his stubbornness..

She stands up.

BETTY
(continuing)
I leave you to plan your funeral..
I've got other things to do. I'll
see you in the morning.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

Betty's head sinks low. She's troubled. Guilty.

BETTY
-I can't believe what happened
next, Bruce.. The chain of events
that followed.. I'm so sorry for
it.

BRUCE
(Smiles)
No.. I don't really think you
are.. I mean if we're going to be
honest here.

Betty is struck by Bruce's words. She starts to speak as
reflex, but instead pauses to search herself.

BETTY
Alright. I'm not sorry for what I
did..

INT. GENERAL ROSS' OFFICE - MORNING

BETTY (V.O.)
..Just the result..

Ross' office has become his war room. Posted all about the
walls are reports, images of the Hulk, diagnostics, notes.

Ross pours over a stack of documents on his desk. He's
frustrated. Puffing his cigar hard. Then he flings a handful
of documents across the room.

There's a KNOCK on the door.

ROSS
(Growls)
Go away!

Betty opens the door.

ROSS
(continuing)
..I see you're thinking reverse
psychology, dear.. Believe me..
this time a cigar's a cigar..

BETTY
I'm not here to talk cigars, Dad.
I'm here to talk about Bruce
Banner..

Ross puffs his cigar and nods.

JUMP CUT:

BETTY
-You have to promise me- Give your
word- That you'll capture Bruce
alive- Bring him in so that he can
receive proper treatment.. Give
him an alternative to-

ROSS
(Mustering compassion)
Of course dear.. We want Banner
alive also..

BRUCE (V.O.)
Why didn't you come with them?

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

BETTY
I couldn't face you after I'd
turned you in..

BRUCE
..It's better that you weren't
there of course.. And I know you
were doing the right thing. I
realize that I wasn't looking for
a cure.. only an escape..

INT. CAVE LABORATORY - MORNING

Bruce is readying his equipment to perform the experiment.

Rick watches shaking his head.

RICK
Bruce- please- just give it
another day or two.. Try to come
up with an answer that won't be
fatal..

BRUCE
Everyday my body gets more
resistant to the tranquilizers..
I could make the transformation
because of stubbing my toe.. The
risks for everyone else are far
too great to delay it..

RICK
Well- I won't help you kill
yourself.. You'll have to run all
of this equipment alone.

BRUCE
Uh.. if I could come up with all
of this.. I don't think a remote
control is too far beyond my
reach..

Rick stomps angrily.

RICK
Sometimes I really want to kick
your ass..

BRUCE
And you probably could.. there's
just my "big brother" to worry
about.

Bruce pauses from his work.

BRUCE
(continuing)
Rick.. you've been a great help
and a great friend.. But my mind's
made up.

JUMP CUT:

Bruce is lying on a gurney enclosed within a chamber of
glass and metal. In his hand is a small remote device.

Almost tearfully, Rick observes, not wanting to leave Bruce
alone.

BRUCE'S VOICE COMES OVER A SPEAKER.

BRUCE
thank you for staying with me
Rick.. I've left a note for you to
deliver to Betty. Don't worry..
It's painless.. I hope. I expect
to be at peace in just a few
moments.

And then- THE CAVE BEGINS TO QUAKE. Everything within is
jarred.

 

[Dragon]

Rick looks around confused.

RICK
-Is it supposed to do that?

Bruce's head whips around, more than equally confused.

BRUCE
It isn't doing that- I haven't
turned it on!

The rumbling grows continually louder as Bruce evacuates the
chamber.

Rick checks the SEISMIC MONITOR. He sees A SWARM OF OBJECTS
herding toward the cave.

EXT. CAVE LABORATORY - CONTINUOUS

The Hellish rumbling heralds the rolling arrival of a
military campaign, fit to invade a small country.

10 TANKS. 10 ATACK CHOPPERS. 10 TRUCKLOADS OF SOLDIERS. A
SQUADRON OF 5 F-22 FIGHTER JETS.

INT. CAVE LABORATORY - CONTINUOUS

BRUCE AND RICK HEAR THE scream of the fighter jets flying
overhead.

RICK
-General Ross has coming a'
callin'..

BRUCE
Not now..

The distant clunk of footsteps can be heard near the entrance
of the cave.

Bruce hits the POWER SWITCH SHUTTING DOWN THE LIGHTS.

A TEAM OF INFANTRY MEN, lights mounted on their rifles, makes
their way into the cavern. Seeing everything dark, they
pause.

Bruce and Rick seek cover within the mass of equipment.

The soldiers look for signs of movement but see none.

SERGEANT
Dr. Banner! Surrender yourself
peacefully.. It's the only way to
save yourself alot of hurt!

Bruce remains hidden.

BRUCE
Believe me boys- it's you I'm
trying to save..

The Sergeant looks at the team and nods.

Two men sprint forward with TEAR GAS GUNS. They open fire.

Bruce and Rick see the canisters thump onto the ground.

RICK
(Yells)
You couldn't have just said it
with flowers?

As the GAS spreads, Bruce nervously gestures toward Rick,
guiding his attention towards the depths of the cave.

The vapors begin to overcome Bruce. He begins coughing as he
loses his vision.

Rick helps Bruce as they run deeper into the cave.

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS

Rick helps Bruce along.

RICK
Here's hoping they haven't
surrounded the south end of the
mountain..

Rick begins to struggle with Bruce.

RICK
(continuing)
-Doc.. You going out on me?
You're starting to feel like dead
weight..

Then Bruce's steps become THUMPS.

Rick looks up to see himself under the arm of THE HULK.

RICK
(continuing)
-Oh boy..

The Hulk's expression is one of confusion.

HULK
Rick carries Hulk?

RICK
-Well..

The Hulk lifts Rick with one hand.

HULK
Hulk will carry Rick!

RICK
Hey!

The Hulks leaps straight upward toward the sharp
stalactite-lined ceiling of the cave.

AND SMASHES THROUGH.

EXT. HILLTOP - CONTINUOUS

LIKE AN EMERALD BULLET, THE HULK, SHOOTS THROUGH THE ERUPTING
HILLTOP.

Cradling Rick, the Hulk touches down with a THOOM.

Placing Rick on his feet, The Hulk surveys the scene.

RICK
Looks like the US army is open for
business..

HULK
(Snarls)
Army.. Always hunting Hulk..
Crawling metal bugs.. Flying metal
bugs..

At that moment, General Ross' command chopper buzzes overhead.

The Hulk GROWLS and tosses a rock at it.

RICK
Hulk- Let's just get out of here-
Jump-

HULK
-Hulk is tired of bugs- They
follow.. They.. infest.. For Hulk
to have any peace.. Hulk must
smash them- Smash them all!

RICK
Hulk No-

But the Hulk steps off the edge of the Hilltop-

Dropping 40 feet- AND LANDING WITH AN EARTH TREMOR.

Fearlessly, foolishly? The seven and a half foot mass of
green muscle stomps toward the endless tons of steel and
bullets.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader continues to observe the operation taking place
within the chamber- Albeit, that everything within is
obscured by a thicket of steam.

THE LEADER
-And I believe we are done..

A flip of a single switch on his command chair shuts down the
process.

At that moment- A system of multiple water sprinklers douse
every inch of the chamber, and Blonsky. More steam is
discharged as the room and subject cools.

Moments later, The Leader stands before an automatic door.
THE DOOR SLOWLY RISES. POOLS OF WATER SPREAD ACROSS THE
FLOOR.

AND IT IS REVEALED. FEET? LEGS? A TORSO? A HEAD?

IN OUR FIRST CLEAR VIEW ALONG WITH THE LEADER- A MASS OF
HUMANOID BULK. NOT THE HYPER-MAGNIFIED MUSCULATURE OF THE
HULK- BUT TONS OF ANIMAL-LIKE SINEW STUFFED INTO A SKIN OF
PALE GREEN AMOURED REPTILIAN-SCALED HIDE. HIS FACE IS LIZARD
LIKE WITH RED EYES THAT GLOW AND SHARP TEETH BENEATH JAWS
LIKE A BEAR-TRAP.

The Leader admires his handiwork, looking Blonsky's violated
form over as though a Greek statue.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-A work scientific genus.. Not
human- Not Hulk.. But living
genetic Abomination!

THE ABOMINATION HOWLS IN ANGUISH.

His powerful arms swing outward, smashing into the walls and
rupturing them. He furiously charges forward, intent on
crushing his victimizer. But as though running into an
invisible, impenetrable wall- Abomination suddenly freezes
in his track. He can't make his powerful body move.

THE LEADER IS PROJECTING HIS MIND BLAST AT ABOMINATION. He
again growls in impudent indignation.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-Your body is possessed of near
immeasurable strength.. But
without the brain-function to
control it, it is as useless as
dry well. And none have the
mastery of the brain that I
possess..

The Leader focuses and his blast becomes ore intense. The
Abomination eyes widen- his face trembles as intense pain
swells within his head.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
Do you see? You are
indestructible from the exterior.
But vulnerable in your brain,
which is mine to control. I told
you- You would be my blunt
instrument.. I am not to be
contradicted.

The leader releases Abomination from his mental grip, and
Abomination collapses to his knees with a jarring thump.

The Leader turns his back on the monstrosity without concern.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
Now.. Follow your Leader..

The Leader walks away. The vastly powerful Abomination
follows him like an obedient child.

EXT. DESERT - CONTINUOUS

WITHIN HIS COMMAND CHOPPER, GENERAL ROSS BARKS INTO HIS
HEADSET.

ROSS
Green light! Green light! Fire at
will!

On the ground, the Hulk is wrestling with an M1 tank. He
topples it and it teeters like a turtle on its shell.

Two tanks round behind the Hulk, firing their munitions into
his back. The Hulk is blown several dozen yards.

The tank battalion close in.

The Hulk rolls onto his knee and into a crouch. Swinging his
arms toward the sky, he then drives them into the ground-
CAUSING AN EARTH TREMOR- AND CREATING A GIGANTIC CRATER-
WHICH TWO OF THE TANKS TUMBLE INTO.

Undeterred, the next tanks in the formation continue the
onslaught firing another series of shells directly at the
Hulk. He is again sent flying- slamming into the base of the
hill. A section of it collapses- but the Hulk bursts free.

Ross spots this from the chopper.

ROSS
(continuing)
Choppers- move in- decimate the
hill- Bury him-

The attack squadron surround the hill and begin discharging
rockets- THE HILL BEGINS TO BURST AND CRUMBLE. The Hulk runs
and leaps attempting to avoid the avalanche.

ON TOP OF THE HILL- Rick Jones is near panic as the hill
begins to collapse beneath his feet.

ABOVE- Talbot, piloting Ross' command chopper spots him.

TALBOT
-Damn- It's that hippie punk Jones!

Ross grumbles-

ROSS
Go in!

The chopper dives for the mountain coming it to hover just
above Rick.

ROSS
(continuing; To Rick)
-Climb aboard you idiot!

Rick pauses for only a second considering which is worse- the
avalanche or being in Ross custody- But plays the averages
and climbs aboard the chopper. As they zoom off. THE HILL
DISINTEGRATES.

ROSS
(continuing)
Chopper command- what's your
progress?

The chopper commander surveys the scene.

CHOPPER COMMANDER
The target has been buried sir- No
sign of movement-

But that's because the movement is elsewhere- 30 YARDS
AWAY, THERE IS A RUMBLING OF THE GROUND- AND THE HULK
EXPLODES FROM UNDER THE DESERT FLOOR-

The Hulk up-ends another tank slamming it into another tank in
its path.

The Tank Commander contacts Ross.

TANK COMMANDER
General- He's taken out half of
our team!

ROSS
-Keep up the attack- We'll wear
him down!

The Tank Commander aims his cannon at the Hulk as he climbs
out of the crevice he's tunneled.

The Hulk, spotting this slams his fist into the ground again-
THE TANK IS UPSET BY THE RESULTING QUAKE. THE CANNON TILTS
AS IT FIRES- AND AN APACHE CHOPPER IS HIT.

The Hulk climbs on top of the tank and RIPS THE CANNON FREE
FROM ITS NESTING. The hulk points the disconnected cannon at
the choppers as the move in, expecting it to fire. when
nothing happens, he looks into the barrel with disappointment.

THEN HE LOOKS UP TO SEE ONE OF THE CHOPPERS RELEASING A
ROCKET AT HIM. REACTING QUICKLY, HE SWINGS THE CANNON LIKE
A BASEBALL BAT- SWATTING THE ROCKET TOWARD ANOTHER CHOPPER
WHICH IS HIT- EXPLODING IN MID-AIR.

As another chopper pelts the Hulk with machine gunfire he
covers himself. Then when the chopper gets close, The Hulk
makes a short leap, grabbing hold of the chopper's landing
gear.

The other choppers pursue, firing their machine guns trying
to pick the Hulk off from beneath the chopper. But the Hulk
twits the chopper around forcing it into the of an advancing
chopper. THE COLLISION CAUSES BOTH CHOPPERS TO EXPLODE.

From the Command chopper, Ross and Talbot are stunned.

ROSS
(continuing)
He's gotten stronger.. Somehow-
(Turns to Rick)
What did Banner do to get stronger?

RICK
He didn't do anything- Getting
stronger is the last thing he
wanted! You're the one that's
doing it- You're making him
angrier and that increases his
strength-

TALBOT
-General we've got to hit him with
a blockbuster-

ROSS
(Into his headset)
-Move in the big birds..

 

[Dragon]

RICK
General- Just let him go! Order
your men to pull back!

ROSS
Are you insane? We don't let
something that dangerous run free-

RICK
You're doing more damage by trying
to bring him in!

ROSS
But the point is- We will bring
him in!

Below, the Hulk runs across the desert floor avoiding a spray
of bullets from a chopper in pursuit. The Hulk leaps
grabbing hold of the chopper's underbelly. He and the
chopper pilot struggle- The Hulk brings the chopper to the
ground, and the pilot takes it back up- but as they dip and
rise, the Hulk begins to gain the upper hand in the struggle.

The Chopper pilot gets on his radio.

CHOPPER PILOT
General, he's going to bring me
down- ejecting-

The Pilot EJECTS FROM THE CHOPPER.

THE SUDDEN BURST SURPRISES THE HULK AND HE ALLOWS THE CHOPPER
TO RISE.

An f-18 zooms up behind the Hulk firing its guns. The
massive bullets burn the Hulk's back and he releases the
chopper. Falling- A second fighter jet darts in the opposite
direction, and the Hulk lands atop the jet. He bounces and
then grabs hold of the jet's hull. But the Hulk's grip
begins to tear open the hull-

Seeing that cabin-pressure is decreasing- the fighter pilot
rocks the plane. The sudden jerk tosses the Hulk loose and
he tumbles onto the wing and then beneath. The Hulk quickly
grabs hold of on the missiles mounted under the wing.

The pilot becomes concerned as cabin-pressure continues to
drop.

FIGHTER PILOT
-Blue four to General- The
Target's damaged the hull of my
ship- losing cabin-pressure- need
to eject-

ROSS
What's the target's status?

FIGHTER PILOT
He's clinging to one of my
missiles-

ROSS
-Let fly-

FIGHTER PILOT
Roger that-

The pilot hits the fire button.

The missile's engine fires- and the Hulk hangs on as its
launched.

At the same moment, the pilot ejects from the fighter.

THE HULK, CONFUSED RIDES THE MISSILE. HE SPOTS ANOTTHER
FIGHTER JET FLYING IN HIS DIRECTION. WITH A GROWL, HE FORCES
THE MISSILE'S TRAJECTORY INTO THE PATH OF THE JET.

THE PILOT OF THE JET SEEING THIS IMMEDIATELY EJCTS-

AND THE MISSILE SLAMS INTO THE FIGHTER PLANE EXPLODING IN A
SPECTACULAR FIREBALL.

THE HULK CONTINUES HIS DESCENT, AMINTAINING THE MISSILE'S
SPEED- AND SLAMMING INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER HILL.

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS

THE HULK BOARS INTO THE CAVERN DEPTHS AT DECELERATING SPEEDS
UNTIL HE COMES TO A STOP AGAINST A CAVERN WALL.

Unbelievably, he lies unconscious.

EXT. DESERT - CONTINUOUS

The Command chopper circles the area.

TALBOT
No sign of him, General.. That
might have put him down..

ROSS
-Here's hoping. We'll wait a
little longer then send in the
infantry boys to search for a
body..

Rick shakes his head sadly at the thought of the wanton
violence he's just witnessed. He notices A FLY CLINGING TO
HIS COLLAR, and swipes it away.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader watches the scene on his monitors- his fly robots
reporting from various areas.

THE LEADER
That was entertaining..

He glances over at The Abomination who stands atop a
platform with an array of tech encasing it.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-I was at first concerned about
military involvement.. But it
seems they've made your job that
much easier..

The Leader's command chair swivels right- and a computer
monitor attached to a mechanical arm cranes downward in front
of him.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-And now to find our query...

THE COMPUTER SCREENS GIVES A GRAPHIC OF A LAND AREA. A NUMBER
OF PULSES FLASH IN NUMEROUS AREAS OF THE GRID, UNTIL A SINGLE
PULSE BEGINS FLASHING RAPIDLY, WHILE THE OTHERS CEASE TO
FLASH.

The Leader taps the screen twice-

THE GRPHIC SHIFTS AND WHAT WAS A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE
TERRAIN BECOMES A FRONTAL VIEW INDICATING SEA-LEVEL. THE
PULSE CONINUES AS DIAGNOSTIC READ-OUTS RUN ACROSS THE SCREEN.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
Fortunate that we gamma-charged
mutations emanate great
radioactivity, making us stand out
in a crowd... Or in a cavern, take
your pick. And that is your
destination, dear Blonsky.

The command chair swivels again further right, as the monitor
screen cranes backward.

A keyboard extends from the chair's arm-rest, and The Leader
types.

THE PLATFORM WHERE THE ABOMINATION STANDS COMES TO LIFE-
LIGHTING UP AND MACHINERY BEGINNING TO HUM.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
Godspeed..

A DISCHARGE OF ENERGY ENGULFS ABOMINATION- HIS BODY GLOWS,
THEN BREAKS DOWN TO PARTICLES- AND IS GONE.

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS

The Hulk is still lying unconscious deep within the cavern.
But he stirs. Consciousness returns to him rapidly and he
quickly lifts his torso looking around with angry-confusion.
But he calms seeing no enemies about.

The Hulk gets to his feet.

HULK
..Quiet.. Dark.. Like the place
that Banner keeps me.. Only lets
me out to fight.. But.. Don't want
to fight.. Maybe.. If Banner
could fight, Hulk wouldn't have to-

But as the Hulk muses- AN UNNOTICED FLASH APPEARS BEHIND HIM.
AND THE ABOMINATION IS THERE.

Without hesitation- the Abomination attacks- gripping the
Hulk in a sneak choke hold. The Hulk gasps, surprised and
then choking. He begins to struggle- shocked that an enemy
can match his strength. The Hulk launches of his powerful
legs, crashing backward into the cavern wall- His and the
Abomination's gigantic bodies shatter the wall, but the
Abomination's grip remains sure. It is only the resulting
avalanche of rock and dirt that shakes him lose. The Hulk
and Abomination smash free of the debris and face each other.

HULK
(continuing)
Why does ugly man attack Hulk?

ABOMINATION
Well- that's one thing I gotta
thank the Leader for- I didn't
turn as dumb as a bag a' hammers
when I got gamma-juiced..

HULK
Hulk doesn't understand scaly-man-
What is Leader?

ABOMINATION
-A little itch I can't scratch- So
I'll scratch you instead-

And with that Abomination loads up and slams a punch to the
Hulk's face. While he isn't moved very far, the mere
clashing of these two cataclysmically powerful beings causes
rumblings within the cavern.

HULK
-Always I have to fight- Does
Banner send you after Hulk?

ABOMINATION
=I guess in a manner of speaking-
even if indirectly..

HULK
-Then send this back to Banner-

The Hulk slams his fist into the pile of boulders created by
the avalanche- A single hunk of rock bounces into the air-
and the Hulk bats it with his fist- sending it crashing into
Abomination- stunning him.

The Hulk lunges at Abomination- slamming into him the lunge
carries the two over the edge of the cavern area and deeper
into the cavernous depths.

They land, both unscathed. Like two gladiators, the Hulk and
Abomination begin a slugfest of world war proportion. Their
battle literally making the cavern quake.

EXT. DESERT - CONTINUOUS

Ross and Talbot are on the desert floor measuring the damage
the battle has wrought as well as casualties. Rick follows
after them.

SUDDENLY TREMORS BEGIN TO RATTLE THE AREA.

All there look about, startled.

Ross looks at Talbot.

TALBOT
-It's got to be The Hulk tunneling
out.

ROSS
Mobilize all able units. We're
going to hit him with everything
as soon as he sticks his head out!

INT. CAVERN - CONTINUOUS

The battle between the two behemoths continues as more and
more of the cavern comes down around them.

As they struggle- THE LEADER'S VOICE COMES OVER A
COMMUNICATION UNIT CONNECTED TO ABOMINATION'S BELT.

THE LEADER
(Filtered)
-Blonsky- What's keeping you? You
should have subdued the brute by
now..

ABOMINATION
This ain't as easy as it looks,
cheese-head! Why didn't you come
yourself and brain-blast 'im?

THE LEADER
(Filtered)
I reveal myself only if needed..
Your superior intellect and
violent nature should have insured
you overcoming his mere resource
of strength..

The Hulk becomes startled at the additional voice in the
cavern, especially with the ECHO provided.

HULK
-Stop talking to Hulk with two
voices!

He smashes a punch into Abomination's face to shut him up.

The Abomination stumbles backward.

ABOMINATION
-You're not helpin' me!

HULK
-Hulk doesn't want to help you!

The Hulk hits him again.

THE LEADER
-But I will help you Blonsky-

ABOMINATION
-Stop calling me Blonsky! I'm not
Blonsky anymore- You saw to that!

Abomination and the Hulk crash into a clinch.

THE LEADER
Be that as it may.. Assistance
will be there momentarily..

A FLASH OF LIGHT AND DISCHARGE OF ENERGY OCCURS WITHIN THE
CAVERN, INDICATING ANOTHER MATTER TRANSFER FROM THE LEADER.

The Hulk is momentarily distracted by the flash. The
Abomination takes advantage of that moment to shove the Hulk
backwards, toppling him.

THE ENERGY GLOW OF THE MATTER TRANSFER FADES AND AN OBJECT
BECOMES VISIBLE, SUSPENDED IN MID-AIR. THE SUSPENSION
QUICKLY ENDS AND THE OBJECT DROPS. THE ABOMINATION CATCHES
IT WITHIN HIS MONSTROUS PAWS.

THE OBJECT IS A METALLIC MASK- 2 SECTIONS HINGED AT THE
CENTER SO THAT IT OPENS.

ABOMINATION
What's this for?

THE LEADER
Clamp it around the brute's head-

At that moment the Hulk lunges forward.

HULK
Hulk will stop both voices from
annoying him now!

But as the Hulk closes in, Abomination intercepts his advance-
Slamming the mask into the Hulk's face and clanking it shut.

A GAS IS RELEASED as the Hulk struggles to pull the mask off.

THE LEADER
-A tranquilizing gas- made
especially to effect those of your
power level.. And a magnetized
field capable of repelling even
your great strength..

ABOMINATION
Our great strength? You sure you
just made this for the Hulk?

But at that moment, the MASK SPARKS AND RELEASES A WAVE OF
ELECTRICAL FREEDBACK, AS THE HULK, STRUGGLING MANIACALLY DOES
TEAR IT FROM HIS HEAD!

THE LEADER
Amazing..

The Hulk stands groggily after the effort- the tranquilizer
gas having had some affect.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-What are you waiting for you dolt?

The Abomination heeds the Leader and launches another
assault, slamming hard punches into the Hulk.

Hazy, the Hulk's responses are slow and the Abomination
easily evades him. A combination of blows sends the Hulk to
the ground.

The Abomination closes in to finish it-

But the Hulk, sensing his immanent defeat, forces a LEAP-
which takes him through the side of the cavern.

The Abomination attempts to follow, but can't match the
Hulk's leap, and he crashes back to the ground.

ABOMINATION
What happened? Why can't I jump
like he does?

THE LEADER
-Obviously, gamma rays affect each
recipient differently..

EXT. DESERT - CONTINUOUS

THE HULK SMASHES FROM BENEATH THE GROUND, EMERGING FROM THE
SIDE OF A HILL.

Still groggy, he slowly pulls himself free from the
rabbit-hole he's generated.

LOOKING UP THROUGH FOGGY EYES, HE'S GREETED BY THE REMAINDER
OF ROSS' MILITARY FORCE.

Ross glares at the Hulk from within his hovering chopper.

ROSS
Fire!

FOUR ATTACK CHOPPERS RELEASE ROCKETS.

THEY STRIKE THE HULK DEAD CENTER, WHILE SHATTERING MUCH OF
THE HILLTOP.

THE HULK DROPS 30 FEET- CRASHING INTO THE DESERT FLOOR- AND
CREATING THE HULK-SHAPED CRATER WE'D VIEWED IN THE FIRST
SCENE.

Infantry men move in to surround the Hulk's unconscious body.

But not for long-

THE HULKS TRANSFORMS BACK TO BRUCE BANNER.

Banner rolls over, still unconscious.

In his chopper, Ross looks at the scene through binoculars.
He makes a weary, but satisfied, smile.

INT. TECNO-NEST - DAY

We are now in the present.

THE LEADER
...And now that we have reviewed
the past.. Let us move onto the
future.

The Leader's view screen continues to spy on Bruce banner in
his cell.

 

[Dragon]

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C/BRUCE'S CELL - AFTERNOON

Bruce paces.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL C - CONTINUOUS

Betty continues to write notes.

BETTY
..So why don't we talk about your
anger..

BRUCE
What anger?

BETTY
The anger that fuels your eight
foot two thousand pound bit of
attitude..

BRUCE
There's nothing complicated about
it.. I get provoked by something.
I change..

BETTY
-But do you really think that's
the entirety of it?

BRUCE
Uh.. Yeah..

BETTY
Um.. Here's what I think.. You've
been carrying alot of rage..
Rightful rage- since your
childhood.. Since your mother's
death especially. But you've
repressed it. Repressed every
strong emotion.. Maybe, seeing
your father's rage.. What it
caused.. Not wanting to be like
him, you went the other way and
buried your emotions. So- the
accident happens.. You're charged
up with gamma radiation.. And a
door is opened. All your
repressed anger and emotion..
Emotion you've buried since your
child is released.. And you
transform.. But as you've been
holding all of these emotions in
since your childhood- you've never
really learned to deal with them.
Your emotional life is still
immature. Uncontrolled. This is
why your mentality as the Hulk is
that of a child..

Bruce chuckles.

BRUCE
..I'm sorry doctor, but that's a
little far-fetched..

BETTY
Bruce.. You've buried your emotions
so deep that until recently- until
the release of them through the
Hulk, you could barely speak..
Emotions are so difficult for you
that you couldn't even acknowledge
the existence of them. Why they
came spilling out like a deluge
with Susan.. Why you froze when we
made an emotional connection..

BRUCE
Oh come on, Betty.. Just a little
shyness..

BETTY
Bruce I think if you can gather
control of your emotions you might
be able to control the Hulk..

BRUCE
Control him? I want to be rid of
him!

BETTY
I can understand that.. But maybe
your need to be rid of him is
partly because of what he draws
out of you.. What he exposes of
you..

BRUCE
No.. I'm pretty sure it's because
he breaks things..

BETTY
But if you could stop him from
causing havoc.. What about the
good that his power could do?

BRUCE
Betty I can't.. I can't uh..

BETTY
If we work together, I'm sure we
can bring the Hulk under control..

BRUCE
No! We can't work together.. I
can't control the Hulk- He- I-
need to be locked away.. Your
father is right- I should never
see the light of day again..

BETTY
-You're falling right back into
pattern, Bruce. When emotion
comes into play you have to go
into machine-mode..

Bruce leans back against the wall of his cell.

BRUCE
..I don't think we should discuss
this any further, Betty.. I'm..
getting.. Upset.

Betty huffs.

BETTY
(Pause)
Fine.

She stands.

BETTY
(continuing)
Goodbye, Dr. Banner..

Betty walks away.

From in his cell, Bruce watches her. A look of great pain on
his face.

VOICE (O.S.)
Foolish woman..

Bruce looks around, unnerved by a voice form nowhere.

THEN THE LEADER MATERIALIZES WITHIN THE CELL. BUT IT IS
MERELY AN ETHERIC PROJECTION, PARIIALLY TRANSPARENT.

THE LEADER
-how could she understand.. Men
like we.. Men who exist in the
intellectual world.. Who have no
use for petty emotion..

Bruce adjusts his glasses- his eyes widen at the strange
vision. But he becomes even more startled at the recognition
of his visitor.

BRUCE
(Shocked)
Sterns?

THE LEADER
-Of course..

BRUCE
What happened to-

THE LEADER
-I'm sure I need not explain..
Gamma rays running rampant in this
area as they are..

BRUCE
You've been mutated as well..

THE LEADER
We're twin passengers on a ride
with destiny.. Which is why I've
come to you. In a manner of
speaking..

BRUCE
What do you mean?

THE LEADER
We're both victims you and I.. Of
military ambition.. And we must
unite..

BRUCE
-To do what?

THE LEADER
...Why... To cure ourselves..
Naturally..

BRUCE
That could be promising..

But Bruce draws back.

BRUCE
(continuing)
But... The day of the bomb test..
My jeep was tampered with.. You
had something to do with it-

THE LEADER
I? You wound me Banner.. How
could I do anything to endanger
you? Your loyal assistant..
Closest confidant.. You were the
man I most admired in all the
world.. How could I wish you harm?

BRUCE
...Then who-

THE LEADER
Isn't it obvious? Who has pushed
and prodded you? Who has hounded
you- Used you.. And when you
became a reflection of their evil,
tried to eliminate you- Locked you
in a cage when you'd committed no
crime?

BRUCE
..Ross?

THE LEADER
You were ever a thorn in his
side.. When you'd delivered him
his weapon, he no longer needed
you..

Bruce looks around, confused. The things he'd discussed with
Betty- The Leader's accusations and the sedatives making his
head spin.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
You're tired Bruce.. You need a
place to rest.. To reason.. And
that place isn't here.. I can get
you out.. Together we can free
ourselves of these curses. We can
start anew.. I have resources..

You can apply your intellect to
the types of scientific pursuits
that you've always dreamed of
without slaving for the military
industrial complex..

Bruce considers The Leader's offer in his hazy state.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
Merely say yes and you'll be
free.. Finally free..

Bruce, wearily nods his head.

THE CELL SUDDENLY BECOMES AGLOW. AND THEN BOTH BRUCE AND THE
LEADER ARE GONE.

INT. MILITARY BUNKER MONITORING & COMMUNICATIONS - CONTINUOUS

A communications operator draws back from his monitoring
screen, nearly falling out of his chair- awestruck.

COMM. OPERATOR
Holy ****!

The operators surrounding him turn towards him.

COMM. OPERATOR 2
What happened?

But the first operator is only vaguely aware of those around
him. He bursts from his chair.

COMM. OPERATOR
Sound the security alert! I've
got to get to the Major!

INT. MILITARY BUNKER CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

AS THE SECURITY ALARMS BLARE AND SOLDIERS START SCRAMBLING
THE COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR RUNS FOR THE COMMAND OFFICE.

TALBOT INTERCEPTS HIM AT THE ENTRANCE.

TALBOT
-What's going on? Has Benner
started to transform?

COMM. OPERATOR
-Not transform- transport! He's
gone, sir!

TALBOT
What the hell are you talking
about?

At that moment, Betty hurries toward Talbot, reacting to the
alert.

BETTY
Major- What's happening?

He only glances at Betty, and then fixes on the Operator

TALBOT
-Report!

COMM. OPERATOR
(Nervous, excited)
Banner was talking to himself for
minute- he just looked like he was
freakin' -going stir crazy- But
then there was a flash in the cell-
And he was gone!

TALBOT
God Dammit!

BETTY
I want to come with you when you
track him! Maybe I can help-

Talbot grabs Betty by the arm and starts hauling her off.

TALBOT
You can help alright- By being a
human shield between me and your
father!

INT. GENERAL ROSS' OFFICE - AFTERNOON

ROSS
(Roars)
-BY THE DAMNABLE TARNATION OF
HELLACIOUS ********!!!

Talbot, standing next to Betty, takes a slight step behind
her.

Ross continues stomping around the room.

ROSS
(continuing)
I manage to bag that green-
skinned, two-ton mass of misery-
And you let him go for a Sunday
stroll? The man-power- the
machinery- the money we lost
corralling that beast- and you let
him slip away like a fart after a
Mexican fiesta?

TALBOT
Well, sir.. The Bunker was never
outfitted to deflect teleportation
fields.. Their being such a
rarity..

ROSS
-Why didn't you block him with
your body?

TALBOT
I don't think that would have
worked- you see-

Betty taps Talbot's arm and shakes her head, signaling him
to give-up and be silent.

ROSS
Why didn't you-

At that moment, a man enters. DR. LEONARD SAMSON. Tall,
thin, wearing glasses. He carries a thick booklet.

Ross comes down slightly from his rage-gasm, if only
begrudgingly.

ROSS
(continuing)
-Oh, Samson.. Betty, Talbot-

Samson raises his hand to shakes Betty's, and then Talbot's.

SAMSON
Leonard Samson..

ROSS
Physicist.. Psychiatrist..

BETTY
Physicist and psychiatrist?

SAMSON
Borne out of a lack of being able
to make solid decisions.. Then I
guess it evolved into a feeling
that the pursuit of understanding
of the physical world needed a
dose of sanity, and Sanity needed
to be routed in the physical
realities..

BETTY
I see..

SAMSON
At least it makes me sound a
little more less confused.

ROSS
I figured that Samson would be
best equipped to analyze Banner-

Betty makes an expression of indignation.

ROSS
(continuing)
-That is, because he could
communicate to Banner in his
own language.

Ross smiles evasively at Betty.

ROSS
(continuing)
So, Samson.. Any ideas?

SAMSON
Well, luckily, as the Major says,
teleportation devices are rare.
The cost and energy requirements
being very prohibitive. Reed
Richards has a rudimentary one,
but its range of effectiveness is
extremely limited. The only known
device that has extensive an
extensive range of effectiveness
is in Latveria-

 

[Dragon]

ROSS
Latveria? You mean its that metal-
faced bastard, Doom? I should've
known-

SAMSON
No I don't think so. The
atmospheric discharge is so great
that a heat signature is left
that's visible to satellites. And
our spy-eye hovering over Latveria
didn't capture anything. This
wasn't from Latveria.

ROSS
Then we're sunk..

SAMSON
Not totally. When an object is
teleported, there's a residue of
fried neutrinos left behind..

TALBOT
..But how do we trace them?

Samson lifts the book he'd been carrying.

SAMSON
Well, Banner himself devised such
a way. In his catalogue of gamma-
based projects, he had designed a
device to pull and examine
neutrinos circulating in the
atmosphere, as a way of eventually
using them as an energy source.
A very primitive construction of
this device should be able to
trace the scorched neutrinos
resulting from the teleportation..
Once we trace the general
direction they moved in, finding
the source should be easy based on
the power consumption it would
require.

ROSS
Then let's get moving..

INT. MILITARY BUNKER LEVEL B - EVENING

Rick Jones sits in his cell. Betty and Ross approach the
bars.

RICK
Is this my pardon or my last meal
request? Because in either case,
I want-

ROSS
-Banner's escaped, Jones..

RICK
Really? I'd have expected things
to be a little more dusty..

BETTY
The point is, Rick, we want you
there when we find him..

ROSS
-Anything to make for as little
muss and fuss..

RICK
Don't wanna get your ass kicked
again?

Ross turns to Betty.

ROSS
-Are you sure Banner actually
likes this idiot?

INT. TECNO-NEST - EVENING

Bruce wanders about the nest, a slight appearance of
confusion on his face. The Leader resides in his command
chair, studying Bruce.

Bruce pauses in front of an enclosed chamber, similar to the
one Bruce had constructed within his Cave Lab, but more
refined in structure and design.

BRUCE
..This is..?

THE LEADER
-The chamber for removal of the
Gamma particles from our DNA.

BRUCE
(Hazy)
Of course. But what's all of that
addition apparatus?

THE LEADER
-Nothing connected to the
chamber,, Just additional power
equipment running along the same
conduit..

Bruce continues to study the equipment through uncertain eyes.

BRUCE
..Uh-huh.. I-it looks like some
type of capacitor..
(pause)
I.. I don't know what's wrong with
me.. I'm so clouded..

THE LEADER
-The tranquilizers fed to you by
Ross..

BRUCE
I.. I suppose.. I would have
thought they'd have worn off by
now.. They had to feed them to me
in increasing frequency as my body
became more immune,, But.. I don't
know.

THE LEADER
-What does it matter, Banner?
That will all soon be behind you.
We'll engage the process and
you'll be free of both the little
green men of the military and the
big green man inside you.

BRUCE
Yes.. That's the important thing.

CRANE DOWN- SINKING BENEATH THE FLOOR TO THE SUB-
BASEMENT, WHERE THE ABOMINATION SITD NESTED WITHIN THE
MAHINERY, WATCHING THE ABOVE EVENTS ON A MONITOR SCREEN.

JUMP CUT:

Bruce, shirtless, enters the chamber and lies on the
AUTOMATED GURNEY. THE GURNEY WHIRS AS IT CLAMPS INTO POSTION.

THE CHAMBER COMES TO LIFE AND BRUCE IS BATHED IN AN UNEARTHLY
GLOW.

Suddenly he's engulfed in a surge of pain. He gasps-

The Leader watches from his command chair. A slight grin
sneaks onto his face.

THE LEADER
-- I forgot to mention- there'd be
some discomfort..

Bruce writhes in "discomfort".

Above him he sees A POWER CORE BEGIN TO GLOW AS IT COLLECTS
A MASSIVE, INCREASING NUMBER OF PARTICLES.

Bruce then sees the apparatus he had earlier been suspicious
of POWER-UP.

A READ-OUT DISPLAYS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY BEING COLLECTED AND
STORED.

BRUCE
(Alarmed)
Sterns! W-what's happening?
This is not supposed to be-

The Leader’s voice BOOMS OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER PIPED INTO
THE CHAMBER.

THE LEADER
A minor point, but let's get
something out of the way, Banner-I
prefer the title of "The Leader"..

BRUCE
(Through pain)
W-what?

THE LEADER
The Leader- It should be simple
enough.. Even for one of your
infantile intellect..

BRUCE
-What are you talking about?

THE LEADER
-Merely demanding my due
benevolence.. Though I'll perhaps
allow you to forego the ritual-
Your breaths being in such a
limited quantity..

BRUCE
What are you doing?

THE LEADER
I'd have expected you to reason
the truth- But then.. I have been
dulling your mental processes..

BRUCE
-It wasn't the meds..

THE LEADER
Not the meds- Not the military..
Not now, nor on the test site..

BRUCE
It was you-

THE LEADER
Who but I? Ross? Talbot? They
can scarcely tie their shoes- Let
alone conceive of schemes of such
complexity and magnitude.. And
that was before my evolution..

Bruce shivers as his pain increases.

BRUCE
But why?

THE LEADER
On the test site, I merely wanted
the formula for the Gamma bomb..
I had a purpose- A vision for it
that reached far beyond the
boorish notions of the military..
Like children they saw it as that
fireworks display to be awed at..
A mere meaningless threat that
would change nothing.. But I saw
it as a way to re-shape the
future.. A nuclear bomb with no
residual contamination. Simply a
pure flash of devastation. I
imagined a network of gamma bombs
placed strategically. Not in
cities or any such nonsense- but
along fault lines- beneath the ice
caps, volcanoes, under the ocean..
Creating global disasters that the
collective nations would pay to
prevent..

BRUCE
-You're just a terrorist..

THE LEADER
Not a terrorist- The Leader of the
New World Order. Of course,
things didn't work as originally
planned on the test site. They
worked out far better than I could
have then imagined.. Only proving
that Providence was indeed with
me. As I evolved, so did my
plans.. You became the Hulk- A
vessel of limitless gamma energy..
A self-replicating- exponential
processor of nuclear power.. Now
I'm draining that power from you.
Storing it within my capacitor..
And with my teleportation device
I can project a gamma-charge to
any location I wish instantly..

BRUCE
(Weakening)
-Bastard..

THE LEADER
-You should feel honored, Banner-
You're the first to bask in my God-
like genius.. At least, that can
appreciate it.. The process will
take several hours.. Thankfully,
you should be unconscious and then
comatose shortly, so your pain
won't last much longer.. You see-
I've thought of everything.

At that moment- THERE'S A MASSIVE EXPLOSION outside the
facility.

Bruce smiles painfully.

BRUCE
-Maybe not..

The Leader looks at his monitors to see a battalion of
military surrounding the warehouse, and FIRING BAZOOKAS at the
entry doors, which resists the attack.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - DUSK

Ross, in his jeeps, looks at Samson. Betty, Rick and Talbot
are also there.

ROSS
-Samson, if all this assault
yields is some scorched hosiery
and rubber duckies, you'll be my
next target..

SAMSON
-This location had the energy
signature- it also has the load
requirements for a teleportation
device..

a VOICE comes over Ross' walkie-talkie.

ASSAULT COMMMANDER
-General Ross- We're hitting the
entry doors- but they're holding
up- I don't know what they're
made of..

ROSS
-Keep firing- I'm on my way-

Ross and Talbot climb out of the jeep.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader smirks at the unsuccessful attack displayed on
monitors.

THE LEADER
How bothersome.

He looks into the air at something that isn't there.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-Blonsky- see who's at the door..

INT. TECNO-NEST SUB-BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS

The Abomination, hearing The Leader's telepathic summons,
breaths heavily and then rises from his nesting place.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - DUSK

THE SOLDIERS CONTINUE TO SLAM ROCKETS IN THE WAREHOUSE.

ROCKETS HIT THE BRICK-FACING OF THE BUILDING, BUT WHEN THE
BRICK IS BLOWN AWAY, IT ONLY REVEALS A SUB-LAYER OF THE SAME
HEAVILY RESISTANT METAL AS THE DOORS.

Ross and Talbot observe, stunned.

TALBOT
A metal that won't rupture-

ROSS
Impossible! There isn't enough
Adamantium in the world to fortify
anything that big- and we'd have
heard about this big a theft of
Vibranium-

Samson appears behind them. He too looks upon the
unsuccessful assault, marveling.

SAMSON
Whoever's in there must've found
a way to synthesize those metals..

Back at the frontline of the assault, the soldiers look upon
the unyielding facility, appearing confused and dejected.

Then- THERE'S A BLINDING FLASH- and with the returning of
their vision, the soldiers are greeted with the nightmarish
presence of the ABOMINATION.

The soldiers open fire on his advancing form, to no effect.
The Abomination begins slamming the soldiers about like
ragdolls. Urban assault vehicles roll in, firing artillery.
The direct hits only push the Abomination backward.

Ross and the others can't clearly see what's happening. Ross
grabs hold of his radio.

ROSS
Wilkins- report-

At the font, Assault Commander Wilkins fearfully grabs hold
of his radio-

ASSAULT COMMMANDER
-More bad news General-

ROSS
What?

ASSAULT COMMMANDER
-We came here looking for the Hulk-
But it looks like we found
something worse!

ROSS
-What is it?

The gigantic paw of the Abomination reaches and clasps
Wilkins’s hand- And effortlessly lifts Wilkins' entire body so
that the walkie-talkie is at the Abomination's face.

ABOMINATION
An old friend, Ross! I'll be
there in a minute to say "hi"...

The Abomination tosses Wilkins aside.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader watches the battle with an arrogant smirk.

THE LEADER
Do you see, Banner? Can you see?
They believed that you- possessed
of unimaginable- limitless brute
power was the greatest force they
would encounter.. Now they see
that intellect is the greatest
power.. And the greatest threat..

Then a look of slight disappointment takes over The Leader's
face.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
But why should I remain hidden any
longer? I want to see their
defeat first hand.. I want them to
see their conqueror in the flesh..
Yes- I'll greet them personally..

 

[Dragon]

THE LEADER'S COMMAND CHAIR BEGINS RELEASING JET EXHAUST FROM
ITS UNDERBELLY. IT DISEMBARKS FROM ITS BASE AND FLIES TOWARD
THE ENTRY DOORS.

He looks back at Bruce, sinking into unconsciousness.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-I trust you won't go anywhere,
Banner..

He laughs.

THE ENTRY DOORS AUTOMATICALLY BURST OPEN AS THE COOMAND CHAIR
THROUGH THEM WITHOUT PAUSE.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The Abomination punches the military Urban Assault vehicles,
toppling them- charging ever toward Ross.

Ross watches his forces being crushed, but does not himself
budge.

In the command jeep, Rick and Betty remain watching the
battle. Rick is looking through binoculars.

RICK
-Betty.. The entry doors are open!

BETTY
-What?

She grabs the binoculars from Rick, not realizing he has the
strap around his neck- He gags, and the wrest the strap free
of him. Betty climbs out of the jeep and looks at the entry
doors.

BETTY
(continuing)
We can get inside-

THE LEADER (O.S.)
I'm not sure you want to do that..

Betty and look up to see The Leader hovering above them in
his command chair.

THE LEADER
-Our dear Dr. Banner is in the
midst of a rather excruciating
death.. I don't think you'd want
to see him that way..

BETTY
(Startled)
-W-who are you?
(Then recognizing)
Wait- Sterns?

THE LEADER
So nice to be remembered..

BETTY
What are you doing to Bruce?

THE LEADER
-All in the name of science my
dear.. I suppose if you want to
say goodbye to him you may..
There's nothing else you can do
for him..

Betty looks at Rick, who also climbs from the jeep. Together
they run toward the warehouse.

Down the road, all obstacles rendered moot, The Abomination
stomps toward Ross.

ABOMINATION
I hope you don't mind if I don't
salute, General..

ROSS
What.. Who are you?

ABOMINATION
-That's right- you wouldn't
recognize me- But I guess even if
I looked the same you wouldn't
give a damn..

TALBOT
(Shocked)
Blonsky???

ABOMINATION
..That's who I used to be-

TALBOT
What happened to you?

ABOMINATION
Just making the sacrifice for the
service..

ROSS
My God, Blonsky.. We'll do
everything we can-

ABOMINATION
To help me? Don't pretend you
give a damn now- Since you did
nothing to find me and prevent
this-

TALBOT
We searched for you-

ABOMINATION
-You don't want to waste your last
few words on a lie, Major- The
creep who did this to me was right
about one thing- I was nothing to
you but a blunt tool- Emphasis on
the word BLUNT-

Abomination raises his massive fist to slam a fatal blow-

THE LEADER (O.S.)
-That will do, Blonsky..

Abomination halts and turns. Ross and Talbot also look
toward the voice. The Leader now hovers a few feet away from
them.

THE LEADER
There's no need to kill them..
They can serve to further my
plans..

TALBOT
(Shocked yet again)
Sterns???

ROSS
(Confused and Angry)
What the holy flamin' hell is
going on around here?

The Leader smiles.

THE LEADER
-Ironic that you would ask such a
question General Ross, since it
was you who opened the Pandora's
box of Gamma radiation.. And you
may call me- The Leader-

The Leader leans forward- a blast of mental energy ripping
forth- Showering Ross and Talbot in pain. Their bodies
become things out of their control, and they collapse to
their knees, prostrate before The Leader.

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

Betty and Rick approach the chamber and look upon Bruce with
mounting torment.

BRUCE IS WASTING AWAY. HE'S EMACIATED, APPEARING LIKE A
VICTIM OF STARVATION. HIS RIBS CAN BE SEEN UNDER HIS SKIN.
HIS SKIN IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY TRANSLUCENT.

BETTY
Bruce- what is he doing to you?

Bruce's eyes open. He forms a semblance of a smile at the
sight of Betty and Rick.

BRUCE
..A cure..

RICK
This is a cure? I'd hate to see
his idea of torture!

BRUCE
..A cure.. For the world.. A cure
from me..

BETTY
Bruce you can't let this happen!

Rick looks around.

RICK
There's got to be a way to shut
this off!

Rick runs off looking for the controls.

BRUCE
..Told you.. My story is written..
This is what I want..

BETTY
Who's writing your story, Bruce?
It's you who've chosen to end your
story this way! It doesn't have
to be like this!

BRUCE
-Nothing can be done about the
Hulk..

BETTY
The Hulk has never attacked, Bruce-
He only defends himself.. It's
not in him- It's not in YOU to be
the aggressor..

Bruce lowers his head as the effects of the power-siphoning
continue to weaken him.

BETTY
(continuing)
-Don’t you see? You already exert
some control over the Hulk! With
time you can control him
completely..



Bruce continues to sink without responding.

Betty looks around desperately. She spots the monitors
displaying the events outside the warehouse.

BETTY
(continuing)
Look at what Sterns is doing,
Bruce- This is what he wants!

Bruce struggles to lift his head.

BETTY
(continuing)
I don't know what he's planning to
do, but it's got to be worse than
anything the Hulk could ever do!

Rick choose what he thinks would be the power switch. He
grabs it and is BLASTED WITH A SHOT OF PULSATING ENERGY-

BRUCE
Rick!

Betty runs over to Rick to check him. He's unconscious.

BETTY
Do you see this Bruce= what we've
been risking to help you? What's
Sterns planning to do?

BRUCE
..Conquest..

BETTY
-Is that something you would do?

Bruce struggles to think.

BETTY
(continuing)
Is that something you're going to
let happen?

Bruce's face grimaces. He begins to struggle. His teeth
clench. HIS EYES GLOW GREEN.

THE DETERIORATED MUSCLE AND FLESHREGENERATE. HE BECOMES
LARGER- EVER LARGER. THE HULK SMASHES FREE OF THE CHAMBER.

He leaps forward. Landing near Betty and rick.

HULK
Betty- why are we in this ugly
place?

BETTY
-Let's just get out here!

The Hulk lifts Rick. He charges for the entry way, running
through the open doors.

Outside the warehouse, the Hulk surveys the scene of the
battle aftermath.

HULK
Soldiers beaten..

He looks at Betty.

HULK
(continuing)
-Did Hulk do this?

BETTY
No.. It was them-

Betty gestures toward the Leader and Abomination, still
holding Ross, Samson and Talbot trapped.

HULK
Ugly man! Take care of Rick, Betty-
Hulk will

BETTY
-Smash?

HULK
Well, Hulk was first going to ask
them to leave- But will smash if
I have to-

He gently places Rick down, then leaps off.

Betty watches him, thinking.

BETTY
-Bruce is starting to take
control..

The Hulk crash lands near The Leader. The Leader turns,
stunned.

THE LEADER
Why Dr. Banner, I didn't know you
had it in you..

HULK
Don't call Hulk Banner, long head-
or Hulk will smash your flying
toilet-

ABOMINATION
Ready for a rematch, green-eyes?

Abomination steps forward.

THE LEADER
No, Blonsky- Not you.. I'll handle
this mallet-headed buffoon-

The Leader leans forward, focusing a mental blast at the Hulk-
Which has no effect. The Hulk strides forward. The Leader is
struck to disbelief.

THE LEADER
(continuing)
-Impossible! In conceivable!

The Leader sends forth a stronger blast- Which still has no
effect.

HULK
-Stop looking at Hulk funny, long-
head. You are not so nice-looking
either..

The Hulk, wanting to get to the Abomination walks past the
Leader's command chair, knocking it effortlessly aside.

THE LEADER
-Can it be? The Brute is so
simple-minded that my mental
blasts have no effect?

ABOMINATION
-That's pretty funny- Never
thought there'd be an upside to
being a ******..

HULK
Soldiers are Hulk's enemies too,
Ugly man- But Hulk thinks you like
to hurt them- So Hulk would like
to hurt you-

ABOMINATION
-Good luck with Forrest-

The Abomination throws a punch at the advancing Hulk. But
the Hulk blocks it. They begin brawling anew.

As the two awesome beast engage, the soldiers struggle to get
clear.

The Leader's focus away from them, Ross, Talbot and Samson
recover. They are startled to see the struggle between the
Hulk and Abomination.

The Leader looks down at them.

THE LEADER
-You've been given a moment's
respite, gentlemen, but this will
be resolved shortly..

The Hulk and Abomination's battle moves back toward the
warehouse, devastating everything in their path.

HULK
Hulk does not like looking at your
face-

The Hulk lands a sharp blow on the Abomination. He then
grabs the sides of the Abomination's face.

HULK
(continuing)
Let- Hulk fix it!

The Abomination thrusts the Hulk backward.

ABOMINATION
-If that was your attempt at an
insult pea brain- it worked!

The Abomination slams the Hulk backward.

The Leader flies his command chair back to the warehouse. He
pauses above Betty and Rick who is starting to recover.

THE LEADER
(To Betty)
I suppose I have you to thank for
the Hulk's re-emergence, Dr. Ross..

BETTY
--Glad I could help-

THE LEADER
-You'll soon change your tune..

The Leader flies back into the Techno-nest.

Betty looks at him and then at Rick. Rick painfully strains
to lift himself.

RICK
-If not for the baked flesh and
shouldering hair, I might have
actually enjoyed that jolt-

 

[Dragon]

BETTY
Can you walk?

RICK
In any direction that gets me away
from here.

BETTY
Not the plan.. Sterns is going to
do something crazy-

RICK
-That's as opposed to all the sane
things he done so far...

BETTY
Let's go!

Betty helps him up and they enter the building.

The Hulk and Abomination continue their battle, edging closer
to the warehouse.

The Hulk lands another hard blow, which floors the
Abomination.

HULK
-Hurting you not as much fun as
Hulk thought.. Maybe you should
give up, Ugly one..

The Abomination struggles to recover.

HULK
(continuing)
..Banner.. Banner wanted to cure
something.. Maybe he could cure
you..

The Abomination's face forms into a growl.

ABOMINATION
-Are you nuts? Sure- this look
takes some gettin' used to- But
the power- It's unbelievable!
Who'd want to be cured of this?

And with that, the Abomination SLAMS HIS FISTS INTO THE
PAVEMENT SHATTERING IT.

The Hulk stumbles, and the Abomination lands a haymaker punch.

The Hulk flies backward landing on the ground hard. He rises.

HULK
-You think that can stop Hulk?

But as he rises, something strange happens. He begins to
stride forward- but with each step, HE SHRINKS. HE
TRANSFORMS BACK TO BRUCE BANNER.

BRUCE
(Fearfully)
-Then I guess you'd be right..

The Abomination laughs.

ABOMINATION
You see? Who wants to be a
normal, nothing, runt like you?

The Abomination grabs Bruce in one hand.

ABOMINATION
(continuing)
Come here, Shorty.. The Leader'll
want to see this..

INT. TECNO-NEST - CONTINUOUS

The Leader is at work within the control section.

Betty and Rick charge at him.

Without looking at them- the Leader mental blasts them,
causing them to freeze.

THE LEADER
-That's enough out of you two.

BETTY
What are you going to do?

THE LEADER
-I've siphoned enough of the
Hulk's power to release a charge
that will level this area.. A
fitting display of my omnipotence.

RICK
But you'd be killed too-

THE LEADER
Not with my teleportation device
to instantly remove me from the
danger area..

BETTY
The Hulk will stop you-

ABOMINATION (O.S.)
The Hulk couldn't stop a clock-

The Abomination carries Bruce forth. Betty and Rick are
shattered at the site of Bruce's helpless state.

THE LEADER
Ah... I see that the power
siphoning resulted in your not
being able to maintain the
transformation.. Providence
strikes again.. You're just in
time, Blonsky- I'm going to blow
this city to leptons.

Abomination drops Bruce in shock.

ABOMINATION
(Angrily)
-With us in it? I know you're
crazy, but I ain't ready to follow
you to fairyland-

Bruce looks at the capacitor and sees the power building
within it.

The Abomination suddenly smashes the control console.

THE LEADER
You fool! We would've teleported
away to safety! Now you've
shattered the mechanisms! The
power is being released! We'll
all die!!

Bruce charges toward the capacitor, which is discharging the
gamma energy.

BRUCE
-That power is mine-

Bruce runs into the direct path of the energy flow.

BRUCE
(continuing)
I'm taking it back!

Bruce is bathed in the energy, which his body absorbs like a
sponge. He immediately transforms back into the Hulk.

But the capacitor continues to rupture. It begins to explode.

THE LEADER
We've got to escape-

The Leader powers his teleportation device. He runs toward it

The Abomination begins to follow, when the Hulk grabs him by
the arm-

HULK
-No need to run, ugly one- Hulk
will help you-

ROSS

The Hulk tosses the Abomination toward the teleportor. He
slams into the Leader and both tumble into the device as it
begins to glow. They start to break into particles and
teleport-

When The Hulk SMASHES THE CONSOLE- THE TELEPORTER EXPLODES-
THE LEADER AND ABOMINATION'S PARTICLES SPREADING INTO
DISARRAY AND BURNING UP. THEY SCREAM IN PAIN AND TERROR
UNTIL THEY ARE GONE.

The Hulk then grabs Betty and Rick in each arm and leaps
clear of the building AS IT EXPLODES.

EXT. WAREHOUSE - CONTINUOUS

The Hulk and his human cargo land in the middle of the street-
clear of the explosion. He places Rick and Betty on the
ground.

Ross and Talbot approach them.

Ross hugs Betty, and then walks toward the Hulk. The Hulk
makes an uneasy snarl at him.

ROSS
-Banner.. Can you hear me in
there? I have to thank you.. For
what you've done-

HULK
-Shut-up Ross.. And stop shooting
at Hulk..

The Hulk lowers himself to be eyeball to eyeball with Ross.

HULK
(continuing; Softly)
It makes me mad..

Ross is taken aback at the Hulk's subtlety.

The Hulk steps away, turning his back. Then he glances back
at Ross.

HULK
(continuing)
-And stop smoking cigars.. They
make you smell funny..

And with that the Hulk leaps into the air, and out of sight.



Ross walks back toward the others. Talbot is the first Ross
reaches and he begins walking with Ross.

TALBOT
General- with all due respect,
despite the Hulk's actions, I
still believe he has to be
captured.. That kind of power must
be controlled..

ROSS
His power can be harnessed and
utilized..

They reach Betty and she walks with them.

BETTY
Are you kidding? Bruce Banner has
a right to live freely- and you
saw it- He can control the Hulk-



They reach Samson, who joins into the conversation.

SAMSON
-Well, with study. I think
Banner's mental condition can be
healed- as a whole person, he
might be able to control the
transformations or stop them
altogether..

Rick watches the debate with a shrug. He looks to the sky.

RICK
(To the Hulk)
-Take care, Big buddy.. I'll be
here when you need me..



He then runs to catch up to the others.

RICK
(continuing)
You guys are way off base.. But
you're going to need my help..

ROSS
Says you- Hippy..





EXT. HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS - DAWN

Tucked away in a crevice, the Hulk sits. The cold
temperatures do not scathe him. But the loneliness does. A
sad expression is frozen onto his face. HE TRANSFORMS
BACK TO BRUCE BANNER. But the expression remains the same.

FADE OUT.

THE END