William Shakespeare's Avengers
Page 9
Incessant are thy spinning rims—proceed!
The readiness is all, the time hath come.
[Stark walks inside the tower as machines remove his suit.
LOKI
Wouldst thou appeal to my humanity— 20
Make me feel guilty for my wicked schemes—
Appearing thus unarm’d and innocent?
STARK
In point of fact, I plan to threaten thee.
LOKI
Thou shouldst have left thine armor on for that,
For thou art weak whilst I am passing strong. 25
STARK
Innumerable miles the suit hath seen,
And thou hast thy glow stick of destiny.
Wouldst have a drink?
LOKI
—To stall shall nothing change,
For I shall act no matter what thou dost.
STARK
Ill are thine ears—not stalling, threatening. 30
No drink, then, thou art certain? I’ll imbibe.
LOKI
Chitauri come anon, naught shall delay’t.
What have I, then, to fear?
STARK
—It’s the Avengers.
The name by which we call ourselves—our team.
“Earth’s heroes mighty” we may be describ’d— 35
Belike we shall, in news reports hereafter.
LOKI
I’ve met them, and avoided them as well.
STARK
It took us time to gain our traction, yea,
This much I shall confess. Yet, let us count—
Thy brother, demigod, of Asgard come, 40
A Super Soldier born of strength and virtue,
A living legend who deserves his fame,
A man with horrid anger management,
A pair of sly and masterful assassins—
And thou, my fellow, madest each one mad. 45
LOKI
Such was the plan—I did not improvise.
STARK
It was a plan most foolish. When they come,
Which presently they shall, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls, for it tolls for thee.
LOKI
I have an army, stronger than thy group. 50
STARK
Indeed? We have a Hulk of anger wild.
LOKI
Methought the mighty beast had weakly fled.
STARK
It seems thou missest e’er the point—there is
No throne to claim that thou mayst sit upon,
No ending to this tale in which thou winnest, 55
No final act that sees thee on the top.
Perchance thine army shall arrive in time,
Perchance that army shall o’ercome our group—
Yet all the shame and pain shall fall on thee,
Because if we cannot protect the earth 60
Be certain, villain, we shall it avenge.
LOKI
How will thy friends have time to clash with me
If they are busy fighting thee, their foe?
The power of my scepter makes it so!
[Loki puts his scepter against Stark’s chest to force Stark to do his will, but it clangs against Stark’s arc reactor.
This usually worketh, by my troth. 65
STARK
It’s not uncommon, some performance issues.
E’en gods of Asgard may prove limp at times.
One out of five, so the statistics say—
[Loki grabs Stark by the throat.
[Aside:] Pray, JARVIS, anytime thou ready art!
LOKI
Ye all shall fall before me as I rise. 70
[Loki throws Stark through a window.
STARK
I say, deploy! Or Stark’s fate shall be stark.
[While he falls, an Iron Man suit rushes out to him and encompasses him. He flies back safely.
There is one more whom thou didst anger, Loki—
His name was Phil: a worthy man, and true.
[Stark shoots Loki, who falls. The Tesseract sends a beam into the sky, opening a portal in the atmosphere.
SELVIG
It is the time. This is the sign, I’ll warrant!
ENTER LEGIONS OF CHITAURI WARRIORS.
STARK
Incessantly doth come th’unworldly throng. 75
[Stark fights and destroys some warriors. Others make their way to the streets below, spreading terror and destruction.
Alas, see how they sack our precious city,
Whilst all the populace in fear doth flee.
An awful threat as ever we have seen
Hath come upon us. Friends, I bid ye, come!
LOKI
[aside:] Here is the vision I have long’d to see! 80
The puny folk attack’d by warriors
Robust and eager to assert their reign.
ENTER THOR.
THOR
Fie, Loki! Stop the Tesseract e’en now,
Or I’ll destroy it fast and gladly so.
LOKI
Nay, thou couldst not begin to stop it now— 85
There’s none of halting, for there’s only war.
THOR
So be it, brother. I shall prove thee wrong.
[They fight.
ENTER NATASHA ROMANOFF, STEVE ROGERS, AND CLINT BARTON IN A PLANE.
ROMANOFF
Stark, we are bound northeast, position three.
STARK
Indeed? Paus’d ye for supper on the way?
Steer near to Park—I’ll lay them out for ye. 90
[Stark leads the Chitauri chasing him into the path of the plane, and Romanoff shoots them down.
JARVIS
Sir, more incoming.
STARK
—It must be as ’tis.
We’ll keep them occupied as best we may.
[The plane approaches where Thor and Loki are fighting.
BARTON
Shall I engage the talons of my wrath
To strike at Loki e’en where he doth stand?
LOKI
’Tis Barton—servant who betray’d his master! 95
[Loki shoots at the plane, severely damaging it.
THOR
Nay! Strike at them and thou shalt feel my rage.
[Thor pummels Loki.
BARTON
A landing swift and rough we soon shall make,
I will attempt to perch sans some misfortune.
[The plane crashes into a courtyard.
We’re down and out, yet we, at least, are down.
[Rogers, Romanoff, and Barton run from the plane.
ROGERS
We must make our ascent unto Stark Tow’r! 100
ENTER A LEVIATHAN, CARRYING MANY CHITAURI WARRIORS.
Shall we pull in leviathan with a
Fishhook or tie its tongue down with a rope?
Shall we put cables d’rectly through its nose
Or puncture its strong jawline with a spear?
Shall it beg us for mercy, or, mayhap, 105
Shall it speak unto us with gentle words?
Nay! For ’tis massive, past all understanding.
[Into radio:] Stark, dost thou see this giant, floating beast?
STARK
[into radio:] I see, yet I attempt still to believe.
Where is Bruce Banner when he’s needed most? 110
Hath he not shown his verdant visage yet?
ROGERS
[into radio:] Thou seekest Banner?
STARK
[into radio:] —If he co
meth, tell.
Pray, JARVIS, find me some small spot thereon,
Which I may strike and slay the armor’d beast.
THOR
[to Loki:] Look thou on all the chaos thou hast wrought! 115
Think’st thou this madness endeth with thy rule?
LOKI
It hath begun, and ’tis too late to stop’t.
THOR
Nay, for we can and shall together. Yea?
[Loki stabs Thor.
LOKI
Weak sentiments from he who should be strong.
[Stark strikes Loki, who jumps from Stark Tower and rides off with a Chitauri, past Rogers, Romanoff, and Barton.
BARTON
[to Rogers:] Civilians roost within the buildings here, 120
In danger, wholly trapp’d, and sore afeard.
ROGERS
’Twas Loki who hath just pass’d by our way,
And threateneth the people, who are stuck
Like fish caught in a barrel for the slaughter.
See how the numerous Chitauri come? 125
ROMANOFF
We shall stand off against the wicked beings—
Go thou and save the citizenry, Cap’n.
ROGERS
Shall ye two hold them off? Are you both sure?
BARTON
’Twill be our pleasure genuine. Take wing!
[Rogers runs toward Loki as Romanoff and Barton engage the Chitauri.
ROMANOFF
[to Barton:] ’Tis like bleak Budapest hath come again! 130
BARTON
Ha! Thou and I remember Budapest
As diff’rent as an ostrich to a starling.
ROGERS
[aside:] My partners, skill’d with arrows, blades,
and guns,
Shall keep the aliens from further mischief,
Whilst rescuing civilians from grave harm. 135
I’ll venture forth to aid more helpless people,
Who are within these buildings undefended,
Whilst war is o’er the city like a plague
That comes to cast a population down.
Go, Rogers, earn the title thou wert giv’n! 140
ENTER SEVERAL POLICEMEN, FIGHTING CHITAURI.
POLICE 1
’Twill be an hour until the Guard arrives
To give us aid.
POLICE 2
—Yet doth the army know
What matter here occurreth?
POLICE 1
—Sir, do we?
ROGERS
[approaching:] Sirs, hear: you need policemen in these
buildings,
For many people still are stuck within 145
And shall run swiftly into danger great.
Take them unto the basements or the subway,
Yet keep them off the avenues, I bid ye.
As far behind as Thirty-ninth, we must
Create a firm perimeter. You see? 150
POLICE 2
What reason have we to take orders from you?
[Three Chitauri rush toward Rogers, and he subdues them quickly.
[Aside:] A-ha, the reason now is evident!
[To other police:] I need policemen in these buildings fast,
Lead people down, away from th’avenues.
As far behind as Thirty-ninth, we must 155
Create a firm perimeter, forsooth!
[Stark flies near the leviathan and shoots at it, and it begins to chase him.
STARK
If nothing else, I’ve garner’d its attention.
Step one is easily fulfill’d thereby,
Yet what, I pray, was my step two? Alas!
It seemeth Tony Stark is out of step. 160
ROMANOFF
A parry, dodge, and swipe—another drops!
These horrid creatures fall before our prowess.
BARTON
We are as agile as flamingos, friend,
And better suited for a fight than roosters.
[Rogers and Thor join the other Avengers.
ROGERS
[to Thor:] How doth the struggle go within Stark Tower? 165
THOR
Impenetrable is the power that
Surrounds the Tesseract—’twill not be stopp’d.
STARK
[into radio:] Indeed, Thor is correct. We must defeat
This legion.
ROMANOFF
—How shall the dark task be done?
ROGERS
United, as a team.
THOR
—Unfinish’d is 170
My work with Loki.
BARTON
—Take thy place within
The pecking order—I would peck him first.
ROGERS
Save it—we all shall have our chance anon.
He shall keep this fight focus’d upon us,
Which is precisely what we need. Without him, 175
These aliens would run wild o’er the city.
Stark is above us—height is his advantage.
ENTER BRUCE BANNER.
BANNER
Holla, friends. What words of great pith and moment
May I declare but these: ’tis horrible.
ROMANOFF
Yet I’ve seen bleaker still.
BANNER
—Apologies, 180
The hefty green guy was not kind to thee.
ROMANOFF
Nay, in this instance we have need of bleaker.
ROGERS
Stark, thou didst ask for a report: he’s here.
STARK
[into radio:] Is’t Banner?
ROGERS
—Even as thou saidst.
STARK
[into radio:] —I prithee,
Bid Banner suit up in a trice, whilst I 185
Deliver unto ye the party swiftly.
[Stark flies once again toward the Avengers, with the leviathan still following him.
ROMANOFF
His view of parties dimmer is than mine.
ROGERS
Tough Doctor Banner, if there were a time
When thou shouldst angry grow, methinks ’tis now.
BANNER
’Tis my great secret—I am ever angry. 190
EXIT BRUCE BANNER. ENTER HULK, PUNCHING THE LEVIATHAN AND STOPPING IT IN ITS TRACKS.
STARK
I’ll strike the final blow and end the beast!
[Stark lands near the others and shoots the leviathan, destroying it. Various Chitauri scream.
HULK
Rawr!
ROGERS
—Stand we at the ready: your Avengers!
LOKI
Send in the rest, bring down the troublemakers!
ENTER TWO MORE LEVIATHANS BEARING MORE CHITAURI WARRIORS.
ROMANOFF
The situation goes from bad to worse—
Far murkier the ending of this fight. 195
STARK
Instruct us, Captain.
ROGERS
—Friends, use now your ears:
Until the portal we may somehow close,
Containment is our top priority.
Pray, Barton, set thyself upon yon roof,
With eyes on all, announcing strays and patterns. 200
Stark, thou maintain our firm perimeter,
And turn to ash whatever outside goes.
BARTON
Wilt fly me there?
STARK
—I shall. Clench, Legolas.
[Stark grabs Barton and flies him to the roof.
ROGERS
Thor, thou must try to bottleneck the portal
And slow the entrance of these heinous foes— 205
Thou hast the lightning; light the bastards’ flame.
[Thor raises Mjölnir to the sky and flies to the top of a building.
[To Romanoff:] Natasha, thou and I shall stay below,
To keep the skirmishes herein. Hulk—smash!
[Hulk grimaces and jumps, eagerly destroying Chitauri.
THOR
I call upon the power of the sky—
Clouds, gather, send a supercharge of bolts, 210
Send forth your lightning for my purpose just!
[Lightning gathers around Thor, and he directs it toward the portal.
ENTER NICK FURY AND MARIA HILL ABOVE, ON BALCONY.
FURY
Upon these screens I see the fight unfold,
Yet we are powerless to render aid.
HILL
Director Fury, sir, the council wishes
To speak with you anon.
FURY
—’Tis no surprise, 215
For they full many questions must possess.
[Exeunt Maria Hill and Nick Fury from balcony.
BARTON
Stark, many strays pursue thy tail feathers!
STARK
I do attempt to keep them from the streets.
[Barton shoots down some Chitauri without looking at them.
BARTON
Their banking and their swooping is unskill’d.
Find thou a corner tight, and they shall fall. 220
STARK
Idea most splendid, which I’ll undertake.
[Stark evades many Chitauri chasing him, who are destroyed.
Well spoken, Barton. Hast thou other schemes?
BARTON
Thor doth engage a squadron close to Sixth
If ye two birds would kill a pack of stones.
STARK
Invited he not me? Offensive!
[Stark moves toward Thor. Hulk engages a leviathan.
HULK
—Rawr! 225
[Romanoff fights with a Chitauri, subduing him, as Rogers returns to her side.
ROMANOFF
O, Captain, all this fighting is for naught
If we close not the portal black above.
ROGERS
Our largest guns cannot affect its pow’r.
ROMANOFF
Perchance ’tis not a matter made for guns,
But hath some other shady secret to’t. 230
ROGERS
[aside:] A-ha, methinks the woman speaketh justly!
[To Romanoff:] If thou wouldst there ascend, shalt need
a ride.
ROMANOFF
These bleak Chitauri flittering about
Shall be my ride, an thou giv’st me a boost.
ROGERS
Brave soldier, art thou certain?
ROMANOFF