SCENE 1: THE SHIP

Space. A large ship, dark and massive, has crushed something smaller against it like a bug.

Inside the wreckage: bodies. Smoke. The remaining survivors of Bjorn's people, the Norbanians, on their knees.

At the far end of the room stands Dread.

He is enormous. Purple. Wearing the golden glove. Two Shards already in it — one orange, one purple. He holds them up and the light catches them.

He looks tired. Not physically. Existentially. Like a man who has been waiting a very long time to do something he considers important and is mildly annoyed it's taken this long.

Dread: I know what you're thinking.

Nobody says anything.

Dread: You're thinking this is evil.

Still nothing.

Dread: It's not evil. It's math.

Bjorn: ...it's not math either.

Dread: (turns to look at him) It's math. Half of everything dies. The other half lives. Resources double per capita. Suffering decreases.

Bjorn: That's not how any of—

Dread: It's math.

Lars is on his knees nearby, hands behind his back, looking at the floor.

Lars: (quietly) For what it's worth I didn't plan this specific part.

Bjorn: (next to him, also on his knees, a cut above his eye) You brought him here Lars.

Lars: I was in a complicated situation.

Bjorn: You handed him the Space Shard.

Lars: I was being optimistic.

Bjorn: About what.

Lars: That he would leave after.

Dread crouches in front of Bjorn.

Dread: Where is the other one? The green one. The one that smashes things.

Bjorn: I don't know what you're talking about.

Dread: The large angry man.

Bjorn: Never heard of him.

A ceiling panel falls. The Large drops from it directly onto Dread.

The Large: RAAAHHH—

Dread catches him. One hand. Holds him up.

Dread: There he is.

He beats The Large into the floor three times.

The Large goes very still and starts transforming back.

Bjorn lunges. Gets one hit in. A good one. Dread actually takes a step back.

Dread: (touching his jaw) Hm.

He hits Bjorn with the glove. Bjorn goes through a wall.

Lars: (watching) ...okay.

Dread: (to his lieutenant, Carbon Jaw, a thin creature that talks too much) The Shard in the android's head. Vince. Find him.

Carbon Jaw: Of course. I've already identified—

Dread: I wasn't asking for commentary.

Carbon Jaw: Right. Yes. Immediately.

Carbon Jaw opens a portal and steps through.

Lars is still on his knees. Carbon Jaw walks past him.

Lars: (calling after) So are we — do I come or—

Nobody answers.

Lars: (looking around at the wreckage) Right.

He stands. Looks at Bjorn unconscious in the rubble. One eye swollen shut.

Lars: (to Bjorn, across the room, also on his knees) I'm going to try something.

Bjorn: (very quietly) Don't.

Lars: I have a plan.

Bjorn: Your plans end badly.

Lars: This one is different.

Bjorn: They're always different and they always end badly.

Lars: Bjorn.

Bjorn: Lars.

Lars: Trust me.

Dread is holding the Glove. Two Shards already in it. It glows with a light that feels wrong.

Lars: (standing slowly, pulling out a hidden knife) I, Lars of Norbania, offer my services to—

Dread catches the knife without looking.

Lars stares at his own hand.

Lars: That was my best knife.

Dread: (looking at Lars almost tiredly) You're predictable.

Lars: I'm creative.

Dread: You've tried this exact thing four times.

Lars: The fifth one always works.

Dread: (quietly) It doesn't.

He does what he does. Lars goes down.

Bjorn makes a sound that is not a word.

Dr. Gerald, barely conscious, watches through cracked eyes.

He tries to transform. The Large tries to come out.

Nothing.

Dr. Gerald: (looking down at his own hands) ...Gerald. Gerald come on.

Nothing.

Dr. Gerald: Of course.

Aldur — the massive, quiet man who watches gateways — kneels beside him, dying.

Aldur: (to Dr. Gerald) They need to know. All of them. He's coming.

He opens his eyes wide. Uses the last of whatever he has.

Dr. Gerald disappears in a flash of light.

SCENE 2: NEW YONK MORNING

New Yonk. Normal day. Dr. Peculiar is getting coffee.

He is wearing an enormous red cape that floats slightly behind him. He is completely unbothered by this.

His assistant, Tong, hands him a mug.

Tong: You're going to need the cape today.

Dr. Peculiar: The cape or the cape.

Tong: The fighting cape.

Dr. Peculiar: They're the same cape.

Tong: Then yes. That one.

Something crashes into the street outside. They look out the window.

Dr. Gerald is lying face-first on the pavement. He raises one hand.

Dr. Gerald: Hi.

Dr. Peculiar: (already out the door with the cape flowing) What happened to you.

Dr. Gerald: Very large purple man. Golden glove. He has two Shards already.

Dr. Peculiar: (going very still) Which two.

Dr. Gerald: The Power one and the Space one.

Tong: (appearing behind them) Four left.

Dr. Gerald: He's coming for the Time Shard next.

Dr. Peculiar unconsciously touches a necklace around his neck. A green gem in a pendant.

Dr. Peculiar: Of course he is.

Above them, the sky starts to do something it shouldn't.

A large ring-shaped ship descends through the clouds and begins doing something horrible to the city.

Dr. Gerald: What's that.

Dr. Peculiar: That would be the problem arriving.

Dr. Gerald: (looking up) Do you have a plan.

Dr. Peculiar: I have several. I've run fourteen million of them through my head.

Dr. Gerald: How many work.

Dr. Peculiar: (very long pause) We should go.

SCENE 3: STRING BOY

A school bus stops. Students look out the windows at the chaos.

One kid in the back — Philip, sixteen, wearing a backpack that's definitely hiding something — looks at his arm.

The hairs are standing up.

Philip: (to himself) Oh no.

Bus Driver: Everyone stay—

Philip is already out the window.

He's in his String Boy suit before he hits the ground. Red and blue. Homemade. Kind of.

String Boy: (swinging toward the chaos) Okay. Okay. Big ring ship. Fine. This is fine. Mr. Steel Dude is definitely going to show up. This is definitely his thing. I'll just help a little until—

He sees the ring ship up close.

String Boy: ...that is very large.

A gold portal opens next to him. Steel Dude flies out in the most armored suit String Boy has ever seen.

Steel Dude: Kid.

String Boy: Mr. Steel Dude. Hi. I was just—

Steel Dude: Go home.

String Boy: I was helping.

Steel Dude: You're sixteen.

String Boy: I've handled things before.

Steel Dude: Not this.

String Boy: What IS this.

Carbon Jaw floats out of the ring ship above them. Very thin. Very pale. Speaks like he's giving a lecture to people who don't deserve to be in his class.

Carbon Jaw: The Time Shard. Your wizard has it. We'll be taking it.

Steel Dude: (to String Boy) You need to leave.

String Boy: I'm not leaving.

Steel Dude: String Boy.

String Boy: Mr. Steel Dude.

Steel Dude: (long pause) Stay behind me.

String Boy: Yes!

Steel Dude: Not enthusiastically. Cautiously.

String Boy: Cautiously yes.

Dr. Peculiar drops from a portal above them both, cape fully deployed.

Dr. Peculiar: (landing perfectly) He wants the Time Shard.

Steel Dude: Give it to him.

Dr. Peculiar: Absolutely not.

Steel Dude: It's one gem—

Dr. Peculiar: It's not one gem Gary. If he gets the Time Shard and the Mind Shard from Vince's head then he has four. You understand what four means?

Steel Dude: I understand what four means.

Dr. Peculiar: Four means the conversation is basically over.

String Boy: (quietly, to nobody) Who's Vince.

Carbon Jaw's minions drop from the ship. Fighting starts immediately.

String Boy webs three of them before they hit the ground.

String Boy: (surprised at himself) Oh that was good. Did anyone see that.

Tong: (appearing from a portal) I saw it.

String Boy: Thank you.

Tong: Don't get used to compliments. This isn't a good day.

The fight goes badly. Carbon Jaw captures Dr. Peculiar. Steel Dude can't get to him. The ring ship starts ascending.

String Boy: I can get up there.

Steel Dude: Don't—

String Boy fires a web at the ship and gets dragged up with it as it rises.

Steel Dude: (watching him disappear into the clouds) ...of course.

Steel Dude flies after him.

Below, Tong and Dr. Gerald stand in a ruined street.

Dr. Gerald: Should we—

Tong: They're in space now.

Dr. Gerald: In space.

Tong: The ship went to space. The boy was on the ship. Gary followed the boy.

Dr. Gerald: All three of them are in space.

Tong: Yes.

(pause)

Dr. Gerald: I need to call Colonel Patriot.

SCENE 4: SPACE — THE GUARDIANS

Somewhere in space. A battered ship. Music playing from a small speaker.

Space Quinn is asleep in the pilot's chair. Zara is reading something. Slab is sharpening a blade the size of a surfboard. Rascal is arguing with Branch about something that happened three weeks ago. Moth is watering a plant.

An alert goes off.

Rascal: What's that.

Branch: (teenager voice now) I am Groot.

Rascal: Don't say I am Groot, what is it, describe it.

Branch: I am Groot.

Rascal: That IS what you said. DESCRIBE it.

Space Quinn wakes up, looks at the screen.

Space Quinn: There's something out there. Something big.

They fly toward it.

Debris. A lot of it. What's left of the Norbanian ship.

And one body floating in the wreckage.

Rascal: (scanner) He's alive. Barely.

Space Quinn: Get him inside.

They drag Bjorn aboard. He is enormous and the doorway is not.

Slab: He does not fit.

Rascal: Push harder.

Slab: I am pushing hard.

Rascal: Push HARDER.

Moth: Maybe if we turn him—

Space Quinn: (shoving from outside) EVERYBODY PUSH.

Bjorn lands on the floor of the ship. Very large. Wet. Unconscious. The entire team stares at him.

Rascal: He is the biggest man I have ever seen.

Slab: He is bigger than me.

Rascal: Nobody is bigger than you Slab.

Slab: He is bigger than me.

Branch: I am Groot.

Rascal: Yeah he's definitely alive.

Bjorn wakes up. Opens one eye. Looks at the ceiling. Looks at the group of beings staring at him.

Bjorn: (sitting up slowly) ...where am I.

Space Quinn: You're on our ship. We found you floating.

Bjorn: Who are you.

Space Quinn: I'm Space Quinn. Leader of the—

Bjorn: (already standing, almost hitting the ceiling) I need to get to Earth.

Space Quinn: Okay but we just—

Bjorn: Immediately.

Space Quinn: We pulled you out of—

Bjorn: I appreciate that. Truly. Can you get me to Earth.

Space Quinn: (pause) Yeah. Yeah we can.

Bjorn: Good. (sits back down, slightly dizzy) I lost my Stanley.

Rascal: Your what.

Bjorn: My weapon. An enchanted thermos.

Silence.

Rascal: An enchanted what.

Bjorn: Thermos. Stanley brand. It was destroyed.

Space Quinn: Your weapon is a Stanley thermos.

Bjorn: WAS. It's gone now.

Space Quinn: And that's the weapon. Not a gun. Not a sword. A thermos.

Bjorn: (staring at him) It calls lightning. It cannot be lifted by those who are unworthy. It has never lost a fight until tonight.

(pause)

Space Quinn: Where do you get a new one.

Bjorn: Grimforge. But there's no time.

Rascal: Grimforge on Forgestone?

Bjorn: Yes.

Rascal: That place is a nightmare. The gravity alone will—

Bjorn: Can you get there.

Rascal: (pause) Yeah. Yeah I can get there.

Bjorn: (to the room) What are your names.

Space Quinn: Quinn.

Zara: Zara.

Slab: I am Slab. I live for combat and the destruction of Dread.

Bjorn: You know Dread.

Slab: He killed my family. My entire village. My—

Bjorn: (puts a hand on his shoulder) He killed mine too.

Slab looks at him.

They nod at each other.

Nobody says anything.

Branch: (quietly) I am Branch.

Rascal: (unusually quiet) Yeah buddy. I know.

SCENE 5: STEEL DUDE IN SPACE

Carbon Jaw's ship. Dr. Peculiar is being held by some kind of energy claw. Steel Dude has broken in through the hull. String Boy is also here somehow, which was not the plan.

Steel Dude: (to String Boy) You were supposed to go home.

String Boy: The ship left the atmosphere.

Steel Dude: At which point you should have let go.

String Boy: I was too high up to let go.

Steel Dude: At what point did you decide to keep going?

String Boy: Technically I never decided. I just kept not letting go until it was too late.

Carbon Jaw descends toward them. He is very thin. He points a lot when he talks, like every sentence is a lecture.

Carbon Jaw: The children of Gary. How touching.

Steel Dude: I'm not his—

String Boy: He's not my—

Carbon Jaw: (already ignoring them) You have two options. Tell your wizard to hand over the Shard. Or I take it and leave you in space.

Dr. Peculiar: (suspended in the energy claw) There's a third option.

Carbon Jaw: There isn't.

Dr. Peculiar: There's always a third option.

Carbon Jaw: Not today.

Dr. Peculiar: (opens portals behind every single one of Carbon Jaw's minions simultaneously) Today specifically there is.

Fighting. Very chaotic. String Boy is webbing things to the ceiling. Steel Dude is punching through walls. Dr. Peculiar is doing things with his hands that look illegal in several dimensions.

String Boy: (to Steel Dude mid-fight) Is this normal.

Steel Dude: Define normal.

String Boy: Is this a normal Tuesday for you.

Steel Dude: This is a slightly above average Tuesday. Thursday's can get worse.

They subdue Carbon Jaw's forces. Steel Dude blasts Carbon Jaw into space.

The three of them stand in the wrecked corridor of the ship as it drifts through space.

String Boy: (looking out a window) That's... a lot of space.

Dr. Peculiar: Yes.

String Boy: We're very far from New Yonk.

Dr. Peculiar: Yes.

String Boy: (beat) Cool.

Steel Dude: Where are we going.

Dr. Peculiar: Korrox. Dread's home world. That's where he's going to be.

Steel Dude: You want to go TO him.

Dr. Peculiar: I want to intercept him. There's a difference.

Steel Dude: The difference being.

Dr. Peculiar: On Korrox, on his terms, we pick the fight. He doesn't expect that.

Steel Dude: Or we call the team and fight him on Earth where we have help.

Dr. Peculiar: By the time we get back he'll have another Shard. Maybe two.

Pause.

Steel Dude: Siri.

Siri: (suit, somehow still working out here) Yes Gary.

Steel Dude: Call Colonel Patriot.

Siri: Connecting.

Static. Distance. Then:

Colonel Patriot: (crackling) Gary?

Steel Dude: We have a situation.

Colonel Patriot: I know. Gerald told me.

Steel Dude: How is Gerald.

Colonel Patriot: He's... having an issue.

Steel Dude: With The Large?

Colonel Patriot: The Large won't come out.

Steel Dude: What do you mean won't—

Colonel Patriot: Gerald says he tried on the ship and nothing happened. The Large just... isn't coming.

Steel Dude: That's not possible.

Colonel Patriot: Apparently it is.

Steel Dude: (pause) Where are you going.

Colonel Patriot: Zambura. Vince is there. We have the Mind Shard. That's going to be the target.

Steel Dude: We're going to Korrox.

Colonel Patriot: Of course you are.

Steel Dude: It's strategic.

Colonel Patriot: It's you going toward the problem instead of away from it. Which is always your strategy.

Steel Dude: It usually works.

Colonel Patriot: It works about sixty percent of the time Gary.

Steel Dude: That's a majority.

Pause.

Colonel Patriot: (quieter) Be careful.

Steel Dude: Yeah. (pause) You too old man.

The call ends.

The ship drifts toward Korrox.

String Boy: (still at the window) Mr. Steel Dude.

Steel Dude: Yeah.

String Boy: Did you call your wife before we left Earth?

Steel Dude: I called Linda yes.

String Boy: Did she pick up this time.

Steel Dude: She did not.

String Boy: Oh.

Pause.

Steel Dude: She'll be okay. She's always okay. She's better at okay than anyone I know.

String Boy: You left her a message though right.

Steel Dude: (long pause) Yeah.

String Boy: Good.

SCENE 6: THE KEEPER'S DEN

The Keeper's Den. A floating city of junk and treasure on the edge of the galaxy. The Keeper himself is a frail eccentric man with enormous hair who collects everything and trusts nobody.

Dread walks through the Den like he owns it.

The Keeper backs up against a wall of his collection.

The Keeper: The Reality Shard. Yes. I have it. I've always had it. It's mine.

Dread: You're holding it for me.

The Keeper: I'm not — I have never — it's in my collection. My personal—

Dread: (holds out the glove)

The Keeper looks at the two glowing Shards already in it.

The Keeper: (very quietly) Oh.

Dread: You can give it to me or I can take it.

The Keeper: (pause) I'll give it.

He retrieves a red glowing gem. Hands it over. Dread places it in the glove. Three now.

Zara is watching from a doorway. She followed Dread here.

Dread: (without turning around) You followed me.

Zara: (stepping out) Yes.

Dread: You could have just come with me.

Zara: You know I can't do that.

He turns. Looks at her. Something complicated happens in his face.

Dread: You look like your mother.

Zara: Don't.

Dread: Zara—

Zara: Don't do that. Don't make this personal.

Dread: It is personal.

Zara: Then stop. Stop doing this.

Dread: I can't stop. You know why.

Zara: Because of the math.

Dread: Because of the math.

Zara: (furious) It's not math. It's murder. You've always called it math. It's not math.

Dread: (quietly) Half of your planet was starving. After I reduced the population —

Zara: Don't—

Dread: The other half thrived. I saw it.

Zara: I know what you saw. I don't care. You killed my family.

Dread: I saved the rest.

Zara: That's not salvation.

Silence.

Dread: Come with me.

Zara: No.

Dread: I'm not going to stop.

Zara: I know.

Dread: Then you'll try to stop me.

Zara: Yes.

Dread looks at her for a long time.

Dread: (quietly) I missed you.

Zara: (quietly, and she means it despite everything) I know.

She attacks him.

He catches her.

He opens a portal with the Space Shard.

They both go through.

The Keeper watches them go.

The Keeper: (to his empty collection hall) I really liked that gem.

SCENE 7: VORREX — THE GREY WORLD

A grey, desolate planet. A cliff at the end of everything. A figure standing on the cliff in a red hooded cloak, back to them as Dread and Zara arrive through the portal.

Dread: We're looking for the Soul Shard.

The figure turns around.

Zara goes very still.

It's a face she recognizes. Gaunt. Skull-like. Red.

The Red Warden: I know why you're here. I've been waiting.

Dread: The Shard.

The Red Warden: To get the Soul Shard, a price must be paid. A soul. (pause) Something you love. More than anything.

Dread: (looks at Zara)

Zara: (looks at him)

She sees it in his face before he does anything.

Zara: No. No — Dread—

Dread: (takes her hand)

Zara: Don't you DARE—

Dread: I'm sorry.

Zara: You don't love me. You can't. You can't love something and then—

Dread: I know.

Zara: Then don't—

He throws her off the cliff.

The Soul Shard appears on his glove.

Four.

He sits at the base of the cliff for a long time.

Not moving.

The Red Warden watches from above.

The Red Warden: (to himself, quietly) Hm. So he does feel something.

He goes back to standing on the cliff.

Another long wait begins.

SCENE 8: GRIMFORGE

A dead star. Grimforge world. Gravity so strong it would crush most beings flat.

Bjorn, Rascal, and Space Quinn make it to the surface.

Space Quinn: (straining under the gravity) I can't — the gravity is—

Rascal: (also struggling, but moving) Keep going.

Space Quinn: You're the size of a raccoon. Why are YOU okay.

Rascal: Low center of gravity. And I'm tougher than I look. Keep moving.

Grimforge itself is enormous. Ancient. Run by Huge Harold, a huge craftsman who has clearly not had visitors in a long time and has opinions about it.

Huge Harold: (sitting alone, massive, surrounded by old hammers) Go away.

Bjorn: Huge Harold.

Huge Harold: I said go away.

Bjorn: I need a weapon.

Huge Harold: I don't make weapons anymore.

Bjorn: My Stanley is gone.

Huge Harold: (long pause. Does not look up.) How.

Bjorn: Dread.

Huge Harold: (still doesn't look up) And you survived.

Bjorn: I was rescued by... (looks at Rascal and Space Quinn) ...these people.

Huge Harold: Those people.

Bjorn: Yes.

Huge Harold: (finally looks up) I made the glove you know. The one Dread wears. He came here. He threatened my people. I made the glove. (pause) I have regrets.

Bjorn: Then help me fix it.

Huge Harold: (stands up. Enormous. Like a mountain deciding to move.) We'll need the dying star's core. The gravity will kill most beings.

Bjorn: We can manage it.

Huge Harold: WE?

He looks at Rascal.

Rascal waves.

Huge Harold: (back to Bjorn) YOU can manage it. Not them.

Bjorn: Then I'll manage it.

Space Quinn: (quietly to Rascal) What's he going to make.

Rascal: Something that can hurt a guy with four Shards in a glove.

Space Quinn: Is that possible?

Rascal: (watching Huge Harold fire up Grimforge, orange light flooding the cavern) I genuinely have no idea.

Bjorn holds the core of the dying star open with his bare hands. It is destroying him slowly. He doesn't move.

Space Quinn: He's going to die.

Rascal: He knows that.

Space Quinn: Then why—

Rascal: Because he's the kind of idiot who holds a dying star open with his hands so a dwarf can make an axe. (pause) I've met a few of those. Most of them don't survive.

Huge Harold works. The axe-hammer takes shape. He calls it the Stormbreaker.

Wait — off brand name.

Huge Harold: (to Bjorn) I'll call it the Cracker.

Bjorn: (barely conscious, burned, grinning) The Cracker.

Huge Harold: It's not a compliment. It cracks things.

Bjorn: I love it.

The Cracker lands in Bjorn's hand. He stands up. Every wound closes. Lightning fills Grimforge.

Rascal: (shielding his eyes) OKAY. OKAY WE HAVE IT. CAN WE GO.

SCENE 9: KORROX

The ruined planet Korrox. What was once Dread's home world — now a husk. The consequences of what happened when he tried his math on his own people first.

Steel Dude, Dr. Peculiar, and String Boy arrive. Also somehow: Space Quinn, Slab and Moth, who split from Bjorn's group to intercept Dread here.

Everyone looks at everyone.

Space Quinn: Who are you.

Steel Dude: I'm Steel Dude. Who are you.

Space Quinn: Space Quinn. We're — we know Bjorn.

Steel Dude: You know Bjorn.

Space Quinn: We found him floating.

Steel Dude: Okay.

Space Quinn: Are you the Avengerz?

Steel Dude: Yes.

Space Quinn: You're smaller than I thought.

Steel Dude: The suit makes me look smaller than I am.

Space Quinn: Does it though.

String Boy: (to Slab) Hi. I'm String Boy.

Slab: I am Slab.

String Boy: Cool name.

Slab: I know.

String Boy: Is that like a nickname or—

Slab: It is my name. My enemies gave it to me. I kept it.

String Boy: That's actually really cool.

Slab: I know.

Dread arrives.

Everyone goes quiet.

He lands on the ruins of Korrox and looks at the assembled group.

Dread: (counting) ...how many of you are there.

Steel Dude: Enough.

Dread: That's not an answer.

Steel Dude: It's enough to stop you.

Dread: (looks at the glove. Four Shards glowing.) No. It isn't.

The fight begins. It is not going well.

Dread throws a moon at Steel Dude. An actual piece of moon.

String Boy: (watching) HE THREW A MOON.

Dr. Peculiar: Focus.

String Boy: AT MR. STEEL DUDE.

Dr. Peculiar: FOCUS.

Space Quinn has a plan. Get the glove off. That's it. That's the whole plan.

It almost works. Moth gets inside Dread's head. He goes still. The glove loosens.

Space Quinn gets his fingers under the glove.

Space Quinn: PULL IT—

He grabs it.

Slab grabs it.

String Boy webs it.

Steel Dude grabs it.

They are maybe two seconds from getting it off.

Then Space Quinn sees Zara's face in Dread's memories through Moth's connection. What he did on Vorrex.

Space Quinn: (goes completely still) ...Zara.

Moth: (whispered) Quinn don't—

Space Quinn: (to Dread, furious, losing control) WHERE IS SHE. WHAT DID YOU DO TO—

He punches Dread in the face.

Dread wakes up.

He throws everyone off him in one motion.

The glove is still on.

Everyone lands. Broken. Barely standing.

Dr. Peculiar: (to Steel Dude, quietly, bleeding) I've run fourteen million scenarios.

Steel Dude: You said.

Dr. Peculiar: One of them works.

Steel Dude: One.

Dr. Peculiar: One.

Steel Dude: What do we do in that one.

Dr. Peculiar: (pause) Lose today.

Steel Dude: That's the plan.

Dr. Peculiar: That's the start of the plan.

Dread walks toward Steel Dude. Slowly. Like he has all the time in the world.

Steel Dude: (suit mostly destroyed, standing anyway) You're not going to stop.

Dread: No.

Steel Dude: Even if we—

Dread: No.

Steel Dude: You're going to kill half of everything.

Dread: Half lives. Half dies. It's—

Steel Dude: Math. I know. (pause) You're wrong.

Dread: (actually pauses) ...everyone says that.

Steel Dude: Because you are.

Dread: None of them can explain why.

Steel Dude: You could create more resources. Feed more people. You're holding a glove with four magic gems in it. You could grow food. Expand space. Build planets.

Very long pause.

Dread: (genuinely considering this) ...

Steel Dude: (watches him)

Dread: (dismissing it) Life always outpaces resources. It would fill the space. The problem returns.

Steel Dude: You don't know that.

Dread: I've seen it.

Steel Dude: Once. On one planet. With no outside help.

Dread looks at him.

For a moment something flickers across his face. Not doubt exactly. But something adjacent to it.

Dread: (quietly) You're interesting Gary.

Steel Dude: Don't call me—

Dread stabs him with a blade from the Reality Shard.

Steel Dude goes down.

String Boy: (screaming) MR. STEEL DUDE—

Dread: (to String Boy, quietly) He'll live. I need him to. (stands, looks at the glove) One more.

He opens the Space Shard portal after Dr Peculiar gives him the Time Shard in exchange for Gary's life, and steps through.

Gone.

String Boy is next to Steel Dude. Pressing his hands over the wound. The suit is trying to help.

String Boy: (terrified, keeping it together barely) Mr. Steel Dude. Hey. Look at me.

Steel Dude: (barely conscious) Kid.

String Boy: Yeah.

Steel Dude: That speech.

String Boy: About the resources?

Steel Dude: That was actually pretty good logic.

String Boy: You've thought about it before.

Steel Dude: (very quiet) Yeah.

String Boy: It didn't work though.

Steel Dude: Not today.

Dr. Peculiar kneels beside them. He looks at Steel Dude. Then at the necklace without the Time Shard.

Dr. Peculiar: There was no other way Gary.

Steel Dude: (understanding something) The one scenario.

Dr. Peculiar: Yes.

Steel Dude: Does it involve—

Dr. Peculiar: Yes.

Steel Dude: And it works.

Dr. Peculiar: Once.

Dr. Peculiar: (to himself) Don't waste it.

SCENE 10: ZAMBURA

The hidden country of Zambura. Rich. Advanced. More advanced than anywhere. Green and gold. Protected by a barrier that looks like glass and acts like a wall.

Colonel Patriot arrives with Manda, Lieutenant Metal, Dr. Gerald, Vince, and Nadia.

At the gates, King Kibo stands with his general, Spear.

King Kibo: You're late.

Colonel Patriot: We came as fast as we—

King Kibo: (already turning) Come in. We'll talk inside.

Spear: (looking at the group, eyes landing on Vince) That's the one with the Shard in his skull.

Vince: Hello.

Spear: (to Colonel Patriot) You brought the target here.

Colonel Patriot: He goes where we go.

Spear: He leads Dread straight to us.

Vince: Dread is coming here regardless. The Shard is the point. My location is irrelevant.

Spear stares at him.

Vince: I'm not trying to be difficult. I'm just being accurate.

Spear: (to Colonel Patriot) I like him less than I expected to.

Colonel Patriot: He grows on you.

Inside. War room. Maps.

King Kibo: The barrier will hold for a while. Not forever.

Colonel Patriot: We need to get the Mind Shard out of Vince's head before Dread arrives.

Vince: I've heard this suggestion several times.

Colonel Patriot: It's a good suggestion.

Vince: If you remove the Shard without the right preparation I die.

Manda: Dr. Peculiar could—

Lieutenant Metal: Dr. Peculiar is in space.

Colonel Patriot: So are most of the people who could help with this.

Dr. Gerald: (quietly, sitting in the corner) I could look at it.

Manda: You're a physicist Gerald.

Dr. Gerald: I'm a physicist who has had a Shard in his general vicinity for three years now. I know a few things.

Vince: (sitting very still as Gerald examines the Shard in his forehead) It's integrated into my neurology. It's not just in my head. It IS part of my head.

Dr. Gerald: I know. I can see that. (pause) Manda.

Manda: (stepping forward)

Dr. Gerald: Your power. It's Shard-based. Red energy. Can you feel the Mind Shard from here?

Manda: (eyes going red, reaching out) ...yes. I can feel it.

Dr. Gerald: Can you pull it?

Manda: (very long pause) ...I think so. Slowly. But if I do it too fast—

Vince: I'll die.

Manda: I wasn't going to say it like that.

Vince: But yes.

Manda: Yes.

Outside the barrier, the sky starts to shake.

Three of the Grim Four descend. Not Carbon Jaw — he's somewhere in space — but the other three. A large stone creature. A woman with silver hair moving like blades. A man with a curved weapon that splits anything it touches.

And behind them, breaking through the clouds:

Dread.

Colonel Patriot: (to Dr. Gerald and Manda) How long do you need.

Manda: As long as possible.

Colonel Patriot: (to King Kibo and Spear) Buy them time.

Spear: (already moving) Obviously.

The battle for Zambura begins.

SCENE 11: THE BATTLE

The barrier comes down. The Grim Four's army pours through. They are grey. Endless. And they are fast.

Zambura warriors hold the line. Gold and green.

Spear: (front line, spear moving so fast it blurs) HOLD.

Colonel Patriot and Bjorn — who arrives from the sky via lightning with the Cracker — land in the center of the enemy line.

Bjorn: (crashing down, Cracker in hand, lightning everywhere) SORRY I'M LATE.

Colonel Patriot: (throwing the trash lid) You were in space.

Bjorn: I was in space and I found a dying star and I made a new weapon.

Colonel Patriot: In that order.

Bjorn: (smashing through twelve enemies with one swing) Roughly yes.

Lieutenant Metal flies overhead, clearing the flanks.

Colonel Patriot: (to Lieutenant Metal on comms) Left side is breaking.

Lieutenant Metal: I see it.

Colonel Patriot: There's too many of them.

Lieutenant Metal: I see that too.

Colonel Patriot: Do you have a plan for—

Lieutenant Metal: I have a half a plan.

Colonel Patriot: Half is fine. What is it.

Lieutenant Metal: (already banking hard left) Go fast and hit things and hope the other half comes to me.

Colonel Patriot: That's not a half plan that's a quarter plan.

Lieutenant Metal: MOVING.

Inside. Manda's hands are on Vince's face. Glowing red. Slow.

Vince: (very quiet) It hurts.

Manda: I know. I'm sorry.

Vince: Don't apologize. Keep going.

Manda: Speedy Pete used to say I apologized too much.

Vince: (pause) What was he like.

Manda: Annoying. Fast. He used to do this thing where he'd rearrange everything in your room while you were sleeping and then pretend nothing happened.

Vince: That sounds exhausting.

Manda: It was. (pause) I miss it.

The Shard flickers. Loosens.

Dr. Gerald: It's working.

Outside, Dread steps through the barrier.

Colonel Patriot and Bjorn move to intercept.

Bjorn swings the Cracker.

It connects. Dread stumbles. Actually stumbles.

Dread: (looking at the weapon) Huge Harold.

Bjorn: Huge Harold sends his regards.

Dread: Huge Harold is on my list.

Bjorn: He's not afraid of you.

Dread: Everyone is afraid of me.

Bjorn: He made the one weapon that can hurt you. That's not the behavior of someone afraid.

Dread uses the Reality Shard. The battlefield changes. Allies become statues. Rocks become weapons.

Colonel Patriot can't tell what's real.

Colonel Patriot: (to Bjorn) Is that real?

Bjorn: I don't know.

Colonel Patriot: Is THAT real?

Bjorn: (getting hit by something) That one was real yes.

Dread walks toward the building where Vince is.

Manda is ninety percent done. The Shard is almost free.

Dread arrives at the door.

Dr. Gerald stands in front of it.

Dread: Move Gerald.

Dr. Gerald: No.

Dread: The last time we met you couldn't even transform.

Dr. Gerald: That's still true.

Dread: Then move.

Dr. Gerald: No. (pause) I've been thinking about your math.

Dread: (actually pauses) ...what about it.

Dr. Gerald: It's wrong. Not because it's cruel. Because it's short-term. You eliminate half. Half repopulates. In three generations you're back where you started. You solve nothing.

Dread: Then I do it again.

Dr. Gerald: Every generation? Forever?

Dread: If necessary.

Dr. Gerald: That's not a solution. That's a maintenance schedule for a problem you created.

Long pause.

Dread: You're the second person to argue with my math today.

Dr. Gerald: Were they right?

Dread: (pause) ...they made a point.

Dr. Gerald: We're both making the same point Dread. You know we're right.

Very long pause.

Dread: (quietly) I've committed to this.

Dr. Gerald: You can stop.

Dread: I can't.

Dr. Gerald: You can.

Dread: (almost sad) I can't Gerald.

He uses the Space Shard and moves Dr. Gerald aside. Gently, which is somehow worse.

He goes through the door.

Manda looks up. The Shard is ninety-nine percent free. One more second—

It explodes.

Dread moves his fist.

The Shard reverts back into Vince's head.

Vince screams.

Manda: NO—

Dread takes the Shard. Slowly. He's not rushed. He has five.

He looks at Vince.

Dread: (quietly) I'm sorry about this part.

Vince: (barely conscious) ...are you.

Dread: More than you know.

He places the Mind Shard in the glove.

Six.

All six.

The glove hums with something that shouldn't exist.

Outside, everyone feels it. The fighting slows.

Colonel Patriot looks at the sky.

Bjorn looks at the sky.

Spear looks at the sky.

Everyone looks at the sky.

Bjorn throws the Cracker. It hits Dread in the chest. Goes through. Dread stumbles. Falls to one knee.

Dread: (on his knees, bleeding, looking at Bjorn) You should have aimed for the head.

Bjorn: (staring at him) NO-

Dread raises the glove.

Snaps his fingers.

SCENE 12: THE SNAP

Nothing.

Then everything.

Zambura warriors look at each other and then some of them aren't there anymore. They crumble. Dust. Gone.

Spear: (watching a warrior next to her disappear) No—

She reaches for him. Her hand goes through ash.

Nothing.

Kevin is on a hillside outside Zambura.

He looks at his hands.

He calls Susan.

She picks up.

Susan: Kevin—

Kevin: Hey. Hey I just wanted—

Susan: Kevin the kids—

Kevin: What? What about the kids—

The line goes silent.

Kevin: Susan? SUSAN—

He's alone on the hillside.

He sits down.

He sits there for a long time.

On Korrox, String Boy is sitting next to Steel Dude who is barely conscious.

String Boy: Mr. Steel Dude. I don't feel good.

Steel Dude: (grabbing his arm) String Boy—

String Boy: I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I don't know what's happening. I don't — I'm sorry—

Steel Dude: No. No no no kid—

String Boy is gone.

Steel Dude sits alone on the surface of a dead planet.

He doesn't move for a long time.

Back in Zambura, Manda is sitting next to where Vince was.

Just dust.

She puts her hand in it.

She doesn't say anything.

Colonel Patriot is standing in the battlefield.

Half the Zambura army is gone.

Spear walks up beside him.

Neither of them speak.

Bjorn is still looking at where Dread was.

He made it. He left through a portal after the snap. Already gone.

Bjorn: (very quiet) I should have aimed for the head.

Dr. Gerald is sitting on the steps of the building. Granola bar in hand. Not eating it.

Dr. Gerald: (to himself) ...he really did it.

Nadia sits next to him.

Nadia: Gerald.

Dr. Gerald: I argued with him. The math. I thought—

Nadia: I know.

Dr. Gerald: I thought for a moment he was listening.

Nadia: Maybe he was.

Dr. Gerald: He did it anyway.

Pause.

Nadia: Yeah.

Somewhere quiet, in a small shack, Dread watches a sunrise.

He's alone.

He looks at the glove. It's burned. Cracked. Barely holding together.

He looks at his hand.

He breathes.

He looks like someone who did something terrible and has decided it was necessary and isn't sure which of those two things is going to outlast the other.

He watches the sunrise.

He's done.

POST CREDITS SCENE

New Yonk. Streets.

People are vanishing.

Chaos. Cars crashing. People screaming.

Dick Fury is standing on a rooftop watching it.

Dick Fury's Driver: Sir—

The driver is gone.

Dick Fury stands alone.

He reaches into his coat. Pulls out a small device. Old-looking. Not G.U.A.R.D. issue.

He starts typing a signal.

He gets three characters in.

He's gone.

The device falls to the roof.

It finishes sending.

The screen shows: one signal sent.

One blip received.

Far away. In space.

On a small ship with a logo that looks like a star going through a circle.

The signal comes through.

The ship changes course.

THE AVENGERZ WILL RETURN (half of them) (String Boy's gone. Lieutenant Metal is not okay.) (Kevin sat on that hill for two hours) (Dread watched the whole sunrise) (Space Quinn should not have punched him) (Bjorn knows)