There are cranes at the Institute; it's obviously being rebuilt. A security camera pops up to watch some strange-looking people go by.
Downstairs, Kitty, half-asleep and in her pajamas, goes into the temporary kitchen.

Note: There's a zoomed-out shot. The artists did not bother to draw her face here.

She sits down with a slice of pizza, probably reheated, and a two-gallon jug of milk. She lifts it to her mouth.
Kurt, pajamaed and barefoot, 'ports onto the table and grabs it. Spit-take.

Kurt: I knew it! You drink straight from the carton!
Kitty: I...I was gonna finish the whole thing.
Kurt: Okay then. Drink up. *looks in* Just about a half a gallon left.
Kitty (looking past him): Intruders!
Kurt: Nice try. There's nothing behind me but a wall. *turns around, sees the monitors* Is that the Brotherhood?

He 'ports both of them outside, dropping the milk in the process. Half a gallon runs all over the place.

Roll credits!

The weird people are coming. Kitty takes a step back. Kurt appears on a roof behind them and jumps down, tackling them all.
Random goonie bashing. One of the guys grabs Kurt's tail, bad things ensue (to the guy).
Kurt catches one and pulls off his mask. The other two take off theirs. It's Duncan's pals.

Note: Didn't realize I was watching Scooby Doo.

There's a spray can laying next to one of them. Kitty looks at the wall behind her, and sees a lot of bad X-Men caricatures.

Duncan's Pal: You're all freaks!
Duncan's Other Pal: Yeah, Bayville doesn't want you! *they all run off*
Kitty: Things were so much easier when only the Brotherhood hated us.

Scene: Institute, daytime.

Someone, presumably her dad, has come for Jubilee.

Logan: First Rahne (he pronounces it 'rain'), now Jubilee...I can't believe they're takin' their kids outta here! They really think it's gonna be better for 'em elsewhere?

Xavier admits he'd probably do the same thing. After all, he promised to keep them safe. They both beat themselves up about not noticing Mystique sooner.

Note: Xavier says Mystique abducted him at the mental hospital. Let's think about this.
Mystique rescues Wanda and hands her off to Agatha, then goes back inside, where she captures the Professor. Later, she appears as herself at the Brotherhood house. At the end of the episode, Professor-Mystique says something about the X-Men learning from their defeat. Then we go into the whole "Day of Reckoning" thing.
Okay, I guess that's possible.

Logan says he's going for a ride.

Scene: Institute below-stairs, in the morning.

Over the intercom, Xavier says the younger students have breakfast first. He wants the others in a meeting.
Scott and Kurt come out one door. Scott's pajamas are furry. Have they been sharing a bed?
Evan and Jamie come out another door. Evan stretches and bumps Jamie, who clones about half a dozen times.
A bunch of other New Mutants are in the background.

Note: Guess the writers have forgotten about the sewer thing two episodes ago.

Rogue and Kitty come out another door.

Rogue: I hope they finish the upstairs Institute soon. This place is *way* too crowded.

Scene: In the meeting.

They've changed civvies again for Season 3, so here's the rundown.

Scott has a brown jacket over a t-shirt.
Jean has a shirt with green and yellow horizontal stripes. It's ugly.
Kurt has a brown sweater. Not as ugly as his shirt in "Survival of the Fittest".
Kitty has one of those button-down shirts for girls. Tight, short-sleeved, doesn't cover her midriff. Red. She has a matching ponytail holder.
Evan has a sort of green short-sleeve sweater, and a white long-sleeved thing under it.
Rogue seems to have a black halter top, and *very* long purple gloves.

Okay. So Xavier tells them they're allowed to go to school that day, as sort of a trial run. No powers.
Kitty says she's afraid to go.
Xavier holds up a newspaper.

Paper: Bayville Chronicle. "Monsters" Among Us? (picture of Beast and I dunno what else)

Evan: So we're still monsters? What's up with that?

Professor's all bla-bla, we have to show them we're people.

Kurt steals the paper and walks across the table. Still barefoot. Really unsanitary.

Kurt: Hey, they named me 'identity unknown'.
Kitty (leaning over): Yeah, all the pictures they have of you are blue and furry.
Kurt: That means they haven't made the connection it's me.
Scott: Yet. They will. Especially the people who know you live here.
Kurt: Yeah, but...you're right. They'll figure it out.

The Professor asks them to appear at that night's school board meeting, and sends them off.

Scene: Bayville High.

Note: Seen the Ruby Bridges movie-documentary thing? Think of that.

Random Shouts: Go home! You don't belong here! Gonna blow up our school next? We don't want you!

Evan starts to get mad.

Scott: Ride it out, Evan. Just stay cool.
Kitty: Hey, where's Kurt? He was just here...

She sees him just sort of standing around.

Scott passes Taryn. She turns away from him.
Jean meets Duncan at the doors.

Duncan: I want you to know this doesn't change anything.
Jean: Really?
Duncan: Yeah, I can overlook your problem.
Jean: Problem. *flicks him off*
Duncan: Your mind powers could be useful during exams, or when we-
Jean: You...you lughead! We are so through!

Kelly watches them from his car, then starts the motor.

Scene: Highway.

Logan is riding along. Another motorcycle comes up beside him. The rider makes a show of metallifying his hand, then leads a chase.

Scene: Brotherhood House

Toad: She won't talk to you no more?
Fred: She won't even come near him!
Toad: Maybe she'll come to me!
Lance: Knock it off!

Continued taunting. Lance makes an earthquake. There's a knock at the door.

Toad: Izzat Kitty?

No, it's Principal Kelly. He invites them to come back to school.

Fred: School? We don't go anywhere we ain't wanted.
Toad: Since when?
Kelly: I'm sure you won't be bothered by anyone. In fact, I think they're afraid of you.
Fred: Oh yeah?
Toad: Hey, if you can't be cool, be feared. My Mama always told me that.
Lance: We'll be there.
Kelly: Wonderful!

Scene: Bayville High

Kurt is overly enthusiastic and friendly to the guy at the next locker. Amanda comes up.

Amanda: Kurt! I've been looking all over for you! How are you holding up after the-
Kurt: Amanda! It's nice to see you! *drags her around the corner*
Amanda: Kurt? What's going on?
Kurt: Nothing! Not a thing! Everything's normal!
Amanda: Kurt.
Kurt: *whispers* I'm just not ready to be exposed as a mutant.
Amanda: You mean no one knows?
Kurt: They don't realize I'm the fuzzy one.
Amanda: Then you're still hiding.
Kurt: Being thought of as normal...it's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm not ready to give it up.
Amanda: What about standing by your friends?
Kurt: Oh...um...I'm sure they'll be all right.

Scene: Schoolyard

Duncan is beating up Scott, trying to taunt him into using his powers.

Commercial break!

Duncan: Come on, mutie, throw somethin' at me!
Scott: As much as I'd like to...you're not worth it.

He starts to walk away, and Duncan's pals grab him. Duncan takes his glasses. Scott keeps his eyes closed.

Duncan (puts on the shades): Look at me, now *I'm* cool.

Scott grabs one of the goonies and throws him at Duncan, then trip-kicks the other.

Kitty: We got it.
Rogue: Dropping these goonies might just be worth gettin' expelled.

Duncan's friends run, and Rogue recovers the shades.

Guy (comes up to Rogue): What's your special power? Can you, like, read my mind?
Rogue: Yeah, like I could find it.

Kitty spots Kurt hiding behind a corner, and he ducks away.

Schoolkid: Hey, don't you live at that mutant place?
Kurt: Me? No!
Schoolkid: But you're friends with the mutants, right?
Kurt: Well, I used to be. I'm late for class!
Kitty: Ahem...used to be? Thanks, Kurt.
Kurt: Uh...hello Kitty! Bye Kitty! Busy busy!

Kelly sees all this through his window. He asks the secretary to call Duncan to the office.

Scene: A field.

Logan chases Motorcycle Guy into a barn.
Yes, it's Colossus. The beginning of a fight ensues.

Scene: Bayville High

Duncan and Kelly talk. Kelly says it's not safe to 'goof off' with a mutant. He also suggests that the Brotherhood (appearing on campus) also hate Scott.

Scene: The barn.

Colossus: I have come to deliver a message!
Logan: From who?
Colossus: Magneto! When you tire of the public persecution of mutants, you can join him and fight.
Logan: What? And be a lackey like you? I don't think so!
Colossus: I am not a lackey! I have no choice.

Note: Another cheer to the producers. Colossus has a cute Russian accent. ^_^

Some more talk, Logan invites Colossus to join the X-Men. Turned-down offers on both sides. Neither seems terribly concerned about the burning barn...

Scene: Bayville High

The Brotherhood busts in the doors. Lance picks on the same kid who annoyed Rogue.

Toad: Who knew school could be so much fun?

Jean is playing basketball in the gym. She gets fouled, steals the ball, and shoots a basket. A teammate accuses her of using her powers to sink the shot, and the coach benches her.
She sees Kelly in the hallway, and goes to talk to him. He's pulling trophies off the shelves, questioning their validity. He asks Jean to return her soccer MVP trophy. They argue a bit. Jean gets mad, Kelly thinks she's dangerous and mentions the school's various recurring disasters. Not fair.

Scene: The auditorium, that evening.

Xavier asks Jean to speak at the meeting. She wants the support of her teammates. Kurt is lurking in the back of the room.
The other four kids are coming across the parking lot. Duncan challenges them, or really just Scott.
Evan talks big, which is kind of pathetic, because he's really short.
The Brotherhood shows up.

Duncan: Now we're even.
Fred: Only we're not afraid to use our powers.
Lance: So guess what happens now.

Commercial break!

Scott: Remember, no powers!
Kitty (to Lance): This is the real you, isn't it? You're just a hood!
Lance: I'll never be good enough for you! *starts making earthquakes*

Inside, Jean is giving a speech vaguely reminiscint of "I Have a Dream". Big voiceover on muted battle scenes. Brotherhood uses their powers, X-Men don't, relying on tricks instead.
Scott blocks all of Duncan's punches, then flips him onto the bed of a pickup truck.
Jean finishes her speech just as Lance really lets loose. The building starts to fall apart, and people run outside. There are these huge waves rolling through the parking lot. Cars tip over, trees fall, power lines snap, etc.
Kelly makes a statement about mutants being dangerous, and Xavier counters that *his* students are behaving themselves.
Scott pushes Duncan out of the way of a falling car.
Kurt looks all conflicted.

Jean: We have to do something!

Kurt: *bamf* *rescues people about to be squashed by car*

Jean uses her powers to stop a sliding car from running some other people over.
Kitty comes out of the ground and pushes Kelly through another sliding car.
Evan uses his spikes to make a sort of shelf against the building, blocking a falling streetlamp from hitting the ground.
Generally the day is saved.
X-Men regroup, Brotherhood runs away.

Kitty (takes Kurt's wrist): Why don't you shut this off and dazzle them with the real you?
Kurt: Heh...one step at a time.
Jean: Not quite the impression I was hoping to make.

Shot of totaled parking lot.

Scene: Institute downstairs.

Logan passes a line of dejected X-kids, mysteriously back in Season 2 civvies.

Logan: There a funeral I don't know about?
Scott: You could say that. We kinda dug our own graves last night.

Scene: In the meeting room.

Everyone's kinda depressed. Xavier says he's proud of them, they saved people's lives, they're allowed to go to school. Then he makes a big speech. It's boring.

The End

Back