THE PUNISHER SERIES
Written By: Brandon Noel Keith
SEASON TWO / EPISODE FOURTEEN: PHOTOGRAPHY
NOVEMBER 8TH, 2009
WE OPEN ON: DAILY BUGLE- Early Morning
A shot of the towering complex, splitting traffic… with even taller buildings all around it.
INT. JAMESON’S OFFICE
J. Jonah Jameson pulls down the newspaper hiding his face. He’s smoking a cigar, and takes it out… puffing upon two photographers. Peter Parker and Eddie Brock.
JAMESON
Whoever brings me a picture of the Punisher in action, gets next week’s front page. I’m giving you a week, now get out of here.
PETER
Mister Jameson, what about Spider-Man?
JAMESON
Page two… maybe. What’s the matter, Parker? Can’t you hear?!
EDDIE
I can, sir!
(walking out)
Have that first page and my money waiting for me when I get back.
Jameson smiles, pointing at Eddie as he leaves. But he’s looking at Peter, who just stands there.
JAMESON
Get out of here!
(Peter bolts to the door)
Don’t come back without that picture!
The phone rings and Jameson picks it up as the door slams behind Peter.
JAMESON
(cont.- yelling to his photographers)
HEY!
(into phone)
Not you, honey.
Jameson sits back in his chair, almost growling.
INT. WRITER’S FLOOR
Peter chases down Eddie.
PETER
Do you want to work together on this one, Eddie?
EDDIE
Get lost.
Eddie shoves Peter into a filing cabinet, leaving through an open doorway.
CUT TO: FISK TOWER- A Little Later
INT. KINGPIN’S OFFICE
Kingpin stands before his desk, as a man in a scorpion outfit approaches him.
SCORPION
What’s my price?
KINGPIN
Five thousand dollars. Kill Spider-Man.
SCORPION
Spider-Man! I’ve wanted him dead since that machine turned me into this monster!
KINGPIN
You failed the first time.
SCORPION
But this time… the wall crawler will be torn apart!
KINGPIN
See that he is.
(having a seat)
Can’t afford another weapon’s deal going sour.
SCORPION
After I kill him, can I get a bonus for bringing you his body?
KINGPIN
Another thousand. Now get to it.
SCORPION
Yes, mister Kingpin, sir!
Scorpion turns around and walks away.
CUT TO: TIMES SQUARE
EXT. OVERHEAD
Spider-Man swings overhead… spotting Eddie Brock on his motorcycle. Spider-Man drops down!
EXT. STREET LEVEL
The web slinger basically lands atop Eddie! The bike goes skidding down the sidewalk, hitting a building wall as a business man jumps away. Now looking to Spider-Man standing up.
EDDIE
Spider-Man?!
SPIDER-MAN
Sorry about that. Damn pigeons are everywhere.
Spider-Man shoots a web line upward, then swings away. Eddie pulls out his camera, ready to take a picture… but the camera has been broken from the fall.
EDDIE
(angrily)
SPIDER-MAAAAAAAAAAN!!!
Eddie throws the camera down with all his strength, shattering the camera.
CUT TO: UPPER MANHATTAN
EXT. SPIDEY’S LANE
Spider-Man swings down this street. Another web line let go, another attached to a building.
SPIDER-MAN
(V/O)
That’ll take care of Brock. But now to find that vigilante. And I’d better, because rent isn’t cheap. Oh, and Mary Jane has expensive taste lately. Does she think I’m made of money? She’s one demanding bitch.
Spider-Man swings around the corner and out of sight.
CUT TO: GE BUILDING- Moments Later
EXT. HIGH LEDGE
A business executive walks alongside this edge. He doesn’t notice Spider-Man land above him.
BUSINESS EXECUTIVE
(talking to himself)
Cancel MY show, will you?! Well, we’ll just see how much they love Sewer Surfers From Saturn after I’m DEAD!
The business executive LEAPS from the high ledge, and laughs madly in his fall to the street below. We now notice Spider-Man leap after him! Arms outstretched. He grabs the executive, and shoots a web line to a building across the way. Spider-Man swings the suicidal man away to safety. In the hero’s arms, this man is weeping.
SPIDER-MAN
Shame on you… that show sounds terrible.
The business executive is now crying hysterically.
EXT. ALLEYWAY
Spider-Man lands, setting the man down beside a dumpster.
SPIDER-MAN
I’m going to have to get you some professional help.
But suddenly, an explosion from across the way! Spider-Man turns to smoke rising and fire blazing. Spider-Man sighs, turning to the man he just saved.
SPIDER-MAN
(cont.)
Maybe later.
Spider-Man runs out of the alley, and the man watches his unwanted hero LEAP across the passing cars… to the warehouse under attack.
CUT TO: WAREHOUSE
INT. LOWER CRATE FLOOR
Spider-Man CRASHES through the window! Shattered glass soars. Spider-Man shoots webbing at a masked thug turning and aiming a shotgun at him. A shotgun blast his way, but Spider-Man jumps up and rolls mid-air… dropping down and planting both feet against the thug’s chest! The thug drops back and hits his head on a wooden crate.
FLASH TO- Upper Crate Floor
The Punisher standing up with two sub-machine guns in hand. He’s wearing a bullet proof vest, with neck protection. He turns around and is shot five times in the chest. Stumbling back, Punisher opens fire! The two thugs that shot at him are shot down!
The Punisher now starts running down a catwalk. He’s running up to another thug running up to him. This thug pulls up a pistol, but is shot down via sub-machine guns. Blood sprays out the torso and neck wounds, spraying against the Punisher’s vest. The thug drops, and Punisher leaps over the edge… dropping down to the lower level.
INT. LOWER CRATE FLOOR
The Punisher is just sweeping another thug off his feet. He spins around, aiming at this thug’s face… and opens fire! The thug’s head is ripped apart. Now the Punisher turns to Spider-Man.
SPIDER-MAN
(holding camera up)
Say cheese!
Spider-Man takes a picture. And then another, quickly after.
PUNISHER
Duck.
Spider-Man drops and the Punisher empties the sub-machine gun ammo into another thug running up with a swinging chain at hand. Punisher drops the machine guns.
SPIDER-MAN
You just made me six hundred dollars, mister Punisher.
Spider-Man web ties a thug running up from behind Punisher. Punisher sighs.
PUNISHER
Get lost.
Suddenly the two find themselves surrounded by five thugs. Spider-Man high kicks one in the face. Punisher, meanwhile, karate chops one in the throat! Breaking his neck instantly. Spider-Man web ties another two, while Punisher shoves his right fist into the last thug’s face! The face is smashed in. The Punisher now runs off.
SPIDER-MAN
You’re welcome.
Spider-Man shoots webbing to the ceiling, then swings away.
FLASH TO- Ceiling
Spider-Man takes pictures of all the dead thugs. Police sirens are heard, and now Spider-Man crawls across the ceiling. He escapes through a vent, just as officers enter the premises.
CUT TO: DAILY BUGLE- Early Morning
CAPTION: One Week Later
The caption soon fades away as we hold on this complex once more.
INT. JAMESON’S OFFICE
Peter smiles, beside a clearly angered Eddie, as Jameson looks over Peter’s Punisher pictures.
JAMESON
Nice work, Parker. You’ve just earned six hundred dollars… now get out of my sight.
(reaching for coffee mug)
The both of you!
Peter walks out, as Eddie practically shoves him.
INT. WRITER’S FLOOR
We see a white man dressed in black romancing Betty Brant, Jameson’s assistant. Eddie trips Peter and Peter goes barreling forth across a desk. The white man in black laughs at this.
EDDIE
(kneeling to Peter)
I needed that money for rent. Next time you get in my way, I’m going to beat you to a pulp.
Eddie walks away, as Peter weakly gets to his feet.
CUT TO: APARTMENT COMPLEX- Eight Stories Tall
INT. PETER’S APARTMENT
Peter Parker has a seat on the edge of his bed. This isn’t the best place to live, but it works.
PETER
(V/O)
Well, I didn’t make friends with Eddie Brock. But at least I get to keep my place for one more month. Maybe I’ll take Mary Jane to that fancy restaurant she likes, tonight.
(reaching for phone)
She should have been here by now. I’ll call her, just in case she forgot.
As Peter starts dialing her number, his SPIDER SENSE goes off! Peter runs to the window and sees the SCORPION holding Mary-Jane Watson hostage.
PETER
(V/O)
He knows! Shit, I bet he’s told her by now. She knows!
FLASH TO-
Peter placing his Spider-Man hood over his head. And he opens the window, LEAPING OUT!
CUT TO: TWO-STORY BUILDING
EXT. ROOFTOP
Spider-Man lands before Scorpion and Mary-Jane Watson.
SCORPION
Why don’t you take off that mask, Parker. Kingpin figured you out a week ago, after that warehouse shootout! One of the thugs caught you taking pictures, and realized the man who’s been taking pictures of your sorry ass was you yourself!
MARY-JANE
Peter! Help me!
SPIDER-MAN
I’m about to, Mary-Jane.
Scorpion ducks, shooting acid at Spider-Man! The wall crawler JUMPS UP and attaches himself to a water tower taking up one corner of this rooftop. Spider-Man shoots webbing in Scorpion’s eyes, temporarily blinding him! Now Spider-Man JUMPS at Scorpion, planting both palms against his chest! Scorpion stumbles back, grabbing Spider-Man by the neck!
SCORPION
(strangling Spider-Man)
I could have done this for free, Spider-Man! It’s too bad you won’t be able to tell the Kingpin!
Scorpion has now weakened the web slinger. He picks him up over his head, and THROWS him over the edge! Mary-Jane screams at the sight, and Scorpion just laughs. He BACK HANDS Mary-Jane to her side. She spits up some blood.
SCORPION
(cont.- to Mary-Jane)
Never thought he’d die so quickly.
Scorpion approaches the edge and looks down to a mouth full of web! Scorpion begins to choke! And Spider-Man jumps back up and UPPERCUTS his latest foe! Scorpion drops back to his back, then rolls over to his stomach. He turns to Spider-Man running at him, and his tail comes swinging by… batting Spider-Man away! Into the water tower, which now tilts a bit.
Scorpion rises and laughs once more. Spider-Man goes over the edge, sticking to the falling water tower! Water gushes down into the alley, and we see a bum leaping for cover! Just barely making it, too. Pan back up to Scorpion setting his sights on Mary-Jane again.
SCORPION
(advancing as she crawls back)
Now let’s say we get out of here. Find a nice place where I can… STING you! Hahahaha!
(spinning around)
What the…?!
Spider-Man is soaring at Scorpion! And he punches the goon across the right side of the face! Now a left, and another right… followed immediately by another left. Scorpion growls in anger, being ROUNDHOUSE KICKED across the chest! Scorpion falls to his side.
SPIDER-MAN
Give it up, Scorpion. You gave it your best shot last time, and failed.
Scorpion swings his tail around, intending to trip him, but Spider-Man back flips in the air and webs Scorpion’s face! Web covers his entire face, cutting off all air. Spider-Man approaches, in no hurry. He now watches Scorpion cut the webbing from his face.
SCORPION
You’re dead, Spider-Man. Say your prayers!
SPIDER-MAN
I don’t believe in God!
SCORPION
Ha! What a loser!
MARY-JANE WATSON
You’re both idiots, but I’m going to have to go with Scorpion on this one.
SPIDER-MAN
Mary-Jane, how could you?!
Scorpion backhands Spider-Man to the ground, like a bitch. He starts strangling him again. And the tail comes down spraying acid! Spider-Man takes the tail, and aims it just over his shoulder. Now Spider-Man TEARS the stinger off the suit! Electric shock throughout Scorpion’s body, and Spider-Man jumps up… kicking the thug in the chest!
SCORPION
(nearly falling off the edge)
Don’t make it tougher on yourself!
Across the way, Punisher is crawling up a ladder. Upon this rooftop now, with a sniper’s rifle.
FLASH TO-
Spider-Man charging Scorpion, and Scorpion SLASHING Spider-Man’s chest! Spider-Man drops, with a scream of bloody pain! Scorpion’s SLOW-MOTION laughter is heard, as he turns to view what’s happening across the street.
The Punisher is aiming the sniper’s rifle at him. Scorpion’s eyes grow big with fear. BANG! This one shot blows Scorpion’s head apart… off his shoulders, and little chunks rain upon Mary-Jane and Spider-Man. The Punisher lowers the sniper’s rifle.
SPIDER-MAN
(V/O- getting up)
Punisher saved me! Imagine that.
(watching Punisher walk away- approaching Mary-Jane)
Guess he’s not all bad. But I still wish Scorpion didn’t have to die.
(helping Mary-Jane to her feet)
Then again, he could have killed me. Actually, Punisher could have killed me, too.
MARY-JANE
Let’s say we get out of here? I think we have a lot to talk about.
SPIDER-MAN
I guess we do.
Spider-Man picks Mary-Jane off her feet. And he runs to the edge, jumping off… whilst swinging away via web line. Pan over to the Punisher crawling down the ladder the next building over.
CUT TO: FISK TOWER- Sunset
INT. KINGPIN’S OFFICE
Kingpin is listening to a police report via radio on desk.
FEMALE REPORTER
And this ends the crimes of the Scorpion. His skull turned to jell-o from a mysterious sniper, after a duel with Spider-Man. Could it be the Punisher? This reporter, says yes. But what’s more, is that if Scorpion was working for the Kingpin, that this mess is just the beginning.
Kingpin turns off the radio. He spins around in his chair, overlooking the view of the city.
KINGPIN
(to himself)
Punisher must die. Slowly and painfully. Spider-Man, just the same. So says I, the only word that means anything in this city!
PASSING GUARD
Are you talking to me?
KINGPIN
No.
PASSING GUARD
So, you’re talking to yourself?
KINGPIN
You’re fired.
PASSING GUARD
Okay. Nice working for you.
Kingpin throws a crystal paper weight at the departing guard. The crystal paper weight lodges into the back of his head, dropping him. Killing him instantly.
CUT TO: SEWER SYSTEM
INT. GOLGOTHA- Punisher’s Sewer Residence
The Punisher enters, taking off his bullet proof vest. He’s approached by the sewer bum.
SEWER BUM
Rough day?
PUNISHER
Rough week.
SEWER BUM
I just heard about your run in with the Scorpion and Spider-Man.
PUNISHER
Is that so?
SEWER BUM
I just wanted to congratulate you.
PUNISHER
Did you get the beer?
SEWER BUM
(lifting twelve pack)
As you requested.
PUNISHER
(ripping into the twelve pack)
Congratulations.
The Punisher snaps open his can of beer, and starts chugging down.
The End