X-Men ’97 – S02E02 – A Force to Be Reckoned With – Transcript

X-Men ’97
Season 2 – Episode 2
Episode title: A Force to Be Reckoned With
Original release date: July 1, 2026

Plot: In the absence of the X-Men, Valerie Cooper fields a government-sanctioned team of mutants called X-Factor, led by Cable’s uncle Havok and consisting of Multiple Man, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, and Polaris. Cooper uses them to capture runaway mutants. Cable recruits Jubilee and Sunspot into his X-Force team and tracks down one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen named War. After Psylocke reads War’s mind, Cable orders Archangel to execute him, angering Jubilee. A clue leads X-Force to Emma Frost, who lures the team into a trap set by X-Factor and Jubilee is captured. With former X-Men Polaris’s help, Jubilee escapes and frees the mutant captives held with her. Cable and X-Force rescue her and the mutants, leading them to be branded fugitives by Cooper. In 3960 A.D., Nathan sends his parents and the other X-Men back to the 1990s.

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Transcript

Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.

1997

[Monet] Move! School’s right up ahead.

[Wing] What direction now?

[Quentin] It’s over there.

[whirring]

[panting]

[Mark panting] What?

[Wing] No, no.

What did I tell you? The X-Men are dead and they’re never coming back.

Ferme ta guele!

Or I’ll spare our ears any more of your lip.

We need to split up, regroup somewhere safe.

Safe? This was the safe place for kids like us.

[all gasp] [Havok] Don’t move!

This area’s restricted.

Oh, please, don’t hurt us.

Don’t worry, son, we won’t hurt you.

We’re definitely the good guys.

[Trish Tilby] They call themselves “X-Factor.”

The US Government’s mutant task force charged with containing global crises in a world without the X-Men.

With unprovoked violence against mutant youths on the rise, Director Val Cooper is under fire for a controversial campaign to relocate mutants, quote, “for their own safety.”

[people clamoring] [cheers] Tão fácil.

That’s three times in a row.

Dinner’s on me.

I’m starting to get the hang of this video game stuff.

Come on. Wanna play?

The X-Men wouldn’t be playing around, while the Government’s detaining mutant kids.

It doesn’t help that Forge and Bishop disappeared on us.

They’ll pop up sooner or later, I promise.

And until then, the whole world’s upside down and we’re just plugging quarters at the arcade.

Jeez, aren’t you supposed to be the peppy one?

Cable?

Just to get this straight, you want me, Jubilee, to be part of your… [whispers] super-secret black ops team?

I’m working on a case.

And you just happen to be one of the last people to cross paths with my target.

[Jubilee] Apocalypse?

He’s been off the grid for a while.

But now one of his Horsemen’s re-emerged on the scene.

[Cable] Goes by the name of War.

I’ve been raiding his safe houses, trying to figure out what that psychopath’s cooking up.

[Jubilee] Just turn on the news.

A perfect time for Apocalypse to ignite his dream war between humanity and mutants.

His sole aim is to dominate the evolutionary chain.

If he’s not stopped, he’ll wipe out most of the world and enslave anyone unlucky enough to survive.

Sounds like a lot of not fun.

You’re telling me.

Listen close.

This is dangerous work.

I got no need for students or heroes.

We are soldiers.

Once you’re in, you’re in. No questions, no retreat.

Governments will hunt us.

Nowhere will be safe.

But it beats playing video games while the world’s going to hell.

This team got a name?

[♪ Theme music playing]

[screaming]

[Apocalypse laughs maniacally]

[♪ Festive music playing]

[people chattering indistinctly]

[Cable] Mission’s simple, team.

We find Apocalypse’s Horseman, we find Apocalypse.

Psylocke, see what you can read.

You picked quite the week for a duck shoot.

Too many minds. I can’t isolate any of them.

Warren, how’s the view from the sky?

[Archangel] No sign.

I’m heading farther north.

[Cable] Jubilee, Sunspot, what’s with the dancing?

This isn’t date night.

Didn’t you say “Blend in”?

Unlike that guy.

Green skin, bowl cut.

It’s our target. On my 12 o’clock.

[Cable] Tail him but keep your distance.

Genocides, massacres, civil wars.

Guy’s got more blood on his hands than history books can count.

[people chattering indistinctly]

[scoffs]

Cable, we lost him.

Anyone got eyes from above?

He’s making for an alleyway up north.

He’s on to us. I need backup now.

[♪ Dramatic music playing]

[people scream] [man] What the…

Don’t let War get away.

[pants, grunts]

I might know a short cut or two.

“Might” isn’t exactly reassuring.

Just wait for my signal.

Now!

[both grunt]

[groans]

Whoo! X-Force 1, Creepy Apocalypse Zombies 0.

[Psylocke] Sweet dreams. [groans]

[War] You fight a battle that cannot be won.

Against the dawn of an age that cannot be stopped.

“When He-Who-Never-Dies will cull the weak from the herd.”

“Until only the strong survive.”

Yes, we know.

You forsake your master, heretic.

But in due time, you will face his judgment. [groans]

He won’t speak willingly.

Apocalypse made loyal servants of us all.

I thought telepaths were supposed to…

Have manners?

That might be how your professor did it but we don’t have time for pleasantries.

[Apocalypse, echoing] Well done, well done.

Well done, War.

Open it.

Soon the Old World shall finally pass away and together we shall forge a new one in Fire and Blood!

[Psylocke gasps] His mind’s booby-trapped.

Like a wall of diamonds blocking me.

I stole as much as I could.

Put him out of his misery before he hurts anyone else.

Whoa, what?

[Archangel] War is a Horseman. He cannot be saved.

You were. [Archangel] Yes, by Rogue.

And now she’s gone.

Trust me, Jubilee, this isn’t murder.

It’s mercy.

But we could call the authorities.

He might have more to say.

[gun fires] [gasps]

We are the authority.

You didn’t have to kill him back there.

We could have gotten more out of him.

Last I checked, I give the orders around here.

[Jubilee] And last I checked, we were trying to stop a ruthless mass murderer, not steal from his playbook.

I helped you get the Horseman.

But if you want anything else, I’m gonna need a little less killing.

Take it that means you’ve got a hunch.

Psylocke said the Horseman’s mind was blocked by a psychic wall, and saw diamonds.

I know only one telepath who’s got a thing for diamonds.

Saw her turn into one in Genosha.

Emma Frost.

[Emma] Well, what do we have here?

A stray, a firecracker and a pit-bull.

Not gonna lie.

If X-Force is going to crash my party, that dashing Warren Worthington is more my type.

Though I wouldn’t mind making you bark.

Woof. Ew.

Your exploits in Rio spun up a lot of chatter.

You all are quite the party crashers.

We’re wasting time.

[Jubilee] The X-Men saved your life in Genosha.

As well as their heroic image. And?

You owe us. We need information.

We all have wants.

Some of us can just afford them more easily.

[Cable] Believe you and bowl-cut were business partners.

[Jubilee] You want to tell us a little about the nature of that business?

Oh, you’re serious?

And you’re terrified.

Listen, my dears, I’m a matchmaker.

I help demand meet supply and take a small cut.

I don’t get curious.

So please pack up your blame and…

Just tell us what the Horseman wanted.

He needed to smuggle cargo into Switzerland.

Got an address?

[chuckles] Of course.

But as I said, I’m in it for a cut.

So where shall we start the bidding?

[Cable] Horsemen tech.

Everything Apocalypse needs to convert mutants into his loyal death squad.

No, Cable, this equipment, it’s far more advanced than any he ever used on me.

The crates are empty.

If Apocalypse was here, he’s long gone.

[Psylocke] Whatever Apocalypse is working on, it’s already built and moved out.

Bastard no doubt staged the Rio attack to pull our focus.

You led us to a dead end.

Not dead, but an end?

Yes. [clanging in distance]

[Cable] X-Factor.

Drop your weapons.

By order of the United States Government.

You really are a total… Sorry.

In these times, amnesty is everything.

You’ve got two options.

Stand down or be put down.

Unlike you, X-Force doesn’t answer to anyone.

Least of all, Uncle Sam’s mutant lapdogs.

Traitors!

Don’t bring a gun to a fist-fight. [both grunt]

Well done. But I only need one of me.

Yawn.

Eat this, big guy!

Polaris, help!

Wrap this up.

Polaris, what are you doing?

We’re not the bad guys here.

It’s not about good or bad.

It’s about authority. And you don’t have any.

I’m an X-Man trying to help.

X-Men, remember them?

Ya used to be one.

You’re not an X-Man.

You’re on a secret assassination hit squad.

[Archangel] You don’t understand.

You have no idea the danger coming.

Release us!

[Jubilee grunts] Move! Move to the jet!

[Jubilee yelps] Jubilee! No!

Move it, or we’re toast.

Get off me! We have to go back for her.

Come on. The guy left you high and dry without a second thought.

I mean, do you really wanna take the fall for this?

Just tell us what Cable’s up to and where he’s going.

Jubilee, I’m sure you didn’t mean to get caught up in all of this.

You’re just a kid.

[sighs] Look, X-Factor was formed by the Government to legally police threats, mutant and human.

We’re just trying to keep order by easing tensions.

Help us help you.

[Jubilee] You mean help you round up mutants?

That’s your plan for easing tensions?

With the violent bigots who are attacking us?

You guys are gonna have to bring in a telepath ’cause I’m not talking.

You have one of those on your C-list roster?

Knock-off Cyclops?

Maybe give us a minute, Alex.

I’ll do better than that. I’ll give you two.

This is who you left the X-Men to work with?

I could say the same for you, working for a vigilante merc like Cable.

Okay, his methods are definitely a little questionable.

I’m working on that.

But at least he’s on a mission worth fighting for.

Sorry I can’t say the same for you.

We’ve all lost a lot, Jubilee.

I was a foster kid when the Professor took me in.

The X-Men became my family too.

Now they’re gone and you and I are all that’s left.

We’re all doing our best to honor them.

If the Professor was here, do you think he’d be proud of what you’re doing?

Heck, I’m wondering if he’d be proud of me.

Got a fresh cell for ya, hotshot.

[mutant whimpers] Why do we have to stay here?

[sobbing]

[panting anxiously]

[Sunspot] We’re going back for Jubilee.

Relax, Da Costa, I’m buying us time to regroup.

Your girl can handle her own against the mutant mall cops.

What if she can’t?

[sighs] Look, I’ve trained you both. She’ll be fine.

We need to stay on the trail and find Apocalypse and his Frankenstein machine before…

We’ll finish the mission, but not at the cost of our own.

That’s not what the X-Men would have done.

Yeah, and look where that got ’em.

She can handle it on her own.

Just because she can do it alone doesn’t mean she should have to.

[Cable] Mmm…

Come to salt the wound?

Call it payback for reminding me what I’m in this for.

I can buy you five minutes.

How you use them, that’s up to you.

[alarm blaring]

[guards murmuring] [guard 1] Come on.

[alarm blaring percussively]

[♪ Dramatic rock music playing, Veruca Salt “Volcano Girls”]

♪ Tell me, tell me what you really want from me ♪

♪ You’ve got to let me know ♪

♪ I’m falling off and I need you terribly ♪

♪ One down and one to go ♪

[groans]

[grunting]

[strains, grunts]

[straining]

[grunts] [guard yells]

[over radio] Come in. It’s Jubilee. Over.

Can anyone hear me?

Jubes, where are you?

It’s cool.

[guard groans] I’m fine, I broke out.

But I’ve got additional cargo and I’m definitely gonna need backup.

Cargo? What cargo?

[♪ Music continues]

♪ Way to go, way to flip off everyone ♪

[prisoners clamoring] Come on, get to the flight deck. That way.

Land on the south deck and pick up the kids.

[Sunspot] Jubes, what about you?

I’ll be fine.

Look alive, team.

[♪ Music continues]

[grunting] [guards groaning]

♪ I bounce back and I run some more ♪

♪ But this is it I’m giving up, I’m calling quits ♪

♪ So get down and meet me on the floor ♪

♪ Way to go, way to flip off everyone ♪

[guard] Hold it right there. We got you.

Call for backup. [gasps]

[guard] Hey! What are you doing? [grunts]

[Jubilee grunts] [guards scream]

[guard over radio] Rogue mutants on the loose.

Requesting X-Factor immediately.

[Jubilee] Just follow my lead. I’m gonna get us out of here.

Wait for my signal.

Go!

♪ Go ♪

♪ Volcano girls, we really can’t be beat ♪

♪ Warm us up and watch us blow ♪

♪ But now and then we fail and we admit defeat ♪

♪ We’re falling off, we are watered down and fully grown ♪

[all grunting]

♪ ‘Cause I don’t wanna go ♪

♪ Leave me lying here ♪

♪ ‘Cause I don’t wanna go ♪

[grunting]

[guard screams]

[♪ Music stops]

Hold it right there!

[Havok] Your choice.

[Val] It doesn’t have to go this way.

Sure doesn’t.

Peace out, losers! [♪ music resumes]

♪ ‘Cause I don’t wanna go ♪

That team’s gonna be a problem.

What happened? Where’s Jubilee?

Escaped. Any idea how that happened?

X-Force’s blatant acts of rebellion will not be tolerated.

But rest assured.

X-Factor is here to protect humans and mutants.

And we will not rest until these fugitives are brought to justice and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

A lot of heat on us.

[Cable] Congrats, team.

Being national fugitives should really help us stay under the radar.

We did what needed to be done.

Perhaps, but at what cost?

Less than the cost of doing nothing.

If we’re not going to defend the world Apocalypse wants to destroy, what’s the point of even fighting him?

Hey, you all holding up okay?

Yeah. I know this has been…

[Archangel] She’s right, you know. But Apocalypse is still out there.

Where we’re going, it’s no place for a bunch of kids.

Trust me.

Kids are tougher than you think.

[computer cube] Field computer operational. Greetings.

Nathan, everything all right?

Yeah, I’m good.

We should probably get word to the rest of the Askani.

Let them know to make their way here.

And I think it’s way past due you get to grill your mother and me.

[computer cube] I’m sorry, Nathan, I have to object.

You must send the X-Men back to their time.

No, not yet.

I don’t want ’em to go.

I’m sorry. Apocalypse’s defeat here is only the beginning.

Shadows gather in the past where history is still unwritten.

If the X-Men do not return, there may be no future left to protect.

What about protecting my son?

You can’t expect us to just leave him here.

And yet you must.

But you can take heart knowing he will be protected.

By people who care for him.

Please, we just need more time.

Now, we must be strong, Nathan.

To do what they cannot.

Such is the burden of destiny.

And children.

Computer, time-slide the X-Men.

I love you, son.

Goodbye, Nathan.

[♪ Theme music playing]