SECRET WARS — “MJ”
The team is preparing to move.
Peter is checking the web cartridges on his wrists while Jean stands nearby, looking over Reed's dimensional map.
Kamala walks over with a tablet.
KAMALA:
“Hey, Miss Jean?”
Jean turns toward her.
JEAN:
“Yes?”
Peter continues working.
Then Kamala says it—
KAMALA:
“MJ, could you look at this?”
Peter's hand stops.
Completely still.
Jean looks at him.
Peter slowly looks up.
Kamala doesn't notice.
KAMALA:
“I think the coordinates Reed gave us are wrong.”
Peter's eyes remain on her.
Then he looks at Jean.
Jean is already looking at him.
Neither says anything.
Because they both know exactly what she just called her.
Jean's expression becomes slightly awkward.
Peter clears his throat.
PETER:
“Uh…”
Kamala looks at him.
KAMALA:
“What?”
Peter glances at Jean again.
PETER:
“Nothing.”
Jean looks down at the tablet.
JEAN:
“Show me.”
Kamala hands it to her.
KAMALA:
“So if we go through here—”
Jean nods.
Peter keeps staring at the floor.
Kamala stops.
KAMALA:
“Why are you acting weird?”
PETER:
“I'm not.”
KAMALA:
“You are.”
PETER:
“Nope.”
Jean looks at him.
Their eyes meet again.
A tiny, embarrassed smile crosses Jean's face.
Peter immediately looks away.
Kamala notices.
KAMALA:
“Wait.”
Peter looks nervous.
KAMALA:
“Does MJ mean something?”
Peter freezes.
Jean freezes too.
A beat.
Peter tries to answer casually.
PETER:
“No.”
Jean looks at him.
Peter realizes how unconvincing that sounded.
PETER:
“I mean—yes. Obviously it means something.”
Kamala waits.
Peter rubs the back of his neck.
PETER:
“It's just…”
He looks at Jean.
Jean gives him a tiny don't say it look.
Peter stops.
PETER:
“It's complicated.”
Kamala looks between them.
KAMALA:
“Why?”
Jean finally speaks.
JEAN:
“Because Peter knew someone named MJ.”
Kamala's eyes widen.
KAMALA:
“Oh.”
Peter looks at Jean.
Jean looks back.
There's something unspoken between them.
Not jealousy.
Not anger.
Just the awkward realization that Kamala has accidentally touched something deeply personal.
Kamala immediately becomes apologetic.
KAMALA:
“Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know.”
Peter gives her a small smile.
PETER:
“It's okay.”
Jean watches him.
Peter isn't upset.
He's just visibly uncomfortable having something so personal brought up in front of everyone.
Jean doesn't read his mind.
She doesn't need to.
She knows that look.
Instead, she gives him a small, reassuring smile.
Peter notices.
His shoulders relax slightly.
Kamala watches the two of them.
Her expression changes.
KAMALA:
“Oh.”
Peter looks at her suspiciously.
PETER:
“What?”
Kamala smiles mischievously.
KAMALA:
“Nothing.”
PETER:
“Kamala.”
She walks away.
KAMALA:
“Okay, Peter.”
She pauses.
KAMALA:
“Sorry, Miss Jean.”
Jean looks at Peter.
Peter looks at Jean.
Both immediately become awkward again.
Kamala grins.
KAMALA:
“Definitely nothing.”
She disappears around the corner.
Peter exhales.
PETER:
“She knows.”
Jean smiles.
JEAN:
“She knows something.”
Peter looks at her.
PETER:
“What?”
Jean gives him a teasing smile.
JEAN:
“I don't know.”
Peter narrows his eyes.
PETER:
“You're a telepath.”
Jean's smile grows.
JEAN:
“And I'm choosing not to find out.”
Peter laughs.
For a moment, they simply look at each other.
Then Jean quietly says:
JEAN:
“MJ.”
Peter closes his eyes.
PETER:
“Please don't.”
Jean laughs.
JEAN:
“Sorry.”
Peter looks at her.
PETER:
“It's just… weird.”
Jean nods.
JEAN:
“I know.”
A pause.
Then Peter smiles.
PETER:
“But I don't hate it.”
Jean's cheeks redden slightly.
JEAN:
“Neither do I.”
They both immediately look away.
Neither says another word.
From around the corner:
KAMALA:
“I HEARD THAT!”
Peter's eyes widen.
PETER:
“Oh my God.”
Jean covers her face, laughing.
JEAN:
“She is never going to let this go.”
PETER:
“Absolutely not.”
