Screenplay Edit: “Avengers: Endgame”

A line-by-line edit of a scene from the script.

Screenshot by the author; © 2019 by Marvel Studios.

Original Text

EXT. STARK ECO-COMPOUND, PORCH - DAYSTEVE, SCOTT, and NATASHA sit with TONY.TONY
I just want to thank you folks for dropping by. It’s not every day one gets to contemplate biting it on an inter-dimensional timescape.
NATASHA
You’ve got some objections to the plan.
TONY
So you’re calling it a plan. To me, it sounds like an exotic suicide method. Not to mention, it’s impossible.
SCOTT LANG
We know what it sounds like.
STEVE
Tony, after what you’ve seen, is anything really impossible?
TONY
Quantum fluctuation kinda messes with the Planck Scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition, can we agree on that?
(offering more tea)
Chai?
(back on message)
In layman’s terms, it means you can cancel your Netflix subscription because you’re not coming home.
SCOTT LANG
I did.
TONY
Which was a billion-to-one cosmic fluke. Now you want to pull a- What are you calling it?
SCOTT LANG
A time heist.
TONY
Oh, of course, a time heist, why didn’t we think of this before? Right, because it’s a pipe dream. Who are you again?
SCOTT LANG
Still Scott...
STEVE
Tony, the Stones exist in the past. We could get them and bring them here.
NATASHA
We can snap our own fingers. We can bring everybody back.
TONY
Or screw it up worse than he already has.
STEVE
I don’t believe we would.
Tony stares at Steve, a lot of water under the bridge.TONY
Gotta say it. Sometimes I’ve missed that giddy optimism. Sadly, all your high hopes won’t help me if there’s no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said “time heist.” I believe the most likely outcome would be our collective demise.
SCOTT LANG
Not if we strictly follow the rules of time travel. No talking to our past selves. No betting on sporting events-
TONY
Stop, Scott. Stop. Are you telling me that your plan to save the universe is more than loosely based on Back to the Future?
SCOTT LANG
(meaning “yes”)
No...
TONY
Good. Because that would be horseshit. Scientifically speaking, your brother’s picture doesn’t disappear just ‘cause you went to the dance with your mom. That’s not how quantum physics works.
NATASHA
We have to take a stand.
TONY
We did stand. And yet here we are.
SCOTT LANG
Look, Stark- Can I call you Tony?
TONY
Please don’t-
SCOTT LANG
Tony-
TONY
Fine.
SCOTT LANG
I get that you’ve got a lot on the line, here. You’ve got a wife. A daughter. But I lost someone very important - a lot of us did - and now we have a chance to save her, and everyone else, and you won’t even-
TONY
No, Scott. I won’t. Even.
Suddenly, MORGAN walks onto the porch.MORGAN STARK
Mommy told me to come save you.
Tony takes Morgan into his arms and heads inside.TONY
Good job. I’m saved.
(to Steve)
I wish you were coming here to ask me something else. I’m honestly happy to see you. If you want to stay-
Steve tries one last time.STEVE
Tony, I get it. And I’m happy for you. I am. But this is a second chance.
TONY
Yeah, well, I got my second chance right here. I can’t roll the dice on it. The table is set for six. If you don’t talk shop, you’re welcome to stay for lunch.
He exits.

Line Edit

EXT. STARK ECO-COMPOUND, PORCH — DAY

EXT. STARK ECO-COMPOUND PORCH — DAY

STEVE, SCOTT, and NATASHA sit with TONY.

Steve, Scott, and Natasha are sitting with Tony.

Steve, Scott, and Natasha are sitting with Tony, drinking tea.

TONYI just want to thank you folks for dropping by.It’s not every day one gets to contemplate biting it on an inter-dimensional timescape.

I just want to thank you folks for dropping by; it’s not every day one gets to contemplate biting it on an interdimensional timescape.

I just want to thank you folks for dropping by; it’s not every day one gets to contemplate biting it in interdimensional space.

NATASHAYou’ve got some objections to the plan.

What are your objections to the plan?

What’s wrong with the plan?

TONYSo you’re calling it a plan. To me, it sounds like an exotic suicide method. Not to mention, it’s impossible.

First, it’s not a plan; it’s a suicide mission. And second, it’s impossible.

SCOTT LANG

SCOTT

We know what it sounds like.STEVE
Tony, after what you’ve seen, is anything really impossible?
TONY
Quantum fluctuation kinda messes with the Planck Scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition, can we agree on that?
(offering more tea)
Chai?
(back on message)
In layman’s terms, it means you can cancel your Netflix subscription because you’re not coming home.
SCOTT LANG
I did.

TONY
First, it’s not a plan; it’s a suicide mission. And second, it’s impossible.

SCOTT
It’s not impossible.

TONYWhich was a billion-to-one cosmic fluke.

You coming back was a billion-to-one fluke.

Now you want to pull a- What are you calling it?SCOTT
A time heist.
TONY
Oh, of course, a time heist, why didn’t we think of this before? Right, because it’s a pipe dream. Who are you again?
SCOTT
Still Scott...

You coming back was a billion-to-one fluke, and now you want to replicate it.

STEVETony, the Stones exist in the past.We could get them and bring them here.

We could get them and bring them here.

NATASHAWe can snap our own fingers. We can bring everybody back.

We could snap our own fingers. We could bring everybody back.

TONYOr screw it up worse than he already has.

Or we could screw it up worse than he already has.

STEVEI don’t believe we would.

Yes. But I don’t believe we would.

Tony stares at Steve, a lot of water under the bridge.
TONY(beat)Gotta say it.Sometimes I’ve missed that giddy optimism.

Gotta say it: sometimes, I miss that giddy optimism.

Gotta say it: sometimes, I miss that optimism.

Sadly, all your high hopes won’t help me if there’s no logical, tangible way for me to safely execute said “time heist.”

But it won’t help us if there’s no practical, reliable way to safely execute this not-a-plan.

I believe the most likely outcome would be our collective demise.

The most likely outcome would be that we die or disappear.

SCOTTNot if we strictly follow the rules of time travel.

Not if we follow the rules of time travel.

No talking to our past selves. No betting on sporting events-

Not if we follow the rules of time travel: no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting events

TONY
Stop, Scott. Stop. Are you telling me that your plan to save the universe is more than loosely based on Back to the Future?
SCOTT
(meaning “yes”)
No...
TONY
Good. Because that would be horseshit. Scientifically speaking, your brother’s picture doesn’t disappear just ‘cause you went to the dance with your mom. That’s not how quantum physics works.

TONY
Stop, Scott. Stop. We’re talking about quantum physics, not Back to the Future. Are you serious?

SCOTT
(beat)
Nope.

NATASHA
We have to take a stand.
TONY
We did stand. And yet here we are.

NATASHA
Tony, we know this sounds crazy, and we understand the odds, but we have to do something.

TONY
We already did.

NATASHA
Then we have to do something else.

SCOTTLook, Stark - Can I call you Tony?

Look, Stark — can I call you Tony?

TONYPlease don’t 

Please don’t.

SCOTTTony TONYFine.SCOTT

SCOTT (CONT’D)

I get that you’ve got a lot on the line, here.

I get that you’ve got a lot on the line here.

You’ve got a wife. A daughter.
But I lost someone very important - a lot of us did - and now we have a chance to save her, and everyone else, and you won’t even 

But I lost someone important to meall of us did — and now we have a chance to save her, and everyone else, and you won’t even —

But I lost someone important to me — all of us did — and now we have a chance to bring them back, and you won’t even —

TONYNo, Scott. I won’t. Even.Suddenly, Morgan walks onto the porch.

Morgan walks onto the porch.

MORGANMommy told me to come save you.

Morgan walks onto the porch and over to Tony.

MORGAN
Mommy told me to come save you.

Tony takes Morgan into his arms and heads inside.

Tony picks up Morgan and stands.

Tony stands and picks her up.

TONYGood job. I’m saved.

Good job; I’m saved.

(to Steve)I wish you were coming here to ask me something else.

I wish you’d come here to ask me something else.

I’m honestly happy to see you.

I wish you’d come here to ask me something else; I’m honestly happy to see you.

If you want to stay 

(to everyone)
If you want to stay for lunch

Steve tries one last time.
STEVETony, I get it.And I’m happy for you.I am.But this is a second chance.TONYYeah, well, I got my second chance right here.

(re: Morgan)
Yeah, well, I’ve got my second chance right here.

I can’t roll the dice on it.The table is set for six.

(to everyone)
The table is set for six.

If you don’t talk shop, you’re welcome to stay for lunch.He exits.

Edited Text

EXT. STARK ECO-COMPOUND PORCH — DAYSteve, Scott, and Natasha are sitting with Tony, drinking tea.TONY
I just want to thank you folks for dropping by; it’s not every day one gets to contemplate biting it in interdimensional space.
NATASHA
What’s wrong with the plan?
TONY
First, it’s not a plan; it’s a suicide mission. And second, it’s impossible.
SCOTT
It’s not impossible.
TONY
You coming back was a billion-to-one fluke, and now you want to replicate it.
STEVE
Tony, the Stones exist in the past. We could get them and bring them here.
NATASHA
We could snap our own fingers. We could bring everybody back.
TONY
Or we could screw it up worse than he already has.
STEVE
Yes. But I don’t believe we would.
TONY
(beat)
Gotta say it: sometimes, I miss that optimism. But it won’t help us if there’s no practical, reliable way to safely execute this not-a-plan. The most likely outcome would be that we die or disappear.
SCOTT
Not if we follow the rules of time travel: no talking to our past selves, no betting on sporting events -
TONY
Stop, Scott. Stop. We’re talking about quantum physics, not Back to the Future. Are you serious?
SCOTT
(beat)
Nope.
NATASHA
Tony, we know this sounds crazy, and we understand the odds, but we have to do something.
TONY
We already did.
NATASHA
Then we have to do something else.
SCOTT
Look, Stark - can I call you Tony?
TONY
Please don’t.
SCOTT
Tony -
TONY
Fine.
SCOTT (CONT’D)
 I get that you’ve got a lot on the line here. But I lost someone important to me — all of us did — and now we have a chance to bring them back, and you won’t even — 
TONY
No, Scott. I won’t. Even.
Morgan walks onto the porch and over to Tony.MORGAN
Mommy told me to come save you.
Tony stands and picks her up.TONY
Good job; I’m saved.
(to Steve)
I wish you’d come here to ask me something else; I’m honestly happy to see you.
(to everyone)
If you want to stay for lunch — 
STEVE
Tony, I get it. And I’m happy for you. I am. But this is a second chance.
TONY
(re: Morgan)
Yeah, well, I’ve got my second chance right here. I can’t roll the dice on it.
(to everyone)
The table is set for six. If you don’t talk shop, you’re welcome to stay for lunch.

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I write about writing and editing and also share occasional thoughts on things. mitchellferrin.com

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Mitchell Ferrin

I write about writing and editing and also share occasional thoughts on things. mitchellferrin.com