Episode Fourteen - Growing Pains

Aired: September 29, 2001

Stars: Cyclops, Avalanche, Xavier

Appears: Shadowcat, Rogue, Jean Grey, Storm, Toad, Blob, Quicksilver, Principal Kelly, Wolverine, Spyke, Nightcrawler, Magma, Jubilee, Berzerker, Boom Boom, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Multiple, Cannonball, Risty Wilde
Cameos: Arcade

Guests: Havok

First Appearance(s) of: Magma, Jubilee, Berzerker, Boom Boom, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Multiple, Cannonball, Risty Wilde, Principal Kelly, Arcade (Webber Torque)

Written by: Steve Granat and Cydne Clark

Summary

**** It starts off with Bayville's Girls' Soccer Team in a game, with the winning goal being scored by Jean Grey. After the game, Jean is first congratulated by Scott, who is bumped out of the way by Duncan, who then hugs Jean. Scott offers Jean a ride back to the Academy, but she tells him she is riding with Duncan. It's more than apparent that Scott is hurt by this, but he doesn't say anything until they're well out of earshot.

It then cuts to Scott driving down a busy city street, with Kurt and Kitty discussing "The Stone Cyphers." Scott is driving like he isn't concentrating on the road...anyone familiar with the comics will understand why. Scott is forced into the other lane by a driver going way too fast, with a lot of police cars chasing him. The wild driver runs a red light, and narrowly misses getting t-boned by a school bus loaded with kids. The driver turns onto a bridge which backtracks right over the bus, and the police set up a road block in order to stop the driver, who swerves out of the way, and dangles from the bridge, right over the school bus.

Scott, Kurt, and Kitty begin arguing over whether or not to step in and help, afraid of revealing themselves. Finally, they see the car beginning to go over the edge. Scott gives the go-ahead, causing Kurt to teleport into the car, and teleport the driver out. Scott fires a small blast, knocking the car away from the bus, and saves the kids. Kurt rematerializes next to the bus, seconds after the kids leave, and the confused driver stumbles forward, as Kurt teleports back to Scott and Kitty. The police catch the driver, and Kitty uses her powers to phase the three X-Men into an abandoned building, not wanting to be spotted, just avoiding a news crew running to the scene.

Cut to the Academy, where the "New Mutants" are putting on a display of their abilities. Boom-Boom drops one of her "cherry bombs" in between Magma, Berzerker, and Jubilee, causing a type of mutant laser tag between them.

Cut to Xavier's office, where he and Logan are discussing the new recruits and the difficulty they will have keeping anonymous, and Logan expresses his feelings that they need more instructors, and possibly a couple tanks...yes, Logan did suggest that. Storm comes in, and turns on the TV, showing Xavier and Logan the news report, displaying the car being knocked away from the bus by a strange bolt of red light. Xavier automatically realizes it was done by Scott.

Cut to in front of the Academy, where Scott drives up in his car, with Kurt and Kitty still in tow. The three are discussing whether or not to tell anyone what happened, and Kitty suggests either keeping quiet about it, or finding a way to blame it on Kurt. They look to the front doors, and Logan, Xavier, and Storm are already there, waiting for them. ****

Cyke and Xavier talk in his office about hiding the fact that they're mutants. Cyke wants to stop hiding the truth, but Xavier tells him that he doesn't think that the public is ready to find out about them yet. Later Scott talks to Alex via vidphone on his computer. Alex tells him that he's considering going pro on the surf circuit. Scott is disappointed that Alex isn't coming to join him in the X-Men.

Next day at school everyone is gathered in the gym for an assembly. Scott sees Jean walking towards the bleachers and jumps up to wave to her. She smiles and Scott thinks it's at him, but then he realizes that she's actually looking at Duncan. She wanders over and sits with Dunc and Scott sits down disappointed. Farther up in the bleachers Kurt and Evan are sitting together and they send a paper airplane flying over the crowd.

On the floor of the gym, the Brotherhood are all standing/slouching against a wall. Blob asks why they're even in school and Quicksilver says he knows what Lance is doing. They all look at Lance, but he's watching Kitty as she talks to some of her friends. Quicksilver says "He'd like to get a certain Kitty stuck in a tree." Lance tries to backhand Quicksilver, but he moves and Toad gets hit instead.

Rogue walks past them, but is stopped by a new girl sitting on the bottom bleacher. She asks Rogue how long the assemblies usually last. Rogue sits down and the girl introduces herself as Risty Wilde from England. Rogue offers to show her around after the assembly. Lance notices Kit looking his way and heads over to sit behind her. When he says hi, Kit makes a crack that shouldn't he be erupting somewhere. The Brotherhood laughs.

The new principal Edward Kelly (who's come in to replace the missing Mystique) walks toward the podium. Lance uses his powers to shake the place up and make Kelly stumble. Kitty giggles and Lance is happy. He asks if she wants to see some real shaking, then starts a tremor that shakes loose the scoreboard over Kelly's head. The scoreboard just misses Kelly and Kit gets mad at Lance. Kelly laughs it off and gives a speech about everyone using their special gifts and talents to make it a great school year. He also says he wants everyone to show up to the pre-game rally for the girl's soccer team championship.

After school Scott waits outside for Jean by his car. He asks a couple of girls if they've seen her and they say no and giggle to themselves. He hears Kit and Lance arguing down by the Brotherhood car. Lance tells Kitty that he's sorry and asks her not to be mad, but Kit tells him that he can be a real jerk sometimes. She starts to walk away and Lance grabs her arm to stop her. Scott shows up and tells him to leave her alone. When Lance tries to goad Scott into fighting, Kit stops him saying Lance knows they can't use their powers in public. Scott walks away. Kit hesitates a second, but the rest of the Brotherhood laughs and she gets mad and walks away. Lance tells the rest of the BH that he's tired of hiding his powers and he thinks it's time they go public.

That night at the game rally, Kelly shows off the new school mascot the "Bayville Hawk", which shoots off fireworks. The game starts, but the BH shows up and stops the game. Lance makes the big announcement that they're mutants and have special powers. TV cameras catch all the action as he also announces that the X-Institute is also filled with mutants and names Scott and Jean personally.

Then the BH starts wrecking the stadium and harassing Kelly. The X-Kids take off to change into uniform and Xavier "calls" to Storm that they need her. The Blob pulls over the new hawk mascot as the X-Kids hit the field. Cyke blasts the hawk out of his hands and it flies into the gym causing a small explosion. Kit destroys the TV cameras and tapes as Jean saves Kelly. Kelly pulls away from Jean when she tries to help him and runs off. Rogue zaps Blob as he's trying to rip up all of the bleachers and Kurt takes out the Toad.

(Growing Pains was cut here in the USA due to 9/11. A fan from South America was able to see the whole episode and fill us in on some of the cut scenes. Here is Ryoken's description of the missing minutes)

Growing Pains has over 2 and a half minutes lost , scenes include Kelly getting away from Jean as she saves him from Pietro, he tries to call the cops but Jean uses her powers to bust his cell phone. There's a scene where Blob starts destroying the stadium seats with the people still on it. He is sapped by Rogue and the whole construction falls on both of them! Kitty helps Rogue to get away from the wreck and we see the statue starting to fall. Lance is fighting Scott , but he interrupts his battle as he realizes that the statue is about to fall on Kitty. He pushes her out of the way and the statue falls on him. Kitty screams in horror and uses her powers to drag him from there. (End cut scenes)

Storm whips up some rain. Kit helps Lance as the rain causes everyone to stop fighting and calm down. Xavier tells Storm good job, but she says that a rain storm isn't going to make everyone forget and that they're secret is now out. Xavier decides to use his power to change everyone's memories, against Storm's wishes. He works his way through all of the students, but just as he's clearing Kelly's mind he passes out.

Back at the X-Inst. He comes to and Storm says that it worked. Everyone thinks that the Hawk's fireworks caused all of the damage. Xavier asks about the television coverage and Wolverine tells him that some weird magnetic interference stopped the broadcast. They all realize that it means Magneto is still alive somewhere. Scott tells Xavier that he knows now that the world isn't ready to find out about them. Xavier tells them all that he didn't finish Kelly and he doesn't know if he wiped his mind clean or not. They show Kelly standing in his office gazing out of the window.

Summary written by Denaill for her site -

Quotes

Lance: I said I was sorry for the scoreboard thing. Come on. Don't be mad.
Kitty: Lance, you can be such a jerk sometimes!
Scott: Alvers, leave her alone!
Lance: Hey, go recharge your batteries Goggle Boy. This is between me and her.

Quick Review

Nice story, with the intro of some new characters. Rogue gets a new friend, Risty, and the school gets a new principal. Just wonder what Kelly is going to do with his info about the X-Men.

Okay, dislikes. On a personal note I really hate our local WB station, it's always blinking in/out on saturdays. I missed the whole opener and all of the New Mutants intros! Nothing to much about the episode itself stood out.

Likes. I really like the new Kit/Lance angle, the whole Kurt/Kitty thing got kinda old by the end of last season. I was really surprised at the end when Kit went to help Lance after Scott blasted him. I thought at first that it was going to be a crush solely on Lance's side, Kit didn't seem to want anything to do with him. Guess I was wrong.

Beyond Evolution Copyright © 2004 Denaill.