Ironheart (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[girls giggle]
Here we go, here we go. Okay.
- Just to let you know
- Mm-hmm.
- Your girl finna be bigger than Jobs.
- Right.
- Bigger than Gates.
- Right.
- Bigger than Pym.
- Right.
- Bigger than Stark.
- Yeah.
- Combined.
- [both laugh]
Okay, what about you?
- What do you want more than anything?
- [Natalie] Hmm
[smacks lips]
A night with Thor and his hammer.
[gasps]
All right, see, now we gotta cut
- the video off.
- [moans]
Okay, let me start over.
No, I just
I just wanna be happy.
[both laugh]
- Happy?
- [sniffling]
[chuckles, whimpers]
- I know.
- [laughs]
[intriguing music playing]
[Riri] I'm here because I can be
the greatest inventor of my generation,
which doesn't mean much
without the resources
to bring my ideas to life.
After my internship abroad,
I realized I'mma need the equivalent
of a whole vibranium
mountain to be great.
I need cash. Money.
Do you think Tony Stark would be
Tony Stark if he wasn't a billionaire?
No shade. That's just the way
the world works.
And the AI for my prototype
already costs millions of dollars,
which, clearly, I don't have.
So, yeah, my means of fundraising
have been a little experimental.
[boy exclaims]
All right, dude, this is awesome.
I'm gonna get an A?
You might mess around
and get a fellowship.
But without real money,
I gotta get creative.
My method goes beyond rules and red tape.
I want to continue Mr. Stark's legacy
and revolutionize safety.
My suits would shorten the response time
of first responders, firefighters,
search and rescue teams, et cetera.
Working on this level of innovation
does not come without risks.
[device powering up]
[yelps]
- [screams]
- [Riri gasps]
[devices exploding]
Ah! She did something!
Everybody out! Move!
[Professor Wilkes grunts, sighs]
With all that considered, I thought
maybe you could convince the board
to extend my grant, just one more year.
If I could just get my idea
off the ground,
help would never be too late.
This could change the world.
- [sighs]
- [jug clattering]
[Professor Wilkes] Sorry.
[Dean Choi] Riri, I understand
why this project is a passion of yours,
but you've been here over four years,
with as many
disciplinary hearings on record,
and still no true matriculation
towards a degree.
Due respect, Dean Choi,
what do I get out of matriculation?
Some job in Palo Alto with a tiny window
and a bunch of guys
I have to pretend to like?
[smacks lips, sighs deeply]
I wanna build something undeniable.
I want real-life scientific epiphanies.
You want me to do homework
I have to explain to my professors.
You want me to be small.
But I refuse.
Riri
that's a hot pile of garbage.
Trash, and you know it.
Who here asked you to be small?
It's not a rhetorical question.
I brought you here
because the field would've
devoured 15-year-old you.
So we tailored a course of study
to your needs.
And I work hard to get qualified people
like us into seats here.
But you're making it impossible.
I allowed some leniency, maybe too much,
given your situation, but
[sighs]
You sold completed assignments to
students at every school in the area.
Cambridge, Providence, New Haven
Quite frankly, you have been
a horrible steward of Stark's legacy.
MIT has a zero-tolerance policy
on plagiarism.
So, this ends with us.
You're right.
I somberly accept responsibility
and will get right back to my studies.
Given your history here
and the financial impact
of yesterday's incident, it's too late.
- You're expelling me?
- Effective immediately.
Is there anything you would like to say?
[stutters, breathes shakily]
[guard] Just gather your stuff.
We'll wait for you by the exit.
[funky music playing, COBRAH "TEA"]
[drawer opens]
Turn it on, cook it up ♪
Make it boil, let it soak ♪
Is it hot? Is it cold? ♪
What degree? Spill the tea ♪
Turn it on, cook it up ♪
Make it boil, let it soak ♪
[Harini] Why are you guys
doing this to Riri?
We're just here to make sure she
doesn't take anything that's not hers.
- [Riri] I would never!
- [footsteps thudding]
[Harini] She built that
with her own grant money.
I did that, right?
[electronic beeping]
[all exclaiming]
[man exclaims]
[Riri] Whoo!
[chuckles]
Yeah!
Hey, TRVOR! You in there?
'Sup? I'm TRVOR,
MIT's teaching robot
and virtual operational resource,
and your very own AI assistant.
Please say or enter
your student ID to proceed.
Come on, bruh.
Don't you recognize my voice?
- 'Sup? I'm TRVOR, MIT's
- Okay, okay.
- 3-0-2-1-6-R-W.
- [chimes]
Access granted. How can I help you today?
Take us home, TRVOR.
- [TRVOR] Home is not a known location.
- Chicago.
- Chicago, is an American rock band
- [distorted buzzing]
Goofy-ass AI.
Set a course to Chicago, Illinois.
You got it, Reh-Ree.
Setting course to Chicago, Illinois.
Thank you.
["TEA" by COBRAH continues]
Turn it on, cook it up ♪
Make it boil, let it soak ♪
Is it hot? Is it cold? ♪
What degree? Spill the tea ♪
[suspenseful music playing]
Yo.
- You guys in position or what?
- [typing]
[Stuart] System disabled.
Good to go, guys. Rock and roll.
[Roz] Blood Siblings to John,
we're ready.
[Stuart] You're up, Clown.
- [digital beeping]
- [system chirps]
[groans] Shit!
The system just went back online.
Hang on a second.
Don't worry. I got it.
Don't panic. I'm fixing it.
[breathes deeply]
[Stuart] Come on.
Don't freeze on me.
Come on, Stu!
It's Rampage. Not Stu.
It's not Stuart. Rampage.
[Jeri] Yeah, we're not calling you that.
[Stuart] Why not?
Everybody else has a codename.
Yeah, but yours is dumb.
You know what? Piss off.
Stuart. My guy. What is the holdup?
- Uh
- [digital beeping]
[exclaims] Okay. System disabled.
You're good to go again.
I call it Dragon's Breath.
[Roz] We are in.
[Slug] All right. Let's get to work.
Take a right.
Third corridor on the left.
The asset is right behind that door.
[alarm blaring]
Why's the alarm goin' off?
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I thought we were in the clear, Stu.
Damn it! [grunts]
Too late. Blood Sibs, y'all got company.
[both grunting]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunting]
[man groans]
- [groans]
- [both grunting]
- [Slug] I lost visual.
- I can fix this. I can fix this.
The alarm must've triggered
a signal block.
Shit! Yo, listen up.
Cops are gonna be here any minute,
thanks to our boy Stuey.
Slug's gonna text you
new pick-up coordinates now.
Yo, Hood.
Done strippin' the van.
You need anything else?
Nah, nah. You guys are good.
Go home, get some rest.
- What?
- [Clown] Mm-hmm.
- [Jeri clears throat]
- Hey! It wasn't my fault!
[John] So, what should
we do about Stuart?
[The Hood] Fire him.
Oh, but make sure you find
his replacement first.
- Nah, Slug could do the next job.
- How?
They're software.
We need hardware for this one.
Where are we gonna find someone
in the next couple days?
Hell, we still got TNNL or Heirlum,
the big job
[whooshing]
- Yo, you seein' this?
- Holy hell.
Vital signs indicate corporeal overload.
Are you all right?
I'm fine.
Okay, Reh-Ree.
Can I help you with anything else?
- Yeah. Text Xavier.
- Sure.
- Tell him to meet me at my mom's.
- Texting Xavier.
I need an escape plan.
Hey, TRVOR, stabilize the cabin pressure.
- I need some more air.
- Okay, Reh-Ree.
- [distorted] Stabilizing cabin pressure.
- No.
No, don't give up on me now, man.
We're almost there.
Thanos was just the beginning!
- Hello? TRVOR, where you at?
- [alarms chirp]
Nah. Wait, hold on.
Wait, wait!
Tony can't save us this time!
[clangs]
[Riri] What was that?
Switch to manual control.
- [crackling]
- Ooh!
[screams] TRVOR!
[grunting]
[coughing]
- [bicycle bell rings]
- [man] A-yo, get off the street.
[Riri groans]
[soul jazz music playing]
[whistles] Yo. Whoo-hoo, IronGirl.
Say, say, say.
[man 1] Yo, check her out, man.
- Dang! That was you who crashed just now?
- [man 2] Okay.
Do you need, like, a Band-Aid
or a ice pack or somethin'?
[man 2] Hey, I know you hear me!
Come on, my bad. Is it, uh, is it IronMa?
- [man 1] A-yo, IronChick!
- W-W-W-Wait.
I can carry your things for you.
Check it out, check it out.
I'm not trying to be mean,
but you look a hot mess.
And you're attracting attention.
So, uh, what am I supposed to call you?
You can call me Ms. Riri,
'cause I'm grown and you're little.
What does your momma call you?
Riri Williams, Bad Girl Genius.
Hey. Whoo!
'Cause that is terrible.
That's your introduction?
- I'm Landon.
- [Riri] Well, nice to meet you, Landon.
Look, we're here.
[soulful music playing,
Gorgeous George "You Need Me"]
Twenty dollars to the door.
Five more if you want me to take it up.
- Twenty dollars?
- Yeah.
That's highway robbery.
Hey, that sounds like a you problem.
[scoffs]
[girls giggling]
[Madeline] A lot of kids act out
for years after a traumatic event.
[Ronnie] Hmm.
But Riri's always been like this though.
And, see, I don't know how much of it
is her acting out
and how much of it is Riri being Riri.
You know what I'm sayin'?
[Madeline] Yeah, but I can sense
it's still weighing on Riri
after five years.
Not being able to say goodbye
to Natalie or her stepdad.
Such a tragedy.
Come bring Riri by the shop
- [sighs]
- so she can meet my daughter.
They can get into some trouble.
- [Ronnie] Oh. Uh-oh.
- [both laugh]
[Madeline] If they're anything like us,
we better get some bail money ready.
[women laughing]
Riri?
[Riri] Yes, Ma.
[Ronnie] When did you
[parts clattering]
[sighs]
Baby, oh, get in here! Oh!
Hey, Ms. Stanton.
Give thanks, Ms. Riri.
Come here, baby. Mmm.
It's good to see you.
What the hell happened to you?
I should've known,
that damned suit again.
Why do you insist
on building your own death trap?
Because I can.
What is that supposed to mean?
Just clearing the stank aura that
you drug in with you. Don't mind me.
[women laugh]
So y'all gonna make me
hold crystals about my feelings now?
- [Ronnie] Mmm. Maddie?
- [Madeline] Hmm.
Which crystal is for wise-asses
who've been kicked out of school?
- Black obsidian.
- Ooh.
- [woman 1] Mm-hmm. You know that's right.
- [women chuckle]
You knew?
I bribed a janitor there
your first week to look out for you.
We keep in touch. See, he called.
You know you can always do the same?
[Madeline] You know, Riri,
black obsidian is also really good
to have in times of grief.
Nobody is grieving.
Ms. Stanton, I'm fine.
Please tell me to go to my room
and think about what I've done.
- No. We have guests. Do not embarrass me.
- Come on. [smacks lips]
[Ronnie] Just sit down
and have a cup of tea
Hey, Black people.
[Madeline] Uh, hello.
Hey, so I know you just got back.
- You free tomorrow?
- Tomorrow?
Nah, how about right now?
Yeah, now is cool.
[Ronnie] Whoa, whoa. Wait, wait.
- We'll be back late.
- [Ronnie] You can't just leave the
[Xavier] I mean,
it's Friday night, almost eight.
So
So, a hot girl's
supposed to be at the clubs.
Trying to get some drinks free.
Hmm.
But you, Riri Williams,
are making an iron suit.
People are obsessed with them.
I could build a thousand other things
and no one would care.
But if I could build one of them?
Better than everyone else?
People got no choice but to respect me.
Smarter AI, stronger armor.
Does that mean you're gonna
stick around Chicago to build it?
Ooh. I need a job that pays,
and a lab so massive they don't notice
if I finesse a resource here or there.
Thinking Dubai
[huffs] All the way around the world
to prove a point.
Everything here feels so
I don't know, small.
[Xavier] I hope you don't mind.
Just wanted to show you
the mural they put up
with your stepdad and my sister
while you were away.
Not bad, right?
I miss 'em both.
- [Gary] Riri?
- [Riri laughs]
- [Natalie] I just wanna be happy.
- [Riri laughs]
[Xavier] You remember that one time
your stepdad got stuck under the Celica,
like, the jack gave out?
He spent hours down there
[chuckles] refused to admit it.
[laughs]
He used to say, "The car needed
a glass of alkaline water
'cause it was thirsty."
[chuckles softly]
He used to sing along
to every song on the radio.
[Gary] On the other side
Of the rainbow ♪
[Xavier] Word for word, note for note.
And you and him used to work
every waking moment
on that trash Barracuda.
Whatever happened to it?
I don't have it.
I don't have it anymore.
I sold it for money for my suit.
Sorry I wasn't there that night
when everything happened.
[somber music playing]
I'll get you home.
I made you something. Well
I made me something.
A mixtape that I thought you might like,
so I made you a copy.
Uh, and you'll need those, too.
Here. Listen to it later.
I got you.
See you tomorrow.
[suspenseful music playing]
Does it have to be
that particular converter?
I mean, I could say no, but yeah.
It's gotta be that one.
This will help build the hardware,
but I still gotta figure out my AI
So it's a start.
Well, then go tell Jim,
and I'll load everything else.
All right.
[telephone rings]
[man] Yeah, all right, hang on.
Hey, Jim, I got Tony on line one.
He's asking for another extension.
Hey. I told you
this guy need to pay in full!
- [grunts]
- [man] All right. All right. You got it.
Hey, listen. Are you there?
You're talking like
Jim [sighs] I just gotta tell you
straight off, okay?
Riri Williams! [chuckles]
Would you look at that!
I was just telling Iris
about your big, uh, Tony Stark fellowship
at that MIT school.
Yeah, yeah, that was such a blessing.
When you were a little girl,
um, nine, ten,
you used to come in here
and haggle with me. [chuckles]
You always were with, uh, that
best friend of yours, uh
What was her name?
- [stutters] Natalie.
- Yeah. [chuckling] Natalie.
And I knew it. I knew you'd be big time
and come back here
and spend all your money with me.
[Riri] Jim, actually
This time, I was hopin', just this once,
that you'd actually let me
Hoping you'd let her
pay with large bills?
All right. Oh.
[John] You know how it is.
Must get hella embarrassing
flauntin' what you have, right?
Here.
[John] You gonna
grab your change, Ms. Williams?
This one right here, couple years ago,
could not open the local section
of the Trib and not see a story on her.
I mean, finished Ninth grade at age 11
started college at 15,
and here she is, in your shop,
all grown up. Wow. [chuckles]
[John clears throat]
You know I had it under control.
I know you did.
Thanks or whatever.
Yeah, no doubt.
You know you're too special
to be haggling over trash, right?
I'm serious.
How come you're not working
at like, I don't know,
Stark Industries or something?
I mean, you're at least as smart
as that Tony guy, right?
I just met you. And he
contributed immensely to the field,
so I won't roast Tony Stark off rip.
But
I don't have a billion,
and I can't compete without resources.
I get that.
You know, traditional companies,
they didn't work for me, either.
Not for freethinkers like me and you.
[John clears throat]
That's why I work for someone
better.
Come by tomorrow to meet him.
When you get there,
use the elevator in the kitchen
up to the second floor.
No pressure.
Morning? Evening?
Boss prefers as
quickly as possible, so
bright and early.
Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Williams.
[suspenseful music playing]
The hell?
[elevator creaks, clangs]
[Riri] Really?
Hello?
Somebody come open this door.
[timer beeping]
[gasps]
[The Hood, over speakers] Welcome, Riri.
In less than three minutes,
the air in this elevator
will no longer be breathable.
[stutters] What is this?
[The Hood] Your interview.
You will suffocate and die unless
Uh-uh, hello! This is illegal!
[The Hood] You break into the device
on the floor,
where you'll find a gas mask.
Good luck.
- Duct tape.
- Totally.
I get weekend warrior
vibes from this one.
Takes one to know one.
She's gonna use the caliper. Watch.
It doesn't matter what she uses.
Look at her. She's shook.
- Sweats almost as much as you, Stu.
- [all chuckling]
- It's Rampage.
- No.
- Sweetie, no.
- Nah, dawg.
- Mm-mm, sorry.
- What do you mean?
[Riri] Screw this.
- [grunts]
- [all exclaiming]
Pow. Pow, pow, pow!
[dramatic music playing]
[machinery whirs]
[elevator powers back on]
[elevator clangs]
[Clown exclaims]
- What?
- [John] Looks like
- we found your replacement, Stu.
- [Roz] Okay.
[grunts]
- [all exclaim]
- Oh, shit!
[Slug] Oh, my God. That's kinda clever.
[metal creaking]
- [grunts]
- [elevator door creaking]
[straining]
- That's exactly what I would've done.
- Uh-huh.
[The Hood clapping]
I heard Riri Williams was a genius,
but I said to myself,
"Parker, you gotta meet
this kid up close."
What makes you think you can trap me
Please. It wasn't personal.
Why would you do that?
Does it matter why I did what I did?
What matters is what you did.
You beat Stuart's time.
Who is Stuart?
Present.
Stuart
Clarke?
Like the AURA-X fellow?
At-Rampage on the tech-makers' Discord?
Enchanté.
- Nah. No.
- Nah, dawg.
- No.
- What'd I tell you?
[Riri] Where am I?
You know what? I don't even care.
Riri, I see you.
I see you fed up
with mediocre folks taking your spot.
Mediocre institutions
rejecting your genius.
Soon enough, you're gonna get tired
of making yourself so small
to fit inside those awkward boxes
they put you in.
When you get to that point,
you know, when you're ready for the
respect and the money you deserve,
come work for me.
[clicks tongue] Nah.
[scoffs]
I'm out.
[Parker] That's a closet.
I'm not getting back on that elevator.
Let me show you another way.
[sighs]
So what's it gonna cost?
To get you to change your mind?
You don't have that kinda money.
Consider this a signing bonus,
and if you agree to do
the next three jobs with us,
you'll have way more than this.
I assume these jobs aren't exactly legal.
Not exactly.
Look, I don't wanna hurt anyone.
It's not like that.
Okay, so what do you do?
Theft, extortion, breaking and entering.
Why?
Why do you make iron suits?
I'm sure you have a good reason
why you do what you do,
and I have reasons of my own.
Now, you could try
to get this cash out there,
but you already know
what it's gonna come with.
Red tape, delays, uh,
with strings attached.
Join me
and I will give you the tools
to help you carry out your vision.
ASAP.
So you in or out?
Better be worth it.
It will be.
But we're gonna need
that iron suit tomorrow.
No problem.
[dramatic music playing]
[metal clattering]
[breathes deeply]
[soulful music playing over headphones,
Gorgeous George "You Need Me"]
[chuckles]
Well, all right, Xa.
Working with a little somethin'.
[Xavier] They need me ♪
You need me ♪
[laughing] You got the vocals, too?
[voicemail beeps over headphones]
Hey, Xavier. It's me, Nat.
Need you to do big sis a favor.
Um
I'm over here
- Natalie?
- at Riri's cuttin' up again.
Cover for me, all right?
I'll be right home.
[breathing shakily]
[girls giggling]
- [Natalie] I just wanna be happy.
- [laughs]
Happy?
- [breath trembling]
- [whistling]
Riri.
Hey, Riri.
Will you run those wires for me, please?
Okay, but Daddy G, hear me out. If
extra power is what you're looking for,
an LS-One cylinder hit
can literally get you anywhere
from 10 to over 50 BHP extra
on a port and polish.
There's literally no benefit
to you building
an entirely new engine from scratch
when you could just swap it.
I know.
Okay, then why'd you do it?
'Cause I could.
Natalie, hand me that wrench.
Girl, just wait until we start
road-trippin' in that thing.
- [Riri] Mmm.
- Hair blowin' dramatically in the wind.
- [sighs]
- [laughs]
You should get some
rocket boosters or somethin'.
Yeah, that's not my style.
Well, sittin' in traffic ain't mine,
so get to it, genius girl.
You know what,
I'mma make you a jet pack, okay?
Because I refuse to mess
with the body on this thing.
- Uh-huh. That's my girl.
- [man 1] Hey! I gotta tell you.
[man 2] Tell me what?
- [glass shatters]
- [man 1] Up in my house!
[gasping]
[man 3] Yo, yo, yo. Hey.
[Gary] Girls, run! Run!
- [guns firing]
- [Riri] Dad!
- Natalie!
- [objects clattering]
You okay? Ri, you good?
- It sounded like you were crying.
- I wa [sighs]
I wasn't. I'm okay.
- Let me help.
- Why don't you go clean up the shop?
Gary's?
You went by there?
He'd hate the state you have it in.
Baby, I didn't even know
you cared about the garage.
I tried calling you,
but you never wanna talk
about him or Natalie.
So now it's my fault that
you let Gary's dream die?
You haven't been home that long.
So you need a second.
[scoffs]
Forget it. I'm going to my room.
[door opens, closes]
So the team checked in.
We're all set for tomorrow.
Let's put our focus
on Sheila Zarate at TNNL.
Mm-hmm.
After Sheila, we got
two more marks and then
Big show.
[inhales sharply]
Yeah! Come on, man. [chuckles]
Have a seat.
[jazz music playing,
Nina Simone "Sinnerman"]
Oh, Sinnerman,
where you gonna run to? ♪
Sinnerman Where you gonna run to? ♪
Where you gonna run to? ♪
All on that day ♪
Well, I run to the rock ♪
Please hide me, I run to the rock ♪
Please hide me, I run to the rock ♪
Please hide me, Lord ♪
All on that day ♪
But the rock cried out ♪
"I can't hide you"
The rock cried out ♪
Suit on.
[suit powers up]
- [powers down]
- [Riri groans]
- [tattoo machine whirring]
- All on that day ♪
I said, "Rock ♪
"What's the matter with you, Rock?" ♪
[winces, groans]
Bro. I hate doing this to you, man.
It's fine. I'm fine.
No, it ain't. How about we just take
a 10-minute break, yeah?
It was bleeding, I run to the sea ♪
It was bleeding, I run to the sea ♪
It was bleeding ♪
Contingencies.
In case I fall.
Smelling salts [sighs]
in case of Who knows?
It was boiling ♪
All on that day ♪
So I run to the Lord ♪
Please hide me, Lord ♪
And go.
[electricity crackling]
Don't you see me down here praying? ♪
Four hours?
"Go to the devil," the Lord said ♪
"Go to the devil" ♪
He said, "Go to the devil" ♪
[song ends]
[ominous music playing]
[eerie, disembodied whispers]
[humming]
I just wanna be happy.
- [chuckles]
- [Riri] Happy?
[humming]
[female voice] Riri?
Riri?
Ma, are you up
- Riri, time to wake up, love.
- [crackling]
Hell, nah
[crackling]
[stutters] Natalie?
Well
who the hell else would it be, bish?
[singer vocalizing]
[moody R&B music playing,
SiR "No Evil"]
[thuds]
What's your superpower? ♪
Show me what you made of ♪
Well, I've been lonely
for days and days ♪
But we're one and the same ♪
Pardon my superstition ♪
But with my supervision ♪
I see so much of myself ♪
My past, my pain,
my pride, and my ego ♪
But I see no evil ♪
Oh, I see no evil ♪
Oh, I see another reason
for me to believe in the hero ♪
Can you breathe underwater? ♪
Should I dive any deeper? ♪
What's the name you want me to call you
whenever I need you? ♪
Are you here to get even? ♪
Must be here for a reason ♪
No point in tellin' the truth
when you're bulletproof ♪
And nobody cares to believe you ♪
But, baby, I see ya ♪
And I see no evil ♪
I see another reason
for me to believe in the hero ♪
Watch 'em switch up
No one rollin' with you, yeah ♪
New position, move too fast
You gon' miss it, yeah ♪
And the mission is over
once you hit the light ♪
Ah, ah, ah, ah ♪
[song ends]
[dramatic music playing]
[music fades]