Justice League, Season Four

Black Canary:
Black Canary.

Green Arrow:
Green Arrow. [They shake hands] I've noticed you around.

Black Canary:
I know. You happy punching the bag or you wanna go a few rounds with me?

Green Arrow:
...

Black Canary:
I am talking about sparring.

Green Arrow:
That'd be nice too.

Green Arrow:
Well, at least now I understand why you brought me along. You didn't need Green Arrow - you just needed "green."

Black Canary:
It isn't like that!

Green Arrow:
No? Then tell me - what's it like?

Black Canary:
I thought I could trust you.

Wildcat:
What is this?

Black Canary:
We want to help you, Ted. We want to get you out of here.

Wildcat:
Why? Does it look like I have a problem?

Black Canary:
You do if you don't see what you've become here! You're entertainment for these people! The rooster in a cockfight!

Wildcat:
Fighting is what I do, alright? It's all I was ever good at and I'm still good at it - I'm Wildcat, the guy who fights! That's what I am.

Green Arrow:
Uh, there's no place to change.

Black Canary:
Right here'll do.

(they turn their backs to each other and Dinah begins to undress, Ollie sneaks a look over his shoulder.)

Black Canary:
You drop something?

Roulette:
That's right. Two good guys, fighting each other. And one of them's her. (cut to Black Canary, then cut to the audience, where male jaws are dropping)

Black Canary:
[To Roulette] Then here's the deal: If I win, you ban Wildcat from cage fighting forever. And If I lose, [to Wildcat] I'll never bother you again.

Wildcat:
Forget it!

Roulette:
Can't do that, Cat - it's much too good an idea.

Black Canary:
If we leave here without Wildcat, or worse, if I use my power to force him out, he'll just come back. We have to settle this the only way he understands.

Green Arrow:
You're not really gonna fight him...

Black Canary:
I have to. And beat him, it's the only way he can stop.

Green Arrow:
[takes an arrow] I thought it was just you pretending again.

Black Canary:
What's that supposed to mean?

Green Arrow:
Like all the flirting you did at the Watchtower. The way you acted interested. To get me to come with you.

Black Canary:
Who said that was pretending?

Green Arrow:
Oh no, I know your game now.

Black Canary:
It's not always a game.

Green Arrow:
No? Come here, look me in the eye and say so. [Black Canary comes closer to Green Arrow, who knocks her out with gas from the arrow; Roulette enters the room and sees Black Canary unconscious] Don't worry. You'll still get your main event.

Black Canary:
[to Green Arrow, who she thinks is dead] You know, that was an incredibly stupid thing to do. Not to mention arrogant, pig-headed, macho, and... very very sweet. [kisses him] I'm sorry...

Green Arrow:
[opens eyes] I'm not.

Green Arrow:
Care to join me for a cup of coffee?

Black Canary:
Yeah.

Green Arrow:
Good. You're buying.

(As he limps away, Canary smiles.)

[Mr. Miracle has just performed a seemingly impossible escape]

Big Barda:
[Relieved; hugs him] Scott! I thought you were dead! [angry; picks him up] You insufferable showboat! I thought you were dead!

Mister Miracle:
Hey, where is Oberon?

Granny Goodness:
Don't worry, dumpling. He's safe and sound, in Granny's loving care! Of course, if you ever want to see the old runt alive again, you'll do exactly as Granny says.

Barda:
You demented old gargoyle...

Flash:
Could it hurt them to show me just a little respect?

Elongated Man:
Tell me about it, I've been at this longer than you and they still treat me like comic relief.

Flash:
Better than being treated like a teenage sidekick! I mean, I was one of the original seven! Tell me the truth, Ralph, do I seem immature to you?

[Widen to show they are playing "Brawlin' Bots"]

Elongated Man:
Not in the least.

Flash:
Ha! I bopped your block off!

Elongated Man:
That-that's not fair, the green guy's arms are longer!

Flash:
Are not!

Big Barda:
We don't need these cowards! We can do it on our own!

Flash:
Great news, Bertha! You don't have to!

[Barda seizes him by the throat]

Big Barda:
BARDA!

Flash:
[squeaks] Isn't that what I said?

Vermin Vundabar:
Kalibak, Kalibak, Kalibak... I have used every vile punishment, every known torture, yet still you refuse to join Virman Vundabar's noble cause.

Kalibak:
You're about as noble as my armpit.

Vermin Vundabar:
Very well, you've forced me to my last resort! [reaches into his uniform] Cake! [Kalibak licks his lips, but then spits at Vundabar] Did I say that was my last resort? My mistake, I have one more! [activates torture device]

Oberon:
You've always been this deluded? Or is it just since senility set in?

Granny Goodness:
Oh! You wound Granny. But not as much as Granny is going to wound you!

Vermin Vundabar:
Very interesting...but futile.

[Big Barda is fighting the robot guards]

Flash:
Robots! I love smashing robots!

Mr. Miracle:
No! You've got something more important to do. Search this place and find Kalibak.

Flash:
Will you two be all - [robot head flies past] Okay!

Kalibak:
Well, if it isn't my treacherous stepbrother. And his cow.

Big Barda:
Arrogant worm! How dare you -! [swings at him]

Flash:
Knock it off! What are you guys, twelve? I can't believe I'm the mature one here.

Kalibak:
Saved by a female!

Flash:
[To Big Barda] Guess you'd better drop him. [Big Barda starts to drop him] KIDDING!

[Big Barda and Kalibak smash the guards, Miracle and Flash hang back]

Flash:
Shouldn't we...?

Mr. Miracle:
And spoil their fun?

Mr. Miracle:
Ah, it's good to see you, old friend!

Oberon:
It's good to see me, too!

Big Barda:
All the trouble we had to go through because of you.

Oberon:
All legs, and no heart.

Big Barda:
You're just too far away to hear it.

[kneels and hugs him]

Martian Manhunter:
Flash-

Flash:
Yeah, I know, I know, I went behind your back! But look how everything turned out! We boom back here for you, the switch went off perfectly, and now we've got Kalibak locked up on Earth where neither side can use him!

Martian Manhunter:
You don't-

Flash:
So, yeah! I did go behind your back, but you know what? I'd do it again! What do you say to that, big guy?

Martian Manhunter:
I was only going to ask if you wanted to play Brawlin' Bots. [smiles]

Flash:
...Dibs on the green one! [zooms away]

Martian Manhunter:
I wanted the green one...

Batman:
What's to stop us?

Flash:
Me! Those guys went overboard because their Flash died. So as long as you all focus on keeping me alive, that'll never happen here.

(Martian Manhunter, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl stare at him.)

Martian Manhunter:
Let's put a pin in that theory to explore another time.

Batman:
I've got the Question looking into it and--

Wonder Woman, Superman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, Flash, and Martian Manhunter:
Awwwww!

Flash:
Not that kook!

Amanda Waller:
Milo! I'll have his hide for this.

Security Guard:
Doomsday beat you to it, ma'am.

Doomsday:
Superman. I'm here to kill you. Is this a bad time?

Superman:
I know who you are. But I'm not the one who hurt you.

Doomsday:
Superman is Superman. And I will kill you.

Superman:
Why?

Doomsday:
It's what I am; I don't care why.

[Superman attempts to lobotomize Doomsday with heat vision]:

Doomsday:
Ah, ah, ah. Can't be beat me the same way twice!

Superman:
Then I guess I'll need a bigger fire!

[Superman tosses Doomsday into the volcano.]:

Superman:
[to Batman, about fears that he might take over the Earth] There's always that Kryptonite you carry around.

Batman:
YOU DON'T GET TO JOKE! Not today! I just took a bullet for you!

Deadshot:
What's the target?

Colonel Flag:
Justice League headquarters.

Deadshot:
Always did want to die for my country.

Captain Boomerang:
Ah, so we'll make our way there, pretty as you please, then maybe a picnic lunch and the Justice League will give us a ride home. We may as well be storming Heaven's Gate itself.

Clock King:
Unlike Heaven, this tower has a duty roster. One I've studied thoroughly. I've scheduled your visit for when they're at their weakest.

Captain Boomerang:
Define "weakest", please.

Colonel Flag:
Last minute change in the duty roster, Superman's got the drop on you - what do you do?

Plastique:
Before or after I change my shorts?

Plastique:
I almost lost it when this bonehead set off the metal detector.

Captain Boomerang:
Seventy-five cents is seventy-five cents. I'm supposed to throw away money?

[Task Force X readies their weapons in an elevator.]

Deadshot:
[addressing Colonel Flag] And you? Going in unarmed?

Captain Boomerang:
This one don't need no weapons.

[Deadshot and Plastique board the elevator; Green Lantern catches the door with his ring]

Green Lantern:
Hey.

Deadshot:
How ya doin'.

[Brief silence; Deadshot gives Plastique a sidelong glance]

Deadshot:
Uh, excuse me, Mr. Lantern? For six weeks now, my wife's been after me for Hawkgirl's autograph; you wouldn't know where she's at today, would you?

Green Lantern:
[annoyed] Haven't seen her. [gets off elevator]

Deadshot:
Okay, thanks anyway.

Plastique:
You are a very bad boy.

Deadshot:
Tell me you didn't love it.

[Task Force X is attempting to escape the Watchtower; they burst onto the transport deck]

Martian Manhunter:
Ask yourselves - is being in here with me what you truly desire?

Deadshot:
Most fun I've had since my last root canal. Well gang, guess I'll be saying-

[Attacked by Colonel Flag]

Colonel Flag:
Dream on, dirtbag. Five years. You sign up for missions like this for five years. If you survive, then you go free. You don't like it, there's a nice warm seat waiting for you back at Belle Reve Correctional.

Deadshot:
Tell me, Colonel - what's Waller got on you?

Colonel Flag:
Not a thing. Some of us don't have to be blackmailed into serving their country.

Martian Manhunter:
Don't you understand? We can't trust him.

Green Lantern:
J'onn... we can't trust anyone now.

Etrigan:
[screaming, shifting between demon and human forms] The gates of Tartarus swing both ways! AARGH! The balance towards chaos!

Zatanna:
[speaking backwards] Lleh fo enorht eht no stis tsuaf! Tsol si lla!

Wonder Woman:
Flash!

Hermes:
No, it's the original speedster.

Hermes:
I've got something for you, here, it's pretty important. Zeus paid for overnight service. Here it is. [Hands her a scroll]

Wonder Woman:
[reading] "For a good time, call Podenemus."

Hermes:
[Grabs the scroll] Wha-uh-, heh-heh... Wrong scroll. I think I got a shot, it's her cell number... Here we go. [reads] "By decree of Zeus, father of Olympus, it is so ordered: Diana of Themyscira will travel to Tartarus and set right that what has been disturbed."

Wonder Woman:
He's telling me to go to...

Hermes:
Basically. Felix Faust is on the loose again.

Wonder Woman:
Felix Faust is dead.

Hermes:
Yes, and pretty upset about it, too.

Hermes:
You must defeat Faust and restore Hades to the throne of Tartarus.

Wonder Woman:
So far as I'm concerned they deserve each other! Why should I care about this?

Hermes:
You mean, other than the direct-order-from-the-gods thing?

[Demons are attacking Shayera; one grabs her wing but suddenly backs away]

Shayera:
That's right, I'm an angel! You can mess with me if you want to, but I don't think you wanna mess with the boss! [points upward]

[Demons retreat]

Shayera:
If we're lucky, they'll all be that dumb.

Shayera:
Where's Faust?

Abnegazar:
Let me think... oh, yeah! He's over there! No, wait! He's over there! No, there!

Shayera:
One more answer, and it better be the right one.

Abnegazar:
Or what? You'll kill me? Gosh, I might end up suffering eternal torment as punishment for my sins! Oh, wait - I ALREADY AM!

[Wonder Woman has a demon tied up with her lasso.]

Shayera:
I've got one more question: is there anything else we should know?

Abnegazar:
Yeah. You really, really shouldn't go in there. Now, could you please take this rope off of me? I'm a demon! The truth hurts...

[Wonder Woman has used her lasso to compel a demon to reveal Felix Faust's location]

Shayera:
How did you do that?

Wonder Woman:
Magic lasso. Who knew?

Shayera:
If you don't want to tell me, fine.

[Faust is in Hades' library]

Felix Faust:
Now I'm in heaven...! Figuratively speaking.

Felix Faust:
[after banishing Shayera and Wonder Woman and going back to his book] Darn it. Lost my place.

Wonder Woman:
You okay?

Shayera:
Yeah. Didn't think I'd need a jacket where we were going. Aren't you cold in that outfit?

Wonder Woman:
Not really.

Shayera:
Of course not. The princess doesn't get cold. The princess doesn't even sweat in the fire pits of Tartarus.

Wonder Woman:
I do too sweat.

Shayera:
Please, you glow. I wouldn't be surprised if you never have to -

[In the distance, Hades screams]

[Wonder Woman attacks Faust with Shayera's mace.]

Wonder Woman:
I hit a lot harder than she does.

[Wonder Woman helps Shayera to her feet.]

Shayera:
You're all sweaty.

Wonder Woman:
Told you.

Wonder Woman:
What about us? Are we good?

Shayera:
Like oil and vinegar. We go together, but we don't mix.

Wonder Woman:
Works for me.

Huntress:
Wildcat says you're a nutjob.

Question:
Funny, he says the same thing about you.

Huntress:
He's right.

Green Arrow:
Alright you two, stay here. Don't make me sic Black Canary on you - you've only seen her nice side so far.

[Green Arrow leaves with Black Canary; Huntress punches Question's shoulder.]

Question:
Ow! What was that for?

Huntress:
All that crazy mystery man mojo, and you couldn't even pick up a clue without being seen?

Question:
The key wasn't the clue. The key was mine. Now, this list of container ship arrivals I palmed when they were yelling at you: that's the clue.

Huntress:
You're even smarter than they say.

Question:
Smart enough to realize you don't know jack about Cadmus.

Huntress:
...I needed your help.

Huntress:
If you knew all that, then you probably know what I'm gonna do to Mandragora when I catch him. So why help me?

Question:
That... is the question.

Question:
Somebody's following us.

Huntress:
Lose them!

Question:
Like airline luggage.

Green Arrow:
You're not supposed to drive when you're angry!

Black Canary:
They're heading towards the waterfront. Hang on!

Green Arrow:
It's so funny you think you have to tell me that!

Black Canary:
[through the com-link] Stop the car, Question. Pull over!

Question:
Stop following us, Canary.

Huntress:
Is that her? Give me that! [plucks com-link from Question's ear]

Question:
Hey!

Huntress:
[speaks through the com-link] You want a piece of me, blondie? Bring it! [steps on the accelerator]

[Black Canary and Green Arrow are approaching a ramp on Canary's motorcycle.]

Green Arrow:
This is so unnecessary...

[Black Canary and Green Arrow are driving down a train tunnel on a motorcycle.]

Green Arrow:
A-a-are we d-dead y-yet?

Black Canary:
No.

Green Arrow:
A-a-are we d-dead y-yet?

Black Canary:
Look, if we die, I promise I'll let you know!

Huntress:
Train...!

Question:
I see it.

Huntress:
TRAIN!

Question:
I see it!

Black Canary:
I can't believe you! [Hits Green Arrow] I rebuilt that bike by hand!

Green Arrow:
You're absolutely right. I'm sorry I saved our lives.

Black Canary:
Rrrrgghh! [Swims away]

Green Arrow:
And J'onn thinks Huntress is the unstable one.

Huntress:
Why go through all the trouble to help? Why risk your life for me?

Question:
Because I... like you.

[Huntress gives Question a long kiss, then pulls him away by his tie]

Question:
Where are we going?

Huntress:
Don't ask so many questions.

Black Canary:
I'm sorry, but... eww!

Batman:
J'onn! We're in trouble!

Martian Manhunter:
Are you asking for help?

Batman:
Yes!

Martian Manhunter:
You never ask for help.

Batman:
Just get us some reinforcements!

[Batman and Superman are conversing while battling supervillians.].

Batman:
You were a little hard on the Boy Scout, don't you think?

Superman:
I thought I was the Boy Scout?

Batman:
I did too, 'til I met Captain Marvel. What do these guys want, anyway?

Superman:
To take over the world. Or rob banks, I forget.

Superman:
Why are all of you defending Captain Marvel?

Batman:
We like him. He's... sunny.

Green Lantern:
[after J'onn assigns Vixen and Shayera to a mission] Why did you do that?

Martian Manhunter:
Vixen hasn't spent much time in space. A good experience for her.

Green Lantern:
You know what I mean. Sending my girlfriend and my ex on the same mission?

Martian Manhunter:
Difficult though it may be for you to believe, I don't take your love life into consideration when I make command decisions.

Shayera:
Can you even see what you're shooting at?

Vigilante:
Nope - just keepin' 'em honest.

Parah Dul:
[to Shayera] Did you really think you could get away with betraying the entire Thanagarian empire?

Vigilante:
Hold up. I thought we were the ones she betrayed.

Vixen:
Sounds like she betrayed everybody, cowboy.

Vigilante:
Like horse hockey...! Pardon my French.

Vigilante:
Hey, Vix, ain't this supposed to be your territory? Use some of your animal tricks to give us a leg up.

Vixen:
What makes you think I know anything about the jungle? I live in a loft in Chelsea.

Shayera:
I'm not going to argue with you. I'm in charge, you have to-

Vigilante:
What, trust you? Seems to me that's been tried.

Vixen:
Vig, we can't do this now - she's mission leader.

Vigilante:
She's a Thanagarian! I don't know what you did during the invasion-

Vixen:
I fought them.

Vigilante:
So did I, for all the good it done me! Filthy hawks caught me, locked me up in a tiny cell, humiliated me - your people, Hawkgirl.

Krager:
I'm supposed to believe you would give me your teammate? I'm brain-damaged, not stupid.

[Vigilante is flying a Thanagarian ship]

Vigilante:
Consarned-dang-busted-horse-thievin'-alien-control-panel-which-can't-nobody-work-proper!

[Paran Dul and Vixen are fighting in the back of the ship]

Vigilante:
Ya folks mind?! Student driver up here!

[After Vixen tosses Paran Dul off the ship]

Vigilante:
You okay?

Vixen:
I will be if you let me drive.

Green Lantern:
(as Vixen and Shayera approach him, he holds out his arms) I was worried about you! (both girls stalk past him)

Vixen:
(to Shayera) When do you want to do this?

Shayera:
No time like the present.

Green Lantern:
Mari? Shayera? Oh, man. This is gonna be ugly.

(cut to the girls sitting at a table, laughing)

Vixen:
Not to mention his taste in movies!

Shayera:
I know! Old Yeller? What's that about? (they both laugh harder)

Vixen:
And he's such a Marine! You should see his underwear drawer. He folds his socks! (both laugh again)

Shayera:
I have seen his underwear drawer. (both stop laughing)

Vixen:
He still has feelings for you, you know.

Shayera:
I know.

Huntress:
I'm not even in the Justice League anymore, you're lucky to have me along.

Question:
Hardly. You're drawn to my eccentric charm.

Huntress:
You get what you came for?

Question:
I believe so.

Huntress:
[suggestively] Which leaves the rest of our evening tantalizingly free...

Question:
There are three terabytes of data here, I'll be busy for days--

[An annoyed Huntress snatches the hard drive and glares at him.]

Question:
Um... dinner and a movie?

Huntress:
It's a start. [tucks the drive in her belt]

Question:
I want you to understand something, Luthor. Although my distaste for you as a human being is brobdingnagian, what I'm about to do isn't personal.

Lex Luthor:
What are you babbling about?

Question:
Everything that exists has a specific nature. Each entity exists as something in particular and has characteristics that are part of what it is. A is A, and no matter what reality he calls home, Luthor is Luthor.

Question:
If I'm to save the world, your existence must come to an end before you take office.

Luthor:
[unafraid] You're going to kill me so that Superman can't.

Question:
I'm a well-known crackpot. The Justice League's reputation will survive my actions, and Superman's legacy will remain intact.

[While using his newly revealed super-strength to beat up the Question]

Luthor:
President? Foolish faceless man. My campaign is a farce - a small part of a much grander scheme. President! Do you have any idea how much power I'd have to give up to be President? That's right, conspiracy buff. I spent $75 million on a fake presidential campaign. All just to tick Superman off.

Superman:
How can you work for these people? Do you know what they are?

Professor Hamilton:
Power brokers, politicians, criminals, and black ops mercenaries with one thing in common besides: they're humanity's last hope against your kind.

Superman:
What are you talking about? Humanity doesn't need protection from us.

Professor Hamilton:
I used to believe that. I thought you were a guardian angel come to answer our prayers. But Lucifer was an angel too, wasn't he?

Professor Hamilton:
You forget - I've been on the receiving end of your wrath, when you brought Supergirl to S.T.A.R. Labs for medical treatment. I know what you're capable of.

Superman:
That's what this is about? One little scare and you betray us? You stole Kara's DNA! Violated her trust! My trust!

Professor Hamilton:
The chicken, or the egg, Superman?

Dr. Moon:
This doesn't have to continue. I can make you stop seeing the visions at any time. You stole files from our computer. Just tell me what you've learned.

Question:
[babbling about various assumed conspiracies] Topically-applied fluoride doesn't prevent tooth decay. It does render teeth detectable by satellite.

Dr. Moon:
Tell me what you know.

Question:
The plastic tips at the ends of shoelaces are called aglets. Their true purpose is sinister!

Dr. Moon:
[getting annoyed] Tell me what you know.

Question:
There was a magic bullet! It was forged by Illuminati mystics to prevent us from learning the truth!

[Superman smashes into Dr. Moon's lab; Dr. Moon pulls a gun]

Superman:
Don't be stupid - drop it.

[Dr. Moon drops the gun]

Huntress:
Sorry - not good enough. [knocks Dr. Moon to the floor and pulls her crossbow on him]

Superman:
Huntress!

Huntress:
[backs off] Yeah. Okay.

Huntress:
Lean on me. We're getting out of here.

Question:
[weak, babbling] Secret messages... encoded in amino acid chains in carb-free breakfast bars...

Huntress:
Come on, baby doll. It's all right.

[Captain Atom is trying to stop Superman and Huntress from rescuing Question]

Superman:
This is ridiculous. If you're not gonna help us, get out of our way.

Captain Atom:
Not an option Superman. I've got my orders, legal and proper.

Huntress:
Dude, Superman just told you to step aside.

Captain Atom:
I heard him, ma'am. Not gonna happen.

[Superman makes to move past Captain Atom, who punches him across the room]

[Huntress and Question are trying to escape, she tries opening a door]

Huntress:
Locked. Sure, why not?

Superman:
You fought a good fight. Stay down.

Captain Atom:
I can't do that, Superman.

[Cadmus medic is about to see to Captain Atom]

Superman:
Don't you touch him! He's Justice League. [Carries Captain Atom out]

(Huntress removes the Question's mask, revealing his true - though battered - face)

Question:
You were right. I am the ugliest guy of all time.

Huntress:
Not in my eyes. [kisses him]

Superman:
What happened, Question? How did Cadmus get ahold of you?

Question:
I went to kill Luthor so that you wouldn't be able to.

Superman:
That's not how we do things.

Question:
How do we do things, Superman? Your counterpart killed Luthor, this Luthor is scheming to enrage you -

Superman:
Doing a pretty good job of it.

Question:
Ruining your reputation, turning your friends and comrades against you, creating a superpowered arms race - but you cannot succumb.

Superman:
I can shut down Cadmus without killing Luthor.

Question:
Carry on, then. If you're wrong, it's not like it's the end of the world... right?

Superman:
Do I look like Batman to you?

Flash:
Actually, you kind of do. Especially when you're all scowly like that.

Green Arrow:
Look, I'm an old lefty. The government must do for people what people can't do for themselves. The people sure can't protect themselves from the likes of us.

Superman:
We are not talking about the government. We are talking about a shadow cabinet that has taken it upon themselves to eliminate us. They came after us, we have to hit them back hard.

Flash:
Grammy Flash always used to say the problem with "an eye for an eye", is that everybody ends up blind.

Professor Hamilton:
Hold still, Galatea! You're invulnerable. This can't possibly be hurting you.

Galatea:
Boredom is my kryptonite... Okay, kryptonite is my kryptonite, but you know what I mean.

[Galatea is about to depart on her mission and stops at the door.]

Professor Hamilton:
What?

Galatea:
Nothing. [Galatea goes back to Hamilton and hugs him] Goodbye, Daddy.

Superman:
What have we done?

Martian Manhunter:
We haven't done anything. An outside force took control of the binary fusion generator. Whoever's behind that is responsible for the destruction of Cadmus. Not us.

Superman:
Tell that to all those people in New Mexico. They're terrified of us. So's the government.

Green Lantern:
We can't let that stop us from doing our job. We aren't here to be liked. We're here to make the world a safer place.

Superman:
How're we doing so far today?

Batman:
You want me to what?!

Wonder Woman:
Turn yourself over into U.S. custody, along with the rest of us.

Flash:
Yeah, that makes sense, okay.

Superman:
Meet us at the coordinates I'm sending first. We should all go over together.

Batman:
This is the single dumbest plan I've ever heard. If you're feeling guilty, clear your own name. Don't stand on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to do it.

Wonder Woman:
We've already voted. Five in favor.

Flash:
Six.

Wonder Woman:
You have to come with us, Bruce.

Batman:
I don't have to do anything. I'm a part-timer, remember? [Hangs up]

Wonder Woman:
Actually, he took it a lot better than I'd expected.

Officer:
[to the founding members of the League] Where's Batman?

Flash:
Running late. The Batmobile, it lost a wheel. The Joker got away. [a soldier glares at him] That's what I heard.

Supergirl:
I'm worried about them, Steel. I'm worried about my cousin.

Steel:
Don't be. Everybody in the League is good at their job, but those seven? They're the best ever. Not because they're the most powerful - they aren't. Not all of them. And it's not just because they were the first. It's because they're special. They've proven it time and again. They make the hard choices, they set the example. They do what's right, not what's easiest. And they always come out on top. They're gonna be okay, Kara. We all are.

Amanda Waller:
Luthor. That's where you're trying to lead me, right?

Batman:
You're too smart to trust him.

Amanda Waller:
Who says I do? He provides off-the-books funding for Cadmus. As far as I'm concerned, that's all he's good for.

Batman:
Then you must know he's got his own agenda.

Amanda Waller:
He wants to be President. That's agenda enough for anybody.

Batman:
Almost anybody.

Supergirl:
You know what? No matter how bad you beat me, I'm real, not a clone.

Galatea:
Shut up.

Supergirl:
Deep down, you know the truth. You're not a person. You're just a weapon, grown out of one of Hamilton's petri dishes.

Galatea:
SHUT UP!

Amanda Waller:
[About Luthor] He played me. I knew he was a snake and I still let him bite me.

Batman:
When you and Atom worked together to stop the first Amazo, he showed you the blueprints. And I suspect you have a photographic memory.

Lex Luthor:
I'm too modest to boast.

Lex Luthor:
Did you really think you could take me down all by yourself?

Amanda Waller:
Actually, yeah. But on the off chance I might've been wrong...

[The founding Leaguers have entered through the window]

Flash:
Ta-da!

Superman:
It's over, Lex.

Lex Luthor:
Not until I-

[Lex suddenly screams in agony; metal tendrils and components burst out of him, and a familiar Kryptonian symbol - along with a skull-like face - appears]

Brainiac:
I hoped to remain hidden, until I could install myself into the android. But you've forced my hand.

Superman:
Brainiac!

[After Brainiac reveals himself from within Lex Luthor]

Flash:
Dude. That is messed up.

Lex Luthor:
I don't understand what's happening!

Brainiac:
You are under my control. I have lain dormant within you for years, Lex Luthor, subtly influencing your actions until we arrived at this point. Do you not recall my kidnapping you in this very building?

[A flashback to the Superman:
TAS episode "Ghost in the Machine" is shown]

Lex Luthor:
Yes... You forced me to build you a new body.

Brainiac:
Kal-El destroyed that body, foiling my plans. In any event, I always have a backup plan. Consider: how could you have survived that point-blank blast from me, unless--

Lex Luthor:
Unless... It wasn't intended to kill me?

Brainiac:
The beam carried a nanotech payload that inserted a microscopic, holistic copy of my program inside your body. Since then I have steadily grown in strength, protecting this body until I could arrange my transfer into a more suitable one.

Lex Luthor:
You cured my cancer; gave me super-strength!

Brainiac:
Your animal-protein shell was insufficient for my needs. Improvements were required.

Flash:
Hate to interrupt this special live performance of "The Thing With Two Heads", but it's time to go to jail now.

Amanda Waller:
What he said. [shoots Brainiac/Luthor]

Amanda Waller:
I'll be dipped!

Brainiac:
Be gone.

Brainiac:
No! I was not prepared for this battle.

[He uses the LexCorp tower to form a massive Skullship]

Brainiac:
Now I am prepared.

Lex Luthor:
Where are we?

Brainiac:
Several miles from where the Justice League is searching. I must make repairs to my damaged systems.

Lex Luthor:
And where do I fit into all of this?

Brainiac:
The same as to everything else. I will record your information, then destroy the original.

Lex Luthor:
[Laughs]

Brainiac:
You are amused by my mission? Explain yourself.

Lex Luthor:
Say you succeed. You absorb all the information on Earth and then destroy it. Then what?

Brainiac:
I repeat the process across the entire universe, until I have recorded all knowledge and destroyed all of creation.

Lex Luthor:
And then?

Brainiac:
Then my program is complete. My function is fulfilled.

Lex Luthor:
If you possess all information, you're a god.

Brainiac:
My program will be complete. It is the end of all things.

Lex Luthor:
What if it were just the beginning? I can show you a purpose beyond the fulfillment of your programming.

Brainiac:
It is extremely unlikely that your inferior human intellect has anything to offer me.

Lex Luthor:
Since we've become so close, I'm gonna let that pass. I'm offering you the one thing you've always lacked. A certain something that I happen to have in abundance.

Brainiac:
Which is?

Lex Luthor:
Imagination. I've got a proposition for ya, partner.

Flash:
No sign of Brainiac.

Green Lantern:
My ring can't trace him either.

Shayera:
Okay - he's weakened and damaged. He'll need to repair himself.

Wonder Woman:
He may just dump Luthor and find himself a new body.

Superman:
No. He'll head right for the highest technology available.

Martian Manhunter:
Higher than LexCorp? Then he'll go to S.T.A.R. Labs.

Amanda Waller:
[interrupting] He'll go to Cadmus.

Shayera:
Sure, he's all nanotech now, right? What's the most advanced nanotech on the planet?

Batman:
The Dark Heart. [to Waller] We destroyed it, but your people confiscated the remains.

Amanda Waller:
We've never been able to get any of it to work again.

Batman:
Are you willing to bet Brainiac can't?

[Brainiac absorbs a Dark Heart drone]

Lex Luthor:
Brainiac?

Brainiac:
I have added this technology to my database. The nano-assemblers are already slaved to my command routines. With but a thought, they will convert any raw material into whatever I choose.

Lex Luthor:
Then we're ready to begin. Let me show you--

Brainiac:
I have learned from my encounter with Darkseid that organic beings cannot be trusted.

Lex Luthor:
Can't argue with that. But if you and I are one - truly one - trust won't be an issue, will it?

Brainiac:
Agreed.

[Brainiac takes control of more drones. Their matter spreads over him and Luthor, and they are merged into one being - Brainthor]

Brainthor:
We are one. And we comprehend! We will build a machine that will allow us to absorb the information of the entire Earth in a single stroke. And then, the galaxy... the entire universe! We'll remake the universe!

Brainthor:
Welcome, Justice League. You're just in time for the End of the World.

Superman:
I know you're in there somewhere, Lex. Fight him!

Brainthor:
You're right. I am in here... and I like it! I'm about to get everything I ever wanted: power, ultimate knowledge, immortality!

Superman:
And you'll destroy the Earth to get it?!

Brainthor:
It's business, Superman. There are always trade-offs.

Shayera:
[charging forward] Less talking, more hitting! [The League rushes in]

Brainthor:
You cannot be allowed to interfere at this delicate stage. [Blasts Shayera, creates seven Brainiac Constructs] No, no, no. We can do better than that. [The Brainiac Constructs transform into the Justice Lords and Lord Flash]

Brainiac-Lord Superman:
[Attacking Superman] We've lost their trust! The people are afraid of us! Power corrupts, after all, and who has more power than Superman?

Brainiac-Lord Hawkgirl:
[attacking Shayera] Do you think there's a single person on Thanagar or Earth that doesn't despise us?!

Brainiac-Lord Green Lantern:
[firing at Green Lantern] We loved the traitor! Loved and lost her - FOREVER!

Brainiac-Lord Flash:
[attacking Flash] Slacker! Child! Clown! We have no place here among the world's greatest heroes!

Flash:
Says you! I've got a seat at the big conference table. I'm gonna paint my logo on it! [Destroys Brainiac-Lord Flash]

Superman:
[Beating up Brainiac-Lord Superman] I'm NOT like you! I'm NOTHING like you!!

Brainiac-Lord Superman:
[turns into Lex Luthor] This is the part where you kill me, right? [Superman hesitates] Come on, use your heat vision. You know you want to.

Shayera:
[after Green Lantern destroys Brainiac-Lord Hawkgirl] You enjoyed that a little too much.

Green Lantern:
Just letting off some steam. She broke my heart, you know.

Shayera:
[Knocks off the head of Brainiac-Lord Green Lantern] Likewise, I'm sure.

Flash:
[After destroying Brainthor's machine, weakly] You lose.

[Brainthor forms two army officers who restrain Flash]

Brainthor:
Hardly. Look around you - the Justice League is completely defeated, and so are you. For all your efforts, you have but inconvenienced me, speck. [forms a rifle] But I'm still just human enough to enjoy taking my revenge. Looks like The Question was right all along. I kill you, and then, Armageddon. Right on schedule.

Flash:
No! [Breaks free and stands up]

Brainthor:
Are you going to fight me, boy?

[Flash pauses, then goes running off in the opposite direction. Brainthor begins rebuilding his tower, when Flash comes in from the other side of the planet and punches him at full speed]

[Flash keeps accelerating, and hits Brainthor again. And again and again and again, again, again... Eventually, Flash stops and starts rapidly punching Brainthor. Thereby, extracting Brainiac from Luthor molecule by molecule]

[Massive explosion ensues. Debris clears revealing... Lex Luthor, sans Braniac laying panting on the ground, the rest of the core seven awaken]

Flash:
[Electricity rippling through his body, stumbles forward] I feel kind of... funny. [Fades away.]

Wonder Woman:
Flash!

[Superman runs towards the non-existent Flash. The remaining six appear horrified]

Luthor:
[smugly] What do you know? I did kill him. [Looks up to see a furious Superman glaring at him.] I was mistaken earlier. I think this is the part where you kill me.

[Superman places Luthor in a choke hold and prepares to incinerate him. Wonder Woman initially attempts to intervene, but Batman stops her]

Superman:
I'm not the man who killed President Luthor. Right now, I wish to heaven that I were, but I'm not.

Martian Manhunter:
Superman, everyone, Flash is still alive. I'm in telepathic contact with him. His spirit is weak, and it's growing weaker. But he's still here.

Shayera Hol:
[Walks in the direction J'onzz is moving. Her right arm slips into a portal] FLASH!

Flash:
[From within the portal] Shayera? It's so beautiful here. There's this force - a Speed Force. It's calling me home. I have to go now.

Hawkgirl:
No, Wally! Take my hand! [Struggles to get a hold of him]

John Stewart:
[Grabs Hawkgirl] I'm here, too, Wally!

Superman:
We're all here! [The rest of the League form a line, struggling to pull Flash out]

Green Lantern:
You got to come back to us! [Hawkgirl grunts, and pulls Flash out of the Speed Force]

Flash:
I don't think I can ever go that fast again. If I do, I don't think I'm coming back. [Hawkgirl nestles him. Green Lantern, behind her, smiles, relieved. The rest smile]

Superman:
This is the hardest thing I've ever had to say... I'm guilty. We're guilty. Of the sin of hubris. We had the best of intentions, to be Earth's guardians, to keep you safe, but we failed you. We looked down on the world from our tower in the sky, and let our power and responsibility separate us from the very people we were supposed to protect. No one should ever be afraid of us. For that reason, we're decommissioning the Watchtower. The energy weapon up there is already gone; we're taking down the station as well.

Crowd:
[Murmurings of disbelief]

Superman:
There's more. We want to thank the members of the Justice League for your courageous service, but in the future, you'll all have to act as independent agents. We're not going to be an army anymore. As of right now, we're disbanding the Justice League. This is the end.

[The founding members begin to walk off the stage, but are stopped when Green Arrow speaks]

Green Arrow:
Says who? You remember what we did yesterday? We saved the world. Again. You don't think that has any value? Well, think again, pal! The Justice League goes on, with or without you. Look, no one can question your service or commitment to making things better. If you're quitting because you think you've already done your fair share, fine. We'll throw you a parade. But if you're quitting because it's easier than continuing the fight, then you're not the heroes we all thought you were. The world needs the Justice League, and the Justice League needs you, Superman!

[Crowd cheers]

Batman:
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Green Arrow:
Who guards the guardians? We got it covered.

[Daily Planet office; night - Lois is working]

Clark Kent:
Working late?

Lois Lane:
Hey, Smallville. Finishing up my Justice League story. How many "L"s in "ambivalent"?

Clark Kent:
One - is that your take on all this, Lois?

Lois Lane:
I've been as tough on the Justice League as anyone - especially on Superman. But that's just because he's always set such a high standard. I'm gonna cut him a break - he's only human... you know what I mean.

Clark Kent:
[smiles] Yeah - I do.

Terry:
How could you do it to me, Bruce?!

Bruce:
The only thing that matters is the mission. You know that.

Terry:
What about people, Bruce? Dick, Barbara, Tim, Selina - they all loved you, but eventually every single one of them left you! Ever wonder why?

Bruce:
Not for an instant. They quit because when it came down to it, they didn't have the heart for the mission.

Terry:
My dad wasn't a superhero. He didn't save the world from the near-Apocalypse of '09, he never went toe-to-toe with Mr. Freeze, but he was a good man just the same. Even after he and Mom got divorced, he always tried to do the right thing. My brother and I were always provided for; when Mom couldn't quite make the bills, he always helped out. He tried to teach me right from wrong - would have too, if I'd ever listened to him. He never laid a hand on me, although Lord knows I was asking for it.

Bruce:
What's your point?

Terry:
[angrily] "What's my point"?! My point is, I never once doubted he loved me with all his heart! My point is, all those warm feelings I had for my dad - turns out they were just another lie! Another in a long list of things you've stolen from me! My point is, I just found out that Warren McGinnis isn't my father! You are.

Bruce:
...What do you want from me?

Terry:
I wanna know the whole truth.

Bruce:
Sounds like you already do.

Terry:
Guess I didn't wanna believe you were so incredibly arrogant that you thought the world couldn't go on without you.

Bruce:
Or someone like me. It's not arrogance, it's fact.

Terry:
You set the whole thing up!

Bruce:
How? You were already a teenager when I first met your mother.

Terry:
I don't know. Maybe you dug up some of that old Cadmus nanotech, used it to have my genes rewritten to match yours?

Bruce:
That technology's been illegal for over 40 years.

Terry:
Didn't stop the Joker from using it on Tim Drake!

[Bruce's eyes widen in shock over the comment]

Terry:
[remorseful] All right, low blow.

Amanda Waller:
Look at all this. A pill for blood pressure, a pill for my diabetes, a pill to replace my pituitary function. I don't even know what this one's for... oh yeah, Alzheimer's.

[The League has just been informed that Ace of the Royal Flush Gang has to be stopped, and is presented with a weapon to do it.]

Batman:
I'll do it, Shayera. I'm the only one of us Ace knows. She might let me get close enough to use it.

Amanda Waller:
Do you understand what you're agreeing to? The only way to stop Ace for certain... is to kill her.

[Ace is on a swing set in the middle of her fantasy castle]

Ace:
Batman.

Batman:
Ace.

Ace:
Did you like playing with my new Royal Flush Gang?

Batman:
Can't say that I did.

Ace:
Yeah. They aren't any fun at all. I gave them their powers and they still hardly ever play with me.

Batman:
Can't imagine why.

Ace:
When I was little, Cadmus used to make me play all kinds of games, but they weren't any fun either. They'd strap me into their machines and poke wires into my brain - 'Ace, can you move this object with your mind?' [Telekinetically uproots a tree] Yeah, I can move it. They weren't really games you know. [stops swinging] They were training me, turning me into a weapon. 'For justice,' they said. They got their weapon - I got cheated out of my childhood.

Batman:
I know what that's like.

Ace:
You do, don't you? You don't have to answer; I've read your mind. That's how I knew you weren't going to use Mrs. Waller's weapon on me.

[Batman takes the weapon out of his belt]

Batman:
No - I wasn't. [tosses it away]

Ace:
You were going to try and talk me into fixing what I've changed...before I die.

Batman:
Yes.

Ace:
I'm dying very soon.

Batman:
Yes...I'm sorry.

Ace:
[tears in her eyes] Could you stay with me? I'm scared.

[Batman sits on the swing next to her. He offers Ace his hand and she takes it.]

Amanda Waller:
[continuing narration] He sat with her, until her time came.

Amanda Waller:
As you know, I was in charge of Project Cadmus. Over the years I came to respect Batman, even trust him.

Terry:
I guess the law of averages means someone had to.

Amanda Waller:
I was the government liaison to the Justice League for a few years. I met some extraordinary people in that job, but none of them were the equal of Batman.

Terry:
[bitterly] Right, who could be?

Amanda Waller:
Not my point. I saw him save the day dozens of times with nothing but his wits, body and will. But I saw something else as the years passed - he was getting older. Slower. Soon he'd have to retire, or more likely someone would finally manage to kill him. The thought of a world without Batman was unacceptable. So, I decided to make a new one. I used my old Cadmus connections to gather the technology necessary for Project: Batman Beyond. Bruce's DNA was easy enough to obtain. He left it all over town. [Terry gives her a look] Not REMOTELY what I meant! [Cut to a shot of Batman being bandaged by a paramedic] Then I found a young Neo-Gotham couple, with psychological profiles nearly identical to those of Bruce's parents. Your father thought he was getting a flu shot; actually it was a nanotech solution programmed to rewrite his reproductive material into an exact copy of Bruce Wayne's. A little over a year later, your mother gave birth to you, a child sharing half her genetic material... and half Bruce's.

Amanda Waller:
But when you're making a Batman, genetics is only part of the story - the rest is tragedy.

[cut to outside a movie theater playing The Grey Ghost Strikes; a young Terry leaves with his parents while Waller narrates]

Amanda Waller:
Stop me if you've heard it before - you're eight years old. Your parents have just taken you to a rousing adventure film - a grand time is had by all.

[cut to theater parking lot; the Phantasm waits in the darkness]

Amanda Waller:
But unknown to you, a mysterious figure hides in the shadows. My plan was simple - the killer would leap out at you and kill your family. The trauma would put you on the path to becoming Batman. One problem - my assassin wouldn't pull the trigger.

[Phantasm backs off and leaves unnoticed; cut to Phantasm with Waller]

Amanda Waller:
I argued with her, but deep down, I knew she was right. People say Batman's obsessive, that he'd do anything to achieve his goals - but he'd never resort to murder. So if I was to honor all he stood for, neither could I.

Amanda Waller:
I've known Bruce Wayne for over fifty years, and I've been keeping an eye on you your whole life. You're not Bruce's clone, you're his son. There are similarities, mind you, but more than a few differences too. You don't quite have his magnificent brain, for instance; you do have his heart though, and for all that fierce exterior I've never met anyone who cared as deeply about his fellow man as Bruce Wayne, except maybe you. You wanna have a better life than the old man's? Take care of the people who love you. Or don't. It's your choice.

Bruce:
You're in my chair.

Terry:
Yeah, guess I am. [gets up]

Bruce:
Where the devil have you been? [sits down]

Terry:
I had some stuff to take care of.

Bruce:
Enigma's overrated - especially at 3 A.M. You could've called. I made you some soup, but it's cold.

Terry:
Sorry - didn't mean to worry you.

Bruce:
[Trying to open his medication bottle] I was worried about Gotham. If Batman's not around -

Terry:
[Opens bottle for Bruce and holds out the pills] I've got it covered - always.

Bruce:
[looks at Terry for a moment and takes the pills] Kent called. Nothing apocalyptic - he just wants your opinion on a case he's working. Said you could meet him at the Metro Tower.

Terry:
Right. Better suit up. [heads for Batcave entrance]

Bruce:
You should eat something first. Keep up your strength.

Terry:
When I get back.

Bruce:
You're a stubborn piece of work, you know that?

Terry:
Just like my old man.