| Teen Titans Chapter 11 |
[May. 6th, 2007|04:59 pm] |
Title: Teen Titans Chapter 11
Author: Teh_no
Rating: PG-13
Previous: Teen Titans Chapter 10
Next: Teen Titans Chapter 12
Summary: Deathstroke makes his presence felt.
INT. TV STUDIO – BACKSTAGE – MORNING
The Titans are spread out backstage. Flash lights a match on Beast Boy's cheek, uses it to ignite his cigarette.
FLASH: You're sure your gal pal can handle this?
BEAST BOY: If you're so worried, why don't you make the case?
FLASH: Public's starting to distrust me. Has to come from a neutral source.
BEAST BOY: Wait, distrust you? Since when?
FLASH: Since Racine. Guy’s a real cockroach.
Linda pokes her head in.
LINDA: Five minutes to curtain. You'd better get out there.
WONDER GIRL: Wish me luck.
Beast Boy kisses her.
BEAST BOY: Good luck.
INT. TV STUDIO – SET – MORNING
Our old friend Bethany Snow is there, along with JOHN ANDREWS (fifties, charismatic, silver hair) and STU CUMMINGS (late forties, solid build, shaved head). Wonder Girl sits on the couch.
SNOW: Today's guests are Congressional candidate John Andrews and Senatorial candidate Stu "Silverfeet" Cummings. Also in our studios today are the world-famous superheroes known as the Teen Titans. We will also have a remote interview with the controversial religious figure Brother Blood of the Church of Zandia. Our subject is the possible arms shipment to Zandia. Wonder Girl has been elected by the Teen Titans to present their views. Wonder Girl?
WONDER GIRL; Thank you, Bethany. We have found incontrovertible proof that Brother Blood’s church is attempting to re-elect three United States senators. These three are on the arms committee and they're setting up a treaty with Zandia to sell Blood the weapons he needs. If Blood gets those weapons, there will be a war. Thousands will die.
SNOW: Heavy accusations, Wonder Girl. Now let’s go on a satellite remote to Zandia, where we will interview their religious leader, Brother Blood. Brother Blood, what do you feel when you hear these accusations?
Brother Blood appears on the monitor.
BROTHER BLOOD: My life, my honors, and my aspirations are all centered on the concept of Good Life. I believe in the greater good and the greater glory that is in all of you.
SNOW: Brother Blood, why are you interested in negotiating an arms deal with America?
BROTHER BLOOD: Arms deal? I am a religious man with no need for weapons. No, it is General Zahl who seeks these weapons for his own use! Bethany, it saddens me how Zandia has come under the control of a dictatorial megalomaniac. I call all of who believe in peace. Join the Brotherhood! Fight the tyrant who rules Zandia with an iron fist! I am speaking to you and you and you! All of you who can make a difference in my land. If your lives are worthless at home, join my crusade. Speak your humble voice in my behalf. No man or woman is useless when joined in cause.
His words manipulate the audience, control them. He weaves a spell they can't ignore.
ANDREWS: I agree with Blood.
CUMMINGS: I'd say we all do. It's unanimous, Bethany.
SNOW: Or is it? Titans?
WONDER GIRL: We've been to Brother Blood's temples. We've seen how he uses children, turns them against their parents.
CUMMINGS: My son joined Blood's temple as a wild, reckless kid. He returned a good man and a better citizen.
BROTHER BLOOD: I can defend the ways of my church. The youth who enter it return to society better people. I preach a return to standards, not their obfuscation. Come to me confused, I show them the way. Come to me a loser and I show you how to win. Come to me wretched and I will make you proud.
WONDER GIRL: You can't explain away the attempted nuclear terrorism by the Socety of Sin, an attack sponsored and paid for by the Church of Brother Blood! An attack made possible because of Brotherhood double agents within the Pentagon!
SNOW: Wonder Girl, those accusations veer sharply into the realm of slander!
CUMMINGS: Bethany's right. Brother Blood may not represent my religion or yours... but he's not the threat here.
EXT. TV STUDIO – MORNING
The Titans regroup outside.
FLASH: Great going, Hollaback Girl. I was going to j'accuse him at the right time, now you've spoiled the whole thing!
WONDER GIRL: I'm sorry, alright!? And I think the issue here isn't when it was said, it's who said it.
FLASH: What's that supposed to mean?
WONDER GIRL: You wanted to be the one who brought Brother Blood down. You want all the glory for yourself.
FLASH: People like you are the reason women don't call themselves feminists anymore.
BEAST BOY: Hey man, lay off her!
FLASH: Goddamnit, we had him! Am I the only one who gets that? And now he's foisted it off on General Zahl.
EXT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – NIGHT
SUPER: Zandia
An opulent palace in the middle of a vast garden. Most of the light is underwater, coming from pools and fountains. It gives the scene an eerie vibe.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – BEDROOM – NIGHT
GENERAL ZAHL, just your average political puppet, smokes a cigar in bed, his free hand holding a rotary phone made out of pearl.
GENERAL ZAHL: I don't care! Brother Blood has no right to make me a scapegoat. He's just a figurehead, a symbol to rally around, a con man with delusions of grandeur!
EXT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – NIGHT
A GUARD approaches one of his friends.
GUARD: Got a light?
He grabs the man's shoulder. The man slumps over, a SHURIKEN neatly bisecting his eye. The Guard is about to scream when another lodges itself in his throat, turning his words into a bloody gurgle. Before his disbelieving eyes, five more ninja stars appear in his chest. He falls over, dead.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – NIGHT
A guard's flashlight finds a SPLATTER OF BLOOD on the wall. He looks down to see one of his comrades lying facedown on the floor. He quickly runs to the other guard and turns him over, revealing a clean bullethole right between his eyes and THE GRENADE HE WAS LYING ON, the spoon of which his body was holding down.
INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – BEDROOM – NIGHT
General Zahl turns at the sound of the distant explosion.
GENERAL ZAHL: What was that?
DEATHSTROKE: (O.S.) A little party favor.
General Zahl rolls out of bed as DEATHSTROKE melts out of the shadows. Dark blue armor. Mask with one eyehole and one side painted orange. Bandanna tassels flaring behind his head. Orange gloves, boots, and climbing harness. Bandoliers of ammo criss-cross his chest, a sword is strapped to his back, and guns are slung at his hips. One look at the way he carries himself is enough to ascertain he is a naplam-laying badass.
Zahl grabs a gun from his bureau and opens fire. In a flash, Deathstroke draws a CHINESE JIAN from a scabbard on his back. The hilt has a guard with short wings pointing forward. A tassel with metal wires worked into it hangs from the pommel. The jian smoothly jerks back and forth, deflecting the bullets away. They ricochet wildly against the marble walls.
DEATHSTROKE: Only one of us is leaving this room alive.
He draws a KATANA from a scabbard on his belt, throws it to Zahl. Zahl drops the gun and picks it up. Holding it high, he runs at Deathstroke, SCREAMING. Deathstroke deftly sidesteps him, spearing his sword out into Zahl's side as the president passes. Zahl coughs up blood and drops to his knees.
DEATHSTROKE: Looks like it's going to be me.
Deathstroke raises his sword for the coup de grace.
DEATHSTROKE: Sorry General, but you're only president... for life.
He brings the jian down on Zahl's neck.
INT. TITAN TOWER – COMMON ROOM – EVENING
Wally watches TV.
WALLY: Sorry Dickwing, can't make it. I've got menstrual cramps real bad. I'd better just stay home and organize my sock drawer.
GRAYSON: If I have to go, you have to go.
TV: (filtered) No bad guy stands a chance, they'll step on 'em like ants, they'll pummel every meany, look out! It's the Teeny Titans!
GRAYSON: What... the hell... is that?
WALLY: Chibi.
GRAYSON: Chibi?
WALLY: Yeah. Like, ya know, Muppet Babies? Flintstone Kids? A Pup Named Scooby Doo? Tiny Toons? The kids love it.
GRAYSON: Are you telling me we sold out?
WALLY: Even better. We presold out. So, whose idea is this little social outing?
GRAYSON: Kory's. She thought it'd be nice if we spent some time as a team not focused on a mission or training, did something with some fresh air in the equation.
WALLY: Well, if Kory's okayed it...
He exits. Beast Boy walks over to Grayson.
BEAST BOY: If we're going out in civvies, won't people recognize me and Vic? And then deduce who you guys are by association?
GRAYSON: Well, they would, but I took two hologram generators out of the trophy room. They need to recharge every four hours, so they're no good for extended use, but for our purposes they'll work fine.
BEAST BOY: That makes perfect sense!
He glances briefly at the audience and gives us a conspiratorial wink.
GRAYSON: Have you got something in your eye?
Grayson is distracted by Kory, staring out the window. He walks over to her, hands her a contacts case.
GRAYSON: These should help you blend in.
KORY: Thank you.
A long beat.
GRAYSON: I'm sorry I yelled at you. I just...
He laughs exasperatedly.
GRAYSON: I have no idea how to react to this. I mean, where do we go from here?
KORY: That depends on if you feel the same way that I do.
Peter Frampton's "Baby I Love Your Way" plays in the background.
GRAYSON: Kory, I...
KORY: Yes Dick?
GRAYSON: I'd like us to be...
VOICE: (O.S.) Ooooh, baby I love your way...
GRAYSON: WALLY, WILL YOU CUT THAT OUT!?
WHIP PAN over to Wally, who was playing "Baby I Love Your Way" on his guitar.
WALLY: Right. Sorry.
He walks off, now playing KISS.
WALLY: I! Wanna rock and roll all night!
Back to Grayson and Kory.
GRAYSON: As I was saying, I think...
WALLY: (O.S.) AND PARTY EVERY DAY!
GRAYSON: Goddamnit West! (to Kory) We'll talk at the club.
EXT. TITAN TOWER – EVENING
The Titans are gathered in civilian clothes. Kory wears a hodgepodge of clothing that no doubt looks very fashionable to her.
WALLY: So, what are we going to do when we get there? Is Kory going to wear her sunglasses in the club and at night?
GRAYSON: Kory, show him.
Kory takes off her sunglasses. She's wearing contact lenses to make her look human.
GRAYSON: Well, what do you think?
WALLY: Her eyes look like Barbara's.
Brief staredown. Kory puts her sunglasses back on and walks in between them, pushing them both aside.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Two lifetimes ago, this was a SPANISH MISSION. One lifetime ago, it was a counterculture outpost, waiting for the antiestablishment Revolution that never came. Now it's been resurrected once more as a jumping DANCE CLUB. The incognito Titans enter as Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" plays. At least a thousand people are cramped in here. The floor is huge, cavernous. Lights flash.
WALLY: THIS is my scene.
Cyborg, holographically appearing as he did before his accident, returns a pleasant smile.
CYBORG: Been a while since I looked... human. Nice not to have everyone running away in fear.
WALLY: Don’t put too much stock in it. You want to really look nonthreatening, you'd end up going from a good-looking black man to a freakish white woman. Is that what you want? To pull a Michael Jackson?
CYBORG: You think I'm good-looking?
BEAST BOY: (sans green skin) Are you kidding? Look at that boyish face. Look at that sweet smile. Look at those baby-blue... eye. Do you wanna talk about physical strength? Do you want to talk about sheer muscle? Do you want to talk about the Olympian ideal? You are a god! No, better! You're a Titan!
They're seated in the dining area. The WAITER approaches them.
WAITER: What'll it be?
WALLY: Seven cheeseburgers, seven large orders of fries, and seven Diet Cokes. (beat, to others) You guys want anything?
Most of them decline.
GRAYSON: I'll have the chicken-fried steak.
WAITER: I'm sorry, we don't serve that after...
Grayson gives the Waiter the Batman Death Squint(tm).
WAITER: Right away, sir.
He hustles off. Donna gets up.
DONNA: I'm going to the restroom.
Kory and Raven stand and go with her.
BEAST BOY: Guess some things are universal.
INT. BATHROOM – EVENING
Raven washes her hands. They're trembling.
KORY: Raven, you look so sad. Can I help you?
RAVEN: I do not think so, Starfire. But thank you.
KORY: Really, I want to help. I know we're different, My background justifies violence, yours shuns it at all cost... and I know we haven't been all that close, but I really do like you. And I know you've been hurt.
RAVEN: Koriand'r, what I am is what hurts me. There can be no simple solution.
Kory looks at the door, obviously thinking about Grayson.
KORY: I think we're more alike than we think.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Wally and Grayson stare at each other, the table between them with the picked-clean remnants of Wally's meals. Beast Boy and Cyborg have left.
GRAYSON: Gar and Vic are taking a while.
Wally gestures to the dance floor. Think "A Night At The Roxbury." All that's missing is "What Is Love?"
WALLY: Dancing fools.
GRAYSON: Well, this is a nice place.
WALLY: Yeah.
GRAYSON: Good architecture.
WALLY: You think so?
GRAYSON: Yeah.
WALLY: Maybe they could come up with a better color scheme.
GRAYSON: Possibly.
Long beat.
WALLY: We're going to settle this. Once and for all.
He pulls out a bottle of whiskey.
GRAYSON: You have got to be kidding.
WALLY: You ever play I Never?
GRAYSON: With Barbara.
WALLY: Good. Before we start, you've got to promise me something. No matter how drunk you get, you cannot make a pass at me.
GRAYSON: For God's sake, Wally, I'm not gay.
WALLY: Dick, you're so far in the closet, you can see Narnia.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
Everyone is having a good time.
BEAST BOY: Hey Vic, watch this!
He does the Robot. Someone BUMPS into him.
DANCER: Electros rule the dance floor!
BEAST BOY: That so?
INT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
GRAYSON: I've never... paid for sex.
WALLY: ...damn you.
He takes a shot.
WALLY: I never killed anyone... who didn't have it coming.
That comes out of left field. Grayson reaches for the drink... then withdraws his hand. Stares dead at Wally.
WALLY: Well, don't that beat all?
GRAYSON: You really kill someone?
WALLY: They're as good as dead. Let's leave it at that. Now you have to answer one of my questions.
GRAYSON: Go for it.
WALLY: Why does Batman hate you so much?
GRAYSON: ...I grew up.
WALLY: Figures.
Beast Boy runs up to the table.
BEAST BOY: Wally, you're needed.
WALLY: What happened?
BEAST BOY: We got served.
Wally looks at the dance floor. The ELECTROS are krumping.
WALLY: This calls for some divine intervention.
Wally starts for the dance floor.
GRAYSON: I... I had no choice.
Grayson obviously isn't talking about growing up.
WALLY: We never do. You wanna come? We could use back-up.
GRAYSON: I don't dance.
WALLY: Come on. When was the last time you put a little motion in the ocean? A little dip in the hip? Some glide in your stride? Gotten jiggy with it? Wiggled it, just a little bit? Got down with your bad self? Gotten your freak on? Boogied down?
GRAYSON: I haven't danced since my girlfriend could.
That shuts Wally up. Beast Boy tugs him away. Halfway there, Wally gets a call on his beeper. He looks at it.
WALLY: Hold on a minute, I've got to take this.
BEAST BOY: Uhhh, Wally? We got served? Is that registering with you?
WALLY: Trust me, this guy you don't leave hanging.
EXT. METROPOLIS – EVENING
The City of Tomorrow.
FLASH: (V.O.) Yeah, I saw your cartoon.
INT. LEX'S OFFICE – METROPOLIS – EVENING
Lex sits behind his glass desk.
LUTHOR: Yes. We had some trouble obtaining copyrights for you and Wonder Girl... the latter's tied up with Wonder Woman's license and apparently Barry Allen licensed himself out for some Filmamation thing...
Flash stands in front of him, arms crossed.
FLASH: Let's be honest, Mr. Luthor. You didn't call me all the way up here to talk about cartoons. Although if you do make one, you should do something about the theme song. Lacks zip.
LUTHOR: Please. Call me Lex. I find it helps communications to be on a first name basis... with equals. Don't you agree... Wallace?
FLASH: How did you...
LUTHOR: A man of my resources learns many things, some more valuable than others. I know most of the "secret identities" of those in your Justice League. Except for the Big S, of course. I don't hold any illusion of him being "super" all the time. I've kept abreast of his activities, monitoring him. Sometimes he disappears off the scopes for hours on end. I think he uses the time to walk the earth, like King Henry before the Battle of St. Crispin's Day. I wonder how he looks at us. With some secret pity? With dark schadenfreude?
FLASH: You're obsessed.
LUTHOR: Obsession is merely the mark of a focused mind, Wallace. We're more alike than you'd care to admit.
FLASH: I very much doubt that.
LUTHOR: You weren't born with your powers. You earned them. Just as I earned the power and wealth to build this structure we sit in. But someone like Superman... and his League... they have their power handed to them on a platter. They've never learned the responsibility that goes with it. They do not consider themselves gifted... they are privileged. Above us "mortal men." Join me for a smoke?
FLASH: Why not?
Lex hands Flash a Havana cigar, lights one for himself.
FLASH: Thought you couldn't get these anymore.
That actually makes Lex laugh out loud.
LUTHOR: Mercy, make our guest feel at home.
MERCY, Lex's bodyguard/lover, steps out of the shadows. Flash gives her the once-over as she lights his cigar.
LUTHOR: That will be all, Mercy. Unless you'd prefer she stayed...?
FLASH: No, I'd rather talk man-to-man.
Mercy steps outside.
LUTHOR: You know, you remind me of myself as a boy... only with more hair (I assume).
FLASH: Speaking of which, can I rub your head for good luck?
LUTHOR: No!
FLASH: Can I lick it? How much would it cost for me to lick your head?
LUTHOR: My pate is not for sale!
FLASH: Okay... can you put your hands to your head and say "To me, my X-Men!"? Please?
LUTHOR: I see I'm not getting anywhere with flattery. Very well, on to the main event.
He opens a drawer, pulls out a remote control.
LUTHOR: Hold on a minute, let me figure this out. SET, TV/VIDEO, SATELLITE... they call me evil, I didn't invent this... ahh, here we are.
He clicks an impressive combination of buttons, causing a HOLOGRAPHIC WALL to form in the middle of the room. KRYPTONIAN HIEROGLYPHICS scroll over it vertically and horizontally. We recognize the Superman crest.
LUTHOR: Look familiar? It's Kryptonian. As in "Kal-El," as in "Superman," as in "bane of my existence."
FLASH: And I care because...?
LUTHOR: Deep-range radio astronomy (I own four of the largest satellite dishes in the world) picked it up two years ago. As near as we can figure it, this is their version of SETI. Sending out subspace signals to any civilization who wanted to chat. Of course, starships might've been more useful around the time their planet started exploding, but hindsight is 20/20.
He walks towards the hologram, as excited as a kid showing off a science project. His hand nears the wall, which slows down automatically. One particular symbol bears a marked resemblance to Nightwing's chest emblem.
LUTHOR: Recognize this?
FLASH: Coincidence.
LUTHOR: O ye of little faith...
He touches it. The symbol expands to fill the "wall," now filling with images and Kryptonian text.
LUTHOR: Nightwing was cast out of his family. He dreamt of justice. He dreamt of helping the weak. He dreamt of showing his family that he was better than they gave him credit for. He used his talents and his skills to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. Such heroic nonsense, such populist idealism crap...
FLASH: Did his family ever realize their mistake?
LUTHOR: Does it matter?
FLASH: I suppose not.
LUTHOR: He flew unfettered anyway. And his name's rough translation is Nightwing.
He taps the wall again. It now shows an image of the KRYPTONIAN NIGHTWING. Nightwing's costume obviously was inspired by his.
LUTHOR: Do you care now?
FLASH: Nightwing's been setting me up, this whole time... I knew he wasn't leadership material, but I never imagined... then he's been putting the League ahead of the Titans, all along.
Flash zooms out. James Jesse steps out of the shadows.
JAMES: Well, can I pick 'em or what?
LUTHOR: He's perfect for our needs. Superman and his pet reporter won't be able to stop us this time. No one will.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Wally returns, lost in thought. After a brief consideration, he takes out a cell-phone, makes a call.
SOMEONE'S POV
Wally appears to be arguing vehemently into the cell. He hangs up.
New angle reveals that Grayson is brooding in the rafters. Kory floats up to him.
KORY: Do you not wish to dance?
GRAYSON: I don't dance.
KORY: Friends are good. You should enjoy them while you have them.
GRAYSON: You asking me to dance?
KORY: Yes, I am.
GRAYSON: ...sorry to disappoint you.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
Wally pushes his way through the dancers as Kory catches up with him. Cyborg and Beast Boy are beside him.
KORY: I need you to dance with me.
WALLY: So Dick'll get jealous? No thanks.
KORY: You will dance with me!
CYBORG: I don't know what you see in the guy anyway. It's not like he's what you'd call a long-term prospect.
WALLY: Hell, sometimes I worry about that guy. I mean, he's like a machine. Sometimes I think he views life like a ticking clock, just waiting for it to run down so his suffering can end.
KORY: Nightwing IS NOT a ticking clock!
WALLY: He might as well be. How can he fight to protect life when he doesn't even enjoy it? It's like performing surgery on someone you hate. (beat, to Cyborg and Beast Boy) Then again, I might be wrong. We're not close. Not like him and Kory. Kory, you know him so well. You're practically his right arm. Tell me, what does he care for? What does he take pleasure in?
Kory makes a noise like a sob and flies off. Wally shakes his head.
WALLY: He doesn't treat her right, that's for damn sure.
The ELECTROS have gathered to confront Wally.
DANCER: Well well, if it ain't M. West. You've been off the streets too long, West. You've lost your edge!
WALLY: You're the loser here, McGarrett!
"Combat" by Ice-T plays as the Titan boys and the Electros get into a vicious dance-off. The Electros serve the Titans. The Titans serve them back. And then it's ON.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Kory forlornly eats a napkin as Grayson walks up to her.
GRAYSON: Can we talk?
KORY: We are talking right now.
GRAYSON: I just wanted you to know why I've been such an ass lately.
KORY: You've been wonderful.
GRAYSON: No, I haven't. I think I may have given you... false hopes. Crossed signals. I don't know... you have to understand, I was brought up by the Batman. He always taught me to be guided by my head, not my heart. Sometimes I wonder if I even have a heart. I look at Barbara and I feel nothing when I should feel SOMETHING.
KORY: Do you feel something when you look at me?
GRAYSON: (evading the question) Can I really be honest with you? Part of you frightens me. Really scares me deep down. Not that fact that you're not human, but something else. It's hard to explain, but despite my reputation for knowing everything, I realize I don't know anything about myself.
KORY: I know something about you. I know you love me.
Grayson shakes his head, unable to speak.
KORY: If you don't, just say so.
GRAYSON: I... I really need time to sort out my emotions.
KORY: I'll give you all the time in the world.
EXT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Donna and Raven are getting some air by the exit.
DONNA: Look, I think you have to tell him the truth. It's the only honorable thing to do.
A man pushes by them.
MAN: Excuse me, ma'am.
That voice...
DONNA: No problem.
It's DEATHSTROKE.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
The DJ has switched to U2's “Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me, Kill Me.” Wally sits on a stool, Gar massaging his shoulders, Cyborg waving a towel at him like a cornerman.
CYBORG: You can't take this guy, his moves are too fresh!
WALLY: I've never backed down from a fight.
CYBORG: Yes you have!
WALLY: Well, never when it MATTERED.
BEAST BOY: You're gonna get yourself killed out there!
WALLY: Maybe... but not today.
He steps out onto the dance floor. Under the strobe lights, REVEAL Kory and Grayson talking in close proximity. Wally's eyes narrow. He's so absorbed in processing this new development that he doesn't notice DEATHSTROKE approaching him from behind. Deathstroke shoves a SYRINGE into his leg. Immediately, something is injected into the speedster.
WALLY: (spaced out) Spider-sense... tingling...
He turns, sees Deathstroke.
WALLY: You...
He begins spasming violently. His face twitches. He looks around fearfully, suddenly unable to control his own body. Deathstroke melts back into the crowd as Wally falls to his knees. Beast Boy and Cyborg run up to him. He's convulsing so hard they have to hold him down.
CYBORG: Wally, what's wrong? Who did this?
WALLY: B-behind you...
Deathstroke strikes, impaling Cyborg on his jian. Electricity pulses through the blade, SHORT-CIRCUITING Cyborg. The hologram shutters on and off, flipping between the reality and the illusion before shutting down. Cyborg collapses.
BEAST BOY: No!
He turns into a HAWK, flying over the heads of the crowd after Deathstroke.
BEAST BOY: Hey ugly, you forgot to save the last dance!
He turns into a LEOPARD, landing on Deathstroke and mauling him. His claws rend the armor, but don't penetrate. Deathstroke short-punches a KNIFE into Beast Boy's chest. Beast Boy lets go of him, turning back into a human.
BEAST BOY: Not cool, dude.
Deathstroke spin-kicks him into unconsciousness.
DEATHSTROKE: There's a reason for my rep.
That's when he notices the remaining Titans, now in costume, have surrounded him. The music reaches its climax as the patrons run away, clearing out the room until only the Titans and Deathstroke are left.
DEATHSTROKE: Well, looks like we've got a Mexican stand-off. Only without any Mexicans.
NIGHTWING: Raven, help the wounded. The rest of you... with me.
Nightwing, Wonder Girl, and Starfire grab makeshift weaponry as Deathstroke draws a sword in either hand. Nightwing draws his twin escrima sticks, Wonder Girl extends BLADES from her bracelet, and Kory's hands glow dangerously.
DEATHSTROKE: C'mon, kid. Show me your moves.
NIGHTWING: Titans together!
Nightwing and Wonder Girl attack as one, working in concert with well-honed moves. Deathstroke dodges their blows, arms pedaling with inhuman speed. Starfire hovers above, looking for an opening. Nightwing comes in for another pass and Deathstroke meets him head on, metal flashing against metal. Wonder Girl comes in from behind, Deathstroke stops her in her tracks with a swift kick to the breadbasket. While he's distracted, Nightwing gets in a hard shot at Deathstroke's ribs. Deathstroke groans and sidesteps when Nightwing presses the attack, using a whirling elbow to hurry Nightwing on his way.
That's when Starfire picks Deathstroke up from behind, flying him through the air in a chokehold. Deathstroke swings his legs backwards, kicking his heels deep into Starfire's gut. She drops him and he hits the ground rolling, coming up to confront Wonder Girl. She manages to hold him off long enough for Nightwing to join in. The heroes leap and whirl, attacking almost at random, while Deathstroke continues to outmaneuver them in his gracefully methodical way. They keep tripping and stumbling and getting in each other's way. Deathstroke saws Nightwing's escrima sticks in two with one precise strike, then whips the tassel on his jian across Wonder Girl's face. A STILETTO WIRE built into it runs over her eyes, BLINDING her.
NIGHTWING: Donna!
Starfire flies down to attend to her. An orange boot slams against Dick's throat, pinning him against the wall. Deathstroke returns his swords to their scabbards.
DEATHSTROKE: Just you and me now, Robin. Oh, that's right. You prefer Nightwing now.
A jab to a nerve cluster in Deathstroke's thigh does absolutely nothing. Deathstroke actually chuckles before leaping onto his other foot to deliver a roundhouse kick to Nightwing, sending him corkscrewing to the ground. Nightwing gets up, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his fist.
NIGHTWING: Who are you?
DEATHSTROKE: Someone who likes watching you.
He moves in again, aiming a hard jab at one of Grayson's nerve clusters. Nightwing shimmies out of the way and retaliates with a dropping elbow to Deathstroke's ribs.
NIGHTWING: Care to be more specific?
DEATHSTROKE: I used to call myself the Terminator, but then that stupid movie came out... now I go by Deathstroke.
NIGHTWING: Is it the nineties in here or is it just me?
DEATHSTROKE: Mockery of my name means little coming from you... "Dick."
NIGHTWING: How do you know my name?
DEATHSTROKE: My employer told me.
A swift kick knocks Nightwing back, almost taking him out of commission. Nightwing lands on his back, jumps back to his feet and rolls forward, going into a legsweep which Deathstroke jumps over. He lands into a punch to the midsection from Nightwing, sending him stumbling backwards. Deathstroke roars with rage and tackles Nightwing into the MEN'S ROOM, the door flapping behind them.
Meanwhile, STARFIRE flies the blinded Wonder Girl to Raven, who's crouched over Wally, chanting fervently.
STARFIRE: Is he going to be alright?
RAVEN: I can release some of his pain, but not all. My abilities are not... exact. Or without limit. When one has been sedated as heavily as Wallace, we must depend on his will to make the difference. He must want to awaken. He must fight to awaken. I may only show him the way, it is up to him to take that final step. Azarath metrion zinthos...
Wally stops spasming, becoming as still as the grave.
STARFIRE: Is he...?
Wally's eyes snap open. Focus on Raven.
WALLY: You saved me?
RAVEN: I helped.
WALLY: Much obliged, sister.
STARFIRE: Now do Donna!
Wally gets a hopeful look on his face.
RAVEN: I'll heal her as soon as I've recovered.
Wally's face falls.
INT. MEN'S ROOM – EVENING
Deathstroke quick-draws a SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN from his belt. Nightwing kicks it aside and the shot goes wild, BLOWING THE SHIT out of a urinal. Nightwing grabs Deathstroke by the collar and slams his head against a paper towel dispenser, then throws him over the sink into a mirror, shattering it.
DEATHSTROKE: Nice form.
NIGHTWING: Who hired you!?
DEATHSTROKE: A very highly-placed individual.
NIGHTWING: The President?
DEATHSTROKE: No. Someone powerful.
Deathstroke kicks Nightwing in the chest, taking him by surprise and knocking him back into the wall so hard that tiles go flying. And just like that he's up again, gloved hands wrapping around Nightwing's throat and lifting him off his feet, pressing him HARD against the wall. Nightwing reaches out and TAPS the hand dryer. Deathstroke is distracted by it, giving Nightwing an opening to KNEE HIM IN THE BALLS!
NIGHTWING: How do you like that stroke?
Nightwing throws Deathstroke against a locked door, which pops open, banging inward. Nightwing pins Deathstroke against the tiled wall.
NIGHTWING: Someone in my team’s a traitor?
DEATHSTROKE: Sure looks that way.
NIGHTWING: I don’t believe you.
DEATHSTROKE: Believe what you want. You're still going to die. Deathstroke always gets his man.
A spinning back fist knocks Nightwing through the wall and into the next stall. Deathstroke jumps for a small window, climbing through it.
DEATHSTROKE: But not today.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
RAVEN: Zinthos.
She takes her hands off Wonder Girl. Raven's eyes are now white with cataracts.
RAVEN: And now I can't see.
Wally, now in FLASH uniform, helps Wonder Girl to her feet.
FLASH: Payback time!
He runs into the women's restroom. SCREAMS! Flash runs back out.
FLASH: Can't blame a guy for trying.
INT. MEN'S ROOM – EVENING
Starfire flies inside. Nightwing, winded, points at the window.
NIGHTWING: He went through there. If you cut around back you can still...
Starfire flies right through the wall.
NIGHTWING: ...that works too.
EXT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Starfire catches up with Deathstroke just before he reaches his JEEP. He sidesteps the attack like a quarterback dashing into the endzone... not noticing Nightwing landing off a swing. A punch neatly scrapes off the side of Deathstroke's full-head mask. A retaliatory jab has Nightwing choking on his own blood.
NIGHTWING: So, tell me, are you working for the Flash or someone else?
DEATHSTROKE: Yes, I am working for the Flash or someone else.
STARFIRE: (in Tamaranian, subtitled) Clear!
Nightwing jumps away as Starfire unleashes a torrent of starbolts. Explosions lick at Deathstroke's feet as he somersaults away. Starfire flies in to engage at close quarters, unarmed.
NIGHTWING: Starfire, no! Pull back!
Deathstroke draws his secondary sword and swings it at her. Starfire GRABS it in one hand. The blade can't penetrate her nigh-invulnerable skin.
STARFIRE: I was taught by the greatest warriors in the Vegan star system!
She CRUSHES the metal in her hand, then kicks Deathstroke backwards. He slides down the length of the street. Deathstroke stabs his jian into the ground, bringing himself to a stop.
STARFIRE: I just wish I was allowed to show what I can do more often...
She walks towards him, starbolts at the ready. Deathstroke throws a GRENADE at her.
DEATHSTROKE: Eat this!
Starfire catches it. Looks at it quizzically, rattling it, trying to figure out what it is.
STARFIRE: Is it some kind of vegetable? Do I have to unwrap it first?
BOOM! Starfire flies backwards, a FIRE HYDRANT breaking her fall. Water geysers up from it, falling down on her like rain. Deathstroke raises her chin with the flat of his blade.
DEATHSTROKE: End of the line for you, darlin'.
And suddenly a BLUR hits him, so fast we'd be forgiven for assuming it was Wally. It's not. It's Nightwing, who kicks Deathstroke's jian away with impossible speed and begins just fucking laying into him, an outright SLUGFEST.
NIGHTWING: Word of advice, asshole. In the future, you see a woman with pure green eyes, you turn the other...
He knocks Deathstroke's mask off. Sees SLADE WILSON'S FACE.
NIGHTWING: No... it can't be you!
DEATHSTROKE: It can.
He jerks his wrist and a DERRINGER flies into his palm. Immediately he pumps five shots into the stunned Nightwing. Nightwing falls, numb. Deathstroke crouches over him, presses a XIANGQI piece into his hand and closes his fist around it.
DEATHSTROKE: A get-well present.
Nightwing fights his way to his feet as Deathstroke runs for his jeep. He steps towards Deathstroke, working on sheer willpower. Starfire holds him back.
STARFIRE: You need a healer!
NIGHTWING: I'll be fine as soon as I get my hands on him.
Starfire carries Nightwing upwards.
STARFIRE: No! We're doing this my way! I know you. You'd march into hell with two broken legs and two broken arms.
And below them, Deathstroke has grabbed a ROCKET LAUNCHER from his trunk. He aims it at Starfire and Nightwing, getting a bead...
DEATHSTROKE: Aww, where's the fun in that?
He shifts his aim and FIRES.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
Flash is checking Beast Boy for injuries. Cyborg, fully rebooted, runs up to them.
CYBORG: Shouldn't we be going after that guy?
FLASH: Nightwing can handle it. Titans come first. (yells) Raven, get your spooky ass over here!
Raven stumbles into a wall.
RAVEN: I hate being blind. Remind me never to do it again.
CYBORG: Gar, say something!
BEAST BOY: On the goo-oo-ood ship Lollypop, It's a swee-ee-eet trip to a candy shop!
FLASH: Hold on, I know first aid.
He conks Beast Boy on the head.
BEAST BOY: Jem is truly outrageous, truly truly truly outrageous, Jem, the music's contagious, outrageous, Jem is my name, no one else is the same, remember my...
Flash hits him again.
BEAST BOY: The Love Boat soon will be making another run! The Love Boat promises something for everyone!
Flash raises his hand again.
CYBORG: Hold on, I like this song.
Suddenly, they hear something ROAR overhead.
FLASH: That can't be good.
EXT. HOSPITAL – EVENING
Starfire drops Nightwing down on a helipad.
NIGHTWING: You can't do this!
STARFIRE: Listen to me, Dick, you need help. You never let yourself admit how much you've been hurt. I love you too much to let you kill yourself just to protect your pride.
NIGHTWING: There's a menace down there, as leader I'm needed.
STARFIRE: As leader we need you alive. And as the man I love... well, for once you're going to have to take orders from me.
NIGHTWING: You don't know what love is.
STARFIRE: No, I suppose not. But neither do you.
We hear the ROAR of the MISSILE as it approaches. Nightwing and Starfire look up to see the missile arc towards a small COMMUTER PLANE. Starfire flies upwards to intercept it.
NIGHTWING: KORY!!!
INT. PLANE – EVENING
BOOM! A five-foot hole is BLASTED through the hull. The cabin wobbles loosely, the plane buckles. The engine spool to a stall. Metal twists under extreme pressure. People panic. Oxygen masks fall. Every unrestrained object on board flies to the hole; paper, books, luggage, pillows.
The engines DIE. The cabin begins to tilt downwards... then straight down. Debris tumbles toward the flight deck as if falling from a cliff.
A FLIGHT ATTENDANT screams as he's pulled into the sky.
EXT. CLUB JUPITER – EVENING
Cyborg and Flash step out of the club in time to see the missile detonate against the Plane's wing. Starfire is blasted backwards by the explosion, knocked out by the concussive blast.
CYBORG: She's not gonna make it!
FLASH: Oh, she'll make it.
He zooms off. Cyborg looks up, focusing on the plane in freefall...
Flash reappears, holding Starfire in his arms. She takes a moment to realize she's no longer in danger.
STARFIRE: Nice catch.
FLASH: Yeah, I am.
STARFIRE: The plane!
FLASH: Under control. Go up there, try to get it level with the ground. We need a crash landing.
CYBORG: At that speed the crash will still be fatal.
FLASH: That's where we come in.
CYBORG: What do you mean we?
EXT. PLANE - EVENING
The sick familiar SOUND of an aircraft going down. The Flight Attendant screaming as he PLUMMETS. Until Starfire CATCHES him.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Are you from heaven?
STARFIRE: You could say that.
She flies upwards and HURLS him carelessly back into the plane, then works to correct its descent. She braces herself against the underbelly of the plane and PUSHES, slowly tilting the plane level. But it's obviously too heavy even for her alien strength.
EXT. NIGHTCLUB – EVENING
CYBORG: Now what?
FLASH: You still got those rollerskates built into your feet?
CYBORG: ...you're kidding, right?
FLASH: I need to hear a yes here.
EXT. CENTRAL CITY – EVENING
Flash is actually PUSHING Cyborg through the streets at superspeed. Cyborg slides along on ROLLERSKATES extending from his metal feet, Flash keeping him parallel with the rapidly falling plane. Cyborg SCREAMS as Flash narrowly dodges between two buses.
CYBORG: Are you TRYING to hit these people?
FLASH: No! (beat) Alright, maybe that mime...
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
Beast Boy sits, nursing the knife in his gut. Raven stands nearby, still blind.
BEAST BOY: (bored out of his mind) You know what I like best about this job?
EXT. OVERPASS – EVENING
The plane literally lands right on Cyborg's head! But he CATCHES IT, his hands digging into the hull as he strains to keep it from smearing all over the pavement.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
BEAST BOY: The excitement.
EXT. OVERPASS – EVENING
Flash, still pushing Cyborg, looks past him.
FLASH: Cyborg! The bridge is out!
CYBORG: (looking over his shoulder) What?
CYBORG'S POV
The bridge is still under construction. Rushing towards them is the PRECIPICE... and a long fall.
CYBORG: FLASH! THE BRIDGE IS OUT!
EXT. CENTRAL CITY – EVENING
Deathstroke, at the wheel of his jeep, is making good his escape. Then he looks in the rear-view mirror.
ANGLE ON REAR-VIEW MIRROR
WONDER GIRL is running after him, actually gaining on the jeep.
DEATHSTROKE: Woman oughta know her limitations.
He picks up a M-16 from the passenger seat and FIRES it backwards through the rear windshield. Wonder Girl DEFLECTS the bullets with her gauntlets. The bullets ricochet back and hit the back wheels of the jeep, causing it to spin out of control. Deathstroke throws himself clear as the jeep slams into a gas station. It impacts a GAS PUMP with explosive results. A TANKER TRUCK offloading gas is BLOWN UPWARD.
Deathstroke stares at the carnage before drawing his jian and turning his attention back to Wonder Girl.
DEATHSTROKE: Well, let's finish it then.
EXT. OVERPASS – EVENING
Our guys are rapidly running out of road.
CYBORG: Flash, DO SOMETHING!
Flash spots a PILE OF LUMBER at a nearby construction site.
FLASH: Hold on, I've got an idea!
He zooms off. Cyborg, no longer being guided by Flash, tracks lazily back and forth across the lanes from one guardrail to the other, throwing sheets of sparks where he hits.
CYBORG: (moans) Oh God, we're all going to die!
STARFIRE tugs on the tail of the plane, slowing it down further. But it's still not enough. Any second now they're going to... and that any second now becomes any HOUR now as we shift into FLASH-TIME. And we see, reaching upwards in herky-jerky stop-motion animation (at least, that's what it looks like to us), the SUPPORTS for a BEAM BRIDGE being built at superspeed out of LUMBER. Then the bridge itself is built, one beam at a time just as Cyborg rolls out into space. One nanosecond he's treading open air like Wile E. Coyote, the next he's on solid ground. More beams follow, effectively extending the bridge in front of Cyborg like a red carpet until...
Flash runs out of lumber.
And he's running out of time again and thinking, thinking HARD, thinking so hard the sweat boils down his brow and then he's got it.
In the space of a breath he moves from problem to solution, going back to work and CANNIBALIZING the first parts of the makeshift bridge to finish it. Which he does just in time, ferrying Cyborg to the other side. Cyborg slows to a stop with Starfire's help.
In real-time, Flash looks at his handiwork.
FLASH: I am a goddamn rock god.
He throws his arms high.
FLASH: ALL HAIL FLASH! THE ROCK GOD! WOOOOOOOOOOO!
CYBORG: Ahem.
FLASH: Oh, and you guys helped out some too. (beat) But it was mostly me.
CYBORG: The plane, Flash.
FLASH: Alright, set it down over there... no, a little to the left... on second thought, go back, the old way looked better.
CYBORG: (exasperated) Flash!
FLASH: Geez, it's a joke. You get so bitchy when you're carrying a couple hundred tons on your back.
Cyborg puts the plane down. The passengers start to disembark. Flash rushes over to greet them.
FLASH: (as stewardess) Okay, alright, have a nice day, bye bye now, thank you for flying We Just Saved Each And Every One Of You Guys Because We Kick Ass.
INT. CLUB JUPITER – DANCE FLOOR – EVENING
Flash, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire are reunited. Flash leans over Beast Boy, looking at the knife.
FLASH: Alright, I'm going to pull it out so fast that your brain won't have time to process the pain.
BEAST BOY: You can do that?
BLINK! The knife is gone and the wound is bandaged in a split-second. Beast Boy HOWLS in agony.
FLASH: Guess not.
CYBORG: Hey, anyone seen Wonder Girl?
The door creaks open. The four look up to see Wonder Girl stumbling in, a short sword protruding from her abdomen. Her left arm hangs limply by her side and a goose egg is raised under one eye. Covered in blood. No idea why someone who looks like that is still alive.
WONDER GIRL: (off their stares) You should see the other guy.
That said, she promptly collapses.
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT
Flash, on the phone, tries to light a cigarette. In the background, a NURSE gives Raven an eye exam. All around we see the minor injuries of the plane crash survivors being tended to. The place is overflowing.
FLASH: No, I'm fine. Just gave me a little knock-out juice, I'm already back on my feet. Yeah. Love you too. Bye.
NURSE: (arriving) You can't smoke that in here.
That's when STARFIRE picks her up by the throat.
NURSE: Alright, he can smoke, he can smoke!
STARFIRE: Where is Nightwing!?
NURSE: We don't know! He left out the window!
Cyborg walks in, carrying a bundle of wheelchairs.
CYBORG: Yo, Star! Bird-boy flew the coop and took your ride with him.
STARFIRE: Where would he go?
INT. CLOCKTOWER – NIGHT
DINAH LANCE (late twenties, blonde, lithe, somewhat on the short side) and HELENA BERTINELLI (mid-twenties, Italian, voluptuous) are talking.
HELENA: It's not that you're being dishonest, but it's a lie of omission...
NIGHTWING stumbles in, bloody bandages coming his chest.
NIGHTWING: Ladies... you wouldn't happen to know where Barbara is by any chance...
He trips. Helena catches him.
HELENA: These bandages are fresh... get Barbara!
Dinah runs off.
NIGHTWING: ...never did get that chicken-fried steak... Guy shot me... with a gun!
HELENA: Yeah, that's how people usually shoot other people. Guess we have something in common now... aside from the sex, I mean.
NIGHTWING: Huh?
HELENA: Gunshot scars.
NIGHTWING: Need the nanites...
HELENA: No way Barbara would sign off on that.
NIGHTWING: I don't have time for anything else. Please...
HELENA: That's Brainiac technology. It could kill you.
NIGHTWING: Can't kill me. Whoever heard of... dying twice?
Helena looks conflicted.
NIGHTWING: Please... for old time's sake?
INT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT
It's been a long night. Flash opens his lunchbox. There's a handkerchief (a Homer Hankie to be exact) in it, covering the food.
STARFIRE: What's that?
Flash looks up sharply. He didn't hear her coming.
FLASH: A hanky. People use it to blow their noses.
STARFIRE: Why is it on your food?
FLASH: Blame Linda. She's kinda a history buff and in the Middle... a long time ago, women gave these things to their knights as a symbol of their favor, or so she tells me. Just her way of telling me... God, I love that lady. Here, smell.
He holds the handkerchief out to her. She breathes in its scent.
FLASH: Perfume. I don't know why she does that. Sometimes she leaves me these little notes with "I love you" written on them. Not all the time, just... some of the time. I never know what I'm supposed to do with them. I mean, seems kind of heartless to just throw them out.
He catches himself, roots through the lunchbox some more.
FLASH: Also, pudding!
There's a ringing noise. He puts his finger to his earpiece. Instantly hardening a shell around his previous sentimentality.
BARBARA: (filtered) Heard you guys ran into a spot of trouble.
FLASH: Trouble? I don't know if you've been paying attention to current events, but WE JUST GOT OUR ASSES HANDED TO US!
BARBARA: (filtered) Listen, Dick's fine.
FLASH: Oh, Dick's fine. Great, that solves all our problems.
BARBARA: (filtered) Whatever went wrong, it won't be solved by yelling at me.
FLASH: (sighs) I'm sorry. It's just... this guy knew us. He blindsided us.
BARBARA: (filtered) You get a name?
FLASH: No... I think he called himself Death something... wore a mask with only one eyehole, if that helps.
BARBARA: (filtered) I'll see what I can dig up.
FLASH: Hold on, I need you to talk to someone for me.
He removes the wing from his head and hands it to Starfire.
FLASH: It's for you.
Starfire holds the earpiece to her ear.
STARFIRE: Hello?
BARBARA: (filtered) Kory? I just wanted to let you know that Dick's fine. He's with me, resting.
STARFIRE: Glorious! When can I see him?
BARBARA: (filtered) Put Wally back on.
STARFIRE: When can I...
Flash takes the earpiece from her.
FLASH: Barbara, what's wrong?
BARBARA: (filtered) Nothing's wrong...
FLASH: Want me to come over?
BARBARA: (filtered) No... no, there's something I have to do first.
The line goes dead. Starfire grabs Flash.
STARFIRE: Tell me where Nightwing is!
FLASH: Why? You've got nothing I want.
STARFIRE: No... but he does.
Flash looks at the earpiece in his hand. Starfire gently turns his gaze back on to her. Flash shuts his eyes.
EXT. GOTHAM CITY – DAWN
PAN UP the length of a tall, gothic building to find Nightwing, heroically perched on a ledge. He LEAPS OFF... quickly catching up with BATGIRL in freefall. For the first time, we see him happy. You know all those folk tales where a wizard or someone takes out their heart and stows it somewhere else for safekeeping? This is what it looks like when they get it back.
NIGHTWING: This is great, Babs! Feel the air! Listen to the traffic!
BATGIRL: What day is it?
NIGHTWING: Say what?
BATGIRL: What day is it?
NIGHTWING: Uh, I dunno. What difference does it make?
BATGIRL: What month is it?
NIGHTWING: Get a calendar, okay?
Batgirl draws a grapple-gun from her utility belt.
BATGIRL: You don't know, do you? You're a mess, former boy wonder.
She fires out a line.
NIGHTWING: What's with the third degree?
The wind catches him. He begins plummeting out of control, no longer athletically skydiving. Batgirl swings away.
BATGIRL: Good night, Dick Grayson.
CUT TO
Nightwing, flat as a pancake. The pavement cracked under him. Landed.
BATGIRL: (O.S.) You still here, Grayson? Do you even know where here is?
The pavement DISSOLVES into a bed. Nightwing's in...
INT. CLOCKTOWER – INFIRMARY – NIGHT
A bed, to be specific. He looks pretty beat up and is in total denial of that fact. Barbara sits next to him.
BARBARA: Or am I talking to myself again? You took a big fall this time, soldier. I'm surprised you made it to my door. Lucky for you I offer valet parking.
GRAYSON: Hands're cold.
BARBARA: Whine, whine, whine. You let yourself get beat up by one supervillain and you moan like a little girl.
GRAYSON: Not just any... this one's special.
BARBARA: Should I be jealous?
GRAYSON: Nah, he's a man. Unless you've been listening to Wally...
BARBARA: I mean of Kory.
Beat. Grayson lets that one lie.
BARBARA: She seems like a nice girl.
EXT. SKY – EVENING
Starfire cleaves through clouds at supersonic speed.
INT. BATCAVE – NIGHT
Alfred is on the red rotary phone. We see the back of a throne-like bat-shaped chair in front of the BAT-COMPUTER. It's clearly occupied, but we don't see Batman... not yet, anyway.
ALFRED: How much blood has he lost? I see. Yes, you were quite right to call... I do understand the Herculean nature of this task, but may I ask you to try to keep him still? Yes, that might work, or perhaps heavy chains? Mm. I recommend plenty of bed rest and will find it in my heart to forgive you just this once should you find it necessary to render him unconscious. Thank you, Miss Gordon. Goodbye.
BATMAN: (O.S.) It's Dick, isn't it?
ALFRED: Yes, Master Wayne. Five gunshots to the chest. Astonishingly, Master Dick seems to believe his own injuries quite beneath consideration in the ongoing war against crime. Now where do you suppose he would get such an idea?
INT. CLOCKTOWER – NIGHT
Barbara hangs up the phone just as Grayson walks in, wearing some pilfered exercise slacks and one of Dinah's larger jackets. For the first time, we see him breaking out of his inertia, his ennui shattered by the events of the past evening.
GRAYSON: If he asks you whether you like scary movies, hang up.
BARBARA: Grayson, what are you doing out of bed!?
GRAYSON: Now I'm 'Grayson'? Must've touched a nerve. Where's my costume?
BARBARA: I'm selling it on eBay. I was hoping to use the proceeds to buy you a clue. You should've stayed at the hospital. Do you know how dangerous it was to come all the way out here in your condition? What if I hadn't been here...
GRAYSON: C'mon, Babs. I can always count on you to be home on date night.
He is, of course, oblivious to her discomfort at the remark. She, of course, doesn't make anything of it as she rolls over to him... but it's a near thing.
BARBARA: Come on, let's go, back to bed...
She leads him towards the elevator.
GRAYSON: You going to join me?
BARBARA: I'll admit, it is tempting...
She pulls his jacket open sultrily... to see that his wounds have shrunk impossibly.
BARBARA: You used the nanites, didn't you? After I told you how dangerous they were, after I told you what they almost did to me...
GRAYSON: It was the only way.
BARBARA: Why are you like this? Always living life on the edge, always pushing yourself too far, always trying to prove you're worthy of our love...
GRAYSON: It's not like that...
BARBARA: You have no regard for your own life and no regard for the feelings of those you'd leave behind if you'd satisfy this death wish of yours!
GRAYSON: Babs, c'mon...
BARBARA: IT'S WHY I'M BREAKING UP WITH YOU!
A stunned beat.
GRAYSON: Don't joke like that. I can't imagine a life without you in it.
BARBARA: I'm sorry, Dick. But I can. All I've ever had is me. This is all I've ever been, all I've ever known.
She looks up at him plaintively.
BARBARA: I want more.
GRAYSON: Don't ask me for what I can't give.
BARBARA: I never did. Only what you refused to give.
GRAYSON: Babs...
BARBARA: Don't call me that! If you want to be Batman, fine. But don't pretend you can be the man I loved as well.
Grayson addresses her in a low, scary growl. He's more broken than angry.
GRAYSON: Where's. My. Costume?
Barbara points silently. She just wants this to be over.
EXT. STAR SLIDER – NIGHT
Starfire drives. Grayson stares outside, his battered costume in his lap. Just a dude and his exiled alien princess babe cruising home in a flying car.
Hey, it could happen.
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