Green Lantern
Voice Over I remember them all. Alan Scott seems to be all but forgotten. He was the first to claim the name though, And the first to use the ring. (Scenes of Comics with Alan in them) Hal was the one who made the name famous. They say he was without fear, but I don?t believe that for a moment. Hal?s fears were simply of a different nature. HE wasn?t afraid to die, he just didn?t understand how to live. Even Guy in his own irrasable way added style and innovation to the legend. I don?t think that the world will ever completely understand the depths in this man. Not surprising since he only dared to show the shallow parts of his soul.
Shoot a newspaper and PAN around to the man hiding it. Go around in a circular motion until we see his face.
VO And then there is me.
Scene The paper falls to the ground as he flies away in a burst of light. Pan to the paper on the ground, The page contains a want ad reading ?Green Lantern . Watch this space?
TITLE CREDITS
Scene: Poured over Green Lantern flying over the city. He stops what will probably be a rape and then fade into a terrace overlooking a wooded area with GREEN LANTERN and Julia
Julia
I just don?t get you. All I want is to be closer to you, and you say that?s what you want too. But you?re the one pulling away.
GREEN LANTERN
It?s not that I?m trying to pull away, it?s just?just parts of me?
Julia
What parts? What is this darkness that you can?t show me? It?s you keep a vital part of your soul locked away and no one can touch it.
GREEN LANTERN
Mabey I do. It?s not about love?it?s about responsibilities?
Julia
What about your responsibility to me? I mean, it?s like you?ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.
GREEN LANTERN?s phone goes off.
Julia
Ignore it.
GREEN LANTERN
I can?t.
Julia
Kyle, it won?t be the end of the world.
GREEN LANTERN looks bemused at this. He picks up and as he answers we switch to Batman at a computer set.
GREEN LANTERN
What?
Batman
We have an emergency in the city. Special Crimes unit can?t contain it, and I can?t raise Supergirl. You?re the only one in range.
GREEN LANTERN
On my way. ( he turns to her) I?m sorry. This is important, I have to go.
Julia ( a tear appears on her cheek)
Why? Someone need a logo painted before midnight?
GREEN LANTERN
(wistfully touching it) the sky is falling.
GREEN LANTERN exits and changes. We see the crisis in clips and finally he ends up at the batcave talking to Batman
Batman
Sorry to interrupt your evening.
GREEN LANTERN
That?s the justice League for you.
Batman
Something bothering you?
GREEN LANTERN
Julia. ( a beat) you know I?m sure I love her but I don?t think I?m being fair to her.
Batman
Love is a choice. For us, it?s a bad choice. (he pauses) Love takes prisoners, and causes a man to divide his loyalties
GREEN LANTERN
It also reminds us what we are fighting for. Just the same was the Greek muses inspired their lovers.
Batman
Life?s just not that fair. ( a beat) sooner or later you?re going to have to make a choice.
Fade on his face. WE fade back into GREEN LANTERN unmasked getting up, and working on a picture. HE picks up the phone.
GREEN LANTERN
James? I?m having some problems on this image. Could you pick up some tagboard for me, then come over and give me a hand? Thanks.
More work. James enters.
James
Got it. What is it today? Commercial or personal?
GREEN LANTERN
Mostly personal, this one might just sell though.
James
Looks like it?s coming along.
GREEN LANTERN
Not well enough. * sigh * I don?t even know why I waste my effort on this stuff.
James
At least it pays the bills. I can?t even seem to break into the field.
GREEN LANTERN
You will soon enough. Really, it?s not as glamourous as you think though. I might have been better off if I got a real job. Here let?s see if this will bend right if we?.
James
Oh and have you see the paper?
GREEN LANTERN
I Don't have a subscription
James
There's another one of thise want ads you were talking about, this one's a little more intense though.
GREEN LANTERN takes the paper and it reads ?Green Lantern, Millions will die. Central City, Tomorrow.? WE fade out on GREEN LANTERN?s expression. Fade back into shots of him flying and patrolling Central City. Going over a digital map. He targets the largest building in the city as the potential site and checks it out. Nothing. He goes to back to his hotel room and while he waits it out he is on the phone with the paper.
GREEN LANTERN
I need to know who placed a want ad in yesterdays paper.
Paper
We can?t give that information out to the public sir.
GREEN LANTERN
(Hanging up the phone) Too late to go out there.
Fade out on a view of the tower from his window We cut to a man connected into a computer and working on it. we see him typing out something in a hotmail box. A phone call comes in. he gestures and a screen comes up.
Thug
The bomb is in place.
Cyberpunk
Excellent. Contact me tomorrow. I?ll have more work for you.
The next day we see GREEN LANTERN starting awake and looking over. His scopeing out garners him a bomb in the middle of the building. HE takes off and plunges through the wall (without damaging it) and goes to the bomb. HE opens it carefully and lets the ring examine it. Attempting to diffuse he detonates it. While the ring contains most of the explosion he is thrown a few feet back. Smoking he dusts himself off and looks around. HE departs. Arriving at the newspaper he walks in and asks
GREEN LANTERN
I need to speak to you about a want ad in your paper.
Paper
I?uh..I can?t give?..(Green Lantern keeps staring, and his presence is just too strong) Let me check. ( a few key strokes on the computer and the man has an answer.) All I can tell you about it is that this was sent to us via email. I can give you the address. (GREEN LANTERN nods). And I see there was one placed last night as well?.
GREEN LANTERN
What?
Paper
See for your self
(he swivels the monitor and we see an electronic template ?Green Lantern, Gotham City Millions will die, tomorrow.? GREEN LANTERN flying again. This time we see him check into a hotel then cut to the room. He is pacing on the phone. As he talks it will be come apparent that he is talking to Batman. After some time we hear them talk.
GREEN LANTERN
It?s just a web based email account. Is there any way you can follow that?
Batman
No. I?m just not that good, but I know someone who is.
Green Lantern
How do I find them?
Batman
They?ll find you. Address them as Oracle, and Lantern?
GREEN LANTERN
Yes?
Batman
Be polite.
We cut to the Cyberpunk again, who is talking to the thug. We still can not se the Cyberpunk?s face.
Cyberpunk
I?m not blaming you. Who knew that a Green Lantern would be around to stop the bomb?
Thug
Well I still don?t like it. I mean a paycheck?s a paycheck, but I don?t even know why you?re doing this.
Cyberpunk
I?m doing this so I can provide you with a paycheck. I won?t give you any other reason. In any event, we must be prepared for interference this time.
Thug
No way. You?re not paying me enough to go up against a green lantern!
Cyberpunk
Do you think I?d send you out so poorly equipped? (He proffers a gun) This is a specially equipped laser. It?s emissions are yellow, and as everyone knows, a green lantern is powerless against yellow. (HE hands it over) he never even has to see you.
We fade out on the thugs grin. Fade back into the hotel room as GREEN LANTERN waits, agitated. The computer beeps. HE looks up and sees blinking lights and hears a computerised voice.
GREEN LANTERN
Hello?
Oracle
I presume you are Green Lantern.
GREEN LANTERN
Not so loud?.
Oracle
You are alone in this part of the hotel I assure you.
GREEN LANTERN
You?re Batman?s friend?
Oracle
Batman I know. What?s your story?
GREEN LANTERN
I need an email traced.
Oracle
Pop or web based?
GREEN LANTERN
Hotmail
Oracle
Web based. Anything in particular I need to look for?
GREEN LANTERN
He should be accessing the Planet?s office soon. I need to know where that user is logging on from.
Oracle
Not giving me much to go on.
GREEN LANTERN
Sorry.
Oracle
I?ll see what I can do. I?ll be in touch.
The computer blinks out. GREEN LANTERN sits back and rubs his eyes
GREEN LANTERN
Ghosts. This thing has me talking to ghosts now.
We see him changing into his costume, and pulling out a portable device. He networks it with his ring and then goes out. Dissolve to the building and we see the thug placing the bomb in a building, and retreating into the darkness. GREEN LANTERN is still flying when he finds the bomb. He goes in and starts to disarm this one when the thug blasts him. A shield springs up and absorbs the energy. GREEN LANTERN whirls around . One blast disarms the guy and another wraps him in a green field. Green Lantern comes over as the thug screams?.
Thug
But?but the laser..it was YELLOW!
GREEN LANTERN
That was the other guy.
GREEN LANTERN disarms the bomb and then stoops top pick up the gun. the gun explodes ( a small detonation, but enough to send GREEN LANTERN flying and reduce the man to a skeleton) Green Lantern looks up in frustration, and returns to his hotel. We cut to the Cyberpunk working on his computer and up pops a window saying ?pistol destroyed?. His body language smiles. We see him close out the window and continue on the hotmail. This one is ?Green Lantern I?m not finished yet.? He sends it and we cut to Oracle, tapping away on her computer and the two engage in a cyberspace battle. He shuts her out just before she finds his location, however she ends up with a city. It is GREEN LANTERN?s home. Return to Green Lantern at his hotel, working on the laptop and contacting Oracle
Oracle
Hello Green Lantern.
GREEN LANTERN
Oracle?
Oracle
Whoever it is, he?s good. He booted me out before I could pinpoint a location.
GREEN LANTERN
Damn! Did you get anything?
Oracle
I narrowed it down to a city.
Green Lantern
Where?
Oracle
Metropolis.
Green Lantern
( a beat) home.
We fade out on him and see him returning home. He eases himself in the house and checks his messages. Nothing. Then he turns his attention to his workbench. A newspaper article is cut out and we see a note pinned to it with a knife. The article is about a missing woman, it is Julia. The note says ?green Lantern, tonight. One will die.? Green Lantern is gone in a flash of green light before the paper even hits the ground. We see cut scenes of GREEN LANTERN searching and Julia running from someone. Green Lantern eventually finds her and gets her to the road. As he turns around a gloved hand sprays gas in his face and he crumples.
Green Lantern
Let her?go?
Cyberpunk
I could care less about her. You?re the one I want.
And the world goes black. WE fade in on Green Lantern's face. He looks down and sees?.NO RING! Looking over we see the Cyberpunk with his back to us. He turns and it is James.
GREEN LANTERN
James? James! What the hell are you??
James
(Pulls the wires from his head) Do you have any idea how fortunate you are? You have THE job. You have a woman who loves you more than even she realises. You have the power to move mountains! And you just don?t get it! You whine about work. You agonise over the sacrifices being Green Lantern puts on you. Fine. I relieve you of your burdens. (He begins to put on the ring)
GREEN LANTERN
Don?t.
James
You don?t know how much I want this.
GREEN LANTERN
It won?t work the way you think.
James smiles and puts on the ring. His garb is changed to a GREEN LANTERN uniform and we see the energy coursing over him. Muscles fill out and electricity crackles. He turns to GREEN LANTERN and levels the ring. HE fires it. We see Green Lantern concentrate and the blow is deflected.
James
What?
GREEN LANTERN
It won?t work for anyone but me. Mabey you can control a few basic functions, but you don?t have the will to conquer it!
James
We?ll see!
HE fires again and GREEN LANTERN directs it to his bonds, freeing him, and they grapple. This fight takes them into the air, and as they break away the ring is pulled by Green Lantern's will off James's finger. It hangs in the air between the tow of them as they each seek to master it. Finally it begins to flat to GREEN LANTERN, as James screams NO! James releases a bolt of energy seemingly from his fingers that lances out to the ring.
GREEN LANTERN
James! You can?t do that! The feedback?.!
Everything goes light green and white. When it is over Green Lantern stands alone and James is no more than a skeleton. Before he can leave, something catches his eye, it is a painting. One of him as Green Lantern. Not a bad one either. (This is meant to show the audience that the man had talent) Walking out Batman?s words echo in his ears ?life isn?t that fair.? We fade into a car driving up a dark driveway. Julia is waiting. He gets out and walks to her, not even bothering to kill the headlamps. As he walks up it starts to rain.
Julia
I got your call. What prompted this?
GREEN LANTERN
I just needed to spend some time with someone I love. (He pauses looking out to the surf) Now that the world isn?t ending?
Pull back to watch the two of them silhouetted against the night sky. Cut to a shot of the ring on his dresser and then to GREEN LANTERN against a black backdrop (Head and shoulders as he turns to face the camera) then roll
END CREDITS