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STATIC SHOCK! : Rebirth of The Cool #4

April 29th, 2013 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

An excerpt from Dwayne’s script for Static Shock! #4 – Rebirth Of The Cool titled, “Places Left Unfinished At The Time Of Creation”.

This is from his First Draft, dated August 3, 2000. There are some unusual notes in this script – such as the “[ed." on page 11. It's not clear if these were notations that Dwayne made in this first draft to be changed later - or if perhaps the data file has gotten corrupted. Either way, the text is presented below unchanged from Dwayne's first draft document.

Page 1

SPLASH

Similar to last issue, page 22. In the CHAMBER OF HORRORS. STATIC is looking at HARDWARE’S corpse in shock. POWER JUNKIE stands over Hardware’s smoldering body. It’s cut in two.

LEGEND

(typeset)

"The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress." --Frederick Douglass

LOGO

MILESTONE COMICS PRESENTS

LOGO

STATIC SHOCK!

TITLE

"Places Left Unfinished At The Time Of Creation"

CREDITS

Dwayne McDuffie - Writer and Editor

John Paul Leon - Artist

Melissa Edwards - Colorist and Separator

John Workman - Letterer

POWER JUNKIE

So much for the Calvary.

STATIC

You killed Hardware.

POWER JUNKIE

Yes, Static. I did.

CREDITS

STATIC created by McDuffie, Dingle, Cowan and Davis

INDICIA

[LEAVE SPACE]

Page 2

Panel 1

Angry Static fires a huge, two handed electrical bolt.

STATIC

(burst)

Nooooo!

SFX

ZZZRRRRAK

Panel 2

Power Junkie casually blocks the bolt with a FORCE FIELD.

POWER JUNKIE

That would have hurt.

POWER JUNKIE

No need for the disguise any longer, I suppose.

Panel 3

Power Junkie bursts out of his clothes, transformed into his NEW COSTUME and appearance.

SFX

(clothes bursting)

rRRRIPPPPP

POWER JUNKIE

The blood of your fellow bang babies did more than just heal me, it changed me--

Panel 4

Closer on Power Junkie, his eyes are glowing, crackling with power.

POWER JUNKIE

You have no idea how much power --how many powers I now posses.

Panel 5

Static, flying on his disk, dodges the deadly EYE BEAMS from Power Junkie. Power Junkie is fading out in his TELEPORTATION EFFECT.

POWER JUNKIE

Energy Projection.

SFX

ZZZZZOKKKK

Page 3

Panel 1

Power Junkie is teleporting in right behind Static, he’s grabbed him from behind, by the collar. Static’s forward motion is stopped, his disk is still going.

POWER JUNKIE

Teleportation.

STATIC

(burst)

Wha!?!

Panel 2

Power Junkie flings Static through the air and across the room.

POWER JUNKIE

Super strength.

STATIC

Ahhhhh!

Panel 3

Entire second tier. Power Junkie’s speed lines zip from where he was just standing, right past Static (still flying through the air), and coming to a stop right where Static is headed.

POWER JUNKIE

Super speed.

Panel 4

Power Junkie is holding up one hand, projecting an energy field that wraps around Static and suspends him helplessly in mid-air. Static is in pain, as if being crushed.

POWER JUNKIE

Telekinesis.

STATIC

Nnnnnnn...

Panel 5

On Static, struggling in vain against the energy bands.

POWER JUNKIE

Pyrokinesis. Flight. Agility. Weather Control, Shapeshifting. Time Travel. Enhanced Healing. Invisibility. Energy and Matter manipulation.

Page 4

Panel 1

Favoring Power Junkie, gesturing with his energy projecting hand.

POWER JUNKIE

All the powers of any bang baby whose blood I’ve tasted is at my command. I’ve barely scratched the surface of my abilities.

Panel 2

On Static, sweating, looking very bad.

POWER JUNKIE

But we appear to have reached the limits of yours.

Panel 3

On both. Static’s hands begin to crackle with power.

POWER JUNKIE

Still, your electrical talents will make an interesting addition to my collection.

STATIC

You want a taste of m-my powers?

Panel 4

Static fires a huge lightning bolt.

STATIC

(burst)

You got it!

SFX

ZZZRAK

Panel 5

Static’s electrical bolt passes harmlessly through Power Junkie’s semi-transparent body.

POWER JUNKIE

Intangibility.

Panel 6

Static’s lightning bolt strikes the wall where WISE SON is pinned, shattering his bonds. Power Junkie is partially turned to see what happened.

STATIC

Overconfidence.

SFX

SHRRAAKK

POWER JUNKIE

Eh? Wise Son?

Page 5

Panel 1

Wise Son strains against his bonds, his muscles swelling.

WISE SON

You son of a bitch! Sucking us dry. Holding us against our will. It ain’t right!

Panel 2

Wise Son tears free of his bonds and is leaping down, his blood tubes trailing from his body.

WISE SON

What are you thinking? Some of the guys in here ain’t even Bang Babies! You don’t even need them!

Panel 3

Power Junkie catches Wise by the throat in mid-leap.

WISE SON

>Gack<

POWER JUNKIE

True. But I may find a use for them later. Waste not, want not.

Panel 4

Power Junkie has opened his hand and is telekinetically levitating a struggling Wise Son back up to the wall.

POWER JUNKIE

You belong to me. All of you do. Not because it’s right. But because I can.

WISE SON

Arrrrgh!

Panel 5

Wise Son struggles against the wall. Power Junkie lifts one of Wise’s thick blood tubes in his fist.

POWER JUNKIE

My continued existence depends on you --and many more like you.

Panel 6

Power Junkie is pouring Wise son’s blood into his open mouth. The blood overflows and pours down his chin and onto his chest.

POWER JUNKIE

I’ll never let you go.

Page 6

Panel 1

On Static, watching the off-panel action in horror.

STATIC

Oh, no!

Panel 2

Wider, Static bursts free of Power Junkie’s energy with a SURGE OF ELECTRICITY.

STATIC

(burst)

Nooooo!

SFZ

SHZZZZRAK

Panel 3

Static has dropped to the floor. On hands and knees, he reaches out with one hand. His flying disk is heading towards him.

STATIC

(thought)

Gotta get out of here...

Panel 4

Background Static flies out of the room, foreground Power Junkie is still drinking blood, oblivious.

STATIC

(thought)

Maybe I can find Xombi, or get Icon to come back and help.

Panel 5

Static flies towards the camera, he’s just entered a cavernous chamber.

STATIC

(thought)

Maybe...

STATIC

Geez...

Page 7

Panel 1

Big panel, establishing TOWER’S TROPHY ROOM. It should evoke the Batcave and Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. The room is filled with Display Cases and trophies from John Tower’s career. Like the Batcave’s Dinosaur, the room is dominated by a GIANT RAT. Instead of the giant coin, there is an equally large DAKOTA SUBWAY TOKEN (the token reads, “Dakota Token” and “Good for one” although we can’t yet read all of this). By no means do you have to work all of this stuff into this panel, but I’d like to see it all in the sequence that begins on page 13. I’ll make suggestions as to where you can place items. Ignore me if you have a better idea.

Other items around the room include; a black LAWN JOCKEY, carrying what looks suspiciously like Green Lantern’s Power Battery; A STATUE of two planets crashing into each other, as in the Worlds Collide ads (they are the DC bullet and the Milestone “M”, rendered as planets, but we can never quite make that out); Tower Girl and Kid Tower’s costumes hanging empty in GLASS CASES, ala Batman; a brass URN, inscribed “Fair Play”; a glass case with a girl pirate in it labeled “ADVENTURE OF PIRATE JUDY.”

STATIC

...Some people never throw anything away...

Panel 2

Static flies out of the chamber.

STATIC

(thought)

I think this is the way out.

Panel 3

Angle on TRAFFIC MAN #2 from issue # 3 is prominent standing at the front of a dozen or so more TRAFFIC MEN.

TRAFFIC MAN #2

Hello, Static. Remember me?

Panel 4

New Angle, Static facing off with Traffic Man #2. Other Traffic Men stand at the ready.

STATIC

[.

TRAFFIC MAN #2

Yep. And guess who just stepped in it.

Panel 5

Flying Static dodges blasts from the staves of several Traffic Men while firing a bolt back at them.

TRAFFIC MAN #2

This time you can forget about electrocuting us with our staffs. These are insulated.

Page 8

Panel 1

Wide. Virgil is surrounded on all sides and from above and below.

TRAFFIC MAN #2

Thanks to you, I haven’t had a hit in over a day.

STATIC

C’mon up here, I’ll hit you right now.

Panel 2

Favoring Traffic Man #2.

TRAFFIC MAN #2

Brave talk. You’re outnumbered and surrounded. If you got another card up your sleeve, it better be an ace.

Panel 3

Big Panel. New angle, HARDWARE bursts into the room through the ceiling. He’s firing away from both fists.

SFX

CHOOM

TRAFFIC MAN

(burst)

Hardware!!

HARDWARE

(signature balloons)

Sorry I’m late, I was waiting for a good entrance line.

Panel 4

Static blasts a Traffic Man. Hardware fires a bolo shell that wraps up two others.

STATIC

But I saw you get killed!

SFX

(Static’s blast)

zZZRRAAK

SFX

(bolo)

whupwhupwhup

HARDWARE

Oh, please. That was a robot.

Panel 5

Interior HARDWARE’S LAB. Curtis Metcalf, legs still broken, is sitting in a high-tech Virtual Reality rig, his arms in the same pose as Hardware’s in the previous panel. On a SCREEN in front of him is Hardware’s point of view.

CURTIS

So is this one. I’m using a telepresence rig. My legs are broken, remember?

Page 9

Panel 1

Back at the fight. Hardware wrestles with two Traffic Men, he’s facing panel left. Panel right, IOTA is holding a BOWLING BALL is GROWING in multiple images, from a spec on the floor. She’s up to about half-size, and grinning.

HARDWARE

Unfortunately, I’m down to my last working model. So I’m going to need a little help, here.

IOTA

You called, sweetie?

Panel 2

Full-size Iota uses her bowling ball to clock one of the TRAFFIC MEN Hardware was struggling with.

SFX

THOK

HARDWARE

Good to see you, Iota. But you left the spare.

Panel 3

Static zooms in and blasts the last man.

STATIC

Got’ems.

SFX

ZZZRAKK

Panel 4

Hardware, Static and Iota stand talking to each other. Unconscious Traffic Men are all over the room.

IOTA

The rest of our people will be along presently. They’re following my beacon to this position.

STATIC

Well, Tower’s probably on his way too. We better jet.

Panel 5

Favoring Static. Iota is skeptical.

IOTA

John Tower?

STATIC

Yep, still alive. He’s the one behind all of this.

Page 10

Panel 1

Similar to previous.

IOTA

That simply cannot be true. John Tower has been a hero for generations. He’s the greatest of us all.

STATIC

Was. Now he ain’t nothing but a power junkie.

Panel 2

Favoring Hardware.

HARDWARE

Yep. And junkies steal. In this case, lives.

Panel 3

PANEL. Wide as all react to the HEROES arriving: IRON BUTTERFLY, GLORIA MUNDI and PAYBACK. Captions label the new guys.

CAPTION

Iron Butterfly.

CAPTION

Gloria Mundi.

CAPTION

Payback.

PAYBACK

You guys have been busy.

Panel 4

Favoring Iota.

IOTA

You didn’t do so badly yourselves, dears.

IRON BUTTERFLY

What is our battle plan?

Panel 5

Favoring Hardware. Payback frowns.

HARDWARE

We retreat. Their top man is way out of our weight class. We don’t have enough power to fight him.

PAYBACK

Where’s Blizten?

Page 11

Panel 1

Hardware explains to Payback.

HARDWARE

She was captured. We’ll come back for her, later. Right now we have to regroup, find more help.

Panel 2

FLASHBACK PANEL. Reminiscent of panel 3 page 18, Issue #1 Static’s’s big, panel left face dissolves into an image of DUSK bounding towards a burning building. Let’s go in closer on Dusk, this time and see her face.

OFF PANEL STATIC

Dusk, please! Don’t go back in! We got everybody, there’s no time!!

Panel 3

Similar to previous. Static is speaking now.

STATIC

No.

Panel 4

Wide on the group. Static on one side of the panel, everyone else on the other.

GLORIA

(ornate balloon and script)

I’m sorry. Did you say, “No”?

IRON BUTTERFLY

I understand your loyalty to our comrade. But in order to win the war, we must survive the battle.

Panel 5

Favoring Static, stubborn.

STATIC

Do what you want. I can’t leave Blitzen behind. The last time I didn’t go back for somebody, she died.

Panel 6

Wider. Iron Butterfly is irritated. Hardware.

IRON BUTTERFLY

That is irrational and futile. If we are ever to prevail, we will require your power.

HARDWARE

She’s right, kid. You stay here and fight, we’re pretty much [ed.

Page 12

Panel 1

Iron Butterfly looks at Hardware with irritation.

HARDWARE

So I guess what I’m saying is, I’ll stay too.

IRON BUTTERFLY

Hardly a sacrifice, as I sense your real body doesn’t reside within this shell.

HARDWARE

Never claimed to be noble.

Panel 2

Iron Butterfly has turned back towards Static. Payback is visible.

IRON BUTTERFLY

Nevertheless, I will also remain here and fight.

PAYBACK

Stop showboating, Kahina. We’re all staying.

Panel 3

Favoring Iota. Static explains.

IOTA

One assumes you have some sort of plan?

STATIC

Kinda. You guys mop up the rest of the Traffic Men. Keep them away from the torture chamber. I need maybe half an hour.

Panel 4

Gloria is curious. So is Payback. Static is still filled with resolve.

GLORIA

(ornate balloon and script)

And what will you do?

STATIC

I’ll take care of the Power Junkie.

PAYBACK

How?

Panel 5

Hardware has a hand on Static’s shoulder.

STATIC

I dunno. Reason with him?

HARDWARE

You got a lot of guts, kid.

STATIC

Yep, I don’t even know the meaning of the word “fear.”

Panel 6

Static flies away from the group.

STATIC

Which does not bode well for those fast-approaching SAT’s.

TV Script – Ben 10 Ultimate Alien – “Fame”

February 25th, 2013 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

Random script of Dwayne McDuffie’s that I found. This is an early draft of what was then titled, “Ben 10: Ultimatrix” – that was later renamed to “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien.” This is script #1 – titled “Fame” – and was dated June 20, 2009.

TEASER

A SERIES OF ANGLES

Beginning with a stock Photo of EARTH FROM SPACE.

JIMMY (V.O.)

The aliens are already among us...

They’re all REUSE, perhaps doctored to look less slick. Try to make them all single angle.

GOOP deforms himself.

HUMONGOUSAUR smashes something.

A blurry, still photo of WILDMUTT (REUSE from original series). Ken Burns across it, like a doccumentary filmaker pretending there’s some action.

A short clip of SWAMPFIRE, making giant vines do his bidding.

A still of BRAINSTORM.

ECHO ECHO multiplies.

JIMMY (V.O.)

Strange creatures, with unbelievable powers...

JETRAY flies above, the camera struggles to find focus and keep him in view.

KEVIN, in Alien Force season 3 Monster Form, uses a hammer hand to smash something.

CANNONBOLT rolls up and rolls off.

JIMMY

Aliens are real. But that isn’t the amazing part, this is:

A rapid series of stills, ALL of Ben’s transformtions (except for Alien X), plus Kevin’s monster form, and a couple of randomly-distributed red herrings (The Dragon, Argit and Heatblast II) dissolve from one to the next.

JIMMY

All of the creatures you’ve just seen are actually alter-egos of one man...

The final image is a still of BEN TENNYSON, looking up at a camera, surprised and a bit goofy.

JIMMY (V.O.)

...His name is Ben Tennyson.

The image of Ben holds as we...

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. BEN’S ROOM – DAY

ON THE TV MONITOR. A freeze-frame of the last image of the teaser: Ben Tennyson looking up at a camera, surprised and a bit goofy.

WIDE

Kevin, Ben, and GWEN have Been watching TV.

KEVIN

You are so busted.

BEN

Yeah...

Back on the TV.

KEVIN

And goofy-lookin’.

Ben frowns at the TV.

BEN

That’s not my best angle.

Gwen changes the channel several times with the REMOTE. We see:

HUMONGOUSAUR with his foot stuck in a car he stepped on, he’s hopping around trying to shake the car off like a kid trying to remove a rubber bootie.

Gwen frowns, pursing her lips, and changes the channel again. We see:

RATH falling out of the air from high above, it’s like the Hulk coming in for a landing on a long leap. He lands on a FREEWAY OVERPASS. And plows right THROUGH it, demolishing it into a pile of rubble as he lands on the road below.

GWEN

Every channel, Ben. All weekend. Nothing but you wrecking things. And they know who you are!

BEN

Nobody cares if I’m a super hero.

KEVIN

(helpfully)

Super menace.

Ben opens the door. There’s a dozen PAPARAZZI right there, all reacting by pointing cameras and microphones at him. He’s blinded by the camera FLASHES.

PAPARAZZI

[WALLA: “Ben Tennyson!”/”Ben 10!”/I”s it true?”/”Are you an alien monster?”/”Do you want to take over the Earth?”/et cetera]

Ben shuts the door in their faces, shutting out the noise

BEN

Okay, maybe a few people care.

KEVIN

You should lie low for a while. Maybe go to Julie’s.

Gwen peeks out the curtains and frowns as she looks out the window at the Paparrazzi.

GWEN

Good idea, but how do you get past them?

Ben grins, disconcertingly.

EXT. BEN’S HOUSE – DAY

The front door OPENS, and Ben comes outside. The paparazzi leap into action, crowding Ben, taking pictures and pushing camera’s and microphones into his face.

PAPARAZZI

[excited WALLA: “There he is!”/ “Ben Tennyson!”/ “Mr. Tennyson, do you have a statement?”]

Ben reaches over and takes one of the Microphones.

BEN

Yeah: It’s hero time!

Ben ACTIVATES his Ultimatrix, TRANSFORMS into HUMONGOUSAUR and ROARS. We should try to get the transforming Ben/Humongousaur and the stunned Paparazi into a single shot at least once for Promo.

HUMONGOUSAUR

Humongousaur!

The Paparazzi panic and FLEE for their lives.

PAPARAZZI

[SCREAMS and WALLA: “Run!”/ “He’s a Monster!”]

As the last of the Paparazzi disperse, Gwen and Kevin walk out the front door.

HUMONGOUSAUR

[ROARS, then COUGHS]

Humongousaur REVERTS to Ben, still coughing.

BEN

[Coughs]

Still looking at the fleeing press corps, Ben puts out a hand.

BEN

Hey, Gwen? You got a cough drop? Growling’s rough on my throat.

Gwen hands him one, he takes it without looking.

KEVIN

You should have used one of your new Ultimate transformations.

Ben frowns.

BEN

I wanted to scare them, not me.

INT. JULIE’S LIVINGROOM – DAY

Ben and Julie are in the living room. They are eating fresh Popcorn from a big bowl.

BEN

Thanks for letting me hang out, Julie.

JULIE

I have to go to tennis practice in an hour, but you can stay here until I get back.

They both hop on the couch. Julie turns on the TV.

BEN

Cable news?

JULIE

Extra credit for AP Current Events.

She looks at the screen and pouts.

JULIE

Ooh! This guy hates you.

THE WILL HARANGUE NATION

It’s a cable news editorial show, a middle-aged white guy in a suit, at a desk. He’s generally pretty upset. His video backdrop changes from his show logo to the picture of Ben looking stupid.

HARANGUE

...welcome back to the Will Harangue Nation. Our top story? It’s gotta be Ben Tennyson, a 16 year-old high school student who has been outed as a one-man -or should I say boy?- alien invasion.

BEN

Why does everybody use that picture?

JULIE

You look cute in that one.

BEN

(relaxing)

Really?

JULIE

Yes! Sweet and goofy.

BEN

[low growl]

Fantastic Four #547: “Never Ask Her If She’s Wearing Colored Contact Lenses”

January 14th, 2013 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

Fantastic Four #547

An excerpt from Dwayne’s script for Fantastic Four #547 titled, “Never Ask Her If She’s Wearing Colored Contact Lenses”.

I love this script because it just shows how well Dwayne could write characters. Even super-heroes have downtime, and the conversations and relationships here are so real and so hysterical.

I told Dwayne how much I loved pages 6 and 7 with the Thing and Storm. He laughed because someone online had complained about the scene – arguing that a woman would never be bothered by people talking about her looks behind her back. Dwayne’s incredulous reaction was, “You don’t know very many women, do you?”

This is from his First Draft, dated 4/18/07. The document header has an earlier version of the title, “And You’re Sure You Don’t Wear Colored Contacts?”

Page 1

PANEL 1

Johnny leans against the wall, he’s flirting with two Dora Milaje, who are deadpan as they guard a closed door.

CAPTION

New York City, The Baxter Building......

JOHNNY

...So, we’re in this other dimension right? It’s like a parallel Earth.

PANEL 2

Favoring Johnny, closer as he continues his story. He’s smiling, the Dora Milaje closest to him maintains her deadpan.

JOHNNY

But everybody’s been turned into zombies. It’s like Shaun of the Dead.

PANEL 3

Johnny is suddenly serious.

JOHNNY

Except it wasn’t funny at all.

PANEL 4

Wider. Johnny is thoughtful.

JOHNNY

Everywhere you looked, twisted versions of people you thought you knew, acting in ways you never thought they would.

PANEL 5

New angle, the door is open and the Dora Milaje have stepped aside for the Black Panther, in full ceremonial dress, but his mask is off.

PANTHER

Ease your mind, Johnny. I learned a great deal on our extradimensional trip.

Page 2

PANEL 1

Medium. Favoring Panther, resting his palm supportively on Johnny’s shoulder.

PANTHER

I’m in the process of putting together a contingency plan to make sure that it never happens here.

JOHNNY

Thanks, T’Challa. Could I ask you something else?

PANEL 2

Wide, favoring Johnny, he’s kidding around again.

JOHNNY

Do you really need two bodyguards just to go to the bathroom?

PANEL 3

Closer, Panther is almost smiling. Johnny is laughing

PANTHER

It is important that I not be disturbed as I attend to my kingly duties.

JOHNNY

Ha! You said “doodies.”

PANEL 4

Panther is walking away, the Dora Milaje block Johnny’s path.

PANTHER

I’m going to the UN for a few hours. I assume you’ll use the time to construct another of your sophisticated comedy gems.

JOHNNY

Like always.

PANEL 5

Panther is gone. Johnny has turned his attention to one of the Dora Milaje. He is leaning towards her, touching her upper arm.

JOHNNY

Where were we? Oh, yeah.

JOHNNY

What would you say to a night on the town with the hottest super hero in North America?

PANEL 6

The Dora Milaje is twisting Johnny’s arm behind his back. It’s hurting him.

JOHNNY

Owww! I appreciate the enthusiasm but I’m not really into the rough stuff...

JOHNNY

(small lettering)

C’mon, let go! I think you’re dislocating my shoulder...

Page 3

SPLASH

Deep Space. The Solar Sail Ship is in the background. Reed Richards is stretching out of it into the foreground, where he is grabbing the ARTIFACT from page 11, panel 3 last issue. Reed’s still in his beach clothes, but it also still wearing his life-support bracelet.

CAPTION

The Solar System, somewhere between Saturn and Earth...

REED

Got it!

TALKING SHIP

Can I help?

REED

Just hold my feet, Sue. I’m bringing it in.

TITLE

RECONSTRUCTION, Chapter Four

TITLE

“Never Ask Her If She’s Wearing Colored Contact Lenses”

CREDITS

Dwayne McDuffie Writer

Paul Pelletier Penciller

Inker

Letterer

Colorist

Molly Lazer Assistant Editor

Tom Brevoort Editor

Joe Quesada Editor In Chief

and Dan Buckley Publisher

Page 4

PANEL 1

Reed is entering the ship, bearing the Artifact. It’s a little larger than a Trash Can. Sue is watching from behind a glass shield.

SUE

So, what is it?

REED

I don’t know. External scans indicate it’s a complex biochemical artifact.

PANEL 2

Reed is examining the Artifact with Kirbytech probes, lost in thought. Sue smiles maternally behind him.

REED

It’s constructed, not a life form but this is the most fascinating technology I’ve ever seen.

REED

It will require a great deal of study to--

PANEL 3

Reed twists his head back impossibly to look at Sue.

SUE

Two days.

REED

Pardon?

PANEL 4

Favoring Sue. She’s smiling, but she’s not kidding.

SUE

You’re the smartest man in the world. Two days is plenty of time for you to figure out what that thing is, determine if it’s a threat, neutralize it and--

PANEL 5

Both are smiling now.

REED

--get back to my wife on our second honeymoon.

SUE

I said you were smart.

Page 5

PANEL 1

Sue is in a space pod. Reed is just outside.

CAPTION

Shortly...

REED

You’re sure you don’t want to come along?

SUE

Positive. I’m going back to Titan to enjoy the view. Maybe I’ll finish reading “Against The Day”...

PANEL 2

Favoring Reed.

REED

The lifepod is set on autopilot. It’s pre-programmed to take you back to Mentor’s house. If there’s any problem--

SUE

If there’s any problem, I’m the Invisible Woman.

REED

Point taken.

PANEL 3

Closer on Sue.

SUE

I’ll see you Thursday. Don’t make me come looking for you.

REED

I’ll be there. I’ll bring flowers...

PANEL 4

Exterior the Solar Sail Ship as Sue’s Pod flies out and away from it.

TALKING LIFEPOD

Flowers are better when they’re a surprise.

TALKING SOLAR SAIL

Oh. Right. I’ll think of something else, then. I love you, Sue.

PANEL 5

Close on a silhouette of THE WIZARD, touching his fingertips as an evil smile lights his face. He’s in an unidentified high-tech lab.

TAILLESS RADIO BALLOON

I love you too, Reed.

WIZARD

I’ve got you now, Richards.

PANEL 6

Similar to previous.

WIZARD

We are underway. Proceed to Target 2. Coordinates follow.

Page 6

PANEL 1

Exterior of the Baxter Building.

TALKING BUILDING

(“Frosty” balloon shape)

I can’t believe you said that.

PANEL 2

Inside, Ben is taken aback by a regal and angry Ororo.

THING

I didn’t say it, I’m just telling you what Michael said.

ORORO

You can tell Michael Collins that my hair is completely natural.

PANEL 3

Favoring Ben, trying to back out of the hornet’s nest. Storm is holding up some of her hair, letting it fall through her fingers.

BEN

Okay, you know. Whatever. Sorry I brought it up.

ORORO

This is not a weave!

PANEL 4

Storm offers her hair to Ben.

ORORO

Go ahead.

BEN

Go ahead what?

PANEL 5

Favoring Storm.

ORORO

See for yourself. Pull my hair.

BEN

Are you nuts?

Page 7

PANEL 1

Wide as Storm puts her hair in a flabbergasted Ben’s hands.

ORORO

Hard as you want.

BEN

I don’t want!

ORORO

Do it.

PANEL 2

Ben is holding Storm up off the ground, dangling from one of his hands by her hair. Her arms are folded and she’s giving him the evil eye.

BEN

There. Happy now?

ORORO

I think I proved my point.

PANEL 3

The Panther has entered the shot. Ben, still holding her by her hair, is embarrassed.

BEN

T’Challa, I can explain...

PANTHER

Don’t bother. She’s very sensitive about her hair.

PANEL 4

Close on Panther.

PANTHER

Word of advice: As you value your life, never ask her if she’s wearing colored contact lenses.

OFF-PANEL ORORO

(burst)

I’m not!

PANEL 5

Panther has walked past Ben and Ororo. He is exiting the room without looking back.

PANTHER

I know, my love.

PANTHER

I’ll be back in time for a late supper. Have Omoro make reservations, he always knows the best places.

TV Script: Justice League “Brave and the Bold”

December 3rd, 2012 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

This is an excerpt from the first Justice League episode that Dwayne wrote, “The Brave and the Bold: Part One.”

There’s no cover page on this script, so I don’t know if this was an early draft or a final record draft. I’m guessing this was written in 2001, but it’s undated.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. DINER -- DAY

PUSH IN on a diner in Central City.

FLASH (VO)

So there I was... Cornered.

INT. A DINER – DAY

The FLASH is seated in a booth, near the front window. He’s shoveling unbelievable amounts of fast food into his face. Burger wrappers and milkshake cups litter the table. Flash is half-turned to face DEENA and DIANE, the two pretty girls he’s chatting up. The girls are seated at a table kitty-corner to his. They are completely unimpressed with him.

FLASH (CONT)

(mouth full)

Solomon Grundy thought he had the drop on me. But he didn’t. and do you know why?

The girls just exchange disgusted looks Flash loudly SLURPS on a straw.

FLASH

(loud SLURP!)

Because I’m the Flash --

FLASH/DEENA/DIANE

(in unison)

-- The fastest man alive!

DEENA

You told us.

FLASH

Did I?

He shrugs, and picks up another burger.

FLASH (CONT)

Anyway, so when Grundy tries to grab me, I...

All react to the sound of a CAR CRASH. Flash looks towards the big window.

REVERSE – FLASH’S P.O.V.

A speeding TRUCK (marked with Radioactive Materials symbols) plows into a small CAR, sending it spinning off the road and right towards the diner.

THE CAR crashes through the front window of the diner. It’s heading right for Flash and the girls.

FLASH

Look out!

In terror, DEENA covers her eyes with her hands.

DEENA

[frightened SCREAMS!]

The car’s skidding right at her, filling the frame.

Suddenly, a RED BLUR flashes through scene, and the girls are gone. The CAR smashes into the tables before coming to a stop.

Nearby, Flash stops on a dime and sets down the two girls who he has picked up, one under each arm.

FLASH

Would you excuse me?

Flash zips to the car and opens the car door. The DRIVER is safe, stopped by the car’s airbags.

FLASH (CONT)

Are you okay, man?

DRIVER

He’s a madman! Ran me right off the road. Someone’s gotta stop him!

FLASH

Right.

Flash pauses to pick an half-eaten burger off the hood of the car. Popping it his mouth, he turns and winks at the girls.

FLASH

(gulp!)

Later, ladies.

And Flash zooms out of the demolished storefront, leaving the girls staring off after him with looks of newly-kindled admiration on their faces. Diane shoots a look at Deena.

DIANE

And you didn’t want to give him our phone number.

CUT TO:

EXT. CENTRAL CITY – STREETS – DAY

Flash heads up the street, zigzagging through cars as he follows after the truck.

THE TRUCK swerves wildly as it speeds through traffic.

IN THE FRONT SEAT, an oddly-calm DRIVER (Dr. Chin, wearing a lab coat over his clothes) spots Flash in the rearview mirror. He nods to his equally emotionless PASSENGER who rides shotgun.

The Passenger is holding a high-tech ENERGY PISTOL. He leans out the window, turns and FIRES.

FLASH dodges the blast, which smashes into the ground, leaving a smoldering crater.

FLASH

Whoa!

The Passenger fires a VOLLEY of shots at Flash, continuing until the gun clicks twice. It’s empty. Flash dodges the barrage, only to find himself in the oncoming traffic lane. A speeding car is right there, even the Flash has no time to avoid it. The motorist leans on his horn.

FLASH

Oops! Sorry.

Flash runs right up the hood and down the back of the oncoming car, then swerves back into his lane.

Flash pours on the speed and rams into the side of the truck with his shoulder, just as it pulls onto a BRIDGE.

FLASH

Okay, pull over!

THE TRUCK swerves, shredding the guard rail in a shower of sparks.

The Driver turns the wheel back hard.

When he feels the truck beginning to push back, Flash releases it and slows down, allowing it to pull ahead again.

As he watches the truck spins wildly out of control and heads toward the guard rail.

FLASH

Uh-oh!

In a RED BLUR, Flash pulls both passengers free just as the truck CRASHES through the rail and tumbles off of the bridge towards the water far below.

FLASH

Gotcha!

Still holding the Driver and Passenger by their upper arms, Flash watches the truck fall.

An instant before it strikes the water, the TRUCK suddenly stops, suspended in mid-air in an EMERALD BEAM.

WIDE

To reveal GREEN LANTERN, hauling the truck back up, then depositing it on the side of the road with a beam from his power ring.

GREEN LANTERN

Lose something?

FLASH

I was handling it.

Green Lantern glances back at the swath of destruction Flash has left in his wake.

GREEN LANTERN

So I see.

FLASH

What are you doing here?

GREEN LANTERN

Responding to a police call. Someone hijacked a load of radioactive isotopes.

Green Lantern opens the rear doors of the Truck with his ring, revealing the missing ISOTOPES. Flash looks at the inside of the truck, then back at his two prisoners.

FLASH

No wonder these guys were in such a hurry.

The Passenger and Driver (Dr. Chin) both stare blankly at Green Lantern, blinking their eyes as if waking from sleep. They’re dazed and confused.

DR. CHIN

(waking GROAN)

Where am I?

FLASH

You hijacked a truck and drove it off a bridge. Any of this ringing a bell?

DR. CHIN

What?

GREEN LANTERN

Let’s see some ID.

Using his ring, Green Lantern takes Driver and Passenger’s wallets, then examines them.

GREEN LANTERN

Professor Arthur Chin and Doctor Mark Stevens. Both work at the River Bluffs Research Center where the isotopes were stolen from!

FLASH

And I feel guilty when I take paperclips from the Watchtower.

Green Lantern flashes him a sour look.

GREEN LANTERN

Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. RIVER BLUFFS RESEARCH CENTER – DAY

Establishing the scientific facility.

DR. CORWIN (O.S)

I’m sorry...

CUT TO:

INT. RIVER BLUFFS RESEARCH CENTER – DAY

Inside a spacious, high-tech laboratory, Green Lantern is talking to DR. SARA CORWIN (cool and intellectual, somewhat reminiscent of the tightly-bunned “Lilith Crane” from the old CHEERS series). Flash is wandering around the lab, gawking at some of the caged LAB ANIMALS.

DR. CORWIN (CONT’D)

I can’t explain their behavior. They’re both highly respected experts in their fields.

Green Lantern looks though a file folder, obviously the doctors’ records.

GREEN LANTERN

They certainly don’t fit the profile of armed robbers.

DR. CORWIN

To be fair, they’ve been under enormous pressure to finish their current project. It’s possible they simply snapped under the strain.

As Flash listens, he finds some bananas near the animal cages. Without thinking, he peels one and begins eating it.

GREEN LANTERN

What are they working on?

DR. CORWIN

That’s classified information.

Corwin snatches the folders out of his hands and walks away. As she stalks past Flash, he notices the Gorilla in the cage looking at him chewing on the banana. (NOTE: This is Grodd but the audience doesn’t know it yet). Flash offers a banana to the ape.

FLASH

Want one?

Corwin freezes in her tracks, wheels around and grabs the banana from Flash before the gorilla can take it.

FLASH

Hey!

Dr. Corwin points at a “DO NOT FEED THE LAB ANIMALS” sign.

DR. CORWIN

Out. Both of you. This interview is over.

They exchange looks and leave.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. A HOT DOG STAND NEAR THE PARK – DAY

Flash is loading up on snacks at a HOT DOG STAND, an impatient Green Lantern stands nearby.

GREEN LANTERN

Would you hurry up? We’re supposed to be conducting an investigation.

FLASH

Can I help it if I have a hyper-accelerated metabolism? Besides, it’s just a little snack.

Green Lantern looks askance at Flash’s enormous pile of Hot Dogs. Before he can retort, both react to three police cars screaming past with SIRENS wailing.

GREEN LANTERN

What now?

Then, they turn and see BYSTANDERS fleeing from the park.

BYSTANDERS

[terrified SCREAMS!]

BYSTANDER #1

There’s a gorilla on the loose!

FLASH

I’m on it!

Flash hands his precariously balanced mound of Hot Dogs to Green Lantern.

GREEN LANTERN

Wait, I’ll go --

Flash ZOOMS off. GL is talking to the empty air.

GREEN LANTERN

-- with you.

Green Lantern puts the hotdogs on the cart and is about to fly off when the HOT DOG VENDOR puts a hand on his forearm.

HOT DOG VENDOR

Not without paying for that.

GREEN LANTERN

But I have to...

The vendor frowns, and Green Lantern resignedly sighs.

GREEN LANTERN (CONT)

(SIGHS)

How much?

CUT TO:

EXT. CENTRAL CITY PARK – DAY

It’s pandemonium. The police have the exit to the park sealed off A SWAT OFFICER points as SOLOVAR (a different gorilla from the one in the last scene) runs through the park.

SWAT OFFICER

There he goes!

The officers fire a net which Solovar dodges.

Solovar scampers through a CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND, using a chain link swing to propel him to 20 feet away, then gracefully and rapidly scampering up and over a set of hemispherical MONKEYBARS. A SMALL BOY who struggles to climb, watches Solovar pass him with genuine admiration.

SMALL BOY

Cool!

Solovar’s path is cut off by another group of policeman, closing in from the opposite direction.

POLICEMAN #1

We got him now!

He runs straight at them and at the last moment runs up nearby SLIDE. When he reaches the top, he LEAPS into the air, vaulting over the policemen’s heads and into a conveniently placed tree, abutting the park fence.

POLICEMEN

[startled CRY!]

EXT. STREET NEAR PARK

Leaping down from the tree to the other side of the Park Fence, Solovar looks back to see his pursuers trying to climb the fence after him.

Solovar races out to the street, where MID-LIFE CRISIS MAN (he’s balding, drinking designer coffee, wearing shades and expensive clothes that are too young for him) is starting up his little red convertible SPORTS CAR.

Solovar reaches into the car with his foot and picks Mid-life Crisis man up by the scruff of his neck.

MID-LIFE CRISIS MAN

Hey!

Solovar deposits Mid-life Crisis Man rump first on the sidewalk next to the car.

MID-LIFE CRISIS MAN

[impact grunt]

Solovar climbs into the tiny car, knees and elbows sticking out and DRIVES AWAY, just as some of the policemen arrive.

MID-LIFE CRISIS MAN

Stop him! My insurance doesn’t cover a second driver!

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – DAY

In the sports car, Solovar weaves down the street, ignoring the stunned reactions and HORN HONKS of passers-by. After Solavar drives through, Flash zips in and reacts to the unlikely sight.

FLASH

Now there’s something you don’t see everyday.

Grabbing a RAKE from a gardener’s barrel, Flash accelerates and runs right up beside the car. Solovar reacts.

SOLOVAR

[grunt of surprise]

FLASH

Having fun, Mojo?

Solovar stomps down on the accelerator and tries to pull away from Flash. But the Scarlet Speedster hurls the rake down in front of the car.

The tires hit the upturned tines, and the tire blows.

SCREECH! The car swerves out of control and smashes into a dumpster in a nearby alley. SMASH!

When Flash runs up to the wreck, Solovar is stunned.

SOLOVAR

[dazed GROAN.]

Flash puts out a hand to soothe the dazed animal.

FLASH

Easy boy, we’ll have you back behind monkey bars before you know it.

Recovering, Solovar slaps Flash’s hand away.

SOLOVAR

Get your stinking paws off of me, you filthy Human!

Flash is stunned.

FLASH

Say what?

NEW ANGLE – TELESCOPIC VIEWFINDER MATTE

Find focus as Flash is centered in CROSS HAIRS.

REVERSE – A ROOFTOP

Where DR. CORWIN is carefully sighting a strange ENERGY RIFLE. She FIRES.

BACK ON THE STREET

Flash is ZAPPED by the discharge from the energy rifle.

FLASH

[cry of pain]

CUT TO:

INT. FLASH’S MIND – CONTINUOUS

Flash falls through a black void. LIGHTNING BOLTS crackle, tearing off his uniform as he tumbles, WALLY WEST’S FACE is revealed to the camera, visible under his shredded mask.

FLASH

[falling cry]

DISSOLVE TO:

A LABORATORY – NIGHT

Wally, dressed in street clothes, is standing in front of a rack of chemicals. LIGHTNING STRIKES through the window and hits both Wally and the chemicals.

FLASH

[pained CRY!]

A LIGHTNING FLASH WIPE TO:

A BLACK VOID

CLOSE on lightning bolt logo on his chest, PULL BACK to reveal Wally is in his Flash costume. He pulls the cowl over his face and SPEEDS AWAY, leaving burning tread marks behind.

But as Flash runs, his body is SWELLING, getting fatter and fatter with every step. He’s slowing down, too heavy to run.

FLASH

[HUFFING & PUFFING!]

Fat Flash stops in front of a conveniently placed MIRROR.

FLASH

(filtered)

No!

Flash backs away from the mirror.

WIDER to reveal a series of three FUNHOUSE MIRRORS. Flash turns toward the second one.

FLASH’S P.O.V.

Looking in the mirror. Flash looks tall and thin.

Flash turns toward the THIRD MIRROR. His body looks normal but his HEAD IS GIGANTIC. He touches it. Wait a minute. It is big. Flash steps back from the mirror.

NEW ANGLE – WIDER

BIG-HEAD FLASH cradles his genuinely gigantic head. His head begins to swell ever larger, until it EXPLODES.

CUT TO:

BLACK VOID – CONTINUOUS

Flash is normal now and relieved. As he feels his head, his hands shift shape and GROW FUR. Flash’s costume rips as he TRANSFORMS into FLASH GORILLA.

FLASH GORILLA pounds his chest, throws back his head and ROARS in terror.

FLASH GORILLA

[roar]

Flash Gorilla can’t move his arms. Suddenly, he realizes that he’s no longer a gorilla, he’s a MANEQUIN, dancing on the ends of wires. He looks up into the sky to see the wires leading up to the puppet master, it’s a gigantic GORILLA GRODD FACE AND HANDS, looking down malevolently as he works Flash’s controls.

BUM (O.S.)

Hey! Wake up! --

MATCH CUT TO:

INT. JAIL CELL – DAY

A weathered old BUM is looking down at the camera.

FLASH (O.S.)

Huh?

WIDE – JAIL CELL – CONTINUOUS

Flash is sleeping, stretched across the bench in the holding cell. The BUM is shaking him awake.

BUM

C’mon, you’re in my spot!

Flash sits up, still dazed.

FLASH

Where am I?

TV Script: Teen Titans “Fear Itself”

October 22nd, 2012 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

This is a teaser from the Teen Titans episode, “Fear Itself.”

I picked this episode for a couple of reasons. For starters, Warner Animation is doing a new Teen Titans series. Also, this was Dwayne’s first time working for Glen Murakami – with whom he’d later team up with for Ben 10: Alien Force and Ben 10: Ultimate Alien. Lastly the script introduces Control Freak – who is just an awesome villain and makes me smile everytime I try to imagine what inspiration Dwayne must have drawn on when he wrote him.

This is from Dwayne’s draft, dated May 13, 2003-

INT. “BIG TICKET VIDEO” STORE – DUSK

<STING!> EXTREMELY CLOSE on a PRETTY TEENAGE GIRL (the RENTAL CLERK, though we can’t yet see her uniform), screaming in terror at the top of her lungs.

RENTAL CLERK

<HORROR MOVIE SCREAM>

Inside a LARGE VIDEO RENTAL STORE, the pretty clerk cowers in fear as a BIG TV-TURNED-MONSTER creeps toward her, cables flailing like tentacles as its screen splits horizontally into a gaping mouth of razor-toothed jaws. Behind the monster, a wild-eyed young man wearing a LONG BLACK CAPE and BATTLE ARMOR (CONTROL FREAK) commands the monster with a HIGH-TECH OVERSIZED REMOTE CONTROL.

CONTROL FREAK

Okay: either you admit that WarpTrek 5, which reunited the entire original cast of the classic TV series, deserved to be on your “favorite rentals” list or ...

Control Freak <CLICKS> his remote and the TV-Monster stomps one step closer, licking its fangs hungrily. The terrified clerk shakes her head in bewilderment.

TV-MONSTER (B-TRACK)

<SNARLS and SLURPS>

RENTAL CLERK

Please! I don’t even know what WarpTrack is!

Control Freak grins maliciously as he raises his remote.

CONTROL FREAK

And that, my pretty, is why you must be DESTROYED!

With a <CLICK> of the remote, the TV-Monster suddenly grabs the clerk with its cables. And just as the hideous creature is about to toss the screaming girl into its gaping mouth ...

TV-MONSTER / RENTAL CLERK

<ROAR> / <SCREAM>

ANIME BG – ... the TEEN TITANS come racing to the rescue.

ROBIN

Titans: GO!

Raven <CHARGES> her powers and ...

RAVEN

Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos!!

... <BLACK ENERGY> whips in to <KNOCK> the TV-Monster o.s. as Starfire <ZOOMS> in to catch the clerk.

TV-MONSTER

<snarl-- URK!>

THE TITANS fall into heroic formation as Control Freak turns to face them, grinning confidently.

CONTROL FREAK

Well well well, if it isn’t my old arch-nemeseses: the Teen Titans!

The Titans cock their eyebrows, clearly they don’t recognize him. Beast Boy tries to fake it -- and then whispers to Cyborg, who shrugs.

BEAST BOY

Um, yeah ...

(to Cyborg)

Who is this guy?

Control Freak stalks toward them, brandishing his remote.

CONTROL FREAK

I am the master of monsters! I am your darkest nightmares come to life! I AM CONTROL FREAK!!!

Unimpressed Raven frowns in deadpan sarcasm:

RAVEN

A couch-potato with a souped-up remote: I’m petrified.

Creepy Control Freak aims his remote and ...

CONTROL FREAK

You will be. You will be.

... <FIRES> a <BLAST OF DARK ENERGY> [NOTE: The energy from Control Freak's remote should be subtly suggestive of Raven's signature Black Energy effect.] The energy <ZAPS> the VIDEO DROP-BOX behind Raven -- turning it into a MASSIVE DROOLING DROP-BOX MONSTER.

RAVEN

<surprised GASP>

As the monster lunges to attack her with a <HIDEOUS INHUMAN SCREECH>, we ...

... CUT TO BLACK AND ROLL MAIN TITLE.

,

TV Script: Justice League Unlimited `Time Warped`

July 30th, 2012 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

This is a script snippet from the Justice League Unlimited episode, “The Once and Future Thing, Part Two: Time Warped.”

Dwayne was really proud of how well this scene turned out. In the first season of Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, actor Peter MacNicol was cast to play a recurring character. Dwayne was really excited to use him again, because MacNicol had done such a tremendous job playing Chronos on Justice League.

Dwayne wrote an amazing scene. This is from Dwayne’s draft, dated May 6, 2004.

EXT. TITANIC – NIGHT

It’s the Titanic, parked on the Neo Gotham streets. Nearby, also on the ground, is the tip of the ICEBERG that sank it.

INT. TITANIC SUITE – NIGHT

It’s the nicest stateroom on the ship. David Clinton, now “CHRONOS,” is sitting on the bed, his legs dangling. He kicks them as a little kid would. Seated next to him is ENID, dressed in formal, Elizabethan-era finery. She looks terrified. She’s trying to mollify him.

CHRONOS

Enid? I have to say that I’m vexed. Yes, “vexed” is precisely the word for it.

ENID

You shouldn’t let yourself get upset, David.

He reaches over to gently cup her cheek in his palm. She flinches but forces herself to let him. He hops off the bed to the floor.

CHRONOS

You’re right, dear. But here we are.

New angle reveals the JOKERZ (only two Didis), standing in a row before him. They’re very nervous.

CHRONOS (CONT’D)

Look at it from my point of view. I go to the trouble of taking over the whole city, so I have a nice place to keep my collection...

ENID

And it’s a beautiful collection, David.

CHUCKO

I was going to say the same thing, Boss. For instance, this is a really nice boat. Big!

CHRONOS

Don’t patronize me Chucko. And especially don’t interrupt me.

CHUCKO

Sorry.

CHRONOS

Sorry, what? Everybody?

JOKERZ

(like dutiful schoolchildren)

Sorry, Lord Chronos.

Chronos walks back and forth in front of them, like a drill Sargent inspecting his troops.

CHRONOS

It doesn’t seem right. I go to the future. I get the technology that gives you all your new superpowers. I let you run amok in my town in return for the occasional ... security job. And what do you do in return?

BOTH DIDIS

Ummm...

CHRONOS

Rhetorical. My point is, I give you an easy job: Take care of Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. It should have been ten minutes work.

BONK II

But the JLU showed up. They got in our way.

CHRONOS

Yes, they did. And the question arises, who told them where and when our targets would arrive? I mean, I told you and I only know because I’m the undisputed master of space and time.

CHUCKO

I’ll look into it boss. I’ll find out where the leak was.

CHRONOS

Don’t trouble yourself, Chucko. No. Don’t bother.

Chronos cups his hand over his mouth and leans into Chucko’s ear, as if to whisper a secret.

CHRONOS (CONT’D)

(Sotto Voce)

I already know.

Chronos pushes a button on his belt and a TIME VIEW OPENS. It’s a floating hole in space.

THE TIME VIEW

In a dark alley, somewhere in Neo Gotham. Batman Beyond is giving money to someone we can’t see.

CHRONOS (CONT’D)

Somebody’s getting a payoff. Yes, he is.

Now we can see who’s getting the cash, it’s Chucko.

CHUCKO

Sweating as he sees the evidence.

CHRONOS

Frowning as he closes the Time View.

CHRONOS (CONT’D)

[tsk, tsk] Chucko, Chucko, Chucko. You’ve been a very bad clown.

Chronos grabs Chucko’s sleeve and opens a TIME SLIDE. They both VANISH.

CUT TO:

EXT. CRETACEOUS/TERTIARY PLAIN – NIGHT

A prehistoric shoreline, heavy with vegetation. DINOSAURS graze peacefully and wade in the large body of water nearby. A TIME SLIDE OPENS depositing Chronos and Chucko.

CHRONOS (CONT’D)

Enjoy your stay.

Chronos VANISHES again in a time slide. Chucko looks around, frightened of a Dinosaur who seems to be taking a mild interest in him. Chucko FIRES UP his energy staff and blusters.

CHUCKO

You think I’m scared? I’ll be running this dump in a few yea--

Chucko reacts to the SHADOW passing over him. He looks up to see what’s blocking the sun, A GIGANTIC ASTEROID is heading right for the camera. Resigned, Chucko lets his energy staff fall from his limp hands. His shoulders sag as he realizes what’s about to happen.

CHUCKO (CONT’D)

Aw, Fooey.

EXT. EARTH – NIGHT

The Asteroid strikes the Earth like a gigantic hammer blow. There is a HUGE EXPLOSION.

CUT TO:

INT. TITANIC SUITE – NIGHT

Chronos TIMESLIDES back into the scene.

CHRONOS

Do you know what killed the Dinosaurs?

BONK II

N-no, sir.

CHRONOS

Well, Chucko does. And unless you want to find out first hand, you’ll go finish off the Justice League.

TV Script: Static Shock / They`re Playing My Song

May 28th, 2012 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (0 Comments)

This is a rare find – part of the script of Static Shock “They’re Playing My Song.” It was Dwayne’s first produced animated script. This draft was written in Microsoft Word and was dated October 12, 2000. Any typos were probably conversion errors made when I posted it here.

EXT. ABANDONED GAS STATION – NIGHT

RICHIE is practically towing a reluctant VIRGIL up the street.

VIRGIL

Where are we going, Richie?

RICHIE

Patience, Virgil. We’re almost there. It’ll be easier once we’re old enough to drive.

VIRGIL

Hey, I offered. We could’a got on my disk and flown.

RICHIE

No disrespect, Man. But I’ve seen you fall off that thing.

VIRGIL

(offended)

One time! And they were shooting at me!

RICHIE

Whatever. Anyway, we’re here.

RICHIE

indicates the dilapidated, darkened gas station behind him. Virgil looks askance at the place as Richie shoves the door open.

VIRGIL

We’re where?

RICHIE

Your secret headquarters. Every superhero has to have a secret headquarters.

Richie goes inside. Virgil follows.

CUT TO:

INT. ABANDONED GAS STATION OF SOLITUDE – NIGHT

It’s pitch black inside, until part of the room is suddenly ILLUMINATED by the ELECTRICAL ARC at the tip of Virgil’s finger. Virgil looks up at the fluorescent lights in the ceiling.

VIRGIL

Hope those bulbs are good...

THE ELECTRICAL ARC

leaps from Virgil’s finger to the bulbs, which light up.

THE INTERIOR

is now well-lit. The garage is revealed as a dump.

VIRGIL

You gotta be kidding me. You’d have to renovate before this place could qualify as a dump.

RICHIE

indicates the garage as he gives Virgil the hard-sell. Virgil looks around, unconvinced.

RICHIE

Use your imagination. You may see a broken-down, rat-infested-

VIRGIL

(disgusted)

“Rat-infested?”

RICHIE

(quickly)

We’ll get some traps. The point is, this place is going to be the nerve-center of our entire superhero operation.

VIRGIL

What are we going to call it, “the Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude”?

RICHIE

Look, it’s either this or my old treehouse. And I don’t think those branches’ll hold both of us anymore.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ABANDONED GAS STATION ROOF – NIGHT

Virgil is sitting on the edge of the SKYLIGHT, sulking. Richie opens the skylight.

RICHIE

(still selling)

The skylight’s pretty cool, you can fly in and out through here.

VIRGIL

If I had more cash, maybe I could rent a decent headquarters.

RICHIE

Yeah. This superhero gig hasn’t exactly turned out to be a profit center.

VIRGIL

You ain’t never lied. It’s costing me money. I keep tearing my costume, melting my shoes...

SFX OF SQUEALING TIRES from the street. Virgil and Richie react, looking down to see:

ICE PACK’S LIMO

racing up the street, still trying to outrun Rubberband Man.

BACK ON THE ROOF

Virgil quickly begins to change into his Static costume.

VIRGIL

You see that?!

RICHIE

(cagey)

Depends. What do you see?

ON THE STREET

Rubberband Man OVERTAKES the Limo. He secures himself to a lamppost and stretches himself across the road directly in front of the speeding Limo. He wraps his other end around a matching lamppost forming a barrier across the street

THE LIMO

plows right into Rubberband Man. His body GIVES with the impact, stretching for about twenty yards before SNAPPING back into shape, launching the Limo backwards INTO THE AIR in the opposite direction.

INSIDE THE CAR

Ice and his Hangers-On are terrified.

HANGERS-ON

[Cries of surprise and fear.]

BACK ON THE ROOF

STATIC, now in full costume, polarizes his flying disk into stiffness, leaps on it and SURFS through the air after the flying car.

CLOSING ON THE LIMO

Static throws a two-handed ELECTRICAL FIELD.

THE ELECTRICAL FIELD

trails from the Limo back to Static’s hands. He grasps the electricity with his fingers, as if pulling on reins.

WIDER ON STATIC

As he grits his teeth, slowing the car’s forward motion with a sudden YANK.

STATIC

[Grunt of effort.]

Pulling back on the “reins” and leaning backwards on his disk, Static strains mightily as the car slowly arcs to the ground, supported by his electromagnetic field. The car hits the ground with a solid THUMP. Static lands nearby, sweaty and exhausted.

RUBBERBAND MAN

BOUNCES over to the Limo like a ball, then UNFOLDS into human form in mid-bounce. He reaches for the door of the Limo but Static grabs his wrist.

STATIC

Slow your roll there, Super-Ball.

Rubberband Man’s wrist writhes like a snake. Startled, Static lets it go.

RUBBERBAND MAN

I got no beef with you...Static, right?

Static is standing between him and the car.

STATIC

That’s me. And you are?

RUBBERBAND MAN

About to kill the guy in this car.

STATIC

Good one. You realize if you try it I’ll have to thump you.

RUBBERBAND MAN

Really?

STATIC

Or we could go all radical, sit down and talk about it.

RUBBERBAND MAN

Nah. I don’t think so, Sparky.

RUBBERBAND MAN

stretches his arm to hit Static in the face with a fast jab.

STATIC

is surprised more than hurt. He clenches his fist, which crackles with electrical energy.

STATIC

Be that way.

Static steps up to Rubberband Man and clocks him in the chin with an energy-charged haymaker. Rubberband Man’s body doesn’t move but his head is knocked back a couple of yards before his elastic neck snaps back into place. He grabs his jaw with his hand as if to see if it’s still in one piece.

RUBBERBAND MAN

Nice shot.

RUBBERBAND MAN’S FOOT

unseen by Static, stretches around and behind Static. The foot forms itself into a low, knee-high bench.

BACK ON RUBBERBAND MAN

RUBBERBAND MAN

Rubber’s an insulator. Your electrical powers can’t hurt me, I’m grounded.

WIDER

Rubberband Man gives Static a two-handed push in the chest. Static trips backwards over the “bench”

RUBBERBAND MAN

And so are you, sucker!

STATIC

Falls flat on his butt, he’s mortified. This is humiliating.

STATIC

Aw, Man! I haven’t fallen for that one since... well, since last summer actually. But still...

ON THE LIMO

suddenly driving away from the scene, burning rubber.

RUBBERBAND MAN REACTS.

RUBBERBAND MAN

Oh, no you don’t!

He stretches his arm into a LASSO and ropes the hitch at the back of the speeding Limo.

STATIC

leaps to his feet and charges up, he’s glowing and sparking.

STATIC

A big enough charge can overload any insulator.

Static unleashes a HUGE blast of electricity at Rubberband Man.

RUBBERBAND MAN

(Impact grunt)

RUBBERBAND MAN

is thrown backwards, stunned by the jolt. His arm stretching off frame towards:

THE REAR OF THE LIMO

Rubberband Man’s lasso arm tears the hitch and rear bumper off the rear of the Limo, which recedes from the camera, speeding away and into a tunnel.

RUBBERBAND MAN

recovers quickly from the jolt, bouncing back to his feet. He approaches Static, who is obviously weakened from his effort.

STATIC

I so need a new plan...

Rubberband Man forms one arm into an enormous CROQUET MALLET and angrily smacks Static into a wall.

STATIC

[Grunt of pain.]

STATIC

slides off the wall and slumps to his knees, dazed and helpless. Rubberband Man stands above him, hand still in mallet form. He’s poised to deliver the finishing blow.

RUBBERBAND MAN

looks at his helpless opponent for a long moment, then changes his mallet back into a regular fist. He can’t do it.

RUBBERBAND MAN

(sighs)

You’re not the one I’m after.

Rubberband Man lowers his arm, unclenches his fist, rolls himself into a ball and bounces away.

STATIC

slumps face first to the ground, finally unconscious.

CUT TO:

EXT. HAWKINS’ RESIDENCE – DAY

Establishing Virgil’s house, the next morning.

VIRGIL (O.S.)

Oh, my head...

CUT TO:

INT. HAWKINS’ BATHROOM – THE SHOWER

Virgil leans with his palms on either side of the shower head, hanging his head under the hot spray of water.

VIRGIL

Note to self: Avoid playing catch with flying automobiles.

Virgil reacts to the sound of knocking on the bathroom door. He covers his ears and groans with pain.

SHARON (O.S.)

(shouting)

Little brother! You’re running late!--

CUT TO:

EXT. HAWKINS’ BATHROOM – HALLWAY

SHARON, Virgil’s big sister, is standing outside the door.

SHARON

--Breakfast is already on the table.

Sharon pounds on the door again.

SHARON

Virgil Ovid Hawkins, you get your ashy butt out here right this minute!

ON THE DOOR

It opens a crack. Deadly serious, Virgil peeks out around the door.

VIRGIL

Sharon, my middle name is never to be spoken aloud. You know that.

Virgil slams the door.

CUT TO:

Comic Script: Damage Control #1 (2007)

March 12th, 2012 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (Comments Off)

These are pages 1-6 from the first draft of Dwayne’s script for the Marvel comic book Damage Control #1 published in 2007. The script had to be converted to post online, so any typos are probably my fault.

DAMAGE CONTROL: AFTERSMASH #1
"Whatever Happened To All The Fun In The World?"
Dwayne McDuffie
Script for 5 Pages
First Draft, 08/27/07

Page 1

PANEL 1

Exterior SHIELD HELICARRIER, in flight.

                    TALKING HELICARRIER
          Nice place you have here--

PANEL 2

A HUGE, Hi-Tech SHIELD CONFERENCE ROOM. TONY STARK is 
greeting ANNE MARIE HOAG and ALBERT CLEARY, who are 
flanked by two very serious uniformed SHILD officers. 
Stark has taken Hoag's hand.

                    HOAG
          --how much did it cost, 
          Tony? 20 Billion 
          Dollars? More?

                    STARK
          That's classified, Anne.

PANEL 3

Favoring wryly smiling Hoag. Tony's smiling too, but 
tightly.

                    HOAG
          In any event, it cost 
          enough that I daresay
          budget isn't going to be 
          a problem.

                    STARK
          That's what we're here 
          to determine.

PANEL 4

Hoag indicates Albert, standing beside her.

                    HOAG
          Speaking of which, Have 
          you met my CFO?

PANEL 5

Charming Tony shakes hands with Albert, who is not a 
fan.

                    TONY
          Albert Cleary. We worked 
          together once, years 
          ago. 

                    HOAG
          Of course, on the LBO. 
          I'd forgotten.

                    ALBERT
          Mr. Stark. 

PANEL 6

All are seated at one end of the huge conference 
table. There is a bit of a spread. Coffee and fruit, 
Stark is helping himself, Hoag has a cup. Albert is 
opening his portfolio. 

                    HOAG
          So. Manhattan is in 
          crisis and you need 
          Damage Control.

                    STARK
          The first thing I need 
          is a number.

Page 2

PANEL 1

Favoring Hoag. Stark doesn't like what he's hearing.

                    HOAG
          164 Billion Dollars.

                    STARK
          That's ludicrous.

PANEL 2

Albert looks up from his papers.

                    ALBERT
          That's a bargain. It's 
          assuming only a three 
          percent margin of error. 
          Much too thin for my 
          tastes.

PANEL 3

On Stark, not liking it. Hoag is dismissive.

                    STARK
          I can't sell this. The 
          administration wants to 
          give this contract to 
          Halliburton.

                    HOAG
          My mistake. I thought 
          they wanted New York 
          City repaired.

PANEL 4

Favoring Albert, coolly explaining. Hoag is giving him
a warning look.

                    ALBERT
          This isn't Baghdad, Mr. 
          Stark, or even the Ninth 
          Ward. 

                    HOAG
          Albert.

                    ALBERT
          It's not enough to 
          shovel money to the 
          President's buddies, the 
          work has to get done. 

PANEL 5

Hoag has put her hand on Albert's wrist, a signal for 
him to calm down. She looks directly at Stark.

                    HOAG
          This isn't a negotiating 
          tactic, Tony. It's what 
          the job's going to cost. 

Page 3

PANEL 1

Tony is looking at Albert. 

                    TONY
          Okay. Break it down for 
          me. But spare me the 
          editorial, if you don't 
          mind?

PANEL 2

Favoring Albert

                    ALBERT
          Starting with the good 
          news; There's been so 
          much damage caused by 
          superhero battles over 
          the years, The City Of 
          New York was legally 
          declared a perpetual 
          disaster area.

                    TONY
          And that's the good 
          news?

PANEL 3

Tony listens as Albert explains.

                    ALBERT
          Yes. Because concurrent 
          with that declaration, 
          Congress created a 
          Federal Insurance Fund 
          to cover superhero 
          damage.

                    TONY
          The "Superfund."

PANEL 4

Albert is looking down at his papers again, reading 
from them.

                    ALBERT
          There's currently 128 
          billion dollars in that 
          pool. We'll need it all.

PANEL 5

Favoring Hoag.

                    TONY
          Can we pick up the rest 
          from private insurers?

                    HOAG
          They won't pay. They 
          consider The Hulk's 
          rampages "acts of god." 

Page 4

PANEL 1

Big panel. Tony is thoughtful, close on his face as 
he's remembering his battle with Hulk. The background 
is a shot of Hulk smashing into his heavy-duty Iron 
Man armor as seen in World War Hulk #1.

                    TONY
          He's vengeful, but he's 
          not God.

PANEL 2

Hoag touches Tony's shoulder to break his reverie.

                    HOAG
          We need another 36 
          billion in Federal 
          funds.

PANEL 3

Favoring smirking Albert. Hoag scowls at him.

                    ALBERT
          Less than the cost of 
          four months in Iraq. 
          What do you say?

                    HOAG
          Albert! 

                    ALBERT
          "The opinions expressed 
          in this conversation are 
          not necessarily those of 
          Damage Control, Inc."

PANEL 4

Favoring Tony. He's standing now, looking out of the 
BIG window and leaning on the "sill." Hoag is standing 
behind him.

                    TONY
          I'll have to take this 
          upstairs.

                    HOAG
          Oh, please. You already 
          ran these numbers. And 
          you wouldn't be here at 
          all if you didn't have 
          budget authority. 

PANEL 5

Favoring Hoag.

                    HOAG
          So what's the decision, 
          Tony? Do we fix your 
          city, or not? 

Page 5 & Page 6 

DOUBLE PAGE SPLASH

I'm assuming there's either a recap page on page one, 
or an ad page somewhere in the first 4 pages, to make 
the spread come out right. 

It's a disaster scene. Looking down on Lower 
Manhattan. The great orange scar through midtown is 
visible (see WWH #5 for reference), as is as much 
wreckage as you can draw. World War Hulk has pretty 
much trashed the city.

                    STARK CAPTION
          Get to work, Mrs. Hoag...

                    LOGO
          DAMAGE CONTROL: 
          AFTERSMASH 

                    TITLE
          "Whatever Happened To 
          All The Fun In The 
          World?"

                    CREDITS

Comic Script: JLA Wedding Special #1 (2007)

December 19th, 2011 | Posted by Eugene Son in Scripts - (2 Comments)

These are pages 1-10 from Dwayne’s script for the DC Comic book Justice League of America Wedding Special #1 – published in 2007. The script had to be converted to post online, so any typos are probably my fault.

I hope to post more of his scripts here in the future. If you have any requests, feel free to use the Contact form. No guarantee that we can find them or post them, but if there’s any scripts or scenes you’d like to see, let me know. Please don’t ask for complete scripts to be posted – that’s unlikely to happen.

               JLA WEDDING SPECIAL #1
               "Injustice League"
               Dwayne McDuffie

               Second Draft, 04/26/07

               Page 1

               PANEL 1

               THIS PAGE IS A PARODY OF PAGE ONE OF THE JLA RELAUNCH. IT
               SHOULD EVOKE THE ORIGINAL SEQUENCE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

               Copy page 1, panel 1 of JLA #1, the stairs are metal instead
               of stone. We're in a high-tech hideout, but we don't know
               that yet.

                                   BANNER CAPTION
                             (as in JLA #1)
                         An undisclosed location.

                                   BANNER CAPTION (CONT'D)
                         The Hall of Injustice.

                                   BANNER CAPTION (CONT'D)
                         Today.

                                   OFF-PANEL JOKER
                         You look good, Lexie.

                                   OFF-PANEL JOKER (CONT'D)
                         You too, sexy.

               PANEL 2

               We're looking at the JOKER'S chest, instead of Batman's.
               Joker is idly fingering his flower lapel.

                                   OFF-PANEL CHEETAH
                         I'm not to be trifled with, clown.

                                   JOKER
                         Lighten up, funbags. Everyone's to
                         be trifled with.

               PANEL 3

               Close on LUTHOR'S chest. He's wearing a green and purple
               battlesuit, recognizable as the classic version, but much
               cooler, because you redesigned it.

                                   LUTHOR
                         That's enough. We've come together
                         to accomplish something as a group.
                         Let's not fall victim to the cliché
                         of "the villains can't get along."

                                   OFF-PANEL CHEETAH
                         One more childish joke at my
                         expense and I'll slit his throat.

               PANEL 4

               On CHEETAH'S CHEST.

                                   OFF-PANEL JOKER
                         I don't think she's listening to
                         you, Lexie.

                                   CHEETAH
                         And quit staring, my eyes are up
                         here!

                                   OFF-PANEL JOKER
                         I know where your eyes are but I'm
                         obviously more interested in your--

                                   OFF-PANEL LUTHOR
                             (overlapping previous
                              balloon)
                         --Let's ...begin, shall we?...

               Page 2
               and Page 3

               DOUBLE PAGE SPLASH

               Evoking the across the fold 2/3 splash in issue #1, with  an
               amused and relaxed JOKER substituting for Batman, A
               battlesuited and put-upon LUTHOR substituting for Superman
               and a still very irritated CHEETAH substituting for Wonder
               Woman (she's holding a photo of DR. LIGHT). Note Luthor's
               gauntlets have multicolored pieces of kryptonite in the
               knuckles. They are at a table in "The Hall of Injustice"
               (this should be as close to the cartoon "Hall of Doom" as we
               can get without George Lucas suing us for stealing Darth
               Vader's head).

                                   LUTHOR
                         Dr. Light?

                                   CHEETAH
                         He's a rapist and a murderer.

                                   JOKER
                         I like him. He's sunny.

                                   LUTHOR
                         To be fair Cheetah, if we limit our
                         membership to men of good
                         character...

                                   CHEETAH
                         All right. Point conceded.

                                   TITLE
                         UNLIMITED, Chapter One

                                   TITLE
                             (Justice League Logo
                              font?)
                         "Injustice League"

                                   CREDITS
                         Dwayne McDuffie   Writer
                         Mike McKone   Penciller
                         Andy Lanning   Inker
                         Alex Sinclair   Letterer 
                         Rob Leigh   Colorist
                         Adam Schlagman   Assistant Editor
                         Eddie Berganza   Editor

               Page 4

               PANEL 1

               See GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY WEDDING SPECIAL this scene
               continues from story page 17, panel 2. Hal Jordan is sticking
               his head in the door, talking to an unhappy-looking group of
               strippers.

                                   BANNER CAPTION
                         Name of city TK.

                                   BANNER CAPTION
                         20 minutes before the bachelor party.

                                   HAL
                         Thanks ladies. We're all good. I'll
                         send you a check.

               PANEL 2

               One of the strippers (choose a prominent one from the Green
               Arrow Black Canary Special) is wagging her finger in a
               distressed Hal's face. Stripper #2 is holding out her palm. A
               check hangs limply from Hal's hand.

                                   STRIPPER
                         Check my ass. If you don't want us
                         to work your party, fine. But we
                         still get paid.

                                   STRIPPER #2
                         And this is a cash business.

               PANEL 3

               Hal is sheepish.

                                   HAL
                         I've only got about thirty bucks
                         on...

                                   HAL
                         >sigh<

                                   HAL
                         I'll be right back.

               PANEL 4

               We're in the Hall of Justice (are we calling it that?).
               Batman is on the phone, frowning.

                                   BATMAN
                         Why do you need Thirty six hundred
                         dollars?

                                   TALKING CONSOLE
                             (radio balloon)
                         Cash, Batman. I need it in cash.

               PANEL 5

               Back on Hal, he's outside the hotel now. He has his hand
               cupped over his JLA COMMUNICATOR, trying to keep anyone from
               hearing him.

                                   HAL
                         It's for Ollie's bachelor party.
                         Some of the entertainment--

                                   TALKING PHONE
                             (radio balloon)
                         The strippers.

               Page 5

               PANEL 1

               Closer on Hal.

                                   HAL
                         Okay, fine. The strippers need
                         their money. And I have to keep
                         Ollie from finding out about it
                         because--

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         He doesn't want strippers at his
                         party.

               PANEL 2

               On Batman, almost smiling.

                                   TALKING CONSOLE
                             (radio balloon)
                         Yes. How could you possibly know
                         that?

                                   BATMAN
                         I'm Batman.

               PANEL 3

               Wider on Batman, he's working on a computer console with.
               JOHN STEWART is supporting the huge console with a beam from
               his ring.

                                   BATMAN
                         I'll have the money messengered
                         over to you in fifteen minutes.

                                   TALKING CONSOLE
                             (radio balloon)
                         That's really nice of you Bruce,
                         especially considering you're not
                         even coming to the party.

               PANEL 4

               Hal looks puzzled.

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         No need. The odds are excellent
                         that the party's coming to me.

                                   HAL
                         Huh?

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         See you later.

                                   SFX
                         klik

               PANEL 5

               ROY HARPER is tapping Hal on the shoulder from behind. Hal is
               beginning to turn towards him.

                                   ROY
                         We've got a problem, Hal.

                                   HAL
                         Huh? No. Everything's fine, Roy.
                         Just keep Ollie out of the hotel
                         for another fifteen minutes or so...

               PANEL 6

               Roy is frowning.

                                   ROY
                         That's not the problem...

               Page 6

               PANEL 1

               Roy and Hal are on the roof of the hotel, looking down.

                                   HAL
                         There must be dozens of them.

                                   ROY
                         I count one hundred and six.

               PANEL 2

               Reverse angle. In front of the hotel there are dozens of
               PAPARAZZI staked out.

                                   OFF-PANEL HAL
                         Somebody must have tipped them off.

               PANEL 3

               Back on Hal and Roy, looking down at the crowd.

                                   HAL
                         We can't let them take pictures of
                         us going to Green Arrow's bachelor
                         party.

                                   ROY
                         Not unless everyone in the League
                         wants to kiss their secret ID's
                         goodbye.

               PANEL 4

               Hal and Roy have turned their heads to look at each other.

                                   ROY
                         Plan B?

                                   HAL
                         I'll start making the calls.

               PANEL 5

               Back in the Hall, Batman is still working.

                                   TALKING CONSOLE
                             (radio balloon)
                         Bruce? Hal again--

                                   BATMAN
                         You just figured out if you have
                         the party in a public place, you'll
                         endanger the guests' secret
                         identities--

               Page 7

               PANEL 1

               On Hal, on the Communicator.

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         --And you want to move the party to
                         the Hall.

                                   HAL
                         Kind of annoying, Bruce.

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         But accurate.

               PANEL 2

               Wider. Roy is grinning at Hal's discomfort.

                                   HAL
                         Okay, yeah. Can you put John on?

                                   TALKING COMMUNICATOR
                             (radio balloon)
                         No, he's out getting decorations
                         for your party.

                                   SFX
                         klik

               PANEL 3

               Hal is pocketing his Communicator.

                                   HAL
                         I hate when he does that.

                                   ROY
                         What, solves all of your problems
                         but is ever so slightly smug while
                         doing so?

               PANEL 4

               Favoring a smiling Hal.

                                   HAL
                         The older you get, the more you
                         remind me of Ollie.

                                   ROY
                         That's a compliment, right?

                                   HAL
                         Sure.

               PANEL 5

               Establishing the Hall of Justice.

                                   BANNER CAPTION
                         The Hall of Justice.

                                   TALKING BUILDING
                         Go ahead and say it, Bruce.

               Page 8

               PANEL 1

               BIG PANEL. The Hall is decorated for the Bachelor party. 
               Everyone is at the party, and in costume. Batman and
               Hal/Green Lantern are prominent. CONNOR HAWKE, RED ARROW, 
               NIGHTWING, SUPERMAN, ALAN SCOTT (what's his superhero 
               identity now, if he has one, he should be in costume), 
               PLASTIC MAN, GUY GARDNER, HAWKMAN, FLASH, JOHN STEWART, RED 
               TORNADO, BLACK LIGHTNING,  Ollie is in his civvies. Eddie, 
               Mike, feel free to add more characters to your taste. Many of 
               the heroes are drinking, eating, et cetera, throughout this 
               sequence.

                                   BATMAN
                         Go ahead and say what?

                                   HAL
                         "I told you so."

                                   BATMAN
                         I did, didn't I?

               PANEL 2

               Closer on GL and Batman. Batman has turned his back on Hal
               and is walking away, suppressing a tight smile. Ollie is
               clapping Hal on the back. John Stewart is drinking and
               passing by.

                                   OLLIE
                         Great job on the decorations, Hal.

                                   JOHN STEWART
                         You're welcome.

               PANEL 3

               Red Arrow is hugging a surprised Ollie.

                                   RED
                         I love you, old man!

                                   OLLIE
                         When did you start drinking, we
                         just got here?

               Page 9

               PANEL 1

               Red Arrow has Ollie by the shoulders, holding him at arms
               length, post-hug. Connor Hawke watches the scene, amused.

                                   RED ARROW
                         You know, for a touchy-feely,
                         granola-eating, Prius-driving child
                         of the sixties, you're awfully
                         uncomfortable with expressions of
                         real emotion.

                                   CONNOR
                         It's part of how he suppresses his
                         homosexual side.

               PANEL 2

               Connor and Red are talking. Panel right Ollie is speaking
               sharply.

                                   RED
                         Really? What's the other part?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sleeping with Black Canary.
                         Repeatedly.

                                   OLLIE
                         All right, that's practically your
                         mother you're talking about! Show
                         some respect.

               PANEL 3

               Smiling Ollie has one arm around Red Arrow's shoulders and
               the other arm around Connor's shoulders.

                                   OLLIE
                         And a bit of jealousy and awe,
                         while you're at it.

               PANEL 4

               Nearby, John is talking to Jay Garrick. Hal/GL is
               interrupting.

                                   HAL
                         John, you got a minute? I want to
                         talk about that thing...

                                   JOHN
                         Sure. Excuse me Jay.

               PANEL 5

               Hal and John are off in a corner.

                                   JOHN
                         Still thinking about taking some
                         time off from the League?

                                   HAL
                         Yeah. I don't have to tell you how
                         demanding this job can be.
                         I'd feel better giving my GL work
                         my full attention.

               Page 10

               PANEL 1

               Favoring John. Hal is uncomfortable.

                                   JOHN
                         Look, with both of us on Earth, I
                         think it makes good sense for us to
                         divide up the work.

                                   HAL
                         I appreciate it, John. I just don't
                         want you to get stuck...

                                   HAL
                         How do I say this?

               PANEL 2

               Favoring Hal.

                                   HAL
                         You always end up having to take a
                         lot of crap. My backup. The "Black
                         Lantern." All of that.

                                   JOHN
                         Other people's problem. Not mine.

               PANEL 3

               Wide on both men.

                                   HAL
                         I just don't want you carrying more
                         than your share of the weight.

                                   JOHN
                         It doesn't matter who's carrying
                         how much, just that somebody's got
                         it.

               PANEL 4

               Favoring Hal.

                                   HAL
                         On top of everything else, it's a
                         lot of baggage.

                                   JOHN
                         Says "the greatest Green Lantern of
                         them all."

                                   HAL
                         I'm not real comfortable with that,
                         you know.

               PANEL 5

               Favoring John, smiling.

                                   JOHN
                         I know.

                                   JOHN 
                         Don't make it a big deal. We'll
                         take turns with the League
                         membership for a while.

               PANEL 6

               John and Hal shake hands.

                                   HAL
                         Thanks, John. I actually need to
                         get going right now--

                                   JOHN
                         Go with my blessing. Give Shark Man
                         a good one for me.