Lanterns 1x2

1. What the fuck?

2. It's time to get up, Junior.

3. What did the Guardians say?

4. About what?

5. We got four dead aliens on a football field.

6. Another one just blew up half the sheriff's station.

7. Oh yeah, I'm not calling the Guardians.

8. Then what the fuck are you doing here, Hal?

9. I'm training you.

10. No, no, really. You just take your time.

11. What the fuck are we doing, Jordan?

12. What're you talking about? You've been busting my balls

13. for a month to learn how to fly.

14. - Today's the day you're gonna learn. - We got a case to work.

15. Jesus Christ Almighty.

16. Unclench.

17. You ready?

18. You fly.

19. Fly?

20. Fly.

21. That's it? Just... just fly?

22. Oh, no, no, no, no. I— I— I'm sorry.

23. - Fly, please. - Ah.

24. Look, it's supposed to be instinctual.

25. Just concentrate.

26. - Me, I'm a fighter pilot. - So I've heard.

27. When I think "fly," it's automatic.

28. See— Just concentrate.

29. - Think flight. - Mm-hmm.

30. Great. Thank you.

31. Back up a little bit.

32. What the fuck is that?

33. Uh, I think that's a bird, sir.

34. Uh...

35. Why don't you drop the "sir" bullshit.

36. - We both know you don't mean it. - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

37. Whatever you say.

38. Ring nearing depletion.

39. All right, new lesson. Gratis. Gimme the ring.

40. Come on.

41. Is there a problem?

42. No. No.

43. Ring gets low on charge, there's a...

44. one-time trick re-up.

45. You just gotta...

46. Just gotta hit it flush.

47. Ring charge, five percent.

48. All right.

49. New flight plan.

50. - I booked you a window. - I don't understand.

51. On an airplane.

52. There's seats near the windows, there's seats near the aisles,

53. and there's seats in the middle too.

54. Nobody wants those, uh—

55. Look, the point is I need the lantern to charge the ring.

56. I need you to go back to Coast City to my place and get it.

57. The, uh, address is on the back and the...

58. the key is out front under the rock.

59. But, Hal, this is already booked.

60. Wait, so what would you have done if I could fly?

61. Well, you didn't fly, did you? So, it doesn't really matter.

62. Now get yourself ready. I need that lantern.

63. Oh, uh...

64. One more thing. Uh, feed Earl for me, would you?

65. - His food's in the icebox. - And what's Earl?

66. Is it a dog? Cat?

67. You know what? And one more training exercise.

68. Take that... that bird with you and bring it back alive.

69. You lose concentration, it disappears.

70. It disappears, you fail.

71. Don't fail.

72. And what are you gonna be doing?

73. Enjoying not answering your questions.

74. You've reached the Rushville Sheriff's Department.

75. If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911.

76. Otherwise, please leave a message

77. and someone from the department...

78. There you are.

79. This ring will soon run out of charge.

80. - Fuck. - Three,

81. two, one.

82. Were you talking about me?

83. You were talking about me.

84. Excuse me.

85. Excuse me.

86. Excuse me.

87. Carry on.

88. We were just talking about whether to go ahead

89. with this Friday's football game.

90. Would that be traumatizing,

91. or could it help pull the community together?

92. Coach, you were about to say something.

93. Right. Yeah. Um...

94. I've been talking to the boys,

95. and, uh, they're pretty shook up.

96. - This is also something they've been working for... - Hey.

97. since two-a-days.

98. Uh, I mean...

99. I guess I wonder what we're... Sorry. Sorry.

100. what we're teaching 'em if we just pack it up and forfeit.

101. - Yeah, I think that's what we're trying to figure out. - Good news.

102. I got the judge to drop your assault charges.

103. Well, I appreciate that.

104. - How much is it gonna cost me? - Oh, no. It's on the house.

105. And, obviously, we're worried...

106. Good news is you're free to go back to Coast City.

107. Or anywhere else you feel like going for that matter.

108. What was everyone talking about when I came in here?

109. well-placed, to go ahead with the game and playing.

110. Five people just died here.

111. An alien blew himself up at the sheriff's station.

112. That's a lot to process.

113. Did your wife tell you

114. that alien was chirping about vengeance

115. before he blew himself up?

116. Here's what I'd really like to talk to you about.

117. I ended up on that football field

118. because of a hunch. Hmm.

119. Just a gut feeling

120. that it was gonna be extraterrestrial.

121. But your father's men, they shot four people.

122. And yet, those guys' friend ends up being an alien?

123. Is that a... a question or...

124. Uh, it's just a roundabout way of saying

125. you don't shoot people because of a gut feeling.

126. - I... I wouldn't know— - No, I'm telling you.

127. - You don't. - Okay.

128. So, how is it that father's men knew who to target?

129. You'd have to ask him, I don't—

130. I'm asking you as my attorney,

131. someone who cares about my wellbeing,

132. and apparently, my travel schedule.

133. We are still talking

134. with attorney-client privilege, I presume.

135. Excuse me, honey?

136. Yes?

137. I was talking to my husband.

138. Oh. Oh, yeah. Of course.

139. If you two are gonna keep talking,

140. I'm gonna need Mr. Jordan to leave.

141. - He started it. - Well...

142. I've got about 30 seconds of patience left.

143. I only need 40.

144. And I'll be happy to give them to you

145. when we're done here.

146. Well, how long is that gonna take?

147. It'll take as long as it takes.

148. Yeah, I don't think I can keep quiet that long.

149. Oh, uh, sorry, I gotta... I gotta take this.

150. Yeah. As you were.

151. Talk to me, Junior.

152. This house is insane.

153. That's what you called to tell me?

154. No, no, I can't find the key.

155. Well, did you look under the rock?

156. Which rock, Hal?

157. To the left of the door under the bush.

158. It looks like a potato with a smile.

159. Or a frown if I left it upside down.

160. Potato rock.

161. So, how's it going over there?

162. I get the feeling everyone wants me gone.

163. Kinda makes me feel like I need to stick around.

164. It would make you think that.

165. The lantern's in my closet.

166. If you're at the front door, it's upstairs to the left.

167. So, how much do Lanterns get paid anyway?

168. Not enough.

169. I can tell you that.

170. Well, your house begs to differ.

171. - What the hell was that? - Don't worry about it.

172. I got the house from a rich guy. Saved his kid.

173. His dad felt like shit because he couldn't help.

174. I didn't want to emasculate him anymore, so I...

175. let him buy me a house.

176. So, when are you actually going to move into this place?

177. What are you talking about?

178. I've lived in that house for eight years.

179. - You've got no furniture. - I have a bed.

180. I found your room.

181. The lantern's in a box in the back of the closet.

182. Go into the hallway and turn right.

183. Hey, do you, um...

184. need me to bring a uniform back or something?

185. Not unless you're gonna teach me how someone takes a piss

186. in one of those goddamn things.

187. I see the box.

188. Good.

189. It's voice-activated, so when you get it next to you,

190. put me on speaker.

191. Greetings, Hal Jordan.

192. To access the vault, please confirm identity.

193. Ready.

194. Mogo doesn't socialize.

195. Open the box. The lantern's in there.

196. It's pitch-black.

197. It's a pocket dimension, Junior.

198. Just... just feel around in there and...

199. you'll find it.

200. I got it.

201. Don't forget to feed Earl.

202. Spoons are on the counter.

203. Earl?

204. Hey, Earl.

205. Dinner time.

206. Earl?

207. Got your favorite. Uh, beef and bison.

208. Earl?

209. Hey, Earl, listen, I, uh... I don't know where you are,

210. but, um, kinda ready to be done with this meat.

211. Jeez!

212. What the hell is wrong with you, Jordan?

213. What's up, man? Hey, Earl. I'm, uh...

214. I'm John, and I'm... I'm here to feed you.

215. Just don't eat my bird.

216. All right.

217. There you...

218. You know, uh, once upon a time,

219. hamburgers used to be my thing, too.

220. Whoa! Hey!

221. Fucking Jordan.

222. Where are we going?

223. Where's my fucking bird?

224. Your bird's safe.

225. Is this about me not being on the insurance?

226. It is pretty much exactly what it looks like.

227. But in my defense,

228. I wanted to talk to you about this at the meeting,

229. and you shushed me.

230. You're killing me, Jordan. You know that?

231. Just a slow, painful death.

232. There's more going on here than you realize.

233. You mean like you going to the stadium

234. and dragging these corpses through the metal detector,

235. which you now realize is actually an alien detector?

236. Uh, let me rephrase.

237. You obviously realize exactly what's going on here.

238. Congratulations. You've caught up to me.

239. Now, would you just please let me do my job?

240. Is this a good time to talk about jurisdiction?

241. Because you seemed really hung up

242. on what was terrestrial and what wasn't.

243. - And as far as— - Where are you going with these guys?

244. To visit your father-in-law.

245. May I just say, that is a profoundly bad idea.

246. Did he put up those detectors?

247. - He did. - Do you know where he got them?

248. - I do not. - You're not even curious?

249. It's not against the law to be obsessed with aliens.

250. Trust me, I wish it was.

251. It'd make my marriage a hell of a lot smoother.

252. Your marriage is unsmooth?

253. The fact is, Macon hasn't done anything illegal.

254. Now, he was cordial when he needed you,

255. but if you show up today

256. with all your questions and all your attitude,

257. it is not gonna go well.

258. Whose side are you on?

259. I'll take you, but you let me do the talking.

260. Understood?

261. - Well, I don't know if I— - Just nod.

262. Follow me.

263. Hey, Ben.

264. I'd like to see your boss, please.

265. I'm afraid he's not accepting visitors.

266. Yeah, I get that. Absolutely.

267. You know, sometimes you just gotta accept things

268. that take you out of your comfort zone.

269. Is he speaking for you?

270. Right now, he's pretty much just speaking.

271. This is part of an official investigation, son.

272. - Is that true? - Evidently.

273. Well, in that case, can I see your warrant?

274. Well, look at that. The cavalry. Just in the nick of time.

275. The calvary's a lot faster in the movies.

276. I told them you aren't seeing any visitors.

277. That's okay, Ben. Hey, Kerry.

278. You know I'm a fan of your work.

279. But I confess, I'm confused as to why you're still in town.

280. Four aliens are dead.

281. Their accomplice blew himself up.

282. And yet, you linger.

283. Well, that's what your son told me.

284. But, uh... Well, here's what I think.

285. I think you're hiding something on this property

286. you don't want me to see.

287. I had you as a guest here just the other day.

288. Because you wanted me to prove

289. that that fella in custody was an alien.

290. Which you did. Like I said, I'm a fan of your work,

291. - but your work here's done. - Oh, I just need a minute

292. - of your time. - I believe you've had it.

293. Front gate, eleven o'clock.

294. Oh, boy. Am I about to be threatened?

295. I got four dead bodies in my car

296. that set off the hidden camera and alarm

297. when I drag 'em through those metal detectors

298. you got set up at the stadium there.

299. Now, I don't want to disparage your small, little town,

300. but I've been all over the galaxy,

301. and I don't think I've ever seen technology

302. quite that sophisticated.

303. I told you.

304. People who walked this land before me,

305. they got caught flat-footed when the settlers come in

306. and colonized 'em.

307. I'm not about to make that same mistake again.

308. And how about that technology?

309. Very generous gift from the man who funds this property.

310. - Oh, your benefactor? - Correct.

311. Tell me the truth. Is he even real,

312. or is this some Keyser Söze situation?

313. Oh, I assure you, he's very real.

314. Then what's his name again?

315. I'm not at liberty to say.

316. - Because of the NDA. - That's right.

317. That's— You know,

318. - do all cowboys have NDAs... - That's it.

319. - We're leaving. - ... or are you just a special cowboy?

320. No, I'm serious.

321. You got this whole Marlboro Man thing happening here,

322. but yet you can't be straight with me because of an NDA?

323. Hell, even that other guy,

324. he was selling cigarettes to kids,

325. and he still didn't let those lawyers stop him

326. from saying whatever the hell he wanted.

327. I want to know what other technology you got

328. in this compound.

329. I think it's important for you to know

330. there's a man with a rifle in that guard tower

331. with instructions to shoot anybody

332. who trespasses on this property.

333. Well, you can't do that.

334. - Can he do that? - He can absolutely do that.

335. Well, that just seems unneighborly.

336. Sheriff.

337. I'm coming on.

338. You're gonna have to deal with me.

339. Oh, for Christ's sake, I got the ring.

340. You try to shoot me, and I'm just gonna put up—

341. I apologize for the violence.

342. Yeah.

343. May I ask you a question about the bird, John Stewart?

344. Sure.

345. It's a wildly impressive construct,

346. but how does Hal Jordan continue

347. to project it from such a great distance?

348. He's not projecting it. I am.

349. You're not wearing a ring.

350. Did you tie me up to ask me questions

351. about my fucking bird?

352. No, I tied you up to ask you about Manhunters.

353. I'm sorry. Was I supposed to react?

354. Yeah, you are.

355. Because you think I know what a Manhunter is?

356. Given your proximity to Hal Jordan,

357. it'd be very hard to believe that you do not.

358. Proximity. You mean "closeness"?

359. That's a better word, yes. That's a much better word.

360. I see human isn't your first language here.

361. I'm not even close to close with Hal Jordan.

362. In fact, he sent me here to get rid of me,

363. so I'm sorry, gentlemen.

364. But you're about to torture a man

365. who doesn't know shit.

366. Torture? No, John.

367. We don't want to torture you, John.

368. We want to recruit you.

369. You don't tell someone when you wanna recruit them.

370. You have to be more subtle.

371. We don't have time for subtlety, John.

372. One of the most dangerous beings to ever exist

373. knows it has been found, which means right now

374. it is preparing its brutal response.

375. And that's a Manhunter?

376. You think the Green Lanterns came first?

377. - You really don't know? - I really don't know.

378. Well, that makes things much easier.

379. I don't have to change your mind.

380. I just need to stamp it.

381. What the fuck do you mean, stamp?

382. Imprint? Um...

383. - Enlighten. - I don't need enlightenment.

384. There was a time of chaos in the galaxy.

385. Then the Manhunters came.

386. We don't know where they came from,

387. just that they were synthetic.

388. And able to build new bodies,

389. which meant they could take the form of any species

390. and embed, undetected, within any society.

391. This ability to build allowed them

392. to invent technologies

393. far beyond the limits of the planets they inhabited.

394. They were brutal. They were deceptive.

395. They carried out what they called "justice."

396. Entire species were lost.

397. And then, as mysteriously as they arrived,

398. they were gone.

399. At least we thought they were gone.

400. In reality, one of them remained on our planet,

401. passing as one of us

402. while he quietly engineered a holocaust.

403. Have you ever been deceived by someone you love?

404. Yeah.

405. Then you'll understand when you experience

406. what he did to us.

407. Get off.

408. I'm sorry, but you need to see.

409. This is what it looks like

410. when a Manhunter destroys your people.

411. John, do you see what it feels like?

412. See it!

413. Do you see what it did to them, John?

414. Do you see it?

415. See it!

416. The effects of our collective loss

417. will remain with you for some time.

418. I'm sorry.

419. The scale of our tragedy drew the attention

420. of a Green Lantern sent by the Guardians.

421. The Lantern

422. took the monster into his custody

423. and guaranteed he'd be executed.

424. - Why? - I do not know.

425. It does not matter,

426. but we believed, somewhere, the Manhunter was still alive.

427. So, we searched, John. We searched for years.

428. Until finally we discovered where he was hiding.

429. Rushville.

430. Our detection is limited.

431. There's radiation unique to the Manhunter,

432. though he could be disguised as any human.

433. To find out which, we had to get close.

434. But our team was exposed and killed.

435. And who should arrive an hour later?

436. Jordan.

437. You think he was trying to protect the thing?

438. Perhaps.

439. Our target knows we've located him.

440. And we cannot enter Rushville without being detected.

441. So, you...

442. you must identify the Manhunter.

443. How the fuck am I supposed to do that?

444. Your bird.

445. This bird is proof you can achieve the impossible.

446. Now, we could fulfill our mission

447. by walking into the town square and detonating ourselves,

448. but that would destroy Rushville.

449. No reason for innocent lives to be lost.

450. Because it took a human form, it could be killed as a human.

451. You have 48 hours, John.

452. Find the Manhunter.

453. Once you do...

454. contact us.

455. - If you fail to contact us— - Yeah, I got it.

456. Hey, there.

457. They shot me.

458. You were trespassing.

459. Might as well have walked onto that ranch

460. with a sign that said, "Shoot me."

461. - How are you feeling? - Uh, all right.

462. A little sore. How long have I been out?

463. Not too long. They cleared you to go.

464. Just wanted you to sleep off the anesthesia.

465. So...

466. what's with Sinestro?

467. Why are you asking me that?

468. You kept saying his name in your sleep.

469. I'm not authorized to talk about that.

470. It's not exactly top secret.

471. It says here, "He was a Lantern, attempted a coup,

472. killed one of the bosses."

473. It also says you were the one who took him down.

474. I don't talk about that.

475. Except that you do, in your sleep.

476. How...

477. You gotta be kidding me.

478. Like I said, you were trespassing.

479. In the name of Tom Osborne,

480. or whoever it is that you worship,

481. please take these off.

482. Not until you listen to me. Can you manage that?

483. - Yes, ma'am. - Good.

484. Because every time you don't listen,

485. or you steal bodies,

486. or storm my father-in-law's compound

487. and don't let me do the talking, what you're really doing

488. is cutting my legs straight out from under me.

489. I'm the sheriff.

490. If you don't follow my lead, you're legitimizing this idea

491. that Macon is the seat of power. And trust me,

492. you do not want to help push that narrative.

493. This is my town.

494. I have worked my ass off to earn people's respect,

495. and I can't have you undermining that.

496. You're right.

497. I'm sorry. You're right.

498. So, you're gonna go back to your motel

499. and let me do my job?

500. No more storming the compound?

501. I swear on Tom Osborne's life.

502. And for the record, I'm not on your side.

503. I'm not on Macon's side. I'm on my side,

504. trying to hold this town together.

505. Can I ask you a question?

506. If I knew about the alien detectors,

507. why did I fight you on jurisdiction?

508. Does make a guy wonder.

509. The others were dead.

510. I assumed if Waylon didn't set off the alarm,

511. he wasn't an alien.

512. I was wrong.

513. It happens.

514. It shouldn't. Look.

515. I apologize for trying to obstruct you.

516. I just didn't want Billy's dad

517. insurrecting the shit out of everyone

518. and getting them all paranoid about invasion.

519. So much for that plan.

520. Thanks for being straight with me.

521. Thanks for not dying in my jurisdiction.

522. My turn for a question.

523. Why am I still in town if the threat's over?

524. It does make a girl wonder.

525. Something is off here. I can feel it.

526. Why do you want me gone?

527. Everything feels like it's about to explode

528. for no good reason.

529. This place is losing its mind.

530. You kicking up dust and getting shot isn't helping.

531. If I need you, I can call.

532. You were at my bedside.

533. It's a great book.

534. It's hard to find time to read with a kid at home.

535. So, where are you from, anyway?

536. You decide to actually make nice,

537. and that's the best you got? "Where you from?"

538. Well, you don't exactly scream Rushville.

539. - You're a snob. - Doesn't mean I'm wrong.

540. I'm from Gotham. Moved here on a whim.

541. - That sounds like a story. - Doesn't it?

542. - That's all I'm gonna get? - Pretty much.

543. Hmm. I'll take it for now.

544. Because you're not leaving.

545. You didn't hear a word I said in there, did you?

546. Well, I heard a few of 'em. Where are all the patients?

547. It's a small town, not exactly a big patient pool.

548. Half the equipment looks

549. like it was just taken out of the crate.

550. Yeah, well, mostly everyone's smart enough

551. not to get themselves shot.

552. Thank you. Just over here is great.

553. There you go. Thank you.

554. Hey.

555. Um, can I get a...

556. I... I'll get a decaf, please. Thank you.

557. Of course.

558. It's a small town, bound to happen.

559. Yeah.

560. The booths are more comfortable.

561. Uh, it's been a long day.

562. I'm just trying to clear my head for a second.

563. Yeah, yeah. Fair enough.

564. Thank you very much.

565. - Here you go. - Thanks.

566. Um, for the record,

567. I wouldn't have slept with you if I knew you were married.

568. Well, I'm glad you didn't know.

569. You into that kind of thing?

570. What kind of thing is that?

571. I mean, uh...

572. is your relationship unconventional?

573. You've met my husband, right?

574. - Mm-hmm. - Mm-hmm.

575. Yeah. What do you think?

576. Uh, respectfully? I think he's pretty fucking weird.

577. Yeah, that he is. Deeply so.

578. Yeah. I think he's pretty fucking weird,

579. but you're not.

580. - How can you be so sure? - Uh, I see you. Um...

581. I don't think you would do anything

582. without thinking about it first. You know?

583. White men have the privilege of being eccentric.

584. White men with money?

585. They can do whatever the fuck they want.

586. Play cowboy, build castles.

587. - Do you like that? - Yeah. I like the security.

588. I also like that he could've bought

589. some blonde bimbo from Texas to be his arm candy,

590. but he wanted me.

591. I'm sure a lot of people want you.

592. None...

593. that could give me what he has.

594. It's a lot to deal with, I know, but...

595. but it's worth it, I think.

596. And when I need a break, I just take one.

597. So, you'll put up with some deeply weird White man

598. with a savior complex just to live the life?

599. No, I'm with my husband because I love him.

600. And I know he loves me.

601. Hey, how's your White man?

602. Uh, how is he?

603. He wanted me out the way,

604. so he, uh... he sent me to fetch his things.

605. Is that why you were trying to clear your head over there?

606. Uh...

607. I'm just trying to figure out if I can trust him.

608. If you have to ask the question,

609. then you already know the answer.

610. Nope.

611. Don't.

612. What happened to you?

613. Your girlfriend's husband

614. sicced one of you sniper-types on me.

615. - Oh. Shoulder? - Mm-hmm.

616. Through and through?

617. Yeah, it's a nice warning shot.

618. Good to know you're a fan of his work.

619. Yeah.

620. I told you not to bring the suit.

621. Yeah, well, maybe I couldn't bring myself

622. to just disrespect it.

623. What else were you doing while you were rummaging

624. through my stuff?

625. Dance around in my bathrobes? Sing into my hairbrush?

626. "In brightest day, in blackest night,

627. no evil shall escape my sight.

628. Let those who worship evil's might

629. beware my power, Green Lantern's light."

630. There's something on that compound.

631. Benefactor's the key.

632. We're not leaving here until we find out who he is

633. and what they're hiding.

634. Yeah.

635. Whatever you say.

636. Hey, you might want to, uh,

637. check the fine print on that insurance policy.

638. What the hell's all over the seats?

639. I believe, uh, technically they call that alien goo.

640. What do you know about Manhunters?

641. Where'd you hear that word?

642. Our buddy Waylon had friends. They followed me onto the plane,

643. snatched me outside of your house.

644. They're convinced there's a Manhunter

645. here in Rushville.

646. So, what did they want with you?

647. They want me to ID him. And give him a call in 48 hours.

648. Otherwise, they'll blow up half of western Nebraska.

649. Why you?

650. Because they don't trust you. In fact, he made it explicit

651. that I shouldn't tell you any of this.

652. - What else? - Just that he thinks

653. the Guardians may have hid the Manhunter here.

654. - They wouldn't do that. - Well, shit. That's what I said.

655. I knew there was something about this place.

656. And my gut is never wrong.

657. Abin Sur must have brought him here

658. and the Manhunter killed him.

659. Yeah, and then you got your ring.

660. What else can you tell me about Manhunters?

661. It's above your pay grade, Junior.

662. No, it's not. I told you he was here.

663. Oh, so now Mr. Chain of Command wants me to break the rules?

664. Hal, they don't know what form he's taken.

665. He could be anyone in town.

666. What else did they say to you?

667. You know, just that, um,

668. to create a living thing,

669. let alone keeping it alive while not wearing the ring,

670. is so advanced

671. that it's practically impossible.

672. But I figured that couldn't be true,

673. 'cause if it was,

674. you would've at least given me a hoorah.

675. Hoorah.

676. Forty-eight hours, huh?

677. Yeah, 48.

678. You tell the Guardians any of this?

679. I report to you.

680. - Hey. - What?

681. What's with that bird, anyway?

682. - What are you talking about? - The bird.

683. I mean, you brought it to life with your subconscious.

684. It must mean something pretty deep.

685. It's just a bird.

686. Authorize Hal Jordan.

687. Access granted.

688. Sinestro.

689. Hal.

690. Tell me what you know about Manhunters.

691. No hello? No how have I been?

692. Hello, Sinestro, how have you been?

693. Now, what the fuck do you know about Manhunters?

694. If one still existed,

695. it'd be the second greatest threat

696. you're currently facing.

697. So why don't you tell me about John Stewart?