Original subtitles

we were already under the protection

of someone calling himself Green Lantern.

Then, without warning, he made himself known,

dramatically stopping a meteor from devastating Victoria Falls.

Or, at least, he made himself partially known.

Here now, we bring you the first ever heart-to-heart

with a superhero.

Are you nervous?

GREEN LANTERN: I don't get nervous.

- Part of the job description. - NEWS ANCHOR: Of course.

GREEN LANTERN: Excited.

In that case, who are you?

- I'm Hal Jordan. - (TV CLICKS OFF)

Damn it, Marcus!

You're gonna get us all in trouble.

Just watch the window!

(TV CLICKS ON)

NEWS ANCHOR: So, what do you want the world

to know about you?

HAL JORDAN: I'm an Air Force veteran.

I'm a former test pilot.

And really...

just that I'm a regular person.

Like you.

NEWS ANCHOR: Except that you're also

- Earth's first Green Lantern. - ♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

HAL: (CHUCKLING) There is that, too.

NEWS ANCHOR: In many ways,

Hal Jordan was born for the role he would eventually play.

His father was a decorated test pilot

who died tragically in a crash when Hal was just eight.

Hal continued to follow in his father's footsteps...

- (GASPS) Shit, shit, shit! He's home! - (NEWS ANCHOR TALKING ON TV)

AARON STEWART: Damn it! Come on, John, turn the TV off!

- HAL: Well, I'm the only one here. - ♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

But we're like beat cops.

- Only each one of us... - MARCUS: Turn it off!

- ...has a chunk of the galaxy. - (JOHN STEWART JUNIOR SHUSHES)

NEWS ANCHOR: And how are you chosen for this chunk?

- Is there a test? - AARON: John!

- Come on, turn the TV off! - It's only one question.

MARCUS STEWART: (SIGHS) We're so dead.

"Are you afraid?"

And you said no.

I did.

Every kid's worst fear is losing a parent.

Once that happens...

there is nothing to fear anymore.

(KEYS JINGLING)

(DOOR UNLOCKING, OPENING)

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

(DOOR CREAKING, CLOSING)

♪ (LOW TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

So you gonna tell me his real name?

Hal something.

Hal?

JOHN: Yes, sir.

- (FINGERS SNAP) - Outside. Now.

♪ (BROODING STRING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(KEYS JINGLING)

(GUN CLICKS)

Are you afraid?

No, sir!

♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪

♪ (TENDER STRING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

♪ (BROODING STRING MUSIC RESUMES) ♪

Let's go get a burger.

- (PUNCHING BAG THUMPING) - (CHAIN RATTLING)

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

(EXHALING SHARPLY)

(GRUNTING SOFTLY)

(WATCH ALARM BEEPING)

(QUIETLY) Shit.

♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSICAL STING) ♪

♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪

(DISTANT CHATTER)

♪ ("BOOGIE SHOES" BY KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND PLAYING OVER RADIO) ♪

- (TIRES SCREECHING) - (CAR ENGINE REVVING)

(BRAKES SQUEALING)

♪ I can't wait 'Til I see you again ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Ah-ha, ah-ha ♪

♪ I wanna put on... ♪

I'm late.

Yes, sir.

You're not gonna say anything?

- (SCOFFS) - ♪ My, my, my, my My boogie shoes ♪

♪ Just to boogie with you ♪

♪ Ah-ha ♪

♪ I want do it 'Til the sun comes up... ♪

- (ENGINE REVVING) - (TIRES SCREECHING)

♪ I want to do it 'Til I can't get enough... ♪

HAL: You sure you're not mad?

- JOHN: No, sir. - HAL: Me, I'd be pissed off.

Disappearing for two weeks,

no explanation, show up hungover, and late.

Come on, you gotta be a little angry.

JOHN: No, sir.

Mildly perturbed?

No, sir.

How come it is every time you say "sir,"

it sounds more and more like, "Fuck you"?

I have no idea.

Sir.

♪ ("BOOGIE SHOES" CONTINUES) ♪

You must be wondering where I was?

- You ever heard of Pharon 4? - Well, we're in training.

We haven't gone off-planet yet.

Yeah, yeah, that's right. It's a shithole of a planet

that was on the verge of civil war.

The point is, if I'm hungover,

it's only because I was celebrating the new peace.

JOHN: So, how'd you manage it?

A little bit of diplomacy, a little punching,

you know the drill.

Actually, I don't, sir. That's the point.

Well, you got all the time in the world.

JOHN: With all due respect,

we've been doing this, what, two months?

And I haven't even worn the ring yet.

Don't get hung up on the jewelry, Junior.

You'll wear it when it chooses you.

I thought the point was that the Guardians chose me.

- That's all. - The big blue bosses

may think that you're hot shit,

but you're just a fucking substitute teacher, Junior.

You're not ready to get up in front of the class

until the ring says you are.

♪ ("GET DOWN TONIGHT" BY KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND PLAYING) ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Do a little dance Make a little love... ♪

HAL: Here.

You wanna take it?

Is that a test?

There's a taco stand up the road about three miles.

I'll meet you there.

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Do a little dance Make a little love ♪

♪ Get down tonight Get down tonight ♪

♪ Hey! ♪

♪ Do a little dance... ♪

- (RING WHIRRING) - ♪ (SONG CUTS OFF) ♪

(WIND BLOWING SOFTLY)

♪ (FAINT EERIE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(INSECTS CHIRPING)

- (CABLES HUMMING) - (EAGLE SCREECHING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(KEYPAD BEEPING)

(DIAL TONE RINGING)

- JOHN STEWART SENIOR: Hello? - JOHN: Dad, he tried to kill me.

We was on our way to a flying lesson, and he--

Jordan just tried to fucking kill me.

JOHN SENIOR: He can't kill you.

He's just trying to put you on tilt.

I'm not on fucking tilt.

JOHN SENIOR: Then he's testing you.

They're allowed to have tantrums.

We're not. So breathe in, button down, and bottle up.

You need to be cool. Can you be cool, son?

- Yes, sir. I can be cool. - JOHN SENIOR: Good.

- You want this, right? - Of course, I want this.

JOHN SENIOR: Just stay the course

and this job is yours.

Yeah, well...

(CELL PHONE BEEPS)

(RING PULSING)

(RING WARBLING)

Shit.

Am I dead?

- What? - You're wearing my ring.

Is that supposed to be funny?

Hey, did I do something to piss you off?

'Cause if I did, I'm sorry.

You? Hal Jordan? Sorry?

- (CHUCKLES) - That's right.

I must have a concussion.

Wait a sec. Wait a sec.

Let's start at the beginning.

Who are you and why are you wearing my ring?

I'm John Stewart, your trainee.

Lanterns don't have trainees from their own sector.

JOHN: They do now.

What year is it?

2016.

Holy...

You want to tell me what you think is going on?

I'm a backup of Hal Jordan's consciousness,

combined with the sentience of the ring,

I'm here to give myself a message.

So you are Hal?

No. Yes. Mostly. Ish.

(HESITATES) Well, it's like when you store yourself in the cloud,

only every once in a while,

when you're needed in the real world, you...

Lanterns, they're required to be uploaded weekly,

for posterity's sake, in case something happens to us.

I should have taught you this.

I thought I was training you.

Yeah, I thought so, too.

When were you last backed up?

Evidently, ten years ago. Listen, I need to find myself.

- Where am I? - Oh, you're three miles

up the street eating tacos.

Oh, good. You can fly us there, then.

I-- I haven't...

taught you how to fly yet, have I?

JOHN: I'll tell you what.

You tell me what you want me to tell you.

Do I trust you?

I mean, you know, we, uh...

You know, we get along?

We get along great.

There's hail in Rushville, Nebraska.

That's it?

Well, I'll know what I mean.

Hm.

(RING WARBLING)

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

- (CUSTOMERS CLAMORING) - CUSTOMER 1: Hey, it's Green Lantern!

(OVERLAPPING CHATTER)

- CUSTOMER 2: You're a legend, man. - CUSTOMER 3: Thank you.

CUSTOMER 4: Yes, I want a selfie!

- OWNER: Let the man breathe! - (CHUCKLES)

OWNER: It's not a petting zoo.

Come on.

I'll bring your food to your table, Mr. Jordan.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

- OWNER: All right, guys. - HAL: Thanks very much. Thanks.

♪ (LATIN MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS) ♪

Um, um, I'm...

Do you think that my daughter could maybe...

- Absolutely. Come here. Come on. Come here. - (MOTHER LAUGHING)

(QUIETLY) There we go.

- (SIGHS) - HAL: Okay.

- Thank you. - HAL: You're very welcome.

- She misses the suit. - I didn't say that.

Tell your mom I still wear it on special occasions.

- (CHUCKLES SOFTLY) - (QUIETLY) Yeah.

(FAINT CHATTER)

I could have fucking died.

You want me to train you, I'm training you.

How'd you save yourself?

What'd you make with the ring?

Bubble wrap.

- Oh, you're a genius. - JOHN: Yeah.

OWNER: Dessert's on the house.

HAL: Well, thank you very much.

Can I ask why only on special occasions?

It's like when you're young and eager

and you like to prove yourself, so you wear a tie

so people will take you seriously.

But when you get older and wiser...

you realize ties are a pain in the ass.

(SOFTLY) Ah.

- Good one. - HAL: Hmm.

Yeah. Good one.

Give me my ring.

You sent yourself a message, by the way.

- What are you talking about? - JOHN: The ring.

Your backup consciousness.

You were a lot nicer ten years ago.

What did I say?

There's hail in Rushville, Nebraska.

Pay the check.

♪ ("NO FUN" BY THE STOOGES PLAYING) ♪

(EXCITED CHATTER, CHEERING)

- ♪ No fun, my babe ♪ - (SOFTLY) Motherfucker.

♪ No fun ♪

♪ No fun, my babe ♪

♪ No fun ♪

♪ No fun to hang around ♪

♪ Feelin' that same old way ♪

♪ No fun to hang around ♪

♪ Freaked out ♪

- ♪ For another day ♪ - ♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪

- (DISTANT SIRENS BLARING) - (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Sorry, no one's allowed in.

Really? It seems like the whole town's in there.

DEPUTY LOPEZ: Oh, come on. That's enough, don't you think?

John Stewart.

I'm with Hal Jordan. We're partners.

I thought there was only one Green Lantern.

Well, technically, I'm in training.

Hmm, so like a sidekick?

Why don't you just make the call?

Hey, boss. (SIGHS)

There's another one.

(RADIO CRACKLES)

SHERIFF: (OVER RADIO) You fucking kidding me?

Tell him to stay on the fucking sidelines

with that other fucking shithead.

(SHERIFF CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)

- DEPUTY LOPEZ: Yes, ma'am. - (RADIO CHIRPS)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES)

What's the word?

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

Stay off the field.

- (DISTANT SIRENS BLARING) - (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

(DISTANT CLAMOR)

JOHN: You ditched me.

I was testing you, seeing if you had it in you

to get yourself here on your own.

JOHN: You've been here six hours,

so why are they still processing the scene?

Uh, emergency services from two different counties.

They're interviewing witnesses, escorting them out 10 at a time.

It's a decidedly small-town pace.

I don't get it. You flew all the way here

just to ride the bench.

The answer to that mystery is heading right to you.

Hey, Sheriff, uh, uh...

Kane. It-- Uh, John Stewart.

KERRY KANE: Kerry.

- John. Training under Hal. - (SCOFFS) What an honor.

'Cause it was certainly an honor to meet him

when he arrived.

- You don't have jurisdiction. - She's about to tell you we don't have jurisdiction.

- You don't. - I will.

I can't do this again.

Look, you're a big shot. Noted. But your jurisdiction

only covers extraterrestrial events.

This... This is pretty much the definition of terrestrial.

These victims are going to end up being aliens.

- Based on what? - HAL: I have a feeling.

(GASPS) He has a feeling.

I have a very strong feeling.

Well, then, by all means, the scene is yours.

Well, it seems kind of mellow for a mass shooting,

don't you think?

They're in shock.

Or nobody knows the victims.

Does anybody seem extra upset to you down there?

You see anybody standing with the bodies?

Say it with me now.

Aliens.

Look, I know you think you're helping,

but you need to trust me.

These people are my friends. They're my neighbors.

They understand your job. They know we're not alone.

There's a difference between hearing that on CNN

and seeing it up close.

If it ends up being the case, we'll deal with it.

But until then, I'm trying to keep the scene calm.

So if you could do me a favor, keep away from the news vans.

It was nice to meet you.

Now, if you'll both kindly stay the fuck out of my way.

She's something incredible, isn't she?

I think she hates your guts.

Yeah, but it's the way she hates them.

- (CLAMOR CONTINUES) - (HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING)

JOHN: So, what's going on here?

Well, if I'm not mistaken--

Why don't you tell me?

♪ (BROODING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Looks to me like

Rushville scored a game-winning field goal.

- (WHISTLE BLOWING) - (FANS CHEERING)

JOHN: Kicking block is still out there.

Fence is broken.

My guess is home fans rushed the field.

This being a rivalry,

a few visitor fans wander onto the field.

This being Nebraska, more than a few are carrying.

(GUN SHOTS ECHOING)

JOHN: You got four dead, all in visitor sweatshirts.

And still none of this explains

why you think it has anything to do with aliens.

♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

You know, I've been doing this job

since you were a baby.

I'm the only person on this whole goddamn planet

that's ever done this job.

I say I got a fucking feeling, I got a fucking feeling, Junior.

"There's hail in Rushville, Nebraska."

You've been monitoring this exact spot.

"Hail" obviously means aliens.

Christ, they even sound the fucking same.

So we both know this is more than just a feeling.

- Do we? - Yeah, we do.

Here's all you need to know.

- JOHN: Hmm. - This is my job.

As long as I'm alive, that ain't changing.

And I don't plan on dying anytime soon,

so why don't you do yourself a big favor

and take a nice long, deep breath, Junior?

(SCOFFS)

♪ (UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(SOFTLY) Fuck.

I think one of them is still here.

HAL: Yeah, the one in the short-sleeved shirt.

Been clocking him since I got here,

trying to figure out why he didn't bolt,

what he still wants here.

You told the sheriff?

Of course not.

But it's her crime scene.

That's how you'd play this if you had the ring?

Yeah.

I respect the chain of command.

Well, by all means, go respect it.

♪ (BROODING STRING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Would you excuse me?

- Hey, shithead. - ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

What part of stay the fuck away, was confusing?

There's something you need to see.

If you're about to tell me

about the redneck in the short sleeves

who ditched his only warm clothes

so we wouldn't put him with the other victims,

I'm trying to make sure he doesn't get spooked

and start shooting the place up like his dead friends.

I just fucked up, didn't I?

I suspect you did.

♪ (INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Fuck.

(DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)

(DOOR CLOSES)

♪ (MUSIC BUILDS) ♪

♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪

- (GROANS) - ♪ (MUSIC CUTS OFF) ♪

(LOUD THUD)

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

(KERRY GRUNTING)

- (EXHALES) - (PANTS)

(HANDCUFFS RATTLING)

(PANTS) You got him?

- (GROANS) - Sure.

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

- I need to interrogate him. - Like fucking hell you do.

- (JOHN PANTING) - (CAR ENGINE STARTING)

Hi.

- JOHN: Yeah. - You thirsty?

- (RING WARBLING) - (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(JUKEBOX WHIRRING)

♪ ("BRAND NEW KEY" BY MELANIE PLAYING) ♪

HAL: Howdy, fellas.

♪ I rode my bicycle Past your window last night... ♪

Hey, can I have another, another, and another?

BARTENDER: Sure thing.

Did you just use that ring to counterfeit money?

No. I manifested money with the power of my will.

Oh, wow. But you couldn't manifest

something for the guy I was chasing.

Got it.

This ring is a dangerous weapon.

When and if to use it,

that's the whole ball game, Junior.

Tell me how you got it, the ring.

You know how I got it.

JOHN: Yeah, but I mean, what I know can't be true, right?

Well, I got it the old-fashioned way.

I sure as hell didn't interview for it.

Oh, well, shit, maybe you should have.

I mean, power like that,

shouldn't you have to work for it,

excel, prove yourself,

instead of just getting randomly selected?

Why do you give a shit how I got my ring?

Because I think that's why we're in goddamn Nebraska.

I was a couple years into being a test pilot.

You know, middle of the night,

I'm sleeping off about nine too many,

still had my boots and jeans on.

All of a sudden, my room starts to vibrate.

I open my eyes,

and I'm in a big fucking bubble.

A big fucking green bubble.

This green bubble floats me up out of bed.

Next thing I know, there's a voice

running through my entire body,

bones, teeth, heart, the whole deal.

And it says to me...

"Are you afraid?"

I say, "No.

I'm not afraid."

Wham!

Yanks me out the window across the sky

like a fish getting reeled in.

Couple hundred miles in about ten seconds.

(CHUCKLES) I fly fighter jets.

I have an excellent sense of airspeed and bearing.

That's how I know exactly

where that green bubble set me down.

Nebraska.

HAL: Not more than 20 miles from where we sit right now.

Which is middle of fucking nowhere.

Thus, an excellent place to crash a spaceship.

There he was.

Right in front of me.

The pilot.

Bonafide fucking alien.

Pink and bald, coughing up glow-in-the-dark blood.

- It was pretty fucking intense. - ♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪

(JUKEBOX CLICKING)

♪ ("BRAND NEW KEY" BY MELANIE PLAYING FROM START) ♪

Hey, you think you're funny?

HAL: So Pinko starts talking.

And it comes out all clicks and gurgles.

He's dying.

And he gives me his ring. This ring.

And when I put it on,

I can understand every fucking word he says.

"My name is Abin Sur,

responsible for maintaining the peace and sovereignty

of Sector 2814.

And this responsibility is now yours,

as the ring has chosen you to be my successor."

Now, fuck, did I know what sovereignty meant?

Hell no, I didn't. And then he said two more words,

his last words.

And he kind of whispered 'em,

so I'm never really sure whether he said "Good luck"

or "Ah, fuck."

Anyway, it turns out Earth's way off grid,

out of their jurisdiction. Galactic fucking backwater.

A human getting a ring, isn't it a fucking fluke?

The big, blue bosses, they'd never wanted any Lantern

coming near our little shithole planet.

And that's why my gut always told me

that crash was no accident.

When it says there's a shitstorm en route,

I make sure there's a lookout

to tell me when it's fucking coming.

The Halogram.

Halogram. (CHUCKLES) That's clever.

Hmm. Thank you.

- Hm. It's not that clever. - ♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪

- (JUKEBOX CLICKING) - ♪ ("BRAND NEW KEY" BY MELANIE PLAYING FROM START) ♪

PATRON: Hey, Jordan! Ass-face!

You ignoring me?

So help me God, if that song plays one more time,

I'm gonna put you inside that fucking jukebox!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(QUIETLY) Hal, I think he's talking to you.

Yeah, I hear him.

JOHN: You want to fight?

You want to go to jail.

You want to go to jail so you can talk to that guy

that Mrs. Sheriff doesn't want you to talk to.

Not guy.

- Alien. - This is a stupid plan.

- HAL: I've had stupider. - That I do not doubt.

All right. Here we go.

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

Look, uh, it's gonna look

like they're really kicking the shit out of me,

so you're gonna be tempted to jump in,

but I need you to stay right here.

Will do. You got it.

Thanks.

♪ I don't go too fast But I go pretty far... ♪

Hey, fellas.

Tell me something, would you?

What the fuck is your problem with roller skates?

PATRON: Look, pretty boy. Show me what you got.

HAL: Oh, my. You look like my sister.

God bless ya. Now what?

PATRON: What the fuck are you talking about?

STRANGER: You gonna say yes?

He didn't get down on one knee, but a ring's a ring.

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

No, I don't think he wants me to have this ring.

Ever.

- But he gave it to you. - I reckon he's testing me.

STRANGER: Testing you how?

♪ I got a brand-new pair Of roller skates... ♪

- (RING CLINKS) - Who gives a shit?

- (STRANGER CHUCKLES) - HAL: Come on, bring it on.

What are you drinking, stranger?

JOHN: Coke.

- STRANGER: Coke and what? - Coke and Coke.

Don't tell me you're a teetotaler.

No, I'm just...

- I'm just on the job. - (INDISTINCT CLAMOR)

Being a space cop.

Who told you I was a space cop?

I mean, your partner is one.

Figured you are too.

Uh, he's not my partner. I'm his trainee.

(GROANS)

STRANGER: How many trainees does he have?

- Just me. - Why'd he pick you?

JOHN: He didn't. Our bosses did.

Space cops have bosses? (CHUCKLES)

♪ ("COMING HOME" BY LEON BRIDGES PLAYING) ♪

Come on, ev-- everybody's got bosses, you know?

(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)

(HAL GRUNTING)

STRANGER: So, once you're trained,

then you're an official space cop too?

- Well, the way it works is... - STRANGER: Mm-hmm.

...Earth has one Lantern.

So I'm just being trained

in case anything happens to Jordan.

So you're the backup quarterback.

I'm patient.

No, you're not.

KERRY: All right, idiots. Break it up!

(INDISTINCT CLAMOR)

- OFFICER: Get out! - KERRY: Do I gotta call your mom again?

Get out of here. Now!

(GROANS, GRUNTS)

♪ Wanna be around, girl ♪

♪ Ooh, wanna be around... ♪

OFFICER: Let's go. Let's go, sweetness.

KERRY: Get him out of here!

OFFICER: Yeah, yeah.

Nice talking to you, stranger.

I'm John.

Walk me to my truck, John?

♪ By myself I don't want nobody else ♪

♪ The world leaves A bitter taste ♪

♪ In my mouth, girl ♪

♪ You're the only one That I want ♪

- ♪ Wanna be around ♪ - (STRANGER MOANS)

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Wanna be around, girl... ♪

You gonna give me a lecture?

(SOFTLY) No.

I'm gonna give you a light.

- ♪ Ooh, wanna be around ♪ - (RING WARBLING)

- ♪ Baby, baby ♪ - ♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪

KERRY: Because no comment means no comment.

(LOCK BUZZING)

KERRY: I'm not gonna talk about an active investigation,

- you know that. - (TELEPHONE RINGING)

KERRY: Okay.

- Good. - (DOOR CLOSES)

Tell Barb I said hey.

(PHONE CLATTERS)

I take it you're here to bail out your buddy?

Want some coffee?

JOHN: I am, and, um, no thank you.

He's in a bit of a mood

because I locked him in our broom closet.

(COFFEE CARAFE THUDS)

It's almost as if he wanted to get arrested...

- (DOOR OPENS) - ...so I'd throw him in jail next to the suspect

- I told him he couldn't talk to. - (DOOR CLOSES)

JOHN: I did tell him it was a stupid plan.

- (MUG THUDS) - You should have told him louder.

Well, listen, may I take my stupid friend home?

Not until he's arraigned.

(INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER)

Really?

JUDGE: ...and eight counts of aggravated assault

and resisting arrest.

How does the defendant plead?

HAL: With all due respect, Your Honor, come on.

"Come on"?

Look, I'm just trying to question a suspect

in the course of a very serious investigation,

- which I-- - JUDGE: Ah, an investigation.

Am I to understand, sir,

that you are a law enforcement official?

And if so, could you kindly state for the record

which agency you represent?

I'm Green Lantern.

JUDGE: I didn't ask who you were.

I asked which bureau you are an agent of.

I'm Green Lantern,

and I'm an agent of...

the Green Lantern... s.

Look, I introduced myself to Lady Justice back here

when I got to the crime scene,

and I deferred to her jurisdiction.

Is that accurate, Sheriff?

Yeah, but the deference was pretty cheeky, Your Honor.

- You cheeky, Mr. Jordan? - (DOOR OPENS)

- WILLIAM "BILLY" MACON: Yeah, don't-- don't answer that. - (DOOR CLOSES)

(CLEARS THROAT) William Macon for the defense, Your Honor.

- Sorry I'm late. - JUDGE: Mr. Macon.

The defendant has chosen to represent himself.

That's only because he doesn't understand

he's being made an example of, which, Your Honor,

is absurd given Mr. Jordan is a hero.

Granted, he hasn't, uh, formally retained my--

- You're hired. He's hired. - Fantastic.

The defense enters a plea of not guilty

and asks Your Honor to set reasonable bail,

even understanding Mr. Jordan is... technically a flight risk.

Because...

he can fly.

- (QUIETLY) Who is this guy? - (SCOFFS)

My husband.

JUDGE: I'm setting bail at 100,000 dollars.

- Oh, come on. - JUDGE: Two hundred thousand.

Now you know the price of each "come on," Mr. Jordan.

- Shall we try another? - No, that's understood.

And thank you, Your Honor.

My father will have the check to your clerk by lunch.

All right, then. Mr. Jordan, don't leave town.

- We're adjourned. - (GAVEL THUDS)

- Uh, thanks for the save. - Oh, truly an honor.

But I tend to find that strangers who give me

a couple hundred thousand dollars,

no strings attached,

usually turn out to be bad guys.

Uh, but there are strings attached, Mr. Jordan.

My father would love to have supper

with you this evening. Um, he's a huge fan,

and someone I think you'll find like-minded.

What are you doing, Billy?

Uh, I was just inviting Mr. Jordan

up to the ranch tonight, honey.

They're married.

Course, they are. Small town, everyone's related.

Oh.

I'd be offended if that wasn't absolutely true. (CHUCKLES)

Billy Macon, you must be John.

- Yes, sir. - BILLY: You like barbecue?

(SCOFFS) Junior here's a vegan.

He doesn't believe in anything that causes enjoyment.

But we'd love to come to supper.

Yeah, well, only if it's okay with the sheriff.

The more the merrier.

(CHUCKLES)

HAL: Hmm.

♪ (LOW BROODING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(GATE UNLOCKING)

- ♪ (MUSIC BUILDING) ♪ - (INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(GUNSHOTS)

Militia?

Walks like a duck, shoots an AR-15 like a duck,

blah, blah, blah, duck.

(HORSE NEIGHS)

(HORSE CHUFFS)

♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFYING) ♪

♪ (MUSIC FALLS) ♪

- ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪ - BILLY: Evening.

- So glad you could make it. - JOHN: How you doing?

Uh, this is our boy, Noah.

JOHN: All right. How you doing, Noah?

Noah, this is Mr. Stewart and Mr. Jordan.

HAL: Noah.

Offense or defense?

Wherever they need me, sir.

HAL: Team player. Good man.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

(SIGHS) Oh, sorry. Uh, I got to take this.

Uh, Dad's waiting in the kitchen for you gentlemen.

Noah, come with me and help Grandma set up.

Hey.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER PHONE)

BILLY: Yeah.

Oh.

How about a beer?

God, yes.

HAL: Oh, here.

(RING WARBLING)

(BOTTLE CAP CLINKS)

(BLOWS)

My father-in-law's got paper on you

and you haven't even met him yet.

He's not a man you want to owe.

Hm. Sounds like a woman in debt.

It's not too late.

You can just fly on home,

spare yourself the moment not too long from now

when you wish you'd never come to this place.

No.

- ♪ (CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪ - (DOOR OPENS)

- (DOOR CLOSES) - Well... (CHUCKLES)

Exciting enough Hal Jordan just walked into my kitchen,

but with a bag of beer?

I'm truly blessed.

Least I can do. This is John.

John, Will Macon.

I'd shake, but my hands are all gunky with meat.

Word on the street is you don't partake.

Ordered you up some tofu steaks.

- Hope that'll do you. - Oh, that's very kind.

I appreciate it.

And I appreciate your service, sir.

Marine sniper. Color me impressed.

- Oh, looked me up. - Mm.

WILLIAM "WILL" MACON: You didn't look me up?

(CLEAVER THUDS)

Jesus.

Walking into unknown territory, even with a weapon

of mass destruction on your finger,

that's either trust or arrogance.

Well, he's trust. I'm arrogance.

I don't trust anybody.

WILL: Man after my own heart.

You got a nice place here, Will.

Yeah, it is, isn't it?

Alas, not mine. I'm just a caretaker.

Mind me asking who you caretake it for?

I don't mind at all.

Regrettably, my NDA restricts me from discussing

or IDing my employer.

Because of the government.

I'm sorry?

The government. I'm guessing the government,

they're probably watching your boss,

biding their time before they raid this compound,

take his guns and rights away.

You think we bailed you out so we could enlist you

in some whackadoo war with the feds?

Well, why else would you bail me out?

Because of the goddamn aliens, son.

Why the fuck else?

♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪

Man, the whole world flipped out

when you first came on the scene.

Makes sense, seeing what you can do.

But it kind of buried the lede.

There are thousands of planets out there

with intelligent life.

And here we sit, low-hanging fruit of the galaxy,

just waiting to get gobbled up.

This land we're on right now, it was Kiowa, then Sioux,

but across the ocean boats were coming.

Anyways, as someone who's spent time in the galaxy,

it's a pretty peaceful place out there.

Well, what do they need space cops for?

♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Look, I'm not some isolationist crackpot

with his head in the sand,

but I am a student of history.

Colonization is ugly from any angle,

but I tell you, it is particularly bleak

if you're the one getting colonized.

This all, call it an ounce of prevention.

Seems like a bit more than an ounce.

WILL: My point is,

I believe the gentleman cooling his heels

in the sheriff's pokey, he's part of an advanced team.

And I'd ask you what your reason to believe is,

but I'm guessing it's covered by your NDA.

My daughter-in-law says you're not that bright.

HAL: Your daughter-in-law's what's holding me up

from talking to that fella.

WILL: All right. I can clear that brush.

In exchange for?

Let's eat.

♪ (TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

♪ (MUSIC FADING) ♪

(HORSE NEIGHING)

JOHN: You're aiming.

Sorry, sir?

Don't aim.

Just imagine it going through.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Try again.

Hey, don't-- don't force it.

Just imagine.

- (NOAH MACON CHUCKLES) - JOHN: Hey!

What'd I say?

What'd I just say?

That was great.

NOAH: How'd you know that?

So, my dad used to shoot apples off my head.

Grandma!

Grandma, I got one through!

STRANGER: Show me, sweetheart.

You live here?

Mm-hmm.

Zoe Macon.

Now you have my name.

Come on, sweetheart. Let's go find everyone.

- NOAH: All right. - ZOE: Come on.

- (DOG BARKING) - (HORSE NEIGHING)

(INSECTS CHIRPING)

WILL: Well, we drank all your beer,

but put together some leftovers for you.

- Much obliged. - And I talked to Kerry.

Since you and I have common interests,

she's willing to let you chat with the suspect

- first thing in the morning. - (CAR DOOR OPENS)

HAL: Well...

You know, that's the thing, Will.

I don't know what your interests are.

Two of my boys almost got killed last night

in a shootout with men no one's ever seen before.

How about we both want to protect the planet

from anybody not born on it?

Hope I didn't mess up your tofu, soldier.

No, sir.

It was delicious.

Good.

Nothing better than eating off another man's grill.

Good night, gentlemen.

- (FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING) - (WILL WHISTLING)

(CAR ENGINE STARTING)

Hey.

What was that all about?

(VEHICLE DEPARTING)

I might have slept with his wife.

Might have?

I definitely slept with his wife.

♪ (BROODING STRING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

And he knows?

(QUIETLY) Apparently.

Jesus Christ, we've only been here 24 hours.

I'm impressed.

♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

KERRY: We said 9:00.

HAL: What time is it?

Not 9:00.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

His name's Waylon Sanders.

Commercial-licensed truck driver. Called his boss,

says he's worked for him almost five years now.

Mm-hmm. Aliens are good at getting IDs

and paying people to lie for them.

He's just a dipshit from Kimball.

They took X-rays at the hospital for his busted nose.

All organs accounted for. No hidden antennas.

The plural for antenna is antennae.

- What's the plural for eat shit? - (CHUCKLES)

Junior, tell the sheriff here how many species currently

have the technology to pass as human.

Fourteen. MRIs, X-rays, blood work.

Nothing down here can tell the difference.

- So you can't prove it. - I can make him confess.

If you lay a finger on him,

you're back in front of the judge.

That includes whacking him with giant green phone books

or whatever you magic up from your conjuring ring.

I wouldn't dare.

KERRY: Ten minutes.

- HAL: I only need five. - (LOCK BUZZES)

- Am I'm coming in with you? - HAL: You are not.

(DOOR OPENS)

- Alien my ass. - (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

You know, we're all aliens.

Just depends which planet you're standing on.

HAL: Would you like a cup of coffee?

- No, thank you. - HAL: All right.

Yeah, I imagine you just want to phone home, or...

- get home, I bet. - WAYLON SANDERS: Yes, sir.

And home is Kimball?

Well, I mean, I'm on the road most of the year,

but Kimball's where I hang my hat. Yes, sir.

(CHUCKLES) "Hang your hat."

What a delightful human expression.

And, uh, well, if you're in town for the big game,

it must be a big rivalry.

I mean, uh, Kimball's, what,

that's a two, two-and-a-half-hour drive?

Yeah, sorry about that.

I just, you know, I-- I love football, though,

and, uh, it's the home team.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah. I love football, too.

When did Nebraska win its first national championship?

- Sorry? - Uh...

You love football. You're from Nebraska.

Huskers' first championship, when was that?

- Yeah, it was 1970, Bob Devaney. - That is correct.

How about their first 200-yard rusher?

Uh...

- Frank Solich? - First Heisman winner?

- Johnny Rodgers. - (CHUCKLES) That's it.

Where did Harry Potter go to school?

Excuse me?

HAL: Harry Potter, boy wizard. What was the name of the school?

(SOFTLY) I don't know.

HAL: It was a book.

I don't read a lot.

Well, you go to the movies, don't you?

They only made, like, 22 of them.

Oh, I watch a lot of football.

- HAL: That's the rub, isn't it? - What?

Pretending to be someone that you're not.

You learn all the specifics,

but you don't learn what everyone else knows.

Uh... (EXHALES SHARPLY)

I don't-- I don't understand. Who are you, exactly?

Hal Jordan, Green Lantern.

♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

Charged by the Guardians of the Universe

to protect Sector 2814

from all extra-planetary threats.

And you, Waylon, are one of them.

Good Christ, he really is full of himself, isn't he?

Can't be easy,

having to learn from someone you don't respect.

I do respect him.

- KERRY: Come on. - JOHN: I do.

KERRY: Why?

(HAL CONTINUES SPEAKING OVER SPEAKER)

I don't know. He's fearless.

If you care about people,

you know, husband, wife, parent, kid,

then you're scared of losing them.

First time he strutted up to me,

I could tell Jordan doesn't care about anybody.

- And nobody cares about him. - ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

He's not fucking fearless.

He's lonely.

HAL: But-- But why did you stick around?

What were you looking for?

I mean, I get once I showed up,

you couldn't run. You had to blend in.

But before that...

I just went to a high school football game, man.

With the other Kimball fans who are all dead now.

WAYLON: I don't know them, okay?

I told you, I-- I drive a truck.

HAL: Yeah, I'm sure you can tell me a lot

about that truck, but I bet you can't tell me

about the Boston Tea Party, Kelly Clarkson,

Barack Obama, or Rup--

Barack Obama is the president of the United States.

That's it?

As a rural Nebraskan, that's the breadth

of your opinion of Barack Hussein Obama?

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

He is the 44th president. He followed George W. Bush.

There's some controversy

surrounding his birth certificate.

Holy shit, you are an alien.

♪ (UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(SIGHS)

Let's say you're right.

Oh, fuck.

WAYLON: Let's say, hypothetically,

that I'm not of this salty, smelly world,

a visitor who went to great trouble

to hide himself well and learn the arcane rules

of pointless contests involving balls

that somehow captivate more attention

than the deteriorating atmosphere

or the hunger of its least fortunate people.

If I had gone to such lengths,

I would be here for a very important purpose.

A purpose that required great discretion and secrecy.

A purpose that would need to be kept from the likes

of a galactic peacekeeping organization

because it concerns the exact opposite of peace.

That being war.

And as such,

if I were to fall into the hands of such an organization,

I would be forced to take drastic measures

to ensure that my purpose was not revealed.

Hypothetically.

And hypothetically,

what might you have to keep your mouth shut?

- A cyanide pill? - You're thinking very small.

Then give it to me big.

I'd have a biometric neutron device

woven into my skeleton.

I'd be able to activate it with a thought.

Unless you let me walk out that door right now.

He's bluffing, right?

HAL: You're not walking out of here hypothetically or otherwise.

And if you do blow yourself up, I'm just gonna bubble up

and contain all that sunshine with my ring

and walk out of here without a scratch.

You've been here 48 hours.

Did you bring the lantern to recharge your ring?

I have plenty of power.

Hmm. But for how much longer?

Yeah.

You should be asking yourself

if I'm capable of releasing enough energy

to eradicate this entire town.

We talking or exploding? Because it's almost lunchtime.

(HANDCUFFS RATTLE)

It almost seems like you...

want to die, Hal Jordan.

Does that not violate your precious oath?

"In brightest day and blackest night..."

- HAL: Don't. - "...no evil

- shall escape my sight." - Shut your mouth.

WAYLON: "Let those who worship evil's might

- beware my power... - I said don't.

(CHUCKLES) ...Green Lantern's light."

- (WAYLON GRUNTS) - ♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, you ignorant alien fuck!

(WAYLON LAUGHS, SIGHS)

(BEEPING)

- Are you beeping? - Should we go? We should go.

- No, it's too late. - Why are you here?

WAYLON: Why else?

Vengeance.

(BEEPING INTENSIFIES)

(BOTH GRUNT)

(RING HUMMING)

(EXPLOSION ECHOING)

(SILENCE)

- (ALARMS BLARING) - (INDISTINCT CLAMOR)

(KERRY GROANS)

(ELECTRICITY CRACKLES)

(GLASS CRUNCHING)

Told you he was an alien.

(DISTANT SIRENS BLARING)

♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

- ♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪ - ♪ (BROODING VOCALIZATIONS) ♪

♪ (INTRIGUING MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪

♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪

(DISTANT TRAIN HORN BLARING)

KERRY: Look at you. You've barely aged.

Liar.

- How's Noah? - (KERRY SIGHS)

Tall. He's on the team now.

Quarterback.

He any good?

KERRY: All-state.

That's good.

Anyone else know?

Just the groundskeeper.

All right.

♪ (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING) ♪

(WIND HOWLING)

♪ (MUSIC CONCLUDES) ♪

♪ ("KNIEVEL" BY SCUD MOUNTAIN BOYS PLAYING) ♪

♪ If I tried to leap the moon Would you ever care? ♪

♪ Would you ever care? ♪

♪ And if I left the earth Too soon ♪

♪ Would you ever dare? ♪

♪ Would you ever dare? ♪

♪ It didn't take much living To see ♪

♪ That I was bound To leave the ground ♪

♪ It didn't take much living To see ♪

♪ That I'm only free When I'm flying ♪

♪ Flying ♪

♪ When I'm flying ♪

♪ Flying ♪

♪ When I'm flying ♪

♪ Flying, I'm flying ♪

♪ Flying ♪

♪ (GUITAR SOLO PLAYING) ♪

♪ (SONG CONCLUDES) ♪