Page 1

                (SPLASH) GRIM TRIUMPH, IN FULL COSTUME, BARRELS TOWARDS US IN A DRAMATIC FLYING POSE. DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE IS A COLUMN OF TYPE (ESSENTIALLY A WHO'S WHO ENTRY) SUMMARIZING KNOWN DATA ABOUT TRIUMPH. THIS IS A 25-FOOT FULL-COLOR VIRTUAL REALITY MONITOR SCREEN, BUT WE'RE IN TOO CLOSE TO KNOW THAT.

 

                DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, FULL FIGURE: STANLEY COBALT BENDS OVER A TABLE, HIS ARMS RESTING ON THE TABLE TOP, POURING OVER HUGE MAPS SPLAYED ACROSS THE TABLE. OTHER MAPS AND CHARTS LIE ON THE FLOOR. A COOL-LOOKING SUPER-VILLAIN COSTUME IS DRAPED OVER A DRAFTING CHAIR. STANLEY WEARING A WHITE SHIRT, CUFFS TURNED BACK, DRESS SUSPENDERS, DRESS TIE, DRESS SLACKS AND SHOES. STANLEY LOOKS LIKE AN INVESTMENT BANKER ON A COFFEE BREAK.

 

                STANLEY IS 35-ISH, BUT IN REAL GOOD SHAPE. SORT OF LIKE KEN OLIN (MICHAEL FROM THE TV SHOW thirtysomething). HE HAS BLACK HAIR IN AN EXPENSIVE CUT. A GOOD JAW. SORT OF THE BRUCE WAYNE TYPE.

 

                THE GROUPING (STANLEY, TABLE, CHAIR) IS THE ONLY HINT WE GET THAT THE IMAGE OF TRIUMPH IS A MONITOR. STANLEY GIVES SCOPE AND PERSPECTIVE TO THE HUGE TRIUMPH IMAGE. THESE OBJECTS CAST A SHADOW AGAINST THE SCREEN IMAGE O TRIUMPH.

TITLE 1:                         THE DEATH AND LIFE OF DR. COBALT

COBALT 2:                    C'mon, c'mon you meatball.

COBALT 3:                    What's taking you so long?

COBALT 4:                    I mean, all that juice-- and you can't find a simple address?

COBALT 5:                    Super-heroes just aren't what they used to be. Dad woulda ate this dope alive.

CREDITS 6:                   <Insert credits>

CREDITS 7:                   Triumph created by Mark Waid, Howard Porter, and Christopher Priest

TYPESET COPY FOR TRIUMPH IMAGE 8:

TRIUMPH

Name: Will MacIntyre

Base of Operations: Mobile

Height: 6 feet 2 inches

Weight: 202 pounds

Group Affiliation: Justice League Task Force

Known Relatives: Katherine MacIntyre (mother, deceased), James MacIntyre

 

Triumph has the mutant ability to create fields of electromagnetic force, an ability Triumph manifests in a variety of ways. By maintaining a personal electromagnetic field around his person, Triumph is apparently invulnerable to most known explosives or projectiles. By moving his field across the earth's gravitational lines, Triumph may negate the force of gravity on his person (or any other person or object within his field), and create thrust, giving him the de-facto power of flight. Similarly, Triumph is capable of incredible feats of strength due to this ability to nullify the effects of earth's gravity on objects, thereby compromising the object's mass.

 

A suspected cause of Triumph's mutation is his father's long-time exposure to radioactive leakage from the apparatus of the master planner, Dr. Cobalt. A driver and confidante of the eminent scientist and renowned outlaw, James MacIntyre's genes may have mutated as a result of his exposure.

 

Nearly a decade ago, Triumph made a small investment in a televised shopping service, targeted at elderly and homebound persons. This service has since grown into the multi-billion-dollar QVC network, on whose board of directors Will MacIntyre occupies a chair.

 

Triumph cashed in a good portion of his QVC stock and bought out a small, eccentric investigations firm composed of four people of varying backgrounds who'd met on an on-line computer forum (see file: Triumph's Team). Triumph provided the team with financing, technology, and his own personal vision and leadership. This team became the support mechanism for Triumph's activities.

 

I became aware of Triumph once he began searching for his father. My responding investigation into Triumph and his team led to my discovering the frequency and scramble code for the team's communications (or "comm") system. It was via this surreptitious uplink that my principal information was acquired. A wider, more conventional investigation— based on the fact's I'd already acquired— fleshed out my initial findings.

 

 

Page 2

                (SPLASH) PULL BACK TO SEE WE'RE IN A HUGE ROOM. THE ROOM IS ABSOLUTE BLACK. ALL WE SEE ARE FIVE 25-FOOT TALL BY 12-FOOT WIDE BY SIX-INCHES DEEP (THEY'RE RELATIVELY FLAT) SCREENS, THESE SCREENS BOLTED TO THE FLOOR, LAYING BACK AT A 15º ANGLE, ARRANGED IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND COBALT'S COMMAND STATION. THESE SCREENS DEFINE THE HEIGHT OF THE PAGE; DWARFING THE OTHER, MORE NORMAL-SIZED STUFF IN THIS ROOM. CATWALKS SPIDER-WEB ALONG THE UPPER PANEL, AND THERE'S SOME SUGGESTION OF HUGE BRACKETS FOR SOME HIGH-TECH REED RICHARDS SHIT THAT HASN'T YET BEEN INSTALLED.

 

                DOWN ON THE FLOOR, TOWARDS THE LEFT, DWARFED BY THE HUGE MONITORS, IS COBALT'S COMMAND STATION. A HIGH-BACK LEATHER SWIVEL WITH LOTS OF DOO-DADS ON THE ARMRESTS SWIVEL-MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF A THREE-TIER ROUND OBELISK. A SEMI-CIRCULAR DESK WRAPS AROUND THIS CHAIR, LIKE THE WORKSTATIONS ON THE BRIDGE OF THE ENTERPRISE. AT LEAST SIX NORMAL-SIZED MONITORS ARE BUILT INTO THE LIP OF THIS DESK, AND THE DESK ITSELF IS BUSTING WITH ARRAYS OF BUTTONS AND LIGHTS.

 

                THE TABLE WITH THE MAPS IS A FEW FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMMAND STATION (OR, TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE SPREAD). THE TABLE HAS BEEN ABANDONED, AND ONE OR MORE OF THE BIG MAPS IS IN FREE-FALL, HAVING SLIPPED OFF THE TABLE TOP, ABOUT TO JOIN THE OTHERS ON THE FLOOR.

 

                THE DRAFTING CHAIR WITH COBALT'S DISCARDED COSTUME IS NEAR THE TABLE.

 

                COBALT, FULL FIGURE, WALKS OFF TO THE RIGHT, WALKING BETWEEN TWO OF THE HUGE MONITORS, CASUALLY STROLLING TOWARDS AN EXIT.

 

                THIS IS THE BAT-CAVE. WELL, ALMOST. IT IS CLEARLY THE VILLAIN'S LAIR. BUT, THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT CATCH:

 

                THIS JOINT IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ONE OF THE BIG MONITORS IS ON THE FRITZ, WHITE LINES ZIPPING THROUGH THE IMAGE. THE ARMRESTS ON THE CHAIR IN THE COMMAND STATION HAVE PANELS REMOVED AND HUGE TANGLES OF CABLE ARE DRAPED OVER THE CHAIR ARMS. SIMILAR IN-PROGRESS LOOK TO THE DESK AROUND THE COMMAND CENTER. UP ON THE CATWALKS, PLENTY OF CABLE, TOOLS, OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK MAKES SENSE.

 

                THE MONITORS: WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE TRIUMPH ONE, SO PUT TRIUMPH's IMAGE ON THE MONITOR WE'RE LEAST ABLE TO CLEARLY SEE (SAY, THE MONITOR IN THE MOST EXTREME PERSPECTIVE).

 

                THE DEAD-ON MONITOR, OR THE ONE WE ARE MOST ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY, HAS FOUR INSET WINDOWS ON IT. THESE ARE HEAD-SHOTS OF WILMA, FANG, FATHER ROCKO, AND EDDIE X. ALTHOUGH THEY'RE JUST HEAD-SHOTS, WE SEE ENOUGH OF THEIR NECK AND/OR SHOULDERS TO UNDERSTAND THEY'RE WEARING MATCHING UNIFORMS.

 

                THE SECOND CLEAREST MONITOR HAS A FULL-FIGURE SHOT OF THE ORIGINAL DR. COBALT IN SOME DRAMATIC POSE.

 

                THE THIRD-CLEAREST MONITOR HAS A STAT OF PAGE ONE FROM LAST ISH: A DRAMATIC SHOT OF THE FINMOBILE RACING TOWARDS US.[1]

 

                IF THERE IS A FOURTH CLEAREST MONITOR, IT HAS HOURMAN (THE ORIGINAL) ON IT; HM LIKEWISE IN A DRAMATIC SUPER-HERO POSE.

MAYZEE 1:                   (Tailless electric burst) Stanley-- a young man's here to see you--

MAYZEE 2:                   (Same) --he says he's answering your ad.

STANLEY 3:                  On my way, Ma.

STANLEY 4:                  (Thot) Cripes, Triumph-- it's about time.

NAME TAGS FOR TRIUMPH's TEAM 5:

                                        (Place under corresponding head shots)

                                        Wilma

                                        Fang

                                        Father Rocko

                                        Eddie X

SPECIAL COPY FOR EDDIE X's WINDOW 6:                Terminated

TYPESET COPY FOR TRIUMPH's TEAM IMAGE 7:

TRIUMPH'S OPERATIVES

Names: Unknown

Base of Operations: Mobile

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None known

 

Triumph's operatives allow him a startling level of effectiveness, creating the illusion of omnipotence and/or omnipresence.

 

Details of the team's creation are few. What is so far known is the four met on an on-line computer forum for victims of violent crime. While it is not yet confirmed, it is my strong suspicion each of Triumph's operatives is themselves a crime victim, the four of them banding together to avenge their own personal tragedies.  Triumph provided the team with financing, technology, and his own personal vision and leadership.

 

The ties binding Triumph and his team are purely financial. This is a business arrangement, and not a (potentially more troublesome) commitment to common idealistic goals; with the pursuing emotional entanglements. These are Triumph's employees, nothing more.

 

The team uses a variety of equipment, three items so-far documented:

 

•       A Bell Special Series A10 jet helicopter, which the team refers to as "The RotoJet." An armored personnel carrier and communications hub, the RotoJet has a front-mounted hard-target calibrated laser cannon, ganged to an enhanced tactical sensor array. The RotoJet has a maximum speed of Mach .7, with a cruising range of 1250 miles.

 

•       A MacPower QCX digital communications system bridged to a MacPower DC76 computer network using a custom-written O/S, terminating at custom-refitted Neutron 34A Personal Digital Assistant pads outfitted with cellular fax and communications rigs.

 

•       Non-lethal .9mm rounds manufactured with plastic shell casings and hardened gel loads installed in stock Beretta pistols.

 

TYPESET COPY FOR DR. COBALT IMAGE 8:

DOCTOR COBALT

Name: Dr. Onassis G Sklar, Ph.D.

Base of Operations: Indianapolis

Height: 5 feet 11 inches

Weight: 187 pounds

Group Affiliation: Greater Indianapolis Medical Association, Adjunct  Chairman-At-Large— Indiana State University, Legion of Evil

Known Relatives:  Stanley  E. Cobalt (son), Theresa Sklar (wife, deceased), Trevor Sklar (son)

 

Despite being a renowned and highly respected physicist, having published dozens of critically-acclaimed papers on the emerging domestic uses of nuclear power, Dr. Onassis G. Sklar, Ph.D. was nonetheless plagiarized and ultimately victimized by his jealous peers among the academic elite. After failing to get revenge through established channels of justice, Dr. Onassis G. Sklar, Ph.D. disavowed the laws of the land, and it's pursuant so-called "justice."

 

Dr. Onassis G. Sklar, Ph.D. constructed an extraordinary, futuristic, portable micro-fusion chamber capable of expelling light-based irradiated energy. Donning a colorful costume and taking on the name "Dr. Cobalt," Dr. Onassis G. Sklar, Ph.D. successfully avenged himself against the so-called cultural elite.

 

Dr. Cobalt then went on to become one of the world's great thinkers. A master planner whose scope of understanding went beyond all conventional interpretations of morality and justice, Dr. Cobalt enjoyed a long career thwarting the best minds in law enforcement, and clashing time and again with members of the Justice Society of America and other self-appointed "heroes."

 

TYPESET COPY FOR THE FINMOBILE IMAGE 9:

THE FINMOBILE

 

Dr. Cobalt's chief mode of transport was an armored mobile transport he, with his typical wit, referred to as the FinMobile. Constructed on the chassis of a 1962 Cadillac Fleetwood, the body panels for the FinMobile were constructed of a special alloy which rendered the vehicle impervious to most small-arms fire. The tires were self-sealing steel-belted radials. The drive train was a low-tolerance unsynchronized five-speed locked to a 255hp thirteen-cylinder dual-valve Encronic engine.

 

The FinMobile had two fuel tanks and three heavy-duty auto batteries. It had a maximum speed of 180 miles per hour, and a cruising range of about 75 miles.

 

Upon Dr. Onassis G. Sklar, Ph.D.'s conviction, the FinMobile was sold at public auction for an undisclosed sale price. It has since toured with various automobile shows as a carnival attraction.

 

 

[2]TYPESET COPY FOR HOURMAN's IMAGE 10:

HOURMAN

Name: Rex Tyler

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, CA

Height: 6 feet 1 inch

Weight: 202 pounds

Group Affiliation: Justice Society of America

Known Relatives:  Wendi Harris Tyler (wife), Richard Tyler (son)

 

I don't actually have the Who's Who copy for the original HM. If this panel even exists, it'll probably be at some perspective where reading the body copy will not be possible (or, at least, be unlikely). Depending on what this page actually looks like, we can either greek in something, or actually write in the Who's Who entry— assuming one exists.

 

 

Page 3

1              EXT/MOTEL: IT'S AN OLD, SEEDY, SINGLE-FLOOR BUILDING. A LONG, BARRACKS-STYLE BUILDING SECTIONED OFF INTO INDIVIDUAL ROOMS. SCAFFOLDING AND/OR OTHER CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS IS EVIDENT. THE FRONT OFFICE IS A TRIANGULAR SHAPE ADJUNCT TO THE LARGER BUILDING. THE MOTEL IS OFF A LONELY, 2-LANE HIGHWAY, APPARENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

STAN 1:                         (From hotel) There you are, Triumph. Took you long enough.

STAN 2:                         (Connect to #1) I thought my directions were clear enough, you being such a smart guy.

TRIUMPH 3:                 (From hotel) Yeah, Stan--

 

2              INT/OFFICE: WE'RE GETTING A GOOD LOOK AT IT, NOW. IT'S TINY AND INELEGANT. A WELL-WORN REGISTRATION DESK, A DOGGEARED REGISTRATION BOOK AND ROTARY MULTI-LINE PHONE CIRCA 1965. OBVIOUSLY FAKE POTTED PALMS AND CHEESY STEEL GUEST CHAIRS WITH TAPED-OVER COTTON CUSHIONS. A SWIVEL FAN BLOWS THE AIR AROUND, AND AN OLD TV (WITH ROTARY CHANNEL DIALS AND RABBIT EAR ANTENNA) MOUNTED ON THE WALL SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE COUNTER.

 

                MAYZEE's BEHIND THE COUNTER. SHE'S WELL INTO HER FIFTIES, BUT SHE STILL LOOKS GOOD. AN AGING GUN MOLL, SHE'S BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A TIME OR TWO. FLORAL PRINT BLOUSE WITH A STRING OF PEARLS, UGLY EARRINGS, THAT SORT OF THING. BRIGHT RED FINGERNAILS, UGLY BRACELETS. SHE'S NO INNOCENT, BUT SHE'S BEING AS FRIENDLY AS SHE CAN MANAGE.

 

                CLEARLY, WE'VE STEPPED BACK IN TIME TO 1965 AND STRAIGHT INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

 

                STANLEY STEPS INTO THE ROOM FROM A BACK DOOR, MAYZEE AND TRIUMPH TURNING TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM.

 

                TRIUMPH IS WEARING THE SAME BLACK LEATHER BOMBER, JEANS, SNEAKERS, AND OVERSIZED TEE SHIRT (WITH A DIFFERENT SLOGAN FROM THE LAST ONE).

TRIUMPH 4:                 I'm a whip.

TRIUMPH 5:                 Had a little trouble reading your handwriting, though.

STAN 6:                         Let's take a walk.

 

3              LONG SHOT: FULL FIGURES: TRIUMPH AND STAN WALKING TOWARDS US, THE MOTEL SOME DISTANCE IN THE B/G. TRIUMPH's HANDS STUFFED IN HIS JACKET'S POCKETS, HEAD BOWED, WIND CATCHING HIS HAIR. STAN'S HEAD BOWED A BIT, TOO, STAN'S HEAD TURNED A BIT TO LOOK AT TRIUMPH. STAN'S HANDS IN HIS PANTS POCKETS, THE WIND BLOWING HIS TIE AND HAIR.

 

                THIS SHOULD LOOK LIKE A SCENE OUT OF BEVERLY HILLS 90210 OR A LEVI'S COTTON DOCKERS AD; SENSITIVE YOUNG MEN SHARING THEIR FEELINGS. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THESE MEN ARE ARCH ENEMIES.

TRIUMPH 7:                 I think you may have over-estimated me, Stan. Attacking my guys-- blaming it on your brother-- making me work to discover the truth--

TRIUMPH 8:                 --that Dr. Cobalt has two sons--*

STAN 9:                         --but only one legal heir.

STAN 10:                       It wasn't enough for you to discover me, Triumph. I needed you to work for it.

STAN 11:                       I needed you to know I wasn't Joe Haircut.

FOOTNOTE 12:            *see last ish —Brian

 

4              C/U: STAN. 3/4 ANGLE:  EYES NARROW. HE'S A VERY BITTER YOUNG MAN.

STAN 13:                       I inherited my father's mind. His legacy.

STAN 14:                       It's up to me to carry on his work.

TRIUMPH 15:               (Off) Stan--

 

5              MED C/U: TRIUMPH, GLARING AT OFF-PANEL STAN.

TRIUMPH 16:               --your dad was a nut case and a crook. His "work" was ripping people off.

TRIUMPH 17:               You make him sound like the guy worked for the Red Cross.

TRIUMPH 18:               Your dad and my dad-- two crooks. News at eleven.

 

6              FULL FIGURES: TRIUMPH WATCHES AS STAN GRACEFULLY LEVITATES FIFTEEN FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AUTO BODY SHOP (THE SIGN READS: "GOMER's AUTO BODY") ACROSS THE ROAD IN SHOT.

STAN 19:                       You're right.

STAN 20:                       I have over-estimated you, Triumph.

STAN 21:                       Your dad was a crook. Mine was a super-criminal. A master planner. He had a brilliant mind.

STAN 22:                       Your dad was just my dad's grease monkey. His spear carrier.

TRIUMPH 23:               Stan... what do you want?

 

 

Page 4

1              OVERHEAD: STAN COMES IN FOR A LANDING OUTSIDE TH BODY SHOP. TRIUMPH AIRBORNE NOW, PURSUING.

STAN 1:                         What does any of us want? Money and babes, Triumph.

STAN 2:                         I'm taking over the family business. Assuming my father's identity. Your dad worked for him--

STAN 3:                         --and now you will work for me.

TRIUMPH 4:                 Carrying the spears. Greasing the monkey.

 

2              INT/AUTO SHOP: STAN PUSHING THE FRONT DOOR OPEN TO US, TRIUMPH BEHIND HIM.

TRIUMPH 5:                 And what do I get out of the deal?

STAN 6:                         What you want.

 

3              INT/AUTO SHOP: THEIR POV: THE FINMOBILE. THE HOOD IS UP AND A MECHANIC IS BENT OVER THE FENDER WORKING UNDER THERE. A SECOND MECHANIC STANDS CLOSER TO US, SMILING AS HE WIPES DOWN HIS WRENCH.

GOMER 7:                     Howdy.

STAN 8:                         (Off) That's Gomer. He owned the joint before I bought him out.

STAN 9:                         (Off) He's spent a lot of time and effort restoring my dad's car.

 

4              MED C/U: STAN AND TRIUMPH. STAN SNARLING AT NO ONE IN PARTICULAR, TRIUMPH'S EYES LOCKED AT SOMETHING OFF-PANEL.

STAN 10:                       The other guy works for me.

STAN 11:                       His name's Jimmy.

 

5              SIMILAR TO (4), ONLY ANGLE IN ON THE GUY UNDER THE HOOD: HE'S TWISTED AROUND NOW, LOOKING BACK AT US. IT'S JIMMY MACINTYRE, LATE FIFTIES NOW, SILVER HAIR, BUT STILL IN GREAT SHAPE. HE'S SCOWLING THAT CRIMINAL SCOWL.

JIMMY 12:                     Three-quarter crescent.

 

 

Page 5

1              MED C/U: TRIUMPH. STOIC. HOLDING IT IN.

TRIUMPH 1:                 (Thot) Jimmy.

TRIUMPH 2:                 (Thot) Dad.

JIMMY 3:                       (Off) Behind you. On the shelf. It's a wrench, kid.

JIMMY 4:                       (Off) Hey, Goldilocks-- you deaf?

 

2              MEDIUM: TRIUMPH HANDS HIS FATHER A WRENCH. JIMMY GLARES AT HIM, TRIUMPH SHOWS NO APPARENT EMOTION. STAN OBSERVES, CURIOUS.

TRIUMPH 5:                 Y'go.

JIMMY 6:                       Hope that wasn't too much trouble for you.

STAN 7:                         We'd better get going.

 

3              EXT/SHOP: TRIUMPH EXITS, HEAD DOWN, HANDS IN HIS POCKETS, BEHIND HIM STAN CLOSES THE DOOR.

TRIUMPH 8:                 Look, Stan-- let him go. Let's just walk away from this before it gets ugly.

TRIUMPH 9:                 You don't have to do this.

STAN 10:                       Yeah... yeah I do, Triumph.

STAN 11:                       Long as you cooperate, I don't toast the old guy--

 

4              TRIUMPH SNAGS A HANDFUL OF STAN'S SHIRT—

 

5              —AND SLAMS HIM AGAINST THE WALL. STAN BEGINNING TO SMILE.

SFX:                                SLLAAAAAMM!!

TRIUMPH 12:               Touch my dad and I'll kill you.

STAN 13:                       Ooh. Hit a nerve, eh?

STAN 14:                       Let me explain something to you, Billy boy--

 

 

Page 6

1              (1/2 PAGE, TALL DOWN LEFT SIDE) HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE SEQUENCE: TRIUMPH, NOW IN FULL COSTUME, GETS NAILED WITH AN ENORMOUS JACK KIRBY POWER BLAST, SPEWING FORTH FROM THE TEMPLE OF COBALT, LORD OF THE ATOM. COBALT IS, OF COURSE, STANLEY, BUT HE LOOKS REALLY COOL AND REALLY SCARY, WEARING THE NEW 1994 VERSION OF THE COBALT COSTUME. COBALT IS SNARLING, TEETH GRIT, ENERGY CRACKLING FROM HIS HANDS, THE BEAM FIRING FROM THE CENTER OF HIS BROW. SHOCK WAVES EMANATE IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN, FRAMING THE HERO AND VILLAIN.

CAPTION 1:                  --I am Dr. Cobalt, Lord of the Atom.

CAPTION 2:                  I have waited a lifetime to take my rightful place as true heir to my father's legend.

CAPTION 3:                  I will stop at nothing to achieve that goal.

CAPTION 4:                  Nothing.

CAPTION 5:                  You and your two-bit lowlife dad will do exactly what I tell you to do, exactly when I tell you to do it.

CAPTION 6:                  Or I'll kill you both.

 

                THREE PANELS STACKED DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE:

2              EXT: TRIUMPH (IN CIVVIES NOW) IN MID AIR: HIS EYES JAMMED SHUT, BACK INVERTED (AS IF HE WERE BANKING):  IT'S AS IF HE WERE THROWN FIFTY FEET INTO THE AIR, AND HE'S JUST CRESTED THE MOMENTUM OF THE THRUST.

 

3              DOWN ANGLE: TRIUMPH PLUMMETS OUT OF CONTROL.

 

4              SAME POV: TRIUMPH FALLING AWAY FROM US AT GREAT VELOCITY.

 

 

 

Page 7

1              WIDE: BIRD's EYE: THE ROADSIDE, A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE MOTEL. TRIUMPH SMASHES INTO THE GROUND WITH A GREAT IMPACT. STAN STANDS NEARBY, NONCHALONTLY CHECKING HIS WATCH.

SFX:                                WHHHAAAAAAMMMM!!

STAN 1:                         I hope we understand each other, Billy Mac.

STAN 2:                         Your tough snot act is amusing, but it wears thin.

 

2              STAT: ONLY NOW STAN'S WALKING OFF-PANEL (AWAY FROM TRIUMPH). TRIUMPH LIES IN A IMPACT CRATER OF HIS OWN CREATION, TRIUMPH APPARENTLY KO'ed. TRIUMPH STILL IN HIS CIVVIES.

STAN 3:                         I'll signal you when I'm ready.

 

3              INT/HOTEL SUITE: IT'S A FAIRLY PLUSH, MODERN SUITE THAT'S BEEN TURNED INTO TRIUMPH'S COMMAND CENTER. WILMA AND HIS MAGIC COMPUTER ARRAY IN F/G.

WILMA 5:                      We lost the old man.

BURST 6:                        What do you mean we lost him--?

WILMA 7:                      I'm getting nothing, Fang. No vitals... no breathing--

 

4              THE ROTOJET SWEEPS ACROSS DAYTIME MINNEAPOLIS. IMPORTANT: THE ROTOJET DOES NOT HAVE THE LASER CANNON MOUNTED ON IT, AND WILL NOT HAVE THE CANNON ON IT FOR THE REST OF THE ISSUE.

WILMA CAP 8:            --he could be dead.

FANG 9:                        (From chopper) I'm going in.

WILMA CAP 10:          No, Fang. Stick to the plan.

FANG 11:                      (From chopper) Screw the plan, Wilma--

 

5              INT/CHOPPER: FANG, SNARLING, AT THE CONTROLS.

FANG 12:                      --I won't let Will die.

FANG 13:                      I'll be there in three minutes.

 

 

Page 8

1              THE ROTOJET's DOWN, FANG LEAPING OUT, TRIUMPH STILL OUT OF IT.

FANG 1:                        Anything, Wilma?

WILMA CAP 2:            No change, Fang. maybe his suit's transponder's shot.

 

2              MEDIUM: FANG, IN BATTLE SUIT, KNEELS OVER THE KO'ed TRIUMPH. SHE HOLDS A SYRINGE IN HER TEETH (LIKE A HUNTING KNIFE) WHILE SHE SNAPS THE PLASTIC SEAL OFF A VIAL OF COLORED LIQUID.

FANG 3:                        I got nothin'.

WILMA CAP 4:            Jesus.

FANG 5:                        Gonna jump-start this puppy. Stand by.

 

3              WIDE: IN CLOSE: FANG PINCHES TRIUMPH'S NOSE AS SHE GIVES HIM MOUTH-TO-MOUTH, HER FREE HAND UNCEREMONIOUSLY JAMS THE SYRINGE INTO TRIUMPH'S THIGH (SHE'S GRIPPED THE SYRINGE IN HER FIST, LIKE A DAGGER).

FANG 6:                        He's gone into arrest.

BURST 7:                        Excuse me... Miss... uh... Miss Fang--

BURST 8:                        --this is Stanley Cobalt.

 

4              INT/STAN'S LAIR: FANG PERFORMS CPR ON TRIUMPH ON ONE OF THE HUGE MONITORS, WHATEVER YOU WANT ON THE OTHERS. STAN LOOKS UP AT TRIUMPH, PISSED.

STAN 9:                         This little skit of yours is not amusing.

STAN 10:                       You people... chatting on your old comm frequency-- the one I told Triumph I'd de-coded--

STAN 11:                       --trying to make me think Triumph is dead. How pathetic.

 

 

5              SAME AS (3) IN CLOSER: SOME OF FANG'S HAIR DANGLES OVER HER EYES NOW AS SHE DESPERATELY TRIES TO REVIVE TRIUMPH.

BURST 12:                      You guys are torching your good faith with me.

BURST 13:                      Think it over, kids.

FANG 14:                      C'mon, Will-- you were supposed to take this guy's temperature-- not get killed.

 

 

Page 9

1              SAME: TRIUMPH COUGHS VIOLENTLY, SPUTTERING BACK, FANG, SNARLING, TURNS HER HEAD AWAY.

TRIUMPH 1:                 >cough! cough!<

TRIUMPH 2:                 (Weakly) --you get it--?

FANG 3:                        (Whisper) Shut up.

FANG 4:                        Wilma-- I got him back.

WILMA CAP 5:            Transport him ASAP.

 

2              STANLEY AT HIS COMMAND STATION, THE SMALL MONITORS BLACK NOW, STANLEY SCOWLING.

SFX:                                CLICK!

STANLEY 6:                  (Thot) Who do they think they're dealing with...

 

3              INT/THE HOTEL SUITE. TRIUMPH, STILL IN CIVVIES, LIES ON THE SOFA. FANG AND WILMA HOVER OVER HIM.

FANG 7:                        His back is broken. Two, maybe three vertebrae.

WILMA 8:                      That's it. The caper's over.

WILMA 9:                      Let's call Father Rocko back in--

TRIUMPH 10:               No.

 

4              DOWN ANGLE: C/U TRIUMPH, DETERMINED.

TRIUMPH 11:               Father Rocko stays put.

WILMA 12:                    (Off) C'mon, boss-- the capers a scratch.

TRIUMPH 13:               We go forward, Wilma.

TRIUMPH 14:               Did you get it?

 

5              THE ROOM: FANG'S TURNED HER BACK ON TRIUMPH, GAZING OUT A WINDOW OR WHAT HAVE YOU. WILMA SHUFFLES A FEW SHEETS OF PAPER IN HIS HANDS.

WILMA 13:                    Yeah. The sensor array we lined your jacket with took all kinds of measurements off Cobalt.

WILMA 14:                    You were right-- fierce electrostatic energy, probably from Cobalt's cerebral cortex.

WILMA 15:                    Looks like our pal's a telepath-- with telekinetic and hallucinogenic capabilities.

 

6              TRIUMPH ON THE SOFA.

WILMA 16:                    (Off) He uses a medium-- like our uniform's transponders-- which are linked directly to our individual nervous systems--

TRIUMPH 17:               --to screw with our heads whenever he pleases.

 

7              MEDIUM: WILMA SCANS A FEW SHEETS OF COMPUTER PRINT OUT IN HIS HANDS.

WILMA 18:                    I'll try some noise gates on our system-- that oughtta take the punch out of his attacks.

WILMA 19:                    Even without affecting us directly, Cobalt's telekinesis grants him incredible strength and enables him to fly--

WILMA 20:                    --he could also cause other people to attack us.

 

 

Page 10

1              THE THREE: FANG'S STILL LOOKING AWAY, TRIUMPH LOST IN THOUGHT, WILMA STARING AT THE PAPERS.

WILMA 1:                      By the way-- I did a routine look-up on Gomer. Looks like a civilian. Something weird about his parts list for the FinMobile--

WILMA 2:                      --buried in the list, among the nuts and bolts, is a trigger and a remote switch.

 

2              STAT.

 

3              SAME, ONLY FANG'S TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE TWO MEN, JABBING HER INDEX FINGER AS SHE MAKES HER POINT.

FANG, TRIUMPH, WILMA 1:           (In unison) Jimmy's wired the car.

 

4              ANGLE: FANG. WILMA IN B/G.

FANG 3:                        Of course. That explains why Jimmy hasn't made a run for it. He's after the money.

WILMA 4:                      Now wait-- Jimmy knows the minute Stanley gets his hands on Dr. Cobalt's box, Jimmy is toast.

WILMA 5:                      This might be purely self-preservation--

TRIUMPH 6:                 (Off) Jimmy's after the money.

 

5              DOWN: TRIUMPH, PAINFULLY SITTING UP NOW. FANG AND WILMA ON EITHER SIDE, ASSISTING.

TRIUMPH 6:                 Once a crook, always... ughnn!

FANG 7:                        Y'know, Will-- maybe we should walk away.  This is between Jimmy and Cobalt.

TRIUMPH 8:                 Can't. Stan'll  kill Jimmy--

WILMA 9:                      --and it looks like Jimmy's well prepared for it. Will, are you doing this to spite your dad--

 

6              MEDIUM: WILMA, REASONING WITH US.

WILMA 10:                    (Off) --or because Cobalt kicked sand in your face? If Cobalt is that big a threat, let your Justice League pals handle it.

WILMA 11:                    (Off) This isn't our bag, Will. We fight for victims of violent crime. Where's the client? Who's the victim--?

 

 

 

Page 11

1              MED C/U: GRIM TRIUMPH.

TRIUMPH 1:                 Right here. You're looking at him.

TRIUMPH 2:                 I'm the client, people.

TRIUMPH 3:                 I'm the victim.

 

2              THE ROOM: FANG AND WILMA ACCEPTING THE INEVITABLE.

TRIUMPH 4:                 Now, let's shut this guy down--

BURST 5:                        Triumph, this is Cobalt. I know you're still monitoring this channel.

 

3              MED C/U: GRIM STANLEY.

STANLEY 6:                  Muster your children.

STANLEY 7:                  Follow my orders explicitly.

 

4              OVERHEAD: ISOLATE STANLEY IN HIS COMMAND CHAIR, ONE HAND IDLY TWISTING SOME OF THE DANGLING CABLES. STANLEY LOST IN THOUGHT.

STANLEY 8:                  It's time.

 

5              EST. SHOT: THE CONTROL TOWER AT THE AIRPORT. NIGHT.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER 9:       (From tower) Roger, United 902, you're clear for takeoff on ten west.

 

6              INT/CONTROL TOWER: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLS DOING WHATEVER.

BURST 10:                      Roger Indianapolis Control, ten west--

 

7              SAME: ALL THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

VARIOUS BALLOONS 11:  What--?

                                                                The power-- what happened to the lights--?

                                                                Where's the back-up--?

                                                                The whole grid's gone--

                                                                Look-- the runway!

 

 

Page 12

1              A RUNWAY, STRETCHING OUT AWAY FROM US, LIT UP WITH NIGHT LIGHTS.

VOICE 1:                       (Off) The emergency lights-- everything--

 

2              SAME: THE RUNWAY IS BLACK.

VOICE 2:                       (Off) --is going down!

BURST 3:                        You're clear.

 

3              SAME: A TRACTOR TRAILER NOW TURNS ONTO THE DARKENED RUNWAY. THE TRAILER HAS CLEARING AND HEADLIGHTS.

BURST 4:                        We've jammed local radio transmissions and inhibited the phone system.

BURST 5:                        That ought to triple the rescue squad delay time.

BURST 6:                        That gives us nearly a third the amount of time we'll actually need.

COBALT 7:                    (From trailer, not cab) You sweat your end, Triumph--

 

4              DRAMATIC ANGLE: THE FINMOBILE BARRELS TOWARDS US OUT OF THE TRAILER, ALL OF ITS LIGHTS GOING, BLINDING US, DAZZLING US.

COBALT 8:                    --Jimmy and I will handle our end.

SFX:                                VVVVRRROOOOOMMM!!

 

 

Page 13

1              (WIDE) INT/CAR: JIMMY MAC IS DRIVING. HE'S WEARING HIS OLD COSTUME HE'S PULLED BACK THE COWL OFF HIS FACE. JIMMY'S ANNOYED.

 

                IN THE SEAT NEXT TO HIM, TWISTED SO HE'S LEANING AGAINST THE PASSENGER DOOR AND LOOKING AT JIMMY, IS COBALT. COBALT IS WEARING A HIPPER, 90's VERSION OF DR. COBALT'S COSTUME. COBALT SNEERS AT JIMMY.

 

                THIS SHOULD BE AS EXACT A DUPLICATE OF TRIUMPH #3 PAGE 2 PANEL 2 AS POSSIBLE. THIS SEQUENCE SHOULD RE-CAP THE SEQUENCE FROM TRIUMPH #3 AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE.

JIMMY 1:                       Hang on tight, Stan. This might get a little hairy.

JIMMY 2:                       Your old man and I were wheeling pretty hard through those woods all those years ago.

COBALT 3:                    Just hold up your end, Jimmy. And stop calling me "Stan."

COBALT 4:                    I am Cobalt, now-- Lord of the Atom!

 

2              MED C/U JIMMY. DRIVING, EYES DARTING, TRYING TO REMEMBER.

JIMMY 5:                       You're Stanley, Dope On A Rope.

JIMMY 6:                       Shutting down a whole airport so we can drive around the runways in the dark.

 

3              MED C/U: COBALT, SNARLING AND MUTTERING.

COBALT 7:                    It's my recollection you knew the house you left my dad's stash in was slated for demolition.

JIMMY 8:                       (Off) Hey-- I didn't know they would build a friggin' airport over it.

JIMMY 9:                       (Off) With all the roads gone-- the addresses obsolete--

 

4              ANGLE ON THE BACK SEAT, WHERE A MILK CRATE FULL OF BRICKS RESTS.

JIMMY 10:                     (Off) --the best I can offer is to wing it. Find it by feel. For that I needed the exact same equipment I was driving that night--

COBALT 11:                  (Off) --including accommodating for the weight of my father's case.

 

5              WIDE:  LONG SHOT: THE CAR RACING, SLIDING AS IT TURNS AND RACES ACROSS THE GRASS, JIMMY FOLLOWING A ROAD THAT NO LONGER EXISTS. THE GRASS, PARTS OF RUNWAY, ETC. ILLUMINATED BY THE CAR'S LIGHTS.

JIMMY 12:                     (From car) That's it, Stan. Same temperature, moon in the same spot-- same smell from those hills--

 

 

Page 14

1              INT/CAR: 2-SHOT: JIMMY AND COBALT. ANGLE ON JIMMY AS HE JERKS THE WHEEL WHILE POINTING OUT THE WINDSHIELD.

JIMMY 1:                       There!

 

2              AERIAL: THE FINMOBILE HAS SKIDS TO A HALT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RUNWAY.

SFX:                                SKREEEEEEECHH!!!

JIMMY 2:                       (From car) The house was here. I'd swear it.

COBALT 3:                    All right, Triumph-- you're on.

 

3              NEW ANGLE: TRIUMPH STREAKS ACROSS THE NIGHT SKY.

TRIUMPH 4:                 On my way, Stanley.

BURST 5:                        STOP CALLING ME STANLEY!

TRIUMPH 6:                 Sure.

TRIUMPH 7:                 Wilma-- how we lookin'?

 

4              TRIUMPH HOVERS OVER THE FINMOBILE WHILE FIRING ENERGY BOLTS INTO THE GROUND.

WILMA CAP 8:            Looking good, Triumph. No emergency crews yet.

WILMA CAP 9:            But don't take your time about it.

TRIUMPH 10:               Got you.

SFX:                                WHHHAAAAAMMMMMM!!

 

5              2-SHOT: MED/CU: COBALT AND JIMMY, SHIELDING THEIR EYES, WINCING A BIT. LIT BY SPARKS OR WHAT HAVE YOU FROM THE FORCE OF TRIUMPH'S DRILLING.

TRIUMPH 11:               (Up and Off) This will take a little bit, though.

TRIUMPH 12:               (Attach to previous) That's solid concrete down there--

 

6              MED C/U: TRIUMPHG. TEETH GRITTED, AS HE CONTINUES FIRING.

TRIUMPH 13:               --laid over layers of asphalt cushioning.

TRIUMPH 14:               Stan would need tons of heavy equipment and several hours to do the job--

 

 

Page 15

1              GROUND LEVEL: DR. COBALT SHOVES JIMMY BACK AS HE RACES TOWARDS US. THE HOLE TRIUMPH BORED INTO THE RUNWAY IN F/G. TRIUMPH LANDS IN B/G.

TRIUMPH 1:                 --that I can do in minutes.

COBALT 2:                    (Burst) BACK OFF--!!

 

2              COBALT GLEEFULLY LEAPS INTO THE BLACK HOLE. WE CANNOT SEE THE BOTTOM OF IT.

COBALT 3:                    --I go alone.

 

3              2-SHOT: TRIUMPH AND HIS FATHER. JIMMY NON-CHALONTLY LIGHTS A CIGARETTE, NOT LOOKING AT TRIUMPH.

JIMMY 4:                       Seal him up.

TRIUMPH 5:                 What--?

JIMMY 6:                       What are you, lame? This is the perfect opportunity to be rid of that idiot.

TRIUMPH 7:                 I'm no killer.

JIMMY 8:                       Right.

 

4              SIMILAR: JIMMY NOW SCRUTINIZES TRIUMPH, LOOKING HIM OVER.

JIMMY 9:                       You got a plan, don'tcha? You're up to something.

JIMMY 10:                     I can smell it.

COBALT 11:                  (Pick up from off) He has no plan, Jimmy Mac--

 

5              DRAMATIC SHOT: COBALT LEVITATES UP OUT OF THE HOLE, HIS FATHER'S TRUNK CARRIED BY THE HEAVY LINK CHAINS AROUND IT. THE TRUNK LOOKS ABOUT THE SAME, MAYBE REALLY DUSTY.

COBALT 12:                  --Triumph has come to terms with the fact I am in his face forever.

COBALT 13:                  Getting rid of me will be a lot tougher than just "sealing me up--"

 

 

Page 16

1              NEW ANGLE: COBALT ON THE GROUND NOW, SITTING THE TRUNK IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE FINMOBILE.

COBALT 1:                    --although I do admire your honesty.

COBALT 2:                    Tell Fang to pick me up.

 

2              THE ROTOJET TAKES OFF, LIFTING THE FINMOBILE WITH A HARNESS.[3] COBALT BEHIND THE WHEEL.

CAPTION 3:                  Moments later...

COBALT 4:                    You and your team have done well, Triumph.

COBALT 5:                    Maybe I'll let you all live that much longer.

COBALT 6:                    I'll be in touch.

 

3              INT/ROTOJET: FANG AT THE CONTROLS.

FANG 7:                        Okay, Wilma-- how'm I doing?

WILMA CAP 8:            You're clear, Fang-- air traffic control's still got that whole grid down. You can slip right through the radar nets--

WILMA CAP 9:            --and get Cobalt back to his hideout--

COBALT 10:                          (Off) Drop the car.

 

4              SAME: SUDDENLY, COBALT IS THERE, SHOVING A PISTOL AGAINST HER HEAD.

FANG 11:                      --wha--?

COBALT 12:                  You heard me-- the car is worthless Drop it now!!

COBALT 13:                  I know you can hear me, Triumph. I'm so very disappointed in you.

 

5              EXT/ROTOJET: IN MID FLIGHT, THE HARNESS RELEASES, THE FINMOBILE PLUMMETS.

COBALT 14:                  (From RotoJet) Wilma is manning communications-- Eddie X is fired-- Fang is with me--

COBALT 15:                  (Attach to previous) --so where is Father Rocko? And why does your RotoJet suddenly have no laser cannon?

 

6              THE FINMOBILE SMASHES IGNOBLY INTO THE GROUND. THERE IS NO EXPLOSION.

COBALT 16:                  (Off) I'm assuming the two are together.

COBALT 17:                  (Same) That perhaps the good reverend has dug a channel beneath the runway with your powerful laser cannon--

 

 

Page 17

1              INT/ROTOJET: COBALT AND FANG, FANG'S HEAD LEANING A BIT FROM THE PRESSURE OF COBALT'S GUN PRESSED AGAINST IT.

COBALT 1:                    --and tampered with my legacy.

COBALT 2:                    Jimmy and his pitiful trigger and remote switch. Like I wouldn't notice.

COBALT 3:                    Now, woman-- you will take me to my father's legacy--

COBALT 4:                    --or die.

 

2              ON THE GROUND: TRIUMPH AND JIMMY STAND ON THE RUNWAY, TRIUMPH SMILING.

TRIUMPH 5:                 Well, guess that's about it.

JIMMY 6:                       That's what?!

TRIUMPH 7:                 End of caper, Jimmy. I drop you off at jail, and get home in time for Seinfeld.

JIMMY 8:                       What-- you just gonna let Stanley kill her--?

 

3              MED C/U: SMILING TRIUMPH. SO FULL OF HIMSELF.

TRIUMPH 9:                 You never rigged that car to blow, did you? I figured either Stanley or Gomer would see any explosives hidden on the car.

TRIUMPH 10:               No, but you wanted Cobalt to think you'd rigged it. Maybe wanted me to think so as well--

 

4              MED: STOIC JIMMY. JIMMY LIGHTS A CIGARETTE.

TRIUMPH 11:               (Off) --so when Cobalt got out of the car, I'd be ready.

TRIUMPH 12:               (Off) Hope I'm not giving you too much credit, Jimmy.

JIMMY 13:                     Hope I didn't give you too much.

 

5              DOWN ANGLE: THE TWO MEN.

TRIUMPH 14:               Nah. I'm a pistol.

TRIUMPH 15:               Right about now, Cobalt's realizing we've stripped the RotoJet of most of its hardware and created an energy dampening field inside--

 

6              NEW ANGLE: TRIUMPH, DUSTING HIS HANDS TOGETHER, CONGRATULATING HIMSELF.

TRIUMPH 16:               --robbing him of his powers.

TRIUMPH 17:               He's locked inside and powerless.

JIMMY 18:                     (Off) Sounds like you thought of everything.

TRIUMPH 19:               Yes.

TRIUMPH 20:               Yes, I believe I have--

BURST 21:                      (Electric) YO-- COBALT, HOLMES--

 

7              SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS: TRIUMPH'S FACE HAS DROPPED, HE WHIRLS AWAY FROM JIMMY, LOOKING SKYARD.

TRIUMPH 22:               No--

TRIUMPH 23:               --no-- life can't be this cruel--

 

 

Page 18

1              INT/ROTOJET: EDDIE X, IN BATTLE SUIT, SPRINGING UP FROM BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, TWO PISTOLS IN HAND, FIRING, SNARLING. LIT BY MUZZLE FLASH.

EDDIE X 1:                    (Burst) --I KISSED YO MAMA FIVE TIMES!!

FANG 2:                        (Off, Burst) EDDIE X--!!

 

2              REVERSE TO EDDIE X POV: FANG DUCKS AS GUNFIRE RIPS THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. COBALT SNARLS AND RETURNS FIRE. COBALT GETTING HIT, BUT NOT GOING DOWN.

COBALT 3:                    Aren't you fired?!

COBALT 4:                    You've been monitoring all along-- following this operation--

COBALT 5:                    --Triumph is sharper than I gave him credit for--!!

 

3              EDDIE TACKLES COBALT BACK THROUGH WINDSHIELD.

EDDIE X 6:                    Yo man Holmes, bunk Triumph, y'unnerstand? I'm Eddie X, man. Mira, I go solo, Holmes. Like a wild dog,

EDDIE X 7:                    Gonna eat you up, man Holmes.

 

4              CUT TO: TRIUMPH AIRBORNE.

WILMA CAP 8:            Triumph-- we got problems.

TRIUMPH 9:                 Tell me about it.

WILMA 10:                    All that gunplay has shorted out the energy dampening field--

 

5              EXT/ROTOJET: COBALT AND EDDIE X HANG HALFWAY OUT OF THE CHOPPER, LOCKED IN A DESPERATE STRUGGLE. COBALT HAS ONE HAND LOCKED AROUND EDDIE X'S THROAT, SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF HIM.

WILMA CAP 11:          --Cobalt's getting his power back. The noise gates will filter out his psycho powers--

WILMA CAP 12:          --but his strength--

TRIUMPH 13:               (Off, burst) I get the picture, Wilma--

 

6              MED C/U: TRIUMPH, SNARLING, FIST EXTENDED TOWARDS US IN FORCED PERSPECTIVE.

TRIUMPH 14:               --in a second, Cobalt's gonna get it, too.

 

 

 

Page 19

                (SPLASH) INT/ROTOJET: TRIUMPH RAMS INTO COBALT, RAMMING COBALT THROUGH WHAT'S LEFT OF THE WINDSHIELD, COBALT REACTING IN EXTREME PAIN.

SFX:                                WHAAAAAMMMMM--!!

COBALT 1:                    Wha--

COBALT 2:                    --you-- you jerk!!

COBALT 3:                    You're nothing-- you understand--?  Nothing--!!

COBALT 4:                    I'll kill you!  I'll kill you all!!

COBALT 5:                    (Burst) I'm Doctor Cobalt!! I am Doctor Cobalt, damn you!!

COBALT 6:                    (Burst) I--

 

 

 

Page 20

1              (WIDE) EXT/ROTOJET: COBALT EXPLODES BACKWARDS THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, CARRIED BY THE MOMENTUM OF TRIUMPH'S SURGE.

SFX:                                KKERRRRAAAAAASSSSSHH!!

 

2              MID AIR: COBALT, DEFEATED, GLASS SPRINLING OFF HIM, COSTUME RIPPED, FACE CONTORTED INTO A SNARL, TWISTS BACKWARDS INTO A PLUNGE.

— no copy —

 

3              LONG SHOT: COBALT PLUNGES INTO A RIVER OR LAKE.

SFX:                                FWWOOOOSSSHHH!!

 

4              NEW ANGLE: TRIUMPH WALKS ASHORE, DRAGGING THE KO'ED COBALT. COPS LINE THE RIVER BANK, WAITING FOR THEM.

TRIUMPH 1:                 Yeah.

TRIUMPH 2:                 That you are.

 

5              EST. SHOT/CLIFFSIDE TRAILER PARK: AN OLD PICKUP TRUCK STOPS IN FRONT OF THE UGLY, RUN-DOWN TRAILER TRIUMPH USED TO LIVE IN.

 

                MIKE: IMPORTANT: THE ROTOJET'S LASER CANNON LIES ON THE GROUND NEXT TO THE TRAILER. NO NEED TO CALL A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IT, JUST MAKE SURE IT'S THERE. THANKS.

CAPTION 3:                  Epilog.

CAPTION 4:                  The Cliffside Trailer Park, forty minutes later.

 

6              INT/TRAILER: MEDIUM: JIMMY MAC OPENS THE DOOR, A LITTLE SURPRISED (BUT NOT SHOCKED, JIMMY HAS A LIMITED RANGE OF EXPRESSION).

BALLOON 5:                 (Off) So, Jimmy Mac. It's about time.

BALLOON 6:                 (Off)  You and I are long overdue for a talk.

 

 

Page 21

1              REVERSE TO JIMMY POV: FATHER ROCKO, IN BATTLE SUIT, SITS AT RATTY METAL TABLE. ONE LEG UP ON THETABLE, HIS OTHER FOOT RESTING ON A LAUNDRY BAG ON THE FLOOR. ROCKO HOLDS HIS TRADEMARK CUPOF COFFEEE AND READS THE PAPER, IGNORING JIMMY (WHO IS OFF-PANEL)

FATHER ROCKO 1:    I'm Father Rocko. I work for somebody.

FATHER ROCKO 2:    It's my impression you came looking for this--

 

2              DETAIL: ROCKO'S BOOT RESTING ON THE LAUNDRY BAG.

ROCKO 3:                     (Off) --Dr. Cobalt's loot.

ROCKO 4:                     (Off)  Cobalt was right-- there wasn't any cash in his old man's box. But it wasn't because I got to it--

ROCKO 5:                     (Off) --although we took the laser cannon off the RotoJet to make him think I had. No--

ROCKO 6:                     (Off) --there was never any cash there to begin with. You pulled a switch down in that bomb shelter--

 

3              FLASHBACK: FROM ISSUE #1, THE FINMOBILE ZOOMING THROUGH THE WOODS.

CAPTION 7:                  "--your "desperate plan B" was plan "A" all along. Coulda got away clean if you hadn't stopped to stash Cobalt's trunk.

CAPTION 8:                  "Got me thinking-- why would a dime-store wheel man allow himself to get pinched like that? Then it hit me--

CAPTION 9:                  "--you switch the loot-- take a pinch-- your old lady retrieves the laundry bag while leaving the trunk for Cobalt to find.

 

4              NEW ANGLE: THE ROOM: JIMMY AND ROCKO.

ROCKO 10:                   That way, when Cobalt busted outta the joint-- you'd stick with him, and catch all the hell when he found out he'd been had.

ROCKO 11:                   While your wife and kid live the life you could never give them.

ROCKO 12:                   The wrinkle was: your wife had second thoughts. She couldn't keep the dirty money. She just buried it in the backyard. Look here, Jimmy Mac--

 

5              MED: ROCKO, STILL READING THE PAPER, HOLDS OUT A SMALL STACK OF BILLS.

ROCKO 13:                   I am authorized to offer you a ten-k brick, and sixty seconds of lead time before I call the cops.

ROCKO 14:                   This deal expires at the end of this sentence--

 

6              WIDEN: GET BOTH MEN IN: JIMMY MAC TAKING A STACK OF BILLS FROM ROCKO, WHO OFFERS IT TO HIM WITHOUT LOOKING UP FROM HIS PAPER.

ROCKO 15:                   --yeah. I thought so.

ROCKO 16:                   Hit the road, you hump. Makes me sick to think we're cutting you this much slack.

[4]ROCKO 17:[5]                 Even if your medical records do show you dying of cancer.

 

7              EXT: TRAILER: JIMMY MAC PAUSES IN THE OPEN DOOR. THE STACK OF MONEY SHOVED IN A POCKET.

— no copy —

 

8              SAME: HE NON CHALONTLY LIGHTS A CIGARETTE.

JIMMY 18:                     Don't ever be like me, Billy Mac--

 

 

Page 22

1              (BIGGER PANEL) JIMMY POV: TRIUMPH, IN COSTUME, SITS ON THE STEPS. LEANED OVER, ELBOWS RESTING ON HIS THIGHS, HIS FINGERS LACED TOGETHER, CHIN RESTING ON THEM AS HE STARES OFF INTO THE DISTANCE.

JIMMY 1:                       (Off) --ever.

 

2              SIMILAR TO PANEL (1): TRIUMPH SITTING ON THE STEPS.: NOW JIMMY'S STEPPED IN FRONT OFTHE CAMERA (WE ONLY SEE HIS LEGS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, HE'S BADLY CROPPED OFF) AS HE WALKS DOWN THE STEPS PAST TRIUMPH.

— no copy —

 

3              EXACT SAME POV: TRIUMPH SITTING ON THE STEPS, JIMMY OFF-PANEL NOW.

SFX:                                SLAMMM.

 

4              STAT PREVIOUS.

SFX:                                VVVRRROOOOOOMMM--!!

 

5              OVERHEAD: ISOLATION SHOT: LONELY TRIUMPH SITS ON THE STEPS, HIS DAD'S PCIKUP TRUCK ROUNDS A CORNER, KICKING UP DUST AS HE DRIVES OUT OF TRIUMPH'S LIFE. AGAIN.

CAPTION 2:                  END.

CAPTION 3:                  Triumph's adventures continue monthly in the Justice League Task Force.

 

— 30 —

 

CONTINUITY NOTE FOR BRIAN:  The Triumph miniseries takes place between Task Force #26 and Task Force #27.