INT. NUCLEAR LAUNCH CONTROL CENTER - DAY
Control screens blink, displaying trajectory data. Sarah Corwin, her face pale, stands before a console.
SARAH
Missiles one and two have been neutralized.
GRODD
(Whirling around,furious)
What happened?!
SARAH
My guess is Utopian intercepted them.
Suddenly, a rush of wind sweeps through the room. The Flash appears, smiling, alongside Solovar.
FLASH
Hoho!Looks like my buddy was faster than your rockets.
GRODD
(Roaring)
You again!
SOLOVAR
(Stepping forward,gravely)
Grodd,you are under arrest for crimes against Gorilla City.
GRODD
(Sneering)
In five minutes,Gorilla City won't even exist!
At that moment, the main screen tracks the missiles' paths. A third point vanishes.
SARAH
Missile three...intercepted by Green Lantern.
Then the fourth and final point blinks out.
SARAH
(Whispering)
Nothing...They're all gone.
Grodd watches, incredulous, as his plan collapses. A roar of pure, bestial rage tears through the air. Everything had been going so well. Now, it had all failed. Blinded by fury, he lunges at Solovar. The two gorillas engage in a fierce combat, trading powerful blows.
Flash, too fast to be followed, zips around the duel and, in passing, taps lightly on Grodd's helmet like a drum.
FLASH
(While moving)
Boom-ba-boom!
The provocation enrages Grodd further. He knocks Solovar aside with a powerful punch and charges at Flash, who continues to nimbly dodge him.
GRODD
(Screaming)
Stop moving around and face me head-on,you pest!
Flash stops dead, a few meters away.
FLASH
Fine.But it has to be fair. I take off my headband... you take off your helmet.
SOLOVAR
(Struggling to his feet)
No,Flash! He is not to be trusted!
But Flash is already removing the headband from his forehead and tossing it aside casually.
GRODD
(Jubilant)
Fool!
Triumph flashing in his eyes, Grodd activates his helmet at full power, aiming at Flash's now-vulnerable mind. But instead, a violent electrical arc erupts from the helmet, striking Grodd squarely in the head. He lets out a choked cry, his body stiffens, then collapses heavily, unconscious. Wisps of smoke rise from his skull.
SARAH
(Rushing to him)
No!No! Grodd! What have you done?!
FLASH
(Calmly)
When I"tapped" his helmet, I also crossed a few wires. A quick express recalibration.
SARAH
(Whirling around,eyes filled with tears and fury)
How dare you?!You've destroyed one of the greatest minds of our time!
FLASH
(Perplexed)
It's okay,Doctor. You're free of his telepathic control, see...
SARAH
(Interrupting,hysterical)
He didn't need it with me!I loved him! I loved him willingly!
Flash and Solovar exchange a look of absolute shock. The revelation leaves them speechless.
---
EXT. GORILLA CITY - CAMOUFLAGED - DAY
The city, now visible, is under reconstruction. The LEADER OF THE GORILLAS, imposing and dignified, stands before the assembled Justice League: Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Utopian.
LEADER
(In a deep,solemn voice)
On behalf of the Gorilla people,we thank you for your aid. You have saved our city and our heritage.
FLASH
(Smiling)
Ah,it was nothing! What will happen to Grodd?
SOLOVAR
I will show you.
He guides them to a cell carved from stone. Inside, Grodd sits, eyes empty, staring at the wall. Drool drips uncontrollably from his mouth. He is lobotomized, reduced to a vegetative state.
SOLOVAR
The electrical shock completely fried his brain.The higher functions are obliterated.
UTOPIAN
(Looking at the pitiful form)
I almost feel pity for him.
SOLOVAR
You have my word.We will treat him well. He is still one of our own.
FLASH
(Proudly,turning to the others)
Not bad,huh? I'm the one who managed to take down the super-genius!
GREEN LANTERN
(A slight smile on his lips)
Proves you're not totally irredeemable.
FLASH
(Pouting)
Yeah,and I... Hey! That's not nice! You can't make fun of me!
As the team walks away, sharing a moment of levity after the victory, the camera lingers for a moment on Grodd's vacant face.
Suddenly, an almost imperceptible twitch crosses his features. His hand clenches slightly. And in the silence of his cell, a single thought, clear and venomous, emerges from the smoldering ruins of his mind:
I will have my vengeance.