REALS

by

Gwydion Suilebhan

219 Normandy Drive

Silver Spring, MD 20901
(202) 258-1993
suilebhan@gmail.com
www.suilebhan.com
CHARACTERS

NIGHTLIFE/JACK male, late 20s

BELT/LANEY female, mid 20s
SENSEI male, late 20s
GIRL female, early 20s

Two notes on casting:

The actor who plays GIRL should also deliver the prologue, though
in a costume that completely conceals her identity.

Directors should feel free to cast actors of any ethnic

backgrounds in any of the four roles.

SETTING

A small warehouse, lit only by three simple bulbs hanging from

bare wires. Boxes, long unopened, in great stacks, and two or
three crates arranged like chairs around a heap of empty pallets.
PROLOGUE

A REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO, her identity

completely obscured by her costume,
addresses the audience.

REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO
All right, everybody, listen up. We need to get something
straight before we start: you do not know the first thing
about superheroes. You might think you do, but you don’t. And
until you realize that, you will never become one.

A beat.

REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO
For example... everybody thinks of Superman as this great big
sort-of-conservative patriot. You know: Truth, Justice, the
American Way. But Superman is a liberal. All the original
Superman stories are about him standing up for the powerless,
the unemployed, the oppressed. And his enemies were all
corrupt politicians and greedy capitalists. I mean, the first
time he ever appears on a comic book cover he’s hoisting this
gigantic car over his head and smashing the thing on a rock.
The ultimate symbol of American materialism destroyed. And
the only other thing you can see are these three well-dressed
guys that look like businessmen: one crouching, completely
terrified; one running away in a panic; and one doing a total
Edvard Munch Scream imitation.

She imitates the Munch/Scream gesture.

REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO
Socialist Superman. The very first superhero. That’s where we
all come from. And if you can’t accept that, deep down -- if
you don’t realize criminals aren’t the enemy, the system is --
you might as well get out now. I am dead serious.

A long beat.

REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO
So, if you’re all staying, then, here’s the next lesson:
superhero movies are bad for you. Listen up. Look at the
highest-grossing films of all time. You’ve got invincible
magic pirates, Jedi masters, hobbits, wizards, ogres, robots.
The Avengers (of course), Batman, Spider-Man. Even Harry
Potter. I mean, come on: he’s got powers, he carries a magic
weapon, he wears that robe costume? All superhero movies, and
they all made a lot of really rich people a lot richer. You
know why? Because they all make people like you and me feel
like everything’s fine with the universe. The superhero won!
You can relax now and go back to buying things! They’ve got
you right where they want you. You’re already defeated and
you don’t even know there’s a fight going on. So that’s the
second reason you need to get out, now, while you still can.
 Suilebhan | 2.

Because superheroes own you. I mean, I know you all think

you’re different. You’re a rebel. You’re independent. And if
you want to turn yourself into some kind of hero, you’re
going to do it, no matter what I say. Am I right?

A beat.

REAL-LIFE SUPERHERO
But you see, this is the deal: in the comics, you never see
anyone intentionally becoming a superhero. It’s something
that happens to you. You get bitten by a radioactive spider,
you’re accidentally exposed to chemicals, you get struck by
lightning. And when it happens, it comes with a terrible
cost. Death, pain, secrecy: you name it. Nobody chooses the
superhero life. It’s an accident. On the other hand, you know
who does actually try to become powerful? Super-villains. If
you ever see a character taking experimental drugs with nasty
side effects or programming armies of deadly robots to steal
super-powered weapons, you can be damn sure that character’s
a threat. So as far as I’m concerned, the mere fact that you
came here to a real-life superhero recruitment drive makes
you suspect. You can’t trust anybody who wants to be a real-
life superhero. Which is why this isn’t really a recruitment
drive at all. This is a chance for me to tell you, all of
you, that my partners and I are watching you. All the
information you gave us to get in here today, we’re keeping
on file... and if need be, we’ll use it. Now go home, be
safe, and find another way to live out your fantasies. You’ve
been warned.

Instant blackness, into which she

completely disappears.
 Suilebhan | 3.

SCENE ONE

NIGHTLIFE, a well-built man wearing a

full superhero costume -- black cape,
black leather pants, black t-shirt and
boots, and a black cowl covering his
head -- paces through the warehouse.
LANEY, a young woman dressed in
conventional clothing, sits nearby.

LANEY
Okay, so... you still like this plan.

NIGHTLIFE
It’ll work.

LANEY
You sure about that?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, I’m sure.

LANEY
And you don’t mind not being on the up and up?

NIGHTLIFE
Sometimes you have to make tough choices. Compromise what you
believe in to get what you want.

LANEY
I thought honesty was important to you.

NIGHTLIFE
It... is, but --
LANEY
Living up to your ideals.

NIGHTLIFE
This is different.

LANEY
Come on, Jack, this isn’t --

NIGHTLIFE
Nightlife, please. Whenever I’m in costume, you have to call
me --

LANEY
Nightlife. Sorry. How is this different?

NIGHTLIFE
Laney, it’s important. A secret identity’s a fragile thing.
I’ve said that like a thousand times.
 Suilebhan | 4.

LANEY
This is ridiculous.

NIGHTLIFE
It has to be protected.

LANEY
I’m trying to help you here.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s what we do, remember? Protect things?

LANEY
But I already know who you are. I know your secret identity.
It’s not a secret. There’s nothing to protect against.

NIGHTLIFE
Okay. One: yes, there is something to protect against. Bad
habits. If you start calling me Jack when we’re alone, what’s
to say you won’t do it when we’re out on the street? Like in
a tense situation. You have to have discipline. And two: do
you remember --

LANEY
What tense situation?

NIGHTLIFE
Anything. An assault. Stopping an assault. And two: do you
even remember who --

LANEY
You haven’t even seen an assault yet, let alone stopped one.

NIGHTLIFE
No, but --
LANEY
I have.

A long beat.

NIGHTLIFE
I realize.

LANEY
I already know how I’ll handle a tense situation.

NIGHTLIFE
No, I know.

LANEY
You have no idea.
 Suilebhan | 5.

NIGHTLIFE
Well I don’t know, exactly, but I think I do have some idea.
I’ve been training for it, studying, preparing. Anyway, two:
have you totally not remembered who our first interview is?

LANEY
That Sensei guy. So what?

NIGHTLIFE
What do you mean, so what? The guy’s got super-hearing, super-
sight, super-senses. Thus the name.

LANEY
Are you sure that’s why they call him that?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes.

LANEY
What’s your point?

NIGHTLIFE
What if he’s standing right outside, waiting? What if he
heard you say my name? What then?

LANEY
This is a warehouse. The whole place is made of concrete.
Sound doesn’t travel through concrete.

NIGHTLIFE
Laney --

LANEY
You could fire a gun in here and the person with the best
ears in the whole entire world couldn’t hear it through walls
like these.

NIGHTLIFE
What about the door?

LANEY
The door’s thirty feet away. Jesus. His hearing’s not that
good, you know. It’s not actually super.

NIGHTLIFE stares at her.

LANEY
What?

NIGHTLIFE
You really don’t like being a real-life superhero, do you?

LANEY
Oh, please don’t start on this again. I like being a real.
 Suilebhan | 6.

NIGHTLIFE
Well, then why do you make fun of everything? I mean, of
course the guy doesn’t have actual super-hearing or whatever,
but it’s probably way better than average. Maybe way, way
better. Maybe it’s so much better it even seems super by
comparison. Is it so hard to imagine that could be possible?

LANEY
The door is solid metal. There isn’t even a keyhole he could
be pressing his ear against.

NIGHTLIFE
God, it’s like you don’t even want to believe.

LANEY
In what? Totally impossibilities like --

NIGHTLIFE
In our mission! Assembling an elite team of well-trained
costumed vigilantes to restore order and safety to our
streets.

LANEY
Doesn’t that seem like a bit much to you?

NIGHTLIFE
No.

LANEY
A little fake?/ Running around in costumes?

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
No!
(when she’s done)
You aren’t even wearing your costume!

LANEY
With nicknames?

NIGHTLIFE
People need to know who we are. They need to know we’re out
there, fighting for them. Our nicknames are like symbols.
They stand for something. Hope. Change. Why do you think
Superman has that S on his chest? It’s practically his
corporate logo. It’s a promise. It gives people confidence.
And I think we need to be brave enough, bold enough, to --

LANEY
You aren’t Superman.

NIGHTLIFE
I realize. But --
 Suilebhan | 7.

LANEY
I’m not Superman. Superman isn’t real.

NIGHTLIFE
You are missing the whole point.

LANEY
I am not missing anything. God, why do we always do this?

NIGHTLIFE
Do what?

LANEY
Bicker.

NIGHTLIFE
All superhero teams bicker.

LANEY
Oh, and how would you know that? Have you ever been part of a
superhero team before? No.

NIGHTLIFE
It’s part of the standard superhero mythology.

LANEY
There is no standard superhero mythology! There are only
comic books. This is life. We’re alive. We’re reals.

NIGHTLIFE
Real-life superheroes.

LANEY
I told you. I don’t like the term superhero.
NIGHTLIFE
You have a superhero costume. You have a superhero name. You
have superhero powers.

LANEY
For god’s sake, Jack, you’re like a broken record.

NIGHTLIFE
Nightlife!

LANEY
Fine, Nightlife, I don’t have powers! I have martial arts
training. So I can break a few carefully-stacked boards with
a carefully-aimed kick. So what?

NIGHTLIFE
You have a black belt in karate. A brown belt in jujitsu. You
have two red belts in --
 Suilebhan | 8.

LANEY
I know my wardrobe.

NIGHTLIFE
You’re deadly. I’d kill to have half your skill.

LANEY
All I really know is how to fall without hurting myself. You
really need to understand that.

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
What about the truth thing?

LANEY
That isn’t a power. It’s... women’s intuition.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh, come on. I’ve seen you do it. Ten people told completely
ridiculous stories -- supposedly true stories -- and you knew
exactly which one was lying. Soon as the last guy finished
you whipped off your blindfold and pointed out the liar.

LANEY
It was a bar bet. A trick.

NIGHTLIFE
What, are you saying you faked it?

LANEY
No, I’m not saying that. It was just... obvious.

NIGHTLIFE
It was so not obvious. Nobody else could have done that. I
had absolutely no idea. The stories were so crazy, I thought
they were all lying.

LANEY
It doesn’t always work.

NIGHTLIFE
You say that, but I bet it does.

LANEY
Believe me. It doesn’t.

NIGHTLIFE
Well, so, you’ve got some kind of vulnerability. All
superheroes have vulnerabilities. It’s normal. We just need
to figure out what it is and guard against it. That’s what
teammates do. Take care of each other. That and bicker.
 Suilebhan | 9.

LANEY
You really do believe all this stuff.

NIGHTLIFE
I promise, Laney -- I’ll look out for you. Nothing like what
happened to you will ever happen again.

A quick beat.

LANEY
You can be very sweet when you want to, you know that?

NIGHTLIFE
Thank you.

LANEY
It’s the main reason I like you so much.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh. Well --

LANEY
It’s also your vulnerability.

NIGHTLIFE
What is?

LANEY
Being all nice and kind and trusting.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s not a vulnerability. That’s --

LANEY
No. Listen to me. You put on this cape and cowl and walk
around picking up litter, and that’s one thing. But now
you’re talking about fighting criminals, and all you’re armed
with is a really good night stick, a little can of pepper
spray, and a lot of impractical ideas.

NIGHTLIFE
Don’t forget two years of coast guard training.

LANEY
See? That’s what I’m talking about. You actually believe
that. You’re so totally idealistic I don’t know whether to
hug you or make fun of you.

NIGHTLIFE
If you don’t like my ideas, you could always partner up with
somebody second-rate like... Fakira.
 Suilebhan | 10.

LANEY
Don’t judge. I hear she’s pretty tough. Contorts her body,
sticks needles through her forearms. Her pain tolerance is
supposedly through the roof. That kind of mental discipline
could make her a great leader.

NIGHTLIFE
We don’t need a leader. Anyway, she sounds like a freak show,
not a real-life superhero.

LANEY
Who’s to say who’s a real and who isn’t?

NIGHTLIFE
We are! You are. I ask the questions, and you use your truth-
telling power to make sure they really are who they say they
are, and not some... pretender.

LANEY
For the last time, Nightlife, it isn’t a power.

NIGHTLIFE
Whatever it is. Intuition. You hide behind the boxes and --

LANEY
Wait a minute. This is the part that’s still bugging me. Why
do I have to hide again?

NIGHTLIFE
Because, Laney, if they know about your... intuition ability,
they won’t let their guard down in front of you. So it’s
better they don’t even think you’re here.

LANEY
Oh, and how would they know about that ability, Nightlife?
Because I certainly don’t tell people about it.

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t know. Word gets around.

LANEY
You’re impossible.

NIGHTLIFE
I wanted to get people excited about joining our team! I want
to make us look good. To show us in a positive light.

LANEY
Lying about our abilities? Spying on Sensei? That’s supposed
to make us look good?
 Suilebhan | 11.

NIGHTLIFE
We’re not spying on him. We’re assessing him. We don’t know
who he is beneath his mask. And besides, he’ll never know you
were here. Just stay behind those boxes and don’t make a
sound, ‘cause with his senses, even the slightest --

A series of three distinct knocks at

the door.

LANEY
It’s him.

She starts to move behind the boxes.

NIGHTLIFE
Wait.

She stops. NIGHTLIFE listens to the

door for a beat.

LANEY
What is it? What’s wrong?

NIGHTLIFE
That wasn’t the knock. It’s supposed to be three distinct
knocks, a pause, then three more knocks. Whoever it is only
did the first part.

LANEY
He probably just got the instructions wrong.

NIGHTLIFE
No. They were totally clear. Three knocks, a pause, and three
more knocks.
They listen for another beat.

LANEY
What do you want to do?

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t know.

LANEY
Go hide. I’ll see who it is.

NIGHTLIFE
If it’s him, you’ll blow your cover. Damn it, why didn’t you
wear your costume?

LANEY
To sit behind a stack of boxes and listen? No, thank you. I
worked hard for that costume. I only wear it to fight in.
 Suilebhan | 12.

NIGHTLIFE
You need to wear it whenever we’re doing superhero work. This
is superhero work.

LANEY
Answering the door?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, answering the door.

LANEY
So you do it, then. You’re the one who invited him here
anyway.

NIGHTLIFE
If it isn’t him, we’ll be revealing our location.

LANEY
Somebody clearly knows we’re here already!

NIGHTLIFE
Will you please keep your voice down? If he hears you, the
whole thing’s blown.

LANEY
And if he gets tired of waiting for you to answer the door
and walks away, you’ll be stuck with Fakira.

NIGHTLIFE
Fine. You hide, I’ll answer. But I really don’t like the way
this is starting off.

NIGHTLIFE starts to cross to the door.

LANEY
Nightlife, wait.

NIGHTLIFE
What?

LANEY
I know you want to impress the guy, to sell him on the team
and all, but... just make sure you really listen to what he
has to say. Because --

NIGHTLIFE
Laney, I have to get the door.

LANEY
Nightlife...

NIGHTLIFE
I’ll listen. I promise.
 Suilebhan | 13.

LANEY hides. NIGHTLIFE moves to the

door and, after a quick beat, opens it.
Standing outside, his fist raised as if
frozen in mid-knock, is SENSEI. He is
outfitted entirely in red: his head is
obscured by a hood, his eyes hidden
behind glasses.

SENSEI keeps his arm raised. Both men

stare at each other silently for a
beat, neither wanting to be the first
to speak.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes?

A quick beat.

SENSEI
Yes.

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
So are you...?

SENSEI
I am.

NIGHTLIFE
You are... what?

SENSEI
I’m sorry. I don’t understand.
NIGHTLIFE
Will you do me a favor and just say it?

SENSEI
What is it that you want me to say?

NIGHTLIFE
Your name. Say your name.

SENSEI
Ah. Sensei.

NIGHTLIFE
Thank you. Now come in, quickly, before somebody sees us.

SENSEI
Yes, of course.
 Suilebhan | 14.

SENSEI enters and begins examining the

warehouse. NIGHTLIFE closes and locks
the door behind him.

NIGHTLIFE
I’m Nightlife.

SENSEI
I assumed as much.

NIGHTLIFE
I hope you don’t mind my saying this, Sensei, but that wasn’t
the knock.

SENSEI
It was.

NIGHTLIFE
In my e-mail, I distinctly said three knocks, a pause, then
three more knocks.

SENSEI
Yes. I was... enjoying the pause.

NIGHTLIFE
That didn’t seem like a pause. That seemed like you not doing
the last part of the knock.

SENSEI
Things are not always what they seem. Wouldn’t you agree?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes. That’s why we take precautions like a carefully-chosen
three-part knock. Or a hard-to-find warehouse. Or a mask.
SENSEI
How is a mask a precaution?

NIGHTLIFE
How is it not?

SENSEI
A man who wears a mask is hiding, no? From the world, from
the law, from the truth. Hiding is not the same thing as
precaution.

NIGHTLIFE
I’m not hiding. I’m just keeping criminals from coming after
me in my day-to-day life. My costume conceals my identity.

SENSEI
Some would argue that a costume reveals more than it
conceals.
 Suilebhan | 15.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh, so what does my costume supposedly reveal?

SENSEI examines NIGHTLIFE’s costume.

SENSEI
What I notice first is the color you’ve chosen. Nightlife,
robed in the black of night. It seems a fairly standard
choice, on the surface, black being the conventional outlaw
color, and the work we do being a bit... questionably legal.

NIGHTLIFE
Well, I don’t know about that, but --

SENSEI
And yet I also notice that you haven’t chosen an accent color
of any kind. You’re unrelentingly black, head to toe. It
suggests you’re a man who thinks in absolutes. Am I right?

NIGHTLIFE
No, you’re not right. Black’s just easier to hide in. It’s
camouflage 101. There’s no deeper meaning.

SENSEI
Then there’s your cape. Quite an expensive garment, don’t you
think?

NIGHTLIFE
What do you mean?

SENSEI
Well, I’m assuming, and I think this is a safe assumption,
that you’re a devotee of comic books.

NIGHTLIFE
What, like you aren’t?

SENSEI
I’ve read a few, but I wouldn’t call myself an expert by any
means.

NIGHTLIFE
You should become one as soon as you can.

SENSEI
Should I?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes. Jesus. How long have you been doing this? Everything
worth learning about being a real-life superhero is right
there in comic books.

SENSEI
Fascinating.
 Suilebhan | 16.

NIGHTLIFE
What?

SENSEI
Well, I was just about to note that in the few comic books
I’ve studied -- though of course, you’re the expert -- you
never see heroes wearing capes unless they can fly.

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s... not true. I can think of several examples that --

SENSEI
Exceptions, of course. But it’s mostly correct, isn’t it?

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Technically. Maybe.

SENSEI
So your own cape -- which is actually quite well-constructed,
I must say...

NIGHTLIFE
Thank you.

SENSEI
...but it must be merely ornamental, right? Given that, well,
people can’t actually fly.

NIGHTLIFE
No. People can’t actually fly. But it’s not just ornamental.
This is armor-grade leather. Only a precisely-aimed, well-
honed knife blade would penetrate it, and then it would have
to get through my kevlar vest, too.

SENSEI
Yes. Good. But have you ever tried fighting in it?

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Excuse me?

SENSEI
I’ve studied more than a dozen styles of hand-to-hand combat,
and all of them place a great emphasis on range of motion. A
cape like yours, I would think, as beautiful as it is, would
likely be a great handicap. So what it tells me -- and I’m
only saying this, Nightlife, because you asked me -- is that
perhaps you haven’t yet done enough fighting to learn its
limitations.
 Suilebhan | 17.

NIGHTLIFE
Or, Sensei, it could just be that I’m strong enough to
overcome the cape. Look, do you really think this is the
right way to convince me you belong on my team? You just
walked in the door and you’re calling my experience into
question. You don’t know thing one about me.

SENSEI
You’re right. Please, accept my apology. I don’t know the
real you yet.

NIGHTLIFE
No, you don’t.

SENSEI
I would like to, though. And I’d like you to know me, too.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh... well... I do actually know a few things already.

SENSEI
Oh?

NIGHTLIFE
I know you’ve got super-senses. Super-sight, at least, and
super-hearing. Am I right?

SENSEI
Is that what you’ve been told?

NIGHTLIFE
You don’t ever give straight answers to people’s questions,
do you?

SENSEI
Perhaps that’s one of my powers.

NIGHTLIFE
What kind of power is that?

SENSEI
The power to make people think differently.

NIGHTLIFE
Look... just tell me about your senses.

SENSEI
What would you like to know?

NIGHTLIFE
Start with your sight. How well can you see?

SENSEI
Better than average.
 Suilebhan | 18.

NIGHTLIFE
How much better? Infrared? Night vision?

SENSEI
Do you really believe people can do things like that?

NIGHTLIFE
You are wearing glasses. They could be tricked out with all
kinds of --

SENSEI spins around abruptly, turning

his back to hide his eyes. In the same
motion, he takes off his glasses and
holds them out toward NIGHTLIFE.

SENSEI
Look for yourself.

A quick beat, then NIGHTLIFE takes the

glasses and examines them.

NIGHTLIFE
They seem like... normal sunglasses.

SENSEI
Try them on.

He does, then looks around the room.

NIGHTLIFE
(taking the glasses off)
I don’t understand.

SENSEI
May I have them back?
NIGHTLIFE
(giving them back)
They’re so dark. They actually make it really, really hard to
see.

SENSEI
(staring at his glasses)
Yes, they do.

He puts them back on, then turns back

to NIGHTLIFE.

NIGHTLIFE
You must have really great eyesight, then, if you can afford
to wear them.

SENSEI
Like I said, better than average.
 Suilebhan | 19.

NIGHTLIFE
What about your hearing? Is that also better than average?

SENSEI
Yes.

NIGHTLIFE
How much better?

SENSEI
Well, for example, I can easily hear the woman hiding behind
those boxes.

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Damn it.

SENSEI
Her breathing is shallow. Very admirably controlled, in fact.
But also quite clear.

NIGHTLIFE
Wait a minute. How do you know it’s a woman?

SENSEI
If it’s a man, he has a very feminine scent.

NIGHTLIFE
You can smell her?

SENSEI shrugs.

NIGHTLIFE
You have super-smell, too?
SENSEI
Not super. None of my senses are super.

NIGHTLIFE
Call it whatever you want. That’s still pretty amazing. Have
you known this whole time?

SENSEI
From the moment you opened the door. Would you care to tell
me why she’s hiding there?

LANEY
(from behind her boxes)
I knew this was a stupid plan.

NIGHTLIFE
You have to understand. We don’t know you.
 Suilebhan | 20.

LANEY
It was his idea.

NIGHTLIFE
We didn’t know if we could trust you.

SENSEI
And what do you know now?

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Trust takes time.

SENSEI
(moving toward LANEY)
What about you?

NIGHTLIFE
(blocking SENSEI)
You can’t go back there!

SENSEI stops.

NIGHTLIFE
She’s not in costume.

SENSEI
And this is why she’s hiding?

NIGHTLIFE
Not exactly, no.

SENSEI
Now which one of us is failing to give straight answers?
LANEY
You want a straight answer? No, I don’t trust you yet.

SENSEI
Interesting. I’ve come here, to a remote location, at night,
by myself, and --

LANEY
I want to trust you. I do. Really. But honestly? You’re being
sort of a jerk. And Nightlife is my friend.

A quick beat.

SENSEI
I suppose I have been a bit... direct.

LANEY
Ever since you walked in here.
 Suilebhan | 21.

SENSEI
On the other hand, your little deception suggests that
perhaps I was right to be defensive.

NIGHTLIFE
Let’s just move on, okay? Maybe we shouldn’t have done it, I
don’t know, but the fact is, we did. Let’s not all fight.
Let’s talk about the mission.

SENSEI
Yes.

NIGHTLIFE
Good. So... me and... the woman behind the boxes, we’ve
started assembling a team of elite --

LANEY
We can tell him my name, Nightlife.

NIGHTLIFE
Are you crazy?

LANEY
Not my name, name. My... real name. I mean...

NIGHTLIFE
Your superhero name?
(to SENSEI)
She doesn’t like the term superhero.

LANEY
No, I hate it.

SENSEI
May I ask why?
LANEY
Because it’s juvenile.

NIGHTLIFE
You’re really gonna have to get over that at some point.

SENSEI
(to LANEY)
I agree with you.

A quick beat.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Is he agreeing with me or with you?

NIGHTLIFE
You.
 Suilebhan | 22.

LANEY
Smart man.
(to SENSEI)
My name’s Belt.

SENSEI smiles broadly.

NIGHTLIFE
What, you know her?

SENSEI
I’ve heard a few stories.
(to LANEY)
It’s an honor to meet you, Belt.

LANEY
You, too.

SENSEI
I understand you’re an accomplished martial artist.

LANEY
I hold my own.

SENSEI
You underestimate yourself. If you’re even half as capable as
I’ve been led to believe, you’re a greatly skilled woman.

NIGHTLIFE
She’s very tough, which is exactly why I asked her to work
with me.

SENSEI
You are indeed fortunate to have such a strong partner. I
have martial arts training myself, so I know whereof I speak.
LANEY
I thought maybe that was the case, given your name.

NIGHTLIFE
So, wait. That’s... oh. Right.

SENSEI
(to LANEY)
Believe me when I tell you, Belt, that I am a mere novice
compared to --

LANEY
Enough with the compliments. How did you hear about me?

SENSEI
A woman I spar with from time to time mentioned you, so I
started to make inquiries. But it wasn’t easy. Nobody knows
much.
 Suilebhan | 23.

NIGHTLIFE
I had the same problem at first.

LANEY
I like it that way.

NIGHTLIFE
But I’m telling you, though... if we’re going to make a real
difference, we need to go high-profile, so that every bad guy
everywhere’s always wondering whether one of us might be
looking over his shoulder. We have to haunt these people. We
have to get into their heads. And in order to do that, we
need to become famous. Super famous.

SENSEI
Which would explain why you were so easy to find out about.
The internet has a great many websites about you.

NIGHTLIFE
I’ve got nothing to hide.

SENSEI
Except, of course, your true identity.

NIGHTLIFE
Which goes without saying. Do you know nothing about
superheroes at all?

SENSEI
These websites I found -- which I assume at least a few of
were your own doing, no?

NIGHTLIFE
A few.
SENSEI
They all seem to suggest a very different mission than the
one you brought me here to discuss.

NIGHTLIFE
I haven’t had time yet to update the blog! Can we just talk
about the mission?

SENSEI
Putting together a superhero group, correct?

NIGHTLIFE
Assembling an elite team of well-trained costumed vigilantes
to restore order and safety to our streets.

SENSEI
But until now... and I hope you’ll forgive me for being
somewhat blunt, but this seems to be rather important.
 Suilebhan | 24.

NIGHTLIFE
Go on.

SENSEI
Well, until this new mission, I understand, you’ve mostly
just been... doing good deeds. Visiting sick children in
hospitals --

NIGHTLIFE
I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done.

SENSEI
Nor should you be.

NIGHTLIFE
I’ve helped a lot of people.

SENSEI
Of course. Yes. And I admire you for it. Genuinely. But the
work you’re talking about doing now... it’s dangerous.

LANEY
He knows that.

NIGHTLIFE
Of course I know that.

SENSEI
So you have to have some deep, abiding reason to take it on.
It can’t just be for self-promotion.

NIGHTLIFE
Have you even been listening to a word I’ve been saying? It’s
about helping people.
SENSEI
But the risks are very different, no?

NIGHTLIFE
No! Actually, no.

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Back before I started being a superhero, there was this guy.
He went on this crusade about fixing broken streetlights. He
walked around the city every night finding burned-out bulbs
and reporting them to the mayor’s office. He got all kinds of
publicity. And when reporters started asking him why he was
doing it, all he would say was I’m putting the life back in
nightlife. All this guy wanted was to make it safe for people
to walk down the street and buy milk or whatever after the
sun went down, but he turned into this big inspiration for
people. He was sensational.
 Suilebhan | 25.

So then one night he’s out there, and he sees this group of
kids on a street corner, and he realizes every single light
on the whole block’s been shattered. And the guy probably
thinks Here are these kids having to play in the dark. It’s
terrible. So he takes out his notebook, and all of a sudden
one of the kids, nine years old, sticks a gun in his face.
Right in his face. The kid had just shot out the lights, and
there he was, totally full of power, and the guy realizes...
this kid’s not afraid of the dark. He lives in the dark. He’s
not afraid of anything. Nine years old and he’s armed. I
mean, who lets a kid have a gun? It’s just... how does that
happen? So the guy gives the kid the only thing he has: his
stupid notebook. And he gives up the whole streetlight thing,
right then and there. Not worth dying over. And nobody ever
heard from him again.

SENSEI
So... you went home, made a costume, and went back out again
to find more streetlights?

NIGHTLIFE
I’m not talking about me! That isn’t me in the story. It was
just this guy.

SENSEI
I see.

NIGHTLIFE
He was what inspired me. His story. He was trying to do good,
but he needed... more.

SENSEI
What more did he need?

NIGHTLIFE
He needed that kid with the gun to be scared of him. So
totally scared he wouldn’t dare break the law. But he didn’t
have the courage to make that happen. I do.

SENSEI
The courage to frighten children?

NIGHTLIFE
No! Jesus. You know what I mean. To be more powerful. Anyway,
we’re here to talk about you, not me. I want to know more
about you. What’s your origin story?

SENSEI
My... origin story?

LANEY
Not everyone uses the terms you use, Nightlife.
 Suilebhan | 26.

SENSEI
No, I believe I understand what he’s referring to. It’s
actually quite a lovely phrase, origin story.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
You want to know how I became Sensei.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes. Tell me.

SENSEI
Well... mine is a story of one sincere friendship that taught
me a great deal about who I really am. Without honest friends
to help us genuinely see ourselves, without self-deception,
we are nothing, wouldn’t you agree?

NIGHTLIFE
I see myself just fine on my own.

SENSEI
Do you? Well, I thought the same once, too, I suppose. I
considered myself invincible, having defeated all the petty
thugs with whom I long ago surrounded myself. But the truth
is, in my heart I was perpetually frantic. I fought because I
could not find stillness. Until I befriended my teacher. My
own sensei. A genuinely great warrior. A woman with many
battle scars, but a very strong body nonetheless, and an even
stronger mind. She could see my desperation. She knew I
needed help. And so... she claimed me.

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t... know what that means.

SENSEI
She took me in. Opened her home to me. Asked for my
submission -- which I am still so grateful I had the courage
to give her -- and began to re-train me. Night after night we
fought, sweat together, suffered together, strained, wept,
bled, battled, sparring until morning. She dared me to absorb
more and more pain, to stand it. And I stood, I did it, hour
after hour, test after test, until finally, ten days in, my
legs just... crumpled. I collapsed at her feet and
surrendered. I accepted my weakness.

NIGHTLIFE
But... why?

SENSEI
I needed to be mastered, Nightlife, to learn her disciplines
for myself. Learn how to be of real service to others in the
same way. Which is exactly what I propose to contribute to
this team.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s what you think is your contribution to this team?
 Suilebhan | 27.

SENSEI
It could be.

NIGHTLIFE
Because we don’t need anything like that, I can tell you. Not
on this team. No way.

LANEY
I don’t know, though...

NIGHTLIFE
What?

LANEY
Everybody needs that sort of thing from time to time.

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t need that! You don’t need that. Why do we need that?
What we need is another good street fighter. Somebody
tactical.
(to SENSEI)
I thought maybe with your enhanced senses, when we’re out on
a dark night, you could maybe make a difference. Spot a
concealed weapon, or hear somebody lurking in the shadows.
But that other stuff, that... whatever you did with that
woman, I don’t think that fits here.

LANEY
Nightlife, don’t you think --

SENSEI
I have a proposal I’d like to make.
(to LANEY)
If you don’t mind, Belt. I’m sorry to interrupt.
LANEY
No, please, go ahead.

NIGHTLIFE
What is it?

SENSEI
I would like the chance to prove myself to you. To earn my
place as a member of your team.

NIGHTLIFE
How do you plan to do that?

SENSEI
The only way I imagine you’ll trust: with a demonstration. I
propose to stop one criminal, using my own methods, the ones
I’ve just described, to assure you I know what I’m doing.

A beat.
 Suilebhan | 28.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s a great idea.

LANEY
You don’t have to do this, Sensei.

SENSEI
No. I must. And I will.

LANEY
You shouldn’t work alone. It’s dangerous.

NIGHTLIFE
(almost saying her name)
Lane -- I mean... Belt, if he --

LANEY
Did you just almost do what I think you almost did?

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, but... yes.

A beat.

LANEY
You should let me help you, Sensei.

SENSEI
Thank you, Belt, but I really do believe I need to do this
myself. And, if you’ll forgive me... I get the sense that
perhaps you two need some time alone together.

A beat.
NIGHTLIFE
Yeah, that’s... probably best if you let us... if you do it
yourself.

SENSEI
I will return soon. Farewell.

SENSEI moves toward the door.

NIGHTLIFE
You’re coming back tonight, though, right?

SENSEI
Of course.

NIGHTLIFE
But what if you don’t find anything?
 Suilebhan | 29.

SENSEI
Are you familiar with the notion that even in an antiseptic
environment, one is never more than eight feet from a spider?
That if we looked, we’d see them everywhere... even where we
don’t expect to find them?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes.

SENSEI
All I need to do, then, is look.

SENSEI exits. NIGHTLIFE closes the door

behind him.

NIGHTLIFE
He’s gone.

LANEY rushes out from her hiding place

and shoves NIGHTLIFE in the chest.

LANEY
What in the hell were you thinking?

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t know!

LANEY
You are the biggest idiot I’ve ever known.

NIGHTLIFE
I know. I am.

LANEY
You give me all this crap about protecting our identities,
then you throw mine away.

NIGHTLIFE
I stopped myself.

LANEY
Barely.

NIGHTLIFE
It was because I couldn’t see you.

LANEY
That was your idea!

NIGHTLIFE
You should have worn your costume!

LANEY
What the hell would that have done?
 Suilebhan | 30.

NIGHTLIFE
I am so sorry, Laney.

LANEY
You should be, Jack. I trusted you.

NIGHTLIFE
I get it.

LANEY
I told you my story! Do you realize how significant that is?

NIGHTLIFE
I do.

LANEY
I defended you just now. I’ve always had your back. Do you
have any idea how much faith I’ve put in you?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes. I promise.

LANEY
You better. Because I really do want this whole team thing to
work out, okay? But not if you’re planning on letting me
down.

NIGHTLIFE
No! Of course it’s going to work out. Everything’s going to
be fine. The mission’s still happening as planned.

No response from LANEY.

NIGHTLIFE
What?
LANEY
I thought maybe a few of the things he was saying made sense.

NIGHTLIFE
Like what?

LANEY
Like about keeping a low profile. Like about... your costume.

NIGHTLIFE
No! Laney, no.

LANEY
You didn’t think anything he said was even worth thinking
about?
 Suilebhan | 31.

NIGHTLIFE
No. And I don’t understand why you did. God, Laney, we’ve
discussed all this so many times.

LANEY
Your mind is so closed.

NIGHTLIFE
No, it isn’t. I just didn’t like the guy. And I don’t see why
we should let him mess up our plans when we don’t even know
if he was telling the truth.

LANEY
When?

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t know. The whole time. Could you sense anything?

A quick beat.

LANEY
He said a lot of things, Nightlife.

NIGHTLIFE
What are you saying, that sometimes he was telling the truth,
sometimes he wasn’t?

LANEY
It’s not that simple.

NIGHTLIFE
Why not?

LANEY
Because... there are degrees of truth.
NIGHTLIFE
I don’t see it that way.

LANEY
Well, it is that way. There’s honesty, there’s outright
lying, there’s half-truth, there’s telling made-up stories,
there’s saying things you sort of think might be true. And
then there’s just hiding things.

NIGHTLIFE
When was he hiding things?

LANEY
I don’t know... off and on the whole time maybe. I can’t be
sure.

NIGHTLIFE
And he was giving me a hard time about hiding!
 Suilebhan | 32.

LANEY
Yeah, well... that was one time he was telling the truth.

NIGHTLIFE
What? So you agree with him? About --

LANEY
No, Nightlife. Just because he thinks something’s true
doesn’t mean I do.

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
I thought maybe at the end there, when he was talking about
saying he wanted to prove himself, he was being more honest.

LANEY
He’s definitely coming back here tonight.

NIGHTLIFE
Are you sure?

LANEY
Came through loud and clear.

NIGHTLIFE
Now, when you say “came through,” do you mean...?

LANEY
It’s just like normal, Nightlife. It’s just a feeling.

NIGHTLIFE
Well, it sounds like you do actually want him to come back.

LANEY
You don’t?

NIGHTLIFE
I couldn’t get a straight answer out of him.

LANEY
Well, that’s not a straight answer either. Do you want him on
the team?

NIGHTLIFE
He does have skills.

LANEY
Jack. Nightlife. Answer me.

NIGHTLIFE
No, Laney, I don’t want him. I’m sorry.

A beat.
 Suilebhan | 33.

NIGHTLIFE
You’re disappointed.

LANEY
Yes, I am.

NIGHTLIFE
I said I would listen to him, Laney, and I did. I just didn’t
like the things he said.

LANEY
You didn’t even give him a chance! You don’t have to like the
guy to learn from him. Do you know how rare it is to meet
somebody with that much presence? I could feel him in the
room and I could even see him.

NIGHTLIFE
It wasn’t like he was big or anything. Compared to me,
anyway. He was average.

LANEY
I’m not talking about size. I’m talking about... weight, you
know? His voice. It’s commanding. He makes you want to
listen. Do what he says. And if he has that effect on us?

NIGHTLIFE
He didn’t affect me that way.

LANEY
Yeah, right.

NIGHTLIFE
He didn’t!

LANEY
He totally controlled the conversation the whole time he was
here. You were supposed to be interviewing him, but he made
the whole thing about you.

NIGHTLIFE
Maybe I wanted it that way.

LANEY
Did you?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes. I wanted him to --

LANEY
Don’t try to lie to me, Jack. It doesn’t/ work, remember. I
have a super power.
 Suilebhan | 34.

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
Nightlife!

LANEY
And besides, lying isn’t heroic. A thousand times you told me
that. It’s part of the code. From all the silly comic books
you read. I mean, seriously, what are you, like, eight years
old?

A long beat.

NIGHTLIFE
You know...

LANEY
I’m sorry. That was... mean.

NIGHTLIFE
I take this stuff seriously. It’s not like I’m some kid. I’m
in the gym two hours a day. I read crime reports. I do ride-
alongs with cops, with EMTs. You joke about my pepper spray
and my nightstick, but this is the best equipment money can
buy. I’m invested in Nightlife. I have given my entire
identity to that code you make fun of. And I don’t get why
you don’t like it, either. Defense Before Offense, Trust Your
Teammates, Never Kill. What’s wrong with any of that?

LANEY
What’s wrong with that is this: Defense Before Offense
doesn’t even make sense.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, it does! If you have to choose between protecting an
innocent or attacking your target, you choose defense. You
protect the innocent.

LANEY
What if while you’re saving one person, your target is
attacking three others?

NIGHTLIFE
You trust your teammates to help! See, the code!

LANEY
Okay, so... what about Trust Your Teammates then? You’re the
one who wanted me to spy on Sensei. Is that trust?

NIGHTLIFE
He’s not our teammate yet.

LANEY
You are my teammate, though, and you’re the one who almost
revealed my identity.
 Suilebhan | 35.

NIGHTLIFE
Just because I almost failed to live up to the code doesn’t
make it wrong.

LANEY
Almost?

NIGHTLIFE
I stopped myself before I said your name!

LANEY
And what about Never Kill, Jack? What about that?

NIGHTLIFE
What do you mean, what about that?

LANEY
Think about it.

NIGHTLIFE
Think about what?

LANEY
My story! My... origin story.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh.

LANEY
Every single time you say those words, I go right back there
to that garage. I can still feel the ropes burning against my
skin, my own blood pouring out of me. And I can still hear
his neck bones cracking... his body hitting the concrete, the
last little gurgles in his throat... and then... only my own
breath.
A beat.

LANEY
You really have no idea how hard it is to have this
impossible code of yours to live up to. Knowing the very
moment I became Belt, I was already never going to be good
enough for you, ever.

NIGHTLIFE
Don’t say that, Laney. If you say that, you might as well
give up.

LANEY
It’s not that easy.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, it is that easy. I mean, okay, so... you lived through
something horrible. But you have to move on.
 Suilebhan | 36.

You have to be strong. You can’t be like Sensei, with a...

with a weakness inside you.

LANEY
That could have been me he was describing, Nightlife.

NIGHTLIFE
No. It can’t be. You can’t let it be.

LANEY
It could be you, too. We all have some sort of weakness
inside us. If you pretend it isn’t there, you give it too
much power. It’ll eventually overcome you. Hell, you even
said it yourself: all superheroes have vulnerabilities.

NIGHTLIFE
Not like that! And you’re not even trying to be a superhero,
anyway. Look at you.

LANEY
Jesus, Nightlife. Why are you so focused on my costume? It’s
like you get some kind of thrill out of seeing me in it.

NIGHTLIFE
I do not! I don’t think of you --

LANEY
No, I’m not trying to be a superhero. I’m trying to be a
real. To be me. So I didn’t want to wear my costume today. So
what?

NIGHTLIFE
I’m not talking about today. Today worked out fine. I’m
talking about the fact that you never wear it. You hate
wearing it. It’s almost like you’re scared of what it stands
for. Too scared to claim your strength.

LANEY
You think strength comes from a stupid costume? You can work
out all day long and wear the toughest armor money can buy
and you’ll never be as strong as I am. You haven’t proven
anything, except that when some little kid waves a gun in
your face, you run away.

NIGHTLIFE
That wasn’t me!

LANEY
Don’t forget who you’re talking to, Nightlife. I know a lie
when I hear one.

No response from NIGHTLIFE.

 Suilebhan | 37.

LANEY
You’d better start re-thinking that code of yours. Learning
some flexibility. Because life doesn’t live up to your
ideals. Strength is messy. Being a hero is complicated. And
the mission? It might just need to change.

LANEY leaves. A quick beat, then

NIGHTLIFE starts slamming his fist into
several boxes, one after the other.

NIGHTLIFE
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

On the last curse, without thinking, he

punches at one of the lone, bare light
bulbs hanging in the room, shattering
it.

A long beat as he slowly takes in the

damage he’s caused, then pulls back his
cowl, revealing his face.

NIGHTLIFE
Damn it to hell.
 Suilebhan | 38.

SCENE TWO

The warehouse, a few hours later.

NIGHTLIFE, having removed his cowl and
cape and gone out to purchase a new
bulb, is standing on a box, repairing
the light. He gives the bulb one last
turn, and it flickers to life.

NIGHTLIFE
Let there be light.

He hops down off his box, then

immediately falls to the floor and
begins doing pushups. With each one, he
recites the code.

NIGHTLIFE
Defense Before Offense. Trust Your Teammates. Never Kill.
Defense Before Offense. Trust Your Teammates. Never Kill.
Defense Before Offense. Trust Your Teammates. Never --

A series of three knocks at the door,

just as before. He quickly pops back up
to a standing position, then listens
for the rest of the knock.

NIGHTLIFE
(to himself)
Come on, Sensei. Do the damn knock.

It does not come. NIGHTLIFE starts for

the door anyway... but suddenly
realizes he’s not wearing his cowl. As
he listens for the rest of the knock,
he slips it on, leaving his cape laying
across a box. Still no knock.

NIGHTLIFE
(to the door)
Do it, do it, do it.

At last, the remaining three knocks on

the door. NIGHTLIFE moves to open it,
but remembers the evidence of the
broken bulb -- a small pile of glass
shards and a bag from the hardware
store -- and hurriedly cleans them up.

NIGHTLIFE
Just a minute!

More knocking at the door, this time

less ordered, more hurried.
 Suilebhan | 39.

He shoves the evidence into a nearby

box, then throws open the door.

It is SENSEI... and, beside him, a

bound, blindfolded, gagged, young GIRL.
SENSEI leads her roughly into the room.

NIGHTLIFE
What the heck is this?

SENSEI
Shut the door, please, before we’re discovered.

NIGHTLIFE closes and locks the door.

NIGHTLIFE
Sensei, what are you doing?

SENSEI
That was the knock.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes, but --

SENSEI
Why didn’t you let me in?

NIGHTLIFE
I had... something I had to finish.
(indicating the GIRL)
Sensei, what is this?

SENSEI
This, my new friend, is a gift that I hereby deliver to you
in the hope and expectation of many years of heroic work.
NIGHTLIFE
You said you’d come back here with proof you’d stopped a
criminal. I was assuming like a citizen’s arrest report. I
didn’t think you’d bring us an actual human being.

SENSEI
Us?

NIGHTLIFE
Me and Belt.

SENSEI
Fascinating. I would have sworn she wasn’t here. I don’t hear
a thing.
 Suilebhan | 40.

NIGHTLIFE
No. She’s... she had to go. She’ll be back later. Probably.
Look, you did not say anything about anything like this. Who
is this person?

SENSEI
One of the strongest opponents I’ve ever done battle with.

NIGHTLIFE
What? How? She can’t be more than... like, what... fifteen
years old?

SENSEI
Do not let her small stature blind you. She’s an adult, and
she’s done some very bloody work, believe me.

NIGHTLIFE
Seriously?

SENSEI
Did a light bulb burn out in here while I was gone?

NIGHTLIFE
What are you talking about?

SENSEI
I smell some sort of electrical fire.

NIGHTLIFE
There’s no smell. Anyway, look... we can’t --

SENSEI
I see you’ve taken my advice about your attire. Very
impressive. How does it feel without your cape?
NIGHTLIFE
(putting his cape back on)
No, I did not take your advice about anything. I was just
working out to pass the time and I started getting hot. Can
we just focus on one thing at a time? We can’t keep this
woman tied up here like this. I don’t understand why you
didn’t just arrest her and give her to the cops. Wouldn’t
that have been less dangerous?

SENSEI
An arrest only stops one crime. With my methods, I can stop
her from ever committing any crimes again.

NIGHTLIFE
Like what? What has she done?

SENSEI
Do you remember that young boy you talked about? The one with
the gun, shooting out the streetlights?
 Suilebhan | 41.

A quick beat.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes.

SENSEI
What if I told you I’ve seen this woman surrounded by
children just like that, working them up into some kind of
fervor? Arming them, giving them money, food, clothes,
whatever they need. Even drugs. And then finally, when
they’ve practically started to worship her, sending them out
on various... errands.

NIGHTLIFE
What do you mean, errands?

SENSEI
I’m sure you can imagine the most dreadful things.

NIGHTLIFE
This... little girl did all that?

SENSEI
This woman, yes. What would you say if I told you she did?

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t... know what to say.

SENSEI
What do you think that man with his notebook would say? The
man from your story? If he knew we had her here right now?

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
He... would want us to stop her.

SENSEI
I brought her here to you as a show of faith... to ensure
that you understand I really do respect your mission.

NIGHTLIFE
Thank you.

SENSEI
Do you think perhaps you and I might attempt to work
together... as teammates?

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
I think... sure. Yeah.
 Suilebhan | 42.

SENSEI
Good. I do, too. So let’s begin.

SENSEI hoists the GIRL roughly onto the

pallet of boxes.

NIGHTLIFE
Wait! Be careful.

SENSEI
I know exactly what I’m doing.

NIGHTLIFE
Are you sure?

SENSEI
Yes. Are you sure you have the stomach for this?

NIGHTLIFE
I have the stomach.

SENSEI
Good.

SENSEI rips the GIRL’s gag off.

SENSEI
Because this could get ugly.

GIRL
Damn it! That hurt.

SENSEI
It was supposed to.
NIGHTLIFE
I still don’t get what we’re doing, though. Is this... right?

GIRL
(to SENSEI)
Your boy here’s a pussy, but/ you really ought to listen to
him.

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
Hey!

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE, after GIRL)
Do you hear her tone of voice? She doesn’t fear you.

GIRL
I don’t fear you, either. I don’t fear anyth --
 Suilebhan | 43.

SENSEI replaces her gag.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
This is a woman who never learned limits. She must have had a
dreadful childhood. Unsupervised. Neglected. Allowed to roam
free and wreak havoc wherever her heart desired. Do you
understand? Now, as an adult, she only misbehaves because
deep down, she still desperately needs to be controlled. And
every day that desperation grows, becomes disorder, becomes
mania, becomes unstoppable. She needs our help. We must
school her.

NIGHTLIFE
That... makes sense, I guess. I can see that. But... how?

SENSEI
My methods help her begin to understand that when one
transgresses, there are consequences.

NIGHTLIFE
What sort of consequences?

SENSEI
Let me show you.

SENSEI looks around the warehouse for a

moment, then spots a shard of glass
from the broken bulb.

SENSEI
Ah. Excellent.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Are you certain a bulb didn’t break?
NIGHTLIFE
How would I know? What are you going to do with that?

SENSEI
Watch.

SENSEI rips the GIRL’s gag off again.

GIRL
Damn it! Whatever the hell you’re doing, you’d better --

SENSEI interrupts her by grabbing her

face and holding the glass against it.

SENSEI
Your eyes are still covered, so you can’t actually see what
I’m holding against your face, but I bet you can feel it,
can’t you? Or am I holding it too lightly? Perhaps --
 Suilebhan | 44.

GIRL
Yes, asshole, I can feel it.

NIGHTLIFE
This is wrong.

SENSEI
In what way?

NIGHTLIFE
(to SENSEI)
Well, it’s not in the code.

SENSEI stares blankly.

NIGHTLIFE
The superhero code. Defense Before Offense, Trust Your
Teammates, Never Kill?

The GIRL laughs.

NIGHTLIFE
(to the GIRL)
What do you know?

SENSEI
Patience...

NIGHTLIFE
I’m serious about this. There was a PDF attached to my email.
Didn’t you read it?

The GIRL laughs again, louder.

SENSEI
(replacing the GIRL’s gag)
Quiet!
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Do you see how she continues to mock you?

NIGHTLIFE
I know, but... listen, really, I think the code is --

SENSEI
Yes, I read your PDF. Defense Before Offense. I assume this
means you must protect the innocent before you attack your
enemies.

NIGHTLIFE
Yes.

SENSEI
There are no innocents here at the moment, though, are there?
 Suilebhan | 45.

NIGHTLIFE
No, I guess not.

SENSEI
And then it’s Trust Your Teammates, correct?

NIGHTLIFE
Yes.

SENSEI says nothing.

NIGHTLIFE
Okay, fine, so you want me to trust you.

SENSEI
And finally Never Kill. This part of the code is the most
important, is it not?

NIGHTLIFE
Definitely.

SENSEI
Well, you need not worry. I have no intention whatsoever of
killing her at all.

SENSEI removes the GIRL’s gag again.

GIRL
You better fucking kill me, because if you don’t, you’ll
regret it. You and your little cocksucking sidekick here.

NIGHTLIFE
I’m not his... sidekick.

GIRL
Sounds that way to me. You act like an obedient little --

NIGHTLIFE
Shut up!

SENSEI
Take control.

NIGHTLIFE
How? I still don’t get it.

SENSEI tries to hand NIGHTLIFE the

shard of glass. NIGHTLIFE mouths “No”
in response, but SENSEI insists. Again,
NIGHTLIFE waves him off, but SENSEI
stares, immobile, until NIGHTLIFE
relents, gingerly taking the shard
between his fingers.
 Suilebhan | 46.

SENSEI then indicates that NIGHTLIFE

should use the shard to cut the GIRL on
her arm. Again, NIGHTLIFE resists
SENSEI’s increasingly direct
instigation, until:

GIRL
Oh, for fuck’s sake. Will one of you just say something? I’m
dying of boredom.

NIGHTLIFE makes a quick, tiny,

tentative cut on the GIRL’s arm.

GIRL
Ow! Shit.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Good.

GIRL
No, not good. You are fucking with the wrong bitch here.

SENSEI indicates the GIRL’s arm.

NIGHTLIFE hesitates, then cuts again.

GIRL
Jesus! Who are you people?

SENSEI
Let’s show her.

SENSEI begins to remove her blindfold,

but NIGHTLIFE pulls him to the far side
of the room so that the GIRL cannot
hear them.

NIGHTLIFE
(under his breath)
Wait a second. No. What are you doing? If you take that
blindfold off, she’ll see our location. She could identify
us. Maybe even have us arrested.

GIRL
It isn’t getting arrested you should be afraid of. It’s my
crew.

NIGHTLIFE
Okay, does everybody have super-hearing except me?

SENSEI
I believe your voice may be louder than you realize.
 Suilebhan | 47.

NIGHTLIFE
What?

GIRL
You bark like a dumb-ass dog.

NIGHTLIFE presses the glass against her

cheek.

NIGHTLIFE
You watch your mouth. I am not afraid of you. Not one bit.

GIRL
You should be.

NIGHTLIFE
You think so?

GIRL
Hell yeah.

NIGHTLIFE rips her blindfold off.

NIGHTLIFE
Do I look like I’m afraid?

The GIRL squints, her vision adapting

to the new light, then opens her eyes
fully. She sees NIGHTLIFE for the first
time... and laughs.

NIGHTLIFE
What the hell’s so funny?

GIRL
You look like a fucking trick or treater. Trick or treat!
Smell my feet! Give me/ something good to eat.

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
Shut your mouth.

GIRL
(indicating SENSEI)
What are you, like, his leather boy? Does he spank you when
you’re bad?

NIGHTLIFE cuts her arm, deeper than

before.

NIGHTLIFE
Say it again, I dare you!
 Suilebhan | 48.

SENSEI
Be careful not to cut too deeply. The goal is to heal the old
wounds, not wound her anew. You’re drawing a line for her,
both literally and figuratively. It needs to be an act of
love.

GIRL
Fuck you! Fuck you both. You want to love me? Give me some
goddamn flowers.

SENSEI
We’re trying to help you overcome your criminal impulses. And
deep inside, you know you’re grateful. When you can let that
part of you out, the vulnerable part, you’ll be free.

GIRL
You will never, as long as you live, get anything like that
out of me.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Perhaps a woman’s presence might tip the scales for us. I
believe we ought to wait till --

NIGHTLIFE
No! She... you don’t want her here for this. She won’t...
this isn’t her thing.

GIRL
Can I get a damn band-aid here?

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Are you certain you aren’t underestimating her?
NIGHTLIFE
Trust me. In fact... we need to get this done before she gets
back. What’s next?

SENSEI
If you have concerns about how she’d handle this, I suggest --

NIGHTLIFE
We might not have much time. What’s next?

GIRL
Next I rip that stupid cape right off your neck and --

NIGHTLIFE cuts her.

NIGHTLIFE
(to SENSEI)
Is that okay? Should I keep going?
 Suilebhan | 49.

SENSEI
Yes, if you’re certain. But only from love.

NIGHTLIFE
Love. Got it. Tell me how.

A beat. SENSEI considers the question.

SENSEI
There is a precious little girl inside this woman.

GIRL
Bullshit.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Begging to be cut out and rescued.

GIRL
(to NIGHTLIFE)
You want to rescue me? You need to stop fucking cutting me.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Talk to that child.

GIRL
Shut up.

NIGHTLIFE clamps his hand over the

GIRL’s mouth.

NIGHTLIFE
You shut up.
SENSEI
But talk to her with softness.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh. So... like...

SENSEI
Trust what’s in your heart. You will know what to say. Just
remain calm, no matter how she responds. You are the one in
charge. Do you understand?

NIGHTLIFE
I think so.

A long beat while NIGHTLIFE considers

his first move, then:
 Suilebhan | 50.

NIGHTLIFE
(to the GIRL)
You’re just... a kid inside.

He takes his hand away.

GIRL
No, I’m/ fucking not.

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
And kids should be protected.

GIRL
I give those little shits/ everything.

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
You should have/ been protected.

GIRL
I don’t need your goddamn sympathy.

NIGHTLIFE
Nobody should have ever abandoned you.

GIRL
Do you have any idea what I’m going to do/ to you when I get
out of here?

NIGHTLIFE
(overlapping)
Nobody should have let you get so --

GIRL
I am going to kick your fucking lights out.

NIGHTLIFE
No, you are fucking not.

NIGHTLIFE cuts her three times in rapid

succession, then clamps his hand over
her mouth again to silence her screams.

NIGHTLIFE
You need to listen to me right now. You have no idea who I
am, but I know you. And I’m the one with the power here right
now, not you. So if anybody’s going to knock anybody else’s
lights out, it’s me. Nightlife.

NIGHTLIFE reaches into his costume and

pulls out his night stick.
 Suilebhan | 51.

SENSEI
Okay now, hold on.

NIGHTLIFE
(to the GIRL)
These are not your streets. Do you hear me? They’re mine.
From now on, I control them. And those are not your kids,
either. You do not get to turn children into criminals. Not
on my watch. Do you understand? Say it. Say you understand.

NIGHTLIFE takes his hand off her mouth.

GIRL
I understand that Nightlife is the stupidest fucking
superhero name I’ve ever heard.

NIGHTLIFE raises the stick as if to

strike the GIRL, but just before he
does, LANEY enters. She is wearing her
BELT costume: a traditional karate
robe, or gi, with one red belt tied
around her waist and another (with eye
slits) over her eyes.

LANEY
What the hell is this? What are you doing?

SENSEI
Welcome back, Belt.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Who is this girl?

NIGHTLIFE
This is... Sensei brought her in. She’s a criminal. She’s...
bad.

LANEY
She’s what?
(to the GIRL)
Who are you?

SENSEI
She does bad things, Nightlife, but she’s not inherently bad.
That’s the fundamental assumption on which on my entire
method rests.

NIGHTLIFE
What are you talking about? Bad is bad. She is bad, right?

GIRL
(to LANEY)
It’s not true.
 Suilebhan | 52.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
She has acted badly, but on the inside --

LANEY
Why is she tied up?
(noticing the GIRL’s blood)
And bleeding! Oh, my god. Why is she bleeding?
(to the GIRL)
Are you all right?

GIRL
No, it hurts!

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
What are you doing to her?

A quick beat. NIGHTLIFE looks to

SENSEI, who refuses to answer.

NIGHTLIFE
Nothing! Sensei was just... teaching me how to...
(to SENSEI)
Tell her.

LANEY
You’re the one holding the nightstick. What were you just
about to do with it?

NIGHTLIFE looks guiltily at his weapon,

then holsters it quickly.

NIGHTLIFE
Nothing! It was all Sensei
(to SENSEI)
Say something.

SENSEI
I never touched your night stick.

GIRL
(to LANEY)
Please, you have to help me! Don’t let them hurt me.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
I haven’t done anything wrong.

NIGHTLIFE
You’re lying!
(to LANEY)
I swear, she’s not telling the truth.
(to SENSEI)
Right? Tell her.
 Suilebhan | 53.

SENSEI
Don’t look at me. I’m not the one with the power to detect
the truth.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Oh, right. You wanted to make us look good. How’s that
working out for you now?

NIGHTLIFE
Not... great.

GIRL
(to LANEY)
Can you just let me go, please?

The GIRL begins struggling to stand,

but SENSEI holds her down.

SENSEI
I don’t believe we’re finished yet.

LANEY
One of you had better tell me what the hell you’re doing with
this girl right now.

NIGHTLIFE
It’s not what it looks like, I promise. It’s just...

SENSEI
(to LANEY)
It’s an interrogation.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
What else does it look like?
A look between NIGHTLIFE and LANEY.

NIGHTLIFE
Nothing.

SENSEI
I see. You’re not going to tell me, are you? I thought you
believed in trusting your teammates.

LANEY
You aren’t his teammate.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Not unless you’ve gone behind my back on that front, too.

GIRL
What kind of team is this anyway? Why do you all have
costumes and nicknames and... powers? What do you all want
from me?
 Suilebhan | 54.

SENSEI deftly slips the nightstick out

of NIGHTLIFE’s holster and thrusts it
against the GIRL’s throat.

SENSEI
We want you to start reconsidering your career path.

LANEY
Stop!

SENSEI
Rethinking who you are.

LANEY shoves SENSEI away from the GIRL.

LANEY
I said stop! This ends right now.

NIGHTLIFE
I agree, Sensei. Trying to make her open up is one thing, but
this is too much.

LANEY
Open up about what? Neither of you has told me who the hell
this is and why you’ve got her tied up like this.

NIGHTLIFE
She’s a criminal! Sensei says she’s been corrupting a bunch
of young kids. Giving them guns! And drugs. Making them all
commit crimes for her.

LANEY
(to the GIRL)
Is this true?
GIRL
You can supposedly detect the truth, whatever that means. You
tell me.

LANEY
Nightlife’s telling the truth, I’m sure of it, or at least...
he thinks he is. But I need to hear it from you. Are you
doing what he says you’re doing?

GIRL
No! Jesus, I’m telling you. No, I don’t do anything like
that.

A long beat.

NIGHTLIFE
(to LANEY)
Well?
 Suilebhan | 55.

LANEY
She’s not lying.

NIGHTLIFE
(to SENSEI)
What the hell?

LANEY
But she is covering something up.

SENSEI
(to the GIRL)
Tell them the truth.

GIRL
What are you going to do, torture me more?

NIGHTLIFE
Nobody tortured anybody.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Why is she bleeding, then, Nightlife?

NIGHTLIFE
Because Sensei thinks we can... cure her or something.

LANEY
That’s not an answer.

SENSEI
We can cure her.

GIRL
I don’t need to be cured!
LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Whatever this is, it isn’t what we do.

NIGHTLIFE
I know! No. I get it.
(to SENSEI)
Let’s just take her in. We’ll get your evidence together and
deliver it all to the police.

SENSEI
I have no evidence. I have only what I’ve heard and seen.

A beat.

NIGHTLIFE
That’s it? That’s all you’ve got? No... pictures, no video,
no witnesses.
 Suilebhan | 56.

SENSEI
I saw what I needed to see. I heard what I needed to hear. I
am my own witness.

NIGHTLIFE
Damn it. Damn you.

LANEY
You’re responsible for this, Nightlife. This is your mess. I
can’t believe you let him get away with this.

NIGHTLIFE
How is this my fault? I didn’t tie her up and bring her here!
I didn’t do anything wrong.

LANEY
You opened the door to this. You wanted this.

SENSEI
You cut her.

A beat.

LANEY
You did that? I assumed...

GIRL
The other guy made him. He just took orders.

NIGHTLIFE
What?

SENSEI
I did no such thing.
(to LANEY)
This is entirely Nightlife’s work.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
How could you?

NIGHTLIFE
I didn’t mean to hurt... anyone. I just wanted to --

LANEY
I don’t care what you wanted. Not any more. We’re letting her
go. Now.

SENSEI
No, we are not.

NIGHTLIFE
She’s right, Sensei. We have to. Without evidence, we can’t
even begin to --
 Suilebhan | 57.

SENSEI
I don’t care about evidence. I care about long-term
personality transformation. Haven’t you been listening?

NIGHTLIFE
You have to care about evidence! That’s the way the legal
system works. Jesus, you haven’t even done one damn thing
right since you showed up. You didn’t even knock on the door
like I said to.

LANEY
You need to decide right now. Are you on his side or mine?

SENSEI
We are superior to the system, Nightlife. The system doesn’t
function. The system created this monster.

LANEY
Nightlife. Listen to me.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
We need to destroy the system.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Look at what you’re doing. You know this isn’t right. This
isn’t the kind of hero you really want to be.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Do you want to be constrained, or are you ready to claim your
own power?

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
This isn’t the man you really are behind that mask.

SENSEI
(to NIGHTLIFE)
My way, you can be more than you’ve ever been.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
The man you really are is kind.

SENSEI
I believe in you, Nightlife. I believe in your mission.

LANEY
(to NIGHTLIFE)
You’re too good for this.
 Suilebhan | 58.

NIGHTLIFE
You don’t understand!
(aside to LANEY)
Sensei says this woman is manipulating innocent children.

LANEY
And you believe him?

NIGHTLIFE
Why would he lie?

LANEY
You don’t even know him.

NIGHTLIFE
I don’t know! I think maybe you were right, and I didn’t
really give him a chance before.

LANEY
Remember what I said about you being too trusting?

NIGHTLIFE
You told me to listen! I listened!

LANEY
You let him talk you into torturing an innocent woman.

NIGHTLIFE
She’s a criminal! You should have heard her before you came
in, Laney. She’s evil!

LANEY
What did you just call me?

A beat.
LANEY
I’m asking you, what did you just call me?

SENSEI
I believe he called you Laney.
(to NIGHTLIFE)
You really do have a very loud voice.

LANEY
Stay the hell out of this!

NIGHTLIFE
It was an accident. I don’t know what to say.

LANEY
You’re pathetic. Both of you. I’m letting her go.
 Suilebhan | 59.

LANEY starts moving toward the GIRL,

but SENSEI steps in front of her.

SENSEI
I can’t let you do that.

LANEY
Listen to me, Sensei. I am not cool with this. It’s not
right, and I think she’s innocent.

LANEY moves again, but SENSEI adopts a

fighting stance.

LANEY
Oh, so is that how it’s gonna be, then?

NIGHTLIFE
Hold on, you guys.

LANEY
(adopting a fighting stance)
You think you can take me? You have no idea what you’re up
against.

SENSEI
I believe I do have some idea.

NIGHTLIFE
Stop this.

SENSEI
The question is... do you know what you’re up against?

LANEY
An uptight, stuck-up bastard who doesn’t have half the moves
I have.

SENSEI
No. You’re up against your fear.

They begin circling each other.

SENSEI
I’ve seen it ever since you came in. Something about this
scene, this woman bound and bleeding, triggers you.

LANEY
It pisses me off. That’s what it does.

SENSEI
No, it’s more than that. The vein in your right temple is
fluttering. There’s no looseness in your shoulders and hips.
You haven’t stopped moving since you walked in. Your own body
is giving you away.
 Suilebhan | 60.

LANEY
You’re a complete fraud.

SENSEI
Even now, with your primary threat, me, standing right in
front of you, you cannot take your gaze fully away from the
woman, can you?
(to NIGHTLIFE)
Look at her, Nightlife. Something from Belt’s past has a grip
on her, doesn’t it?

LANEY
Less talk, more me kicking your ass.

LANEY strikes at SENSEI, but he parries

her attack.

SENSEI
It’s your origin story, isn’t it?

LANEY
You have no idea what you’re talking about.

SENSEI
Did someone somewhere in your past do something just like
this to you?

Another strike and parry.

NIGHTLIFE
Stop it, Sensei!

SENSEI
Did you vow to fight back? To never be a victim again?
NIGHTLIFE
Seriously.

Another strike and parry.

SENSEI
Did you perhaps even kill to protect yourself?

NIGHTLIFE
Sensei, Belt, please. Never kill.

LANEY
Too late.

LANEY lands a blow on SENSEI.

SENSEI
You’re every bit the fighter your legend suggests.
 Suilebhan | 61.

SENSEI strikes at LANEY, barely landing

a glancing blow.

LANEY
And you’re a pathetic street brawler who thinks a few mixed
martial arts lessons made him tough.

SENSEI takes another swipe at LANEY,

but she evades the blow... and manages
to land another of her own. They start
to go at each other intensely, each
landing one or two good blows, the
fight getting more and more serious,
until NIGHTLIFE steps between them.

NIGHTLIFE
STOP!

They back off.

LANEY
You and I both know I could take you down in fifteen seconds,
Nightlife, so step aside now.

NIGHTLIFE
No! We are not doing this. I’m going to get the police. The
precinct’s right around the corner. Nobody move.

He moves toward the door, but SENSEI

steps in front of him.

SENSEI
I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

NIGHTLIFE
Why not?

SENSEI
Well, if you walk into that police station to report a crime-
in-progress while you’re still wearing your costume, you
might be forced to tell them who you really are.

NIGHTLIFE
Fuck.

LANEY
A secret identity’s a fragile thing.

NIGHTLIFE
Fine.

NIGHTLIFE peels off his cowl. Again he

moves toward the door, and again SENSEI
steps in his way.
 Suilebhan | 62.

SENSEI
Clearly you fail to understand how complicit you are in
what’s transpired here. You’re as much of a criminal as I am.
Belt, too, probably. Are you really willing to bring us all
to justice?

LANEY
He’s right.

NIGHTLIFE
Damn it.

SENSEI
There’s no escape, Nightlife. We need to decide this here and
now, among ourselves.

LANEY
Fine by me.

SENSEI
Is it?

LANEY
I swear to god, all you do is ask questions. Will you please
just shut up and fight me?

They adopt fighting stances again.

GIRL
No. Stand down. It’s over.

A beat.

LANEY
Are you sure?
GIRL
We have learned what we came here to learn.

LANEY and SENSEI do stand down.

SENSEI
I sort of thought it was over a while ago.

LANEY
You don’t need to be smug about it.

SENSEI
I’m not smug.

GIRL
Quit bickering, both of you, now.
 Suilebhan | 63.

The GIRL hoists herself upright, then

wriggles her arms free of their bonds,
almost wrenching her shoulders out of
their sockets in the process. It’s a
stunning, fakir-like feat.

LANEY
Are you all right?

GIRL
Fine.

She begins dabbing her wounds with a

cloth LANEY hands her.

SENSEI
How were the ropes?

GIRL
Too loose.

SENSEI
Shit. My bad.

GIRL
Work on it.

NIGHTLIFE
Excuse me. Wait a minute. What is all this? I don’t...
understand.

GIRL
I’m sure it’s quite confusing.

NIGHTLIFE
How did you just...?

GIRL
I’m flexible.

NIGHTLIFE
And you aren’t... who are you?

GIRL
My name is Valerie, but I think you’re probably more familiar
with my other name: Fakira.

She removes from her pocket the mask

worn by the real-life superhero --
FAKIRA -- who delivered the play’s
opening monologue.

NIGHTLIFE
Oh my god.
 Suilebhan | 64.

GIRL
These are my teammates. Laney you know, of course, and this
is Tariq.

NIGHTLIFE
What do you mean, teammates?

GIRL
Sensei, Belt, and Fakira. We’re the Reals.

NIGHTLIFE
I thought... Laney, what is this?

LANEY
You should just let Fakira explain.

NIGHTLIFE
But I don’t... get it.
(to SENSEI)
Who is this woman really?

SENSEI
Fakira’s our leader.

NIGHTLIFE
So she’s not... bad?

GIRL
We’ve all got a little bit of bad inside us. But no, not in
the way you mean it.

NIGHTLIFE
Those things he said about you, with the children?

GIRL
I run a group home. For kids.

NIGHTLIFE
(to SENSEI)
You lied to me.

GIRL
We tested you.

NIGHTLIFE
(to LANEY)
And you were in on this?

LANEY looks away.

NIGHTLIFE
Who are you?
(to the GIRL and SENSEI)
All of you? Who are you really?
 Suilebhan | 65.

GIRL
We’re all just people. Real people, trying to fight crime and
stop criminals. We go out on patrols, and if we see somebody
getting beaten or breaking the law, we step in. That’s it.

SENSEI
And when we have to, we fight. But only when it’s absolutely
necessary.

GIRL
And we don’t live in a fantasy world with codes and secret
knocks and hideouts. I mean, we used to, when we first
started, but... now we don’t pretend.

SENSEI
We don’t even really wear our costumes any more.

SENSEI pulls back his hood and removes

his sunglasses. LANEY removes the belt
that covers her eyes.

GIRL
You see, there are two kinds of real-life superhero,
Nightlife: crime-fighters and do-gooders. And... we’re crime-
fighters.

A long beat.

SENSEI
You’ve got to believe, Nightlife, I really do respect
everything you’ve --

NIGHTLIFE
The hell with you. All of you. You have no clue.
LANEY
You need to understand. You were my candidate. I really was
rooting for you the whole time. I believed in you, Jack.

NIGHTLIFE
Excuse me? What did you just call me?

LANEY
You’re not wearing your costume.

NIGHTLIFE begins slowly to laugh. It

builds inside him wearily at first,
then gradually becomes more than a
little bit maniacal.

SENSEI
You know, you can always go back to what you did before, with
the streetlights.
 Suilebhan | 66.

LANEY
And your secret’s safe with us. We swear.

Without warning, NIGHTLIFE reaches into

the lining of his cape and pulls out a
handgun.

NIGHTLIFE
You fuckers think you know my secrets, but you have NO idea.
None. You don’t know the real me.

GIRL
Put that away.

NIGHTLIFE
(pointing the gun at her)
Or what?

SENSEI advances on NIGHTLIFE, but

NIGHTLIFE turns the gun on him, driving
him back toward the warehouse door.

NIGHTLIFE
You, Sensei, I would like to shoot, really, so you’d better
not move one more inch.

LANEY
You don’t need to do this.

NIGHTLIFE
And you? You’re the worst. You know, I actually believed you
could detect the truth? I was so scared you’d figure me out,
but you never did. You still have no idea.

LANEY
About what?

NIGHTLIFE
(waving his gun)
My origin story.

A quick beat while she thinks.

LANEY
Oh my god... wait.

NIGHTLIFE
Now you get it, don’t you?

LANEY
You were the kid with the gun.
 Suilebhan | 67.

NIGHTLIFE
I was the kid with the gun, yes.
(to SENSEI)
It’s a real shame she can’t see things as clearly as you can.

The GIRL makes a move toward NIGHTLIFE,

but NIGHTLIFE shoves the gun directly
in her face, forcing her back toward
the door as well.

NIGHTLIFE
Do not make me a villain. I know that’s what you’re thinking.
I can see it in your eyes. But I am not a villain. I scared
that streetlight guy so bad he quit, and now I’m making up
for it. That’s good, not evil. And that’s what I’m doing.

LANEY advances, but NIGHTLIFE aims his

gun at her.

NIGHTLIFE
With or without you.

A beat, then LANEY begins advancing

toward him, carefully, as she intones.

LANEY
Defense Before Offense. Trust Your Teammates. Never --

NIGHTLIFE rushes right at LANEY and

shoves his gun directly against her
forehead.

NIGHTLIFE
How much of what you told me is really real? About you and
your origin story.
A beat.

LANEY
How much do you think?

A long silence.

NIGHTLIFE
Get out. Now. All of you. Get out. And don’t ever come back.

Nobody moves.

NIGHTLIFE
GO!

The GIRL, LANEY, and SENSEI exchange

long glances, then calmly leave the
warehouse.
 Suilebhan | 68.

NIGHTLIFE slams the door behind them,

then leans his face against it heavily
for a long moment.

A beat later, he whips around and (with

three quick perfectly-aimed pulls of
the trigger) shoots out the lights in
the warehouse. A loud shower of sparks,
then complete darkness and silence...
then a few muffled sobs.

End of play.