The Last New-Earth Story

DC Universe
The End

Page 1
(White Panel - silent)

(White Panel)
Voice: What?

(White Panel)
Voice: What's going on?
Voice: Superman? Is that you?
Voice: Yes.

(Whiteness fades away - Batman and Superman stand in costume, ready to fight.
Superman: Any ideas?
Batman: Get ready.
Voice: I'm sorry.

(Superman and Batman spin around. Pariah stands before them, removing the hood off his costume)
Batman: Pariah?
Superman: Then... our universe... is?

(Closeup on Pariah's face)
Pariah: I wanted to tell you... I'm so, so sorry.

Page 2
Batman: Pariah, tell us what happened.
Pariah: I wanted to warn you, but there was no time...
Batman: Enough with the apologies.
Superman: Bruce...

Pariah: The way it happened this time... it's different.
Batman: Just tell us what happened! (Batman grabbing pariah's shirt)
Superman: Bruce...

Pariah: I-I-I-I'w not sure!
Batman: Tell us what you know.
Superman: BRUCE!

(Batman spins around, angry at being interrupted)
Batman: WHAT?!?!

(Superman's eyes glowing fiery red)
Superman: Step away.

Page 3

(Batman frozen, looking at Superman)

(Batman releases Pariah, steps back)
Batman: This isn't your way.
Pariah: B-b-b-but I did-didn't d a-a-a-nything!

(Superman takes a step towards Pariah)
Pariah: I didn't do anything!

(Superman takes a step towards Pariah)
Pariah: I didn't do anything! Batman! Tell him!

(Superman takes a step towards Pariah- Pariah curled up on the ground)
Pariah: I-I didn't do anything. I swear I didn't.

(Superman stands over Pariah)
Superman: You didn't do anything. Including warn us.

Pariah: It's... it's hard to explain. It wouldn't have-
Superman: I don't need to head your excuses.
Batman: Clark.

Superman: Where is my wife?

Page 4

(Pariah peeks up, almost relieved)
Pariah: Y-your wife? Oh.

Pariah: I thought you were going to kill me.
Superman: I never said I wasn't.

(Silent eery scene as Batman stands behind Superman, Pariah looks scared again)

Pariah: Sh-she's on her way. Here.
Superman: So she's alive.
Pariah: No. I mean, yes. But no.

Batman: Explain. Are we dead?
Pariah: No.
Superman: So we're alive.
Pariah: No.

Batman: Limbo?
Pariah: I think the term-
Batman: Yes or no.

Pariah: Yes.
Pariah: I think you're in Limbo.
Pariah: And I think you'll stay that way forever.

Page 5

Superman: Batman.
Pariah: This wasn't my fault!

Batman: Then who?
Batman: How did this happen?
Pariah: I-I'll try.

Pariah: Your universe is gone.
Batman: Destroyed?
Pariah: Replaced.
Batman: By who?
Pariah: Another universe.

Superman: One of the other 52 universes?
Pariah: No. A 54th.
Superman: We were told there were only 52.
Batman: And one time, we were told the Earth was flat.
Pariah: Exactly. Before you came along, there were an infinite number of universes.

Superman: Before us?
Batman: There was no one before us.
Pariah: Again. The Earth is not flat.

(Superman and Batman look at each other)

Page 6

Superman: We're... not the FIRST Superman and Batman?
Pariah: Third or fourth. I forget which. Maybe seventh.

(Superman begins to put his head in his hands)
Superman:F-fifth?
Batman: Kal. Clark. We always knew there were other universes.
Superman: Sure. Robot universe. Vampire universe. But never... never just "us"

Pariah: You're still you. Some universes will have 1 similarity. Some will have a million. You're still unique.
Superman: But I'm not the original.
Pariah: No.

Batman: We're getting off track here. How did the other universe replace us?
Pariah: The Flash.
Batman: Theirs?
Pariah: Yours.

Superman: What did our Flash do?
Pariah: He went back and changed time. To prevent Zoom from killing his Mom.
Superman: What happened?
Pariah: He succeeded, and it created another universe.
Batman: A 53rd universe.
Pariah: Yes.

Page 7

Batman: What happened then?
Pariah: This universe was drastically different. Heroes were at war with each other. Earth was about to be destroyed.
Superman: And?
Pariah: Your Flash and Zoom were stuck there, and eventually with Batman-53's help...
Batman: Me?

Pariah: No. Your father.
Batman: My fath- Why would my father become Batman?

Pariah looks at Batman silently.

Pariah: In this 53rd universe, Flash managed to go back in time and stop himself.
Superman: But all it did was create a 54th universe which replaced the 53rd.
Pariah: Essentially, yes.

Batman: But if what you say is true, thats universe are infinite, then it already existed.
Pariah: Yes and no. It's a new universe, but essentially yes, all universes are out there.
Superman: So how does a universe "replace" another one, then?

Page 8

Pariah: My best guess?
Batman: Keep talking.
Pariah: All universes are competing in a big game of "King of the Hill".

Superman: What?
Pariah: I think, and this is only conjecture, that the top universe gets to exist. All the other ones underneath it are there, but are more like phantoms. Some freeze right where they are. Some develop and change. But only the top universe gets most of the life and energy.

Batman: And this keeps going until...
Pariah: Another universe takes its place at the top. Which is exactly what happened to the 53rd universe.

Superman: But we've seen the 52-Universe container! Earth was at the bottom, holding everyone else together.
Pariah: Or you were upside down when you were looking at it.

Batman: Just tell us how to get back on top.
Pariah: Like I told the others, I don't know how.
Superman: Others?

Page 9

(E1-Superman and Batman show up)
E1-Superman: Hi. I'm Earth-1 Superman and this is
Batman: We know who you are.
E1-Superman: Right.

Superman: Universe 54?
Pariah: What? No. This is-
Batman: Stay here. I'm going to go talk to him.
Pariah: Are you going to punch him in the face?
Superman: I'm sure he's just going to talk to him.
Pariah: But he always punches people in the face.

E1-Batman: That's close enough.
E1-Superman: He's just going to talk to us.
E1-Batman: (whispering) Don't undermine me, Clark.

Batman: What's going on here?
E1- Batman: Your universe has been replaced off "the top of the hill", as it were.
E1- Batman: Pariah brought you two here first, to talk to you.

Batman: And your universe is?
E1- Batman: Here, too.
Batman: And you think this is Limbo, too?
E1- Batman: No. I think that if this is a "hill" of universes, then we're both on our way down. We're not "in" the pile...
Batman: We're in mid-air, falling on the way down.
E1- Batman: Exactly.

Page 10

E1- Superman: Hello, Kal.
Superman: Er, hello.

E1- Superman: It's ok. It was hard for me the first few times I talked to my earlier selves.
Superman: Earlier?
E1- Superman: It was a shock for me to find out that I'm not the first "me", either.

Superman: When did you?
E1- Superman: The last year I remember was... was...
Superman: Just ballpark.
E1- Superman: 1985?
Superman: Oh my God.
E1- Superman: I take it your answer is different?
Superman: 2012.

E1- Superman: When did you become Superboy? Or did you? Some of them didn't.
Superman: 1980's.
E1- Superman: 1950's.
Superman: This is going to take some getting used to.
E1- Superman: Infinite Earth's Kal. Infinite possibilities.

Page 11

Batman: It's clear you're of no use to me.
Batman: You either are hiding something, or know nothing.

E1-Batman: Know nothing? I know more than you'll ever hope to know.
Pariah: (in background) Oh, they're going to start punching each other. I just know it.
Batman: That is, if you're even Batman.
Pariah: Here we go.

E1-Batman: I've been Batman for over twenty years. Based on your gair, I'd say you only have seven
Batman: And I can tell you were Batman about 30 years prior to me. Which means I have 30 years of better technology.

(Batmen line up to throw Batarangs at each other)
E1-Batman: Like I told Captain Boomerang...
Batman: I AM my weapon.
E1-Batman: I see that part of us is the same.

(Batarangs hit each other)

Page 12

(Supermen walking)
Superman: So what happened to your Earth? I mean, universe?
E1-Superman: We were replaced.
Superman: But why?

(Batman fighting)
E1-Batman: I've heard of a formula.
Batman: The Anti-Life equation? We've beaten it.
E1-Batman: Yes, we know about that. This is different.

E1-Superman: It's an existence equation.
Superman: What is it?
E1-Superman: It's a formula that determines how long we exist at the top of the hill, apparently.

Batman: And when the numbers look bad...
E1-Batman: You get throw off the top of the hill, and go into Limbo.
Batman: Ridiculous.
E1-Batman: Look around you! What is all this, then?

Superman: Mxyzptlk!
E1-Superman: It's not him.
Superman: I know it's you!

Batman: Miracle Machine.
E1-Batman: Found it, tried it. Nothing.
Batman: Superboy-Prime.
E1-Batman: The child we found from another universe? What's he got to do with anything?

Page 13

(Superman grabs E1-Superman)
Superman: It can't end like this! It can't!
E1-Superman: It's not over, Kal. It's just... we're not on top anymore.

Batman: I was... I was making an army of Batmen. A legacy.
E1-Batman: I had thought about that myself, but never...

Superman: Lois... Lois...
E1-Superman: You'll be with Lois, soon, Kal. I promise.
Superman: But to what end? Just to drift in Limbo?

Batman: I... I used a gun.
E1-Batman: I know. I saw.
Batman: I broke my vow. For what? Limbo?
E1-Batman: For life. What you did mattered. For your universe.
Batman: But nothing matters now.

(to Superman)
E1-Superman: You need to stop thinking about the past, Kal.

(to Batman)
E1-Batman: You need to start thinking about what happens next.

Page 14

(the four of them meet back up)
Batman: Clark...
Superman: Bruce...

E1-Superman: Let's...
E1-Batman: ...give them a minute. I know. I remember this part.

Batman: Clark... I... I don't know what to do.
Superman: I don't know either.

(Superman hugs Batman)
Superman: But we'll figure it out together.

Batman: Clark?
Superman: Yes, Bruce?
Batman: I really hate hugs.
Superman: I know, Bruce.

(Batman hugs back)
Batman: Just this once.

Page 15

(Superman and Batman walk up to E1 counterparts)
E1-Superman: I know it's a lot to handle. We've been there ourselves.
E1-Batman: Except we didn't hug.

E1-Superman: What are you talking about? We definitely hugged.
E1-Batman: Never happened. Batman doesn't hug.

Superman: Understandable, I guess with us being from a more modern society-
Batman:
Batman: Batman doesn't hug.
Superman: (whispering) You Batmen are impossible sometimes.
Batman: So what's next?

E1-Superman: We go to the arena.

(Superman and Batman look at each other)

E1-Superman: Don't worry, it's not a fighting arena.
E1-Batman: It's where we watch the Show.

Batman: "The Show?"

Page 16

(Huge arena opens up, and many people are already there)
Batman: What is this?
E1-Batman: It's where we watch the top universe.
Superman: There are so many people here...
E1-Superman: Eight or nine universe's worth.

(Crowd cheering)
E1-Batman: It's starting!
E1-Superman: I guess we should grabs some seats. Is anyone thirsty?
Batman: I think I'm going to be sick.
Superman: Bruce.

(Video in the middle shows JL#1 scenes)
Batman: That's not me.
E1-Batman: That's the "new" Batman. While you started in 1970 Earth time, the program says he started in 2007.
Voice: Yoo Hoo! Batsies!

Batman: Joker!
E1-Batman: JokerS. From the other universes.
Batman: They still need to be taken down.
E1-Batman: Why? They're not doing any harm. A byproduct of Limbo.
Joker: Baaaaaatmaaaaan. Over here!

Superman: What does that mean?
E1-Superman: All the villains are here, too. But no one is doing anything damaging. It's as if we're just... waiting...
Batman: Stuck in Limbo.

Page 17

Batman: So you just sit on your ass and watch TV.
E1-Batman: We accept the situation.
Batman: You mean Surrender.
Joker: Batman! Bat! Man!

E1-Batman: What?!?!!
Joker: Not you! The other one.
E1-Batman: (Sigh)

Batman: What?
Joker: Come sit with us! Saved you a seat!
E1-Batman: Don't do it. They just talk through the entire show anyways.

(Batman walks out)
Batman: Excuse me. I think I've had about enough.
Superman: Bruce!

Joker: Bruce? Bruce Wayne is Batman?
Joker2: You knew that!
Joker3: We found that out five universes ago!
Joker: I know! I just like saying it. Hahahahaha!

Page 18

Batman: There has to be a way.

Pariah: Batman? I'm so sorry.
Batman: Enough apologies. Tell me about the Existence formula.
Pariah: It's math based off numbers that you never even knew existed.
Batman: Try me.

(Supermen are sitting in the stands next to a bunch of Jimmy Olsens)
Jimmy Olsen: Hey, Superman, doesn't that look like the beast from Planet 13?
E1-Superman: Jimmy, I'm Earth One Superman.
Jimmy: Sorry! Hey, Superman!
E1-Superman: No, he's New Earth Superman.
Jimmy: Sorry!

E1-Superman: (whispering) I'm not sure how has it worse. Bruce with a ton of Jokers, or us with a ton of Jimmy's)
Superman: (smirking)

Jimmy1: They really need to start giving them nametags.
Jimmy2: I know!

Page 19

(Dan DiDio hanging upside down)
Batman: (off-panel) Dan. Wake up, Dan.
Dan: Wha?

(Batman and Pariah stand there, Pariah looking almost ashamed.
Dan: Batman?!?! How?!?
Batman: It has to stop, Dan.

Dan: What has to stop?
Batman: You plan. It has to go back to the way it was?
Dan: The way it? Oh.

Dan: Your universe. I get it.
Dan: I can't.

Batman: Dan, this is life and death. Not just for me.
Dan: I can't!
Batman: Change the formula. Bring us back.
Dan: I said I can't! I'm not in charge of the formula!
Dan: It's in charge of me!

Batman: What?
Dan: The formula is how you all exist! All of you! If I break the formula, I destroy all of you!
Batman: Then just change it. Change it so we go back.
Dan: You can't go back! The formula never goes back!

Page 20

Batman: Find a way!!!
Dan: Don't you get it? The formula is just a tool! It's not the cause!
Dan: The formula is what keeps all of you alive!
Batman: Limbo is not a life!
Dan: I... I don't know what to tell you. I tried. I tried so hard to save you.

Batman: I'm losing patience, here, Dan.
Dan: Life is change! Even for universes! You can't just stay in one spot forever!
Dan: And it's not always a good change!

Batman: Sometimes things change even when you don't want them to.

Batman: I understand now.

(Dan wakes up in bed)
Dan: Uuuughhh!

Woman: Dan?
Dan: Just a dream, honey. Just a dream.

Page 21

Pariah: Batman...
Batman: Thank you for your help, Pariah. You can go.
Pariah: There was nothing you could do. Nothing anyone could have done.
Batman: You could have tried.

(Pariah out of earshot)
Voice: (from shadows) You giving up?
Batman: I never give up.
Voice: Come on, then.

Voice: You're the one that made Batman, Incorporated?
Batman: Yes.

(Voice turns out to be the original Batman. Council of Batmen around table. All Earths showing up on one line, balancing on the top of the hill)
Original: We're going to figure out how to break everyone out of Limbo. Everyone.
Zero-Hour Batman: And get us back on top. All at the same time.
E1-Batman: Welcome to Batman, Infinity.

Page 22

Superman: Where have you been?
Batman: Getting acclimated.
Superman: (muttering) I find that incredibly hard to believe.

Superman: Are you ready?
Batman: Are you?

(DC Universe appears)
Green Arrow: What? What's going on?
Zatanna: Where are we?

Superman: Everyone relax, take a deep breath.
Batman: Things... have changed.
Superman: Here's what we know...

The End. For now.