In a building, John falls off the second floor in Lanterns episode 3. He hits the padded cushion. He’s fine. He visits the manager room. The woman greets him. He says he’s here for the interview. She lets him stay in her office. She leaves. He stays with a bird for one night.
The next day, the woman comes back. She’s surprised that John hasn’t moved. He says he was told to wait. She asks him did he stay here all night? He mentions she told him to have a seat. She asks him does he know who she is? He knows she’s a Guardian. She asks him what has he been told about them? He says they’re the ruling body of the cosmos, founder of the Lanterns. There were 12 of them. One of them recently died. His condolences. Also, they’re all blue.
She says they believe this interview will be more pleasurable if she’s in human form. He mentions Green Lanterns are chosen by rings. Why are they interviewing people for the job? She says because of his condolences. He doesn’t understand why he was chosen.
It flashes back. The baby John lies in the bed. He needs his mother. But his mother goes to see his brother Marcus. The alien shows up. He asks John’s father, “Are you afraid?” John cries. John’s father falls off the bed. He calls his wife. She comes back. She asks him what happened. He pants, and he doesn’t answer her the question.
John’s father watches the TV. The reporter says the mysterious hero known only as Green Lantern has again saved a major city from near catastrophe. Still no information exists about his identity, but today, he has offered this statement. “Through you cannot see my face, know that my commitment to fighting evil will never waver.” “The night I received this ring, I was asked only one question, if I was afraid.” “I remain as steadfast now as I was then.” “I am fearless.”
John’s father shoots the TV. John’s mother asks him is he out of his mind? He says how was he not supposed to be scared? Got lifted out of his bed. He was in a bubble. She asks him for the gun. He says the light was green. It was a test to be this Lantern thing, and they wanted him. She says they have been through this. It was a night mare. There was no bubble. He says there was. He just said it. They asked Green Lantern the same thing they asked him. He thinks it’s not a coincidence.
He asks her why she doesn’t believe him? She says because it’s unbelievable. He better believes if he doesn’t hand her the gun, she will send him to his maker. He looks at the kids. He gives the gun to her in the end. He tells his wife Bernie that he wasn’t gonna hurt nobody. She says this thing has got his mind gone, and they cannot do this anymore. When she and the kids come home from school, he better be gone.
Bernie walks out of the house with the baby. She throws trash into the trash can. She tries to return to the house. But Guardian stops her. She asks her if her husband is at home. Bernie denies. Guardian asks Bernie when the guy will come home. Bernie isn’t sure. She asks Guardian who is she? Guardian asks Bernie to tell her husband that the Guardians send their deepest regrets for any lingering trauma caused by their latest communication. They would like to make compensation for any continued distress that may have resulted.
Guardian tries to give a present to Bernie. But Bernie doesn’t understand why Guardian wants to do that. Guardian explains it to Bernie that they have reports that many of the candidates considered for the role of Green Lantern have been experiencing emotional turmoil.
Bernie guesses Guardian is an alien. Guardian tells Bernie that she’s an intergalactic species non-native to her Earth. Yes, she’s an alien. Bernie asks Guardian to prove it. She thinks she just looks like some unfortunate white lady to her. Guardian says she has found her natural form to be upsetting to humans. But Bernie claims that she doesn’t get upset. So Guardian transforms. Bernie isn’t scared after she saw Guardian’s real body. She asks her does she drink coffee?
In the house, Bernie gives a cup of coffee to Guardian. She feels sorry for the mess. She explains it to her that her kids just had a test. She takes away the papers on the table. Guardian asks Bernie does she have more children than this? She meant the baby she’s carrying. Bernie says she does. She meant her students. She’s a teacher. She mentions Guardian floated her husband out of their bed. Guardian says they have never had a Green Lantern from Earth. They realize now that the ring’s selection process is unusual for Bernie’s species.
Bernie asks Guardian do they all intend on fixing this? Everyone he talks to thinks Johnny’s lost his mind. He’s nearly drinking himself to death every night. Her family is falling apart. Guardian explains it to Bernie that the system is imperfect. This is the best she can do. Bernie asks Guardian does she know the differences in race on Earth? Does she understand how unfair it is to ask a Black man in America if he’s afraid? Guardian realizes that Bernie means brown skin.
Bernie says they’re terrified daily of persecution and still show up, sometimes better, than everyone around them. She asks Guardian did she know that? Guardian says she didn’t. Bernie realizes that even in space, they all don’t consider them. Guardian says humans have relatively short lifespans. Perhaps this could present opportunities. Whatever the ring saw in Bernie’s husband is in his genetic makeup. She’s a very formidable woman. Her offspring could one day be an excellent candidate.
Bernie thinks it’s a long time from now. What if he’s scared too? Guardian says then he’d fail. Bernie asks Guardian if she raises him to be fearless? Guardian says that would certainly warrant their attention when the time came. Bernie asks Guardian how does she know he will get a fair shot? Guardian promises Bernie. Bernie takes a look at the baby John.
At present, John asks Guardian was she the one that came to visit his mother? She admits it. She knows the police came to visit her when she tried to cash that diamond. They didn’t believe it was hers. Guardian feels sorry Bernie had to go through that. John tells Guardian that he will pass that along. She mentions his father was a Marine. Is that why he became one too? He says yes. It’s part of the path. He became a Marine so she could get here, across the table from her.
It flashes back. John goes to the Outback to meet his superior. The superior asks John does he have other clothes in his car? Gym bag? John says so. Superior got John a steak and a beer. He thinks he should have gotten dressed. John says he was told this was about an issue of national security. Superior says the whole point of meeting at an Outback is to be discreet. Not a lot of snipers like John left. His kill record’s impeccable. He’s patient.
John takes over the papers from Superior. He guesses it’s his target. Superior says the target’s code name is Gray Wolf. He launders money. John says he doesn’t care about the man. He wants to know the mission. Superior says Gray Wolf is impossible to track. There’s only one place they’ve ever known him to return. A retreat they believe he owns in the Kamchatka Peninsula. They have no idea how often he goes, how long he stays. John figures Superior wants him to wait on the target, stay there until he shows up.
It could take weeks, maybe a couple months. He asks him how many have been before him? Superior asks John what makes him think he’s not the first? John says there’s intel on an otherwise remote mountain range, a rudimentary map of the retreat, so someone’s been there. Superior says three. they lost contact with the last team months ago. But if John agrees to the mission, they’ll do things differently. John will have a panic button if he needs extraction.
But John says he doesn’t need that. He doesn’t do panic. Superior asks John to get his affairs in order before he leaves. John agrees. Superior asks John about his father. He reveals he and Johnny were stationed together after basic. He heard he had some struggles. John says his father is much better. He leaves the Outback.
In the evening, it’s thundering outside. Johnny wakes up from the couch. He sees Bernie sit in the chair with the baby. He didn’t hear she comes in. She asks him couch getting too comfortable? He says it’s better than a motel. She tells him that they need to fix this. He was never gonna wear that ring. He thinks she doesn’t trust him. She says she trusts him now. She’s sorry that everybody’s been treating him like he’s crazy. He asks her what changed?
She takes out the diamond that Guardian gave to her. She puts it on the table. She says one of the Green Lantern’s bosses came by the other day. They apologized for not picking him. She thinks they will choose John. He doesn’t understand it. She asks him why did he become a Marine? Why does she get up and teach? To be better than where they came from, to prove to God-knows-who that they are worth a thing. They didn’t break every stereotype and face down every fear for him to be penalized because he’s scared to leave the people that he loves. He thinks she knows that they don’t see them. Down here or up there. She said the same thing, but they cannot accept that. They cannot raise three boys like that and believe that no matter how good they are, they get looked over.
He asks her why not Aaron or Marcus? She says they’re too old. They already know fear. She thinks the Guardian liked John. He tears up. He asks her how do they make a Green Lantern? She says she has been reading. They condition him so he’s used to fear. Train him to be everything they saw in him and everything the Lantern they picked isn’t. The night that they rejected him was the beginning of everything falling apart. This is a chance for them to put it back together. He thinks John will hate them after he grows up. She thinks they should let their son do that.
An airplane flying through a storm. John is on the plane. He looks outside. Pilot tells John that it’s not ideal jumping weather, but it’s the only way they don’t see them. He gives something to him. He tells him that he can hit the button when the mission is complete. If anything goes wrong and he needs extraction. John tells Pilot that he will hear from him when the mission’s complete. John jumps off the airplane. He falls into the sea. He swims ashore.
At present, John tells Guardian he was dishonorably discharged. She’s more concerned with disobedience. He says no disobedience. He had a mission to complete and he failed. She thinks he doesn’t present as someone who relents without cause. He says if there was a cause, that would be classified. She says much of what she will discuss will also be classified. He promises her that he won’t tell it to others. She asks him what does he know about Sinestro?
He says only what he saw on the news. He went rogue. He killed one of her fellow Guardians. Hal Jordan beat him and locked him up. She asks him what does he think of Hal Jordan? He says he doesn’t think about him. But she thinks he must think something. Hal was chosen instead of his father. He says his father served the country honorably. He respects anyone whose job it is to protect people. He taught him to do the same. Guardian reveals Sinestro was Hal’s teacher.
A father figure. He still harbors deep affection for his mentor. It’s quite troubling. John says it’s human. They love the people that raise them. Even if they’re crazy.
It flashes back. John’s parents throw John a birthday party. Johnny asks John to make a wish. John blows out the candle. Bernie tells John that they got something for him. Close his eyes. But Marcus closes his eyes. Aaron asks Marcus why he’s doing so. Marcus says he wants it be a baseball jersey. Aaron tells Marcus that he cannot fit his gut in John’s shirts.
John opens the present. He sees a suit. He says he asked for crayons. Bernie tells John that his father and she think five is old enough to know about his destiny. Johnny tells his son that he’s gonna be the Green Lantern when he grows up. He probably wondered why they treat him so different. Sleep in a different room than his brothers, don’t go to school with them.
Marcus thought his parents just liked John better. Bernie tells the kids that this is serious. She reveals when John was a baby, the Guardians, the people that run the whole universe, came to tell them that they want him to be the next Green Lantern. They said that they had to train him and they would send birds to watch over them. They report back to the Guardians.
Johnny tells his son that that’s why he likes birds so much. Bernie knows John like drawing, and he wanted those crayons, and he can still do that a little. But this year, his real training starts. John asks his mother what he needs to do. She says the Guardians want them to make sure that he’s fearless. Aaron is furious to walk away. He thinks his parents always choose John.
Bernie knows John worries about Aaron. He tells him that he cannot do that. He cannot worry about anybody but himself. He doesn’t want the Guardians to think he doesn’t wanna do it. Marcus finds a gun from the box. Johnny asks Marcus to give the gun to John. John gets the gun. Johnny tells John that they have given him his target. Now he gotta learn to shoot.
At present, Guardian asks John is that why he chose to be a sniper? He says he’s a good shot. She thinks that’s not what she’s asking. He says he can hit a target from over a mile away. She asks him does he like the distance? He thinks she’s asking him if he’s close to anyone, or if he’ll be distracted on the job. She says yes. He likes being alone, and he doesn’t get distracted. She asks him about his parents. Does he resent them for the rigors or their training?
He asks her does she have a family? She says they come into existence alone, and they die the same. He thinks that’s sad. She doesn’t think so. He cannot explain family to someone who doesn’t have one, but rigorous kind of comes with the territory.
It flashes back. Johnny trains John to shoot. John hits the apple. Johnny praises his son. He asks him to go to set up another apple. Bernie walks out of the house. She asks her husband aren’t they supposed to be out here finishing the dish? He says he thought it made more sense to train. She says there’s nothing to think about. They have to finish the dish. He reminds her that diamond money’s gone. They still need more parts. She points out that she needs to call the Guardians and tell them how good John’s doing. He says they don’t even know who to call, and they said they’ll be watching. She says she doesn’t want to leave this up to them.
John asks Johnny to shoot one off him. Bernie lets her husband do it. She wants to know if her son is afraid. She asks him to ask John what the Guardian asked him. Johnny asks John is he afraid? John says no. Johnny doesn’t want to shoot his son. Bernie reminds him that this is what it takes for the both of them. He does it. John touches the applesauce. He wants to eat them. Johnny walks to John. He’s proud when he looks at him. Bernie tells John that his father can do better than that. Johnny tells John that he deserves a cheeseburger.
At present, Guardian asks John does he love his parents? He says he loves them. He owes them everything. She asks him how does he intend to repay them? He says by getting this job. She asks him what if he doesn’t? He says he will. She asks him how can he be so sure? He says he was trained to be sure.
It flashes back. John’s parents abandon John on the street. They let him walk alone at the night.
Guardian asks John why he didn’t hit his panic button? He says he had a mission to complete. She thinks perhaps he was stubborn. He says he had a mission to complete. She figures his training must have resulted in great loneliness. As humans require high levels of social connection, that isolation appears to be in direct opposition to his programming. He says humans aren’t programmed, they’re raised. She doesn’t understand the distinction.
It flashes back. John returns home. Bernie tells him that she saved him a pork chop. His plate’s in the microwave. She leaves his room. He cries on the bed.
At present, Guardian tells John that he will become more isolated from his family if he becomes Green Lantern. He thinks it’s not a problem. She asks him if they won’t miss him. He says no. She asks him if he won’t miss them. He says they all lived in the same house for 18 years. He grew up missing them.
It flashes back. John asks Bernie can he go outside with Marcus and Aaron? He did his work. He walks into her room when she’s contacting the Guardians. He asks her who is she talking to? He guesses it was the Guardians. He asks her why weren’t they talking back? She says maybe they’re not talking because they’re not seeing results. He’s still scared. He claims that he’s not scared of nothing. The birds should be telling them that. She says they’re not. He says then the birds are liars. She asks him to prove it.
Outside the house, Johnny shoots the apple off John’s head. He takes to take him to go to eat cheeseburger. But Bernie says John isn’t done. She wants to let him shoot the apple off Johnny. She mentions he said that he’s not scared. John tells his father that he can do that. So Johnny gives the gun to John. He asks his wife shouldn’t they work up to this? She reveals John could shoot a moth out the sky.
Johnny puts an apple on his head. John cannot shoot the apple. A bird shows up. Bernie tells her son that the birds aren’t liars.
Bernie walks into John’s room when he’s drawing on the bed. He conceals his drawing. She tells him that he doesn’t have to do that. She wants to see his drawing. He hands over the drawing to her. She sees two apples in the drawing. She tells him that he’s gifted. She knows if it was up to him, he’d do a whole lot more drawing. He says he gotta train. There’s no time for drawing. She says it doesn’t mean he wanna do it any less. Some things just come natural. Like birds, drawing, loving his father. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. She tells him that many little boys don’t even get a father to love.
He confesses it to her that he was scared. She says it’s normal to not wanna hurt the people he loves. Love is the most important thing they’ve got. It’s why they train him so hard. They wanna see him succeed because they love him. He says the birds were right. He’s not good enough. She says she made the birds up. They make this all seem so urgent like he has to be ready to fly today because they don’t know when they’re gonna call his number and ask him to be a Lantern. The reason they don’t know is because he was right.
The Guardians don’t answer them. He figures she lied. She says just because they don’t answer doesn’t mean they’re not listening. He thinks they probably don’t even know who he is. She tells him that they know exactly who he is. They know him better than they knew Hal Jordan, and they know he’s better. The only reason why Hal has that ring is because he’s been privileged enough in this life that he didn’t have to know fear. John’s parents are giving John that same gift.
Bernie can see it for John. She can see him wearing that uniform, making them all proud. But John says he wasn’t chosen. She tells him that sometimes a Black man has to raise his own hand. Doesn’t mean he’s not good enough, doesn’t mean he’s not better. It just means they don’t see them. So, they make themselves seen. Now, if he wanna stop trying for this because they lied to him. She gets it. But he cannot worry about the choosing part. She tells him that he should choose himself. He says he’s ready to shoot now. She wants to go to call his father. But he chooses her.
Outside the house, John shoots the apple off Bernie. She tells him that she knew he could do it. She offers to go to buy him cheeseburger. But he says he hates cheeseburgers. She tells him that he doesn’t need to eat them anymore.
At present, Guardian tell John that she admires his candor about his family. She intends to say but. Because there’re still other things he’s withholding from her. Like his military discharge. He says he has told her everything he’s comfortable telling. She tells him that if he wants the job, he will share everything he’s uncomfortable with.
It flashes back. John hides in the forest. He tries to shoot the target. But the Green Lantern Hal takes the target away from the retreat. John meets Superior at the Outback again. He thinks he didn’t have to send in Hal. Superior says he didn’t. The Deputy to the Defense Secretary was at some strip club. Who’s at the bar holding court but Hal. They start drinking. The Deputy lets it slide they have intel Gray Wolf’s headed for his retreat. Boom. Hal just zips up at the sky, headed straight for Kamchatka. Blasts the compound, grabs Gray Wolf, and drops him off at Guantanamo.
So now, they have a wanted terrorist, not dead, but in custody. John thinks they weren’t supposed to be there. Superior tells John that someone has to take the heat lest it get out that their foreign policy is the solicitation of aid from drunk superheroes in bars.
John agrees. Superior asks John does he know what he’s saying. He mentions he was there of his own volition. His discharge is gonna be dishonorable. But everyone up top will know the service he’s done for his country.
John plays rugby at home. Bernie shows up. She asks her son how long is he gonna mope around her house? He says as long as she’ll let him. They blame Hal. John says everything he worked for is gone. Bernie tells him that nothing he lost cannot be got back. He reminds her that that’s years of his life. Nine months alone, spent eating bugs and berries. She points out that he doesn’t eat meat anyway. She gives the papers to him. He checks the papers. He doesn’t remember he applied to art school. She says she did it. She mentions he wanna go. It’s time for him to pick himself up and stop using up all her electricity.
He agrees. He asks her about his destiny. She tells him that the path hasn’t changed. This is just a detour. Now, if he wanna sit up in this room and be scared that it’s all over, then he’s afraid. If he’s afraid, then it’s over. Courage is fear that’s said its prayers. He could be worried, but he has to be brave enough to still try. Because one day, every little boy’s gonna wanna be just like him. But until then, he has to make himself happy. He asks her since when did she care if he was happy? She figures he still mads about those crayons.
At the school, John draws his mother in the classroom. He meets the guy. The guy says they’re looking for a well-trained student for a very special project. John comes highly recommended. The evaluation is simple enough. He will ask him to draw sketches of objects from memory. The more detailed, the better.
The guy asks John to sketch the building they’re in. John does it. The guy gives the ring to John. He lets him create his father’s watch. John completes the job. The guy locks the door of the classroom. He asks John to go for the interview. The interview is the one that John has been waiting for. The guy makes a black hole. He asks John to jump. John jumps into the black hole. He finds Guardian.
At present, Guardian asks John to confirm for her that it’s because of Hal that he’s no longer in the military. He says yes. She asks him if it’s because Hal was chosen over his father that his family life is complicated. He says yes. She asks him if he hates Hal. He says no. He thinks Hal was following orders. She tells him that Hal wasn’t. She reveals they have admonished Hal to not use his powers to intervene in terrestrial disputes. He asks John if he wants to replace Hal when Hal thinks he’s just his backup. This is his orders. He thinks it doesn’t matter if he accepts it or not. She tells him that he passed the test.
SEE ALSO: Lanterns Episode 2 Recap
John returns home. He tries to tell the good news to his parents. But Hal is having lunch with his parents. Hal doesn’t know how the blue bosses chose John. But he believes that John’s a top-notch since Johnny and Bernie raised him.
Hal takes John out of the house. He thinks he’s nervous. John denies it. He says it means a lot to him. He wanted to tell his parents in person. Hal asks John did he spoil it? John says it’s fine. Hal confesses it to John that he doesn’t care for what he’s hoping for, but he guesses he wants the ring. He doesn’t want a sidekick, and he doesn’t want a backup, and the only way he’s gonna get the ring is over his dead body. They will start training Monday morning. He flies away. John takes a look at the bird. He tells the bird that he thinks Hal likes him.