For one of my Hebrew school classes, we were assigned to write a modern-day Elijah story. Here's what I wrote:

Justice League Unlimited
PROPHET
A teleplay by Reuben Baron



COLD OPENING



MEDITERRANEAN PORT IN GAZA – EVENING

The port is situated on the edge of a town decimated by bombings. In an alleyway, Elijah can be seen in the form of an old, weak, bearded man. A large dark ship arrives at the port. A messenger at the port signals the ship to stop.

MESSENGER
The aid from Greece is here.

The ship stops as people gather around the port. Out from the ship walks Ares. A Hamas operative walks up to Ares and shakes hands.

HAMAS OPERATIVE
We are so grateful to have you as our new partner, Ares. With your weaponry, we shall force the Jewish state into defeat!

ARES
Oh, we’ll defeat them, all right. But when did I ever say we were partners?

HAMAS OPERATIVE
You give us your weapons! We have the same goal of destroying Israel!

ARES
Oh no, that’s where you’re wrong. You see, I’m not like you. I don’t kill people for political or religious reasons. I kill, and there’s nothing stopping me from doing it to you with my bare hands. Now, care for a demonstration of our partnership?

Ares gives an evil laugh while signaling a fleet of planes to fly in from overhead, bombing the town even further. The people run away while Ares and the Hamas operative stay put.

HAMAS OPERATIVE
This is just a suicide mission, right? At least we will be able to take down our enemies-

ARES
If you wish to look at it that way, I guess so. Although the way I see it, there won’t be an Israel or a Palestine when I’m done.

Ares’ planes are suddenly gunned down by Wonder Woman’s invisible jet. The invisible jet lands amidst the ruins and Wonder Woman walks out. The Hamas Operative runs off.

WONDER WOMAN
I thought I took care of you.

ARES
War is never taken care of.

Ares and Wonder Woman get into a fistfight. Ares manages to pull off one of Wonder Woman’s bracelets. As she runs to pick it up off the ground, Ares steals her lasso and then grabs her by the arm arm, ready to break it.

ARES
You know I can do it. From the sand you were born from so you shall return. Oh, you’re strong, all right, but I’m God of War!

Elijah turns his head towards the confrontation. He transforms, Martian Manhunter-style, from a weak old man into a strong young guy in a modern day style superhero outfit, designed like a toga with a ring of flames around the shoulders. Wonder Woman kicks Ares backwards and walks up slowly towards him, ready to punch him into the ground, but Elijah swiftly runs into her way and starts muttering some sort of prayer.

WONDER WOMAN
Nice outfit, but this is my archnemesis and I’d like to knock him out myself.

Elijah stops muttering and lightning comes down from the sky, lands right where Ares is standing, and evaporates him into a million tiny ashes. Wonder Woman’s jaw drops.

WONDER WOMAN
Who are you?

CUE OPENING THEME


ACT ONE


Superman flies above the Gaza beach and lands next to Wonder Woman.

SUPERMAN
You took care of Ares?

WONDER WOMAN
I would have, if Flameboy over here didn’t do it first.

SUPERMAN
I was going to ask who that was. New hero in town?

ELIJAH
Actually, I’m not all that new. Been in this line of work for three thousand years, if I remember correctly, Kal El.

SUPERMAN
You know my name?

ELIJAH
I believe we’ve met before. I was in a different disguise that time. Seems all the heroes today have adopted this sort of style, so I’m just trying to blend in.

WONDER WOMAN
You know this man?

SUPERMAN
You aren’t directed to the Fortress of Solitude by just anyone.

WONDER WOMAN
All this talk and I don’t know the darn guy’s name.

ELIJAH
Eliyahu Hanavi. Elijah the Prophet. And you?

Superman becomes slightly nervous.

WONDER WOMAN
Princess Diana. Wonder Woman. Nice to meet you?

Elijah shudders. Wonder Woman walks towards him but Elijah signals that she move back. Elijah looks up to the sky to talk to God.

ELIJAH
Adonai, King of the Universe, answer me: am I dreaming? I met this woman before. In a dream. I know I can see things in dreams that are real, but this person, well, in my old dream she wasn’t a person. She was born of gods that weren’t you. Gods that don’t exist. Does she not exist? No, I can’t be dreaming now. She must just be another blasted false prophet, like that guy you killed for me today. What do I-

Wonder Woman smacks Elijah in the head. Elijah falls down. Superman helps Elijah up.

SUPERMAN
I owe you something and I know this increases the debt, but please! Don’t plot anything against Wonder Woman! You might know this Earth long enough to know its workings and secrets, but, well, there’s quite a few Earths nowadays with different gods and truths and whatnot. More will be explained when we reach the Watchtower.

INT. LOUNGE OF THE WATCHTOWER

A few dozen superheroes are hanging around on coffee break. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Elijah walk out from the teleportation platform above the lounge. Everyone, expect Wonder Woman who faces away, faces Superman as he begins an announcement.

SUPERMAN
Fellow Leaguers! We have a special guest visiting us! Since the days of Babylon, he’s fought corruption, educated great sages, and inspired millions.

Superman turns towards Elijah.

SUPERMAN
We are indebted to have you here-

ELIJAH
Flameboy.

Some of the superheroes laugh a bit. Wonder Woman shrugs. Superman looks slightly befuddled.

SUPERMAN
Is that what we should call you?

ELIJAH
That is the name I shall go by in public. I’m sure everyone here understands the concept of the secret identity. A cliché name implies a cliché hero, thereby lessening the attention I receive and making it easier for me to go about my life in peace. That, I suppose, is why I am now Flameboy.

The Question is by the coffee machine. He drops his cup when he hears this and points at Elijah.

QUESTION
Superman: Clark Kent. Batman: Bruce Wayne. Flash: Wally West. Flameboy: who? We at the Justice League Unlimited have enough trust to tell each other our secret identities. What makes you any different?

SUPERMAN
Calm down, Question. Without Flameboy, there might not be a JLU. I’m sure there’s a perfectly fine reason he won’t reveal his identity.

Superman, Wonder Woman, and Elijah walk away towards the boardroom.

SUPERMAN
Now, come, you should meet firsthand with our founding members.

Superman, Wonder Woman, and Elijah go through the doors to the boardroom. Green Arrow goes to the coffee machine. The Question is stamping the ground in anger.

QUESTION
He thinks he’s so high and mighty, but there’s rules. Everyone here knows who everyone else is.

GREEN ARROW
Who are you, again?

The Question puts his hand over where his face would be if it showed.

INT. BOARDROOM

Wonder Woman takes a seat at the Original Seven’s table. Superman and Elijah are standing by the table. Superman’s attention is directed towards Elijah.

SUPERMAN
These are the founding members of our organization. I hope you’re more comfortable with less of a crowd.

Elijah points at a sulking Wonder Woman.

ELIJAH
Am I supposed to be comfortable around her?

Superman directs his attention towards the larger group.

SUPERMAN
People, we have an honored guest in our presence. He was the one who saved that town in Gaza, and I think he can do much for us, but he’s religious, and as such a bit perplexed over the presence of so many gods being around. J’onn, would you care to explain about the Multiverse?

Martian Manhunter pulls out a chart of different Earths.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
There are at least 51 universes running parallel to our own. We live in the universes of Earth-One. The following Earths are listed in order of exceeding abstraction from our own. I am not knowledgeable enough to know what powers control our universe, but it has become clear that all the pantheons of physical gods and demons do exist in their own universe. Wonder Woman and Ares are the gods of Earth-Two whom have managed to enter Earth-One through a break in the space-time continuum. Understand now?

ELIJAH
But, the Lord is one...

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
The Lord is one in infinity.

Elijah pauses for a second and takes a seat.

SUPERMAN
Now, I’d think it proper for all of us to give our guest an introduction. Perhaps your names, whichever ones you feel like giving, and your reason for being here? Diana and I don’t need to give introductions now, so how about we start over here.

BATMAN
Bruce Wayne. Batman. Saw my parents murdered as a child and have taken it upon myself since to put a stop to crime.

GREEN LANTERN
John Stewart, no relation to the popular comedian. The Green Lantern of Earth. A US Marine chosen to be an agent for an intergalactic police society.

FLASH
Wally West. The Flash. Given the power of speed in a laboratory accident and decided it best to use said power to help people.

HAWKGIRL
Shayera Hol. Hawkgirl. Sent here from another planet as a spy, but love has shifted my allegiances towards this one.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
J’onn J’onzz. The Martian Manhunter. When my species fell victim to genocide, I joined the League to fight off the perpetrators.

ELIJAH
I’m Elijah. Flameboy, some have called me, and I feel your pain, J’onn. I’m also the only of my kind.

BATMAN
And your kind would be?

ELIJAH
A prophet. I have been absolutely loyal to the Lord, the sovereign God, even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made, torn down the altars, and killed other prophets with the sword. I alone am left.

BATMAN
So are you just well trained like me or do you have some sort of powers?

ELIJAH
I can shapeshift, run fast, control water, travel through walls, read dreams, fly.

WONDER WOMAN
The Justice League made obsolete by one man.

ELIJAH
And I don’t die. God has chosen me to keep living until the day of the messiah, so He takes my soul up to heaven whenever my body is in danger, placing me in suspended animation.

WONDER WOMAN
Chosen by his God. Reasonable.

ELIJAH
It’s more reasonable than being chosen by space cops.

SUPERMAN
Calm down! Nobody here’s exactly normal.

WONDER WOMAN
Everyone at least knows why they’re here. Flameboy, can you tell us why your God gave you these powers? Why are you here?

ELIJAH
I have been absolutely loyal to the Lord, the sovereign God, even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made, torn down the altars, and killed other prophets with the sword. I alone am left.

Pause.

SUPERMAN
Is that all you can remember? No big words of revelation or road of trials?

ELIJAH
After three millennia, do you expect me to remember who I was?


END OF ACT 1


ACT 2


INT. CONTROL ROOM

Batman is sitting at a control desk. He receives a live video feed from Green Arrow in front of the Metropolis Metropolitan Bank. Green Arrow is shaking the camera in front of his face, scarred and worried.

GREEN ARROW
(over the feed)
The Top’s been on a bank robbing spree all mornin’! He just keeps dodgin’ my arrows! It’s just wrong! Send some back-up; someone who can actually run!

BATMAN
Sorry, but Flash is currently battling Starro in the Bermuda Triangle, and Superman’s on duty working to protect and rebuild the port.

GREEN ARROW
Is there anyone else who can run?

BATMAN
Hmm, there is somebody...

EXT. METROPOLIS METROPOLITAN BANK – MORNING

Elijah appears in front of Green Arrow by sudden teleportation. Green Arrow drops his camera.

GREEN ARROW
Flameboy?

A few seconds go by. Elijah, disguised as The Top, spins back towards Green Arrow. Green Arrow aims his bow and gets an arrow ready to send towards Elijah, but Elijah transforms back into his “Flameboy” outfit.

GREEN ARROW
What the-

ELIJAH
One needs to psych out his opponent any way he can. The Top won’t be robbing banks any longer.

Green Arrow lowers his bow and arrow. The Question walks out the bank.

QUESTION
For now, until this pitiful justice system of ours fails yet again.

GREEN ARROW
Hey, I’ll admit the courts have their faults, but they’re more moral than the alternative.

QUESTION
I’m not advocating murder. Just simply clarifying for The Man With No Name that The Top is going to get back on his feet someday. Unless, of course, you did do the alternative.

GREEN ARROW
Flameboy is now in the Justice League. Leaguers don’t kill.

ELIJAH
You mean I did something wrong? I only do God’s bidding. I never murder an innocent man!

Green Arrow drops his bow. The Question grabs hold of Elijah’s arm and starts dragging him along as he walks down the street.

QUESTION
Would you do it if God told you to?

ELIJAH
God would never-

QUESTION
How should I know? Never knew this God fellow. Don’t believe him ‘til I meet him.

ELIJAH
So you believe in those pagan Wonder Women? You’ve seen them; well, this is assuming you have eyes under that mask.

QUESTION
Oh, I can see, all right. I just accept them as part of the fabric of the multiple realities without giving them my worship or anything sketchy like that. Can’t see your guy. Probably doesn’t exist. Wouldn’t worship him anyway if he did.

Elijah punches The Question. Green Arrow picks up his bow and aims at Elijah again.

GREEN ARROW
Supes must have his reasons for inviting you, but he’s not going to like this when he finds out. If I were in charge, I’d say applying the death penalty means you’re out, but I’ll be easy on you and just assume it is strike one. Violence against a teammate? You’ve just earned another strike!

Green Arrow shoots an arrow at Elijah that stuns him unconscious.

INT. BOARDROOM

Elijah wakes up in the boardroom tied to a chair. Only Wonder Woman is there. Wonder Woman is speaking to Superman over a radio transmitter.

WONDER WOMAN
Good thing you’re coming, Clark. Over.

Wonder Woman turns off the radio transmitter and walks towards Elijah.

ELIJAH
Diana, may I ask you something?

WONDER WOMAN
Yes, but only if you want my answers.

ELIJAH
Why is it that people today believe everything they see and nothing they feel?

WONDER WOMAN
I believe my feelings. I feel you’re up to no good and whatever Clark sees in you is messed up.

Superman walks into the room.

SUPERMAN
I heard you.

WONDER WOMAN
Tell me, what’s so great about this guy?

SUPERMAN
He was fighting for truth and justice in a time when there was little of it. His early methods might have been a bit, well, unorthodox, but from everything I can gather, he’s tamed over the years. Elijah, I really owe you for you helping me get started, and I’m starting to fear I’m in more debt than everyone on Wall Street-

Wonder Woman throws a lasso around Elijah.

WONDER WOMAN
Did you murder The Top?

ELIJAH
I did, but I swear I didn’t know your organization frowned upon such actions! Superman praised me for murdering that man in Gaza!

WONDER WOMAN
One: that wasn’t a man. That was a god. Two: You didn’t kill him. God’s can get taken care of temporarily but they aren’t going to stay dead.

ELIJAH
Well, this was before I heard about the multiverse explanation for why there’d be other gods than Adonai roaming around. I assumed he was just a regular false prophet.

WONDER WOMAN
How do I know you’re not a false prophet.

ELIJAH
Everything I’m saying now can’t be false! This is the Lasso of Truth you have around me, isn’t it? Also, I hit the faceless man with the blue jacket!

Wonder Woman swings the lasso off of Elijah, laughing.

WONDER WOMAN
You were wrong about that. Placebo lasso. Not sure how it worked.

ELIJAH
You’re just screwing with me now, aren’t you? God, tell me the purpose of this!

WONDER WOMAN
You’re hearing him?

Superman lightly pushes Wonder Woman away from Elijah.

SUPERMAN
You’ve broken two major rules of the League. Do you promise not to offend again?

ELIJAH
I promise.

SUPERMAN
Very well. You can stay then.

The Martian Manhunter goes through the walls to enter the room.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Strange ultraviolet signals have been coming from Phoebos. The Atom and I shall be leaving to investigate.

SUPERMAN
I’ll get a shuttle ready in ten minutes.

EXT. WATCHTOWER

A shuttle flies out from the Watchtower through space towards Phoebos.

EXT. PHOEBOS

The Martian Manhunter and The Atom, wearing a spacesuit designed specifically to change size with him, are walking around on Phoebos.

ATOM
Pretty small moon you got here. I could probably gain more gravity than this thing easily. I bet you I could make even my-

The Martian Manhunter facepalms.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I’ve seen many strange things in my time, but I did not just need to see that image in my head.

The Martian Manhunter stops walking, and The Atom stops shortly afterward.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
I’m sensing the unusual microwaves here.

The ground starts glowing. The Atom jumps back, grabbing his foot.

ATOM
Crap! I burned my toe.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Would seem to be unusual infrared signals here too.

The glowing ground turns into a beam of light going into the sky. The beam turns dark. The silhouettes and skeletons of The Martian Manhunter and The Atom grow visible.

ATOM
It’s the whole electromagnetic spectrum! Which means...

The Atom shrinks down to microscopic size and The Martian Manhunter becomes a transparent gas. Half the moon then explodes. Inside the crater that forms, The Martian Manhunter solidifies again and The Atom grows back to normal size, dizzy. Floating right in front of them appears Ares.

ARES
You like my weapons demonstration?


END OF ACT 2


ACT 3


INT. WATCHTOWER HOSPITAL WING

The Question is in one of the beds. Wonder Woman talks in.

WONDER WOMAN
I have some information you might wish to know.

EXT. CRATER ON PHOEBOS

The Martian Manhunter, The Atom, and Ares are where they were before.

THE ATOM
Phoebos, Mars, Mars, Ares, I should have figured it out!

ARES
Lucky you two survived. When I have my minions unleash these babies on the Middle East, humanity will only have its own fascination with my wares to blame for their suicide mission.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
How did you recover yourself this time?

ARES
Didn’t have to. Nothing happened to me.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
You mean Flameboy didn’t disintegrate you?

ARES
Flameboy? Hah! There’s something I want to show you.

INT. WATCHTOWER HALLWAY

Elijah walks down the hallway. Fire and Ice walk past him in the opposite direction while whispering to each other. Elijah tries to listen.

FIRE
(whispering)
They really need another firestarter?

ICE
(whispering)
I hear he can control water too.

FIRE
(whispering)
Hoping to make us obsolete?

ICE
(whispering)
I’ve also heard he can transform his appearance, like a Martian.

FIRE
(whispering)
You think he’s an alien?

ICE
(whispering)
J’onn was supposed to be the last of the Martians. He’s an alien spy getting his revenge perhaps?

ELIJAH
Don’t listen to gossip if you can avoid it.

Elijah walks towards the hospital room. The door is swung open. The Question is clearly visible in a bed. Elijah stops at the door and walks in.

INT. WATCHTOWER HOSPITAL WING

ELIJAH
I’m sorry.

QUESTION
Sure you are. Just like you were sorry for killing four-hundred-and-fifty priests of Ba’al.

ELIJAH
How did you know?

QUESTION
Let’s just say I have friends at high places of the Watchtower, Eliyahu Hatishbi.

ELIJAH
I didn’t think you’d believe if you knew.

QUESTION
The evidence seems to add up that you’re really the Elijah written about in the Bible, or at least someone awfully similar to him. Evidence is evidence.

ELIJAH
What are your thoughts on The Lord Adonai now?

QUESTION
I’m still not convinced.

ELIJAH
But, that’s where all my powers originate.

QUESTION
Wonder Woman says you don’t even remember your own origin. For all you know, you could just be a schizophrenic space alien.

ELIJAH
I hate gossip.

QUESTION
Hey, you never know if it’s true until you investigate.

ELIJAH
I hate it especially when it’s true.

Elijah heads towards the exit.

QUESTION
Just so you know: I’m open to your God existing. You just have a different definition of God.

EXT. THE MARTIAN SOUTH POLE

The Martian Manhunter, The Atom, and Ares are standing at by the ice cap. Ares stomps his foot and a segment of the ice cap moves backwards. The hole in the ice cap reveals a bunch of men standing robotically still who all look exactly like Ares. The Atom and The Martian Manhunter show looks of shock.

ARES
Using the latest advancements in neurobiological engineering, I have perfected an army of myself to spread disaster throughout the world.

ATOM
Wait, how can you get all these people for your army? Someone would notice.

ARES
Oh, I just use criminals who were about to be killed anyway. I avoid detection using my own invisible spacecraft modeled after the jet of my archnemesis Wonder Woman. With a few simple microchips and genetic implants, they become complete slaves to my will.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
So when Elijah thought he was fighting you, he was really fighting one of your army?

ARES
Precisely.

ATOM
These men are still human. I guess this makes Flameboy guilty of double homicide; one homicide and one manslaughter at the very least.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
We can figure his consequences out later; first we need to protect our own lives.

Ares tries to punch The Martian Manhunter, who becomes transparent. The Martian Manhunter solidifies and elongates himself. He then uses his body to curl around and strangle Ares. Ares rips The Martian Manhunter off him. As Ares and The Martian Manhunter continue to fight, The Atom shrinks down to subatomic size and starts running around the ice cap. Slowly, as he increases the heat of the ice, it begins to melt and flood the hole with Ares’ army in it. The Atom returns to regular size. Ares stops fighting The Martian Manhunter and turns towards The Atom.

ARES
Clever. Too bad the injections of my DNA make them waterproof.

Ares snaps his fingers. His army starts climbing slowly up out of the hole.

ARES and THE ARMY OF ARES
You can’t stop the spread of hate!

A shuttle suddenly lands near the melted ice cap. Elijah and Superman walk out of it in spacesuits. Elijah starts to mutter another prayer.

ARES
You’re here. What’s it like to see a god now?

Elijah finishes his prayer and as such freezes the ice cap again, trapping all of Ares’ army immobile inside it.

ARES
I know you know how to fight my army, Flameboy, but you’ve never fought me for real before.

ELIJAH
Hmm. So I did kill merely a false prophet of yours back in Gaza?

SUPERMAN
Elijah! You did kill another man! I had thought you’d changed since the old days! Tamed down! I don’t know what to do about this debt!

Ares punches Elijah in the face. Elijah starts bleeding from his lip.

SUPERMAN
Well, I might as well.

Superman grabs hold of Ares, flies to the tip of Mars atmosphere, and shoots him with his laser vision into deep space. Ares then quickly teleports to an unknown location.

SUPERMAN
He’ll return somehow.

ELIJAH
It’s OK. That’s a good enough payment. Well, that and the fact you forgave me after I broke so many of your regulations. Before you fire me, let it be known I’m quitting the Justice League. I’ll still show up to do some super deeds on my own. Who knows? Maybe I’ve learned a thing or two from this experience. Just wondering, though, was that really some pagan god we were fighting there?

MARTIAN MANHUNTER
Depends how you define god.

Elijah smiles at The Martian Manhunter. He then coughs out his soul. The soul breaks through the spacesuit.

ATOM
Are you OK?

The soul floats off into space.

ATOM
So who was he, anyway?

SUPERMAN
I don’t know.

END