Special

I used to dream about flying.

It went the same way every night-

I'd realize that I could fly-

No, that's not quite right.

I'd realize that there was no reason I couldn't fly.

And after that, I'd float off the ground

and soar above the city.

But I haven't had that dream in a while now.

Lately I dream about more ordinary things

like doing my laundry or shopping for groceries

or riding on elevators.

I wonder why that is.

Drug use, prescription or otherwise?

No.

Do you experience persistent headaches?

No.

- Trouble sleeping? - No.

Any feelings of lethargy?

- No. - Lack of appetite?

Difficulty becoming sexually aroused,

maintaining an erection?

Problems with premature ejaculation?

No.

What about thoughts of a suicidal or homicidal nature?

No.

You never fantasize about hurting anybody-

yourself or others?

Well...

You know, sometimes, I guess.

But, you know, I would never act on it.

I understand.

And you're in good health, so...

There you go.

I'm in?

Take one pill a day, preferably with food.

But wait, you don't- you don't have to wait for my blood-test results?

No, we're good.

I just need your John Hancock right there.

And these- these- these really work?

Our results have been remarkably promising.

Okay.

And there.

And also there.

Welcome to our study...

Les.

And thank you.

'Cause you're not just participating in a clinical trial,

you're helping develop a medication

that will benefit a great many people.

So you just pop in here one time a week

so we can monitor your progress.

And here's a free T- shirt for you.

can I take the first one now?

Mmm.

And how long till I start feeling...

you know, different?

I've decided to start this medication journal

so I don't forget anything noteworthy between visits.

It's funny because I joined the study on a whim.

You see, I'm really pretty happy with my life.

Well, maybe "happy" isn't the right word,

but I'm not unhappy.

It's more like

I once read about a monster called the extricator

that lived off people's souls.

Only the thing was, the extricator ate a person's soul in their sleep

over a 16-year period.

Like it would nibble off a crumb every night

until there wasn't anything left,

so a person had no way to realize what was going on.

They just had this vague sense

that something was slowly disappearing.

I don't know, maybe I am a little depressed lately.

Wait wait wait wait wait!

You have to stop.

I am so broke.

I'm sorry, ma'am, but I already started writing the citation.

Um, listen, you could park here all day

and I promise I won't- I won't write another ticket,

But once I start writing the ticket-

See, I get reprimanded if-

Please...

Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!

I'm sorry about that.

Some asshole was trying to ticket me.

How many times do I have to tell you?

We're not gonna take any comics you find in a dumpster.

End of story.

What do you say, chief? Five bucks?

What if someone pissed on them?

I swear to God, if you pay him for those, I'm-

You're a good little man.

And you-

You're a very bad little man.

Les?

Could you explain to my retarded sibling here

that I can't keep the store open if he insists

on throwing our money away on crackhead piss comics?

I should- I probably should go back to work.

Oh, Les, Les? Come here, man.

Check it out- I got you the new "Iron Woman,"

The new "Nightmare Killer" and the new "Time Travel. "

Cool.

I'm so sick of people thinking "Time Travel"

is all about some dude who shows up from nowhere

saying, "I've come from the future that will no longer exist,"

and then fixes your problems.

Don't let him harsh you, Les.

"Time Travel" is seriously dope

in an old-school kind of way.

Yo, if you want to come by later,

we rented this crazy iranian knockoff- "When Animals Attack. "

Yeah, man, come by. Check it out.

Save me from another night alone with Captain Piss Comic.

Sure.

Yeah, maybe.

I know I'm too old to like comics as much as I do,

but in comics, a villain can launch a missile at a superhero

and the hero just keeps coming.

And then the villain can throw an atom bomb

or an asteroid or an entire planet at the hero,

but that won't stop them either.

Because a real superhero is like a force of nature.

And when I read comics, I get this faint glimpse of what it would be like

to be not just stronger, faster,

or smarter than ordinary people,

but what it would be like to be,

well, to be unstoppable.

Les, Les, Les, Les.

You want to explain this to me, champ?

Yeah, I'm sorry, Steve, I just-

I like you, kid. I really do.

But the money that those parasites con from you,

it goes to schools, hospitals, soup kitchens.

So really what you're doing is,

you're helping them steal from terminally-ill homeless children.

- No, I know- - I know it's tough out there.

Believe me. Even our fellow police officers

think we're some kind of joke.

That's why you have to remind yourself

that we are the ones that keep this city running.

I know.

Then say it.

Pardon me?

The mantra exercise.

Look, I have seen this job snap a lot tougher men than you, champ.

So unless you change your attitude,

I'm afraid you're not gonna last much longer around here.

I'm important and I keep this city running.

Good.

Now repeat.

I'm important.

6:48 P.M.

Still not feeling anything.

Les?

Oh, man.

I think I just- I might be too nervous or something.

Les- Les, what are you doing?

Les, why don't you come down from there

and we can talk a little bit more?

Les?

No!

Amazing, isn't it?

It's quite unusual. Are you hurt?

No no, I never felt better. Why?

Well...

Hey, has this happened to anyone else?

No, I've never seen anything quite like it before.

What do you think caused this, Dr. Dobson?

Well, I think we have to discuss that-

Could- could you excuse me for a second?

Is something wrong?

Just don't move. I- I'll be back in a moment or two.

What seems to be-

Sorry about that, Les.

Who are those people?

Please just follow me.

Can you hear me, Les?

Of course.

Excuse me?

This room could be bugged.

How'd you do that?

Do what?

I assume you've heard of telepathy.

You're telepathic?

What?

I'm not telepathic, Les. You are.

I am?

- You are what? - Telepathic.

The drug bestowed you with many powers.

You're having an adverse psychological reaction, Les.

You're reading my mind right now.

Do you understand what I'm telling you?

Why is this happening to me?

The medication was designed to suppress the chemicals

in the brain responsible for self-doubt.

Unfortunately, brain chemistry can be as unique

and as unpredictable as a fingerprint.

Oh.

Okay.