PROLOGUE is a flashback to the apartment of the Snarts in Keystone City, during Leonard and Lisa's childhood. It is a cold place, not fit for children, bleak and reminiscent of some late 19th century working house vibes. We share a hopeful moment of bond and trust between the siblings, with Lisa discussing just how jealous she is of kids who actually have
toys to play with, Lenny giving her tall tales of how he'll get her any toy she wants if he just puts his mind into it, before being interrupted by their childhood antagonist: Lewis Snart, father and tyrant to his children. Fired from his job, he misplaces his anger upon the kids, and from Lisa's reaction we get the idea that this is not the first occurrence. Depending on the rating chosen for the movie we can show this or that level of violence, but the point is a scene in which Lenny tries to protect Lisa, gets backhanded for his troubles, as his father looms above him with a belt in hand. Menacingly, with a blood-chilling cold fury he chastises his son for daring to raise a hand against his father, his God on Earth, as far as his life is concerned. The elder Snart threatens to put fear of God in his son's heart. He raises his weapon and strikes at camera, a flash of leather and metal going across the screen.
ACT 1, like in the previous film, is relatively optimistic, striving for the tone set in the epilogue of the first film's present day scenes. It starts with the Flash "on the job", Wally chatting to him through an earpiece, mentioning that he's gonna be late for his date with Iris, which makes Barry panic, but also invigorates him to go faster and intercept the metahuman crooks, who are trying to escape with stolen loot in hand (the directors are free with their choice of enemies, but they should be from the lists of the Rogues, or the New Rogues and other "successor" organizations, with the exception of certain ones that can be left for potential solo stories, powerful enough to power a whole movie's plot by themselves, such as Abra Kadabra, or the second Mirror Master, Evan McCulloch; for the purpose of the treatment the first Rogues used could be the Weather Wizard and Girder, relatively flashy and colorful for the film to showcase CGI and other special effects, or perhaps the later-escaping Hartley Rathaway, the Pied Piper, in case the director would like one of the Rogues to change sides). Showcase the Flash becoming a more adept and powerful speedster, who barely takes the situation seriously, tripping his foes and delivering awful puns at their expense, to the criminals' chagrin. He is applauded by the public, as Hunter Zolomon and the police take it from here, the fallen metahumans are cuffed in futuristic power-dampening collars and driven away in heavy police cars (the journalists are already on the scene, with Iris discussing with Linda how the police have been doing nothing but claiming the superheroes' victories lately, and this has been happening across the country). As the criminals are dealt with, Zolomon gives comments to the press on how there are too many super-powered criminals and vigilantes coming out of the woodwork lately, with seemingly every impossible experiment at S.T.A.R. Labs and other research groups succeeding – though sometimes with unexpected results, like those unlucky criminals ending up with powers. He asks whether this is simply part of the growing pains of what is called progress, or perhaps a case of humanity going too far in its study of things it barely understands, or maybe even a sinister plot behind too many coincidental empowerment events. Iris West calls him out for paranoia and leaves the scene uninterested, but a different journalist, the young Linda Park, tries to get more comments about the rising rate of super-criminals, and why did it start happening almost coincidentally at the same time as the Flash entered the scene. Hunter cannot provide a good answer, and the words of the Ms. Park seem to trouble him as well.
Next we follow Barry to the date, where he, for once, is not the one running late, though Iris deflects, mentioning how she couldn't miss the whole metahuman confrontation he was involved in, even if it wasn't as interesting as "that battle against a super gorilla," which Barry agrees with. They are much more on the "same wave" now, with Iris actually interested in Barry as a person, and not an opportunity for her career: in fact, she mentions that her whole hunt for big scoops has lost its luster as what was once thought impossible is now becoming commonplace, with science and progress simply bringing out new wonders and horrors everyday. Might as well give the newbies like Linda Park a chance to shine. Iris and Barry are much more comfortable together, teasing each other and sharing tender moments, with the implication being that they spend the night together. The next day Barry returns to his "hideout" of an apartment (here's a chance to make a humorous scene with the landlord), where he and Wally celebrate another successful super criminal capture accomplished. There is some tension, however, as Wally wishes he could do more to help Barry than just be his mission control (reference him wondering about that future of him wielding powers if you had him see himself in the previous movie, or maybe Barry has told him about this encounter?). Barry actually tries to be appreciative and placate his friend here, not just noting his contributions, but saying that maybe the two of them could change things up by investigating things on the ground, like real pro detectives (Wally offers "Like Batman?", and, as in the first movie, Barry shivers, repeating that vigilantes and superheroes are totally different!). Wally is happy about that, saying how he already has an idea to investigate Gambi's Tailoring, rumored to be an important hub in the Gem Cities' underworld. Barry agrees to entrust him with the mission, and leaves to assist Hunter's looking into suspicious cases that bear signs of stolen S.T.A.R. Labs equipment. A particularly puzzling case, however, are found former Bohannan Crime Family goons with shaved heads, covered by implant nodes, their wearers drained of energy and seemingly lobotomized. One of them is recognized by Barry as "Speed Demon", a rookie speedster turned criminal that the Flash once fought, still alive, but, as Barry realizes, almost completely drained of the Speed Force.
As Wally is "shopping" at Gambi's, inconspicuously looking around, he runs into Linda Park, who's similarly snooping around on her journalistic investigation. Recognizing her, Wally pretends to be her boyfriend, as they are "shopping" together, before taking the journalist away and chastising her for putting herself in danger (he's "almost" a cop, you know!). Turns out both of their hunches were correct, and they manage to spy on the backdoor meeting between the Gem Cities' criminal elements. On one side are our old acquaintances Leonard Snart and Mick Rory, showing off their new (and "ever-growing", thanks to both thefts and reverse-engineering S.T.A.R. Labs tech). On the other side, flanked by two stereotypical gangsters, is a dazzling young woman, her eyes covered behind diamond-encrusted elaborate shades, her "business suit" is kitschy and gaudy, all gold and glittery. This is Lisa Snart, the Golden Glider (have us see a shot of a gaudy golden limousine parked near Gambi's in a prior establishing shot), current crime boss in Central City, her gang characterized by chic, wealth, high fashion, representing Central as the richer, more futuristic one of the Gem Cities. Leonard and Mick, meanwhile, took over the Bohannan Family operations in the more "blue collar" Keystone City. Leonard says that with his weapons of the future, and her men and resources, they could take over both cities, and then take whatever they want, openly, with nobody powerful enough to punish them. Lisa, not entirely convinced, pointedly asks why can't she just point guns at the duo and take those weapons herself, since he is already relying on her men for his plan. Leonard points out that she wouldn't do it to her brother (this may be the place where her identity is revealed), and Lisa's silence speaks volumes, her face a mask between those garish glasses and weird makeup of hers. Mick points out that Leonard may be out of his game here, but Snart continues to present his case: none of them could do anything worthwhile, while the Flash was still in the game, and he doubted that any of her goons would dare to go against the Scarlet Speedster. And it just so happens that Leonard already has plans in the running that would give them a fighting chance to stop this titanic threat to all crime. This gives Lisa a big smile, her demeanor changes entirely: instead of this confident ice queen she is all cheerful and giddy. She says that her dearest little brother can have her "little soldiers" while he shares his "toys", but only if she gets to join in on the fun. She asks what's the next step, and he speaks of breaking out the latest captured metas (Weather Wizard and Girder/Pied Piper) while they are being transferred. Hearing this information, Wally and Linda rush to escape, but are noticed and chased by one of Snart's cronies (whoever wasn't used between Girder and Piper), and have to be saved by detective Zolomon. Wally informs the police (and, incidentally, the Flash) about the incoming attack on the transfer, while Linda disappears from sight: she's actually not so far away, watching the situation develop.
ACT 2 contains flashy, explosive battles between the Rogues (leaving it up to director regarding who names them as such and when, perhaps, continuing the tradition from the first movie, this role should fall to Iris West; some alter-egos may already be established as the characters' nicknames in the underground, like Golden Glider, others may give themselves names, like the Weather Wizard or the Pied Piper). The cinematography and soundtrack are at work here to "trick" the viewer into rooting for the Rogues in this Act: they are but men, fighting against one of the strongest superheroes of all time, sort of Promethean/TowerOfBabel challenge to the overpowering Flash. The first battle concerns an attack on the prison transport. The police under Zolomon try to stop the attackers, but the Snarts' gang's new weapons are too much for the cops to handle, with the police cars sliding across the eyes, crashing off road. Snart slows down the prison transport, but before he can go and save Weather Wizard and co., the Flash arrives, completely dominating on the scene, capturing multiple gangsters on his own. Lisa almost loses her nerve, until Leonard places an "absolute zero trap" mine, which slows Barry down… But not enough that he cannot evade the duo's blasts and still fight them, though some of his special attacks, like the "tornado arm" fail. Still, it looks like certain victory for the Flash, who clearly doesn't take these crooks seriously! Except, as it turns out, Mick Rory intercepted the slowed-down transport while the Flash was being distracted, freeing the metahumans in return for them now helping to rescue the Snarts back. Desiring revenge, they agree, drive the transport back, with the Weather Wizard blasting Flash just as he's about to arrest Leonard. Wind blasts away the Flash into the air, and Snart uses his cold gun to freeze him on the fly in mid air, with Barry dropping down painfully, encased in an ice block. WWizard and Girder want to go for the kill, but Snart says they need to retreat and regroup. He fires another cold beam at the Flash's unmoving form, freezing him all over. Lisa chastises Leonard for "stealing the kill", but he says not to underestimate the Flash: with his speed, he'll free himself in no time, and won't repeat the same mistakes, so they need to re-stock their arsenal and prepare their decisive strike. WW leaves a snowing cloud above the Flash and grudgingly joins the Snarts' group on their run. Lisa complains about having to abandon her brand new car, and asks Leonard if he thinks the Flash won't outrun them in this pathetic vehicle. The Flash does get out of ice quickly, vibrating himself to a warm state as Leonard predicted, he rushes to find the Rogues' getaway vehicle, but it's down the road, crashed and burning. Barry investigates the scene and is joined by Hunter, noting: no signs of dentures, or bodies at all, yet also no footprints, no signs of disturbed ground. Scene changes into Leonard's hideout, and, with a literal flash, we meet another member of Snart's crew: newcomer Lashawn Baez, Peek-a-Boo, a meta-teleporter, who used her power to whisk the Rogues team away (like with the golden limousine, have her appear out of focus in previous scenes). The Rogues celebrate their escape with laughs, beverages, and music, though Leonard is a bit of downer and tries to start working immediately. Lisa asks him to cheer up, saying that this was the most fun she's had in years, and they came the closest to beating the Flash today. He returns the smile and says that they'll need to spend a few days on prep-time anyway before their next encounter with the Flash, so he might as well enjoy himself tonight.
The time moves forward, as we witness the police forces under Hunter (probably include Barry and Wally in these scenes as well to evade repeating ourselves lately) storm businesses suspected of association with Lisa Snart, starting with Gambi's, but they are either abandoned, or operated by people refusing to divulge anything. No luck either with ex-Bohannan places in Keystone, the locals all claim nothing suspicious happening. A desperate, angered Hunter nearly growls at a local on how dare they protect these dangerous criminals, but the man claims ignorance, then asks why should he even care about "those rogues robbing a couple of bankers, scientists, or some other moneybags, not like
they care about us". As the other cop (Barry?) is trying to calm Hunter down, Wally drifts off, as he is surprised to be found by Linda Park, who figured out the police would be investigating here, and already suspects Wally's connection to the Flash. She says she may give him, and the Flash, a lead, as long he does not make her deal with the wider police, and also tells her just what happened yesterday in the Flash's chase of the Snarts. They bicker a bit, but she does end up leading him, "undercover", into an underground shelter of the homeless, an even darker atmosphere than the first movie's Act 2 derelicts, Linda having found it while investigating a past story ("Porcupine Man incident" or "the Comforter homeless killings" can be referenced here). She confirms that none of the downtrodden will talk to the police, because of massive resentment for the "establishment", and with both Snart criminal factions having invested in making themselves useful hirers and supporters of the community. "You call this a good investment? This is their
humanitarian work?" – Wally asks, looking at the den of dirt (rats!!!), drugs, and depression lying out before him. Linda tells him he could call this Stockholm Syndrome, but it is what it is. Her lead, however, is that lately people have begun to disappear, before getting found turned into "vegetables" with metal implants in their heads. Wally immediately connects this to Barry and Hunter's discovery of similarly "lobotomized" Bohannan goons, and understands that this is no coincidence. Together with Linda, they plead to the leader of the homeless commune to listen to them about a connection between the Rogues' operations and the "lobotomized" men incidents (they do not know that, but viewers may realize that he is Hartley Rathaway, the rat-controlling, soundwave-blasting, sonic-weaponed Pied Piper, [in case he was used alongside Weather Wizard, his previous appearance should be covered, with a masked suit]). We, the viewers, see him almost preparing an attack, but, luckily, Linda namedrops the known victims, and one of them is recognized by Hartley as his friend (boyfriend?). Perhaps he's already been suspicious of Snart associating with the likes of thugs like Girder and Weather Wizard? In any case, Hartley/"homeless_leader" is conflicted between his loyalty to Snart and to "his people", and rats out why the Rogues can disappear and re-appear across both cities: metahuman teleporter nicknamed "Peek-a-Boo". This, Linda realizes, explains Wally's story regarding the sudden disappearance of the Rogues from their crashed getaway car without a trace. Meanwhile, after a mostly result-less police investigation, Barry and Hunter stop for coffees, with Zolomon saying this week has been the second-worst failure in his career. Barry asks what the first was, and Hunter's mood darkens even further, saying how getting overconfident and being too soft on madmen has cost him his marriage, the last time he truly felt happy. Yet, unhappy or not, he found it much easier to submerge himself in his job, and evade the same "embarrassment". He refuses to elaborate further, but, judging Barry with a piercing gaze, warns him that in real life heroes have to sacrifice everything, they don't get a happily ever after, and maybe that's how it should be. Barry gets uncomfortable and excuses himself – he's got a text from Iris, which Zolomon instantly recognizes and does not seem to approve. Meeting at Iris's place, Barry shares his troubles, and Hunter's words, with her, and she calls that hogwash, and suggests remembering her old advice: take a step back and investigate without rushing, do not let a low-level thug like Snart get into his head. She notes that he's not just a superhero, but also a CSI, he doesn't need to outpunch the Rogues, but outsmart them. Barry thinks about the "lobotomized gangsters" case, and carefully speculates that he can check where exactly could the implant nodes' come from, whether they are factory-made or home-made, and reference who could have gotten them made or produced in the Gem Cities. As he's already scribbling down notes, Iris laughs and asks what did she say about not rushing into problems on the fly? Barry smiles and the couple shares a kiss, with Barry knocking down his phone with desperate (sound turned off?) calls from Wally.
The next day Barry and Wally meet, and there is some tension between the two over missed calls, but with Barry's sheepishness, Wally instantly recognizes what went on at Iris's and teases him. Embarrassed, Barry demands to tell him already what Wally found out, and as soon as West starts explaining the story of him visiting the "rat shelter" and the situation with the teleporter meta, they are interrupted by a news report, detailing the mysterious nearly-complete breakout of most prisoners from within the Iron Heights Correctional Facility, including various metahuman prisoners caught by the Flash. Barry quickly brings out a whole gallery of dangerous criminals' dossiers at his computer, horrified at how months of superhero and police work have been wiped in one night. Snart's teleporter, of course! Barry ends up at a crossroads: pursue Peek-a-Boo, help catch the criminals, or look into the brain implant case as he intended. Zolomon's orders make things a little bit easier: Allen is to investigate the implants, while the rest of the police will search for the escapees – there is already a massive crime wave raging through the city, Wally is to continue helping Barry with the investigation. Wally volunteers to go visit "the rat shelter" again and try to get more information out of Hartley/"homelessleader", considering the crime wave and all, and Barry gives him approval for the mission. As he starts working on the implants, however, he finds that he cannot concentrate, shaken by whether Hunter and the police can survive the kinds of super-criminals that are now in the streets, or whether Wally is right to trust the shelter's leader. Considering that he knew the detail of Snart's operation so well, he's likely fully affiliated with Snart… which means Wally is walking right into a trap! Barry suits up (let's have him figure out the trick with keeping his suit inside the Flash Ring for this film!), rushes down the street with superspeed, past the police cars, and goes to the address mentioned by Wally. Prior to the Flash's arrival, Wally actually negotiates a meeting Lashawn Baez, who is, apparently, working for the Rogues because of the need to finance her father's massively expensive medical operation, – if they help her with that faster than the Snarts do, she will rat out Snart's operations to the police. Barry interrupts West in the middle of the discussion with the homeless' leader (warning him to let Wally go), who shouts out that Wally set him up, and a battle/chase scene starts. If the leader is Hartley, have him use sonic weapons to stun the duo (otherwise, have the homelessleader be guarded by some low level Rogues) and as he escapes the camera shifts to him, with us following Hartley running down a dark corridor like some sort of a victim in a horror movie, desperately using anything at his disposal to slow down the rapidly approaching Flash. As the speedster, persevering through the worst weapons Rathaway can throw at him, as finally about to grab the escapee, Hartley finally reaches Baez, grabs her, and the two teleport away, leaving Barry in frustration. He chastises himself for trying to show mercy to the rogue, when he should have just stunned them immediately, and then started asking questions, reminding us of Zolomon's talk with him. Wally, however, is furious with his friend, saying that he needed no protection, and was about to negotiate and put an end to the Snarts' secrecy for good. Why isn't Barry looking into the brain nodes like he was supposed to anyway? Barry lashes out, saying how he can't just slow down and go carefully with the CSI analysis when everyone around him is risking their lives to stop the crime wave, and Wally responds that he can't just throw a locomotive at every problem that may need a scalpel. Barry's about to snap at him, but he notices how his fist is starting to be covered by red lightning – the sign of the mysterious Negative Speed Force from the first movie, an energy that made the Flash rage out, which he was never able to control. He stops, feeling defeated, and halfheartedly admits that he was wrong, coming back to CCPD and staying for the night to investigate at his lab. His mind, however, is definitely elsewhere, and we see how uncomfortable certain things may be to a speedster. He wants to type faster, and ends up messing up the keyboard. He tries to search on the Internet, and is annoyed at the slowness of the internet connection. He rapidly tries to run multiple tasks at once, and his operating system crashes. He persists, but we see that Barry's getting exhausted without accomplishing the whole task he set up before himself.
The next day Wally finds Barry at his sad state, tries treating him to some breakfast, as Barry says he's almost there with the analysis. But then, another interruption – the Rogues are openly robbing the Central City Bank, super-guns blazing. Barry jumps up, seemingly no longer caring about being seen as the Flash by coworkers, but Wally screams at him to stop and think. Yesterday Barry was worried about him getting into a trap –
this definitely is one! Barry claims that the Rogues have nothing on him now, having revealed the "absolute zero" trap already, he won't be get caught by it again. Wally does not give up: with how many of the Flash's defeated enemies the Snarts have released, who knows whom they'll bring to surprise him out in the field. "Key word: defeated," counters Barry. Again, Wally tells him not to play by Snart's rules, catch the man behind the brain nodes first, maybe they'll derail whatever the Rogues have planned, leave the robbery to the police. Barry snarls that the police were no good against the likes of Snarts' weapons, and he can't let anyone die because of the Rogues. At the end of the day, they are a bunch of crooks, who lucked out with their weapons or mutations. And he? He is the Fastest Man Alive. Refusing to discuss anything further, Barry uses his powers in the middle of the police station and rushes out into the streets. The battle of the Flash against the Rogues is largely for the directors to plan out, with some caveats: the Rogues are expecting the Flash's arrival, the Flash manages to evade Leonard's cold traps and the Weather Wizard's wind strikes, the Flash is initially slowed down not by cold, but via Mick Rory releasing an incredible heatwave that burns through even the Flashes anti-friction suit, opening him up for strikes. Maybe
then he gets cold gun'd, and tries to trick Rory into burning him some more, to fight off the frostbite, but then receives a
chemical burn from one of the released criminals (suit-covered Mister Element seems an easy pick), and a massive strike to his side from the Girder. The Rogues have numbers on their side, but still do not come unscathed, as the Flash lashes out and knocks down his foes like a trapped lion. Finally, exhaustion and wounds take their due, and Barry is knocked out by a measly boomerang thrown from behind (if Captain Boomerang appears in a possible future "
Suicide Squad" film, have him boast about being "
the one who brought down the Flasher"). Triumphant, Leonard Snart rips the cowl off Barry's head, to the horror of the city and the cheer of the Rogues. As Barry is carried away, Leonard speaks, and the whole city hears him. He speaks of the contempt the city's rich and powerful had for the city's luckless and downtrodden, of how they feared that the masses would rebel against all the bankers, the scientists, the shopkeepers, and bootlickers, that we'd take their treasures and their palaces. They'd want us to live in fear, fear of death, and of what lies beyond it, fear of God. And, as luck would have it, they had their own pet godlet, ready to uphold the status quo that lets the rich take, and give nothing in return to the people. But now, the reign of the one who thought himself God is over. Man triumphed over God. He calls onto the people of Gem Cities to rise and "take what's theirs". "We shall fear the gods no longer!" The dregs of the city rise, the police fight off an overwhelming, well-armed army of rogues, supported by waves of desperate people who can smell blood in the water, the cops have to barricade themselves in a single district surrounding the CCPD. The riots cover the streets, the rich are thrown out of their mansions, the business centers burn. The Gem Cities are conquered, by their own people, as the Flag of the United States is torn down from the City Hall.
ACT 3 concerns the captured cities. We find ourselves with Barry Allen, waking up from coma in a dark hideout, strapped to a chair with
the same power-deafening shackles that were used on metahumans captured by the police, his hair burnt off his head, the bald dome now covered by brain implants. He tries breathing deeply, looks around in desperation, tries moving, escaping, and find out that he
can't. He
screams. The sounds are heard by another man, who enters the hideout, his large, bald head covered with the same implant nods as the Flash's (alternatively, he may have the iconic Thinking Cap, in some variation of it). This is a version of
the Thinker, happy at the Flash being revived, now available for his "procedure" to be performed without any risks. The villain is eager to gloat at the defeated hero. He asks if the Flash truly thought a thug like Snart could plan the Rogues' operations by himself, claiming credit for their success, being contracted by Leonard and provided with victims to experiment on. Angered, Barry rages at the Thinker, and, despite the shackles, starts crackling with red lightning of the Negative Speed Force, if only for a moment. The Thinker says that this is probably his cue to start the operation, one which he has worked on perfecting for so long, no longer able to simply drain and absorb the person's mind, but also powers. He has drained the Speed Demon of this wondrous energy – the Speed Force, – Barry provides, but that madman's amount of power alone would not be enough to fight the likes of Flash, or even Superman. But if he adds the actual Flash's might to the mix, he will be more powerful than either of them has ever been. Then, he'll drain the Flash's brainpower – though he doubts it will be worth much. Barry tries to stall for time, but the Thinker replies that they can talk
while he's being drained of his speed. Realizing the process has started, Barry struggles to talk, but keeps on, asking how exactly will he absorb that power from the machine, anyway, to which the Thinker giddily boasts about the mechanism using the nodes/cap and a backflow function. He finishes draining Barry's powers and tells him to say goodbye to his feeble brain… As he is suddenly shocked, screaming in pain, his implant nodes shorting out on him. "Too much?" – asks Linda Park sheepishly, wielding an electric shocker for personal protection. She's followed by Wally West, flexing his knuckles as if after a fight: "For the smartest guy in the city, he sure didn't think enough about hiring better guards." Turns out Wally finished Barry's analysis, brought it to Iris and Linda, and together they have singled out the only facility the implant nodes could have come from, aside from S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry can't believe his luck, as they unshackle him and detain the Thinker. Yet, the Thinker has indeed managed to drain his powers into the machine, though Barry has an idea of how to reverse the machine's function. Wally wonders what are they waiting for, but Barry asks him to hold for a moment: this has just become an opportunity. The Rogues had their strength in numbers, and even at his fastest Barry found himself overwhelmed by a multitude of attacks, unable to use his speed potential that he used while time traveling and fighting the Reverse-Flash. But a few speedsters, less fast than the Flash in his full power, but still too fast for the normal human reaction to deal with, that could help. And the Thinker has just provided them a solution. Barry offers to share the power between the three of them, but Linda refuses. Wally, however, is very much eager, as Barry strikes at the core of what West felt was lacking. They figure out how to operate the machine, give about a half of the power contained to Barry, who tests it out and sees his connection to the Speed Force restored. The other half is Wally, who consumes it eagerly, before trying to test out his speed and running into a wall. Barry sighs, saying that practice makes perfect, and the two work out the specifics, while Linda looks on and happily tells Iris, on the phone: "He's back."
Two swooshing lines engulfed in yellow lightning blitz through Central City, showing the extent of carnage and destruction brought out in the riots. In its general destruction, however, notable are green lights of shining Kryptonite lamps above buildings – the Rogues' precaution in case Superman is freed up from combating some alien invasion long enough to check on the Gem Cities (credit it to Mister Element, or perhaps the universe's Luthor can produce synthetic Kryptonite and sold some of it to Lisa?). The two speedsters' zooming lightning interrupts a battle between two gangs, spooking the goons away from each other, and, with first the incredulous looks, then the cheering of the people at the barricades, the duo arrive at CCPD, partially turned into a refugee camp for all people fleeing the gangsters' districts, and finally they stop at the massive hall of CCPD, now covered with blankets. Wally places the slightly indignant Linda on the ground, Barry is immediately hugged by Iris, after he pretty much throws the Thinker on the floor before the heavily-armored Zolomon, who says: "So… Now we're back to our scheduled program, together with the Flash, and… Kid Flash?" – "The
other Flash, thank you very much," Wally corrects him. Hunter smirks, and the policemen applaud at the sight of the two metahumans, with the camera flying, showing a whole hall of support for the Scarlet Speedsters. From there, we're brought to more montage/exposition, of how Leonard Snart's promise of revolution, if it was ever real, has fallen through, and largely left the cities miserable (perhaps cut to Lashawn Baez crying at her father's deathbed in an obviously damaged hospital), with the many temperamental villains that have been released striking out to build fiefdoms for themselves (whoever the director prefers to be seen as a crimeboss of a colorful gang, perhaps something akin to the Mutants from TDKR), only cooperating to stop an outer threat to their rule in the cities (Superman's, or someone else's cameos can go here, alternatively show the National Guard trying to take on the Rogues), but the super-criminals' weaponry and their ability to get back together and gang up on one target has made them resistant to the government's and other heroes' efforts to remove them. Now, however, there is a bigger problem on their (and everyone's) hands: the government contacted CCPD and informed of the incoming retaking of the Gem Cities by the U.S. Army – by any means necessary. Mindful of possible destruction, Hunter is shown negotiating with a government rep (might be whoever was introduced in previous films – characters like General Eiling, General Lane, or Amanda Waller could work well here) to let them try to retake the city on their own before the Army moves in, and they get a timetable to take the City Hall (turned into "the Winter Palace", reigned by "Empress Lisa," with "Captain Cold" commanding her "Imperial guard"), before it is bombed to the ground alongside whatever terrorists took it over. There is some luck, however, as with the disunity of the criminals and the arrival of the Flashes, they can be taken out one by one before closing in on the Snarts. Wally calls onto everyone to get started ("Not before I get us the new suits," replies Barry, making Wally once again wonder in disbelief at how he already has them prepared) They decide on which crimelord should be handled by whom, and go off on their missions, with Barry, Wally, Zolomon and the police, and Iris, Linda and the militiamen alternating between targets of various intensity, as the clock is tickling. Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot, and as news of the Flash's triumphant return, despite what Snart promised, are spread around, many are trying to escape their fiefdoms with whatever loot they can carry. And then there are news of the Flash being in two places at the same time – he's even faster than before! Panic overwhelms the gangs, as we find out from the troubled discussions at the chilly Winter Palace, whose Empress Lisa is rapidly losing contact with her gang. Supported by Mick Rory, she blames Leonard for their latest troubles, saying that they should have long since escaped with the stolen loot and started new lives with their billions, instead of staying at these cursed cities, making themselves a target. Leonard, busy with manufacturing new "absolute zero" devices and trying to ignore the blaming game for as long as he can, finally snaps at them, coldly spitting out how ungrateful they are. Especially Lisa. Wasn't this what she has always wanted!? To be the empress of everything!? He has given her wealth, power, victory, he's given her the Gem Cities, given her everything she's ever asked for! Lisa asks him to look out the window, and see the world around them. She's the "empress" of nothing: the cities are ruined, the super-criminals are out of their control, and even her own gang is now on the run, because everyone is scared pantsless of the Flash reborn, stronger than ever. "And you?" – Lisa continues, – "I don't see the charming rogue I saw before my eyes when I signed onto this plan. One with morals, with a code, and with the respect of many. Now you'll forever be known as the man who damned the Gem Cities." Leonard pulls a gun on her, and Mick rises his own, but Lisa is gunless, her only weapon is her face, full of contempt, looking down at him. Distraught at his own actions, Leonard puts the gun down and looks away. "Do whatever you want," he says, "I won't leave my city. The Captain's going down with his ship."
With each victory of the Flashes and the people of the Gem Cities, we move ever closer to the finale. Captain Cold, with the last of his crew (even Mick has left him behind), holding out in the fortified "Winter Palace". He's been expecting the Flash to come knocking at his door at any second, so most of the defenses are set against the Scarlet Speedster: absolute zero traps on all pathways to the palace. The team has to devise a way to get into the City Hall undetected (choices, depending on directorial intent, may range from Lisa and Mick telling them of an unguarded path; to Peek-a-Boo blaming Snart for her father's ultimate death, unattended by doctors, and now offering to teleport them to the Hall; another way would be to drop this part of the plot entirely, and have the police storm City Hall on their own, leading to Hunter's injury; or, the choice assumed for the rest of the proposal,
Hartley Rathaway deciding that Snart's order ended up no better than the old status-quo, and wanting justice for his people and his boyfriend). Using the [underground passages], Barry, Wally, Hunter, [Hartley], and Linda (pursuing the ultimate scoop!) enter the City Hall, knocking out the defenders from behind. They clear level after level, until all that's left is the domed roof complex, from which they can put back the flag, showing the gov. rep that the city has been retaken. And that's where Leonard Snart decides to make his last stand. Hunter exclaims to Snart that he's surrounded, and there's no going back, to which the criminal coldly tells him to come in and arrest him – he's out of ammo, anyway. Carelessly, seeing victory so close at bay, Hunter walks into an "absolute zero" trap, and as he tries to move his instantly freezing leg away, he breaks off a piece of his foot, with shoe leather, meat, bone, and everything. Hunter cries out in pain, falls down, still threateningly close to the trap's freezing field. Barry jumps into danger to drag Hunter away, and Snart activates a detonator, as debris fall above the men, burying the legs of both of them underneath. Wally uses a "rotating hand" trick to blow away the "absolute zero" mines crashing into a wall and, together with Linda, drags the two away from under the debris. Snart prepares to snipe them with his cold gun from above, but [suddenly a sonic grenade is thrown at him, interrupting]. Getting back to his feet, he sees [Hartley Rathaway, covering the escape of Barry and Hunter. He asks Snart to tell him, truthfully, if he really treated his men and allies so low he'd sell them out to be drained out of their brains, for, what, exactly?] Snart tries to explain himself, but is obviously distraught and [Hartley uses a sonic blast attack, to make him drop his cold gun downstairs]. There is still a problem – Snart's detonation has destroyed the stairs, and there is no other way up to place the flag above the City Hall. Wally is looking, horrified, at Barry and unconscious Hunter, trying to at least remove the effects of frostbite with his vibrating hands, but unable to help them for real. For a moment, there is anger in his eyes, and we expect him to try and attack Snart somehow, until Barry interrupts him, saying that revenge seems like an easy choice when you have these powers, but that's how you end with centuries of tragedies wrapped in time paradoxes. But the power to forgive, to get through to the best in people, – that's what builds the Flash legacy, – and Barry knows that Wally is a part of that legacy, because
he has shown it to him. Wally nods, picks up the flag from Barry's hands, and walks slowly to the collapsed staircase. Captain Cold looks down at him, his weapon dropped, his mines destroyed, yet his stubbornness unbroken. Wally speaks up, saying that the gig is almost up, what is Snart expecting? Snart answers that he doesn't even know himself at this point. All he knows is that he's had enough of fearing repercussion and doing other's bidding out of fear. "I could have left with the others. But this is my city. I love it, really. I don't want to abandon it, and I don't want others to make my choices for me." He's done with fear, he's done with others making choices in his stead, he's no longer a pawn of any god, fearing his wrath. Wally raises an eyebrow: "So, uh, to escape the gods' punishment you'd…
become a god, looking at me like this from above? Well, your worshipfulness, you've got your chance to make the choice that matters. Raise this flag above your palace, and your beloved city, –
our beloved city, – gets to stand tall and proud. Continue withering away up there – and the military nutjobs will burn half the city, and you with it. So, what is it going to be – let it burn, or live to see another day, and get another chance?" Snart thinks for a minute and holds out his hand, ready to catch the flag. Wally throws it in the air, carrying it forward to Snart with the previous tornado arm trick. The flag flies majestically over the screen, Leonard grabs it and personally rises it over the City Hall. The military are notified, and cancel the attack, the police arrive through the [pathway controlled by Rathaway's homeless] and arrest whoever of Snart's gang was still left in the yard, catching them unawares, and thinking on how to handle the absolute zero mines. Snart gives himself up. Wally, meanwhile, rushes Hunter and Barry to the CCPD infirmary. The results of the examination are not good: neither man
should walk, but Barry's Speed Force powers will allow him to regenerate broken bones in time, Hunter's leg, however, is partially torn away, and his spine is also damaged. Barry offers to use the Thinker's machine to give a part of his Speed Force to Hunter and regenerate him, but the police captain angrily refuses. He would not have the Flash weaken himself because of his selfish needs. "Many men have to waste their lives away in wheelchairs. This way I'll be just another one of those, but I won't be the man who stole powers that the Fastest Man Alive could need to save the world."
EPILOGUE. Barry cannot walk, and has to stay behind. He looks out of Iris penthouse's window in hope for a better tomorrow, with Iris standing behind, above him (for how long will Barry's injury continue is for franchise planners to decide – the idea behind this trilogy proposal has him dead before the events of the third movie, starring Wally, with the intention being Barry dying in some version of the Crisis, or some other Justice League event film; but it's all quite malleable, and, anyway, if the people want to bring actors back, the Speed Force is wacky enough to do it in one way or another). Meanwhile, in the city, Linda Park is reporting live about a new red streak followed by the familiar lightning is running around, helping people to rebuild, leaving kids in awe, doing everything with a wink and a smile, and a witty remark. The Gem Cities have their new protector, and his name is Wally West, the Flash.
POST-CREDITS SCENE. A researcher at S.T.A.R. Labs happily informs his colleague about his good advice leading to another successful experiment, though with some unexpected results – almost thought impossible. He gives out the papers on the project to the colleague and leaves, saying "Thank you, Dr. Thawne." The camera turns around and we see the colleague is indeed Eobard Thawne, Professor Zoom, who reads the file musing about another "unexpected" success. "Intriguing, but mostly useless in the grand scheme of things. It seems these grotesqueries slow down the Flash, yet ultimately allow him to build up his legend. The new developments call for someone frightening enough to convince this new Flash decide against pursuing his legacy altogether, a terrifying dragon of my own. Now… Who fits the profile?"
