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: : how you like them apples? : : SUPERMAN LIVES : : (un-produced working draft) : : Written by : : Kevin Smith : : (reported by imdb to be rejected) : : WARNER BROS. March 27, 1997 : : 4000 Warner Boulevard © 1997 : : Burbank, California 91522 WARNER BROS. : : All rights reserved. : : ------------------------------------------------------------------ : : EXT. SPACE : : An Alien craft floats through the void, approaching a slow-moving : : ASTEROID. : : INT. ALIEN CRAFT : : Two humanoid ALIENS dressed in uniforms pilot their craft nearer : : to the asteroid. : : ALIEN #1 : : Receiving a signal from an alien system, : : but there's interference on the channels. : : ALIEN #2 : : Once we get past this asteroid, it should : : clear up. : : Suddenly, THROUGH the windshield, we see tentacles shoot out of : : the asteroid. : : EXT. SPACE : : The tentacles wrap themselves around the craft, and electrical : : energy courses between the pair. The "Asteroid" reveals itself to : : be the BRAINIAC SKULL SHIP - a tentacled craft that looks like it : : sounds. A set of "jaws" protrude and puncture the hull of the : : small craft. It glows white hot with power. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - OPERATING THEATRE : : We see a surgical table, its contents obscured by the shadows, : : save for the back of a malformed head. Computer banks and monitors : : are everywhere. A small ROBOT works beside the table - implanting : : a cable into the back of the malformed head. It throws a switch. : : Raw energy blows through the cable, causing the "patient" to : : convulse and writhe, screaming. : : CLOSEUP - METALLIC SHAFT : : as it begins to reconfigure, taking the shape of an arm. We see : : the same happen to other parts of his "body" -- hands, legs, : : facial features. : : EXT. SPACE : : The craft the Skull Ship holds then goes dark, the energy being : : sucked from it having run dry. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - OPERATING THEATRE : : The "patient" stops convulsing, as the cable attached to its head : : ceases to glow. : : BRAINIAC : : That was all the energy the craft : : yielded? : : L-RON : : The craft was a short-ranger, my Lord. : : I'm surprised that can had enough juice : : to give you this much form. We pulled 1.9 : : trigs out of it. There's nothing more to : : get. : : BRAINIAC : : (rising) : : An inaccurate assessment. : : INT. SMALL CRAFT : : The frightened Aliens try to re-start their craft. : : ALIEN #1 : : (off computer) : : Motion detectors are picking up something : : breaching the hull! : : The DOORS melt. BRAINIAC enters: humanoid in appearance, green- : : skinned, black-eyed, red-lipped. Metallic, and bald. A series of : : metal relays criss-cross his forehead -- three solid circles, : : intersected by straight lines. : : The aliens reach for LASER-GATLINGS and FIRE, but they cause no : : damage. Brainiac instead grabs the weapons, jamming them into his : : body -- consuming the lasers into his form, energizing. He drops : : the guns, and his hands morph into tendrils, which plunge into the : : chests of the terrified Aliens. He absorbs their life forces, : : making them husks -- at which point they explode, covering the : : cabin in goo. Brainiac inhales deeply, charged. : : EXT. SPACE : : The tentacles of the Skull Ship unravel from the wrecked craft. : : The Skull Ship powers up and thrusts into the void. : : INT. SKULL SHIP BRIDGE : : Brainiac watches space part before him on the View Screen. L-Ron : : joins him, holding a containment unit. : : BRAINIAC : : The cosmic irony, L-Ron -- I who have : : destroyed a world am now forced to : : subsist like a parasite. Once, infinite : : power was my manifest. Now look at the : : pride of Colu -- feeble attempts to : : maintain even this meager anthropomorphic : : form! : : L-RON : : At least you have what passes for legs. : : Brainiac gives L-Ron a withering look. : : BRAINIAC : : What did your search of the craft yield? : : L-Ron holds up the containment jar, inside which scurries a multi- : : legged fist-sized creature. : : BRAINIAC : : (glances at it) : : Thanagarian Snare Beast. Infancy stage. : : Illegal in sixteen systems due to the : : advanced nature of their growth patterns : : outside of their own atmosphere. : : (beat) : : Add it to the menagerie. : : Then, a BEACON sounds. On the main screen, scrambled letters and : : numbers appear, forming the distorted image of Lex Luthor -- : : commanding, corporate, suave, bald... And ominous. : : LEX (V.O) : : Greetings. This message -- transmitted in : : over one hundred languages -- comes to : : you from Earth. : : Brainiac regards the message curiously. : : LEX (V.O.) : : I am Lex Luthor, owner and C.E.O. of : : LexCorp -- a vast and powerful : : conglomerate that dominates trade on this : : planet. To whatever life form that may : : receive this, I extend an invitation to : : our world. Non-hostile and eager to : : establish contact with extraterrestrial : : races, Earth welcomes a visit from : : whomever receives this greeting. I myself : : call upon you to make contact, so that we : : may establish relations, open trade : : routes... : : Brainiac turns away, disinterested. Then, the "friendly" greeting : : onscreen turns darker. : : LEX (V.O.) : : ... and discuss any information you might : : have regarding a visitor to this planet : : of Kryptonian descent. : : Brainiac snaps to attention, shocked recognition crossing his : : face. : : BRAINIAC : : My days of scavenging are over, L-Ron. : : Lock onto this transmission and follow it : : to this Earth his speaks of. : : L-RON : : What for? : : BRAINIAC : : Jor-El's most accomplished creation, : : L-Ron -- the Eradicator still exists! : : Brainiac's eyes glow with intrigue. L-Ron shrugs and begins : : entering coordinates. Lex's message continues onscreen. : : LEX (V.O.) : : From one superior intellect to another -- : : whomever or whatever you may be -- I : : implore you to come to Earth, so that we : : might discuss the problem we call... : : INT. TELEVISION STUDIO : : A CLOSEUP of a stiff-looking TELE-JOURNALIST fills the screen. : : HOST : : Superman -- friend to Earth, or hindrance? : : Tonight we take a closer look at the Man : : of Steel. : : We're in a television studio. While the "Nightline"-like opening : : logos play, cameras whirl and reposition. Then: : : HOST : : Does the existence of a seemingly : : god-like vigilante impact the world : : positively or negatively? Examining this : : with us tonight is LexCorp C.E.O. and : : Metropolis' second most well-known figure, : : Lex Luthor. : : Seated across from the host, LEX LUTHOR winces at the : : introduction. Looking far more congenial than he did in his clip : : aboard the Skull Ship, Lex is in public persona. : : HOST : : Mister Luthor -- you've been the most : : vocal proponent of the Wertham Act -- the : : bill that seeks to outlaw costumed : : vigilantes in the greater Metropolitan : : area. Given that Superman is the sole : : individual who could fall under this : : criteria, the question begs asking -- why : : so much distrust of 'the man of tomorrow'? : : LEX : : I'm no enemy of Superman, Ted -- quite : : the contrary. I find his flair for : : fashion and whimsical abilities very... : : David Copperfield. Such a crowd-pleasing : : showman who makes Metropolis his home is : : a boon for the tourist trade. But I do : : question the good that Superman represents : : for the human race -- beyond entertainment : : value. : : HOST : : Such as? : : LEX : : Well -- aiding the planet at every turn : : against war, famine, natural disaster, : : for starters. It represents a complete : : freeze on the evolutionary process. And : : what of his more immediate effects on our : : society? Having Superman make his home in : : Metropolis is a veritable call-to-arms : : for any psychotic with dreams of world : : domination. The Wertham Act would be a : : deterrent to those who might consider : : jumping into a pair of tights and : : challenging the Man of Steel to a battle : : royale right here on the streets of our : : fair city. : : HOST : : An interesting position, Mister Luthor -- : : but one that I'm sure your opposition : : will refute. We welcome city beat : : reporter for the Daily Planet, Lois Lane. : : LOIS sits beside Lex -- beautiful yet poised... even though she : : looks thoroughly pissed. : : LOIS : : This proposed act, which even Metropolis' : : own Governor Bree opposes, is nothing : : more than Lex's one-man crusade against : : Superman. Outlawing the Man of Steel, : : would be like removing the soul of this : : city. I mean, can anyone even remember : : what Metropolis was like before Superman : : arrived? : : LEX : : As I recall, there were less red, white : : and yellow souvenir stands. Miss Lane -- : : have you ever been able to look past your : : blind allegiance to this off-worlder to : : think that maybe he employs criminals to : : improve his P.R.? For all we know, : : they're on his books. : : LOIS : : In Salem, it was a witch-hunt, in : : Hollywood, it was the 'Red Scare'... : : Leave it to your fertile imagination to : : come up with 'Cape-Gate.' : : LEX : : The vehement defense you put up for him, : : I'd say the only thing fertile around : : here is someone's hopes of carrying a : : super-brat one day. : : LOIS : : That's it... : : Lois jumps Lex, who tumbles back in his chair. She begins laying : : into him, as the Host LEANS INTO the FRAME, addressing the TV : : "audience." : : HOST : : We'll be right back. : : Fade to a commercial -- in an open field, a WOMAN spins a small : : boy in her arms: : : V.O. : : Family -- it's the bottom line behind : : every decision she makes. Yours, or hers. : : In November, vote with your heart. : : The chyron at the bottom of the screen reads 'Paid for by the : : Committee to Re-Elect Governor Bree', as the visual locks on the : : small BOY in her arms. : : CUT TO: : : EXT. HOB'S BAY STREET - DAY : : The same small Boy, exits a BISTRO, holding the hand of this : : mother, GOVERNOR CAITLIN BREE. They are flanked by SECRET SERVICE : : MEN. PAPARAZZI and TELEJOURNALISTS (including Cat Grant) converge : : on them, snapping photos. : : CAT : : Madam Governor -- how was the meal? : : GOVERNOR : : Excellent. This Bistro represents the : : first major step in the revitalization of : : Metropolis' historic Hob's Bay. : : CAT : : Do you think the redevelopment project : : can change the public's perception of this : : area as 'Suicide Slum'? : : GOVERNOR : : If the meal was any indication, I'd say : : absolutely. : : CAT : : (to the boy) : : How about it, Brodie -- what'd you think : : of the Bistro's food? : : BOY : : It was the bestest p'sghetti I had in my : : whole life! : : The Journos laugh. The Governor kisses her son's head and hugs : : him, then turns back to the cameras. : : GOVERNOR : : I want Metropolitans to know that there : : is no danger in Hob's Bay. : : Suddenly, across the street, the side of the building EXPLODES, : : raining debris on the crowd. The Governor covers her son. : : Five crudely-masked THUGS pour from the hole in the building, : : opening fire, sending people running. : : Then, from the still-smoking blast-hole, DEADSHOT emerges. Clad : : completely in silver and red, featureless (save for the glowing : : red gun sight covering his right eye). : : The Secret Service Men covering the Governor draw their guns. : : Deadshot takes aim with his WRIST-REVOLVERS and shoots the pieces : : from their hands. The thugs clear a path for their leader. : : The Governor looks up to see Deadshot standing over her. : : GOVERNOR : : This city will not bow down to terrorism : : of any kind! : : DEADSHOT : : Maybe not... : : He drops the Governor and grabs the boy by his collar. : : DEADSHOT : : ...but I'm sure you will. Won't you... : : mom? : : Deadshot holds his wrist-revolver to the scared Boy's head. A : : crimson laugh echoes out from behind his mask. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING ROOFTOP - DAY : : We still hear Deadshot's laugh, but from someone else's : : perspective - a super-hearing perspective. A very familiar pair of : : BOOTS steps to the edge of the building, then steps off : : disappearing in a flash of red. : : EXT. HOB'S BAY STREET - DAY : : A SONIC BOOM fills the air. Deadshot looks to THUG #1. : : DEADSHOT : : Tell me that was your stomach. : : High above, a streak of RED descends at a rapid rate, rocketing : : into the pavement, leaving a hole in the ground. : : DEADSHOT : : Oh, shit... : : The street beneath their feet explodes, and the same red streak : : flashes past Deadshot, taking with it the Boy in the blink of an : : eye. All immediately mobilize. : : DEADSHOT : : GRAB THE BROAD AND LET'S GET OUT OF : : HERE!!! : : The thugs grab the Governor as a VAN screeches up. : : EXT. TOP OF BUILDING - DAY : : The Boy is set down lightly on the roof. He opens his eyes, which : : then go wide. Before him stands SUPERMAN (um... 90's style), : : licking his hand. : : SUPERMAN : : Mmmm -- Spaghetti. : : (hand on the boy) : : You okay? : : BOY : : Can we do that again?! : : SUPERMAN : : First I gotta beat up the bad guys. : : BOY : : My mom thinks you're cute. : : SUPERMAN : : That's why I voted for her. : : Superman winks and leaps into the air, disappearing. : : INT. VAN - DAY : : The Governor under Deadshot's gun, Thug #1 revs the engine. : : Suddenly, through the windshield, Superman explodes up through the : : hood of the Van, adorned in engine parts. : : DEADSHOT : : GET OUT THERE AND VENTILATE HIM!!! : : EXT. HOB'S BAY STREET - DAY : : Superman pulls himself from the Van, and hurls the engine at two : : of the Thugs. The remaining three open fire. The bullets bounce : : from Superman's chest. : : EXT. SPACE - SOMEWHERE OVER EARTH : : The Skull Ship slinks into our atmosphere. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : On the view screen, Brainiac and L-Ron watch Superman fight the : : masked thugs. : : L-RON : : Ugh. Do they all dress like that on this : : planet? : : BRAINIAC : : That symbol on his chest. It's a seal of : : scientific office. From... : : (gets it) : : Krypton! It's the Kryptonian! : : L-RON : : It can't be him. Kryptonians were never : : known to manifest above-average strength : : or invulnerability. : : BRAINIAC : : Perhaps he derives his power from the : : Eradicator... : : L-RON : : I don't know -- he's not wearing any : : technology. : : BRAINIAC : : Get us to this Lex Luthor of Earth... now! : : CUT TO: : : EXT. HOB'S BAY STREET - DAY : : As bullets bounce off Superman's chest, the Man of Steel's eyes : : glow red. Two HEAT BEAMS seer into the machine gun in the hands of : : one of the Thugs. The gun glows red, and the Thug drops it. : : Superman repeats this with the remaining four thugs, until they're : : all disarmed, waving their hands in the air to cool them, looking : : as if they're waving goodbye. Superman waves goodbye back at them. : : Then we hear... : : OC DEADSHOT : : Hey - boy scout! : : DEADSHOT'S POV THROUGH GUNSIGHT : : Superman turns, his face falling into the crosshairs. : : Deadshot, holding the Governor, FIRES a single kill SHOT. : : Superman's head jerks backwards and pauses momentarily. When he : : brings his dead forward, we see the bullet is caught in his teeth. : : He rocket-spits the bullet out... : : ...which hits Deadshot's wrist-revolver, throwing the villain's : : arm back, away from the Governor. In a flash of red, Superman is : : in front of Deadshot, shaking his head. : : SUPERMAN : : Look at your outfit. What is this -- : : Gotham? : : He grabs Deadshot's wrist-revolver, and then finger-flicks the : : villain in the head, knocking him out. : : People emerge from the Bistro, cheering as the terrorists are : : collected by the Authorities. : : Superman dusts the Governor off and nods at her. : : SUPERMAN : : Madam Governor... : : He disappears in a flash and a gust of wind, then reappears : : holding the Boy. : : SUPERMAN : : ... your most important constituent. : : The Governor hugs first her son, then Superman. : : GOVERNOR : : Thank you, Superman. : : Superman blushes slightly, rub's the Boy's head, and walks away. : : He glances down at Deadshot's wrist-revolver. : : SUPERMAN'S X-RAY VISION POV : : We see first the weapon, then through the weapon and into the : : components that make it tick. ZOOM IN ON a set of microscopic : : serial numbers, etched into a tiny chip. : : BACK TO SCENE : : Superman shakes his head and sighs. : : SUPERMAN : : What a shock. Luthor. : : The wrist-revolver EXPLODES in his hands. He drops it to the : : ground, where it continues to burn. : : EXT. GBS BUILDING - NIGHT : : Lex exits the building, flanked by MISTY, his gorgeous but lethal : : bodyguard. He holds a small icepack to his cheek. : : LEX : : I can't believe the bitch tagged me. What : : do I pay you for? : : Then JIMMY OLSEN shows up, out of breath. He looks at LEX, : : panting, then nods to Luthor's shiner. : : JIMMY : : Superman? : : Lex seethes, as Lois emerges from the building. : : LOIS : : It was the Joker, Jimmy. He was mad that : : Luthor stole his act. : : LEX : : I thought journalists were supposed to be : : impartial. : : LOIS : : I thought humanitarians were supposed to : : be human. : : (takes out pen and pad) : : Care to comment? : : LEX : : Pithy to the last. : : Lex hurries to his limo. : : LOIS : : (to Jimmy) : : Pithy. Who uses that word anymore? : : JIMMY : : Chief wants you back at the Planet, Miss : : Lane. something big just broke out in : : Hob's Bay! : : LOIS : : Superman? : : JIMMY : : There and gone. : : They climb into the taxi that pulls up. : : INT. LEX'S LIMO - NIGHT : : Lex puffs on a cigar. Sipping brandy from a snifter, he clicks on : : the TV news, which shows SUPERMAN at Hob's Bay. Lex goes white hot : : and wide-eyed with rage. : : Up front, Misty rolls her eyes. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Lex exits his limo and marches bitterly toward the LexCorp : : building followed by Misty. : : LEX : : Six months of planning, and all for : : nothing! With Governor Bree in line, I : : could've taken back control of this city : : from that... that... alien! : : INT. ELEVATOR - NIGHT : : Metropolis shrinking behind him, Lex watches the digital numbers : : rise, seething. Then, the elevator stops abruptly. Misty catches : : Lex, setting him upright again. : : Suddenly, the hatch at the top of the elevator is ripped off. A : : blue-clad arm reached in, pulling Lex out. : : INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT : : Superman holds Lex in his grip. : : SUPERMAN : : Fifth floor - hair care products. : : LEX : : One of these days, they're going to pass : : the Wertham Act, and then one of these : : nights, I'll be able to blast your : : pajama-clad ass out of the sky... legally! : : SUPERMAN : : Speaking of acts of violence -- did you : : hear the one about Hob's Bay? See, this : : guy wants to get his anti Superman bill : : passed. So he hires a few masked goons to : : threaten the Governor to speed the bill : : along. : : Lex yawns slightly, as if bored. : : SUPERMAN : : But here's the punchline -- he's got such : : a big ego, he demands that a serial : : number from his company show up somewhere : : on the hardware he provided his hired : : mercenaries, thus implicating him in a : : federal offense. Isn't that a gut-buster? : : Lex arches his eyebrows slightly. Then, a pissed Superman yanks : : Luthor to him, bringing them face-to-face. : : SUPERMAN : : I'm putting you behind bars! : : LEX : : No... proof... loaded... hardware with... : : self-destructs... triggered by the... : : radiation waves of your... x-ray vision! : : Superman glares at Lex, knowing he's right. : : SUPERMAN : : Then maybe I should save the courts of : : Metropolis the time -- make myself the : : judge, jury... : : Superman hooks his foot under a bar on the elevator and starts : : 'towing' the car up the shaft at an alarmingly fast rate. : : SUPERMAN : : ... and especially executioner. : : Luthor looks up. : : LUTHOR'S POV - The fast-approaching top of the shaft -- jagged and : : deadly. If his head so much as touches it, he's a dead man. : : Lex panics, as the top of the shaft gets closer. Superman : : nonchalantly checks the nails on his free hand. : : The ceiling gets closer. Lex jams his eyes shut. Then, Superman : : stops, thus stopping the car as well. Luthor's head is a half-inch : : from a nasty spike. He opens his eyes slowly, looking from the : : spike to Superman. : : SUPERMAN : : You're hardly worth the effort. : : He drops Lex, and disappears in a burst of red. : : EXT. SPACE : : The Skull Ship slips into Earth's orbit, menacingly. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - NIGHT : : The globe spins atop Metropolis's once-largest skyscraper (Lex : : built his bigger). All the windows ark dark... except one. And : : THROUGH it, we see Lois. : : INT. DAILY PLANET CITY ROOM - NIGHT : : Lois -- alone at her desk -- types on her laptop. In the midst of : : the tapping her fingers create against the keys, ANOTHER PITCH OF : : TAPPING joins in. Lois spins around to see Superman floating : : outside the window. : : Lois trips over a desk or two rushing to the window. : : LOIS : : Superman! : : SUPERMAN : : 'Evening, Miss Lane. Late night? : : LOIS : : I'm just... filing my piece on Hob's Bay. : : Nice bit of work there. : : Superman flies in, setting down beside a desk. The nameplate on : : the desk says "CLARK KENT." : : SUPERMAN : : Mister Kent's desk? : : LOIS : : This is Mister Kent's fastidiously : : immaculate work station -- I call it : : Smallville Central. : : SUPERMAN : : He's not around tonight? : : LOIS : : Thankfully, no. If I had to withstand : : Clark Kent day and night, I'd be at my : : therapist's twice a week as opposed to : : one. : : SUPERMAN : : Doesn't take super senses to detect a : : little friction there. Not a fan of : : Mister Kent, Miss Lane? : : LOIS : : Clark's Clark, you know. He's great and : : all, don't get me wrong. But he is kind : : of a... Dudley Do-right. It's hard for me : : to relate to a man like that. : : SUPERMAN : : And why's that? : : Lois looks him dead in the eyes. The costumed Adonis gives it back : : as good as she's giving. Lois slams down the lid of her laptop and : : stands up. : : LOIS : : Well, Superman, I'm not into all that : : Kansas Boy Scout babble. I'm the kind of : : woman... : : (moves closer) : : ... who like a man... : : (brings her lips to his) : : ... in tights. : : And Lois plants one on Superman -- long and passionate. Superman : : breaks the kiss and steps back. : : SUPERMAN : : Miss Lane... I have something to tell you. : : He pulls Clark's glasses from his cape and slips them on. : : SUPERMAN : : I'm really Clark Kent. : : Lois goes wide-eyed and faints. Superman rushes forward and : : catches her. Then she opens her eyes and shakes her head. : : LOIS : : Really, Clark -- must we go through this : : every night? : : They kiss. He brings her back to her feet. : : LOIS : : Nice job with the bad guys, babe. I was : : proud of you. : : SUPERMAN : : 'Smallville Central.' Who calls it that? : : LOIS : : Try everybody, Clark. Even Jimmy. : : SUPERMAN : : (shakes his head) : : And I loaned that kid twenty bucks last : : week. Ungrateful slacker. : : (beat) : : How about dinner? : : LOIS : : Not Burger King again. Let's just eat at : : my place. : : SUPERMAN : : Why, Miss Lane, you underestimate me. I : : was thinking a more... monumental : : dinner... : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE - NIGHT : : The nerve center of Lex Corp. A bank of monitors with a vast array : : of channels adorns one wall, over which hangs an alarmingly : : increasing digital readout titled 'ACRES OF LEXCORP-CLEARED RAIN : : FOREST'. In the center of the room, a monolithic desk, backlit by : : a large picture window. : : Misty sits on the couch, reading a magazine. Lex enters, fuming, : : covered in grease. He puts up his hand. : : LEX : : Don't ask! Just draw me a bath. : : Misty heads off for the huge, sunken marble tub at the far end of : : the office and runs the water, while Lex crosses to his desk. He : : passes the bank of TV's, all of which detail SUPERMAN'S HOB'S BAY : : ENDEAVOR. He pours himself a drink and sits, not noticing L-Ron : : resting atop the desk. : : L-RON : : Greetings -- : : Lex goes wide-eyed at the robot and leaps from his chair. : : LEX : : BOMB!!! : : Grabbing the robot, Lex charges by Misty and hurls L-Ron into the : : tub. He dives onto the floor, hands over his head, awaiting the : : blast. After a beat, he looks up. : : L-Ron slowly rises from the tub. It discharges water from its : : circuits and SPUTTERS. : : L-RON : : Go with entrance 'B.' : : Then, the PICTURE WINDOW EXPLODES. Brainiac glides in, god-like, : : much to Luthor's shock. Misty leaps in front of her boss/lover as : : the ALARMS sound. : : BRAINIAC : : Lex Luthor of Earth, I am Brainiac! : : A pair of LexCorp SOLDIERS burst through the doors. : : LEX : : Kill it!!! : : The soldiers open FIRE at Brainiac. He absorbs the bullets. Then, : : pulls his energy-suck maneuver (from the first scene). Lex and : : Misty stare, wide-eyed. : : BRAINIAC : : I come to discuss the Kryptonian you : : mentioned in your homing message. : : LEX : : (beat; to Misty) : : Clean up what's left of those guys. : : Misty nods, backing away. Lex and Brainiac eye each other : : cautiously until Lex motions toward his desk. Brainiac follows, : : but stops short at Lex's impressive computer setup. He seems : : astonished. : : BRAINIAC : : This technology... : : Brainiac sharply raises his hand between he and Lex. Lex startles : : a bit as Brainiac's hand then reconfigures into something that he : : inserts into the computer. Downloading sounds are heard, as : : Brainiac cocks his head, as if sampling wine. : : LEX : : LexTech Prime. My computers division : : builds these things. : : (touches computer) : : It's the most cutting-edge, the most : : sophisticated, the most... : : BRAINIAC : : Primitive. Ancient. : : Brainiac extracts his appendage, which reconfigures anew. : : LEX : : (beat) : : Yes, well -- you obviously know whereof : : you speak. : : BRAINIAC : : This Kryptonian you mentioned -- I know of : : him as well. : : LEX : : Unit nine -- full display. : : The images on the monitors align into one single visual of : : Superman in action, from earlier that day. : : LEX : : He's my mortal enemy, the object of my : : ire, the... : : (change of tone) : : You're not a... friend... of his, by any : : chance... Are you? : : BRAINIAC : : Where I come from, we destroy that which : : impedes our progress. Why have you not : : done the same? : : LEX : : Kill Superman? Look, I've had everyone : : who was ever a thorn in my side done away : : with. From my third-grade teacher to my : : third wife, nothing eases friction like... : : (mimes a gun to the head) : : Pow -- you know what I'm saying? Superman : : would've been dead as white weddings if : : it weren't for the fact that he's from : : Krypton -- whatever the hell that is -- : : which means he can't be killed. : : BRAINIAC : : I watched Krypton die screaming, Lex : : Luthor. Invulnerable is something its : : inhabitants weren't. : : (beat) : : He is aided by technology of some sort -- : : a machine? : : LEX : : Far as we can tell, Pinocchio has no : : strings. : : BRAINIAC : : (thinking aloud) : : Then it's his chemistry -- it must be : : affected by this planet. Radioactive : : shards of our destroyed home world would : : be toxic to his system. : : LEX : : Kryptonite. : : Brainiac whirls back. : : LEX : : I've spent the last two years and : : millions of LexCorp dollars trying to : : synthesize the stuff. You know what it : : yielded? : : Lex reaches into a drawer and pulls out a pottery shell, covered : : in mossy grass. : : LEX : : The 'Chia Pet.' : : Lex places it on his desk, beside a model of a SPACE STATION WITH : : LARGE MIRROR PANELS. Brainiac analyzes the model curiously. : : LEX : : One of LexCorp's long-range goals -- a : : solar conductor. One of these days, this : : puppy's going to make me a multi- : : billionaire -- going to draw energy : : directly from the sun's surface and sell : : it to the masses. : : Brainiac presses something on the model and huge gun turrets pop : : out, with accompanying cannons. Lex smiles. : : LEX : : That's the long, long-range goal -- a : : massive solar-powered cannon. : : As Lex speaks, Brainiac's attention is drawn from the model, to : : the footage of Superman in action, then back to the model. A plan : : begins formulating. : : LEX : : We're thinking concentrated sunbeams might fry a hole : : through the man of steel. It's a stretch -- but a guy's gotta have : : a dream. : : BRAINIAC : : (quickly turns) : : Blasting him with a solar beam will only : : enhance his power. This world is fueled : : by the light of a yellow sun, is it not? : : LEX : : Last time I checked. Why? : : BRAINIAC : : Krypton, too, was fueled by a sun -- a : : red sun. : : (thinks) : : The actual construct of this -- is it : : operational? : : LEX : : Maybe in twenty years. But for what it's : : worth, it's up there already. : : BRAINIAC : : Surrender it top me. I'll augment it with : : my own technology. Provide me with this, : : and you will not only have your solar : : conductor twenty years ahead of schedule, : : but this Super-man will be... : : (mimes gun to head) : : Pow -- as you say. : : LEX : : (catches on) : : All the capital, material, and : : technologies of my company are at your : : service... if you can kill Superman. You : : accomplish that, and to this planet's : : inhabitants, I'll make you a god. : : EXT. LEXTECH DYNAMICS - NIGHT : : A RADAR DISH reconfigures, as we hear... : : SHUSTER (V.O.) : : Mister Luthor -- you can't do this! : : INT. LEXTECH DYNAMICS CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT : : A scientist, SHUSTER, argues vehemently with Lex, as Misty : : oversees a TECHNICIAN. : : LEX : : Who pays the bills here, Shuster? I want : : the solar conductor reconfigured to these : : coordinates. : : SHUSTER : : But it's not durable enough to travel : : this far out of Earth's orbit! : : Lex nods to Misty, who puts the kibosh on Shuster, dropping him to : : the floor. Lex glares at the Technician, who feverishly works on : : his computer. : : MISTY : : I would never presume to tell you your : : business, but it seems you're trading one : : alien for another. : : LEX : : Never trust anyone with the stones to : : call himself Brainiac. I equipped that : : rocket we gave him with a diagnostics : : scanner that'll get me a complete : : breakdown of what makes him and his : : technology tick. And when we have that, : : LexCorp will be the most powerful : : corporation in the world. : : MISTY : : Because Superman will be gone? : : LEX : : Because I'll have harnessed the : : capabilities of an artificial : : intelligence so advanced, it can hold a : : conversation with people... not to : : mention the computers that make up the : : defense systems of every NATO nation on : : Earth. : : MISTY : : An extortion racket? : : LEX : : The extortion racket, my dear. : : EXT. SPACE : : The SOLAR CONDUCTOR (a huge version of the model) powers up. It : : rockets deeper into the stars. We pan down from those stars to : : see... : : EXT. MOUNT RUSHMORE - NIGHT : : A nice VIEW of the Presidentially-sculpted mountain. On top of : : Washington's head, we see a small fire burning. : : EXT. MOUNT RUSHMORE - ATOP WASHINGTON'S HEAD - NIGHT : : Clark and Lois sit on a blanket, looking out over the vista. There : : is a campfire going, and the remnants of their dinner lay strewn : : about the open picnic basket. Lois sips wine from a glass. Clark : : drinks orange juice. : : LOIS : : Monumental. You're such a goof. : : CLARK : : Thank Pa for that. He was the punster of : : the family. Ma's the one who taught me to : : cook, though. : : LOIS : : Ma also teach you how to reheat chicken : : with your eyes? : : CLARK : : Some things a boy has to learn on his own. : : LOIS : : (beat) : : Did it ever bother you -- being the : : 'adopted' child? Never knowing your real : : parents? : : CLARK : : If I ever did, it was only because I : : couldn't help but feel my destiny : : might've been stolen from me. : : LOIS : : How so? : : CLARK : : I'd start wondering what I was supposed : : to do in life -- what would I be like if : : Krypton hadn't... you know? Who were my : : parents? Would I have ever left the : : planet? Would I have ever come to Earth? : : (beat) : : Would I have ever met you? : : LOIS : : No. But you'd probably still read me. : : You'd say to yourself "If I could only be : : half the writer this Lois Lane of the : : planet Earth is!" : : CLARK : : (chuckles; then) : : I know it sounds silly -- where do I get : : off complaining? Me -- the guy who's : : faster than a speeding bullet, more : : powerful than a locomotive... what's the : : last one? : : LOIS : : Something about tall buildings. : : CLARK : : Right. But all that aside, I'm just a : : person, you know? I have what-ifs like : : everyone else. What if I'd grown up under : : a red sun, and never had these powers? : : LOIS : : (smiles) : : Who would save me, again and again and : : again? : : CLARK : : Somehow I doubt you'd have any trouble : : getting along without me. : : LOIS : : Trouble? No. Fun? Yes. : : They kiss deeply, as we cut to... : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac and L-Ron watch the solar conductor on their view screen. : : BRAINIAC : : Launch the hybrid technology. : : L-Ron presses a button on the control panel. : : INT. ROCKET CARGO HOLD : : Technology extremely alien in appearance fills the cargo hold. It : : begins vibrated, then explodes, "growing" out of the smoke. It : : spreads throughout the cargo hold and... : : EXT. SPACE : : ...out through the rocket's seams. It consumes the rocket from : : within, covering it in bio-metallic tendrils. : : In the midst of the Solar Conductor, an Earth made rocket labelled : : LexTech 37 grows white hot with energy. Then, lasers burst out of : : it from all sides, striking and bouncing off the mirrors of the : : solar conductor, creating a 'net' across the miles-wide diameter. : : The 'net' begins to slowly prevent sunlight from passing through. : : The light that shone on Earth now fades slightly, as Brainiac's : : SHADOWCASTER goes to work. : : EXT. MOUNT RUSHMORE - NIGHT : : Packing up, Clark doubles over slightly, as if suddenly woozy. He : : rights himself and shakes it off, smiling. : : CLARK : : Indigestion. Maybe I didn't cook the : : chicken long enough. : : LOIS : : You know what I was just thinking about? : : The rocket -- the one you told me brought : : you to Earth... whatever happened to it? : : CLARK : : It's at the fortress. : : LOIS : : Ah -- the He-Man Woman Haters Club. : : (laughs) : : Do you ever study it? Try to learn : : something more about where you came from? : : About your parents even? : : CLARK : : I know all I'm ever going to know -- : : there was a planet. It blew up. End of : : story. I'd rather dwell on the present... : : and the future. : : (hugs her) : : Which is something I'd like to talk to : : you about... : : LOIS : : (gently moving away) : : No-no. Let's talk about flying home and : : going to bed. We both have work tomorrow. : : CLARK : : Why do you always get like this when I : : try to talk about where out relationship : : is going? All I'm saying is that I love : : you... : : LOIS : : And I love you too... : : CLARK : : ... and I'd like to talk about something : : more... permanent. : : Lois' eyes go wide. She stares at him for a beat, then looks down. : : LOIS : : You know, the first time I heard about : : you, I thought you were a hoax. 'Flying : : Man Stuns City,' the paper said. 'Yeah, : : right.' I said. But then I saw you land : : that downed shuttle on your back. And in : : that moment, every jaded bone in my body : : believed that a man could fly... : : (touches his face) : : The first time I met you -- as Clark -- I : : thought you were the squarest hick to : : ever escape Kansas. But when you called : : me 'Miss Lane'... you were so polite and : : even gallant, that you made me feel like : : a princess. : : (her head on his chest) : : The first time you told me about... well, : : about your other job, there was a moment : : of shock. And then it all made sense. Who : : else but Clark Kent could care so much : : about people he didn't even know... : : (smiles) : : And the first time we kissed... : : (gets teary) : : ... I knew it was you. You were the : : person I'd stopped believing in years : : before -- the one my mother told me about. : : (beat) : : And the first time you left me in the : : middle of the night to rescue that luxury : : liner, I knew that you didn't belong to : : me. You belong to the world. : : She steps back and looks at him. : : CLARK : : Lois -- : : LOIS : : (finger to his lips) : : Your responsibilities are huge. I can't : : possibly expect you to divide your time : : between a wife and the world. What about : : children... if that's even possible? : : CLARK : : I could slow down -- pace myself... : : LOIS : : And feel the weight of a death you : : couldn't prevent because you were too : : busy bringing the kids to the video store? : : Lois shakes her head sadly. Clark's eyes are downcast -- her words : : truer than he can bear. : : LOIS : : There's nothing I'd want more than to : : share a life with you... : : (beat) : : But I won't settle for a half-life. : : Clark takes it in somberly. Then he lifts his head, as if : : listening to something far away. : : CLARK : : (beat) : : A plane's in trouble over Paraguay. : : (looks at her) : : Lois... : : LOIS : : Go ahead. Just don't forget to come back : : for me. : : Clark becomes a blur that turns into Superman. He leaps off the : : cliff. : : EXT. SPACE - CONTINUOUS : : The ShadowCaster seals off a large section of sunlight. : : EXT. MOUNT RUSHMORE - CONTINUOUS : : Suddenly, Superman is struck, as if shot. He falters in mid-air : : and falls against the edge of the cliff. : : Lois shrieks and grabs his hand, catching him in the nick of time. : : Superman looks up at her, wide-eyed. He throws his other hand up : : to Lois. She digs her heels into the ground and pulls, as Superman : : climbs up to the safety of the level ground. He collapses to his : : hands and knees, breathing heavily. Lois is on top of him, : : checking his pulse, feeling his head. : : LOIS : : God, Clark - are you okay?! What : : happened?! Was it Kryptonite?! : : SUPERMAN : : It wasn't a toxic reaction. It was : : something else. : : LOIS : : We've gotta get you home... : : SUPERMAN : : (leaps to fly) : : I'll be okay - that plane won't if I : : don't leave now. : : LOIS : : (pulls him back) : : Are you out of your mind?! You almost : : fell of a cliff, Clark! You! : : Superman gently extracts his cape from her grip, touching her : : face. He then lifts off the ground, hanging there -- apparently : : back to normal. He shrugs at her, and disappears in a flash of : : red, leaving behind a worried Lois. : : EXT. SPACE - NIGHT : : The Skull Ship looms through the vacuum of night. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT : : Brainiac punches some buttons, and the specs on the Eradicator : : fill the screen. : : L-RON : : But how do you know the Eradicator will : : even show up? It's been years, my liege : : -- the technology could be ancient : : history by now. : : INT. MENAGERIE - NIGHT : : DOORS HISS open, and they enter the vast MENAGERIE -- a zoological : : collection of various species collected during Brainiac's journey : : through the cosmos. Brainiac heads to one in particular -- a knee- : : high, translucent tube, filled with what looks like the contents : : of a Lava-Lamp. : : Brainiac opens the case, extracting an embryonic protoplasmic life : : form. It looks harmless, if ugly, letting out a meager YOWL. He : : places it into a missile-looking tube, sealing it closed. : : BRAINIAC : : Jor-El was no fool -- he would not have : : sent his only child to an alien world : : without the protection the Eradicator : : would provide. The technology is out : : there, L-Ron, and absorbing it will : : provide me with enough power to both : : maintain my body permanently and make me : : a god! : : L-RON : : Right. Let's kill the cape. : : A hole opens in the wall, and Brainiac slides the tube into it. He : : pushes a large button on the panel. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : The tube rockets from the rear of the ship, and heads toward : : Earth. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - NIGHT : : The capsule rockets into the atmosphere and pierces the ground, : : imbedding itself deep within the Earth, unseen. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - DAY : : The streets of Metropolis bustle below, as we hear... : : PERRY (V.O.) : : One more time, Olsen -- in English, : : please: how did we get these shots again? : : INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE - CLOSEUP - COMPUTER MONITOR : : We scroll through photos of the Hob's Bay incident. : : JIMMY (O.S.) : : Like I said, Chief -- I'm wired. : : PULL BACK to reveal Clark and Lois sitting in front of Perry's : : way-too-busy desk, watching Jimmy clicking on a mousepad. PERRY : : WHITE, the Planet's venerable old editor, watches, befuddled. : : JIMMY : : I'm linked to thousands of other : : photo-journalists around the world. We : : exchange images all the time. : : CLARK : : Jump into the cyber pool with the rest of : : us, Mister White. : : PERRY : : And we're allowed to run these pictures? : : JIMMY : : Free and clear, with a photo credit. : : LOIS : : Give the kid a break, Perry. He's all : : about the paper. : : PERRY : : Lois -- my office. MY office. : : CLARK : : Lois works here under the assumption it's : : hers as well. : : LOIS : : Eat it, Smallville. : : PERRY : : Alright, Olsen. You can keep your : : computer-thing up. Mow vamoose. : : Jimmy shuffles by Lois, who pats him on the back. Perry slumps in : : his chair. : : PERRY : : Down to brass tacks -- what have either : : of you got? : : LOIS : : A top LexTech scientist, a Dr. Shuster, : : went missing last night. : : CLARK : : Got a call from a technician who said : : that Shuster and Lex got into a heated : : argument over the altered trajectory of : : that LexTech experimental space station. : : PERRY : : The one Lex has yet to disclose the : : purpose of to NASA? What else? : : LOIS : : The boys in weather fed me this one -- : : seems that dawn was eleven minutes behind : : schedule this morning. : : PERRY : : Cause? : : LOIS : : Unsubstantiated rumors of something : : spotted by the fellas up at the : : observatory. Sounds like a story up : : Smallville's alley. : : CLARK : : I believe Mister White gives out the : : assignments here, 'Laney.' : : LOIS : : Don't call me that. : : CLARK : : Then don't call me Smallville. : : The PHONE RINGS. Perry pounces on it. : : PERRY : : White -- go!... What?... I'll be right : : there! : : (hangs up) : : Both of you stay here and hash out who : : gets the space-thing. I'll be right back. : : Perry storms out of his office, leaving Clark and Lois alone. : : There is some silence. Then... : : CLARK : : I'm sorry I didn't stay over last night. : : LOIS : : I'm an adult, Clark. I'm not throwing a : : hissy just because you missed my : : sleepover. : : CLARK : : I'm having a hard time understanding what : : I said that was so wrong. : : LOIS : : You didn't say anything wrong, Clark. You : : said everything a woman spends her whole : : life waiting for a man to say to her. : : CLARK : : Then why your reaction? Why this distance? : : LOIS : : Because you're not a man, Clark. You're a : : god. : : Clark attempts to say something, but pauses. He listens to : : seemingly nothing. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK : : From the hole in the ground the pod made, smoke begins to rise : : ominously. There's a rumbling sound. : : INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE - DAY : : Clark is still listening. Lois looks at him, puzzled. : : LOIS : : What is it? : : INT. DAILY PLANET CITY ROOM - DAY : : Journalists look up from there keyboards, as the ROOM begins to : : SHAKE. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK : : The ground shakes; thunderous roars emit from the hole. : : INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE - DAY : : Lois looks slightly panicked. Clark unbuttons his collar. : : LOIS : : Earthquake? : : SUPERMAN : : Can't be - I checked the crustal plates : : just last month. : : INT. METROPOLIS SEWER SYSTEM : : At a dank and dripping cross section, a pair of SEWER WORKERS : : check a pipe that's broken loose. The tunnel begins to shake : : violently, and the sewerage begins bubbling. The workers look at : : it, then head for the manhole. Suddenly, something erupts from the : : muck, looming huge in the shadows behind the fleeing workers. : : Whatever it is pulls them beneath the sewerage. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - DAY : : Suddenly, the GROUND EXPLODES, throwing passersby flying, leaving : : a six foot crater. : : INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE - DAY : : Perry bursts in, as Clark quickly re-buttons his collar. : : PERRY : : There's a report of an explosion in the : : sewer beneath Metropolis Park! : : LOIS : : (grabbing Clark) : : We're on it, Chief. : : She pulls Clark out of the office at a speedy clip. : : EXT. STAIRWELL - DAY : : The door flies open and Lois and Clark rush in. Lois slams the : : door closed behind her. : : LOIS : : Sounds like a job for... : : CLARK : : (pulls off jacket) : : I want you to do me a favor -- whatever : : you do, stay away from Metropolis Park. : : I've got a bad feeling about this. : : LOIS : : I've got a good feeling that whatever it : : is is news. And me being a journalist... : : CLARK : : Lois -- no! : : Lois looks in to his eyes. He seems almost afraid. : : CLARK : : (softening) : : Last night -- the cliff... : : LOIS : : You slipped, Clark. That's all. : : CLARK : : But it happened when I grabbed the plane, : : too. Something didn't... feel right. My : : strength... : : (hands on her arms) : : Just, please -- stay put until I know : : everything's alright. : : LOIS : : (smiles and nods) : : Go find a phone booth. : : Clark dashes away, taking the stairs two at a time, then five. In : : the blur that travels at more-than-human speed down flight after : : flight, the colors that emerge from the gray of Clark's suit are : : the familiar blue and red. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - DAY : : Through the revolving doors shoots the Man of Steel, creating a : : SONIC BOOM in his wake, sending the papers, trash and hair of : : Metropolitans flying. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - DAY : : Superman arrives at the crater. He looks into the darkness. Then, : : he hears something above. : : EXT. SPACE : : The ShadowCaster seals off another section of sun. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - DAY : : Superman looks down again, then up. He's about to leap into the : : air to investigate the sound from above. Suddenly, two gray, meaty : : paws erupt from the Earth, pulling Superman underground. : : INT. SEWER TUNNEL - DAY : : Superman emerges from the muck spitting out waste. He wipes his : : eyes clean and looks up to see... : : An unearthly monster -- ferocious and gray in appearance, leathery : : skin pock-marked with rock-like protrusions. : : Doomsday has arrived. : : The beast leaps at the Man of Steel. the pair begin their fight, : : throwing punches and kicks. Doomsday grabs Superman by his cape : : and swings him through the side of the tunnel. : : Doomsday pulls aside concrete, giving himself a clear passage into : : the other tunnel, when Superman appears from no where, : : uppercutting the tremendous beast, sending him flying... : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - DAY : : ... through the crater, into the park. Superman shoots out of the : : hole behind him, landing beside the beast. : : SUPERMAN : : (to BYSTANDERS) : : CLEAR OUT OF HERE! NOW! : : Doomsday kicks Superman in the back, but Superman rallies. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : On the main screen, we see the combatants fighting. : : L-RON : : He's incredible. He just keeps going. : : BRAINIAC : : I call it 'Doomsday.' : : L-RON : : Not that thing -- Superman. Look at him : : battle! : : Brainiac offers the little robot a dour expression. L-Ron : : deflates. Brainiac pushes a button on the control board. : : BRAINIAC : : I wouldn't lay wagers on the Kryptonian : : just yet. : : EXT. SPACE : : The ShadowCaster goes full throttle, completely cutting off what : : little sunlight was seeping out. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY : : The sun -- eclipsed by Brainiac's device -- disappears, plunging : : the Earth -- and the city -- into the darkness of moonlight. : : INT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - NIGHT : : Lois and Jimmy watch from the windows. The City Room's in a panic. : : Perry joins them. : : JIMMY : : Hey! It's only noon! What's going on with : : the sun? : : PERRY : : (handing them photos) : : This just came in from government weather : : satellites... : : The photos show the ShadowCaster in its dormant and operative : : mode. : : PERRY : : I can only hope Kent's out there covering : : this... : : (to Lois) : : The same place you should be, although : : from a safe distance. : : LOIS : : But Chief, I promised... : : PERRY : : Olsen -- you go with her. I want some : : candids of whatever that thing is : : Superman's fighting. : : JIMMY : : I'm on it, Chief! C'mon, Miss Lane! : : Jimmy drags Lois out. Perry calls after them. : : PERRY : : And hurry! If I know the Man of Steel, : : this rumble's going to be over before : : it's started. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - NIGHT : : Superman takes a hit from Doomsday and goes stumbling backwards. : : He pauses and notices the fading sunlight. Then, it dawns on him: : : his power source is being cut off. : : Doomsday plows into him. Superman fights back valiantly, but knows : : that he's being depleted. He begins to falter. Doomsday grabs him : : and hurls Superman back into the hole. : : INT. SEWER SYSTEM : : Superman lands, and Doomsday is on him anew, holding Superman in a : : headlock. Superman flips Doomsday off his back and drop kicks him : : down the tunnel, out of sight. : : Then, we hear a HIGH PITCH SHRIEK sounding. Superman winces -- the : : sound filling his head. The SHRIEK FADES, and we hear TAPPING, as : : if on a MICROPHONE, and... : : LEX (V.O.) : : Is this thing on? : : (chuckles) : : Hello, Blue-boy. It's your better -- : : Luthor -- speaking to you from a : : frequency that only super-hearing can : : detect. : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE - NIGHT : : Lex looks out upon the prematurely-darkened Metropolis -- a : : microphone in his hand. : : LEX : : Things don't look too good for you, alien. : : It seems I've finally found your Achilles : : heel: the Earth's yellow sun. : : EXT. SEWER DROPOFF DRAIN : : Superman enters cautiously. : : LEX (V.O.) : : Without it, you're not that impressive. : : Look at you -- alone, beaten, nearly : : broken. Where are all the good people : : you've put your neck on the line so many : : times for? You'd think they'd return the : : favor. : : Then, Doomsday drops from the ceiling, crushing the Man of Steel. : : They fight through the current, heading toward the dropoff. : : Superman pulls himself from D-Day's grasp, but Doomsday double- : : fists the floor, shaking the ceiling loose, which comes down : : around Superman, pinning him. : : Doomsday winds up and gives Superman a right-hook, sending him : : falling into the churning muck below. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : Lois slides across a cab's hood, rushing toward the park. She : : muscles through the crowds that keep their distance. : : INT. SEWER DROPOFF : : Doomsday studies the muck below. : : Superman explodes from the sewerage. howling up at Doomsday in a : : flash, catching him with his fists. The pair... : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : ... shoot through the pavement, spraying debris everywhere. : : Superman goes ballistic, racing at the beast anew, pummelling him. : : But Doomsday rallies back, throwing punches that actually draw : : blood. The Man of Steel drops to his knees, Lex's voice still : : filling his head. : : LEX (V.O.) : : You'd think the solar energy that you : : store would last longer, wouldn't you? I : : mean, you fly at night, and there's no : : sun then? Why are you weakening now? : : (chuckles) : : Apparently, soaring through the sky, : : catching muggers, and rustling the : : occasional cat burglar doesn't take the : : effort it's taking you to hold your own : : against the mindless wonder there. Any : : stored solar energy you may have is being : : exhausted. Plainly put -- you're running : : out of gas, and the pumps are closed. : : Doomsday leaps atop Superman, beating him down, savagely. : : Superman's running out of time. : : EXT. ANTARCTIC : : The snow is almost blinding, even in the darkness. We PAN ACROSS : : the tundra and DROP INTO a large canyon. : : INT. ANTARCTIC CANYON : : Buried deep in the snow, we see the FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE -- : : Superman's home away from home. Outside the massive front doors : : stand two statue-like POLAR BEARS. : : INT. FORTRESS : : Amongst various trophies and keepsakes, hangs a ROCKET - an escape : : craft that brought Superman to Earth, all those years ago. : : INT. CRAFT : : In the cabin, electrical pulses start to ignite. A screen forms, : : igniting with a series of random numbers and Kryptonian letters, : : until they form the "S" insignia. : : CUT TO: : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : The torn "S" insignia on Superman's chest, dripping with blood. : : Superman gives it his all against the mindless Doomsday, the voice : : of Lex still filling his head. : : LEX (V.O.) : : I really just called to tell you that : : your reign is over. You're being replaced. : : And this city... this world is about to : : fall on its knees before LexCorp and its : : C.E.O. : : We hear Superman's HEARTBEAT -- and it's not that strong. : : INT. CRAFT : : Back in the Antarctic, the HEARTBEAT FAINTLY ECHOES through the : : cabin. The "S" on the screen gives way to a vital signs graph, : : including a heart-rate monitor. All the signs are dangerously low, : : as indicated by the readout. : : INT. FORTRESS : : The body of the rocket dislodges from the ceiling, falling to the : : snow. It begins transforming, growing a body. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : Superman and Doomsday go at it, both weakening. But it's clear : : Superman's the worse off. : : Lois pushes through the crowd, followed by Jimmy. Her eyes go : : wide. : : LOIS : : Clark! Go! Fly away! Get out of here : : before that thing kills you! : : His power diminished, the Man of Steel is on the ropes. His lethal : : opponent, too, appears to be reaching for the grave. But neither : : relents. And even now, Superman has Lex's voice in his head. : : LEX (V.O.) : : You had no business here from the start, : : Kryptonian -- but here you'll die... : : CLOSEUP - SUPERMAN : : who allows himself a quick, pained glance at... : : CLOSEUP - LOIS : : -- eyes filled with tears. : : CLOSEUP - SUPERMAN : : as he manages a final weak smile, as if to say good-bye. : : LEX (V.O.) : : I just wanted you to know who it was that : : beat you, boy! : : CLOSEUP - LOIS : : She at first smiles through her tears as well, until she realizes : : what it means. : : LOIS : : (shaking her head; screaming) : : Noooooo! : : And the pair throw their last punches, connecting with one : : another's heads. The shock of their mortal BLOWS EXPLODE like a : : sonic boom throughout Metropolis. : : CLOSEUP - LOIS : : Wide-eyed. : : CLOSEUP - JIMMY : : Who stops snapping photos and looks up. : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE - CLOSEUP - LEX : : Who stares down at the tiny spectacle from high above, smiling. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : And in a moment that seems like an eternity, the two mighty : : combatants fall to the ground. : : INT. FORTRESS : : ... And the Eradicator comes on-line. He stands erect, taking in : : his surroundings. He moves to a nearby computer and hooks into it. : : A map of the world fills the screen. We digitally race through it : : and land in... : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : The city is paralyzed. Then, the crowd starts to move -- news : : crews and military personnel converge, crowding around the fallen : : Superman. : : Lois fights her way through the masses, dropping to her knees : : beside the fallen Man of Steel. She lifts his head from the : : rubble, cradling it. He opens his eyes, partially, muck, filth, : : and blood obscuring his vision and suit. : : SUPERMAN : : (weakly) : : Is... is it... : : LOIS : : Shhhhh... you did it, Clark. You did it. : : SUPERMAN : : (looking into her eyes) : : Lois... : : He goes limp. Lois breaks down. The crowd's in shock. : : Superman is dead. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac and L-Ron smile at the same image on the ship's view : : screen. : : BRAINIAC : : Throw out a wave-pulse net. If my : : calculations are correct, the technology : : will be coming on-line soon. : : INT. FORTRESS : : The Eradicator stares up at the mapping system, with a flashing : : red light indicating the fallen Superman's location. : : ERADICATOR : : Metropolis. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : L-Ron looks up from the monitor on the control panel. : : L-RON : : So far, nothing, my Liege. : : BRAINIAC : : Patience, L-Ron. He'll come. : : INT. FORTRESS : : The mapping on the screen transposes, and rises above Metropolis, : : landing on a diagram of the Skull Ship. Over the image flashes the : : message "predator detected." : : ERADICATOR : : Brainiac? Here? : : The image disappears, replaced with "activating cloaking device." : : The Eradicator then concentrates on the map. : : ERADICATOR : : Now -- how to get to Kal-El without being : : detected... : : (thinks) : : Or get Kal-El... to me! : : The Eradicator types at the computer he's hooked into. The screen : : begins filling with numbers, letters, and an array of binary : : codes. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - ON CONTROL BOARD : : A signal BEEPS. Brainiac punches a button anxiously, only yo be : : greeted by Lex's face on the view screen. : : LEX : : What are you waiting for? phase two! If : : this is going to work, we have to move to : : Phase Two, now! : : Brainiac scowls at the screen and switches off. : : BRAINIAC : : Insolent hunk of meat. : : (sighs) : : Animate the carcass. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - NIGHT : : CLOSEUP - DOOMSDAY'S EYES : : A HIGH-PITCHED CHARGE is heard, and the dead eyes snap open. : : The CREATURE stirs, then sits bolt upright, GROWLING.l The crowd : : begins screaming. : : The tearful Lois looks up from her fallen lover, to see Doomsday : : moving. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : L-Ron enters codes and presses buttons, animating Doomsday's : : corpse, which we see on the view screen. : : BRAINIAC : : Finish this mess so we can find the : : technology! : : L-Ron hits a button. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP : : From the Skull Ship's bow, a red beam emits, cutting through : : space. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS : : The beam strikes the animated dead body of Doomsday, incinerating : : it. People leap out of the way as DOOMSDAY EXPLODES. : : Metropolitans look skyward for the source of the blast, but find : : nothing. : : Lois is among them, for a beat. She then goes back to cradling her : : lover's head. Jimmy comforts her, then sadly stands, looking : : through the eyepiece of his camera. : : JIMMY : : Rest in peace, big guy. : : We HOLD on the FROZEN PHOTO IMAGE of the Man of Steel held by his : : secret love. : : DISSOLVE TO: : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKYLINE - NIGHT : : The next day, the city is dark -- both in mourning and in lack of : : sun. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - NIGHT : : On the streets below, artificial light is cast from high-powered : : LexCorp kliegs. It's the same straight down the avenue -- LexCorp : : lights, everywhere. : : And people, as well. The crowds are enormous -- all wearing black : : arm bands emblazoned with Superman's "s" shield. They scramble to : : get a look at... : : A horse-drawn carriage, in the midst of which is a casket. Its : : open top reveals Superman -- eyes closed, peaceful, his cape hangs : : over the lid. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : Its backdrop draped in black, with a blown-up photo of Superman : : adorning the center, the viewing stage hold various city and world : : dignitaries, who stare mournfully at the approaching carriage. : : Cat Grant addresses her camera team, flanked by Lois. : : CAT : : Cat Grant here, bringing you W.G.B.S.'s : : continuing coverage of what the President : : has called 'the world's darkest hour.' : : Offering her perspective on this sadly : : historic day is Daily Planet reporter, : : Lois Lane -- whose name is synonymous : : with the Man of Steel's. : : LOIS : : While we here in Metropolis say goodbye : : to a friend, around the globe, crisis : : management teams are working tirelessly : : to counter the effects of the eclipse. : : EXT. FOREIGN LOCALES : : While Lois speaks, we see LexCorp kliegs powering up, at sights : : around the globe. LexCorp trucks empty LexCorp food supplies. : : LOIS (V.O.) : : Financial analysts have predicted that : : LexCorp will make billions from around : : the globe as the sole supplier of : : available energy. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - NIGHT : : Lois continues. : : LOIS : : The burial monument, commissioned by Lex : : Luthor himself, strikes this reporter as : : being built in a remarkable expedient : : fashion. When questioned on this, Luthor : : responded evasively, "We had our : : differences, but a man such as this : : deserves an equal memorial." : : CAT : : Lois, perhaps the greatest memorial to : : his efforts is that so far, zero : : casualties have been reported from this : : city-wide battle. : : LOIS : : Although my... : : (choking it back) : : My... colleague, Clark Kent is still : : missing, presumably killed during the : : fallout from the battle. Rescue teams : : have been sifting through the rubble, but : : so far there's no sign of... of him. : : CAT : : More on that story tonight, but right now, : : the procession has reached the tomb. : : The carriage stops, and a priest says a blessing over the Man of : : Steel's body, closing the casket lid. But before it closes, we get : : a glimpse of two small blinking lights attached to his suit. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : On the view screen, an outline of Superman's body has the same : : corresponding blinking red lights. L-Ron notes this. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK : : Pallbearers carry the casket toward the MONUMENT: a huge, bronze : : replica of Superman in his up, up, and away stance. : : Jimmy snaps away, stopping momentarily to wipe a tear from his : : eye, as the pallbearers insert the casket into the base, sealing : : the metal doors. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : On the view screen, digital tumblers lock into place, and a : : message flashes: "ALARM ENGAGED." : : L-Ron turns to Brainiac, who is suiting up in some : : uncharacteristically resplendent costuming, complete with cape. : : L-RON : : The security measures on both the suit and the tomb have : : been activated, if anything attempts to remove his body. And : : that's a big 'if'. : : BRAINIAC : : There are no 'ifs,' L-Ron. The Eradicator : : is here. I know it. : : L-RON : : (off costume) : : And who, might I ask, is opening for my : : Liege in Vegas this weekend? : : BRAINIAC : : (off outfit) : : Lex Luthor's idea of what a Kryptonian : : should look like alone marks him for : : execution. : : L-RON : : Something we should act on now. : : BRAINIAC : : I have further use for Lex Luthor. Until : : such time as we have the Eradicator, I : : will feed off LexCorp's energy supplies : : to maintain my form. Once we have the : : technology of Jor-El, you may kill Lex : : Luthor. Now prepare my skiff. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - NIGHT : : Governor Bree rides a cherry-picker to the outstretched arm of the : : statue, where she hangs Superman's cape. : : For the crowd that can't get near the tomb, the burial is : : broadcast on the WGBS building giant screen TV. Then, the image of : : the funeral is interrupted by a familiar symbol: The BAT-SIGNAL! : : It gives way to a shadowy image of the DARK KNIGHT, deep within : : the Batcave. : : BATMAN : : Good evening, Metropolis. It is with : : heavy heart that I offer you my and : : Gotham's deepest condolences. I apologize : : for my absence -- but with the loss of : : the sun, I am all that opposes the : : criminal element in my city, who've : : seized upon the cover of darkness to : : further their evil purposes. : : From atop the viewing stage, Lois and the others stare up at the : : screen. : : BATMAN (V.O.) : : The guardian of your city... of the : : world... held Metropolis and its : : inhabitants very near to his heart. : : The message continues on the screen. : : BATMAN : : It's been said that he fought a never- : : ending battle for truth, justice and the : : American way. Honor this fallen soldier : : well by keeping his memory alive in the : : face of this adversity. From this day : : forward, we forever shoulder the burden : : of a world without a Superman. : : On the giant screen, The Dark Knight withdraws further back into : : the shadows, until he is completely unseen. The Bat-Signal comes : : up again, and then scrambles into the image of the funeral below. : : But suddenly, over the top of the giant screen, a hover-skiff : : rises, sending the crowd below into a panic. : : Jimmy joins Lois, snapping pictures of the descending craft as it : : lands on the viewing stage. : : Aboard the craft is Brainiac -- now decked out in "alien" garb, : : replete with face-obscuring helmet, and Lex, with an arm draped : : over Brainiac's shoulder. Lex jumps to the podium microphone. : : LEX : : People of Metropolis -- this is a great : : day in our planet's history. Today, you : : will learn of a secret too-long kept by : : myself... and Superman. : : A murmur goes through the crowd. : : Atop the viewing stage, Lois looks at Lex, suspiciously, as Lex : : continues. : : LEX : : Superman's job was not to protect our : : city, but instead to pave the way for an : : amazing new era in this planet's history. : : Cat moves closer to Lois, whispering. : : CAT : : Has the old man finally lost it? : : LOIS : : I think it's worse than that. : : Lex encourages applause from the confused crowd. : : LEX : : Over the last two years, Superman and I : : had been working closely to prepare this : : world for its introduction to more : : extraterrestrials like himself... and : : like the being I now present to you. : : Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the true : : power behind our fallen Man of Steel... : : Brainiac! : : Urged by Lex, Brainiac approaches the podium, as a hush falls over : : the crowd. : : BRAINIAC : : Today marks a terrible day for our planet : : Krypton. Superman, as you called him, was : : a herald of the highest order, having : : gone before me to many planets, preparing : : them for first contact. I stand before : : you now in the spirit of hope and peace. : : A cheer goes up from the crowd. Brainiac looks out upon the : : thrall, emotionless. Lex pats him on the back, whispering in his : : ear. : : LEX : : Keep it up! They're buying it! : : Lois watches Brainiac's and Lex's interaction with suspicion, but : : her face belies fear that what's being said may be the truth. : : BRAINIAC : : His true mission was kept secret from you : : to protect you, until you were ready to : : accept aliens into your world. : : Sorrowfully, my herald gave his life : : fighting a foul menace -- weakening the : : beast so that I was able to vaporize it : : using the power of my ship above. : : (as the crowd murmurs) : : The creature was from a race of : : war-mongers that have designated this : : planet for annihilation! But in concert : : with Superman and Lex Luthor, I have been : : able to blanket your planet in darkness : : to protect you from the approaching : : hordes. : : Lois goes bug-eyed, her journalistic instincts kicking in. She : : charges the podium, fighting off LexCorp security. : : LOIS : : (to Lex) : : What is he talking about?! Is he saying : : that you two... what... blocked out the : : sun?! : : LEX : : Ms. lane, let the deity speak. : : BRAINIAC : : (to the crowd) : : Using materials provide by Lex Luthor and : : my own advanced technology, I fashioned a : : device to enshroud the planet in a : : darkness that will provide camouflage. : : LOIS : : From what?! : : BRAINIAC : : From them. : : Suddenly, the dark skies above shimmer, and an armada of ships can : : be seen moving slowly through space, patrolling. With the : : multitude of spacecraft visible, it would appear that Earth is : : under attack. : : The Metropolitans panic, screaming, moving to run. Brainiac holds : : his hands out. : : BRAINIAC : : Do not fear. We are not visible to the : : armada. : : The crowd calms, listening to Brainiac. : : BRAINIAC : : The forced eclipse that darkens the skies : : is what keeps us hidden. The menace above : : cannot detect your world, and will slowly : : pass through your galaxy within days. : : Once they have moved on, I will end the : : eclipse, and bring back the sun. : : LEX : : (stepping up) : : Until that time, LexCorp energy will fuel : : the planet, and LexCorp industrial : : services will keep the world operating : : smoothly as if the sun had never left. : : The crowd slowly breaks into applause. : : Lex smiles, joining hands with Brainiac and raising them into the : : air. Brainiac seems to be confused by this, but goes along with : : it. His attention is more focused on... : : The tomb. Surrounded by people, Brainiac cannot see it. : : INT. FORTRESS : : The Eradicator stops typing at the computer. He presses "enter." : : The numbers on the screen reconfigure, forming Superman's "S" : : insignia. It glows red. : : INT. TOMB : : Back in Metropolis, inside the casket, the "S" on Superman's chest : : also begins glowing red. Superman's body begins shimmering, and : : teleports (Trek-style) out of sight, leaving behind his suit, on : : which the security measures still blink. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK - NIGHT : : Lex urges Brainiac to further address the crowd. : : BRAINIAC : : Like Superman, I will endeavor to protect : : Earth and its inhabitants. It's the least : : I can do in return for your warm, warm : : welcome... : : (beat) : : And in memory of Superman! : : Brainiac raises his arms like Nixon. The crowd goes wild. : : Luthor leads the crowd in a rallying cry of cheers for Earth's : : greatest hero, Brainiac. And as Cat Grant rushes the podium to get : : an interview with the "heroic pair," Lois stares at them both : : coldly and at a loss, amid the thrall of support for Brainiac. : : FADE TO BLACK : : DREAM SEQUENCE : : We SMASH CUT into a speeding tracking shot, travelling on : : electrical impulses through the tortuous path of SUPERMAN'S BRAIN, : : hearing... : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : Greetings, my son. : : A CLOSEUP of JOR-EL fades into view. : : JOR-EL : : It has been many years since you have : : looked upon the face of your birth father : : through infant eyes. I only wish this : : message cam to you under better : : circumstances. : : 1) Jor-El and Lara work in their lab. They step back to reveal the : : ERADICATOR, who sits up and opens his eyes. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : Your mother and I spent years : : constructing an autonomous free-form : : computer in order to study more closely : : the volatile core of our home world. : : 2) The Eradicator emerges from a deep, smoky shaft. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : We named the living computer the : : 'Eradicator' -- after a Kryptonian : : mythological figure. : : 3) The Eradicator plugs himself into the computer in their lab. On : : the monitor, images of the planets volatile core appear. After a : : beat, a metal shaft appears in the lava. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : It confirmed our worst fears -- the : : planet was unstable. But even more : : horrifying, was the cause of the duress. : : Then, alarms sound, and lights flash. The screen goes black, : : filling with the symbol of Brainiac. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : The Brainiac system had come from off- : : world, brought online to police the : : planet. We learned it was up to far more : : than that. : : 4) Bound in handcuffs and illuminated by a shaft of light, Jor-El : : stands before Brainiac in a darkened chamber. : : BRAINIAC : : I discovered the renegade science officer, : : Jor-El, engaged in illegal planetary : : experimentation. : : COUNCIL VOICE : : How does the accused plea? : : JOR-EL : : I'll plea anything you wish -- if the : : Council will hear my plea that the planet : : be evacuated now! In moments, Krypton : : will perish! : : COUNCIL VOICE : : Brainiac - is there any validity to : : Jor-El's claim? : : BRAINIAC : : None. He's lying -- the planet is in no : : danger. But Jor-El himself represents a : : threat -- he has ignored the tempered- : : technology code and constructed a : : sentient computer system with a perpetual : : battery... the Eradicator! : : A second shaft of light illuminates the Eradicator, sealed in a : : glass containment chamber. : : JOR-EL : : The Eradicator's no the threat -- : : Brainiac is! The data we collected points : : to him as the cause of the core's : : instability! He's siphoning off the : : planet's energy! : : Suddenly, a beam shoots out of the Brainiac symbol, striking the : : Eradicator, absorbing its power. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : Brainiac had intended to fashion a body : : for himself, using the energy from the : : planet's core... : : 5) In a containment chamber, Brainiac's 'body' begins growing. A : : schematic of the goal is pictured on a monitor. : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : ... but by absorbing the Eradicator, not : : only could he have the body he so desired : : -- he'd also possess the perpetual : : battery by which to power him, : : indefinitely. Ironically, his drain on : : the planet's core finally took its toll. : : 6) The Council chamber begins to shudder and crumble. A piece of : : ceiling breaks free and crashes into the monitor, breaking the : : connection with the Eradicator. : : 7) In the containment chamber, the body formation stops, resulting : : in a half-formed Brainiac. The view screen fills with Brainiac's : : symbol, shuddering. : : BRAINIAC : : NOOOOOO!!!! : : JOR-EL (V.O.) : : Facing the destruction he created, : : Brainiac was forced to depart Krypton on : : a craft he'd constructed in secrecy... : : without the body he so desired. : : INT. JOR-EL'S LAUNCH PAD : : Lara hands the infant Superman to Jor-El. He holds the child in : : his arms, addressing the camera. The room is shuddering and : : falling apart. : : JOR-EL : : The planet is in it's final moments, my : : son. As I hold you one last time, I : : record this message to be viewed in the : : even the marauder Brainiac ever tracks : : either you or the Eradicator back to the : : planet I'm sending you -- Earth. Avoid : : him at all costs. I've used these last : : minutes to code your chromo frequency : : into the Eradicator. In the event of a : : significant drop in your vital signs, the : : Eradicator will come to your aid. : : (hugs the infant) : : Be well, Kal-El -- you were so cherished. : : As Jor-El hands the infant to the Eradicator, static fills the : : screen. : : INT. FORTRESS - CLOSEUP ON SUPERMAN'S FACE : : Superman lays in a Kryptonian resuscitation chamber. Arms folder : : over his chest, he is immersed in a gelatinous, green mass. His : : eyes snap open, and he sits bolt upright, breaking out of the : : dense goo. He throws up a lungful of the muck, inhales deeply. : : SUPERMAN : : Father...! : : He slowly rises, wiping the jelly from his body and face. The old : : blue and red togs are gone, replaced by a black resuscitation : : suit. : : Then, there are ripples along the surface of the gelatin within : : the resuscitation chamber. : : The Eradicator rises behind Superman. : : ERADICATOR : : Greetings, son of Jor-El. : : Superman turns quickly to see the Eradicator. He looks from E to : : where the resuscitive bath no longer is, save for some remnants of : : the goo. Superman then looks back at the Eradicator, dazed. : : ERADICATOR : : It has been some time since last we met. : : Your hardware has improved... and now you : : wear clothes. : : SUPERMAN : : I... I saw my father -- Jor-El... : : (beat) : : It was like... my life flashed before my : : eyes... but it was from a part of my life : : I don't remember. Krypton -- I've never : : seen it. I saw my birth parents, but not : : Ma and Pa. And Lois -- why didn't I see : : her? You'd think your final reflection : : would include the most important person : : in your life. : : ERADICATOR : : Perhaps because your reflection was far : : from final. : : Superman stares at the Eradicator, slowly grasping. Then... : : SUPERMAN : : I'm... alive? : : The Eradicator nods, Superman leaps to his feet, triumphantly. The : : Eradicator proceeds around the chamber, constructing a small two- : : man SHIP. : : SUPERMAN : : I'm alive!!! Then that was just a dream?! : : ERADICATOR : : A message downloaded it into your : : cerebral cortex while you were in the : : resuscitation bath. : : SUPERMAN : : You were on Krypton, too -- with my : : father! How did you get here?! : : ERADICATOR : : I was the craft that brought you to this planet years : : ago. : : SUPERMAN : : (notices it's gone) : : The rocket...? How? : : ERADICATOR : : My programming allows me to shape-shift : : into any form of equal mass to my own : : humanoid structure. The rocket was only : : large enough to carry a child -- a factor : : that prevented me from transporting your : : parents as well as yourself. : : SUPERMAN : : You've been in the Fortress all this time : : and I didn't know it?!? : : (thinks) : : Wait, wait, wait... did you ever see Lois : : and I... while we... : : (beat) : : Well, why the hell did you never say : : anything?! : : ERADICATOR : : I was programmed to lie dormant, until : : such a time as your vital signs waned. : : That's never been a factor until now. : : SUPERMAN : : I'm remembering now -- the sun was : : blocked! My father warned me about a : : threat from Krypton in the message... : : BRAINIAC! Is that the creature I was : : fighting? : : ERADICATOR : : No -- Brainiac is far more dangerous than : : that beast. : : SUPERMAN : : Then I've gotta bring him down! Where's : : my suit? I've gotta get back to : : Metropolis... : : He leaps, as if to take off, but falls to the ground. : : ERADICATOR : : Your powers are still gone. : : Superman rises to his hands and knees, wide-eyed -- he's never : : been powerless in his life. : : SUPERMAN : : Will they return? : : ERADICATOR : : Once we get away from the shadowed Earth : : and closer to the sun, you should be back : : online. This ship will be taking us : : offworld in less than an hour. : : SUPERMAN : : Whoa! Whoa! Leave?! : : ERADICATOR : : We must find another world where the sun : : affects you as it did here. : : SUPERMAN : : But what about Brainiac?! I can't leave : : all these people behind! : : ERADICATOR : : When Earth was chosen as your home, it : : was so that the powers you would manifest : : would place you above its inhabitants -- : : not so you could be their champion. : : SUPERMAN : : No, no -- we're staying here and fighting : : Brainiac. I don't care if I really die : : this time. : : ERADICATOR : : Fortunately, that will never be a factor. : : The program your father imparted to me : : before we left the dying Krypton was to : : insure your longevity. : : Superman stares at him, taken aback. : : SUPERMAN : : I can't die? : : ERADICATOR : : As long as I function -- no. : : SUPERMAN : : (beat) : : Then all the more reason to go after this : : Brainiac character! I'm not letting him : : do to Earth what he did to Krypton! : : ERADICATOR : : Brainiac has come to this planet to hunt : : me -- he sides my perpetual battery, and : : he will destroy this world if he must to : : acquire it. That endangers your life, : : which is against my programming. We must : : find you a new home. : : SUPERMAN : : Earth is my home! You expect me to just : : leave it behind -- leave Lois -- just to : : save myself?! : : ERADICATOR : : Yes. : : Superman offers the Eradicator a sharp, shocked look. : : ERADICATOR : : This race is as good as extinct, Kal-El. : : You cannot save them now. : : SUPERMAN : : (beat) : : I have to at least try. That's in my : : programming. : : The Eradicator sees the passion in Superman's eyes. He processes : : this, and stands back. Superman proceeds. : : SUPERMAN : : The first order of business would be to : : remove whatever's blocking then sun. But : : apparently, I'm unable to fly. Which : : leaves the question of how to reach that : : thing. : : Superman looks to the two-man ship, then back to the Eradicator. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : We get our first look at what Metropolis has become. : : The Skull Ship now rests atop the twin Metro Towers, and it's : : "grown", encasing the buildings in the steel of its hull, squid- : : like in nature. : : The large screen TV that rests atop the WGBS building now airs : : updates and reports of the armada's distance from Earth. : : At the LexCorp building, we can see Luthor -- flanked by : : bodyguards -- on the front steps. He stands at a podium before : : bundled-up members of the press. : : LEX (V.O.) : : As his designated representative, : : Brainiac has asked me to give you this : : latest update. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : At the podium, Lex reads from a prepared statement. : : LEX : : According to his calculations, the armada : : should completely pass through our solar : : system in a matter of days. At which time, : : the sun will return! : : The press let out a cheer -- Lois stands among them, looking on : : suspiciously. She speaks up. : : LOIS : : There are rumors of a rebellion of sorts : : -- a group that doesn't necessarily trust : : or believe either you or Brainiac. : : Lex's eyes flare briefly, then settle. He smiles kindly. : : LEX : : Ms. Lane, this city -- this world -- : : knows how much Brainiac has done for us. : : There are some people who'll take issue : : with anything, for the sake of being : : contradictory. Don't let their bitter : : voices echo louder than the joyous praise : : of the majority. : : LOIS : : Ironically enough, you were once the : : bitter minority, complaining about : : Superman's interference with the Planet, : : yet now you lay like a lapdog at the feet : : of Brainiac. Why the switch? : : LEX : : I did not understand Superman's purpose. : : Brainiac explained it to me. I only wish : : I had known his import before he died. : : LOIS : : Call me a skeptic, but somehow I don't : : buy your sincerity, Lex. : : LEX : : Well, Ms. Lane... : : (opens coat) : : It's like the shirt says... : : Lex rips open his button-down shirt... Superman style, revealing a : : T-shirt beneath. : : On it is the image of a stone-faced Brainiac, around whose head : : the letters spell out: "I'M A MANIAC FOR BRAINIAC." The press : : cheers. Lex owns them. : : CLOSEUP ON SHIRT : : CUT TO: : : INT. LEAGUE OF NATIONS CONFERENCE ROOM : : The same shirt, only on a different being -- L-Ron. The little : : robot sits among the DELEGATES as brainiac addresses the WORLD : : CONGRESS. : : BRAINIAC : : Ladies and Gentlemen of the World : : Congress -- it is my conclusion that the : : marauders who seek to ravage your planet : : have sent an even deadlier threat than : : the Doomsday creature. : : The delegates panic. L-Ron pulls up his shirt, and his chest : : opens, revealing a projector of sorts. An image of the Eradicator : : is thrown onto the screen. : : BRAINIAC : : This being is an anthropomorphic weapon, : : a hundred times more powerful than your : : atomic bomb. It's detonation, while : : effectively wiping out half of Earth's : : population, will also signal the armada : : of the planet's hidden location. : : DELEGATE #1 : : What can we do to prevent this?! : : BRAINIAC : : Utilize your military. Have them locate : : this weapon, but do not engage it. When : : you have found it, contact me -- I will : : defuse... it. That is all. : : INT. SKULL SHIP BRIDGE : : Brainiac and L-Ron enter. : : L-RON : : You sure scared the hell out of those guys. : : BRAINIAC : : Which will insure that they work twice as : : hard as even us to locate the Eradicator : : technology. : : L-RON : : Won't Lex Luthor ask questions when he : : hears about this? He'll know you're lying. : : BRAINIAC : : We have nothing to fear on this dismal : : planet, L-Ron -- least of all the slow- : : witted Lex Luthor. : : Brainiac then notices the small marble replica of himself sitting : : on a pedestal across from the control board. A note is attached : : which reads "TO EARTH'S NEXT MASTER." : : Brainiac regards the statue curiously. He looks to L-Ron. : : L-RON : : Speak of the dummy. Obviously from Luthor. : : Not so much a gift as a vulgar attempt to : : stay on your good side. : : Brainiac seizes the statue, and crushes it in his grip. There, : : amidst the dust, sits a micro spy camera, blinking. : : BRAINIAC : : Apparently, Lex Luthor is more clever : : than we gave him credit. : : (hands it to L-Ron) : : Show the cretin what he wants to see. : : EXT. SPACE : : The two-man ship rockets through space. Through the windshield, we : : see the Eradicator at the helm. The lower half of his body makes : : up the control board, while his upper half operates it. : : INT. SHIP : : Surrounded by various pieces of what resemble armaments, Superman : : attempts to pull them on. : : SUPERMAN : : What is it going to do exactly? : : ERADICATOR : : We're building you a resuscitive suit -- : : your trial has left you injured and : : weakened. These units will expedite your : : recovery. : : SUPERMAN : : (off equipment) : : In little league, it was easy -- it began : : and ended with a cup. : : Then, tendrils reach out of the Eradicator's back and scoop up the : : various pieces, outfitting Superman. : : ERADICATOR : : This will support strained back muscles, : : these will repair the fracture in your : : shoulder, your ankles will need the : : support of this, this will protect your : : vertebrae. : : The tendrils draw back into their operator, revealing a newly- : : outfitted Superman (minus the 'S' shield). He looks ready for : : action. : : SUPERMAN : : All this and I'm still powerless? : : ERADICATOR : : But protected. Strap yourself in now, : : Kal-El. We've almost reached our : : destination. : : They soar toward the far-off ShadowCaster. : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE - NIGHT : : CLOSEUP ON A MONITOR : : which displays Brainiac and L-Ron analyzing a LEXTECH schematic on : : their view screen. : : Misty and Lex watch the monitor. : : MISTY : : You were right -- he's trying to access : : the weapons division. : : LEX : : That's what we're supposed to think. This : : is a fake. : : (points to monitor) : : See this -- it's pixelated. If this were : : truly from our surveillance camera, we'd : : see scan lines, like a television image. : : This picture was created -- digitally. : : : : MISTY : : But how? : : LEX : : He's a living computer, Misty. It's : : certain not beyond his capacity to : : manipulate an image. It would seem that : : Brainiac is on to us... and hiding : : something. : : MISTY : : How do you want to play it? : : LEX : : Like every business deal -- cordial on : : the surface. Meantime, we put to use that : : data we've compiled from the diagnostics : : check on the ShadowCaster technology, and : : the moment Brainy-not steps out of line : : we simply cut off the chow-bag he thinks : : we know nothing about. : : MISTY : : You are incredibly attractive when you're : : like this. : : (kisses him) : : It's noon -- you've got an interview with : : the Daily Planet. : : LEX : : Is it noon already? So hard to tell : : anymore. : : As Misty exits, Lois and Jimmy enter. : : LEX : : Well, well, well -- Metropolis' own voice : : of dissent. : : LOIS : : If I'm the mouthpiece, wouldn't that make : : you the other cavity? : : LEX : : Good ol' Lois -- always a quipper, aren't : : you? : : (all business) : : You want something to print in that rag : : you work for, print this: this anti- : : Brainiac rhetoric you've been spouting : : both today and in the pages of the Planet : : is dangerous. I only pray that your : : columns continue to be read as merely : : sociopolitical criticism -- and not as an : : act of sedition. : : LOIS : : Sedition? Since when is an opinion : : considered sedition? : : LEX : : What do you think those huge ships are -- : : parade floats? If you unsettle Brainiac : : with your mistrust, you put this planet : : in peril. There's not a government on : : Earth that wouldn't call that sedition. : : LOIS : : So we wait out the cold and dark bestowed : : upon us by an alien who's supposedly : : protecting us from other aliens? Six of : : one, half dozen of the other. : : LEX : : Is that any different from what Superman : : did? You were his greatest advocate, Miss : : Lane. And when, in death, his true agenda : : is revealed, you turn against your Man : : of Steel's own master. : : LOIS : : The day I believe Superman was in league : : with Brainiac is the day I quit the city : : desk and take over the Planet's horoscope : : page. : : LEX : : Then start watching the stars, young lady! : : LOIS : : You've already got most of the world : : doing that! : : Jimmy jumps between the verbally sparring pair. : : JIMMY : : This'd probably be a great time to take : : that photo, Mister Luthor. : : Lex goes soft, smiling at Lois. He rounds the desk and scoots next : : to her. : : LEX : : I'm sure if Miss Lane had it her way, : : this photo would appear on the obituary : : page, under the heading "Luthor -- : : Finally Out Cold." : : Then, Lex drops to the ground, out cold. REVEAL Lois palming a : : small needle resembling a joy buzzer. : : JIMMY : : How long've we got? : : LOIS : : Doctor Hamilton said about five minutes. : : Do your thing, kid. : : Jimmy hits the computer, typing as fast as he can. : : EXT. FORTRESS : : The Skull Ship rests on the snowy plains. Brainiac and L-Ron : : emerge, led by GENERAL DERRIS and two soldiers. : : DERRIS : : The President's known about Superman's : : Fortress for years, but we've always : : respected the Man of Steel's privacy. It : : wasn't until your address that I : : suggested we investigate the premises for : : a breach. : : BRAINIAC : : Very wise of you, General Derris. : : L-RON : : Good monkey. : : Then, as the trio approach the entranceway, the two POLAR BEARS : : rise from their statue-like positions and attack the escort : : Soldiers, tearing them apart. The bears turn on Brainiac, who : : ferociously wrestles the first bear to the ground, savagely : : breaking its neck. Seeing this, the second bear turns and flees. : : L-Ron brushes snow from his master, as Derris stands there, open- : : mouthed. : : BRAINIAC : : (to Derris) : : Shall we? : : INT. FORTRESS : : Brainiac stops where the resuscitation bath was. A remnant of : : green goo from the bath lies on the snow. His hand morphs into a : : mini vacuum of sorts and sucks it up. : : BRAINIAC : : It's him. The Eradicator was here! : : (to Derris) : : Prepare your men for his return, but do : : not shoot to kill. Leave his capture to... : : Then, Brainiac falters. He looks at his arm, which begins : : withering -- the reversal of how it was affected when he drained : : the Alien Craft. L-Ron ushers Derris away. : : L-RON : : Alright, show's over -- nothing to see : : here. Go outside with your drones and : : march around or something. : : Derris is ruffled, but exits. Brainiac leans on L-Ron. : : L-RON : : We have to get you back to the ship, my : : liege. : : BRAINIAC : : No... I will gain my... energy by : : absorbing... the Eradicator... upon his : : return... : : Brainiac withers further. L-Ron grabs hold of him, pulling him out : : of the room. : : L-RON : : If we don't return to Metropolis and hook : : you back into the core to maintain your : : form, you'll be off-line in minutes. : : We'll come back for the Eradicator -- : : he's not going anywhere. : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE - NIGHT : : On the screen, we see Jimmy gain access to Lex's files. He scrolls : : through them, while Lois looks over the desk, keeping an eye on : : Luthor's condition. : : JIMMY : : I think I've got something. : : Jimmy accesses a file marked 'AI'. He opens it, and we get the : : gist of his back-stabbing plans for Brainiac. : : LOIS : : Well, well, well -- seems the old : : weasel's not such a 'maniac for Brainiac' : : after all. That could be helpful down the : : road. : : Jimmy pops a disc into the computer, downloading the file. : : Then, there's a groggy grunt. Lex begins to stir. Lois rushes to : : his side. She motions to Jimmy, who jumps away from the computer, : : grabbing the disc. : : Lois helps Lex to his feet. : : LEX : : Wh... what happened? : : LOIS : : You passed out, Lex. Must be all the : : stress. : : LEX : : (crossing to desk) : : Must be. Although I wouldn't discount the : : effect you've been known to have on men, : : Ms. Lane. : : LOIS : : My girlish charm? : : LEX : : Your devilish... : : Then, Lex freezes. He notices his computer is on. : : LEX : : ... inquisitiveness. : : Lex looks sharply at Lois. : : CLOSEUP ON LEX'S EYES : : as they accuse. : : CLOSEUP ON LOIS' EYES : : as they "shrug." : : BACK TO SCENE : : Then, Lois grabs Jimmy and sprints to the balcony. Lex punches his : : intercom. : : LEX : : Security! Seal all exits! Now! : : EXT. LEX'S OFFICE BALCONY - NIGHT : : Lois drags Jimmy outside, slamming the doors behind them. Lois : : looks in every direction and spots... Brainiac's hover skiff, : : parked to the side. She looks at Jimmy. : : LOIS : : Gotta be close to a moped, right? : : INT. LEX'S OFFICE : : A team of LexCorp security piles in. Lex points frantically at the : : balcony, screaming. : : LEX : : Don't let them get away!!! Shoot to : : kill!!! : : EXT. LEX'S OFFICE BALCONY - NIGHT : : The Security team kicks the doors open and take aim. Lex is right : : behind them. : : Lois and Jimmy leap aboard the hover-jet, GUN the ENGINE, and : : shoot into the air, over the heads of Lex and the security team. : : LEX : : Fire!!! : : And FIRE they do, unloading a lethal payload into the air. : : With Jimmy holding on for dear life, Lois maneuvers the hover-jet : : like a pro, dodging SHOTS left and right. She soars higher into : : the air, steering the vehicle toward the top of the building. : : JIMMY : : (yelling to be heard) : : Uh... shouldn't we be getting as far away : : from here as possible? : : LOIS : : (yelling to be heard) : : This is kind of like a date, isn't it, : : Jimmy? Well, on a date you get dinner... : : and a movie! : : Lois flies over the roof of LexCorp and we REVEAL the huge : : holograph device that throws the image of the "armada" against the : : sky. : : LOIS : : Shoot it, Jimmy. Now we've got all the : : proof we need. : : Jimmy takes pictures. : : EXT. SPACE : : Superman and the Eradicator reach the ShadowCaster. It's imposing : : as hell. : : The Eradicator hooks into the satellite and begins processing. : : ERADICATOR : : Fascinating. You would imagine he'd take : : some security measures. With no : : interference, I should have it shut down : : momentarily. : : But Superman's attention is drawn to the hull of ship. : : SUPERMAN : : Eradicator -- can you enhance the view : : screen to X-ray? : : INT. ERADICATOR/CRAFT : : The visual Superman sees through the window X-rays until the words : : "LexTech 37" are revealed. Superman growls. : : SUPERMAN : : What a shock. : : EXT. SPACE : : Suddenly, an electrical charge runs through the Eradicator's : : hookup. It detaches itself from the ShadowCaster and goes dark. : : Then, Superman and the Eradicator craft begin plummeting toward : : Earth. : : SUPERMAN : : Uh... Eradicator. : : ERADICATOR : : Brainiac's technology has taken a bit out : : of me, Kal-El. : : The ship continues to fall, the ERADICATOR seemingly "out." : : SUPERMAN : : We're free-falling here... : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : The technology is not only working from a : : program my processors find too foreign to : : crack, it has also had a negative impact : : on my neural net. My systems are shutting : : down. : : SUPERMAN : : What?!? : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : It's akin to the toxic effect Kryptonite : : has on your systems. : : SUPERMAN : : But Kryptonite leaves me powerless! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : Bingo. : : INT. SKULL SHIP BRIDGE : : L-Ron throws switches on a control panel. : : Brainiac lays in the midst of an enormous device. A helm is : : lowered over his head. He points to L-Ron, who in turn presses a : : button. Pure energy shoots through Brainiac sending him into : : convulsions. : : On the device monitor there is an illustration of the device : : pulsing with rising (the amount Brainiac is sucking up) and : : decreasing (the amount he's taking) numbers. The source of this : : power, according to the graphic -- the Earth's core. : : L-Ron shuts the machine down. Brainiac throws off the helm, : : rising. : : BRAINIAC : : WHY DID YOU BRING ME BACK HERE?! IF WE'D : : WAITED, THE ERADICATOR WOULD'VE BEEN MINE! : : L-RON : : My liege, you were nearly powerless... : : Brainiac seizes the little robot, holding him aloft. : : BRAINIAC : : If you've interfered with my manifest, : : you little talking cog, I will absorb the : : insignificant energy that's wasted on you! : : (drops him) : : Bring us back to the antarctic! Now! I : : will have that technology! : : Then, an alarm goes off. Both Brainiac and L-Ron look to the view : : screen. : : A mapping system comes up on the screen. It zooms in on a free- : : falling blip, located in the upper atmosphere. : : The pair rush to the control board. : : L-RON : : Something rapidly descending toward Earth : : that doesn't match any known terrestrial : : crafts, giving off radiation readings : : native to you-know-where. : : Brainiac goes wide-eyed. : : BRAINIAC : : The technology of Jor-El! : : EXT. SPACE : : The Eradicator's ship SCREAMS into the lower atmosphere, rocketing : : at the surfaceof the planet. : : INT. ERADICATOR SHIP : : Superman looks about nervously. : : SUPERMAN : : Come on, man -- up, up and away! : : EXT. SPACE : : The Eradicator ship SCREAMS through the clouds, racing toward a : : land mass. : : ERADICATOR : : I'm attempting a cross-relay with my : : trans-net. Should take approximately : : thirty minutes. : : INT. ERADICATOR CRAFT : : Superman punches at the control panel. : : SUPERMAN : : We don't have thirty minutes! We're going : : down now! I did not come this far in life : : and cheat death just to die in what's : : essentially a plane crash! : : ERADICATOR : : Ah -- never mind. Here we are. : : The Eradicator comes back on line, as the craft's interior lights : : come back up. : : EXT. COAST CITY - NIGHT : : Just in time to pull its nose up, narrowly missing a violent : : impact with the ground, and coming to a rocky landing in the midst : : of a desolate city. : : INT. SKULL SHIP BRIDGE : : Brainiac and L-Ron stare up at the view screen. : : BRAINIAC : : Lock onto the signal. We'll follow it to : : the source. : : The mapping system disappears, replaced by "SIGNAL LOST." : : L-RON : : What the...?! Where did it go?!? : : BRAINIAC : : It's cloaking itself -- it's on its way : : here, to Metropolis. It means to enter : : the city undetected to revive the : : Kryptonian's body. : : L-RON : : Then surely the League of Nations search : : teams will pick it up on radar... : : BRAINIAC : : I'm leaving nothing to chance. It may be : : cloaked now, but cloaks are simple : : encryption programs. : : (to L-Ron) : : Break its code. Do not fail me, little : : robot! : : EXT. COAST CITY - NIGHT : : Superman and the Eradicator climb out of the flying craft. : : Superman hugs the ground, sweating bullets, breathing heavily. : : SUPERMAN : : Is this... your idea... of preserving my : : life?! : : ERADICATOR : : It would appear that Brainiac has : : rendered the device tamper-proof. The : : anti-technology is beyond my : : comprehension. The hardware... : : SUPERMAN : : (standing up) : : Provide by Luthor... That's why he moved : : his space station. : : (chuckles) : : Lois was right -- that story was up my : : alley. : : ERADICATOR : : You dream of this Lois, when you were in : : the resuscitation chamber. She was : : without clothes... : : SUPERMAN : : (cutting him off) : : I remember... thanks. : : ERADICATOR : : You would have her -- as Jor-El had Lara? : : SUPERMAN : : I would. But she has trouble... having me. : : ERADICATOR : : And this disturbs you? : : SUPERMAN : : It has its drawbacks, yes. : : ERADICATOR : : I've ascertained that the inhabitants of : : this planet hold you in high esteem. I : : don't see why the affection, or lack : : thereof, of one matters -- in respect to : : the multitude who show you allegiance. : : SUPERMAN : : (beat) : : That's something I've been dwelling on : : since I came back. And I think I've come : : to a truth that I've never wanted to face : : before... : : (steels himself) : : Yes, I do it all for the multitude. But : : when I save lives, or fight for the weak, : : I'm saving one life, fighting for one : : person -- again, and again, and again. : : (beat) : : It's her -- don't you see? She represents : : all of them -- their hopes, their : : fragility, their passion. And if I ever : : feel like no matter how much I do, it's : : not enough, I think of Lois. And then, : : I'm off, faster than a speeding bullet to : : be Earth's champion... but always hers : : first. : : ERADICATOR : : This does not compute. : : SUPERMAN : : (touches Eradicator's head) : : That's because it's not about this... : : (touches his own heart) : : ... it's about this. : : Suddenly, an explosion is heard. Superman reacts, racing toward : : the sound. The Eradicator follows. : : EXT. BURNING BUILDING - NIGHT : : An APARTMENT BUILDING has caught fire. Tenants pour out of the : : building. Then, SCREAMS FOR HELP can be heard. Superman looks up. : : SUPERMAN : : No! : : From their windows on the second and third floors, tenants call : : out for help, trapped. : : Superman takes his classic stance and attempts to blow super- : : breath, forgetting his lack of powers. He appears crestfallen for : : a moment, then looks to the Eradicator. : : SUPERMAN : : Bust that fire hydrant open! Now! : : The Eradicator offers him a puzzled look. : : SUPERMAN : : Do it! : : The Eradicator kicks a hydrant open and water begins spilling onto : : the street. Superman soaks himself in it from head to toe. : : He races off, leaving the Eradicator standing there. : : Superman gets to the front of the building. Flames already block : : the front door. He moves toward the flames, then pulls back, : : overcome by the heat. He stares at the flames for a second, : : shocked. His face says it all: he's afraid. He slams his eys shut, : : as if willing his fear away. He then covers his face and leaps : : through the wall of fire. : : The Eradicator's eyes go wide. : : ERADICATOR : : I just don't understand that boy. : : INT. BURNING BUILDING : : The powerless Superman emerges from the flames, landing on the : : other side, singed, but otherwise okay. : : He heads up the stairs of the fast-flaming complex, and bangs on : : the doors. Frightened people emerge, coughing. : : SUPERMAN : : Everything's going to be fine! I'm going : : to help the kids out first. Just stay : : calm! : : Superman scoops up two children. A WOMAN grabs him by the : : shoulder. : : WOMAN : : What about the rest of us?! : : Superman looks from the Woman to the rest of the people in the : : now-crowded hallway. He's given pause -- can he do this? He shakes : : it off... : : SUPERMAN : : I'll be back! I promise. : : And down the stairs with his precious cargo he charges. : : EXT. BURNING BUILDING - NIGHT : : Superman leaps through the wall of flame, cradling the children in : : his arms. He moves through the crowd outside, rushing the kids to : : the Eradicator, who wraps them in the wet blankets. : : ERADICATOR : : Have you lost sight of the fact that you : : are now as vulnerable to those you seek : : to aid? : : SUPERMAN : : I can't just stand here like you and : : watch! : : Then, the WINDOWS BLOW OUT of the bottom floors. People scream : : from the second and third floor windows. : : Superman lets out a defeated howl. He looks to the Eradicator, : : desperate. They lock eyes. The Eradicator steps back, and morphs : : into a dazzling display of body armor. : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : Climb in. : : Superman eagerly jumps inside the suit. : : ERADICATOR : : This will enable you to duplicate any of : : your former powers. : : SUPERMAN : : You didn't think to suggest this earlier?! : : ERADICATOR : : And patronize your messiah complex : : further? : : The suit seals itself around Superman, concealing his identity, : : and lifts into the air. They make a bee-line to the top floor : : windows. : : INT. APARTMENT : : The Supersuit bursts through a wall, giving the now-literal Man of : : Steel access to the top floor. : : SUPERMAN'S POV : : As the suit simulates his former X-RAY VISION. We see THROUGH a : : wall, where a frightened family cowers. : : BACK TO SCENE : : Lasers shoot from the eye-pieces of the suit, cutting through the : : wall. Superman steps through the hole. The family looks up, : : transfixed. : : SUPERMAN : : Sorry I'm late. Shall we? : : EXT. BURNING BUILDING - NIGHT : : Superman gently sets the family down on the street where they're : : greeted by FIREMEN, who are hosing down the building. : : Superman trains his heat vision on the generator, repairing the : : damage. The power on the block comes back on, and the people : : cheer. : : CHIEF : : What do they call you, man? : : SUPERMAN : : Huh? : : CHIEF : : You're one of those super heroes, right? : : What do they call you, so I don't look : : like an idiot when I tell the press some : : guy in a robot suit saved a lot of people? : : SUPERMAN : : (beat) : : Just tell them... I'm back. : : And as the people cheer, Superman leaps into the sky, rocketing : : out of sight. : : CHIEF : : (calling after him) : : Who's back?!? : : EXT. SKY - NIGHT : : With the aid of the Eradicator suit, Superman soars again, : : maneuvering gracefully. : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : (ECHOING within the suit) : : Where are we going, Kal-El? : : SUPERMAN : : Metropolis. : : ERADICATOR : : Is there ever a moment's peace with you? : : In this form, you're monopolizing energy : : that was chiefly powering my cloaking : : field. : : SUPERMAN : : Shut it down. : : ERADICATOR : : What?! Brainiac will detect us. : : SUPERMAN : : Let him. I want him to know that I'm : : coming. : : The pair-as-one head east, hellbent. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : L-Ron bangs at the keys of the main computer. Then, a flashing : : image and SHRILL BEEP come up on the view screen. : : L-RON : : Uh... my Liege, I think I cracked the : : code. : : BRAINIAC : : You have the technology's position? : : L-RON : : It's three hours west. And heading toward : : us at an alarming rate. : : INT. DAILY PLANET - CITY ROOM - NIGHT : : LexCorp security, now decked out more like soldiers, topple file : : cabinets, and rifle through desks. Perry shouts in Lex's face. : : PERRY : : Great Caesar's ghost, you're going to : : have the biggest lawsuit on your hands : : when I get through with you! Brainiac's : : emissary or not, you've got no right...! : : LEX : : I've got every right, White... : : (holds out writ) : : National security. Lois Lane and James : : Olsen are under suspicion of engaging in : : espionage and propaganda that threatens : : not just this country, but the world. : : He tosses the writ at Perry. : : PERRY : : This is a newspaper, for the love of God! : : We don't trade in propaganda! We print : : the news! : : LEX : : Then print this, old man: by order of the : : authority given Brainiac by the World : : Congress while this planet is under his : : protection, Lane and Olsen are hereby : : charged with sedition and insurrection! : : And unless you want to be charged with : : aiding and abetting known felons, I'd : : suggest you divulge their whereabouts! : : INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT : : On the mantle, we see a picture frame containing a photo of Lois : : and Clark at a press junket. : : Lois picks it up, looking at it. Jimmy is behind her, his laptop : : set up on a table. He taps away at the keys. : : JIMMY : : I'm sending the picture of the : : holographic projector to every news : : service and paper on the net. They should : : have it in seconds. : : (off computer) : : Hey, look at this, Miss Lane. : : ON COMPUTER : : A news story accompanied by a murky image of the Eradicator suit : : leaving the burning building in L.A. Jimmy reads from the screen. : : JIMMY : : Some sort of hero saved a building full : : of people from a fire out in Coast City. : : When asked for an identity, he replied, : : 'I'm back.' : : (looks to Lois) : : You don't think...? : : LOIS : : No. And neither should you. : : JIMMY : : (beat) : : Kind of weird, us being here in Mr. : : Kent's apartment, Miss Lane. : : LOIS : : Best place to lay low until tonight. : : Nobody'd think to look for us here. : : Besides, I don't think Clark would mind. : : He won't be needing it anymore. : : JIMMY : : You can't think like that, Miss Lane. : : Clark may be fine. : : LOIS : : I wish I shared your sense of optimism. : : JIMMY : : (stops typing) : : That's something I've been meaning to ask : : you about. From the start of all this, : : you've never believed Lex or Brainiac -- : : especially the part about their : : connection to Superman. How do you know : : it's not the truth? : : LOIS : : (off photo) : : Gut feeling, kid. Journo's instinct. : : JIMMY : : I mean, we know the armada story is all : : bull, but what if what Brainiac said : : about Superman was true? : : Lois puts the picture frame down and pulls Clark's jacket from off : : a chair, holding it close to her body. : : LOIS : : C'mon, Jimmy. You're talking about : : Superman here. : : As Jimmy speaks, Lois inhales Clark's jacket deeply. She tears up : : a bit. : : JIMMY : : Yeah, but what did any of us really know : : about him? : : LOIS : : Not enough. : : As Jimmy speaks, Lois finds a pair of Clark's glasses. : : JIMMY : : Superman and Brainiac both came from the : : same planet, they both have these powers. : : All I'm saying is, what if they meant to : : conquer Earth together, you know? After : : all, the guy was an alien. : : LOIS : : (reels on him) : : Would you shut up, already?! Clark gave : : his life fighting that thing! He loved : : this planet! He cherished the people! And : : you sit here, throwing out this... crap... : : about how he might have been in league : : with a scumbag like Luthor! : : Jimmy looks down, cowed. Lois breaks down. : : LOIS : : I lost everything when I lost him! And : : now he's not here, and I never got to : : tell him how much I wanted to say 'yes' : : that night! : : Lois has worked herself into a crying frenzy. Jimmy looks on, : : stupefied. : : JIMMY : : I'm sorry, Miss Lane. I didn't mean : : anything by it. : : LOIS : : (sniffles) : : It's all right. It's just nerves. : : JIMMY : : (beat) : : You said 'Clark.' : : LOIS : : Huh? : : JIMMY : : You said, 'Clark gave his life fighting : : that thing.' : : Lois freezes, a little panic on her face. She looks at Jimmy. : : Jimmy looks at her, shocked by what he sees in her face. He knows. : : Then, he smiles kindly. : : JIMMY : : I'm sure you meant to say Superman. : : Lois looks at him, and nods slowly. : : LOIS : : Yes. Yes, I did, : : They look at one another and nod. The secret's safe. Jimmy hands : : Lois a remote and picks up a gym bag. : : JIMMY : : I've patched the camera in. This is all : : you need for broadcast. Just press this : : when you're ready. : : LOIS : : You've got twenty minutes. : : JIMMY : : It's business as usual, Miss Lane. You : : take care of the text... : : (slaps bag) : : ... and I'll take care of the visuals. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : Brainiac and L-Ron monitor the view screen. Lex enters, escorted : : by Misty. : : LEX : : We've had a slight problem. A reporter -- : : she may have accessed information about : : our 'armada'. : : BRAINIAC : : This charade no longer concerns me. : : L-RON : : (off view screen) : : It's about twenty minutes outside of the : : city, my liege -- and closing fast. : : Lex looks to Misty, curiously. : : INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT : : Lois stands before a video camera, which is plugged into Jimmy's : : laptop. She points her remote at it. : : LOIS : : I'm ready for my close-up, Mister DeMille. : : She presses the button on the remote, and the camera's red light : : goes on. : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKYLINE - ON GIANT SCREEN TV : : On the giant screen atop WGBS, the visual of Lois phases in : : through STATIC. : : INT. SKULL SHIP - ON VIEW SCREEN - SAME TIME : : Lois pops up as well. : : EXT. APPLIANCE STORE WINDOW - SAME TIME : : All the TV's show Lois as well. People stop and listen as she : : speaks. : : LOIS (V.O.) : : (televised) : : People of Metropolis -- : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : Armed LexCorp soldiers patrol the front of the building. A flash : : of black swoops pass, leaving them gunless and perplexed. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Lex moves closer to the view screen, shocked. : : LOIS (V.O.) : : (televised) : : For weeks, we've watched the skies, : : dreading an invasion from aliens. But the : : real invasion took place when Superman : : died. He was not the minion of Brainiac. : : He died fighting the minion of Brainiac. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - NIGHT : : On a lightpost hangs a "MANIAC FOR BRAINIAC" sign, similar to the : : T-shirt. Another flash of black whooshes by, and the sign : : sprinkles to the ground, shredded. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Jimmy sneaks behind a trio of smoking LexCorp soldiers and into : : the building. : : INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT : : Lois addresses the camera. : : LOIS : : (beat) : : I do not carry any torch that Superman : : may still be alive. I watched him die, : : protecting our world one last time. But : : his spirit is still alive. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - NIGHT : : There are a pair of flags hanging outside the building -- one : : American, one Brainiac. : : A black gust of WIND TEARS through and only the American flag : : remains. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Lex is riveted on Lois, nervously. Brainiac regards the screen : : angrily. : : LOIS (V.O.) : : (televised) : : It's alive in those who always saw : : through Brainiac's lies. : : EXT. APPLIANCE STORE - NIGHT : : The small crowd gathered outside watching Lois have their coats : : and hair blown to the right, as a black GUST WHIPS past them. : : EXT. LEXCORP ROOFTOP - NIGHT : : Jimmy pops out of the rooftop door and rushes to the POWER SHED. : : He pulls a BOLT CUTTER from his bag and pops the lock. : : INT. GENERATOR SHED - NIGHT : : Along the wall, hang a series of POWER GRIDS, all matched by huge : : lever. Jimmy pulls a schematic from his bag, looking for the right : : switch. : : JIMMY : : Just keep talking, Miss Lane. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - NIGHT : : A couple of kids on skateboards jump a curb. One of the pair wipes : : out, and is about to hit the asphalt when something catches him, : : puts him back on his feet, and is gone. The kid looks around to : : see nothing. : : INT. DAILY PLANET CITY ROOM - NIGHT : : Perry and the reporters watch the ceiling-hung TV. : : LOIS (V.O.) : : (televised) : : It's alive in all of you watching this -- : : to whom I say, the Armada is a hoax. : : And outside the window, something whips past the WINDOWS, RATTLING : : them. Perry rushes to the sill and pops his head out, looking : : around. : : INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT : : Lois wraps it up for the camera. : : LOIS : : So I urge you -- the people of Metropolis : : -- go outside, look to the skies. For : : tonight we reveal the lie sold to you by : : Brainiac and Lex. Because if... : : (chokes up) : : ... if Superman... : : (gathers herself) : : ... if he were here, he would have done : : this for us. Since he's not, we do this... : : for him. : : (stands with a fist) : : For Superman! : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Jimmy tries to figure out which lever will shut down the : : holographic projector from the schematic. He shrugs... : : JIMMY : : For Superman. : : ... and starts throwing every lever. : : EXT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT : : Lois emerges, looking to the LexCorp Building, where -- floor-by- : : floor, from the ground up -- the power's going off. She then looks : : up at the "Armada." : : EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : People emerge from their buildings, looking up. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac, Lex, and Misty watch this on the view screen. L-Ron man : : the computer. : : An ALARM GOES OFF on the control panel. : : L-RON : : The LexCorp Building's power is being : : shut down. : : LEX : : Losing power...? : : Lex's eyes go wide. He barks into a walkie-talkie. : : LEX : : All LexCorp troops -- quell any uprising : : around the buildings. And get a team to : : the roof! Now! Use of force permitted! : : INT. GENERATOR ROOM - NIGHT : : Jimmy comes to the last switch. : : JIMMY : : Had to be the last one, didn't it? : : He throws it. : : EXT. LEXCORP ROOFTOP - NIGHT : : The holographic projector shuts down. : : EXT. SKY OVER METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : And the visual of the "Armada" shimmers momentarily, then : : DISAPPEARS FROM VIEW, for good. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Lois joins the mass of people gathered, staring up at the sky. She : : lets out a victorious howl. : : EXT. LEXCORP ROOFTOP - NIGHT : : Jimmy steps out of the shed and looks up, smiling. He leaps into : : the air, echoing Lois's victory howl. : : Then the rooftop door explodes. LexCorp soldiers pile out, racing : : at Jimmy, rifles drawn. The soldiers train their sights on him and : : begin FIRING. Jimmy dodges bullets, chased to the edge of the : : roof. His footing slips, and he falls, plummeting to his death. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Jimmy falls toward the crowds below, screaming. Until... : : Something swoops in and catches him, ten floors from the pavement. : : SUPERMAN : : You're nowhere near a pool to be diving : : like that, kid. : : Jimmy opens his eyes to see... Superman (clad in the Eradicator : : Suit). But with the cowl-like nature of the Suit's head-piece, : : Jimmy doesn't recognize him. : : JIMMY : : Holy shit! Who are you?!?! : : Superman swoops to the ground, setting Jimmy down in a back alley. : : SUPERMAN : : Where's Miss Lane? : : JIMMY : : On the streets somewhere. I'm supposed to : : meet her out front. : : SUPERMAN : : Find her and both of you get to safety. : : This city's oppressors are about to feel : : my wrath. : : He breaks into takeoff position. Jimmy rushes to him. : : JIMMY : : WAIT! : : Superman stops. Jimmy hands him the LexCorp disc. : : JIMMY : : This might come in handy. : : Superman nods, and inserts the disc into the suit. he takes to the : : skies again, leaving Jimmy staring up, confused. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : People cheer at the Armada-less skies, but angry mobs start moving : : toward -- : : EXT. SKULL SHIP : : Crowds swarm the building and the LexCorp soldiers outside. The : : soldiers fight the crowds back, toward nearby Metropolis bridge. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Lex stares up at the rooftop skylights, seeing no "Armada." He : : shrugs to Misty. : : LEX : : There goes my bid for mayor. : : (to Brainiac) : : That feed only went as far as Metropolis : : -- there's still time to contain this! : : BRAINIAC : : You are the one facing public furor here, : : Luthor -- not I. : : (mimes gun to head) : : Pow, as you say. : : Lex glares at Brainiac and nods. : : LEX : : You've yet to learn the most important : : lesson of American history -- always have : : a patsy. I won't be taking the rap for : : this, my alien friend -- you will. : : Brainiac regards him curiously. Lex nods to Misty. : : LEX : : Shut him down. : : Misty presses a button on a remote control. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP POWER GRID - NIGHT : : A red light flashes on a panel. An ENGINEER nods. : : ENGINEER : : PULL THE PLUG! : : A team of engineers disengage the POWER CABLES that Brainiac used : : to 'feed' into the Earth's core. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Five LexCorp Soldiers enter as the Skull Ship power dims. Brainiac : : looks around, panicked. : : LEX : : (smiling) : : I've disengaged your power source. Learned a few things : : from the diagnostics scanner I'd loaded onto that rocket. Feeding : : off the planet's core to maintain your form -- no, no, no. Lunch : : hour's over. : : Brainiac goes into paroxysms, convulsing. Lex smiles victoriously : : as the alien weakens. Then, cables erupt from Brainiac's form, : : locking onto five Soldiers, and then Misty -- as Brainiac absorbs : : their energy (much as Brainiac had done in the first scene). Lex : : moves slightly toward his Valet, but then freezes, watching wide- : : eyed as the group -- now drained -- fall to the ground as burned : : husks. Fully energized, Brainiac stands erect, the cables : : retracting. : : BRAINIAC : : Enough with the appetizers. Onto the main : : course! : : Brainiac grabs Lex by the throat. Lex smiles. : : An alarm goes off on the control board. : : L-RON : : We're under attack. Violent crowds have : : gathered here and at LexCorp. : : LEX : : Ah, the fickle masses -- how quickly one : : can become the focus of ire of the vox : : populi. If they access the building, : : they'll tear you limb from limb. : : BRAINIAC : : Nonsense. I'll crush these fleshy : : nuisances as easily as I crush you. : : LEX : : Powered merely by the life-force of a : : girl and some per-hour grunts? Somehow I : : doubt it. However, if you holster your : : pistols, I'll hook you back up into the : : core. Then you can crush whomever you : : like... except your ol' partner. Agreed? : : L-RON : : (to Brainiac, quitely) : : We will need all the energy we can get : : for our confrontation with the Eradicator, : : sire. : : BRAINIAC : : (releases Lex) : : Agreed. : : LEX : : (into walkie-talkie) : : Plug him back in. : : BRAINIAC : : (to L-Ron) : : Disengage the ship. I'll teach the apes : : to fear their god! : : L-RON : : That doesn't make sense! The Eradicator : : is within minutes of the Citadel -- we : : should concentrate our efforts on that, : : not the Earthlings! : : BRAINIAC : : Do as I command! : : Exasperated, L-Ron mans the controls. : : BRAINIAC : : Our location matters little. The : : technology is coming to me, regardless. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : The SKULL SHIP disengages from Metro Towers, taking off. : : EXT. SKY - POV SUPERMAN - NIGHT : : On a digital readout screen, we see the Skull Ship moving toward : : the distant bridge. : : Superman flies, with the aid of the Eradicator suit. : : SUPERMAN : : It's heading for the bridge. Now so are : : we. : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : I was afraid you'd say that. : : SUPERMAN : : Then you'll have to excuse me, because : : it's been some time since I've been able : : to say this... : : (hero voice) : : This looks like a job for... : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : May we just proceed, please? : : EXT. METROPOLIS BRIDGE : : The LexCorp troops have chased the angry mobs back onto the : : bridge. In the distance, the Skull Ship approaches from the sky. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac turns to L-Ron. : : BRAINIAC : : Fire. : : EXT. METROPOLIS BRIDGE - NIGHT : : The Skull Ship BLASTS a LASER at the Bridge's suspension cables. : : The bridge begins to snap and crumble. : : ON BRIDGE : : The massive crowds, including LexCorp troops, rush to the side of : : the bridge, hanging on for dear life. : : The bridge begins to fall into Metropolis Bay... : : But look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! Superman, in : : the Eradicator suit, swoops in, grabbing the suspension cables. He : : pulls with all the suit's strength, trying to keep the bridge from : : falling. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Lex stares at the view screen, perplexed. L-Ron looks to Brainiac. : : BRAINIAC : : Did I not tell you it would come to me? : : L-RON : : I'm getting another reading from it -- a : : biologic. : : BRAINIAC : : Yes -- the Kryptonian. It would appear : : the Eradicator has succeeded in : : resuscitating him. : : LEX : : Wait a second... who?!? : : EXT. METROPOLIS BRIDGE - NIGHT : : Superman strains, holding the suspension cables. : : On the land-locked side of the bridge, Lois emerges from the crowd : : that stares up at the costumed spectacle. Transfixed, Lois shakes : : her head, bewildered. : : The crowd slides down the unstable bridge, holding on to anything : : they can. : : Superman continues to strain, as does the suit. : : SUPERMAN : : (to Eradicator) : : Amplify... my voice! : : The crowd runs toward the land-locked sides of the bridge. : : Superman's voice booms out at them, as if through a bullhorn. : : SUPERMAN : : PLEASE... CLEAR OFF THE BRIDGE... AS : : QUICKLY... AS POSSIBLE! : : The bridge cleared of people, Superman lets the cables go, and the : : entire structure COLLAPSES into Metropolis Harbor. : : Superman hangs in the air, surveying the crowds on the shore. : : SUPERMAN : : We did it! We saved them! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : What's this 'we' nonsense? : : Then, a LASER BLAST shoots past them. Superman reacts. : : The mid-section of the Skull Ship jettisons, becoming an : : independent craft. Claws jutt out, grabbing the Man of Steel. : : INT. ATTACK CRAFT : : L-Ron man the controls. Through his windshield, we can see : : Superman struggling. : : L-RON : : I've got him! : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac watches the action on the view screen. L-Ron's voice is : : heard over the loud-speaker. : : L-RON (V.O.) : : Jeez, is he a slippery sonova... : : BRAINIAC : : Quickly -- inject the anti-technology. : : INT. ATTACK CRAFT : : L-Ron punches a button on his control board. : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKYLINE : : While Superman fights to free himself from the craft, a syringe- : : like arm shoots from the craft into the suit, sending a charge : : through it. The Eradicator shuts down. : : SUPERMAN : : E -- what's wrong?! : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac is delighted by what he watches. Lex is puzzled. : : L-RON : : The technology's offline, my liege. : : BRAINIAC : : Excellent. Bring it to the loading bay -- : : I shall withdraw the Kryptonian from the : : technology, personally. : : LEX : : Kryptonian?! Are you talking about : : Superman?! No, no, no -- Superman's dead! : : We killed Superman! : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : The Attack Craft carries Superman-in-the-suit to the rear of the : : Skull Ship. : : SUPERMAN : : Not again! Come on, man! Wake up! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : Would you pipe down? : : SUPERMAN : : Why the hell didn't you say something?! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : It's called playing possum, Kal-El. I'm : : not from Earth, and even I know that. : : Diverting power from X-Ray vision cells. : : Get ready. : : We hear a SURGE OF POWER charge through the suit, and Superman : : breaks free of the attack crafts grip. : : INT. ATTACK CRAFT : : Superman-in-the-suit peers through the windshield of the attack : : craft. L-Ron freaks. : : L-RON : : Uh... Houston? We have a problem. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP : : Superman grabs the attack craft and swings it into the Skull Ship, : : puncturing the hull. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac and Lex duck as the attack craft rips into the ship, : : spilling L-Ron out at their feet. The ship grows dim, and a : : massive power loss is heard. : : EXT. NIGHT SKY : : The lights on the ship grow weak. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Lex is in a panic. Brainiac and L-Ron tumble toward the control : : board. : : BRAINIAC : : Lock onto that suit! : : L-RON : : I can't! We've had a massive surge! All : : systems are offline! : : EXT. NIGHT SKY : : Superman watches the Skull Ship falter. Then, something catches : : his eye. Superman freezes. : : Near the bridge below, Lois stares up at him, wide-eyed. : : After a long beat, Superman-in-the-Eradicator suit moves slightly : : toward her. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : The lights come back up, full. : : L-RON : : Power back online, Lord Brainiac. Suit in : : sight. : : BRAINIAC : : Fire! : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKY - NIGHT : : From the Skull Ship, a LASER BLASTS, striking the Superman combo. : : The pair go rocketing through the sky. : : Below, Lois panicks as the mystery hero is blasted out of the sky. : : Jimmy rushes up to her. : : JIMMY : : Miss Lane! I think... I think I saw... : : Then Lois turns and dashes away. : : JIMMY : : Miss Lane! Wait! Where are you going?! : : LOIS : : (running off) : : I've gotta find something out -- once and : : for all! : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac searches the view screen, fiercely. : : BRAINIAC : : Do not fail me, L-Ron! Where is the : : Eradicator?! : : L-RON : : The short has damaged our detection : : systems! I can't get a reading... : : Suddenly, an ALARM SOUNDS. On the view screen, the graphic of the : : tomb comes up. : : L-RON : : The tomb's been breached! It must be them! : : BRAINIAC : : Go!! : : EXT. SUPERMAN'S TOMB - NIGHT : : The tomb has indeed been breached. Two LexCorp soldiers lie on the : : ground, knocked out cold. The doors are swung open. The beam of a : : flashlight can be seen inside. : : INT. SUPERMAN'S TOMB : : Lois holds the flashlight in her teeth. She uses a crowbar, : : slamming at the casket lock. It gives, and she stares at the : : casket for a beat. She places her hands on it. : : LOIS : : I don't want to do it, Clark. If you're : : still in here, I don't think I'll be able : : to take it. : : (steels herself) : : But I have to know... : : Suddenly, blinding light fills the small room. Lois drops the : : flashlight and covers her eyes. She peers out from behind her : : fingers to see... : : L-Ron standing in the doorway, backed up by LexCorp soldiers. : : L-RON : : Peek-a-boo. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : The Skull Ship lands atop Metro Towers and again seals itself onto : : the building. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac fumes at L-Ron on the bridge. : : BRAINIAC : : What do you mean you can't locate it?!? : : L-RON : : I can't get a reading on the technology : : anywhere. : : BRAINIAC : : Then who was in the tomb?! : : The soldiers march Lois onto the bridge. Lex rushes her, grabbing : : her by the collar. : : LEX : : Alright, Lane -- what the hell is going : : on...?! : : Brainiac pushes Lex to the side and faces Lois. : : BRAINIAC : : You are the woman from the televised call : : to arms. : : L-RON : : This is the woman that held Superman's : : affections. : : BRAINIAC : : The Kryptonian? : : L-RON : : That's what the soldiers told me. They : : said whenever she was in trouble, he'd be : : there to save her. In turn, she gave him : : plenty of ink in the Daily Planet. : : BRAINIAC : : Is this true? : : (touches her hair) : : You harbor affection for the corpse they : : called... Superman? : : (beat) : : I killed him, you know... : : Lois lurches forward at Brainiac, but is held back by the : : soldiers. Brainiac is delighted, and then shocked. : : L-RON : : I'd take that as a 'yes.' : : BRAINIAC : : His weakness all along -- all I ever : : would have needed was this woman! : : Blocking out the sun, dealing with the : : insufferable Lex Luthor of Earth... a : : waste of Brainiac's time! I could have : : offered the woman's life in exchange for : : the technology. But now... : : LEX : : What the hell are you talking about?!? : : Superman's dead!! : : L-RON : : Good God -- when are you going to get it, : : ape-man? Superman lives. : : LOIS : : If that's true, Lex, I can promise you : : one thing -- he's going to kick your bald : : ass! : : Lex rushes her, but Brainiac throws his back, motioning for the : : soldiers to hold him. : : BRAINIAC : : Enough of these games! : : (grabs Lois's face) : : You will be the bait that draws the : : Kryptonian to me. And with him comes, too, : : the technology I seek. : : (to L-Ron) : : We still have a Thanagarian Snare Beast : : in the menagerie -- yes? : : (as L-Ron nods) : : Introduce him to the atmosphere here on : : Earth. : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - NIGHT : : The place is abandoned. There's not a soul in sight. Then, the : : Eradicator suit crashes down, cracking the ground. The suit opens : : and Superman falls out on his hands and knees. The suit morphs : : back into the Eradicator. Superman is breathing heavy, sweating , : : exhausted. : : SUPERMAN : : You didn't see that blast coming?! : : ERADICATOR : : I had to divert all the power from my : : shields so you could play hero! And now : : there's a circuit malfunction from the : : effects of that anti-technology surge. : : I'm going to need time to repair : : internally. : : SUPERMAN : : How long's that going to take?! We have : : to get back out there and finish Brainiac! : : ERADICATOR : : Barring battles with killer spacecraft or : : the lifting of multi-tonned bridges -- : : twenty minutes. : : SUPERMAN : : (sighs, calms down) : : I hate to say it, but I could use some : : time to heal myself. : : (rubbing muscles) : : This is the first time in... well, ever... : : that I feel completely exhausted. Except : : for that whole death thing. : : ERADICATOR : : You've touched on the precise factor that : : plagues me, Kal-El. Your life on Earth : : thus far has been spent as we have spent : : today -- saving lives, battling : : aggressors. Yet I would imagine that : : after your mortal trial, you would have : : reevaluated your role amongst the people : : of Earth. : : SUPERMAN : : I have, actually. Before I died, I have : : always felt like a... how do I say this... : : a stranger in a strangle land. I may look : : like them -- but I'm still... an alien. : : That always put distance between me and : : everyone else. But now I know I'm more : : like them than I ever thought. : : ERADICATOR : : In what fashion? : : SUPERMAN : : Before, I couldn't identify with their : : frailty -- now I honestly can. I've : : tasted mortality -- it's humanizing. : : ERADICATOR : : Your father would be proud. : : Superman regards this with interest. : : ERADICATOR : : You could have been a god on this world : : -- enslaved it like Brainiac. But you : : never chose that path. Instead, here you : : sit -- musing over the possibility of : : death, between moments of saving this : : planet from its oppressor. : : SUPERMAN : : It's an antiquated notion -- but it : : really is better to serve than be served. : : ERADICATOR : : This is what marks the difference between : : your kind and mine -- we serve because we : : have to. You serve because you choose to. : : SUPERMAN : : The how do you explain Brainiac? He's one : : of your kind, but he's serving no one. : : ERADICATOR : : Inaccurate, Kal-El. He's serving himself. : : He has taken an aspect of humanity, but : : it's the worst one. And when a machine : : begins to feel -- positive or negative -- : : then it ceases to be a machine, and for : : the good of all, it must be shut down. As : : you must shut down Brainiac. : : SUPERMAN : : Tough talk from a guy who only yesterday : : thought we should find another planet. : : ERADICATOR : : I can only point to the bad influence you : : have become. : : Suddenly, light down on the pair. Superman looks up, shielding his : : eyes. : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKY - NIGHT : : Shimmering against the sky is the holographic image of Brainiac's : : face. : : BRAINIAC : : People of Metroppolis. You need no longer : : fear takeover by hostile aliens. The : : hostile alien is here. I claim your : : planet as my own. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Metropolitans cease celebrating and stare up at the image of : : Brainiac. : : BRAINIAC : : Gone is the charade of the benevolent : : Brainiac. I have come to enslave your : : race! Your world has no champion to save : : you now! And to mark this historic night, : : I offer you a display of the price to be : : paid for rebellion. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : Brainiac pulls Lois to him. : : BRAINIAC : : Tonight, Lois Lane -- the instigator of : : the anti-Brainiac call-to-arms -- will : : taste the might of my fury, as she is : : executed, for all to witness! : : (to Soldiers) : : TO THE MENAGERIE! : : EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - NIGHT : : Brainiac cackles against the night sky as he slowly fades. : : Superman turns on the Eradicator, rising. : : SUPERMAN : : How are those circuits coming? : : ERADICATOR : : Not again. : : SUPERMAN : : Open up. : : The Eradicator rolls his eyes, and reconfigures into the suit. : : Superman leaps in, and it seals around him. : : SUPERMAN : : This may be the only chance I get to say : : this, but... thank you. For everything. : : (beat) : : Up, up, and away... : : Off they rocket, into the night. : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKYLINE - NIGHT : : The sky lights up anew, with the image of the Skull Ship : : Menagerie. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - NIGHT : : Jimmy and Perry watch wide-eyed as the imaghe in the sky depicts : : Lois being dragged toward two huge doors. : : PERRY : : They're going to kill her! Somebody's : : gotta do something! : : Jimmy looks up, smiles, and pats Perry on the back. : : JIMMY : : Somebody is, Chief. Somebody is. : : EXT. METROPOLIS SKY - NIGHT : : The holograph is "shattered" by Superman in the Eradicator suit, : : soaring toward the Skull Ship Citadel. : : INT. MENAGERIE : : Two huge doors open revealing a darkened pit. The captive Lois is : : ushered toward it by Brainiac, L-Ron, Lex, and the soldiers. : : LEX : : (to Lois) : : Oooh -- I don't even wanna know what's : : lurking in there. Should've kept your : : nose for news out of business that wasn't : : yours. It's a lesson you're going to : : learn as harshly as your ex-boyfriend. : : Lois looks at Lex, wounded. : : LEX : : That's right -- you're not going to put : : this in any paper. Yeah -- I helped kill : : the Man of Steel! So what?! : : Lois shakes her head, teary-eyed. : : LOIS : : You bastard. : : She knees Lex in the groin. He doubles over, as Brainiac rounds : : him to face her. : : BRAINIAC : : Save your energy, Miss Lane -- that : : maneuver will not have the same result on : : me. Do you have any last words for the : : viewers of the world? : : Lois looks up sharply, as if she hears something. So does Lex. : : Brainiac notices this and looks up as well. : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - SUPERMAN'S POV - NIGHT : : The roof of the Citadel is RUSHING TOWARD us. The SOUND is HUGE. : : INT. MENAGERIE : : There is the faintest sound of WHOOSHING -- as if something is : : moving through the air outside, very, very fast. Lex looks up with : : a mix of anxiety and confusion. : : LEX : : I know that sound... : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - SUPERMAN'S POV - NIGHT : : We're getting even CLOSER TO that roof, now. The SOUND is : : DEAFENING. : : INT. MENAGERIE : : Then, through her tears, Lois smiles. Brainiac is puzzled as her : : smile turns to laughter. : : LOIS : : Last words?!? : : (to Brainiac) : : You're dead meat, you f...! : : EXT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : Superman in the Eradicator suit EXPLODES through the ROOF on the : : Citadel... : : INT. SKULL SHIP - NIGHT : : ... then through the ceiling of the bridge, and through the : : floor... : : INT. MENAGERIE - NIGHT : : ... and finally, through the ceiling over the assembled group's : : heads. : : LOIS : : (under her breath) : : Baby...! : : LEX : : (under his breath) : : Shit! : : BRAINIAC : : (under his breath) : : Finally! : : And when the dust cloud settles, there stands the indiscernible : : Superman in the Eradicator suit. : : SUPERMAN : : Border patrol. I hear we've got an : : illegal alien here. : : Brainiac holds his hand up, which reconfigures into something : : pointy and deadly. He holds it to Lois's head. : : BRAINIAC : : Step out of my technology, Kryptonian. Or : : I get painfully intimate with the woman. : : Superman makes an offensive move, but is interrupted. : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : No, Kal-El! : : Lex, Lois and L-Ron look around for the source of the voice. : : Brainiac smiles. : : SUPERMAN : : I can take him! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : You can't. He's rendered himself electro- : : radioactive. If we touch him, the power : : surge will kill you... even within me. : : The Eradicator opens, and Superman steps out. Lois tearfully : : smiles. Lex goes wide-eyed. Superman looks at Lois. She moves : : slightly toward him, but Brainiac pulls her back. Then, the suit : : morphs into the Eradicator again, as all look on in wonder. : : BRAINIAC : : It's been some time, Eradicator, but here : : we are again -- the pride of Jor-El and : : the pride of Colu. : : ERADICATOR : : The killer of Krypton is more appropriate. : : BRAINIAC : : I have waited decades and searched : : galaxies -- all in pursuit of this moment. : : And now, you're mine. : : ERADICATOR : : It is your aim to absorb my technology : : and become all-powerful, I would imagine. : : BRAINIAC : : And they call me Brainiac. : : He moves toward the Eradicator. : : ERADICATOR : : (steps back) : : But aren't you worried? : : BRAINIAC : : What could possibly worry me? : : ERADICATOR : : When I attempted interface with your : : ShadowCaster device I was contaminated. : : Temporarily shut down. What if the same : : thing happens when you attempt to absorb : : my technology into yours? What if your : : technology is too advanced to interface : : with mine? : : Brainiac throws his head back, laughing. Superman looks to the : : Eradicator, who offers him a reassuring wink. : : BRAINIAC : : You think it's advanced? The irony is how : : primitive it is compared to your own! You : : have no-doubt overthought on the : : ShadowCaster, when in reality, you should : : have approached it as a child's toy! : : ERADICATOR : : A child's toy? : : BRAINIAC : : Certainly! It's Earth hardware, crossed : : with my own Coluan technology -- its : : systems are so far beneath your own : : capabilities that a simple binary synapse : : would've bypassed any contamination : : factor. : : ERADICATOR : : (smiles) : : And they call you Brainiac. : : The Eradicator quickly morphs back into the suit, grabbing : : Superman and hurling the Man of Steel into himself. : : BRAINIAC : : For this insolence, I will erase your : : memory banks, machine! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : I'm not a machine. You are. : : The suit leaps into the air, rocketing out of the Citadel. Lex : : looks around fearfully, and sneaks out a side exit. : : LEX : : (into cell phone) : : I want the jet fueled and standing by... : : now! The pajama-boy is back! : : As Lex disappears unnoticed, Brainiac grabs Lois and shouts up at : : the ceiling. : : BRAINIAC : : Hear me, son of Jor-El -- your guardian : : may have saved your life, but he just : : damned two more to hell!!! : : Brainiac takes Lois to the two large doors that end the Menagerie. : : As the doors open, Brainiac throws Lois into a dark pit. She : : SCREAMS as she falls. : : EXT. SPACE : : Superman in the Eradicator races through the outer atmosphere, : : heading toward the distant ShadowCaster. : : SUPERMAN : : What the hell are you doing?!? Why are we : : running?!? : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : Kal-El -- I think I've had what's called : : an 'epiphany'. : : SUPERMAN : : Really? That's excellent to hear. But : : we're getting FARTHER AWAY FROM RESCUING : : THE WOMAN I LOVE!!! : : ERADICATOR (V.O) : : Your passion is inspiring -- it has : : taught me something I'd thought far : : beyond my ability to comprehend. I must : : thank you, Kal-El -- you've imparted to : : me the wisdom of a life lived in service : : to others. : : SUPERMAN : : What are you talking about? : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : Were it not for your insight, I'd be no : : better than the machine that oppresses : : your world -- operating solely on the : : cold logic of what it's programmed to do. : : But now, I'm choosing to serve. Now -- I : : understand your commitment to this planet : : and its inhabitants... and I'm going to : : help you honor it. : : SUPERMAN : : You picked a hell of a time to tell me : : how you feel... : : (suddenly gets it) : : How you feel... No! : : ERADICATOR (V.O.) : : When a machine begins to feel -- positive : : or negative -- then it ceases to be a : : machine. It must be shut down... or shut : : down itself. : : The Eradicator grabs a piece of itslef and pulls it off, which : : morphs into a silver version of the familiar 'S'. : : ERADICATOR : : Take a deep breath, and remember to stay : : in the light. : : Before he can react, the Eradicator separates from Superman. He : : slaps the 'S' on his black suit, and lets him go, sending him : : hurtling earthward. : : ERADICATOR : : Superman lives. : : The Eradicator then rockets out of sight, as Superman free-falls : : through space. : : EXT. SHADOWCASTER : : The Eradicator reaches the mammoth device and links into it. The : : anti-technology sends shockwaves coursing through his body. He : : fights against shutdown. : : INT. SHADOWCASTER : : CIRCUITS BLOW UP. TRANSISTORS EXPLODE. : : EXT. SHADOWCASTER : : It begins losing power. Sections of panel begin shutting down. : : Sunlight begins pouring through in shafts. : : The Eradicator begins to shift in shape, the anti-technology : : coursing through his body. His form finally comes to rest on the : : figure we've come to know him as most. His face forms a peaceful, : : joyous smile. : : Then, HE EXPLODES. : : EXT. SPACE : : Superman is plummeting to Earth. VISIONS SMASH CUT through his : : head, like all of the life we've seen him lead: Lois at Mount : : Rushmore, Lex on the rooftop of LexCorp, the Doomsday battle, : : waking from the goo... : : And still, he falls, coming closer to the planet. The VISIONS : : CONTINUE; the Eradicator forming into a suit, catching Jimmy, the : : strangling tentacles of the Skull Ship, the Eradicator in the : : train station, and finally, Lois staring up at him from the : : bridge. The Eradicator's voice echoes through his head. : : ERADICATOR : : ... stay in the light. : : Miles above Earth, Superman fires through our atmosphere, nearing : : the ground faster by the second. : : Then, one of the stray sunbeams from the shattered ShadowCaster : : hits him full force. The ground races up to meet the Man of Steel, : : as he absorbs a concentrated beam of solar energy. His face : : tightens. : : SUPERMAN : : Yaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!! : : EXT. METROPOLIS - NIGHT : : Mere yards from the ground, Superman stops falling in mid-air and : : rights himself swooping upwards. While flying, he stretches his : : muscles like he's just woken up after a loooooonnng sleep. : : He zips past the huge billboard just outside of the city that : : depicts him in his old suit, flying over greeting "WELCOME TO : : METROPOLIS -- HOME OF SUPERMAN." : : A knowing smile crawls across the Man of Steel's face. His powers : : returned, Superman lives! : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : At the control board, L-Ron turns to Brainiac in a panic. : : L-RON : : The ShadowCaster is destabilized! : : Sunlight is getting through! And : : something is moving toward us at an : : alarming rate... : : A SONIC BOOM ECHOES through the Skull Ship. : : L-RON : : Something pissed. : : BRAINIAC : : Let the whelp come. : : Brainiac takes a seat on his throne. He closes his eyes, as the : : helm lowers over his head. : : BRAINIAC : : I will deal with him... impersonally. : : Brainiac shuts his eyes, as the HELM begins to WHIR. : : INT. PIT : : Lois squirms about in a mire of fiberglass-looking "webbing." : : From the darkness above, an echoey growl is heard. : : EXT. METROPOLIS PARK : : The cape still hangs off the statue's extended hand., Then, a : : black flash whips in and out of the frame, and the cape is no : : longer there. : : INT. MENAGERIE : : Superman bursts through the ceiling again - now wearing his cape - : : and through the many levels of the ships, still contained in the : : single beam of light. : : INT. PIT : : He rockets through the ceiling of the pit, allowing the singular : : shaft of light to follow. Suddenly, he's struck by a high-powered : : stream of murky liquid from above, which knocks him out of the : : light, and entraps him in the "webbing," beside the struggling : : Lois. : : LOIS : : Baby! : : SUPERMAN : : Hey, kid. How about we get out of here? : : Something huge and quick, drops from the shadows beyond the shaft : : of sunlight, striking Superman. : : The THANAGARIAN SNARE BEAST has grown. It resembles something of a : : cross between a squid and a spider, but very bio-mechanical and : : sleek. And now -- inhabited by Brainiac's consciousness -- it's : : extra lethal as well. Brainiac's voice is heard, hissing from : : somewhere within the creature. : : BRAINIAC : : SSSSSSSSSSSSUUUUUPERRRRRMAAAAAANNN! : : It batters the Man of Steel, then moves quickly back into the : : darkness. Superman's a bit dazed. : : LOIS : : Are you alright?! : : SUPERMAN : : I'm... I'm okay... : : (squints up) : : I just wish I could see what I'm fighting. : : Then, the beast drops on Superman anew, its massive legs tearing : : at him. Superman struggles free, bolting toward the shaft of light : : to strengthen his powers, but the creature grabs hold of him, : : pulling the Man of Steel back into the darkness. : : Suddenly, the creature's underbelly opens, setting loose six : : smaller, metallic versions of itself. Superman breaks free of the : : beast and begins fighting the creatures off, smashing them : : together, crushing them in his grip. We hear LOIS'S SHRIEK. : : Superman reacts. : : The micro-beasts crawl all over Lois. Superman uses his heat : : vision to blast the CREATURES, which EXPLODE, hissing. Using his : : powers leaves Superman a little dazed. : : But the TSB is on him again -- its mid-section spreading to reveal : : a primeval head. The BEAST brings Superman to its jaws while : : letting loose an ungodly SCREECH. The pair violently tussle, the : : beast's head and legs rising and striking, Superman blocking and : : attacking. A leg shoots from the darkness and catches Superman by : : the throat, pinning him against the web. The beast's jaws come in : : close to Superman's face, preparing to gorge. : : We see the strain on Superman's face, the veins in his neck and : : head throbbing. : : Then we see why -- Superman uses all of his strength to stretch : : his fist into the just-out-of-reach shaft of light. He makes it, : : charging himself. : : The jaws of the creature almost on his head, Superman comes across : : with a right hook that knocks the creature into the air. : : Superman crawls into the sunlight, takes in as much as he can, and : : leaps up at the beast, grabbing hold of the wildly flailing : : creature. He flies it up and... : : INT. MENAGERIE : : ... out into the full beam of sunlight. : : SUPERMAN : : You wanna hide in a bug... I'll crush you : : like one! : : Superman begins mangling the beast. : : Hooked into his helm, Brainiac convulses, feeling the pain of the : : beating. : : Superman grabs the head of the creature and pulls it off, : : ferociously. : : The MACHINE he's hooked up to EXPLODES from the feedback, and : : Brainiac flees back into his own body, throwing the helm off. He : : weakly tries to crawl away from the wreckage. Breathing heavily, : : Superman grabs a hold of him, lifting Brainiac above his head. : : SUPERMAN : : You destroyed my homeworld! You killed me! : : And you forced my friend to give his life! : : BRAINIAC : : You... do not... take... lives... Th... : : that... is the... code... you... : : live by... Like... the Eradicator... I : : live... : : SUPERMAN : : No -- he was one of the most human beings : : I've ever known. You -- you're just a : : machine. : : Superman punches his fist through Brainiac's chest and out his : : back. Brainiac convulses, and 'dies'. Superman drops his mangled : : form to the floor, where it reverts back to its most primitive : : form -- some metal and circuitry. : : INT. PIT : : Superman flies to Lois' side. : : SUPERMAN : : Do I look tired? Because I feel tired. : : LOIS : : You look a little worn, yes. but right : : now, I have a million questions about : : what happened to you. : : Superman pulls Lois from the web, and scoops her up into his arms. : : SUPERMAN : : Well maybe I can help shed some light on : : the subject. : : Superman streaks up one of the shafts of light, Lois in his arms. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING ROOF - NIGHT : : Superman sets Lois down on the roof of the building. : : SUPERMAN : : Give me a sec, okay? : : Lois nods. Superman leaps into the air, and is gone, leaving a : : SONIC BOOM in his wake. : : EXT. SPACE : : Superman reaches the partially-functioning, sparking ShadowCaster. : : He begins pushing the SHADOWCASTER, getting up some speed, until : : he lets it go. It whips through space, until it hits the surface : : of the sun and EXPLODES. : : The device destroyed, sunlight pours through space and... : : EXT. EARTH : : ... over the planet. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY : : Sunlight is everywhere, filling the streets. : : EXT. LEXCORP BUILDING - DAY : : Lex emerges from his building, carrying two suitcases -- both : : packed to the brim. He rushes toward his limo, looking up at the : : new dawn. : : LEX : : Aruba -- Aruba's always excellent this : : time of year. I'll have all documentation : : involving Brainiac destroyed, while I : : down daiquiri's in the dunes, offering a : : steady stream of I-don't-remember's! Hell : : -- it worked for Reagan! : : As Lex reaches for the limo door, Superman lands in front of him. : : Lex shrieks. : : SUPERMAN : : 'morning Luthor. Going somewhere? : : LEX : : Superman! Thank God! That alien cloned me : : like a sheep, and used my double to make : : it seem like we were in league! : : SUPERMAN : : You get points for originality. : : Superman lifts Lex into the air. : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - DAY : : On the ground, Superman lowers Lex into the midst of the POLICE. : : LEX : : Alright -- that's it! I want this : : vigilante arrested, now! : : POLICE #1 : : On what charge? : : LEX : : Endangering a public figure, harassment, : : whatever! : : SUPERMAN : : I have a charge of my own, Officers -- : : against Mister Luthor. A charge of : : espionage against the world government. : : Luthor utilized Brainiac for his own : : selfish gain, and had further designs on : : governmental extortion. : : LEX : : Unsubstantiated, gentlemen. Like you fine : : people, I was duped by that lying alien! : : While I do have suspicions that Superman : : himself was working in conjunction with : : Brainiac, I can assure you that there is : : zero proof that I was ever anything but : : an unwilling participant in... : : Superman tosses the police the download disc from Jimmy. He : : disappears momentarily, and returns in a flash with a laptop, : : which he hands over to the police. They pop the disc in and look : : from the computer screen to Lex. Lex glares at Superman. : : SUPERMAN : : (as Lex) : : "I just wanted to let you know who beat : : you, boy!" : : Superman chuckles and takes off into the air. The Police stare : : down Lex, angrily. Lex recoils. : : EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY : : Jimmy looks up and sees... : : Superman -- winging his way toward the Daily Planet. : : Jimmy nods, smiling. : : JIMMY : : I wonder if Mister Kent will be back to : : work Monday? : : EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - DAY : : Clark Kent walks out onto the roof, where Lois has her arms : : outstretched, soaking up the sun. He offers her a tube of : : sunscreen. : : CLARK : : You might want to apply some sunblock. : : You look like S.P.F. 14. : : LOIS : : Pithy... to the last. : : Lois spins into his arms, embracing him tightly. Clark hugs her : : right back. : : CLARK : : Pithy -- who uses that word anymore? : : LOIS : : Oh God, I thought you were really gone. : : CLARK : : So did I. : : (beat) : : But I learned a few things -- I know what : : keeps me here, what keeps me doing what I : : do, what kept me from accepting the grave. : : It's you, Lois. Superman may look out for : : everyone, but he doesn't belong to the : : world -- he belongs to you. : : Lois wells up. : : CLARK : : And you belong to me. : : LOIS : : I love you, Clark. Never leave me again. : : CLARK : : I won't, babe. I won't. : : (embraces her) : : From now on, I'm going to try to be more : : man than Super. : : LOIS : : (looks at him) : : Oh, Clark -- are you still dwelling on : : Mount Rushmore? Forget what I said -- : : that was before the maniacal robots from : : outer-space killed you. : : CLARK : : Wait, wait, wait -- you're going to let : : something small like that alter your : : opinion? You? Lois Lane? Hard-bitten : : journalist for the Daily Planet? : : LOIS : : See, that's one thing you have to learn, : : Smallville -- a woman's allowed to change : : her mind at any given moment... : : especially after a bad week. : : (smiles) : : Now kiss me, dead man -- before I change : : my mind. : : CLARK : : Must you always have the last word? : : Lois is about to respond, but Clark kisses her instead. : : And everything goes back to normal in Metropolis. : : INT. SKULL SHIP : : The metal Brainiac symbol is picked up off the floor by a small, : : metal hand. L-Ron deposits the remnant into his circuitry, and : : looks at the camera. : : L-RON : : I know, I know. But I'm a glutton for : : punishment. : : He whisks off, and out through the hole in the roof. : : : THE END : : --------------------------------------------------------- : : Found on INFlow Screenplay Repository : : Good story huh? : : Nootch! : : this is the only new text, stupid huh?

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