ACT THREE
FADE IN:
26 EXT - METROPOLIS STREET - EARLY AFTERNOON
Fade in where we left off - Jimmy and Tracy, looking scared as Superman
holds his threatening posture. Jimmy backs up slightly, but his fists are
up.
JIMMY
Is this what you want? Come and get it!
Superman steps forward, but then his scowl wavers, and he shakes his
head, confused.
SUPERMAN
(mumbling)
No... not right... I won't!
Superman flies away. Jimmy relaxes, trembling just a little as he turns to
see how Tracy's doing. Her eyes are wide.
TRACY
Wow! Jimmy, you were so brave! I can't
believe it, that was...
At a loss for words, she gives up, and just kisses him enthusiastically.
He's initially startled but then gets into it, until all of a sudden he pulls
away, a startled expression on his face.
JIMMY
My gosh... do you know what this means?
He starts walking quickly down the street, grabbing her hand and pulling
her along.
TRACY
Where are we going?
JIMMY
Back to the Daily Planet. I have got to write
this up!
CUT TO:
27 INT. - DAILY PLANET - PIT - MIDDAY
Lois has her desk covered in papers, and she's alternating between
reading them and checking her computer screen. She spots something in
the computer database, double checks it on a piece of paper, and smiles
in triumph.
LOIS
I've still got it!
Perry comes over to see what it is she's got.
PERRY
Got what?
LOIS
A connection for our boy Stuart. See here? A
few weeks ago, he was arrested for shoplifting.
Nothing major, but he was bailed out by one
Dr. Brian Shapiro. And over here, we see that
Dr. Shapiro is a research chemist - used to
work for LexLabs, actually, before getting laid
off and disappearing.
PERRY
A chemist? Well, now, that's a little more
concrete. Is this doctor related to the kid?
LOIS
Not that I could find out.
PERRY
That's progress, Lois, but it's not proof. What's
your next move?
LOIS
We need to find out where Dr. Shapiro hangs
out these days, and what he's up to.
PERRY
Get to it, then.
He spots someone one the other side of the newsroom.
PERRY
(continued)
Hey, Wood - where's that sidebar piece?
Perry stalks off to pursue another hapless reporter. Lois looks at her
watch.
LOIS
(muttering)
C'mon, Clark, it's been two hours - where are
you?
She scans the newsroom idly. Someone turns up one of the many TV
sets around the newsroom and she turns to see what's new in the world.
Her expression turns to horror as the camera shot tracks away from her
face to focus on...
28 TV SCREEN - TIGHT SHOT
The scene is of Superman walking around slowly, aimlessly, past a traffic
wreck, ignoring people in trouble, wrapped up in himself.
NEWS ANCHOR
(voice-over)
--clearly a bad situation. Earlier reports
suggested that Superman was out of control;
now it's confirmed, in this live feed from
downtown Metropolis. Elsewhere, firemen are
struggling to control--
The camera pulls away from the TV screen, turning to reveal...
29 INT - BRIAN'S LAB - AFTERNOON
Analisa is watching with an entranced expression, as Brian and Stuart are
mixing up another batch of chemicals.
ANALISA
Brian, do you see this? Superman must have
gotten some of your formula!
BRIAN
How do you figure that? I can't see Superman
going to coffee shops.
ANALISA
Oh, he could have gotten it somehow. Stuart
isn't exactly what you'd call careful.
Stuart cringes a little, but she's not paying any attention to him. She's
leaning toward the TV screen, watching closely.
ANALISA
I know that intersection... it's just a block from
here. I've got to get out there, and you're
coming with me.
BRIAN
(startled and displeased)
What? Why?
ANALISA
Brian, be practical for a minute, even if it hurts.
He's under the influence, susceptible to
anyone who can manipulate him correctly.
What an opportunity! Imagine, Superman
working for us!
BRIAN
(nervously)
Analisa, you're going a bit far here, this is
Superman you're talking about...
ANALISA
(warningly)
If you won't help me, Brian...
He doesn't back down, so she turns and sees Stuart for the first time.
She smiles at him, and he melts.
ANALISA
Stuart, you'll help me, won't you? We've got
an opportunity to exploit, you and I...
Stuart nods, dumbstruck, and follows her as she heads out the door,
leaving Brian behind.
CUT TO:
30 INT. - DAILY PLANET - PIT - MIDDAY
Lois is at her desk, speaking urgently into the phone.
LOIS
Dr. Klein, we *need* that antidote. Turn on
your TV if you don't believe me! Call me here
if you get anything, anything at all...
She slams down the phone and grabs her bag, heading for the elevators,
passing Perry on the way.
PERRY
Lois?
She doesn't even slow down.
LOIS
I need to go get Superman, Perry, I'll be back
later.
Perry grins approval.
PERRY
That's my girl!
CUT TO:
31 EXT. - DOWNTOWN STREET - MIDDAY
Superman is walking unsteadily down the street. He's followed by a
crowd of curious and cautious onlookers. He turns to confront them,
baffled and upset by their behavior.
SUPERMAN
Stop looking at me! You don't like me. Leave
me alone!
Frightened by his intensity, the crowd backs up, leaving Analisa front and
center, with Stuart staying closer to the crowd. She catches his eye and
moves forward slowly.
SUPERMAN
Who are you? Are you afraid of me too?
He sounds like a sulky child, and she responds with the warmest smile
she's capable of. She alternates between coaxing and commanding him,
and although she gets closer to him, she never gets bold enough to
actually touch him.
ANALISA
No, I'm not. You're not going to hurt me.
She advances toward him slowly, keeping a sharp eye on him until she
sees him relax just a bit.
SUPERMAN
No, I'm not.
ANALISA
That's good. You and I are going to be friends.
Superman nods uncertainly, then suddenly frowns.
SUPERMAN
My head feels weird. I don't like it.
ANALISA
I know. I can help you feel better. You want to
feel better, don't you? Come with me, and I'll
take care of you. Follow me, Superman.
The camera rises from the scene, and we see that Superman is following
her off the street. Stuart plays rear guard and warns off the crowd. As
they vanish from the scene, we see Lois arrive, too late.
CUT TO:
32 INT. - BRIAN'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Analisa is in the office off the main lab, with Superman. They're sitting
across from each other at a table. Behind Analisa, near the door, stand
Brian and Stuart, both ill at ease. The table is littered with scientific
apparatus - Superman is trying to build a pyramid of glass beakers.
Analisa is holding a crowbar that's been bent into a circle.
ANALISA
This was very good, Superman!
He shrugs, more interested in his growing pyramid.
SUPERMAN
Bending is boring.
ANALISA
Can you, ah, set fire to that wastebasket?
She points to a metal wastebasket near the door of the room. Superman
looks up, stares at it for a few seconds with his HEAT VISION, and loses
interest when the wastebasket contents leap into flame. Stuart jumps,
startled, and scrambles for a fire extinguisher, clumsily putting the fire out
in the background of the scene.
ANALISA
Oh, that's very very good... thank you,
Superman!
He stares at his pyramid for a moment, then looks at her.
SUPERMAN
People out there didn't like me. Why don't
they like me?
ANALISA
You don't need to worry about them, they're
not important. I like you. I like you very much,
and I'll keep on liking you, as long as you do
what I say...
She gets up from the table.
ANALISA
(continued)
Stuart, come play with Superman for a little
while, I have to talk to Brian.
Stuart looks disappointed to be cut out of things again, and scared at the
prospect of "playing" with Superman, but he does what he's told. Analisa
and Brian retreat into the main lab and shut the door, as the scene shifts
to:
33 INT. - BRIAN'S LAB - AFTERNOON
In the background, with no sound, we see Stuart and Superman (building
his pyramid higher) in the office. In the foreground, we see Brian and
Analisa talking. Analisa is staring off into space, absorbed in her own
visions, and Brian is clearly worried.
ANALISA
Oh, this is an incredible opportunity Brian,
you've got to see that.
BRIAN
I don't like this, Lis. He's not reacting normally,
he shouldn't be able to speak or think at all.
In the background, we see Superman's glass beaker pyramid start to
topple. Enraged, he pounds his fists on it, breaking all the beakers.
Stuart glances wildly at the other room, but they don't react.
ANALISA
He's still resisting some things, though; we've
got to break through that barrier somehow.
BRIAN
And that means I don't know when this dose
will wear off, and when it does, we're in deep
trouble.
ANALISA
Don't worry, I gave him another dose.
In the background, Superman is looking around for something else to play
with. He sees Stuart, bouncing nervously in his chair, and advances on
him with a wide, mindless smile.
BRIAN
(groans)
That's not a solution! Analisa, no matter what
drug he's on, he's still Superman!
Analisa pauses, and an evil grin grows on her face.
ANALISA
That's the problem, yes. And I think I know
how to solve it.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT THREE
Teaser
- Act I - Act II - Act III - Act IV