“The Course of True Love...”  Part Two

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare
 	
Katherine’s crying catches the attention of a passerby. He approaches slowly.   
She glances at him and then back down to the ground.  

The Man: Why Lois - What’s wrong?

Katherine looks up at him bewildered.

K: I’m sorry. You must have the wrong person. 

The Man: Oh, no. I have the right person. 

Katherine stares at him, now slightly annoyed.

K: I don’t know who you are, and I’m *really* not in the mood.

The Man smiles.

TM: Do you know what you would see if I ripped open my shirt?

K:(annoyed and disgusted) What are you? Some kind of pervert? Leave me alone.

TM: (laughing) Noo! If I were a pervert I wouldn’t be wearing a shirt, or pants 
for that matter. Guess.

Katherine is too irked to notice the man has a slight accent. She glowers at 
him.

K: I am NOT in the mood for games.

TM: Take a guess.

K: (emphatically) No!

TM: Come on Lois - guess. I can wait all night in the rain.

K: (exasperated) A lot of chest hair?

TM: No - Wellll, yes..., but... I mean besides that.

Katherine continues to glare at him, and shivers.

TM: A big red “S”.

K: Meaning what? YOU think you’re Superman? *Puh-leease*.

TM: (still smiling) Not *now* of course. Now I’m mild mannered Clark Kent. So, 
tell me Lois - What’s wrong?

K: I don’t even know you. Why would I tell you anything? And why would you care?

TM: Mind if I sit? (As he sits next to her on the bench) 

K: (mumbling) Apparently it wouldn’t stop you.

TM: Sometimes it helps to talk to a nameless stranger. Tell them all your 
troubles - open up to them...

K: Oh, No! I will NOT go down THAT road again - (quieter) It’s partly what got 
me here in the first place. (Louder) No, thank you! Been there, done that.

TM: Oh.... Did you happen to buy the T-shirt?

K: T-shirt? Hell - I’ve got an engraved plaque.

TM studies Katherine for a moment.

TM: Alright! I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you my name and you tell me why a 
beautiful woman like yourself is sitting in the cold rain, crying.

K: You’re not going away until I do - Are you?

TM: No.

K: (sighs) Alright.

TM: My name is Jerry Jax, but you can call me Clark.

K: You wouldn’t be Jasper Jax’s brother, would you?

Jerry: Yes... I hope my little brother isn’t the one who did this...

K: No. (pondering for a moment) Did Lucy Coe put you up to this?

J: How would she? Why would she?

K: (shaking her head) I’m sorry. You’re right.

J: Looiss... (Nudging her with his elbow).  It’s your turn. 

K: (sighing) Let’s just say I caught the man I love kissing his former love. But 
(starting to cry again) I guess she wasn’t really a *former* love. 

J: Ouch.

Katherine looks at him.

K: Wow, Superman.... THAT was helpful. Maybe you should go leap a tall building.

J: Sorry. We super Heroes aren’t much on advise. 

K: We? You mean there’s more like you?

Before he can answer a man approaches and quickly leaves.

K: Oh, great. 

J: You know that man?

K: It’s one of HIS people. He’ll be here soon. (She shakes her head and sighs)

The rain has been steadily increasing, as has Katherine’s shivering.

J: Now THIS is a job for SUPERMAN! Lois - let me take you back to my pla...

K: I AM NOT...

J: OH, NO, no, no. (He cocks his head at her) You know Clark Kent would *never* 
take advantage of Lois Lane. Besides, the longer you stand here the closer he 
gets.  

Katherine looks weary and if she’s about to cry again. They stand up and she 
scans the park listening intently. She can hear her name being called in the 
distance.

K: I don’t want to see him... I don’t know what to do. (Sigh of defeat) Alright, 
but we need to hurry.

Jerry puts his hand on her elbow and leads her toward his car.

J: Come on Lois, I’ll heat up some soup with my X-ray vision

Katherine giggles in spite of herself. They rush and get in his car. Jerry 
speeds off.

Meanwhile, Stefan is frantically searching for her. Calling her name. He and his 
flunky approach each other and meet at the spot where Katherine and Jerry had 
just been sitting.

S: Where is she? I thought you said she was sitting here.

F: Yes, with a man, just a few minutes ago.

S: A man? What man? You said nothing about a man. Was it Luke Spencer?

F: No, Sir! I don’t know who it was, but it was NOT Mr. Spencer.

A mixture of anger and deep concern cross Stefan’s face.

S: Find her - NOW! (The flunky leaves. As tears fill his eyes he whispers) Oh, 
my sweet Katherine - Please, please be all right.