THE LAST SON OF KRYPTON

PILOT

Written by

Name of First Writer

Based on Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

Jcsykes@student.fullsail.edu
517-438-6903
INT. JOR-EL’S LAB - KRYPTON - DAY

JOR-EL, late thirties male, sits in front of a massive

computer screen. On the screen a series of equations flash
rapidly. Jor-El releases a deep sigh at the numbers he sees.

JOR-EL
Run the simulation again Braniac.
This time account for the resonance
stasis device.

BRANIAC (O.S.)
Running diagnostics. Jor-El I
thought your proposal to utilize
this device was declined by the
council?

Jor-El crosses the room and pours himself a drink before he

returns to the computer.

JOR-EL
It was. That isn’t going to deter
me from trying to save my people.

Jor-El scratches at his beard and plops back down in front of

the computer.

BRANIAC (O.S.)
I’m afraid that you are running out
of options Jor-El. My readings
indicate even with your device
stabilizing the core, the planet
would still merely be living on
borrowed and fleeting time.

JOR-EL
Better for our time to be borrowed
and fleeting than wasted and wiped
from existence. If I can buy enough
time before the core detonates, I
can come up with a more permanent
solution to stave off Krypton’s
demise.

BRANIAC (O.S.)
Are we not interfering in the order
of things? As a scientist, would it
not be the more prudent course of
action to accept Krypton’s dilemma
and allow nature to take its
course?
 2.

JOR-EL
If I were to allow lives to be lost
for the sake of science, I don’t
think I would die the sort of man I
could be proud of.

The door to Jor-El’s lab slides open. LARA, late twenties

female, enters the lab holding their infant son, KAL-EL.

LARA-EL
As much as I enjoy you spending
every waking hour down here with
Braniac, dinner is ready. Also, you
have a holo-call from General Zod
waiting upstairs.

Jor-El smiled as his wife placed his son in his arms.

JOR-EL
And how are you today Kal?

LARA-EL
I don’t understand for the life of
Rao why you insist on giving him
these yellow sun treatments every
other hour. He’s becoming quite the
handful.

JOR-EL
Just a bit of precaution on my part
beloved. I promise the dosage I
have him on isn’t doing him any
sort of harm.

Jor-El hands her back the baby and the two of them enter the
lift that leads up stairs.

INT. JOR-EL’S HOME - CONTINUOUS

LARA-EL
Are you so sure it will come to
this? What if you’re wrong, what if
Braniac was wrong?

Jor-El paused before answering the call to study his wife.

JOR-EL
In all our life-cycles together,
the many moons that have passed
that we’ve loved each other, has
Braniac ever been wrong?
 3.

Lara says nothing, Jor-El answers the call. The image of

GENERAL ZOD, mid-forties, appears on the screen in front of
him.

JOR-EL (CONT’D)
General, I understand you’d like to
have a word with me. Several, if
the council was correct.

GENERAL ZOD
Let’s not stand on each other’s
toes to see who blinks first Jor-
El. We both know why I have
contacted you.

JOR-EL
You’re hoping I’ll support your
plans for usurping the council. I’m
afraid you will be disappointed.

GENERAL ZOD
Disappointment, that’s a word that
seems to sum up you and your work
quite a bit, isn’t it?

Jor-El hangs his head for a moment before meeting Zod’s gaze
once again.

JOR-EL
I understand your anger Zod. You
assumed despite our differences
that the irrationality and
ignorance of the council’s recent
actions would bring us into a
tentative agreement. I’m afraid
that the planet’s situation does
not leave me with the time to aid
you even if I wanted to.

GENERAL ZOD
What do you mean? Explain.

Jor-El presses a few keys on his console and a sea of data

flows across the screen.

JOR-EL
These are the latest scans from
Braniac. Krypton’s core is
deteriorating at a rate even I
couldn’t have possibly calculated.
There’s no way to predict when it
could explode.
 4.

GENERAL ZOD
You are regarded by many to be the
greatest mind to ever walk the
surface of this planet, and even
you don’t know how close we all are
to being extinct.

JOR-EL
My time and effort needs to be
focussed on my family and doing
what I can to stave off the end of
our people. I can’t waste a moment
helping you push your own ideals.

GENERAL ZOD
So you’d turn your back on Krypton
when it needs you the most? Your
cowardice has reached an all-time
pathetic.

JOR-EL
I’m sorry to disappoint you Zod.
Now if you would excuse me-

GENERAL ZOD
No Jor-El, not this time. For years
I’ve watched you waste your immense
potential playing mad scientist
just to placate your ego. Now when
I finally have need of your mind
you spit in my face. You will aid
me in overthrowing those tyrants
and leading Krypton away from this
tragedy.

The doors around the living room slide open, a group of

Kryptonian soldiers enter the room with guns pointed at Jor-
El and his family.

JOR-EL
Lara, I will return once I’ve had
further words with our fearless
general here. Should the core
detonate before then, proceed with
our worst case scenario plan of
action.

Lara nods. Jor-El kisses both his wife and son before turning
to FAORA, female early thirties, and the soldiers escort him
from his home.
 5.

INT. KRYPTONIAN COUNCIL OF SCIENCE - DAY

Faora leads Jor-El into the council’s chambers as they step

off the lift. General Zod stands on the plateau usually
reserved for council members. Jor-El notices the bodies
laying all around the chamber as Zod’s soldiers execute the
last remaining members.

GENERAL ZOD
Thank you for joining me Jor-El.
I’m sorry it was under these
circumstances but my love for our
people, our way of existence forced
my hand. If our planet is to fall,
I couldn’t let it do so with these
idiotic tyrants at it’s helm.

JOR-EL
What did you hope to accomplish
with this act Zod? To flaunt your
power or your inability to see the
forest for the trees?

GENERAL ZOD
You disrespect me while sitting in
your little laboratory and turning
a blind eye to what these rodents
have led us to? I brought you here
to bear witness, and offer you a
chance to save our people.

JOR-EL
And what offer is this?

GENERAL ZOD
Use your knowledge to aid my army
in overtaking every system around
us. We will overrun their
civilizations and give Krypton the
presence it has always deserved.
One that reaches across the cosmos.

JOR-EL
Why is it that every time I have
heard you speak, I can never tell
if the conviction in your voice is
for our people, or yourself?

A soft chime rings, Jor-El holds up his arm as a small

hologram of the planet springs from his wrist.

JOR-EL (CONT’D)
What is it Braniac?
 6.

BRANIAC (O.S.)
Jor-El I am afraid the core’s
deterioration has accelerated at an
unprecedented rate in last few
minutes.

JOR-EL
How much time does the planet have?

BRANIAC
Less than an hour by my
calculations. Your device has
bought more time.

Jor-El turns to leave the chambers but two soldiers step in

front of him.

GENERAL ZOD
I suggest you make the wise choice
for once in your life cycle Jor-El.
Join me, give your wife and son the
lives that they and all our
brothers and sisters deserve.

Jor-El slowly turns back to Zod, his face full of fury.

JOR-EL
You’ve wasted enough of my time
Zod. You’ve flaunted your lust for
power and incessant need to be the
center of attention, no matter what
the stakes are. How you ever became
to be revered and admired by these
poor individuals is beyond even my
ability to comprehend. I will not
be a party to your crusade. Not in
this life nor any other.

GENERAL ZOD
Then you will die here, next to
these fools who turned their backs
on you when you needed nothing but
clarity and understanding the most.

All of the soldiers arm their weapons and aim them at Jor-El.

GENERAL ZOD (CONT’D)

Give him the death he desires so.

Before the soldiers execute him, a massive blasts caves in

the east wall, sending everyone in the room scattering for
cover. A silver ship hovers just outside the chamber. Jor-El
gets to his feet and sprints towards the ship. He ducks the
blasts from Zod’s soldiers and leaps towards the ship.
 7.

JOR-EL
Well done Braniac. Get me home, and
contact Lara.

The roof of the ship slides closed and soars away from the
chamber. General Zod fires a few erratic shots towards Jor-
El’s ship.

GENERAL ZOD
Go after him!

EXT. JOR-EL'S HOME - DAY

Jor-El steps out of the ship just as pillars of lava begin to

erupt across the planet. An earthquake shakes the entire
building.

INT. JOR-EL'S LAB - CONTINUOUS

Jor-El enters his lab, where Lara is holding Kal-El and

standing next to a small, unique spacecraft. The S symbol of
the house of El is engraved on its front.

LARA-EL
Everything is ready, you just need
to input the trajectory sequence.
But Jor-El...I don’t know if I..we
can do this.

JOR-EL
Lara if we don’t then our son won’t
have a life. We knew this might be
a possibility, he doesn’t deserve
to die here with us just because I
failed our world.

LARA-EL
You didn’t fail anything darling.
We just didn’t have enough time.

Sirens blare around the lab. A security monitor shows Zod,

Faora, and NON entering Jor-El’s home.

JOR-EL
Braniac, stall them with defensive
measure beta.

There is no response from the computer system.

JOR-EL (CONT’D)
Braniac? Braniac implement
emergency defensive measures now!
 8.

BRANIAC (O.S.)
I’m afraid I am unable to process
your commands Jor-El.

Jor-El rushes to his computer and presses a few keys. A

progress bar appears on the screen.

JOR-EL
You’re downloading yourself to an
off world satellite. Why?

BRANIAC
The knowledge of Krypton cannot
disappear along with its
civilization. As you die, take
solace in the fact that your own
creation will safeguard the many
scientific achievements you have
made throughout your life-cycle Jor-
El.

The progress bar reaches completion and the power goes out in
the entire lab. Jor-El slams his hands in frustration on the
console. The lab shakes from another seismic quake.

JOR-EL
He used most of the power to
transfer himself to the satellite.
I’ll have to reboot the entire
system remotely to start the
launch.

Jor-El rips a panel off the side of the computer and works to
get the power back on. Lara sets Kal-El inside the rocket as
voices can be heard coming down the stairs towards the lab.

LARA-EL
My beautiful boy, I know it is far
too much to ask of you right now
but I need you to be the bravest
you can be. Maybe your destiny is
bigger than anything you could have
reached for here. But whatever lies
in store for you amongst the stars,
just know that we love you.

GENERAL ZOD
Lara dear, step away from the ship.

Lara refuses to move, instead she faces Zod, Faora, and Non
defiantly. Faora shoots Lara in the chest. The power returns
to the lab.
 9.

JOR-EL
LARA!

Jor-El rushes to his wife’s side and tries to keep her

conscious.

JOR-EL (CONT’D)
Stay with me Lara, with me please.

GENERAL ZOD
This is a fitting end for you and
your bloodline Jor-El. There will
be no room for idealistic fools in
the new world order of Krypton I
will forge from the ashes of this
one.

Jor-El looks up at Zod, pure hatred etched onto his face.

JOR-EL
Always so caught up in yourself,
you’re never looking where you
should be old friend.

Jor-El presses the “S” crest on his shirt. A device emerges

from the wall behind Zod and his crew. A massive black portal
is created by the device and begins to pull Zod, Faora, and
Non into the phantom zone. Non falls in first, followed
swiftly behind by Faora. Zod clings to a piece of equipment,
his eyes burning into Jor-El.

GENERAL ZOD
You really think your prison can
hold me? ME?

Jor-El grabs a blaster from a nearby table and fires a single

shot into Zod’s shoulder. Zod releases his grip on the
equipment and falls into the phantom zone portal, which
closes promptly afterwards.

LARA-EL
Jor-El...is Kal ok?

Jor-El rushes back to his wife and helps her sit up.

JOR-EL
He’s fine my love. I’m starting the
sequence now, just rest.

Jor-El approaches the console and initiates the launch. He

crosses back to the ship and kisses his son on the forehead.
 10.

JOR-EL (CONT’D)
Your journey is just beginning my
son. Never forget what we, the
house of El, stood for even after
all these centuries. Hope.

The ship slides closed and launches into the air. The lab is
torn apart by the planet’s destruction. Jor-El sits next to
Lara as they both watch the ship disappear into the sky.

LARA-EL (WEAKLY)
There he goes...our son.

JOR-EL
He’s more than just our son now
Lara. He’s the last son of Krypton.

FADE TO BLACK.

END OF ACT 1

EXT. THE DAILY PLANET - METROPOLIS - DAY

TWENTY-THREE YEARS LATER

CLARK KENT, white male early twenties, stumbles out of his

cab. He hands the driver a twenty and heads into the
building. He pauses for a moment as his briefcase gets stuck
in the revolving doors, passerby’s shake their head as the
very clumsy Clark finally manages to wrench his briefcase
free, its contents spill all over the lobby. Clark scrambles
to the floor collecting his belongings.

INT. PERRY WHITE’S OFFICE - DAILY PLANET - DAY

PERRY WHITE, early sixties male, slams the phone on the hook
just as LOIS LANE, mid-twenties female, enters.

LOIS LANE
Chief, you wanted to see me?

PERRY WHITE
Yeah Lane. What’s this I hear about
you scooping that STAR labs robbery
story from Cat?

Lois crosses the room in a hurry, her anger at Perry’s

accusation apparent.

LOIS LANE
She was going to drop the ball!
 11.

PERRY WHITE
She was not going to drop the ball
Lois-

LOIS LANE
We both know Cat Grant’s eyes were
nowhere near focused on this story.
On top of that, I’m pretty sure
this entire thing has something to
do with STAR refusing to sell the
patents on their particle
accelerator to Luthor-

Perry tries to speak, but Lois continues over the top of him.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

And I know that I need to bring
some heavy facts before making that
kind of connection, which is why I
took the liberty of stepping in
where Cat was slipping up.

Perry and Lois have a brief stare down, there’s a knock at

the door.

PERRY WHITE
You dig up whatever you can on what
you think that robbery was really
about and you keep quiet about it
until you’ve got something
substantial.

Lois winks at Perry and takes a seat in one of the chairs on

the other side of his desk.

PERRY WHITE (CONT’D)

Come in.

Clark enters the office and waves sheepishly.

PERRY WHITE (CONT’D)

Mr. Kent I presume?

CLARK KENT
You presume correct sir.

Clark and Perry shake hands. Perry gestures for Clark to take
a seat.

PERRY WHITE
Clark I’d like you to meet Lois
Lane.

Lois waves halfheartedly without looking up from her phone.

 12.

CLARK KENT
I’m familiar with your work. That
story you did on Schott toys got
you Pulitzer consideration, didn’t
it?

Lois glances up at the mention of her story.

LOIS LANE
It should have got me more than
consideration. Where you from,
Kent?

CLARK KENT
Smallville.

LOIS LANE
That’s actually the name of a
place?

CLARK KENT
It’s in um, Kansas.

Lois looks Clark up and down.

LOIS LANE
Yeah that makes sense.

PERRY WHITE
Kent I’ve seen your work over at
the Star, you’ve really put in the
miles on the Mannheim trial.

CLARK KENT
Thank you Mr. White.

LOIS LANE
That was you? I read some of that,
it was decent stuff. You bury the
meat of your story behind a lot of
that farm boy charm.

CLARK KENT
Well, at least I have charm.

Lois rolls her eyes, Perry smiles.

PERRY WHITE
Well Kent, I have to say this
interview was really just so I
didn’t give you the job over the
phone. Welcome to the Daily Planet.

Clark and Perry shake hands once again.

 13.

PERRY WHITE (CONT’D)

Find Jimmy Olson, he’ll get you set
up at a desk.

LOIS LANE
I’ll take Smallville here over to
the barracks, chief.

Lois and Clark stand up.

CLARK KENT
Lead the way Lois.

Lois heads out of the office, Clark follows her.

PERRY WHITE
Lois do not forget the specifics of
our discussion!

LOIS LANE (O.S.)

Specifics chief, got it.

Perry shakes his head and takes a seat behind his desk.

INT. DAILY PLANET BULLPEN - DAY

Lois leads Clark through the busy office of the newspaper.

She stops at a desk and knocks a few random items into the
trash. She slides the old name plate out and grabs a passing
JIMMY OLSON, early twenties, by the back of his shirt.

LOIS LANE
Jimmy, get Kent here a name plate
for his desk.

JIMMY OLSON
But I thought this was Henderson’s
desk.

LOIS LANE
Henderson got axed a few days ago.

JIMMY OLSON
Who’s Kent?

LOIS LANE
He’s Kent.

JIMMY OLSON
Nice to meet you, Kent.

Jimmy offers his hand and they shake.

 14.

CLARK KENT
It’s Clark. Clark Kent.

JIMMY OLSON
Oh hey! The guy from the Star,
making the leap to the big leagues
I see.

CLARK KENT
The big leagues?

LOIS LANE
He’s right Smallville, compared to
the planet the Star ain’t playing
right field for the yankees.

Clark opens his mouth to reply, Perry’s office door bursts

open.

PERRY WHITE
Lois! Luthorcorp just announced a
press conference at city hall that
starts in forty-five minutes. Get
down there, and take Kent with you.

LOIS LANE
What do I need to tote Smallville
around for on this? Luthor is my
beat.

PERRY WHITE
Consider Kent a moral compass to
keep you honest.

Lois rolls her eyes and grabs her jacket off the back off her
desk chair.

LOIS LANE
Better call us an Uber, Kent. If
Lex is making impromptu press
conferences his ego must be sitting
on something it can’t bare to cover
up anymore.

Lois and Clark head towards the elevator. Jimmy grabs his
coat and chases after them.

JIMMY OLSON
Hold on, I’m coming too.
 15.

INT. LUTHOR PLAZA - DAY

LEX LUTHOR, late twenties male, approaches the podium in the

jam-packed hall.

LEX LUTHOR
My father never wallowed in the
past. In fact, he hardly ever gave
it a thought. He once told me “Lex,
tomorrow is the only thing we need
to be sure is promised.”

Clark shuffles past rows of attendees and settles into his

seat between Jimmy and Lois.

LOIS LANE
What took you so long? You almost
missed the beginning of a patented
long-winded and threat veiled
Luther speech.

CLARK KENT
Lost my press badge, had to retrace
my steps.

Jimmy snapped pictures and turned to Clark.

JIMMY OLSON
Luthor’s throwing a private bash to
celebrate his deal with the city on
these things. Guess he sent out
exclusive invitations for that.

LOIS LANE
Exclusive invitations. The man just
wants people who will placate his
very fragile ego surrounding him.

CLARK KENT
Didn’t get an invite Lois?

Lois shoots Clark a rude look.

LOIS LANE
Vicki Vale gets an invite because
she’s the biggest fish out of
Gotham. Iris West gets one because
Central City News doesn’t bother
anyone-

JIMMY OLSON
Lex hasn’t exactly forgiven the
planet since Lois insinuated in a
piece last year-
 16.

CLARK KENT
That Lex had his father killed to
assume control of Luthercorp. I
read it.

LOIS LANE
You read it?

Clark nods and pushes his glasses up on his nose.

CLARK KENT
It was good. It lacked just enough
tangible evidence to piece the
theory you were working with
together but-

LOIS LANE
I’ll take the good part Smallville,
thanks.

LEX LUTHOR
It is with great pride that I
announce Luthorcorp’s partnership
with Mayor Hallory in bringing our
L1 support drones to the streets of
Metropolis. Our drones will supply
aid and reinforce our Metropolis PD
in every way possible.

One of the drones steps forward and raises it’s arm. Lex
turns and is surprised to see the drone’s cannon charging.
The drone blasts a chunk out of a pillar in the auditorium,
sending debris crashing down on the crowd.

LEX LUTHOR (CONT’D)

Mercy, hit the remote override now!

TESS “MERCY” Mercer pulls a device from her pocket and tries
to shut down the drones, who are all coming online and
destroying the room. The device doesn’t work and one of the
drones turns towards her.

LOIS LANE
Jimmy, I hope you’re getting every
bit of this.

JIMMY OLSON (SNAPPING PICTURES)

I’m trying to Lois. But to be fair,
I’m also trying not to get killed.

A blast from one of the drones sends a group of Lexcorp

security officers scattering nearby.
 17.

JIMMY OLSON (CONT’D)

Maybe we should get the hell out of
here, just a interesting idea.
Clark sure figured that out.

LOIS LANE
You think I’m letting the Star
scoop us on this? Besides, if Kent
wants to waste his first impression
on me proving he’s the exact kind
of reporter I’d expect a man from
Kansas to be that’s his-

Mercy fires a few rounds from her side arm at the drone to
little effect. The drone unleashes a blast at Mercy, who
raises her arms to shield herself, but the blast never comes.
She drops her arms and opens her eyes to see a tall man in a
bright red cape standing in between her and the drone.

SUPERMAN
Miss, if you’re ok to walk, I’ll
need you to clear the platform
please.

The drone blasts away at Superman, who walks forward through

the attack and rips one of the drone’s arms off. Superman
winds up and smacks the drone with its appendage, sending it
crashing across the room.

LOIS LANE
Who in what world is that? Jimmy,
camera, must get closer, now.

JIMMY OLSON
I wish I could take photos for you
just once without anything getting
out of hand. Just once.

Mercy rushes Lex off the stage. Lex fights against her, his
eyes locked on to Superman battling his drones.

LEX LUTHOR
What does this imbecile think he’s
doing? He’s going to destroy
everything I’ve been working on!

MERCY
We need to get you out of here Lex.
We’ll assess the damages later.

Mercy shoves Lex out of the auditorium in a rush. Superman

blasts through one of the drone’s chest with his heat vision.
Another drone smacks into him and sends him careening through
the air.
 18.

Superman halts himself mid-flight and surges back to the

ground with blinding super speed. He tears right through the
drone, finishing the last of Lex’s robots. Superman catches
sight of Lois and Jimmy emerging from cover nearby.

SUPERMAN
I hope you two aren’t hurt. You
really should have gotten out of
dodge while you can.

LOIS LANE
Hey if I don’t get to enjoy my
front row seat to Luthor’s pride
getting snapped in half then I
would feel cheated. That
was...something by the way.

Superman smiles, Lois tries to catch her breath. Jimmy looks

back and forth between Superman and Lois, then takes a
picture.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

Nice suit. The cape is a bit ole
fashioned but it works.

SUPERMAN
Thank you. My people wore something
like them.

LOIS LANE
Your people? People not like us I’m
assuming? Where are they?

SUPERMAN
Not here. Not anymore. If you
could, please apologize to Lex on
my behalf for the damage. I just
wanted to make sure no one was
hurt.

Superman shakes Jimmy’s hand, and waves politely to Lois

before taking off into the sky.

JIMMY OLSON
Damn. What a nice guy. Wonder what
the “S” stood for? Maybe a last
name or a family crest?

INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Perry tosses a copy of the day’s edition on to the middle of

the table.
 19.

Behind him on a flat screen, the Daily Planet’s website has

pictures taken by Jimmy of Superman in action the day prior.
In the middle is the photo of Superman and Lois. The headline
on both the paper and the website reads: “THE SUPERMAN IS
UPON US”

PERRY WHITE
Lois I don’t know what epiphany
helped you come up with that
headline but you’re getting a
raise.

Lois beams brightly in the back of the room. Jimmy looks at

her and raises his hand as he turns back to Perry.

JIMMY OLSON
Chief? I mean these are my
pictures, don’t you think I deserve
a little something too?

Perry pauses and pulls his wallet out. He tosses forty

dollars down the table and turns back to the screen behind
him.

PERRY WHITE
Alright people I want you to soak
in the sight you’re seeing right
now and burn it into your head.
Lois opened the door to the story
of the century, and the planet has
cut ahead of our competition on
this one. It is all hands on deck
when it comes to Superman.

LOIS LANE
Wow now chief, let’s not get a tad
bit carried away here. This is my
story, I was the one in there
ducking chunks of brick and metal
just to get a bit of one on one
with this guy.

PERRY WHITE
The point Lois, get to it.

LOIS LANE
The point is Superman equals all
things Lois. I’m not trying to
share bylines or dibs with anybody
here, no offense folks but you all
know how I operate.
 20.

PERRY WHITE
Lois, there is a man who we have
footage of ripping holes through
steel with his bare hands and
shooting fire from his eyes. The
way you operate is out the window
on this one.

Lois begins to argue but a look from Perry puts her back in
her seat. Lois crosses her arms and pulls out her phone,
pretending to ignore the rest of the meeting. Clark clears
his throat and raises his hand.

PERRY WHITE (CONT’D)

Kent.

CLARK KENT
Mr. White as much as this um,
Superman is a hot topic, aren’t we
missing the real well not to sound
cliche but mystery in front of us?

PERRY WHITE
I’m not following, Kent.

CLARK KENT
Allow me to elaborate, sir. Lex’s
drones clearly malfunctioned
yesterday, and even he couldn’t
come up with a solution to stop
them.

PERRY WHITE
What exactly are you getting at,
Kent?

CLARK KENT
Someone was smart enough to hack
into a Lexcorp product and use them
to make Lex look like a fool.
That’s not exactly something just
anyone could do.

PERRY WHITE
Alright Kent, you’re special
circumstances. You find out what
you can on whatever caused those
machines to go haywire. Lois, I
want you running point with him on
this.

LOIS LANE
But chief-
 21.

PERRY WHITE
Don’t “but chief” me young lady,
you can still chase after Superman
but if Kent happens to stumble on
to something then he’ll need the
help.

Lois rolls her eyes, Clark smiles sheepishly.

INT. DAILY PLANET BULLPEN - DAY

Lois and Clark each work at their own computers, their seats
are back to back. Lois stops typing and gnaws on her pen,
catching Clark’s attention.

CLARK KENT
Something bothering you, Lois?

Lois raps her knuckles against the desk before spinning

around to face Clark.

LOIS LANE
That thread you started pulling
back in the meeting has been
gnawing at me.

CLARK KENT
How so?

LOIS LANE
Well Luthor isn’t one to make a
fool of himself. There’s no way he
called that conference for any
reason other than to gloat. So the
question that I want answered is-

CLARK KENT
Whose got a problem with Lex to go
messing with his toys?

LOIS LANE
Exactly.

Lois gets up from her chair and tosses on her coat. She’s
halfway to the elevators when she pauses and stares at Clark,
slightly annoyed.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

Well?

Clark looks at her puzzled.

 22.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

You coming or what?

Clark rushes to his feet and scurries after Lois, catching up

to her as they reach the elevators. Lois presses the button
for the elevator and the two of them wait.

CLARK KENT
Erm, Lois?

LOIS LANE
Yeah Smallville?

CLARK KENT
Where exactly would we be going?

LOIS LANE
Straight to the horses mouth. I
figured I’d use metaphors more
relatable to your lifestyle. How’d
I do?

CLARK KENT
Swell.

LOIS LANE
Great.

The elevator arrives. Lois and Clark get on as Jimmy is

getting off.

JIMMY OLSON
Hey where you guys going?

LOIS LANE
A place where they aren’t going to
want any photos.

Lois shrugs as the elevators close on a dejected Jimmy.

INT. LUTHOR CORP - LEX’S OFFICE - DAY

Lex Luthor stands in the middle of his massive office, with a

view of all of Metropolis at his back. Four holographic
figures surround him: RA’S AL GHUL, CHINA WHITE, VANDAL
SAVAGE, and TOBIAS WHALE.

LEX LUTHOR
Each of you had a live feed to what
my L! Drones are capable of first
hand yesterday.
 23.

TOBIAS WHALE
Not much of a sneak peek. Show got
cut a bit short eh?

VANDAL SAVAGE
All thanks to some caped nuisance.
He put on quite the show after
tearing your weapons apart.

LEX LUTHOR
Make light of my work if you will.
Before this “Superman” interfered,
the L1 Drones are more than suited
to fill any and every needs each of
you will require.

Lex presses a few buttons on his phone.

LEX LUTHOR (CONT’D)

You’ve all just been sent the
specifications for the next line of
models in my L! line. The prices
are non negotiable of course.

Ra’s Al Ghul merely scoffs and ends the call, his hologram
fizzles out on the spot.

LEX LUTHOR (CONT’D)

You’ve all watched one of the
wisest men on the planet make a
rather large mistake. I would
advise you not to follow his lead.

CHINA WHITE
I’m interested in the merchandise
we already discussed Luthor.
Specifically the guns you allowed
my people to test in Dubai.

Lex nods and turns to the corner of the room, where Mercy is
standing.

LEX LUTHOR
China, a pleasure that is all yours
doing business with you.

CHINA WHITE
Don’t take me cross the world just
to cut your tongue out Lex.

China White’s hologram disappears, ending her call. Lex turns

to the last two holograms.
 24.

LEX LUTHOR
Gentleman?

TOBIAS WHALE
Oh you can put me down for a couple
truckloads of every strap you got.
I need some of those grenade
launcher you sold those French
terrorist too. And don’t up sell me
mother-

LEX LUTHOR
Thank you Tobias, we’ll be in
touch.

Lex abruptly ends the call, and Tobias Whale’s hologram

fizzles out.

VANDAL SAVAGE
You’re getting very skilled at
putting on a show, Luthor.

Lex turns to Vandal’s hologram and bows mockingly.

VANDAL SAVAGE (CONT’D)

You can dabble trinkets in front of
those thugs all you like. I’m sure
you know exactly what I’m
interested in.

LEX LUTHOR
I regret to inform you Vandal that
my more recent discoveries are
still being combed over by myself
and a fleet of Lexcorp scientists
as we speak. And are otherwise not
for sale.

VANDAL SAVAGE
Then we have nothing more to
discuss, for now.

Savage ends the call just as Mercy approaches Lex.

LEX LUTHOR
What is it?

MERCY
We have a small situation in the
lobby I thought would interest you.
 25.

INT. LUTHOR CORP - LOBBY - DAY

Lex and Mercy emerge through a set of doors and approach Lois
and Clark, who are surrounded by security.

LEX LUTHOR
And what seems to be the meaning of
this disturbance?

LOIS LANE
I don’t know Lex, since when is it
standard procedure to shake down
reporters the moment they step on
the premises?

LEX LUTHOR
My apologies if your treatment here
wasn’t exactly up to your standards
Ms. Lane-

Lex looks Clark up and down, an air of disdain in his

demeanor.

LEX LUTHOR (CONT’D)

I don’t believe we’ve met.

CLARK KENT (EXTENDING HIS HAND)

I’m Clar-

LEX LUTHOR
Anyways Lois, the press are more
than welcome at Luthor Corp. Just
not you. As a matter of fact, let’s
extend that ban to all the staff at
your dying rag of a newspaper.

CLARK KENT
Actually due to Lois story on
Superman the planet had an 67%
increase in web site traffic within
the last twelve hours alone.

Lex once agains looks Clark up and down.

LEX LUTHOR
And you are?

CLARK KENT
Clark Kent.

LEX LUTHOR
Ah, Mr. Kent. I read your work at
the Star. Somewhat engaging work,
particularly on the Mannheim case.
 26.

CLARK KENT
I appreciate it, I think.

LOIS LANE
If you two are done with the dance
of masculinity, I actually came
here for a quote, Lex.

LEX LUTHOR
Well I’m sure you’re used to being
disappointed, Lois.

LOIS LANE
And you’re not. Which is why I find
it rather, what was the word you
used? Engaging, that you seem at
ease about your own inventions
tearing up Luthor Plaza.

LEX LUTHOR
Well when your names on everything,
the problems can be relatively easy
to fix...if you’re a genius.

CLARK KENT
From what I’ve read on you Luthor,
you had two degrees in computer
science and engineering by the time
you were seventeen.

LEX LUTHOR
Your point, Mr. Kent?

CLARK KENT
I just find it odd you of all
people would allow some sort of
snafu with your own work in such a
public forum. Seems a bit out of
character.

LEX LUTHOR
What’s out of character, Mr. Kent,
is how long I’ve allowed two Daily
Planet reporters on LuthorCorp
property.

Lex turns to Mercy and jerks his head before returning to his
office.

MERCY
Alright, let’s move this to the
elevator and outside. Let’s go.
 27.

Mercy and a pair of Luthor Corp guards usher Lois and Clark
out of the lobby.

EXT. LUTHOR CORP - DAY

Lois attempts to wave down a cab as Clark lags behind her. A

fleet of black vehicles roll up to the front of the building.
Men and women dressed in fatigues exit the vehicles, all
being led by Lieutenant JOHN CORBEN, 30’s. Corben catches
sight of Lois and approaches her.

JOHN CORBEN
Well aren’t you a sight for sore
eyes.

LOIS LANE
Hello John.

JOHN CORBEN
Well this is about the last place I
expected to run into you.

LOIS LANE
You should know I’m always where
the story will be. What brings some
of my Father’s top brass to Luthor
Corp?

JOHN CORBEN
Now Lois, we both know there’s not
a chance in hell of me giving you
any kind of scoop.

LOIS LANE
An errand boy through and through.

Lois finally hails a cab and head towards the street.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

One of these days you might even
find a women who admires that sort
of thing.

Lois jerks her head at Clark, who quickly follows her into
the cab.

INT. CAB RIDE - CONTINUOUS

Lois text on her phone, not looking up once. Clark stares out
the window, enjoying the sights and sounds of downtown
Metropolis.
 28.

LOIS LANE
So what do you have planned
tonight, Smallville? Night on the
big city?

CLARK KENT
Actually I was planning on
outlining my next article.

Lois raises an eyebrow but doesn’t look up from her phone.

LOIS LANE
What are you working on?

CLARK KENT
Well due to recent events including
that exchange between you and Lex,
I thought I’d dig into some of
Luthor Corps recent business
transactions and acquisitions. See
what’s beneath the surface.

LOIS LANE
Ok let’s set a few ground rules
here and now.

CLARK KENT
Erm, what now?

LOIS LANE
Number one, all things Luthor is my
beat. Anything you even think about
putting in a article, you run it
through me.

CLARK KENT
That doesn’t exactly seem-

LOIS LANE
Number two-

The cab slams into another vehicle, cutting Lois off. Other
drivers leap from their vehicles, everyone’s eyes are on the
streets ahead

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

What the hell is going on?

CAB DRIVER adjusts his radio to a news station and turns up

the volume.
 29.

RADIO NEWS ANCHOR (O.S.)

We have an ongoing hostage
situation at Mill’s Credit Union
near Loeb and Bendis. Police have
blocked off the area but we are
advising anyone heading downtown to
keep clear.

Lois stuffs her phone in her purse and tosses the cab driver
a twenty.

LOIS LANE
Seems like the perfect story to get
a jump on. You in, Smallville?

Lois turns to see the passenger door left open, Clark is

nowhere to be found. On the seat next to her is a couple of
bills for his half of the cab’s fair. Lois jumps out of the
car and heads directly towards Loeb and Bendis.

LOIS LANE (CONT’D)

You’re not stealing my front page,
farm boy.

INT. MILL’S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - DAY

Eight armed robbers patrol the main room, their weapons

pointed at the hostages on the ground.

INT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - SAFE - CONTINUOUS

Two more armed men ransack the safe, stuffing as much money
as they can into a group of duffle bags on the floor.

ROBBER 4 (O.S.)
They’re mounting up! We got another
two minutes before they breach,
tops!

HEAD ROBBER
Just do your damn job, don’t worry
about us!

The pair of them grab the bags stuffed full of money and head
out of the safe.
 30.

EXT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - CONTINUOUS

DAN TURPIN, 50’s, and MAGGIE SAWYER, late 20’s get out of
their vehicle and head over to the SWAT team preparing to
move in. Behind the barricade, standing amongst the many
spectators is Lois Lane.

MAGGIE SAWYER
Give me a rundown.

SWAT COMMANDER
We got maybe ten or twelve of em in
there. No position for a sniper to
take at all-

MAGGIE SAWYER
Any bodies?

SWAT COMMANDER
Just one confirmed so far, on duty
guard.

MAGGIE SAWYER
Alright get a sniper somewhere, and
get me something close to a decent
shot. I’m not losing another
hostage, we breach in five.

Maggie turns to Dan Turpin, who tosses away a cigar butt.

DAN TURPIN
How do you want to play this?

MAGGIE SAWYER
I don’t think we’re looking at a
wealth of options. I’m not keen on
sending our boys in guns blazing
but-

DAN TURPIN
But the sooner we wrap this up, the
sooner we send everyone in there
home.

LOIS LANE
That’s some kind of optimism,
Turpin.

Dan Turpin turns to see Lois Lane amongst the throng of

civilians gathering beyond the police line.
 31.

DAN TURPIN
Good to see I’ll make tomorrow’s
paper. Make sure the kid gets my
good side.

Lois looks puzzled, until she notices Jimmy Olson is next to

her, snapping photos of the scene. Jimmy notices Lois staring
at him.

JIMMY OLSON
I just figured this is where you
would be.

DAN TURPIN (TO BEAT OFFICER)

Get these people backed up another
twenty feet.

Bullets spray in the air. Head Robber holds one of the

hostages outside, a rifle to his head.

HEAD ROBBER
I want every cop cleared out of
here, or I start sending out folks
fit for body bags. Your choice.

Head Robber drags the hostage back inside.

INT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - CONTINUOUS

ROBBER 2
Where’s our ride?

HEAD ROBBER
It’ll be here just keep cool. You
ever known Bruno to let us down?

EXT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - CONTINUOUS

Maggie Sawyer grimaces and quickly turns to a beat cop.

MAGGIE SAWYER
Get me a vest and let S.W.A.T know
I’m running this operation with
them.

BEAT OFFICER
Yes Ma’am.

The beat officer hurries off. Dan places a hand on Maggie’s

shoulder.
 32.

DAN TURPIN
You sure you’re not jumping the gun
here?

MAGGIE SAWYER
You seeing a lot of other options
from where we’re standing?

Dan hangs his head. Suddenly there’s a murmur going through

the crowd. Dan and Maggie turn around just in time to see a
red and blue blur streaking over their heads and into the
bank.

MAGGIE SAWYER (CONT’D)

What the hell was that?

LOIS LANE
I think it might have been the
answer to your prayers, Detective.

Maggie shoots Lois a dirty look and turns back to the bank.

MAGGIE SAWYER
Get me eyes inside that bank now!
And get ready for breach.

INT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - CONTINUOUS

The robbers pile the duffle bags of money into the middle of
the room.

HEAD ROBBER
Our ride’s sixty seconds out. We’re
home free boys.

Head Robber turns around to see the rest of his men

speechless at the sight of Superman standing before them.

SUPERMAN
Good evening gentlemen. And ladies
if there are any among you. How
about we put the guns down and no
one else gets hurt.

HEAD ROBBER
What are you standing around for,
unload on this clown!

The armed robbers fire their assault rifles at Superman.

Superman picks each and every bullet out of the air at super
speed.
 33.

When the gunfire stops, Superman holds an armful of bullets

that he drops to the ground in front of him.

SUPERMAN
Sorry for being a bit of a showoff.
Didn’t want any stray bullets
hitting these good people you’ve
got pinned down here.

Superman steps forward and crosses his arms. One of the

robbers drops his bag and bolts towards the emergency exit.

ROBBER 2
This wasn’t apart of the plan.
Screw this and Bruno!

Robber 2 is halfway to the exit when Superman blows softly

and a strong gust of wind sends Robber 2 crashing into the
deposit slip stand. Robber 2 is knocked out cold.

SUPERMAN
As you can see, I’m not too fond of
people skipping out when their held
accountable.

The rest of the robbers nod and drop their weapons

immediately.

EXT. MILL'S CREDIT UNION - DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - CONTINUOUS

Maggie and Dan watch with their mouths hanging open as the
hostages file out of the bank one by one. Beat cops and EMT’s
rush over to tend to the hostages.

Following out behind them are each of the robbers and finally
Superman, who is carrying the unconscious Robber 2 on his
shoulder. Swat members quickly place the armed robbers in
cuffs. Superman drops Robber 2 at the feet of the Swat
commander and approaches Maggie and Dan.

SUPERMAN
Officer’s, you’ll find their
weapons as well as the money right
inside.

DAN TURPIN
You got no business interfering in
our operation!

MAGGIE SAWYER
We were moments away from breaching
the building. Someone-
 34.

SUPERMAN
Someone else could have gotten hurt
alongside that unfortunate guard.
My apologies officer’s, I just
stepped in to prevent exactly that.

Dan grumbles under his breath and walks away. Maggie calms
down and extends a hand to Superman.

MAGGIE SAWYER
My partner may not be so willing to
show it, but thank you.

Superman shakes her hand and looks directly past her. We zoom
through the crowd and up the block a ways to see a suspicious
man in a brand new pickup truck eyeing the crime scene.
Maggie turns to see what Superman is staring at.

SUPERMAN
If you’ll excuse me, Officer...?

MAGGIE SAWYER
Sawyer. Detective Maggie Sawyer.

SUPERMAN
Well Detective I think I just
spotted the getaway car.

Superman takes to the air in a blur. Maggie watches him go,

her jaw hanging open as she tries to catch her breath. Lois
approaches her and notices the look on her face.

LOIS LANE
Yeah, that’s how I felt the first
time I saw him.

Superman returns moments later. He floats to the ground with

the truck raised high in one hand and its driver in the
other.

SUPERMAN
I’m sure you both have all sorts of
questions you’d like to ask this
gentleman, so I’ll leave you to it.
Pleasure to bump into you again,
Ms. Lane.

With a nod and a smile, Superman takes to the skies again and
is soon out of sight. Lois grabs Jimmy pulls Jimmy by the
jacket out of the crowd and tries to hail a cab.

JIMMY OLSON
Um, where are we going?
 35.

LOIS LANE
You’re going to get every picture
you took directly to Perry. I’m
going to write this story before
anyone else can beat us to the
headlines.

Jimmy gets into the cab and shrugs his shoulders. Lois gets
in after him.

INT. METROPOLIS CAB - DAY - CONTINUOUS

Jimmy looks towards the sky in wonder, his head hanging

slightly out the window.

JIMMY OLSON
Ya know, ya gotta wonder what a guy
like that does in his free time.

LOIS LANE
You are absolutely right for once
in your life, Olson.

Jimmy looks at Lois with surprise and then smiles widely.

JIMMY OLSON
Cool!

INT. THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE - SOMEWHERE IN THE ARTIC CIRCLE

- NIGHT

Superman lands inside the massive building made from shining

crystals that resemble massive icicles. He walks through the
fortress, passing a large chart of stars on a nearby wall and
a small panel of crystals that control the fortress.

KELEX, a floating kryptonian droid, hovers over to Superman

and the crystal panel.

KELEX
Kal-El, I wasn’t expecting you this
evening.

SUPERMAN
Good evening Kelex.

KELEX
Shall I load more historical files
into the holo-viewer? I believe you
left on part four hundred and fifty-
six of your father’s history of
krypton recordings.
 36.

SUPERMAN
Not tonight. Tonight I figured I
would see where the rest of the
world may need me.

KELEX
Now that I would be happy to assist
with.

A hand protrudes from the middle of Kelex with a small ear

bud shaped device in its grip. Superman takes it and holds it
up.

SUPERMAN
What’s this?

KELEX
A limitless range communicator. It
will give me access to communicate
with you no matter where you are,
even if you’re in orbit.

Superman places the device in his ear and turns to the

crystal panel.

SUPERMAN
Okay Kelex, where am I headed?

Kelex activates the panel and a holographic globe emirates

from the console. A glowing red beacon blinks on the globe
near South America.

KELEX
There seems to be a massive flood
causing quite the bit of trouble in
Brazil. You could start there.

Superman nods and takes off out of the fortress. Moments

later he is high above everything else and tearing through
the sky.

INT. LUTHOR CORP - LEX'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Lex stands in front of a massive window overlooking all of

Metropolis. Mercy enters the office, but Lex doesn’t turn to
face her.

LEX LUTHOR
Call Warden Granger at Strykers.
Let him know I’ll be visiting
tomorrow.

FADE TO BLACK.
37.