Superman Page #2

The gray mass of the Phantom Zone has entered through the open dome, closes down on the VILLANS, erasing the ring of white light as it progresses .

ZOD:

...Both you, and then one day,

your heirs!

REVISION 21/3/77

13CONTINUED

The Phantom Zone envelops the VILLANS, wiping them up in a linear, one-dimensional fashion, then sweeping them out toward space. ZOD is silenced.

14EXT. CITY AND .SPACE

The Phantom Zone travels quickly across the city, bearing the imprints of the THREE VILLANS, floats into space. CAMERA PANS OFF, DOWN at another specific building in the city, PUSHES IN, DISSOLVES THROUGH:

15INT. COUNCIL - DAY

A pristinely immaculate chamber that overlooks the city of Kryptonopolis. Austere, dominated by concentric circles around which the TWELVE ELDERS sit or stand. In the center of the inner circle revolved an intelligence source on which various information may be presented. JOR-EL enters the chamber, appearing almost through motivational volition than through physical propulsion. The ELDERS turn, look at him. JOR-EL is deeply concerned.

FIRST ELDER:

An unpleasant duty has been masterfully

performed, Jor-El. They have

received the fate they deserved -

isolation in the Phantom Zone - an

eternal living death.

JOR EL:

A... chance for life, nonetheless.

As opposed to us.

Consternation from the ELDERS. A suddenly angry JOR-EL gestures at the revolving intelligence source in the center - various unfathomable equations appear.

JOR-EL

You can't ignore these facts!

It's suicide! Worse! Genocide!

FIRST ELDER:

Jor-El, be warned. The Council has

already evaluated this... outlandish

theory of yours.

15CONTINUED

JOR-EL

My friends, you know me' to be

neither rash nor impulsive.

I am not given to wild, unsupported

statements. I tell you we must evacuate

this planet immediately!

FIRST ELDER:

You are one of Krypton' s greatest

scientists, Jor-El ...

SECOND ELDER:

But so is Vond-Ah.

VOND- AH

(rising)

Thank you ..

(to JOR-EL)

It isn't that I question your data.

The facts are undeniable.

VOND-AH gestures at the intelligence source. JOR-EL'S equations disappear, are immediately replaced by a new series. VOND-AH smiles thinly.

VOND-AH

It's your conclusions I find

unsupportable.

JOR-EL

This planet will explode within thirty

days! Sooner perhaps!

VOND- AH

I tell you Krypton is simply shifting

its orbit!

SECOND ELDER:

Jor-El, be reasonable...

JOR-EL

I have never been otherwise. The

madness is yours!

REVISION 21/3/77

15CONTINUED

FIRST ELDER:

(snaps firmly)

This discussion is terminated!

The decision of the council is

final.

(pause - to JOR-EL)

Any attempt by you to create A

Climate of fear and panic among

the populace must be deemed by

us an act of ... insurrection.

JOR-EL

You would accuse me of insurrection?

Has it now become a crime to cherish life?

FIRST ELDER:

(with reluctance)

You. . . would be banished to endless

imprisonment in the Phantom Zone - the

eternal void which you yourself discovered.

Deadly silence. The FIRST ELDER locks eyes with JOR-EL.

FIRST ELDER:

Will you abide by the Council's

decision?

JOR-EL

(long pause)

I will remain silent. Neither my wife

nor I will attempt to leave Krypton.

16EXT. KRYP'IONOPOLIS CITY OUTSKIRTS - DAY/NIGHT

JOR-EL'S house stands bathed in the strange glow of Kryptonian twilight.

17INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

Massive brightly glowing energy columns encircle the lab. JOR-EL works in the centre, passes his hands over portions of a gleaming, spiny, silvery object (rocket ship) as he places crystals inside it which respond to him with throbbing lights.

REVISION 21/3/77

18ANCLE ON LARA

LARA (JOR-EL'S wife) enters lab. Carried in her arms: A BABY, swaddled in three blankets of' red, blue, and yellow. The sad look on LARA'S face deepens as she stops, watches JOR-EL who senses her presence, turns.

LARA:

Have you ... .finished?

JOR-EL

Very nearly.

LARA turns away, shuts her eyes. JOR-EL crosses to her.

JOR-EL

It's the only answer Lara. If he remains here

he as will die as surely as. . .

(she looks)

we will.

LARA:

(pleading)

But why earth, Jor-El. They're primitives.

Thousands of years behind us.

JOR-EL

He will need that advantage to survive.

Their atmosphere will sustain him ...

LARA:

He win defy their gravity ...

JOR-EL

He will look like one of them.

LARA:

But he won't be one of them.

JOR-EL

His dense molecular structure will make

him strong ...

18CONTINUED

JOR-EL

Fast. Virtually invulnerable ...

LARA:

Isolated. Alone ...

JOR-EL looks at her with compassion, but with the strength to cut her off..

JOR-EL

He will not be alone. He will never...

be alone.

19INT. COUNCIL OF ELDERS - NIGHT

The COUNCIL OF ELDERS, still in session, listen attentively to a MILITARY OFFICER standing before them.

MILITARY OFFICER

The energy input to Jor-El's quarters is

now in excess. Our Data indicates the

loss is due to a mis-use of energy.

The FIRST ELDER exchanges a worried glance at the SECOND ELDER, then looks back at the OFFICER.

FIRST ELDER:

Investigate.

SECOND ELDER:

And if the Data proves correct?

FIRST ELDER:

(pause)

He knew the penalty he faced. Even

as a member of this Council. The law

will be upheld.

20INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

CAMERA CLOSE ON JOR-EL, LARA, and the BABY, their glowing auras spilling across the SCREEN as the parents stare down at their offspring. A loving, almost beatific family portrait. LARA'S eyes flutter. Tears run down her cheek.

REVISION 22/377

20CONTINUED

JOR-EL

(sad whisper)

You will travel far, my little Kal-El.

But I will never leave you. Even in

the face of my death the richness of my

life shall be yours. All that I have learned,

everything I feel, all of this and more I have

bequeathed to you my son. You shall carry me

inside you all your days. You will make my

strength your own, see my life through your eyes,

as your .life will be seen through mine. The son

becomes the father the father becomes the son. This

is all that I can send with you , Kal-El. And not

near so rich a gift as that your mother sends

along. Her ... love.

21 EXT. CITY - DAY/NIGHT

Three MILITARY MEN descend an enclosed glass walkway to a frantically pulsating aura hovering above the ground. They enter the aura, take off quickly through the streets, past a tall structure. A tremor suddenly shakes the ground - a thin fissure appears on the side of the structure.

22INT. JOR-EL' S LABORATORY - NICHT

The massive energy columns throb with white light. The BABY has been fastened in a module, wrapped in his blankets. LARA reluctantly steps back as JOR-EL places the last crystals inside, including a green one, secures and seals all openings. The BABY vanishes from sight. The module automatically slides into a larger spacecraft and is sealed in.

23EXT. CITY

The military aura speeds along as giant crystal formations suddenly begin to erupt, bend and crack.

24 INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY

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