Superman Page #8

100CONTINUED

CLARK:

Hello, Lois ...

LOIS:

Hi there...

LOIS looks back at PERRY as CLARK slowly lowers his hand. PERRY crosses, still struggling with the bottle top.

LOIS:

Believe me, Chief, it's got

everything. Sex., violence, the

ethnic angle...

PERRY:

So does a lady wrestler with a foreign

accent.

(turns)

Here, Kent. Open this, will you?

PERRY hands CLARK the pop bottle as LOIS continues. CLARK struggles with it mightily, but to no avail.

LOIS:

Chief, this could be the basis for a

whole series of articles - "Making

sense of senseless killings", you know?

We get psychiatrists ...

LOIS takes the bottle away from the straining CLARK, raps it sharply twice on the arm of his chair hands it back to him.

LOIS:

...sociologists, interviews with the families...

PERRY:

Lois, you're pushing a pile of rinky-dink

tabloid crap. The Daily Planet has a tradition to ...

CLARK tries the bottle cap. It opens, suddenly fizzes out in a squirt from the agitation by LOIS. PERRY and LOIS turn, stare. CLARK winces shyly as the liquid dribbles down his pants leg. LOIS can't resist a smile, but sympathizes.

100CONTINUED

LOIS:

I'm sorry. I didn't shake it up on purpose.

CLARK:

(nicely)

Of course you didn't, Lois. Why would

anyone want a total stranger look like a fool?

CLARK smiles. LOIS looks back, unsure of how he meant that, as PERRY takes the bottle, from CLARK.

PERRY:

Lois, take Kent out there and introduce

him around. He's coming to work for the

paper. I'm putting him on the city beat.

LOIS:

(not happy)

My ... beat?

PERRY:

The competition'll do wonders for you. Listen.

Not only does this guy show proper respect

for his editor-in-chief ...

(baiting her)

not only does he have a snappy, punchy prose

style, but I swear to you that after forty years

in the business he is the fastest typist I have

ever seen.

LOIS stares warily at CLARK. His sincere expression never changes.

CLARK:

I'm sure I can learn a lot from you, Lois ...

(turns)

Oh, Mister White, could you arrange for half

my salary to be sent on a weekly basis to this

address?

CLARK hands PERRY a piece of pa per from his pocket.

100CONTINUED

LOIS:

Your bookie?

CLARK:

My what?

LOIS:

(archly)

Don't tell me. He sends a check every

week to his dear grey-haired old mother.

CI.ARK

(total sincerity)

Actually, she's silver-haired.

LOIS stares at him, stunned. He actually does send his mother money. CLARK manages a pleasant smile.

LOIS:

Are there any more at home like you7

CLARK:

Not really, no.

101EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - NIGHT - TRACKING SHOT

(note - scenes 101-129 have had "NIGHT" marked out and "DAY has been handwritten in.)

It is late at night. The street is semi-deserted as CLARK and LOIS walk along on their way back from work.

LOIS:

Well, Clark? So how did you enjoy your

first day on the job?

CLARK:

(checking his watch)

Frankly the hours were somewhat longer than

I expected, Lois, but then... meeting you and

Jimmy and Mr. White - on the whole I think it's

swell.

101CONTINUED

LOIS:

Swell.

(pause)

You know, Clark, there are very few

people left in the world these days who

sound comfortable saying that word ... "swell".

CLARK:

Really? It just sort of comes naturally to me.

As they pass an alleyway a VOICE is heard.

VOICE:

All right. Freeze. The both of you.

CAMERA STOPS, PANS: a rough-looking MUGGER stands just inside the darkened alleyway, a pistol leveled at them.

MUGGER:

Get in here.

CLARK and LOIS look around nervously for help. The street is deserted.

CLARK:

Better do as he says, Lois.

102INT. ALLEY - NIGHT (change to DAY)

CLARK and LOIS are forced up against the wall. CLARK seems nervous, LOIS grimly determined.

CLARK:

Listen, mister. I realize times are tough for

some these days, but ....

(total sincerity)

This isn't the answer. You can't solve society's

problems with a gun.

The MUGGER blinks. LOIS looks at CLARK unbelievingly.

MUGGER:

You know something, buddy? You're . right

I'm turning over a new leaf.

102CONTINUED

CLARK:

That's the spirit.

MUGGER:

Right after I rip off this lady's purse.

(to LOIS)

Now hand it over.

LOIS stares hard at him. Disgusted, she lets the purse drop. The MUGGER reaches down to pick it up. LOIS suddenly kicks him viciously in the neck, sending him reeling backwards: The MUGGER hits the pavement bringing up his gun with a deadly glare.

CLARK:

Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

CLARK rushes forward with his arms outstretched pleadingly as the MUGGER fires.

103INSERT SHOT - CLARK'S HAND

AT SUPER SPEED:
The bullet hits CLARK harmlessly in the palm of his hand. He closes his fist around it.

104BACK TO SCENE

CLARK'S eyes bulge. He drops to the ground with a look of agonized astonishment as LOIS screams.

LOIS:

Clark!

The frightened MUGGER scrambles to his feet, runs off down the alley as LOIS bends over CLARK.

LOIS:

Clark. . . oh, Clark . . . are you. . .

CLARK'S eyelids flutter, then open. with a sheepish smile. He looks up at LOIS

CLARK:

Wow ... I guess I must have fainted or something ...

104CONTINUED

LOIS:

(rising - disgusted)

Swell.

CLARK gets to his feet, dusts himself off.

CLARK:

Really, Lois. Supposing that man had shot

you? Is it worth risking your life over ten dollars,

two credit cards, a hairbrush, and a lipstick? I mean...

LOIS:

(strange expression)

How did you know that?

CLARK:

(suddenly nervous)

Know what?

LOIS:

You just described the exact contents of my purse.

CLARK:

(pause- smile)

Wild guess.

CLARK turns self-consciously, strides out of the alley as LOIS watches him curiously.

CLARK:

Taxi!

105EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - NIGHT (DAY)

CLARK and LOIS enter a cab, take off, CAMERA PANS to a newsstand on the corner.

106 CLOSE ON NEWSSTAND - DAY (DAY)

A large MAN (OTIS)in a slightly disheveled one-colour outfit which could pass for a uniform buys a newspaper. He checks the headlines and front page picture before paying, then starts off. CAMERA PANS: a police car is parked at a nearby corner directly in his path.

lO7INT. POLICE CAR - NIGHT (DAY)

TWO OFFICERS watch as OTIS approaches, passing under a streetlight.

Their eyes narrow suspiciously.

OFFICER #1

That's him, all right. Lex Luthor's right-hand

man. Let's get him.

OFFICER #2

Wait. Maybe he'll lead us to the man himself.

OFFICER #1

(too good to be true)

Lex Luthor...

OFFICER #2

You got it, Charlie. We both make Captain by

midnight.

They look through the windshield. OTIS has spotted their car, now hesitates.

108EXT. STREET - CLOSE ON OTIS (DAY)

OTIS suddenly doubles back, rounds a corner. The police car pulls away from the curb, rolls after him.

109EXT. STREET NEAR TRAIN STATION - NIGHT (DAY)

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