LOIS & CLARK_
The New Adventures of Superman
STRANGE VISITOR (From Another Planet)
Episode #2
Written by: BRYCE ZABEL
Directed by:RANDY ZISK
INTERIORS: EXTERIORS:
DAILY PLANET GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Pit
Perry's Office STRATOSPHERE
Conference Room
Outside Conference Room FURNITURE WAREHOUSE
Lois's Desk
Library KENT FARM
CAT'S APARTMENT CRASH SITE
Living Room
Closet MILITARY JET
LOIS'S APARTMENT ABOVE METROPOLIS
GOVERNMENT BUILDING OFFICE DAILY PLANET
Rooftop
Street Level
KENT HOME
Dining Room
METROPOLIS HOME
Private Den
FURNITURE WAREHOUSE
Back Room
Bureau 39 Storage Room
Floor
MILITARY JET
_LOIS & CLARK_
"_Strange Visitor_"
_CAST_
CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN
LOIS
PERRY
JIMMY
CAT GRANT
JASON TRASK
TECHNICIAN
AGENT
LUCY
GEORGE THOMPSON
JONATHAN
MARTHA
BURTON NEWCOMB
SOLDIER #1
SOLDIER #2
SWAT LEADER
_TEASER_
FADE IN:
1 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - DAY 1
CLARK bangs away at his word processor. LOIS passes by,
tries to sneak a casual glance. Clark stops what he's doing.
CLARK
Adopted kids looking for their
birth parents, if you have to know.
Lois ticks off points on her fingers.
LOIS
Search for roots. Emotional
roller-coaster. Unrealistic
expectations. Tear-jerker
reconciliations.
CLARK
(impressed)
Quick study.
LOIS
Not really. I did it three years
ago.
Clark is not going to let Lois get to him.
CLARK
There are no old stories, just
new angles.
LOIS
Seems to me if your real parents
don't care enough to raise you,
then why give them a second
thought?
CLARK
Because if they gave you away,
they must have had a reason.
And it's the not knowing that
kills you.
The fact that Clark is really speaking from the heart
about his own situation is lost on Lois.
LOIS
Good. You take the touchy-feely
stuff, I'll take Superman.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 2.
1 CONTINUED: 1
Clark watches Lois breeze off, turns back to his word
processor. JIMMY, who's been looking at a picture of Lois
with her sister, Lucy, on her desk, catches up with Lois
in mid-stride.
JIMMY
Smooth outfit, Lois. New?
LOIS
What do you want, Olsen?
JIMMY
I was just thinking -- since your
kid sister's new in town -- maybe *
she'd like somebody to ... you
know, show her around.
LOIS
You want to ask Lucy out?
JIMMY
Do I have a shot?
LOIS
I'll need a complete financial
statement and the results of a
recent physical.
Jimmy looks nonplussed. Lois stops, smiles.
LOIS (Cont'd)
I'm kidding, Jimmy.
JIMMY
You don't think she'll laugh in
my face?
LOIS
(shrugs)
Use the telephone.
Suddenly, both elevators open simultaneously. JASON TRASK,
a man of ram-rod military bearing crossed with a maniacal
sense of mission, bursts onto the floor, followed by about a
dozen MEN-IN-BLACK. They are frozen-faced, agent-types,
dressed in off-the:-rack dark suits, plain ties and shirts. *
Trask holds an-official document over his head:
TRASK
This is a warrant issued by
Federal Court.
The agents spread throughout the room, securing the
premises and exits.
(CONTINUED)
3.
1 CONTINUED: (2) 1
TRASK
Everyone: Step away from your
desks!
PERRY bursts forth from his office, intercepts Trask.
PERRY
Nobody comes busting into my
newsroom like this!
Trask simply hands him the warrant.
TRASK
Take it up with Washington.
PERRY
(scanning)
Order to produce evidence ...
compel testimony ...
(shocked)
Lois Lane and Clark Kent!
As if in answer, an agent begins searching Lois's desk.
Lois goes ballistic, screaming at him, literally prying
him away with her own hands.
LOIS
Wait a minute!
A second agent moves to pull her off the first. Lois,
however, is a handful and soon a third agent is involved.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Get your hands off me!
Clark moves to help, puts an arm on an agent's shoulder.
Instinctively, the agent whirls around, producing a weapon.
A moment of serious tension before Trask warns the
agent:
TRASK
Put it away. He's just a reporter.
The agent holsters his weapon. Lois struggles free of the
agent restraining her, confronts Trask.
LOIS
Reporter. As in, protected by
the Constitution.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/14/93 (Blue) 4.
1 CONTINUED: (3) 1
TRASK
Impressive document.
(holds up warrant)
It gives the courts the authority
to issue warrants like this one.
Which says I get what I want.
CLARK
What _exactly_ is that?
TRASK
Mister Kent, I presume?
(off his nod)
I want _Superman_. And I'm not
leaving until you tell me where I
can find him.
OFF Clark's reaction, we:
FADE OUT.
_END OF TEASER_
5
_ACT ONE_
FADE IN:
2 INT. DAILY PLANET - PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 2
Clark nervously shoots paper wads into the waste basket.
When one of them is about to miss, Clark uses his _SUPER-_
_BREATH_ to maneuver it into place. Lois peeks through the
blinds, sees Trask and Perry arguing while the Men-in-Black
continue their plunder.
LOIS
Do they honestly think if we knew
where Superman was, we'd hang
around this place?
Lois turns, sees one paper wad dropping from a floating
position directly above the waste basket. She looks at
Clark funny, distracted by Perry entering, closing the
door behind him.
PERRY
Okay, here's the deal. They want
the two of you to take a
polygraph --
LOIS
-- _what_?! --
PERRY
-- limited to national security
concerns about Superman --
CLARK
-- _a lie detector_?! --
PERRY
-- so I told them to stuff it.
Not _my_ reporters, no thank you.
CLARK
(relieved)
Right.
LOIS
Good for you.
PERRY
I told them if they're bound and
determined to take your computers
and your notes to just get it over
with and get out of the office so
we can start suing their butts
into the next century.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/27/93 (Gold) 6.
2 CONTINUED: 2
LOIS
Take my _computer_?
PERRY
You talk, they walk. You don't,
they're gonna confiscate the
whole shebang.
LOIS
Perry, everything I've ever done,
or thought about doing is on that
computer. All my contacts, all my
research... my _novel_!
Clark reacts to the suggestion of a novel. Lois shoots back
a look that says don't ask.
CLARK
Don't you back up onto floppy
disks?
LOIS
Clark, this is no time to discuss
your compulsive behavior. *
PERRY
So what are we going to do, folks?
I'm with you either way.
Clark looks apoplectic. Lois just shrugs. The stakes
have reversed for both of them.
*
CLARK
(frantic)
What about the First Amendment,
Lois?
LOIS
Clark, they pulled a gun on you.
To these guys the First Amendment
is a pesky little detail.
CLARK
I can't do this. _We_ can't!
LOIS
Clark, if we knew _anything_, I'd
agree. But this is like taking
a polygraph about the ring-tailed
lemur.
Perry nods. Turns to Clark.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/21/93 (Pink) 7.
2 CONTINUED: (2) 2
PERRY
She's got a point. We don't know
enough about Superman to lie.
(seeing Clark's
nervousness)
Kent, you know something you
haven't told us?
Perry and Lois look to Clark, now caught in the trap.
CUT TO:
3 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 3
Lois is hooked up to a polygraph machine. Trask asks the
questions and a TECHNICIAN administers the machine.
TRASK
You will answer 'yes' to these first
two questions. We use this to
calibrate the machine.
(beat)
Is your name Lois Lane?
LOIS
That's what the by-line says. Yes.
TRASK
Are you also President of the United
States?
LOIS
(rolls eyes)
Yes.
4 INT. DAILY PLANET - OUTSIDE CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 4
Clark stands with his back to a couple of Men-in-Black.
He has his eyes closed, fingers on his wrist. We hear the
AMPLIFIED SOUND OF a RAPID PULSEBEAT.
After a few moments of concentration, the PULSE BEGINS TO
SLOW. Clark snaps out of his biofeedback loop, cocks his
head toward the conference room. We sense he is listening
in.
8.
5 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 5
Trask looks at Lois, exasperated. Lois's answers drip
with attitude and sarcasm.
TRASK
Do you have any reason to believe
Superman is an agent of a foreign
power?
LOIS
Yeah, and leprechauns are agents
of the I.R.A.
TRASK
Is Superman from another planet?
LOIS
If something looks like a duck,
walks like a duck and talks like
a duck, the chances are pretty good
it is a duck.
(beat)
He looks like a man to me.
TRASK
During the time you two were
alone, did Superman discuss his
mission here on Earth?
LOIS
Mission? We flew. We didn't talk.
We didn't have to.
TRASK
(quietly; to
Technician)
Non-verbal communication.
(to Lois)
Does Superman have any telepathic
powers?
LOIS
I hope not.
Trask looks hard at Lois. Obviously has no sense of
humor. And, he thinks he senses an opening.
TRASK
Have you any romantic attachment to
this Superman?
Lois laughs.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 9.
5 CONTINUED: 5
TRASK (Cont'd)
Yes or no?
LOIS
No.
The Technician notices a fluctuation, points it out to
Trask. They share a look, suspicions growing. They turn
their attention back to Lois who just shrugs.
CUT TO:
6 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER 6
Clark is strapped in, his turn at bat, looking very, very
concerned.
TRASK
You will answer 'yes' to these
first two questions. We use
this to calibrate the machine.
(beat)
Is your name Clark Kent?
CLARK
Yes.
TRASK
Are you also Superman?
CLARK
(freaking)
Yes.
Trask turns to the Technician. He looks at the read-out
which, in contrast to Lois's, seems to barely register.
They speak confidentially. Clark uses his SUPER-HEARING
to eavesdrop.
TRASK
Why isn't this reading as a lie?
The Technician slams the polygraph machine on the side with
his hand.
TECHNICIAN
Either the machine's broken again
or this reporter's so mild-
mannered he hasn't got a pulse.
Ask him again.
Trask turns back to Clark.
(CONTINUED)
10.
6 CONTINUED: 6
TRASK
Remember to answer 'yes' now.
Are you Superman?
Clark looks toward the polygraph needle.
CLARK
Yes.
He aims a short burst of _SUPER-BREATH_ at the polygraph.
The needle shoots up all the way. The Technician turns
to Trask.
TECHNICIAN
Working.
TRASK
All right, Mister Kent, let's
proceed. Have you ever met
Superman?
Clark's face is beginning to flush, bright red.
CLARK
Met him? I've seen him in
action if that's what you mean,
but we haven't actually had a
conversation...
Trask focuses his gaze on Clark, who squirms uncomfortably.
CLARK (Cont'd)
I guess you could say we've met,
Yes.
Clark now begins to _LEVITATE_ out of his seat. Pulls himself
back down, grips hard on the chair arms. There is a slight
BREAKING SOUND.
TRASK
Is he from this Earth?
CLARK
(the truth)
I don't know.
TRASK
Can you take us to Superman right
now?
CLARK
Take you ... ?
TRASK
Can you contact Superman?
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/16/93 (Green) 11.
6 CONTINUED: (2) 6
Clark's legs, nervously intertwined around the chair
legs, tense, breaking the chair. He supports himself
without them.
CLARK
Uh, you mean, by phone or
something?
TRASK
(exasperated)
By any means possible. Telepathy,
for example. Can you contact
Superman?
CLARK
(lying)
No.
The AGENT with the headset interrupts.
AGENT
Perimeter's been penetrated.
Trask frowns, nods. The Agent disappears outside the
door and the Technician begins dismantling his set-up,
pulling wires off Clark. As they do, Trask turns to
Clark:
TRASK
Mister Kent, I don't need a
polygraph to tell me when I'm
being lied to. I can see it in
the eyes.
(drilling Clark) *
We're not finished. *
Trask takes off. Clark sighs and stands. As he does,
the entire chair collapses.
7 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - CONTINUOUS ACTION - DAY 7
Trask strides onto the floor, claps his hands. Agentsimmediately cease what they are doing, follow after him
toward the elevators.
PERRY
What's going on? I want an
explanation.
(CONTINUED)
12.
7 CONTINUED: 7
Trask doesn't answer. Simply gets on the elevators with
the rest of the agents. As quickly as they came, Trask
and company have gone. As the elevator doors close, CAT,
wearing another outrageous outfit, exclaims:
CAT
It was horrible the way they
treated us. That agent frisked
me _twice_!
Perry begins barking orders to various staffers.
PERRY
Biederman, let's get legal on
this right away.
(to Clark, Lois)
Lane, Kent, type up your notes
and give them to Valdes. She's
writing this.
(claps hands
together)
Rest of you, get back to it.
People snap back into action. Perry heads back to his
office, but he's intercepted by Lois and Clark.
LOIS
What do you mean, 'type up
your notes'? This is my story!
CLARK
_Our_ story.
LOIS
Seniority.
PERRY
You two _are_ the story right
now. In case those goons come
back with subpoenas, I want you
out of here A.S.A.P.
CLARK
I guess I can work at home.
PERRY
Home?! _Anywhere_ but home. Don't
be where they can serve you. Wear
your beepers. We'll call you.
Perry storms off purposefully. Lois and Clark look
to their ransacked desks in frustration. Cat approaches
Clark.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 13.
7 CONTINUED: (2) 7
CAT
Since you're a man in hiding, this
is the perfect time for you to have
dinner at my place.
CLARK
You and me?
CAT
Unless you think we'll need a
chaperon.
Clark looks a little concerned, but feels trapped. Nods
his agreement.
8 INT. CAT'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 8
Cat steps inside first. Clark follows, warily. Cat
shuts the door.
CAT
I'm going to change into something
more comfortable.
Cat disappears into the back room. Clark gulps. He takes
a moment to look around. Although certain pieces of art
have an erotic theme, they are still tasteful.
8A INT. CAT'S CLOSET - NIGHT 8A *
Featuring a wild profusion of outfits, many of the risque *
and outrageous variety. Cat holds up one of these, con-
siders it, puts it back. Tries another, then another.
Finally, she shakes her head, says to herself:
CAT
Farm boy moves to the big city.
He's looking for a little piece of
home.
Cat focuses on a particular choice, which we do not see.
CAT (Cont'd)
And that's just what he's going
to get.
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 14.
8B INT. CAT'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 8B
Clark's attention is now on a wall full of books and maga-
zines. Everything from famous biographies to works by
Henry James and D.H. Lawrence. Cat reappears wearing jeans
and a sweatshirt. Clark breathes a sigh of relief.
CAT
I think a Pinot Noir would be nice.
I've got one chilling.
Cat moves past Clark into the kitchen area, pulls a
bottle out of the refrigerator and begins to pour them
each a glass of wine. Clark watches, speaks to her
through the pass-through counter area.
CLARK
You've got quite a library.
CAT
I do read.
CLARK
I know you do. Maybe your place is
just different than I was expecting...
CAT
You haven't seen the bedroom.
(off Clark's
reaction)
Relax. I may never show it to you
either.
Cat smiles, CLINKS her wine CLASS against Clark's.
CLARK
You're full of surprises..
CAT
You have no idea.
CUT TO:
9 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 9
LUCY sprawls on the sofa, thumbing a magazine when the door
opens and Lois enters. From the second she is in the apart-
ment, Lois is in motion, grabbing items and throwing them
into an overnight bag.
LOIS
I'm not here -- and I'm not staying
if anybody calls, tell them I was
_never_ here don't even admit that
I live here --
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/30/93 (White) 15.
9 CONTINUED 9
Lucy gets off the couch, begins to follow Lois around the
apartment, watching closely as the items go in the bag.
LOIS (Cont'd)
if someone knocks, don't open the
door unless you know who they are --
don't sign anything -- don't accept
any deliveries -- I don't know where
I'm going -- don't call me, I'll call
you. You got all this?
Lucy nods.
LUCY
It's a man thing, right?
The PHONE RINGS. Lois freezes.
(CONTINUED) *
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 15A.
9 CONTINUED: (2) 9
LUCY
Lois, chill. You're not here,
you don't exist, I don't know you,
we've never met.
Lois nods. Lucy picks up the phone.
LUCY (Cont'd)
Hello?.
(covers.phone;
to Lois)
Some Southern guy with a real
attitude. Says to turn on your
beeper or you're fired.
LOIS
(taking phone)
Hi, Perry...
CUT TO:
10 INT. CAT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 10
Clark and Cat are sitting on the couch, eating from a tray
of cheese and crackers, talking. There's CLASSICAL MUSIC
PLAYING in the b.g.
CLARK
So what made you get into the
gossip business?
CAT
Clark, we're all in the gossip
business.
CLARK
Yeah, but you get paid for it. *
CAT
I got the best stuff. You'd be
surprised the kind of secrets
people carry around with them.
(smiles)
You have any secrets, Clark?
Cat begins to run her finger up Clark's leg. Clark's
BEEPER GOES OFF. He moves quickly away, begins to tap out a
number on the telephone.
CLARK
Must be the office.
Cat points a zapper at her stereo. Clark is surprised to
hear the CLASSICAL MUSIC FADE, replaced by the sound of
JUNGLE DRUMS.
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 16.
11 INTERCUT CAT'S APARTMENT/DAILY PLANET 11
Perry sits with Lois next to him in his conference room.
He speaks into the phone.
PERRY
Kent, there's a new development.
I'm sending Jimmy in the van to
pick you up.
CLARK
(quickly)
I'll grab a taxi.
PERRY
Where are you anyway? My God,
Kent, it sounds like... _jungle_
_drums_...
CLARK
Just a sec ...
Lois motions for Perry to let her talk.
Clark puts the phone down, indicates the zapper to lower
the volume of the drums. Cat grabs the phone.
Lois shouts into the phone:
LOIS
Quit playing games, Clark. Where
are you?
In response, Cat purrs back:
CAT
Clark's busy, Lois. Why don't
you give him a few minutes to
freshen up first?
Clark looks aghast. Jungle drums, now this. Cat covers
the phone, shrugs
*
CUT TO:
12 INT. DAILY PLANET CONFERENCE ROOM NIGHT 12
Clark arrives, finds Lois at the table with stacks of
files spread out before her.
LOIS
Look what the Cat dragged in.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green)1 7/18.
12 CONTINUED: 12
CLARK
You got the wrong idea, Lois.
LOIS
Cat Grant's bedroom has more comings
and goings than Metro Station. You're
just another commuter.
CLARK
(frustrated)
Just tell me what's going on.
LOIS
What's going on is that the warrant's
phony.
That hits Clark like a sucker punch. He sinks to a chair.
CLARK
Phony?
Perry enters with a computer print-out.
PERRY
Phony as a lock of Elvis's hair
from a Memphis souvenir shop. Our
lawyers called Justice, F.B.I.,
State, C.I.A. They even called
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
LOIS
Nobody in Washington wants to
claim those boys.
CLARK
_So who are they_?
LOIS
All we know is that they think
their job is to hunt down Superman.
PERRY
Which makes it Your job, boys and
girls, to find them first.
Clark knows Perry speaks a truth that goes beyond
journalism into self-preservation, and we:
FADE OUT.
_END OF ACT ONE_
19.
_ACT TWO_
FADE IN:
13 INT. DAILY PLANET LOIS'S DESK - DAY 13
Lois is at the keyboard with Clark sitting in a chair pulled
up alongside, each fixated on the screen, not looking at
each other. Clark points.
CLARK
That should read, 'A spokesperson
for the FBI.'
LOIS
What?
CLARK
Second 'graph. You have it saying
'The FBI says it has no existing
operations concerning Superman.'
The FBI isn't a person. It can't
speak.
LOIS
Clark, that's why we have editors.
Interrupted by the approach of Cat:
CAT
Morning, Lois, Clark. Sleep
tight?
Cat kisses Clark on the cheek.
CAT (Cont'd)
_I_ did.
Cat takes off. Lois turns to Clark, hands on hips.
CLARK
_Nothing happened_.
LOIS
Clark, you can do the horizontal
rhumba with the entire MetNet
cheerleading squad for all I care.
Lois takes the story out of the printer and walks off.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Just keep your hands off my copy.
Frustrated, Clark puts his head in his hands. A beat, then
Jimmy approaches.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 20.
13 CONTINUED: 13
JIMMY
Hey, CK, it's all over the
newsroom.
Clark looks up, confused.
JIMMY (Cont'd)
You and the Catwoman. I didn't
think anybody could come up with
something as juicy as yesterday's
raid, but you've done it.
CLARK
(one more time)
I haven't done anything.
JIMMY
Hey, this is me you're talking to.
Jimmy takes a seat next to Clark, leans forward
conspiratorially.
JIMMY (Cont'd)
I'm going to need details,
specificity. The who, what, where,
when, how and why.
(beat)
Actually, I've got the _who_ and _why_
already figured out. But I'm
really curious about the _how_.
CLARK
Forget it.
JIMMY
To be honest, I never thought of
asking you for advice about...
women... until now. But I'm
thinking about Lois's sister...
(whisper)
Ssshh. Here she comes.
(loud voice)
Great piece of journalism there,
CK.
Jimmy slaps Clark an the back, takes off, smiling at the
approaching Lois. Lois watches him go, turns to Clark.
LOIS
Sorry to interrupt your male
bonding, but we have a break in
the story.
CUT TO:
21.
14 INT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING - OFFICE - DAY 14
GEORGE THOMPSON, a very highly placed member of the
government power structure, is on the phone, livid. A
closed, locking, briefcase sits on the desk next to him.
THOMPSON
I'll tell you why I'm in
Metropolis! The Director himself
sent me here... To clean up the
mess you started with that raid on
_The Daily Planet_! ... No! _I_ call
the shots on Bureau 39, not you.
Standby.
(INTERCOM BUZZES;
listens)
Send them in.
(punches button)
No. Stay where you are. I'm coming
over as soon as I bury this story
with these reporters. You hear me,
Trask? Trask?!
We hear a DIAL TONE. Thompson fumes, hangs up. Lois and
Clark enter and he forces a smile as they AD-LIB
introductions.
CLARK
So you just flew in from
Washington?
THOMPSON
Bullet train. I'm not much for
flying. You?
Clark shakes his head. Lois starts her small cassette tape
recorder, places it on the desk. Thompson eyes it
suspiciously.
LOIS
Who exactly do you work for?
THOMPSON
I'm a kind of government ombudsman.
I go where the problems are. Right
now my job is to get to the bottom
of this 'incident' at _The Planet_.
LOIS
That's our job, too. What can you
tell us?
THOMPSON
Not much. The first step in our
investigation process is to
gather all eyewitness accounts.
(CONTINUED)
22.
14 CONTINUED: 14
LOIS
_Your_ investigation?! What about
_our_ investigation?
THOMPSON
That's the other reason I'm here.
Understand that we do not take it
lightly when someone passes
themself off as an agent of the
U.S. government. Can you give us
a physical description of any of
the people involved?
LOIS
(ready to explode)
Let me get this straight. You're
here to interview _us_?
THOMPSON
Well, yes. But also to advise you
to stay out of harm's way.
Anybody who would do this is a
danger...
As Lois and Thompson continue to fence over who knows what,
Clark makes use of his X-RAY VISION to see inside Thompson's
attache case. He sees a file that reads, "Incident Analysis:
Eyes Only."
Looking inside still further, Clark sees an itemization that
includes Roswell, New Mexico, 1947 -- White Mountains,
Arizona 1975 -- Gulf Breeze, Florida, 1986 -- Voronezh,
USSR, 1989. Most amazing of all, however, is one heading
labeled: _Smallville, Kansas, 1966_!
Clark is shaken to the core by what he sees. As Thompson
continues, we are with CLARK'S POV now, and all sound
drains from the room. We see Thompson moving his lips now,
and Lois talking back to him, but we hear nothing. Just the
dead, numbing silence that Clark feels. Clark is brought
back by:
LOIS
Come on, Clark. Let's go.
Clark sees Lois flip her reporter's notebook shut, reach to
turn off the tape recorder.
CLARK
Go?
LOIS
It's obvious Mister Thompson here
doesn't know anything.
(CONTINUED)
23.
14 CONTINUED: (2) 14
OFF Clark's reaction. He's not so sure.
CUT TO:
15 EXT. GOVERNMENT BUILDING - DAY 15
Lois and Clark walk down the steps. Lois checks Clark out.
He looks dazed. Clark really wants to follow up the Small-
ville connection. Lois really wants to work the story by
herself. What they say is:
CLARK
You know, Lois, I'm not feeling
that great. Maybe I should go
home and lie down.
LOIS
(overly sincere)
Sometimes you have to put yourself
above the story.
CLARK
I don't want to leave you in the
lurch.
LOIS
You're not. It's not like we're
a team or anything. Do you want
a ride?
CLARK
I'll walk. Maybe the fresh air
will help.
Lois indicates a nearby phone booth.
LOIS
I think I'll make some calls.
CLARK
I'll meet you back at the paper.
LOIS
Sure. Feel better.
Clark takes off. Lois moves to the phone. As soon as they
think the other is no longer watching, they both walk faster.
Lois gets to the phone booth, begins punching out a number.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Jimmy? Lois. I want you to pull
everything on a George Thompson.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 24.
15 CONTINUED: 15
She notices Thompson exiting, going to a waiting sedan.
Lois hangs up, moves into the street to hail a cab in
order to follow. As she does, there's a growing commotion
on the street and people point and shout.
VARIOUS
Look! What is that? It's
Superman. You're kidding. It's
him all right.
Lois looks up into the sky, sees the red and blue costume
streaking across Metropolis. She says quietly:
LOIS
Be careful up there.
CUT TO:
16 EXT. STRATOSPHERE - DAY 16
SUPERMAN, in full costume, STREAKS ACROSS THE SKY. As we
pick him up in flight, he's moving with the speed of a
light plane.
He's in a hurry, however, and he stretches his arms out fully
in front of him, and begins to pick up speed... as fast as
a commercial airline ... then a jet aircraft... and finally,
he disappears into a point of light, arcing across the
horizon.
17 EXT. FURNITURE WAREHOUSE - DAY 17
A sign on the building proclaims, "Bessolo Discount Used
Office Furniture." The sedan stops in front of the building
and Thompson exits. A cab pulls up, drops Lois off.
18 INT. BUREAU 39 - STORAGE WAREHOUSE - DAY 18
We see only that this is a large concrete floor, full of
pallets, file cabinets and, in the distance, what appears to
be metal debris. Thompson and Trask are in the middle of an
argument, definitely in each other's faces. *
TRASK
(cold menace) *
My mission is to identify alien
threats to the security of this
country.
THOMPSON
Superman?!
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 25.
18 CONTINUED: 18
TRASK
(nods)
The advance guard. If we don't
resist him, they send in the others.
All these years of waiting, and now
they're here.
THOMPSON
So what's your plan? You're going
to capture Superman and dissect him?
TRASK
I don't want to study him. I want
to kill him before he kills us.
THOMPSON
Trask, your reckless freelancing
is jeopardizing the integrity of
the entire Bureau 39 operation.
TRASK
You don't know anything about
Bureau 39! You sit with those
gutless paper pushers in Washington
who are too stupid to know we're
even in a war, let alone know how
to fight it!
THOMPSON
That's just more of your insane
paranoia.
TRASK
Open your eyes! They're coming
after us. A few people will die
in the struggle, yes, but we
either draw the line or we
capitulate. I will never submit.
Thompson sighs, hands Trask a piece of paper.
THOMPSON
This orders you to turn over
command and control of all your
military assets to civilian
authority. Me.
TRASK
You can't shut me down.
THOMPSON
I can and I will. I have the
authority.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 26.
18 CONTINUED: (2) 18
Trask glares at Thompson then, without warning, he back- *
hands him across the face, knocking him to the ground. He *
stands over him. *
*
TRASK
You have no authority.
Trask motions to a couple of nearby soldiers who approach, *
grab Thompson.
TRASK (Cont'd)
Have you ever seen Metropolis
Bridge by moonlight? Over five
hundred men gave fifteen years of
their lives to build it. But you,
George, you can experience the
majesty of that bridge in seconds.
I'm sure it'll be a thrill. Too
bad you won't be able to tell me
about it.
Trask turns on his heel and walks away. His FOOTSTEPS ECHO
ON the CONCRETE. Thompson protests, but is hustled away by
the men-in-black, as we:
CUT TO:
19 OMITTED 19
19A INT. KENT HOME - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 19A
The CAMERA MOVES SLOWLY OVER a collection of family photos.
We see Clark as a young boy, growing up in Smallville,
seemingly normal, even in a football uniform. As the CAMERA
MOVES ON PAST the window, we see Superman making a landing on
the porch.
20 INT. KENT HOME - DINING ROOM - NIGHT 20
Now dressed in his civvies, Clark eats a candlelight dinner
with his parents, JONATHAN and MARTHA. Clark picks at his
main course. Martha notices.
MARTHA
You don't like vegetarian, do you?
Clark doesn't answer. His mind is far away.
JONATHAN
He's confused. He probably doesn't
know whether to plant it or _eat_ it!
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 26A/27.
20 CONTINUED: 20
Clark snaps out of it, hearing his father say "eat it." He
begins to do so at _SUPER-SPEED_. In mere seconds, his plate
is clean and his glass is empty. As Clark wipes with a
napkin, he's a little amazed at himself, too. Martha and
Jonathan trade glances. What's going on?
JONATHAN (Cont'd)
Looks like he's missed your cooking.
MARTHA
Clark, honey, you just inhaled that.
Something's on your mind, isn't it?
After a moment, Clark realizes he has to come clean.
CLARK
I want to hear everything you know
about how you found me.
_Everything_.
JONATHAN
(carefully)
It was May 17th, 1966. We were
driving past Simpson Quarry, just
due west of the Elbow River.
MARTHA
We saw this thing in the sky. At
first we thought it was one of
those I.C.B.M.'s.
JONATHAN
But that ship came streaking
across the sky in front of us. *
It was hard to ignore. *
MARTHA
We found you and took you home.
Your eyes were so big and wide,
and that diaper-thing they had you
in made you look so cute --
JONATHAN
Martha! There were some men who
were around town a few days later,
asking questions. *
CLARK
What kind of men?
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/14/93 (Blue) 28.
20 CONTINUED: (2) 20
MARTHA,
They said they were with the space
program. Said they thought some
debris from a Russian satellite
came down around here. Wanted to
know if we knew anything about it.
CLARK
What'd you tell them?
JONATHAN
(firmly)
Nothing.
MARTHA
There was something about them.
Something scary.
JONATHAN
We didn't want people who'd shoot
you into space to get their hands
on you. We figured even if you
were a Russian, you were only a
Russian baby.
CLARK
Is that what you think I am? A
Russian _experiment_?
MARTHA
Honey, we don't care if you're a
Russian or a Martian. And we didn't
care then. You were ours. That's
all we knew and we weren't giving
you to anybody.
(beat)
That's why your father went back to
where we found you.
DISSOLVE TO:
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 29.
21 _FLASHBACK_ - CRASH SITE NIGHT 21
Under a moonlit sky, a young Jonathan stands before the
indistinct remains of a spaceship.
JONATHAN (V.O.)
We figured that spaceship had to
be destroyed so nobody'd ever have
any evidence how you got here.
Jonathan empties a five gallon container of gasoline on the
spaceship.
JONATHAN (V.0.) (Cont'd)
I planned to burn it good, then
haul it to the dump.
With trembling hands, he produces a book of matches. He
removes a match. It stands ready on the striker. The match
is lit and lights a torch.
Jonathan looks up in the sky, toward the moon, through the
burning flame.
DISSOLVE TO:
22 ANOTHER FLAME 22
A candle burning. We are in:
23 INT. KENT FARM - DINING ROOM - NIGHT 23
Jonathan looks stricken. He puts his fork down. He can't
eat and, seemingly, he can't speak.
CLARK
Dad, it's okay. Destroying it was
probably the right thing to do.
JONATHAN
Probably was.
(confessing)
But I didn't.
MARTHA
(shocked)
Jonathan! Why didn't you tell me?
JONATHAN
I couldn't, Martha.
(to Clark)
It was part of you, son. I just
couldn't.
CUT TO:
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 30.
24 EXT. CRASH SITE - NIGHT 24
Under the light of the full moon, Clark, Jonathan and
Martha stand at the crash site. Jonathan paces from a tree
with a pioneer wagon wheel leaned up against it, putting
one foot after another in front of him.
JONATHAN
68 paces due north. Thirteen
paces West.
Clark and Martha stand together, watching.
MARTHA
Are you sure this is the right
place?
JONATHAN
That's the wagon wheel. Hasn't
moved in over twenty-five years.
Martha sees Clark's worried face.
MARTHA
Are you okay, son? I know this
must be hard on you.
CLARK
What's hard is not knowing. My *
parents had to give me up. Why? *
Where are they? *
Martha looks away, hurt in her eyes. Clark tries to cover.
CLARK (Cont'd)
You and Dad are my parents. You
know that. Nobody will ever
replace you.
MARTHA
Oh, we know, Clark. You wouldn't
be human if you didn't have
questions.
CLARK
Mom, what if I'm _not_ human?
MARTHA
Maybe we shouldn't have told you
about being adopted.
CLARK
That would've been hard after I
started bench pressing cars.
(CONTINUED)
L&C "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 31.
24 CONTINUED: 24
Clark smiles at Martha and she smiles back. Jonathan
finishes the last few steps. Points at the ground.
JONATHAN
Six feet down.
Clark takes off his jacket, hands it to Martha. He moves
to where Jonathan stands, indicates his father should step
back. Clark begins to _SPIN LIKE A TOP_, faster and faster.
As he does, the dirt flies away and a hole is quickly formed.
From the bottom, we hear:
CLARK
Dad, you sure about this?
JONATHAN
Hundred percent. Right there.
Clark _LEVITATES_ out of the hole. Clark, Martha and Jonathan
stare over the edge into the deep hole. Completely empty.
JONATHAN (Cont'd)
You don't forget something like
this. It was here!
Clark lowers his glasses and scans the area with his x-ray
vision.
CLARK
Not anymore.
And, off the eerie realization that the spacecraft has been
stolen, we:
FADE OUT.
_END OF ACT TWO_
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/27/93 (Gold) 32.
_ACT THREE_
FADE IN:
25 INT. DAILY PLANET - LIBRARY - DAY (DAY 3) 25
Clark peers into a hood device, searching records on a
microfilm machine. Finally, he settles on a photo of
several Air Force officers at a news conference from the
1960's. The headline reads: "UFO Sighting Really Swamp
Gas." Clark lowers his glasses, sees:
26 CLARK'S TELESCOPIC VISION - PHOTOGRAPH 26
ZOOMING IN, PAST the f.g., to isolate the man in b.g. The
image PIXELLATES, then resolves INTO FOCUS. It is none
other than Trask as a young man.
27 BACK TO SCENE 27
Clark sits back in his chair, amazed at his discovery. Lois
enters and manages to startle him out of his focus with:
LOIS
Feeling better?
CLARK
What? Oh, sure. How'd it go
yesterday?
LOIS
Well, I tailed our man Thompson
into a furniture warehouse on
Bessolo Boulevard. I waited *
around a while, but I lost him. *
CLARK
Maybe he went out the back entrance.
LOIS
Definitely weird, but he works for
the government.
(beat)
What'd you dig up?
CLARK
Nothing.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 33.
27 CONTINUED: 27
LOIS
So what are you looking at?
Lois scoots Clark aside, pears into the microfilm machine. *
Shakes her head.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Project Blue Book? Clark, the
Air Force got out of the U.F.O.
business in 1969. This is old
news. Way old.
Clark wants to keep the bombshell to himself.
CLARK
You're right. It was just a
bunch. Didn't pan out.
Lois pulls away from the machine, then leans back. Clark *
starts to protest, but Lois waves him off.
LOIS
Just a hunch.
Lois studies the picture a long moment, then pulls away
again.
LOIS (Cont'd)
The airman in the background. He's
the piece-of-work who raided the
Planet, isn't he?
CLARK
Maybe. I don't know.
(indicates glasses)
My eyes aren't that great.
LOIS
Well, I have perfect vision.
Superman doesn't see like _I_ do.
(reading)
Jason Trask. That's our man.
Lois leans back from the machine. Can't resist:
LOIS (Cont'd)
Almost missed that one, rookie.
CUT TO:
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/14/93 (Blue) 34
28 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - DAY 28
Clark and Lois stand before Perry who's in the throes of
a full-bore journalism rush.
PERRY
So we know Trask was in the Air
Force, right?
CLARK
No military service record.
Disappeared into thin air in 1969.
PERRY
Keep looking.
LOIS
I got just the place. The other
guy in the photo? General Burton
Newcomb. Retired. Lives in
Metropolis.
PERRY
What are you waiting for? Get
packed and get going.
Lois and Clark move to their desks, quickly begin to get
their things. Perry frowns when he sees Cat approach
Clark, run her fingers through his hair.
CAT
You wanted to talk?
CLARK
I can't now, but ...
(what-the-hell)
Look, Cat, somehow everybody thinks
we were swinging from chandeliers
wearing black leather the other night.
CAT
Well, we _were_ interrupted.
CLARK
I've got to go, but I'd appreciate
it if you'd put a stop to this.
Clark takes off. Cat watches him, says to herself.
CAT
What? And ruin my reputation?
As Clark is on the move, Perry intercepts him.
PERRY
Kent, give me a minute in my
office, will you?
CUT TO:
35.
29 INT. DAILY PLANET - PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 29
Perry closes the door, leans on his desk, goes eye-to-eye
with Clark.
PERRY
You ever hear of Anita Wood?
CLARK
I guess I haven't.
PERRY
Memphis D.J., beautiful girl, won
a beauty contest. Did you know
that Elvis almost married her?
CLARK
I missed that.
PERRY
Right after he was drafted in '58.
He and Anita were talking marriage,
but Colonel Parker knew it would
hurt Elvis's career, and he put a
stop to it. If the Colonel hadn't,
Elvis might not be the King. You
know what I'm talking about?
CLARK
She was the wrong woman for him?
PERRY
Fools rush in, son. Fools rush in.
CLARK
Chief, I think people have the
wrong idea.
PERRY
Really?
CLARK
It's definitely not what you're
thinking.
PERRY
What _I'm_ thinking, Kent, is when
it comes to women, if you want to
be the King, you gotta listen to
the Colonel.
An awkward moment until Clark stands.
(CONTINUED)
L&C- "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 36.
29 CONTINUED: 29
CLARK
Thanks. I'll remember that.
(beat)
Colonel.
Perry allows himself the trace of a smile. Lois knocks,
enters without waiting.
LOIS
It's Thompson.
PERRY
The guy you lost on the tail?
LOIS
He's found. Metropolis Harbor.
Coroner's got him.
Perry, Lois and Clark trade looks. Stakes are raised, and
we:
CUT TO:
30 INT. METROPOLIS HOME - PRIVATE DEN - DAY 30
Lois and Clark sit on a couch interviewing retired Air
Force General BURTON NEWCOMB -- the "other guy" in the
photo with Trask. The room is full of military memorabilia,
including a substantial gun collection. Lois's small tape
recorder sits on the table next to some unshelled walnuts.
CLARK
Yesterday a man named George
Thompson came to Metropolis.
Today he's dead.
NEWCOMB
Regrettable. What's that have to
do with me?
Lois hands Newcomb a photostat of the newspaper photo.
LOIS
He was investigating your old
friend Jason Trask.
Newcomb stands, looks out the window.
NEWCOMB
Have either of you ever had to
keep a secret? A huge secret?
(CONTINUED)
L&C- "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 37.
30 CONTINUED: 30
CLARK
Sure.
LOIS
(to Clark)
Like what?
CLARK
(quickly; to Lois)
I'm a reporter. You know,
protecting sources.
NEWCOMB
Keeping a secret eats away at
you. It's Just a nibble at a
time, but it adds up. And one
day, you wake up and realize
it's consumed everything inside
you.
Newcomb turns back from the window, picks up Lois's tape
recorder, turns it off. Newcomb ejects the cassette, takes
the nutcracker to crunch the tape into oblivion.
NEWCOMB (Cont'd)
We were just a small group when
we started, but we all took
special oaths on the same day.
August the second, nineteen-
forty-seven. I was about your
age.
LOIS
You didn't take an oath to protect
people like Trask, did you?
Newcomb takes a moment, thinking about Thompson. Then:
NEWCOMB
You don't need me to find Trask.
He's probably hiding in plain
sight.
LOIS
Like a used office furniture
warehouse on Bessolo Boulevard?
Newcomb arches his eyebrow at the Bessolo Boulevard
reference.
NEWCOMB
Getting to him, though, that's
another matter. A man like Trask
would no doubt be protected by an
impenetrable security system.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/27/93 (Gold) 38.
30 CONTINUED: (2) 30
LOIS
Every system has a flaw.
Newcomb removes a credit-card sized card with a magnetic
stripe from his drawer and surreptitiously places it on the
corner of the desk. It has two numbers on it: "3-9."
NEWCOMB
Not this one I designed it
myself. You d need someone on the
inside, or someone who'd been on
the inside, to help you out. Now,
assuming you could find such a
person, you'd have to hope that
person found a man like _Trask_ so
_repugnant_ and his methods so
_un-American_, that he would choose
to help you. That's a tall order.
Newcomb moves to his collection of military rifles,
mounted on the wall, and removes one of them.
NEWCOMB (Cont'd)
I'm going to count to three.
When I turn around, I expect you
to be gone. One...
Lois and Clark look at each other. A trap?
NEWCOMB (Cont'd)
Two ...
No. An opportunity. Lois takes the security card from the
desk.
NEWCOMB (Cont'd)
Three ...
Followed by an escape. Lois and Clark disappear.
CUT TO:
31 OMITTED 31
thru thru
33 33
34 EXT. FURNITURE WAREHOUSE - DAY 34 *
Lois and Clark stand before a door with a magnetic security
system, holding the card taken from Newcomb's home.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor"Rev. 7/27/93 (Gold) 39.
34 CONTINUED: 34
Lois stripes the card.The door unlocks.
LOIS
And the General thought this was
going to be hard.
Lois steps inside, followed by Clark, into:
35 INT. FURNITURE WAREHOUSE - BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS 35
ACTION - DAY
Actually, an anteroom. Small, empty. The DOOR immediately
CLANGS shut behind them, however, and they realize they have
entered a secure chamber. They look ahead. The door in
front of them has a huge security tumbler. But no place to
swipe a magnetic stripe.
CLARK
They must have added this since
his day.
LOIS
This is no time to get smug.
A digital read-out indicates they have 45 seconds. Lois
and Clark trade glances. Clark steps forward, begins to
spin the dial.
LOIS
Don't tell me. Safecracker?
Clark doesn't answer. By using his _SUPER-HEARING_, the minute
clicks become huge CA-CHUNKS. The tumblers fall into place
one by one. Momentarily, the door is open. Lois is stunned.
CLARK
The General said August 2, 1947.
Eight right, two left, forty-seven
right.
LOIS
You are so weird. But it works for
you.
Lois shakes her head,, pushes through into:
36 OMITTED 36
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 40.
37 BUREAU 39 STORAGE ROOM 37
The same expanse where Trask and Thompson fought previously.
Now dimly lit and eerily deserted.
Visible still, large tarped areas in the back and a
collection of file cabinets in the f.g. Clark and Lois
move toward the cabinets.
CLARK
(suspicious)
I don't know about this, Lois.
Where is everybody?
LOIS
Clark, the thing about luck is,
don't question it.
Lois begins to randomly pull folders and examine them.
File after file with clear UFO photos and reports. Lois
holds up one photo of a Spielbergian light-ship.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Give me a break. I've seen this
movie.
CLARK
Lois, these look like the
genuine article.
LOIS
They're too good. It's got to
be a set-up.
CLARK
(thinking of self)
What if it's not? What if people
actually travelled in these?
People from far away...
LOIS
There's a story here, Clark, but
I don't know if it's UFO's.
CLARK
I thought you were the one who
said if it walks like a duck --
LOIS
Don't quote me to myself, Clark.
(beat)
How did you ... ?
Clark sees a file labelled, "Smallville Incident, 1966." He
slams the drawer shut. He grabs Lois by the arm and begins *
to lead her away. *
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 41.
38 STORAGE AREA - CONTINUOUS ACTION 38
As Clark leads Lois toward the tarped area behind them:
LOIS
What are you doing?
CLARK
You don't like their pictures,
let's see what else they have.
They notice that each item is tagged and marked by date and
location.
LOIS
I suppose you think we're going
to pull one of these off and find
a U.F.O.?
CLARK
(freaked)
I don't know what we're going to
find.
LOIS
Eeny, meeny, miney, mo ...
Lois removes one of the tarps, revealing a collection of
twisted metal and beams.
LOIS (Cont'd)
This is just an Unidentified
Salvage Yard. *
Clark removes another tarp. Underneath is a clearly
identifiable spaceship with the look and feel of reality.
CLARK
This doesn't look like any scrap
metal I ever saw.
Clark moves along, awed by what he is seeing. Lois stays
behind, examining the ship.
LOIS
Clark, do you really think... ?
But Clark doesn't hear. He has come upon what appears to
be a fifteen foot entry vehicle. It does not look familiar
in an earthly sense.
39 OMITTED 39
L&C- "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 42/43.
40 CLARK 40
Gingerly runs his fingertips down one metal beam. On it are
a row of mysterious hieroglyphics. At the end of the row:
the familiar "S" insignia he has begun to wear on his
Superman costume. It's a moment of epiphany causing even
Clark's superpowered knees to buckle.
Next to the wreckage is a bagged artifact, labelled,
"Smallville, Exhibit A." Inside is what appears to be a
small ball. Clark takes it out of its bag, and as his
fingers make contact, it begins to &low from the inside.
It is a three-dimensional globe with mountain peaks and
valleys. It's Earth. Clark's face shows the effect the
moment is having on him. When we see the globe again, it
is different. Peaks and valleys, reddish tint, huge ice
caps. It is another planet. Clark, stunned, says to him-
self in a soft whisper of recognition of a world long for-
gotten and a memory long suppressed:
(CONTINUED)
44.
40 CONTINUED: 40
CLARK
Krypton.
All of this is our version of Rosebud, and Clark is nearly
overwhelmed by emotion. Snapped out of it by:
LOIS
Clark!
Clark quickly pulls the tarp back over the spacecraft.
Lois can't see this. Clark stuffs the ball in his
pocket.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Somebody's coming.
Too late. There is no way to escape. Trask and his
agents are everywhere, guns are drawn.
TRASK
And how did you two get in?
LOIS
That's your problem.
TRASK
That's correct. Getting _out_
however, that's your problem.
CLARK
People know where we are.
LOIS
(vamping)
Like... Superman. He's going to
come looking for us.
TRASK
Oh, I hope so. In fact, I'm
counting on it.
Situation critical, as we:
FADE OUT.
_END OF ACT THREE_
45.
_ACT FOUR_
FADE IN:
41 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - DAY 41
Lucy goes through an aerobics routine. The MUSIC is at
HIGH VOLUME. As the workout continues, we realize that
somewhere in the beat is the sound of an insistent DOORBELL.
Lucy goes to the door and opens it. Jimmy's standing in
the doorway.
JIMMY
(shouting)
I'm Jimmy!
LUCY
(shouting)
What?!
JIMMY
(shouting)
Jimmy! I'm Jimmy Olsen! From
the Planet!
Lucy gets the drift, motions Jimmy inside, turns DOWN the
MUSIC. Jimmy gets a good look at Lucy in her jog-bra and
bike shorts.
LUCY
I don't think you can get the
total effect unless you hear the
music on a cellular level. Now
who are you again?
JIMMY
Jimmy Olsen.
(hopefully)
I thought Lois might have
mentioned me?
LUCY
Jimmy? I don't think so. I'd
remember a guy named Jimmy.
JIMMY
I've been thinking about going
with James.
LUCY
Did you come here to ask my
opinion about your name?
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/22/93 (Gold) 46.
41 CONTINUED: 41
JIMMY
No. It's your sister. She
hasn't checked in and she doesn't
answer her pager. Do you know
where she is?
LUCY
Nope. She made a big deal the
other day about making herself
scarce.
JIMMY
Then what hampered?
LUCY
Then she made herself scarce.
JIMMY
Well, she can usually take care
of herself.
LUCY
She's probably okay.
A beat. Jimmy takes a deep breath.
JIMMY
You want to, maybe, go out,
sometime? See a movie, or
something?
LUCY
Wait a minute. You come here
with some story that my sister
might be in danger and then you
ask me out? Is that right?
JIMMY
(grimaces)
That's pretty much it.
LUCY
(beat)
Okay.
Jimmy breaks into a big smile. So does Lucy.
CUT TO:
42 EXT. MILITARY JET - DAY (STOCK) 42
In flight to parts unknown.
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 47.
43 INT. MILITARY JET - DAY 43
Lois and Clark are seated across from Trask and a couple of
SOLDIERS. They're not speaking, but their eyes say they
know they are in trouble. Finally:
LOIS
It's a romance novel.
CLARK
What?
LOIS
My novel. It's about a woman who
dies without ever finding her true
love.
CLARK
That's not going to happen to
you, Lois.
LOIS
Yeah? Check it out, Clark.
These guys look serious.
Lois nods across the cabin toward Trask and a handful of
soldiers, huddled around an electronic command station.
They _do_ look serious.
LOIS (Cont'd)
So, I told you, now you tell me.
CLARK
Tell you what?
LOIS
What really happened between you
and Cat? Not that I care, but
it's probably the best secret you
got going.
Clark shakes his head. This again.
LOIS (Cont'd)
If we get out of this, Clark, you
have to raise your standards.
*
The two Soldiers move to the main door and begin to unlatch *
it. Lois eyes this warily. Trask approaches. *
TRASK
I assume the two of you are
familiar with the scientific
method.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 48.
43 CONTINUED: 43
CLARK
Advance a theory, submit it to a
test.
TRASK
My theory is that at least one of
you knows how to contact this
alien creature Superman, probably
through some form of telepathic
communication.
LOIS
And how do you plan to test it?
TRASK
If you suddenly become airborne
at twenty thousand feet, _without_
_a parachute_, I have to assume you
will focus all your energies toward
contacting this Superman.
CLARK
What if this theory of yours is
wrong?
TRASK
Pushing back the frontiers of
science is not without risk.
The two soldiers throw the door open. A blast of air enters
the cabin.
*
LOIS *
And what happens if Superman does
show up?
TRASK
Does the worm need to know if the
fish is going to be fried or
charbroiled?
Trask nods to the two soldiers. They approach.
CLARK
Leave Lois alone. Just use me.
LOIS
(hatching a plan)
No. I'll go.
CLARK
Lois!
(desperate)
You don't understand!
(CONTINUED)
L&C- "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 49.
43 CONTINUED: (2) 43
Lois stands. When Clark tries to stand, one of the soldiers
pushes him back into his seat.
44 ANGLE - CLARK 44
Rising anger. He's not going to let this happen. Even if
it means giving up his secret.
45 LOIS 45
Turns to Trask.
(CONTINUED)
50.
45 CONTINUED: 45
LOIS
I ought to at least get a last
request.
TRASK
Within reason.
LOIS
I want to kiss Clark good-bye.
46 CLARK 46
His determination replaced by shock and surprise.
47 KISS 47
Our first screen kiss. Maybe our last. Lois leans forward
to Clark and kisses him full. Clark feels a serious spark
of electricity here.
CLARK
Lois, I ...
As Lois pulls away, she whispers in his ear.
LOIS
Take the one on the right.
Lois comes up quickly, throwing elbows and kicks at
Trask...
Clark immediately stands, pins the first soldier against the
wall, but gets a gun trained on him by the second soldier.
Clark pauses a second ...
Lois struggles.with Trask. She is almost out the door...
Clark ignores the soldier, moves to help. The GUN GOES OFF.
A bullet literally slams into Clark and _BOUNCES AWAY_.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Clark!
In the confusion, Trask gains the upper hand. Lois goes out
the door...
CLARK
Lois!
Clark ignores everyone else, dives out after Lois.
CUT TO:
L&C "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 51.
48 EXT. ABOVE METROPOLIS - LOIS - DAY 48
In free fall. Her face is scrunched up in telepathic
concentration.
LOIS
(muttering).
Superman, if you can hear me,
drop everything and get over
here.
(then)
Superman!!!! Help!!!
40 CLARK 49
Also in free fall. Clark, however, has more maneuver-
ability. He angles himself toward a dense cloud bank.
CUT TO:
50 INT. MILITARY JET - DAY 50
Trask's man secure the door. He checks an oscilloscope,
featuring two moving flashing lights.
TRASK
Tracking. We've got both of
them.
SOLDIER #1
The guy's hurt. I shot him.
SOLDIER #2
Guess again.
Soldier #2 picks up a flattened bullet, holds it up for
Trask to inspect.
TRASK
No trace of blood.
SOLDIER #1
(stunned)
I shot him. I saw it.
TRASK
You missed.
CUT TO:
51 EXT. ABOVE METROPOLIS - CLARK - DAY 51
As he zooms into the dense cloud bank. For a long moment,
he disappears.
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/23/93 (Yellow) 52.
52 LOIS 52
Below Clark, continuing to hurtle earthward.
53 SUPERMAN!! 53
Suddenly appearing from the other side of the cloud bank!
Pauses momentarily in midflight to get his bearings, sees
Lois, and zooms toward her.
CUT TO:
54 INT. MILITARY JET - DAY 54
Trask observes Soldier #1, scanning the equipment on the *
electronic battle station. *
SOLDIER #1
Target acquisition. Zero-niner-
five. *
*
TRASK
Execute.
SOLDIER #1 *
Missile lock in five, four, *
three, two, one. *
(triggering)
Executing. *
55 EXT. MILITARY JET - DAY (STOCK) 55
A guided missile fires off from the jet. Target: Superman.
CUT TO:
56 EXT. ABOVE METROPOLIS - DAY 56
Lois continues to hurtle earthward.
LOIS
Superman... Superman... Superman
... Superman... Superman...
In the distance, she sees Superman, closing fast.
Intersects her and scoops her in his arms.
LOIS (Cont'd)
You do read minds.
SUPERMAN
Not really. But I do have pretty
good hearing.
(CONTINUED)
53
56 CONTINUED: 56
LOIS
Clark. They've still got him. He
may be hurt.
SUPERMAN
Don't worry. I'll go back for him.
CUT TO:
57 EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - ROOFTOP - DAY 57
Superman deposits Lois on the rooftop. She looks shell-
shocked.
SUPERMAN
You'll be all right?
Lois can't speak, but her eyes are wide-wide.
SUPERMAN (Cont'd)
Lois?
Lois can't speak, just points skyward. Superman turns
around and sees:
58 GUIDED MISSILE 58
Currently being guided after Superman, who's on the roof of
the Planet.
59 SUPERMAN 59
Superman shoots off the roof, toward an intersection with
the missile.
CUT TO:
60 EXT. DAILY PLANET - STREET LEVEL - DAY 60
A crowd of onlookers all have their eyes on the sky, AD
LIBBING expressions of concern. Jimmy is on his way in,
stops and looks up to:
JIMMY
Superman...
CUT TO:
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 54.
61 EXT ABOVE METROPOLIS- DAY 61
Superman intercepts the MISSILE, begins to muscle it
skyward. There is a brilliant EXPLOSION. Superman is
hurtled backward.
CUT TO:
62 EXT. DAILY PLANET - ROOFTOP - DAY 62
Lois watches this. Closes her eyes. She knows nothing of
invulnerability and auras. All she knows is a man she has
begun to care about, a man who saved her life, a good man,
may be gone.
CUT TO:
63 INT. MILITARY JET - DAY 63
Trask and his men have visual and radar confirmation of the
hit.
TRASK
Let's get out of here.
CUT TO:
64 INT. DAILY PLANET - LOIS'S DESK - DAY 64
The Planet is in an uproar. Lois enters off the elevator,
completely dazed. Perry rushes to her.
PERRY
Lois, what happened!?
LOIS
Before or after we got thrown out
of the plane?
(snapping out
of it)
Superman! Is he all right?
PERRY
We don't know. We're running
down some witnesses.
(beat)
You know what happened to...
LOIS
(looks O.S.)
Clark!
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 55.
64 CONTINUED: 64
Clark enters from the elevator. He moves straight through
the newsroom. Cat begins to approach him, but he doesn't
even see her. He moves straight to Lois, who's moving
toward him at the same time.
LOIS (Cont'd)
You're alive.
CLARK
Seems so.
LOIS
Oh, Clark...
Lois hugs Clark. She cares. Lois turns around to the others.
LOIS (Cont'd)
Hey, everybody, if Clark's alive,
that means Superman saved him and
_he's_ alive!
(CONTINUED)
56
64 CONTINUED: (2) 64
Clark's face falls. Lois turns back to him.
LOIS (Cont'd)
What are we waiting for? We got a
story getting bigger every second.
SMASH CUT TO:
65 INT. WAREHOUSE FLOOR - DAY 65
As, on the cut, an entire, armed-to-the-teeth SWAT TEAM
enters, spreads out. Which is easy to do. It's nothing
more than a huge, empty concrete floor.
SWAT LEADER
All clear!
Now Perry, Lois, Clark and Jimmy with a camera enter. Take
it all in.
LOIS
It was all here, Perry.
(to Clark)
Tell him.
CLARK
She's right.
LOIS
U.F.O.'s, Perry. Unidentified
flying objects. Only they're all
identified. Bagged, tagged and
processed. Right here.
PERRY
(skeptically)
U.F.O.'s?
LOIS
Yes! Don't you see? Coverup.
Big-time. That's what's going on.
PERRY
Okay.
CLARK
This story might be bigger than
Superman.
LOIS
We got cosmic Watergate here, Perry.
I've got to get back and start
writing.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" - Rev. 7/21/93 (Pink) 57.
65 CONTINUED: 65
PERRY
Well, now, here's where I gotta get
off the bus you're driving.
LOIS
We know what we saw!
PERRY
You two are the best. You tell me
something, I believe you.
(beat)
Can't let you write it, though.
LOIS
Sure you can. Clark and I can
corroborate each other.
PERRY
Not when you're talking U.F.O.'s.
(gestures)
Lois, your physical evidence is
gone. Trask is missing. Thompson's
dead. Your General Newcomb says he
never heard of you.
(beat)
We run with this thing, we look
like the _National Whisper_. You'll *
kiss your own careers good-bye and
take the paper with you. Can't
let that happen. Sorry.
Lois moves away, bitterly disappointed; Clark follows.
CLARK
Lois ...
LOIS
You realize what we've lost here,
Clark?
Clark looks around the empty warehouse. A place where the
lifeline to his past existed only a day before.
CLARK
Yeah. I do.
CUT TO:
66 INT. DAILY PLANET THE PIT - NIGHT 66
Lois is alone, buttons unbuttoned, hair down, feet on the
desk. She's popping malt balls in the air, catching them
with her mouth. There's a WHOOSH of AIR, a shadow, and a
familiar voice.
(CONTINUED)
L&C - "Strange Visitor" Rev. 7/26/93 (Green) 58.
66 CONTINUED: 66
SUPERMAN
I hear you've been looking for me.
Without turning around, she knows. Answers, to herself, in *
a whisper:
LOIS
All my life.
Lois closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, trying to compose
herself. When she turns to face him, she's business.
LOIS (Cont'd)
_Everybody's_ looking for you.
SUPERMAN
I know. And I know you almost
died because of that.
LOIS
Well, it did make that bungee jump
I did last year seem pretty tame.
SUPERMAN
(serious)
I'm going to find that man and
stop him. That's a promise, Lois.
"Lois." Like magic. Lois loses it, just a moment, then
she's back.
LOIS
You know my name, but I don't
know yours.
SUPERMAN
Superman seems to have caught on.
LOIS
Where are you from? I mean,
you're not from Kansas, that's
for sure.
SUPERMAN
I'm from another planet. A place
called Krypton.
(beat)
Sorry.
LOIS
(quickly)
No. Don't be.
(beat)
Would you mind if I wrote some of
this down?
(CONTINUED)
59
66 CONTINUED:--(2) 66
Superman shakes his-head. Lois flips open her reporter's
notebook and grabs a pen.
LOIS (Cont'd)
(looks him over)
You seem to have all the ... the
parts ... of a man.
SUPERMAN
I am a man, Lois. Just like
you're a woman..
An intoxicating thought. Lois is about to submerge again,
but rallies.
LOIS
I'm glad you're here, but _why_ are
you here?
SUPERMAN
To help.
LOIS
I need more of a quote, you know?
Like 'I have not yet begun to
fight.' Or 'Damn the torpedoes.'
If you said you were here to
fight for truth or justice or the
American way, something like
that, that would be a quote.
SUPERMAN
Can I get back to you?
LOIS
I'm a reporter. I have
deadlines. I have an editor.
Don't they have newspapers on
Krypton?
SUPERMAN
Probably not like yours.
LOIS
Yeah, well, _nobody_ has an editor
like mine. If you're here to
help, this would be a good place
to start.
SUPERMAN
(considers it)
Truth and justice sound good.
You can use that.
(CONTINUED)
60.
66 CONTINUED: (3) 66
As Lois writes, Superman cocks his head, as if he's listen-
ing. Lois doesn't hear anything.
LOIS
What is it?
SUPERMAN
Someone's in trouble.
LOIS
(sees it coming)
This is a job for Superman,
right?
SUPERMAN
(nods)
Be seeing you?
With that, he begins to _LEVITATE_ toward the window.
LOIS
Hope so.
Lois watches him go, then turns back to her word processor
and begins pounding away. She pauses a moment, looks out
the window thinking about this strange visitor who just got
a little less strange, and we:
FADE OUT.
_THE END_
THIS SCRIPT WAS PREPARED
BY WARNER BROS. INC.
SCRIPT PROCESSING DEPARTMENT
(818) 954-4632
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