DC TRIUMPH

"The Baby from Krypton"

Written by Danielle Pluzsik

Based on characters from DC Comics

 ACT I
_____

EXT. OUTER SPACE - ETERNAL DARKNESS

___________________________________

WIDE AERIAL ANGLE - SPECTACLES OF SPACE - EXTREME WIDE SHOT

___________________________________________________________

We find the CAMERA in outer space, PANNING round a vast

environment of nebulae and comets.

NARRATOR (JOR-EL) (V.O.)

"Justice. What is justice? Is it the
right to corrupted society's wrong?"
Some of you will ask that. Lots of
people don't know the true meaning of
justice. Sometimes, the simplest of
questions overload our minds, even
extraterrestrial beings; as we are
still human, carrying human traits.
Back to the question. "Justice," you
say? My answer is...

The CAMERA PANS down thru other planets, like a solar system
of undiscovered treasures.

NARRATOR (JOR-EL) (V.O.)

Justice is moral correctness. It
encompasses all aspects of our
morality. Ethics. Rationality. Law.
Religion. Equity. Fairness. Not just
the antithesis to corruption. It's
used in everyday situations. Self-
discipline. A quarrel between
siblings. A navigator commandeering a
ship from a drunken captain. All
those... are justice.

The CAMERA FACES a bright green planet, its air radiating

with krypton, an element on the periodic table, true to its
name... KRYPTON.

EXT. KRYPTON - CRYSTAL CITY - DAY

_________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - CRYSTALLIZED CITY - EXTREME WIDE TRACKING SHOT

___________________________________________________________

The red, blazing sky illuminates Krypton and its clear,

crystallized structures, as the red-garbed JOR-EL stands in
front of a podium, URGING his listeners to do the right
thing.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

Created using Celtx

 2.

JOR-EL
And justice is what I firmly believe
in. That's why I'm taking position as
the chairman of the Kryptonian
Council. All that is wrong... will be
righted.

ANOTHER WIDE ANGLE - THE CROWD - WIDE SHOT

__________________________________________

The CROWD CHEERS for Jor-El as he takes a bow and steps off
the podium.

MEDIUM ANGLE - LARA LOR-VAN - MEDIUM SHOT

_________________________________________

He makes his way towards his loving wife, LARA LOR-VAN, who
is near the stage.

LARA LOR-VAN
My dear... I'm very proud of you for
achieving your goal.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
(laughs)
What can I say? I deserved this moment
more than anyone else.

LARA LOR-VAN (O.S.)

Of course, honey. Let's head on back,
now.

INT. JOR-EL'S HOME (LAB) - DAY

______________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - THE KRYPTONIAN LAB - MEDIUM SHOT

_______________________________________________

The CAMERA PANS round the lab, showing a BABY on all fours,
CRAWLING, PLAYING with a toy, COOING in delight. Jor-El WALKS
past the baby.

JOR-EL
Hi, KAL.

WIDE ANGLE - JOR-EL'S COMPUTER TERMINAL - WIDE SHOT

___________________________________________________

Jor-El TURNS round a corner to be met with his HUGE COMPUTER

TERMINAL. The screen TURNS ON BY ITSELF, and a LUMINOUS BLUE
SCREEN appears.

JOR-EL
Good evening, BRAINIAC. Have you got

Created using Celtx

 3.

any information on the... traitors?

ANOTHER ANGLE - ON JOR-EL AND BRAINIAC:

_______________________________________

BRAINIAC
Certainly, Jor-El. Here is what I have
found...

MCU ON SCREEN:
______________

An image of a villainous-looking BEARDED MAN materializes on

the screen, followed by a WOMAN clad in black, with a final
shot of a MONSTROUS HUMANOID joining them.

BRAINIAC (V.O.)
ZOD, NON, and URSA. Formerly trusted
by the Council of Elders, Zod
developed an appetite for destruction
and turned against his peers, looking
to take over and bring Krypton under
his law of hatred and anger. Ursa was
a feminist gone mad, punishing any men
who dared oppose her ideals, and
eventually threatening even male
children. And finally, Non, a beast
who lusted for power, so much that
even tranquilizers couldn't tame him.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
Yes. Where are they located now?

BRAINIAC
Somewhere in the Kryptonian outpost.
They're plotting something by
themselves. I could help you get there
if you wanted.

JOR-EL
Fine by me, Brainiac.

BRAINIAC
I appreciate it.

MEDIUM ANGLE - MEDIUM SHOT, INCLUDES JOR-EL:

____________________________________________

Lara Lor-Van comes over, holding the baby from earlier in her
arms.

Created using Celtx

 4.

LARA LOR-VAN
What's new with you and Brainiac, Jor?

JOR-EL
He found the locations of the outlaws.
I'm gonna be gone for a few days. Take
care of Kal the best you can.

LARA LOR-VAN
I will.

ON JOR-EL AND LARA:

___________________

Jor-El plants a kiss on Lara Lor-Van's cheek.

JOR-EL
Thanks, darling.

EXT. JOR-EL'S HOME - ENTRANCE - DAY

___________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - THE ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

_________________________________________

Jor-El STEPS outside, walking over to his SHIP. Lara Lor-Van

and the baby watch as he enters the ship and takes off.

EXT. BIG, RED ENDLESS SKY - DAY

_______________________________

WIDE ANGLE - SHIP FLYING - WIDE SHOT

____________________________________

The SHIP SOARS throughout the red sky, intent on getting to

the Kryptonian outpost the outlaws are hiding at.

INT. SHIP - DAY

_______________

MEDIUM SHOT, INCLUDES SCREEN:

_____________________________

Brainiac, who's been installed on Jor-El's ship so he can act

as navigator, calculates the odds of getting to the
destination.

BRAINIAC
It will take no more less than a hour
to get to your current destination,
Jor-El.

JOR-EL
Thanks, Mr. Smart-Ass.

BRAINIAC
Calm down, Jor-El. After all, I am
Krypton's vast computer network. It's

Created using Celtx

 5.

my job to be smart.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
One day, being smart will be all you
ever care about.

BRAINIAC (O.S.)
(blatantly ignoring Jor-El's
previous sentence)
The odds of surviving this mission are
3,000 to 1.

JOR-EL
Never tell me the odds.

EXT. BIG, RED ENDLESS SKY - DAY

_______________________________

EXTREME WIDE SHOT, BACK VIEW OF SHIP

____________________________________

The ship continues on its hour-long mission.

FADE

EXT. KRYPTONIAN OUTPOST - DAY

_____________________________

WIDE OVERHEAD ANGLE - SHIP LANDING - WIDE SHOT

______________________________________________

The ship lands on the snowy ground, and Jor-El steps out,
with a parka on.

BRAINIAC
(off-screen)
Good luck, Jor-El.

JOR-EL
Yeah, yeah, "good luck." I've heard
this a million times.

WIDE FULL SHOT OF THE SNOWY LAND

________________________________

Jor-El WALKS through the snow-type scene, notably chilling.

He tries not to show any signs of shivering; after all, he's
been thru worse.

Suddenly, he hears something akin to a tremor.

JOR-EL
(to himself)
No. That can't be...

Created using Celtx

 6.

He tries to dismiss that thought, as he continues through the

snowbound outpost.

INT. ABANDONED WELCOME CENTER - DAY

___________________________________

WIDE PAN, SHOT INCLUDES SIGNS OF DISREPAIR:

___________________________________________

The three Kryptonian outlaws are using this ABANDONED WELCOME

CENTER, once used for travelers to stop and rest their feet,
for their nefarious schemes.

MEDIUM SHOT OF ALL THREE:

_________________________

ZOD
Listen, my fellow friends. The plan is
simple: we seize the Council of Elders
in a hostile takeover. Kill 'em with
pain.

URSA
Nobody likes pain.

NON
NON LOVE INFLICTING PAIN ONTO OTHERS!

ZOD
Me and Ursa, we do most of the work.
You know, test out our strategies. And
then Non, you come in for the kill.

NON
THE KILL!

ZOD
Yes, Non, we all know how excited you
are. Anyway--

CU ON THE SHOCKED KRYPTONIANS

_____________________________

The DOOR OPENS dramatically, the Kryptonians turning round to

realize with a start who stands before them.

LOW GROUND ANGLE - JOR-EL ENTERS - WIDE SHOT

____________________________________________

Jor-El stands confidently, having found the unruly

troublemakers and ready to deliver justice.

H&S SHOT OF JOR-EL:

___________________

JOR-EL
So... you want to seize the Council,

Created using Celtx

 7.

eh?

ON URSA:
________

URSA
(to Zod, panicked)
Zod! H-he knows!

JOR-EL
Yes. I overheard everything you said
before. You wretched lunatics have
deluded fantasies of controlling
Krypton under your terms.

ON ZOD:
_______

ZOD
No--

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
You are the untrustworthy advisors
trying to trick the drunken captain
into giving them control. None of what
you'd ever say as rulers of the
Council is, will, or ever shall be
right.

ON ZOD:
_______

ZOD
That's only what you believe. Brute
force is much more powerful than
brains. Ideals slay the truth. As long
as I have supporters, my plans for
Krypton are much more important than
what you have in mind.

NON (O.S.)
...NON SCARED!

ON ALL THREE:
_____________

Jor-El freezes the Kryptonians with his ice breath.

JOR-EL
Say that when you're in... the Phantom
Zone.

WIPE

Created using Celtx

 8.

INT. KRYPTONIAN COUNCIL - DAY

_____________________________

WIDE ANGLE - THE COUNCIL - WIDE SHOT

____________________________________

Zod, Non, and Ursa are all gathered in the midst of a large
dome, with panels on the ceiling. One by one, the four ELDERS
(FAN-RU, WAN-HI, JAE-SEK, and ROS-LO) appear on the panels.
Jor-El steps in front of the Kryptonians, their faces looking
TERRIFIED.

JOR-EL
(to the Elders)
I present to you... the three I have
been looking for. The three who shall
be banished from Krypton for life.

ROS-LO
What are their crimes?

JOR-EL
One, Zod, has delusions of seizing the
Council. Another, Ursa, has an
irrational hatred of men; sexism, if
you prefer. Lastly, Non has nothing
but murder on the mind.

ON URSA:
________

URSA
(scared for her life)
You won't get away with this, scornful
MAN!!

BACK TO WIDE SHOT

_________________

The Elders all turn to face each other, each getting the same
idea. Then they turn back to face the Kryptonians, their
faces ANGRY and LIVID.

ELDERS
(all at once)
Guilty.

The Phantom Zone PROJECTOR turns on, enveloping the three

Kryptonians, who are all at once SUCKED INTO the neverending
void of torment; almost like hell for Kryptonians.

ZOD, NON, AND URSA

(anguished)
NOOOOOOOOOO--!!

Created using Celtx

 9.

Jor-El looks on as the projector turns off, ensuring that the

Kryptonians will never be seen again.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
Now, about when I was tracking these
outlaws down... I felt something move
beneath my feet. I believe my theory
that Krypton is doomed... is true.

ON JAE-SEK:
___________

JAE-SEK
Nonsense. Krypton will be here for
centuries to come. The planet is
simply undergoing a change in
altitude.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
No, I'm serious. I've studied this
ever since I was caught in the middle
of an earthquake a year ago. Krypton
is not undergoing a "change in
altitude." It's undergoing a chain
reaction that will melt the planet's
core.

ON FAN-RU:
__________

FAN-RU
A likely story. Return to your lab and
keep studying until you find trustful
evidence that this planet will be no
more.

BACK TO WIDE SHOT

_________________

JOR-EL
(sighs)

He walks off, out of the council room.

INT. JOR-EL'S HOME (LAB) - DAY

______________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - ON ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

________________________________________

Lara Lor-Van looks on at a dejected Jor-El as he enters the

lab.

Created using Celtx

 10.

JOR-EL
Hi, Lara. How's Kal?

LARA LOR-VAN
He's been doing fine! Why do you look
so sad? You got the bad guys, didn't
you?

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
Yes, they're all in the Phantom Zone,
the day is saved, blah blah blah. The
thing is... the Council is denying my
claims that Krypton is going to befall
a terrible fate.

ON LARA:
________

LARA LOR-VAN
Oh, the chain reaction thing? Think of
it as global warming on Earth: it's
happening, but only a select few
believe so.

JOR-EL (O.S.)
But isn't Krypton the place for well-
educated individuals studying the
morality of humans?

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL (CONT'D)
Aside from Zod, Non, and Ursa, none
here would ever have a thought that
goes against the code of honor.

ON LARA:
________

LARA LOR-VAN
I'm sure you'll find some real
evidence that the planet's going
under. Soon.

WIDE ANGLE - CAMERA FOLLOWS JOR-EL - WIDE SHOT

______________________________________________

Jor-El walks over to his terminal, Lara's words echoing in

his mind.

JOR-EL
Soon.

Created using Celtx

 11.

WIDE ANGLE - COMPUTER TERMINAL - WIDE SHOT

__________________________________________

He sits at his terminal and PONDERS how long it's going to

take for Krypton to self-destruct. Suddenly, he's awakened by
a familiar voice.

BRAINIAC
Soon.

JOR-EL
(shocked)
Huh? Brainiac?

BRAINIAC
Krypton's destruction is imminent. And
as for the non-believers... they'll
face a horrible fate. Some people
can't face the truth. They have to
wallow in their own ignorance and grow
up to become terrible individuals.
Unfortunately... that's all of Krypton
except the House of El... and myself.

ON JOR-EL:
__________

JOR-EL
Do you have a plan ready, Brainiac?
Time is running out!

BRAINIAC (O.S.)
I could not think of a plan in time. I
apologize.

JOR-EL
But you're supposed to be the fountain
from whence all knowledge flows! You
can't just back away in fear and let
yourself die with all the others!

CU ON BRAINIAC:
_______________

BRAINIAC
Actually, I am a computer. Computers
never perish. You'd have to fry one's
circuits at a deep level to kill them.

JOR-EL (O.S.)
That's crazy! You can't just--

BRAINIAC
Hush now, Jor-El, for I sense...

Created using Celtx

 12.

destruction.

WIDE ANGLE - THE ENTIRE ROOM - WIDE SHOT

________________________________________

Suddenly, a massive earthquake begins. Jor-El scrambles to

take cover.

WIDE ANGLE - THE QUAKING ROOM - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________________

He runs into the other room and sees Lara Lor-Van and her
baby, fearing for their lives, hiding under a table.

JOR-EL
Lara!!

LARA LOR-VAN
I can't believe it's happening. The
end of the world.
(Pause)
Our world.

FADE TO BLACK

Created using Celtx

 13.

ACT II
______

INT. JOR-EL'S HOME (LAB) - DAY

______________________________

WIDE ANGLE - TESTING ROOM - WIDE SHOT

_____________________________________

Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van are standing in front of a ROCKET

SHIP, trying to withstand the quakes that come and go.

JOR-EL
This is a vehicle I invented so one of
us could escape. But unfortunately...
it won't be us.

LARA LOR-VAN
Who'll it be, then? What hapless
Kryptonian will have to stow away to
safety?

ON BABY:
________

Suddenly, the baby in Lara Lor-Van's hands cries.

JOR-EL (O.S.)
Perfect. Kal.

ON LARA:
________

LARA LOR-VAN
Kal?!

JOR-EL (O.S.)
Yes. He's our son. He can't afford to
die before he turns a year old. He
needs to find a different place to
grow up, even if it's without us.

BACK TO WIDE SHOT:

__________________

Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van put Kal-El, as he's named, into the
rocket ship. It turns on, and then FLIES out of the shattered
window, into the red, blazing sky.

LARA LOR-VAN
Where is he heading?

JOR-EL
The planet I've been studying for so
long.

Created using Celtx

 14.

EXT. KRYPTON FROM SPACE - DARKNESS

__________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - SHIP FLYING - EXTREME WIDE TRACKING SHOT

_____________________________________________________

The rocket ship exits the Kryptonian atmosphere, as the

planet from space shakes and quakes noticeably.

JOR-EL (V.O.)
...Earth.

INT. JOR-EL'S HOME (LAB) - DAY

______________________________

WIDE ANGLE - THE COMPUTER SCREEN - WIDE SHOT

____________________________________________

Suddenly, the screen on Jor-El's terminal turns on, and the

familiar blue screen of Brainiac glows ominously. Jor-El
hears it turn on, and runs in.

JOR-EL
Brainiac! Have you come up with a
plan?

LARA LOR-VAN
Save us! We need your assistance!

The CAMERA ZOOMS IN on Brainiac's screen, before his creepy

monotone voice speaks in nigh-silence.

BRAINIAC
The answer for Krypton's destruction
is an answer I know all too well.

CU ON JOR-EL AND LARA:

______________________

Cue Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van's shocked faces before we

SMASH CUT:

EXT. KRYPTON FROM SPACE - DARKNESS

__________________________________

WIDE OVERHEAD ANGLE - KRYPTON EXPLODING - EXTREME WIDE SHOT

___________________________________________________________

We see the green planet of Krypton... very soon, what once

was of Krypton... explode into nothingness, in nothing but
silence. Smoke billows from the explosion.

WIDE ANGLE - THE ROCKET - WIDE SHOT

___________________________________

Then, we PAN round to show the rocket ship soaring thru

space, unaffected by the previous explosion.

Created using Celtx

 15.

INT. ROCKET SHIP - SPACE

________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - KAL-EL SLEEPING - MEDIUM SHOT

____________________________________________

We peek inside the rocket ship for a few seconds, as we see

Kal-El sleeping inside, the hypersleep activated.

EXT. OUTER SPACE - DARKNESS

___________________________

WIDE ANGLE - THE ROCKET FLYING - EXTREME WIDE SHOT

__________________________________________________

The ship continues its flight thru space, soaring past stars
and galaxies, occasionally other planets. However, its course
is plotted for one destination: Earth.

As EARTH comes up ahead, the rocket ship takes a DIVE

DOWNWARDS and enters the atmosphere. Thankfully, thanks to
the alloy the ship is made of, it doesn't burn up upon
entering the atmosphere.

EXT. SMALLVILLE, KANSAS - DAY

_____________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - THE COUPLE - MEDIUM SHOT

_______________________________________

A COUPLE is watching the sky as they stroll down the streets.

They spot an object heading towards the ground from the sky.

WOMAN
(shocked)
A meteor!!

The man and woman take cover as the rocket ship glides
gracefully towards the ground and touches down on the crops
below.

WOMAN
(after a few seconds)
...Huh?

ANOTHER ANGLE - THE CROPS - MEDIUM SHOT

_______________________________________

The couple head towards the crops to examine what just landed
from the sky.

MAN
Looks like a rocket ship.

WOMAN
Maybe NASA did an experiment that
didn't work out so well.

Created using Celtx

 16.

MAN
As they say, you can't make an
omelette without breaking a few eggs.

WOMAN
...I wonder what's inside.

CU ON THE ROCKET SHIP:

______________________

The woman carefully opens up the ship to reveal a peacefully-

sleeping baby Kal-El.

WOMAN (O.S.)
A baby?!

ON THE MAN:
___________

MAN
Martha, this is a dream come true! Now
we don't even need to have sex! We
could just adopt a child!

ON MARTHA:
__________

MARTHA
(to her husband, derisively)
That's what I've been trying to tell
you, Jon.

JONATHAN
Yeah, yeah, right.

Martha carefully scoops up Kal-El from the ship's seat and

into her arms, cradling him.

ON THE TWO:
___________

JONATHAN
Now it's time to think of a name. How
about my name? "Jonathan?"

MARTHA
He doesn't look like a Jonathan. How
about one of the cool names right now?
Michael, as in, Michael Jackson? How
about Matthew?

JONATHAN
No, wait. I know the perfect name for
him.

Created using Celtx

 17.

INT. FARMHOUSE (DINING ROOM) - DAY

__________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - ON THE KENTS - MEDIUM SHOT

_________________________________________

Martha is spooning baby Kal-El some food, easy for him to

chew on.

MARTHA
(gentle)
Here comes the airplane, Clark!
(makes airplane noises)

"Clark," as he's now called, giggles. Jonathan comes

downstairs with a book.

JONATHAN
Wanna hear a story, Clark?

ON CLARK, THEN ON JONATHAN:

___________________________

Clark stares at Jonathan and smiles. Jonathan begins to read.

JONATHAN
(from the book)
"I had no time to waste. The robber
was getting away. I shifted the gear
and sped after him, across the
street..."

ON MARTHA:
__________

MARTHA
(to Jonathan)
Your grandfather was a great cop. I
hope Clark grows up to be like him.

JONATHAN
Me too, Martha. Me too.

The couple shares a kiss while Clark giggles.

EXT. SMALLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

_________________________________

MEDIUM OVERHEAD ANGLE - CLARK AND LANA - MEDIUM SHOT

____________________________________________________

SUPER: 14 YEARS LATER. Clark, now a teenager, walks out of

his school, with his friend, Lana Lang.

ON CLARK AND LANA:

__________________

CLARK
Yeah, can you believe it, Lana? I'm

Created using Celtx

 18.

always having that distinct feeling

people are in trouble.

LANA
Well, I'm glad you saved Joey before
he got hurt.
(snickers)
I admit, it was pretty funny when the
hot dog landed in his hair.

CLARK
(snickers)
Yeah.

_________________________________________________________
MEDIUM ANGLE - CLARK AND LANA SURROUNDED BY THE BULLIES -
MEDIUM SHOT
___________

Suddenly, Clark and Lana are cornered by a few bullies.

BULLY #1
Hey, look who it is. The goody-goody
buddy-buddy duo.

BULLY #2
Yeah! Clark's a Beaver!

BULLY #3
I bet he's gay.

CLARK
I'm not gay!

BULLY #3
Yes you are, smarty-pants. You love
everyone in the school.

CLARK
I'm sorry, it's what my parents raised
me to believe! I don't love them...
romantically!!

BULLY #1
And you're the teacher's pet, suckup!

CLARK
I'm sorry! I'm smart!!

BULLY #2
And look at your glasses, four eyes!

Created using Celtx

 19.

BULLIES
(sing-songy)
"Clark's gay! Clark's gay! Clark's--"

WIDE ANGLE - CLARK RUNNING - CAMERA FOLLOWS HIM - WIDE SHOT

___________________________________________________________

Clark runs off, at the highest speed he's ever ran. He

parkours off a bus, all the patrons looking shocked, and then
springs ten feet in the air into a tree.

WIDE ANGLE - CAMERA UP IN THE TREE WITH CLARK - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________________________________

Clark looks down, scared.

CLARK
Why am I even up here... why am I even
up here?

WIDE ANGLE - SHOWING LANA FROM ABOVE - WIDE SHOT

________________________________________________

Lana walks toward Clark, stunned and amazed.

LANA
How did you do that?!

CLARK
I dunno. It just... happened. I used
my natural instincts.

LANA
Dude, you're not gay... you're out of
this world!!

INT. FARMHOUSE (LIVING ROOM) - DAY

__________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - CLARK - MEDIUM SHOT

__________________________________

Clark returns home from school, hanging up his backpack, when

suddenly he hears a noise.

CLARK
Huh?

EXT. FARMHOUSE (SHED) - DAY

___________________________

ANOTHER ANGLE - CLARK - MEDIUM SHOT

___________________________________

He turns round and searches for wherever it came from, only

to find the rocket ship from whence he arrived sitting
outside with an open compartment.

Created using Celtx

 20.

CU ON THE COMPARTMENT:
______________________

CLARK
What is...

He draws closer to the compartment, only to see a hologram of

Jor-El play for him.

ON THE HOLOGRAM:
________________

JOR-EL (HOLOGRAM)
Kal-El. I speak to you in my last
living moments. In a few hours, the
planet of Krypton will be no more. You
are the last survivor. The last son.
You must pass down Krypton to Earth in
any way you can. You have abilities
far superior than any human's. You can
make a difference in this strange new
world... that is, if you're up to the
challenge. And Kryptonians aren't
afraid to back down. Those are my
parting words... goodbye.

ON CLARK:
_________

The message disappears, leading Clark to be confused.

CLARK
So... I... come from another planet?!

Jonathan and Martha enter the scene, and Martha puts her hand
on Clark's shoulder.

MARTHA
Yes. We discovered this when you were
only a tot, but were too scared to
tell you.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
I mean, I'm not an alien! I don't
leave circles in crops! I don't probe
cattle! I don't even wanna destroy the
world!!

ON JONATHAN:
____________

JONATHAN
Your mind has become ruined by

Created using Celtx

 21.

stereotypes. Not all aliens are like

that. Aliens can be helpful.

ON MARTHA:
__________

MARTHA
Yes. African-Americans were considered
"alien" for a long time, but they had
the greatest contributions to music,
machinery, art, and more.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
So I'm not... some sort of "spooky
space kook," am I?

ON JONATHAN:
____________

JONATHAN
(laughs)
No. None of that. You are...

EXT. DAILY PLANET - ENTRANCE - DAY

__________________________________

WIDE OVERHEAD ANGLE - CLARK - WIDE SHOT:

________________________________________

SUPER: 6 YEARS LATER. Clark stands outside the Daily Planet

building in Metropolis, NY, daydreaming.

ON CLARK - MEDIUM ANGLE:

________________________

CLARK
(to himself)
"...special." I always liked that
description.

MEDIUM ANGLE - DAILY PLANET ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

__________________________________________________

PERRY WHITE exits the building.

PERRY
So... we got a new recruit?

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
Uh, yeah.

PERRY (O.S.)
What's your name?

Created using Celtx

 22.

CLARK
Clark. Clark Kent. I come from
Smallville, Kansas.

ON PERRY:
_________

PERRY
Why do you wanna work at the Daily
Planet?

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
To be alerted of what's happening
round here. Ya know, "city matters."
Always been somewhat of a country
person myself.

ON PERRY:
_________

PERRY
So... we got a country person here,
eh? I gotcha. Don't worry. I'll review
your decision in a jiffy.

MEDIUM ANGLE - DAILY PLANET ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

__________________________________________________

He walks out, and LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSEN exit the
building. Lois gives Clark a CHARMING SMILE.

LOIS LANE
Hello there.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
(looks up)
Huh? H-hi, I'm... Clark Kent from
Smallville.

ON LOIS, SHOT INCLUDES JIMMY:

_____________________________

LOIS LANE
And I'm Lois Lane. I'm the top
reporter at the Daily Planet. If
you're accepted, I can help ya out
with your first story.

JIMMY OLSEN
Don't forget me. I'll take the
pictures!

Created using Celtx

 23.

LOIS LANE
Oh, yeah, and this here is Jimmy
Olsen. He's eager to help anyone, as
long as Perry rewards him for it.

JIMMY OLSEN
(to Lois)
I don't care about the rewards, I just
care about getting good shots!

LOIS LANE
(to Jimmy)
Whatever.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
...H-hey, I like getting good shots
too. I-- I took photography in high
school. We-- we could be friends,
Jimmy.

CU ON CLARK AND JIMMY'S HANDS:

______________________________

He reaches out his hand, and Jimmy grabs it.

JIMMY OLSEN
Hey, your grip is way too strong!

CLARK
(bashful)
Ah, sorry. Force of habit.

ANOTHER ANGLE - DAILY PLANET ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

___________________________________________________

Perry White exits the building again, looking somewhat happy.

PERRY
Good news, Clark: you got the job.

CLARK
Great! When's my first day on the job?

PERRY
Tomorrow. And don't be late!

INT. DAILY PLANET (CLARK'S OFFICE) - DAY

________________________________________

MCU ON CLARK:
_____________

Clark sits at his desk in the office a day later, drumming

Created using Celtx

 24.

his pencil against the desk.

LOIS LANE (O.S.)

Clark?

MEDIUM ANGLE - ON LOIS - MEDIUM SHOT

____________________________________

Clark looks up to see Lois Lane, hands on her hips, before

his desk.

CLARK
Uh, hi there... Lois Lane.

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
Clark, you doing OK?

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
Yeah, just editing some details about
your article on Metropolis Garden's
grand re-opening. It had a few errors.

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
Good to hear. I always appreciate
feedback about my work. You should,
too. It helps you improve.

CLARK (O.S.)
T-thanks...?

LOIS LANE
But anyway, let's get down to
business. Our first story will be
about that ugly greedy vermin
himself... Lex Luthor.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
Who?

LOIS LANE (O.S.)

Lex Luthor. The head of LexCorp just
down a few.

A TRIPTYCH OF SHOTS: Lex Luthor at his desk, at a rally, and

____________________

Created using Celtx

 25.

conversing with a shady-looking individual, as Lois talks.

LOIS LANE (V.O.)

He's a douchebag. He tries to mend
people's minds with his empty words;
empty as his soul, I should say. And
word is, he's stricken deals with
fascists.

______________________
BACK TO CLARK AND LOIS as Clark looks shaken by what Lois has
told him.

CLARK
Woah Woah Woah! That's way too much
for me to tackle on my first day on
the job!

LOIS LANE
Sometimes, you gotta get the hard
stuff out of the way if you want
smooth sailing.

Clark stammers, trying to think of a response.

CLARK
B-b-but...

LOIS LANE
C'mon, kid.

Lois drags Clark by the arm and out of his seat as she walks
out of the office.

Created using Celtx

 26.

ACT III
_______

EXT. METROPOLIS - METROPOLIS PARK - DAY

_______________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - METROPOLIS PARK - WIDE SHOT

________________________________________

A yellow and blue EMD F UNIT, labeled "NEW YORK" on front,

CHUGS down a track. The CAMERA _________
pans back to show Lois and
Clark walking through Metropolis Park. Ducks are quacking,
children are playing, couples are exchanging kisses when no
one is looking.

CLARK
You said LexCorp was down a few from
the Daily Planet!

LOIS LANE
This is just a shortcut. I like to
sneak up on Luthor when no one's
lookin'.

CLARK
Does Perry White know you do that?

LOIS LANE
Of course he does. He's the one
sending me to do it.

ON CLARK:
_________

Clark looks round at the environment he's in.

CLARK
(to himself)
Absolutely no one would suspect that
I'm really an alien here. No one.

MEDIUM SHOT OF THE KIDS:

________________________

Clark watches the kids who are playing closely, hoping none
of them get into danger.

CLARK
But if they're ever in trouble... I
know who to call.

MEDIUM ANGLE - METROPOLIS PARK - WIDE SHOT

__________________________________________

Clark and Lois approach the gateway to the other side of

Metropolis, where LexCorp is.

Created using Celtx

 27.

LOIS LANE
I doubt Luthor's gonna let us in. He's
had enough of my shit.

CLARK
Well, if he knows I'm here, he'd
probably let me in and not you.

LOIS LANE
Yeah, yeah. He'll probably think
you're a scrawny shrimp.

Clark laughs, and he scans the buildings for the facade of

LexCorp.

INT. DAILY PLANET (PERRY'S OFFICE) - DAY

________________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - ON JIMMY AND PERRY - MEDIUM SHOT

_______________________________________________

Jimmy Olsen is being lectured by Perry White on what to do

during his report.

PERRY
I want you to get some pictures of the
new luxury dining experience on Siegel
Avenue.

JIMMY OLSEN
But what if Lois and Clark need
assistance?

ON PERRY:
_________

PERRY
Relax, they'll be fine. Lois is a top
dog, after all.

ON JIMMY:
_________

JIMMY OLSEN
If you say so...

Jimmy Olsen hurries out of the building to get his pictures.

EXT. METROPOLIS (SHUSTER AVENUE) - DAY

______________________________________

MEDIUM SHOT, BACK VIEW OF CLARK AND LOIS:

_________________________________________

Clark and Lois head down Shuster Avenue, Clark seeing through
buildings with his X-ray vision, making sure none of them are
in danger.

Created using Celtx

 28.

LOIS LANE
Clark, why are you staring at people
like you're a stalker?

CLARK
Sorry, Lois; force of habit.

WIDE OVERHEAD ANGLE - LEXCORP - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________________

Eventually, they reach the towering LexCorp, its green neon

"L" illuminating even in the daytime.

CLARK
Whoa! Is that it?

LOIS LANE
Yep.

CLARK
Look at that huge "L..."

LOIS LANE
That's made from lots of harvested
greenhouse gases. Too many
hydrofluorocarbons to count.

WIDE ANGLE - LEXCORP ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

___________________________________________

The pair approach the entrance, only for it to be blocked by

a strong, blonde female - MISS TESSMACHER.

MISS TESSMACHER
Who goes there?

Clark makes sure Lois isn't visible, by standing in front of

her, hoping his body will block her from Tessmacher's field
of view.

CLARK
Uh, me. Clark Kent from the Daily
Planet. I wanna do a story on Lex
Luthor.

ON MISS TESSMACHER:
___________________

MISS TESSMACHER
Uh huh. Another of them Daily Planet
creeps. Don't try to fool me. I know
that Lois bitch is behind you. You're
tryin' to cover her up, aren'tcha?

Created using Celtx

 29.

ON CLARK, SHOT INCLUDES LOIS:

_____________________________

CLARK
(sighs exasperatedly)
No...

LOIS LANE
All right, listen here, Tessmacher:
you give Clark the entry code, or
you're gonna be rooted out in my next
article!

ON TESSMACHER:
______________

MISS TESSMACHER
(suddenly fierce)
Not on my time, sucko!

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
(fierce as well)
You gonna fight about it? Get your
Metropolis property!

ON TESSMACHER AND LOIS:

_______________________

MISS TESSMACHER
Nope!

LOIS LANE
You can't say shit about me!

MISS TESSMACHER
Yeah, but I work at one of the best
companies in business!

LOIS LANE
Respect your elders! Perry White has
been around LONGER than Lex goddamn
Luthor!!

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF METROPOLIS - METROPOLIS RAILROAD - DAY

________________________________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - TRAIN - WIDE SHOT

______________________________

On the outskirts of Metropolis, the yellow and blue train is

still chugging down the railroad. A chime plays, causing the
conductor to look up.

Created using Celtx

 30.

COMPUTERIZED VOICE
(soft)
Warning: path incapacitated.

CONDUCTOR
Huh?

He drives the train into the tunnel, unaware what lies ahead.

EXT. LUXURIA ENTRANCE - DAY

___________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - LUXURIA ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

_____________________________________________

Jimmy Olsen is snapping photos of the Luxuria Dining

Experience.

JIMMY OLSEN
(to a happy citizen)
So, what do you like about the Luxuria
Dining Experience?

ON CITIZEN:
___________

CITIZEN
They serve all kinds of different food
there. American... Japanese... even
Cuban!

ON JIMMY:
_________

JIMMY OLSEN
Nice, I'll have to try it on my off
break! Assuming I have the money, that
is.
(giggles)
Thanks!

He goes back to snapping pictures.

EXT. METROPOLIS - LEXCORP ENTRANCE - DAY

________________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - LEXCORP ENTRANCE - MEDIUM SHOT

_____________________________________________

Clark and Lois, adamant on entering LexCorp, are getting a

tirade from Miss Tessmacher.

MISS TESSMACHER
And that's why you suck, Lois! I've
had it with you!

She points down the street.

Created using Celtx

 31.

MISS TESSMACHER
Out! NOW!!

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
(sighs, to Clark)
Oh, well. Maybe on a day when she's
out sick...

WIDE ANGLE - STREETS OF METROPOLIS - MEDIUM SHOT

________________________________________________

Clark and Lois start back down the way they came, dejected.

LOIS LANE
(to herself)
I knew I shouldn't have picked that
for Clark's first story.
(to Clark)
Don't worry. We'll-- we'll find
another story to do.

CLARK
I'm sure an idea will come to you
somehow.

INT. TRAIN - DAY

________________

WIDE ANGLE - TRAIN PASSENGERS - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________________

The train is speeding through the tunnel, while the patrons

are all shocked about the warning they were given.

WOMAN
Excuse me, conductor, but didn't you
hear the message? The path is
incapacitated!

MAN
Who knows what's gonna happen?

CONDUCTOR
All right... let's see where this path
leads to...

CU ON THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM:

____________________________

He opens up the navigation system, only to find out that the

path is leading directly into a rock fall!

ON THE CONDUCTOR, SHOT INCLUDES PATRONS:

________________________________________

Created using Celtx

 32.

CONDUCTOR
(terrified)
A ROCK FALL?! Oh, NO!! Somebody HELP!!

PATRONS
Help!! / We're gonna die!! / I love
you, James!! / FUCK!!

EXT. METROPOLIS - STREETS - DAY

_______________________________

CU ON CLARK, THEN WIDE SHOT:

____________________________

Clark Kent can hear the screams for help from yards away, and
freezes in his tracks. Without saying anything, he runs from
Lois, in the direction of the voices.

LOIS LANE
Hey, wait a minute, Clark!

Lois tries to catch up with Clark, but he's too fast for her.

EXT. METROPOLIS - LUXURIA ENTRANCE - DAY

________________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - ON JIMMY OLSEN - MEDIUM SHOT

___________________________________________

Jimmy Olsen is just snapping the final photos when he sees

Clark running past him, with Lois in pursuit.

JIMMY OLSEN
Where's everyone going?

He decides to run with Lois, too, since he can't afford to

miss whatever Clark is headed to.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF METROPOLIS - ROCK FALL - DAY

______________________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - ON ROCK FALL - WIDE SHOT

_____________________________________

A rock fall, marked "DANGER: ROCK FALL," has been situated

right outside of the tunnel where the train is going to exit.
We can hear the SCREAMS from inside the tunnel as the train
approaches this grisly fate.

ANOTHER ANGLE - CLARK - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________

Clark arrives, panting, Lois and Jimmy catching up with him a

few minutes later.

LOIS LANE
What's going on, Clark?

Created using Celtx

 33.

CLARK
The train is headed right into that
rock fall!

JIMMY OLSEN
Oh my God! They're all gonna...

ON TUNNEL:
__________

The train is just peeking its head out of the tunnel when
Clark screams.

CLARK
I can't look!!

WIDE ANGLE - CLARK LEAVES THE SHOT - WIDE SHOT

______________________________________________

Clark runs away, under the guise of not being able to witness
this disaster, but in reality, he's headed back to
Metropolis.

EXT. METROPOLIS - STREETS - DAY

_______________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - CAMERA FOLLOWS CLARK - MEDIUM SHOT

_________________________________________________

Clark heads down the streets, to the nearest phone booth.

WIDE ANGLE - FOCUSING ON CLARK - WIDE FULL SHOT

_______________________________________________

Making sure nobody is watching, he heads into the phone

booth, and RIPS OFF HIS SHIRT to reveal an iconic blue and
red getup with an S insignia on his chest. He crafted this
design back in Smallville before he left. He is Metropolis'
soon-to-be savior: SUPERMAN!!

WIDE ANGLE - STREETS OF METROPOLIS - WIDE SHOT

______________________________________________

Superman FLIES back to the scene of disaster, many people

pointing and looking at the unusual sight.

ON MAN AND WIFE:

________________

MAN
(to his wife)
Look! A flying man!

WIFE
I-- I can't believe it!!

ON TWO TEENAGE GIRLS:

_____________________

Created using Celtx

 34.

TEENAGE GIRL
Whoa, is that a freakin' human in the
sky?

TEENAGE GIRL'S FRIEND

Snap a photo, Mary.

MARY
You bet I will, Denise.

Mary takes out her phone and snaps a photo of Superman

soaring through the sky.

EXT. BIG, BLUE ENDLESS SKY - DAY

________________________________

WIDE ANGLE - ON SUPERMAN - EXTREME WIDE SHOT

____________________________________________

Superman flies, fluid and free, throughout a BLUE SKY filled

with cotton-candy clouds, leaving nothing but a BLUE AND RED
STREAK behind.

AERIAL ANGLE - ROCK FALL FROM BELOW - WIDE SHOT

_______________________________________________

From his super vision, he sees the danger at the rock fall.
He SWOOPS downward.

EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF METROPOLIS - ROCK FALL - DAY

______________________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - LOIS AND JIMMY - WIDE SHOT

_________________________________________

Lois and Jimmy are very concerned about Clark.

ON JIMMY:
_________

JIMMY OLSEN
I guess this is too much for Clark...

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
Come on. He's new round here. This is
nothing to me.

WIDE LOW ANGLE - SUPERMAN LANDING - WIDE SHOT

_____________________________________________

Suddenly, Superman touches down on the ground, surprising

Jimmy and Lois.

JIMMY OLSEN
Whoa! Who's that?!

Created using Celtx

 35.

WIDE ANGLE - SUPERMAN'S FACE - WIDE SHOT

________________________________________

SUPERMAN
(to the patrons on the train)
Don't worry. I'll get you out of here.

FULL SHOT OF SUPERMAN BLOCKING THE TRAIN:

_________________________________________

He leaps towards the train, which is just about to hit the

rock fall, and stands in front of it, blocking its path. Lois
is confused, seeing what Superman is doing, and Jimmy smiles,
gives a thumbs up, and snaps pictures.

ON JIMMY:
_________

JIMMY OLSEN
Genius! I never expected this to
happen!

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
I never expected this to happen
anywhere.

WIDE ANGLE - THE CROWD - WIDE SHOT

__________________________________

Suddenly, a crowd of people drown out Lois and Jimmy's

discussion with their deafening cheers.

CROWD MEMBER #1
Look at him!

CROWD MEMBER #2
He's... stopping the train!!

CROWD MEMBER #3
How does he do that?!

CROWD MEMBER #2
I don't know!!

ON SUPERMAN:
____________

Superman makes sure the train is perfectly still before

picking up the rocks and flying away with them, then flying
back.

SUPERMAN
You're free to go now.

Created using Celtx

 36.

He flies into the tunnel, and pushes it so it moves along the

track again.

ON THE CONDUCTOR:
_________________

CONDUCTOR
Thanks, kind stranger!!

ON SUPERMAN:
____________

SUPERMAN
No problem.

WIDE ANGLE - SKY - WIDE SHOT

____________________________

Superman flies off in a blue and red streak, while everyone

applauds and Jimmy snaps photos.

FADE

INT. DAILY PLANET (CLARK'S OFFICE) - NIGHT

__________________________________________

MEDIUM ANGLE - CLARK'S CUBICLE - MEDIUM SHOT

____________________________________________

Lois Lane walks in on Clark Kent reading his first article:

about the hero who saved the train.

LOIS LANE
It's a shame you couldn't be there,
Clark. He saved the day for real.

CLARK
Oh, I-- I was there, Lois. Y-You just
didn't see me.

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
Whoever this... "Superman" is, I'd
like to see him round here more.

ON CLARK:
_________

CLARK
"Superman..." that sounds like a good
name for him! I'll consider that.
After all... there's more where that
came from!

MEDIUM ANGLE - THE DOOR - MEDIUM SHOT

_____________________________________

Created using Celtx

 37.

Perry White enters the room, yawning.

PERRY
You should all go to your beds and go
to sleep. It's almost 10pm! It's past
closin' time!

ON LOIS:
________

LOIS LANE
Sure thing. See you tomorrow, Perry.

MEDIUM ANGLE - CLARK'S CUBICLE - MEDIUM SHOT:

_____________________________________________

Lois Lane exits the building, and Perry leaves, too. Clark
Kent finishes up his story.

CLARK (V.O.)
"Metropolis is glad to have this new
hero in their midst. Because with him
round... you'll believe a man can
fly."

He stops typing, faces the window, and opens it; then he RIPS
HIS SHIRT OPEN to reveal the Superman getup, and flies away.

VERY SLOW FADE

EXT. OUTER SPACE - DARKNESS

___________________________

WIDE ANGLE - THE COSMOS - EXTREME WIDE SHOT

___________________________________________

From the remnants of where Krypton once stood, flies an

ominous looking spaceship, resembling a skull. An equally
ominous voiceover starts, one that's very, VERY familiar.

BRAINIAC (V.O.)
It will be a long time until I reach
my destination. However, I must do it
for the sake of collecting all
knowledge. Knowledge on every planet
that lies in my wake. Including... my
ultimate goal: Earth.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK

Created using Celtx