Superman (1978) - full transcript

"In the decade of the 1930s, even
the great city of Metropolis...

was not spared the ravages
of the worldwide depression.

In the times of
fear and confusion,

the job of informing the public...

was the responsibility
of the Daily Planet...

a great metropolitan
newspaper, whose

reputation for
clarity and truth...

had become a symbol of hope
for the city of Metropolis."

This is no fantasy...

no careless product
of wild imagination.

No, my good friends.



These indictments I have
brought you today...

the specific charges listed
herein against the individuals...

their acts of treason, their
ultimate aim of sedition...

these are matters
of undeniable fact.

I ask you now to
pronounce judgement...

on those accused.

On this...

This mindless aberration, whose
only means of expression...

are wanton violence
and destruction.

On the woman, Ursa...

whose perversions and unreasoning
hatred of all mankind...

have threatened even the
children of the planet Krypton.

Finally, General Zod.

Once trusted by this council...



charged with maintaining
the defence

of the planet Krypton itself.

Chief architect of this
intended revolution...

and author of this
insidious plot to

establish a new
order amongst us...

with himself as absolute ruler.

You have heard the evidence.

The decision of the council
will now be heard.

Guilty.

Guilty.

Guilty.

The vote must be
unanimous, Jor-El.

It has therefore now
become your decision.

You alone will condemn
us if you wish...

and you alone will be
held responsible by me.

Join us.

You have been known to disagree
with the council before.

Yours could become an important
voice in the new order...

second only to my own.

I offer you a chance
for greatness, Jor-El.

Take it. Join us.

You will bow down
before me, Jor-El.

I swear it.

No matter that it
takes an eternity,

you will bow down before me.

Both you...

and then one day...

your heirs.

No.

- Let us out of here.
- Help me.

- Forgive me.
- I shall return.

Forgive me.

I shall return.

An unpleasant duty has been
masterly performed, Jor-El.

They have received the
fate they deserved.

Isolation in the Phantom Zone...

an eternal living death.

A chance for life, nonetheless.

As opposed to us.

It's suicide. No, it's worse.

It's genocide.

Be warned, Jor-El.

The council has already evaluated
this outlandish theory of yours.

My friends, you know me to be
neither rash nor impulsive.

I am not given to wild,
unsupported statements.

And I tell you that we must
evacuate this planet immediately.

Jor-El, you are one of
Krypton's greatest scientists.

Yes, but so is Vond-Ah.

It isn't that we question your
data. The facts are undeniable.

It's your conclusions
we find unsupportable.

This planet will explode
within 30 days, if not sooner.

I tell you, Krypton is
simply shifting its orbit.

Jor-El, be reasonable.

My friend...

I have never been otherwise.

This madness is yours.

This discussion is terminated.

The decision of the
council is final.

Any attempt by you
to create a climate

of fear and panic
among the populace...

must be deemed by us an
act of insurrection.

You would accuse me
of insurrection?

Has it now become a
crime to cherish life?

You would be banished to
endless imprisonment...

in the Phantom Zone...

the eternal void...

which you yourself discovered.

Will you abide by the
council's decision?

I will remain silent.

Neither I, nor my wife
will leave Krypton.

Have you finished?

Nearly.

It's the only answer, Lara.

If he remains here with us he
will die as surely as we will.

But why Earth, Jor-El?

They're primitives, thousands
of years behind us.

He will need that
advantage to survive.

Their atmosphere will sustain him.

He will defy their gravity.

He will look like one of them.

He won't be one of them.

No.

His dense molecular structure
will make him strong.

He'll be odd. Different.

He'll be fast. Virtually
invulnerable.

Isolated, alone.

He will not be alone.

He will never be alone.

The energy input to
Jor-El's quarters...

is now in excess.

Our data indicates the loss
is due to a misuse of energy.

Investigate.

And if the investigation
proves correct?

He knew the penalty he faced.

Even as a member of this council.

The law will be upheld.

You will travel far,
my little Kal-El.

But we will never leave you...

even in the face of our deaths.

The richness of our
lives, it will be yours.

All that I have, all that I've
learnt, everything I feel...

all this and more...

I bequeath you, my son.

You will carry me inside you
all the days of your life.

You will make my
strength your own,

see my life through your eyes...

as your life will be
seen through mine.

The son becomes the father,
and the father the son.

This is all I...

All I can send you...

Kal-El.

Stop. Stop, stop.

Which Einstein called...

his theory of relativity.

Embedded in the crystals
before you is the

total accumulation
of all literature...

and scientific fact from
dozens of other worlds...

spanning the 28 known galaxies.

Early Chinese writings point out
the complex relationships...

By carrying this complex equation
to its ultimate power, my son...

Chief among these powers
will be your sight...

your strength, your hearing...

your ability to propel yourself
at almost limitless speed.

The early history of
our universe was a

bloody mosaic of
interplanetary war.

Each of the six galaxies which
you will pass through...

contain their own individual
law, space and time.

It is forbidden for you to
interfere with human history.

What was that?

Now, wouldn't that
beat all get-out?

Will you...? You...

Huh?

Pa...

Oh, my.

All these years, as
happy as we've been...

how I've prayed the good Lord...

see fit to give us a child.

Honey, will you hand
me that rag up there.

You take things easy, Jonathan.

Remember what Doc Frye said
about that heart of yours.

Now the first thing we've got to
do when we get home is find out...

who that boy's proper family is.

He hasn't got any. Not
around here, anyway.

Martha, are you thinking what
I think you're thinking?

We could say he's the child
of my cousin in North Dakota.

And just now orphaned.

- Oh, Martha.
- Jonathan, he's only a baby.

Martha, now, you saw
how we found him.

There's something very
strange about that boy.

Yeah, you saw him.
Martha, you saw him...

just as plain as I did, Martha.

Martha Clark Kent, are you
listening to what I'm saying?

Jonathan.

Alright, bring that ball
back. Come on, now.

Again, and through the uprights.

Pick up that ball,
it's a fumble. Come

on back, let's sharpen
and try again.

Hey, yo. Let's go.

Come on, let's get that ball over
the uprights, not underneath it.

What, do you think
that ball's gonna

do, just fly there by itself?

- Come on.
- Ra, ra, ra.

What's wrong? We've got
to get it together, guys.

Come on, gang.

Come on.

- That was a great game.
- Yeah, but next week we're...

Alright.

Come on, gang, hustle. Let's go.

Stack your helmets neatly.

Remember about those uniforms.
Cleaned and washed by tomorrow...

and looking like a football team.

Clark, have the clothes
washed and ready...

- for tomorrow's game.
- Yes, sir.

Got to beat Mount Vernon High.

- Can you give me a lift?
- Home early.

Lana? Don't bother
with these, huh?

I'll take them in with
the other equipment.

- Thank you, Clark.
- Sure.

I think you're the nicest
guy in the whole school.

Well, thanks.

Of course, it's part of the job,
being team manager and all.

And I'd do it for you anyway.

Listen, a whole bunch of us are
going up to Mary Ellen's...

play some records.

Would you like to come?

Oh, well...

Heh. I don't know...

Sure. Sounds like
it'd be a lot of fun.

Kent can't make it. Still
got a lot of work to do.

What are you talking about? I
just finished stacking all the...

- All that?
- Oh.

Oh, Brad.

- Hey, come on, Lana.
- Come on, Lana.

Bad taste, bad Brad.

Sorry, Lana. Guess I'd
better clean it up.

Come on, Lana.

Come on, let's go.

- He's got to clean up.
- Bye, Clark.

- Yeah. Bye, Lana.
- Clean this up, Clark.

- Let's go.
- Bye, Clark.

- We're off to Mary Ellen's.
- See you, Clark.

Alright.

- Bye, Clark.
- Bye, Clark.

Bye, Clark. See you
tomorrow. Bye-bye.

Whoo-hoo.

Golly, I saw a boy out there
run as fast as the train.

Faster even.

Lois Lane, you have a
writer's gift for invention.

- I'll say that for you.
- But... But...

Lois, please read your book.

No one ever believes me.

Hey, look. There's Clark.

How come he's here?

Clark.

How'd you get here so fast?

- I ran.
- Ran, huh?

Told you he's an oddball.
Let's get out of here.

Been showing off a
bit, haven't you, son?

I didn't mean to show off, Pa.

It's just that, guys
like that Brad,

I just want to tear them apart.

Yeah. I know.

- Yeah, I know I shouldn't.
- Yeah, I know...

you can do all these
amazing things...

and sometimes you think that
you will just go bust...

unless you can tell
people about it.

Yeah. I mean, every time
I get the football...

I can make a
touchdown. Every time.

That's for sure.

I mean, is it showing off
if somebody's doing...

the things he's
capable of doing? Is

a bird showing off when it flies?

No. No, now you listen to me.

When you first came to
us, we thought people...

would come take you away
because when they found out...

you know, the things you could
do, and that worried us a lot.

Then a man gets older, and he
thinks very differently...

and things get very clear.

And there's one thing
I do know, son...

and that is you are
here for a reason.

I don't know whose reason,
but whatever the reason...

maybe it's because...

I don't know, it's...

But I do know one thing:

It's not to score touchdowns.

Huh?

Thanks, Dad.

I'll race you to it. Dad.

- You will, huh?
- Come on. Come on, Pop, run.

Come on. Move. Move. Yeah,
go, go, go. Come on, run.

Hey, Baron. Hey, Baron. Hey, boy.

Oh, no.

Jonathan.

Jonathan.

Dad.

No.

Jonathan.

No. Jonathan.

All those things I can do...

all those powers...

and I couldn't even save him.

Clark, get up.

Good morning, Smiley.

Clark, breakfast.

Are you gonna sleep all day?

Clark, come on. Get up.

I have to leave.

I knew this time would come.

We both knew it...

from the day we found you.

I talked to Ben
Hubbard yesterday...

and he said that he'd be happy
to help out from now on.

Mother...

I know, son.

I know.

Do you know where you're headed?

North.

Remember us, son.

Always remember us.

My son...

you do not remember me.

I am Jor-El.

I'm your father.

By now, you will have
reached your 18th year...

as it is measured on Earth.

By that reckoning, I
will have been dead...

for many thousands of your years.

The knowledge that I have...

matters physical and historic...

I've given you fully on your
voyage to your new home.

These are important matters, to be

sure, but still
matters of mere fact.

There are questions to be asked.

And it is time for you to do so.

Here in this...

This Fortress of Solitude...

we shall try to find
the answers together.

How does a good man
live? What is virtue?

When does a man's
obligation to those around

him exceed his
obligation to himself?

And these are not
simple questions.

Even on Krypton...

there is no precise science which
provides us with the answers.

I can only tell you
what I myself believe.

And to this end I've tried to
anticipate your questions...

in the order of their
importance to you.

So, my son...

speak.

Who am I?

Your name is Kal-El.

You are the only survivor
of the planet Krypton.

Even though you've been
raised as a human being...

you are not one of them.

You have great powers...

only some of which you
have as yet discovered.

Come with me now, my son...

as we break through the bonds
of your earthly confinement.

Travelling through time and space
in the six known dimensions.

Your powers will far exceed
those of mortal men.

It is forbidden for you to
interfere with human history.

Rather, let your
leadership stir others to.

In this next year, we shall
examine the human heart.

It is more fragile than your own.

For the past two years...

As we pass through
the flaming turmoil

which is the edge of
your own galaxy...

we'll enter the realm of
the red Krypton sun...

source of your strength
and nourishment...

cause of our eventual destruction.

The planet Krypton, my son.

Your home, as it was.

This year, we shall examine the
various concepts of immortality...

and their basis in actual fact.

The total accumulation
of all knowledge,

spanning the 28 known galaxies...

is embedded in the crystals which
I have sent along with you.

Study them well, my son...

and learn from them. We've
reasoned out logical judgements.

By the time you return to the
confines of your galaxy...

12 of your years will have passed.

For this reason, among others,
I have chosen Earth for you.

It is now time for you to
rejoin your new world...

and to serve its
collective humanity.

Live as one of them, Kal-El...

to discover where your strength
and your power are needed.

Always hold in your heart the
pride of your special heritage.

They can be a great people,
Kal-El. They wish to be.

They only lack the
light to show the way.

For this reason above all,
their capacity for good...

I have sent them you...

my only son.

Okay, this is it, Mac,
the Daily Planet.

Fresh fruit. Hey, lady,
how about a tomato?

Fresh fruit. Hey,
baby, how's it going?

Hey, fresh fruit and vegetables.
They're so fresh...

Fresh fruit and vegetables.
Get them while they're hot.

Look at these tomatoes.
Aren't they beautiful?

He did a great job. You see
his article this morning?

Smile.

- How many T's in "bloodletting"?
- Two.

- What are you writing, Miss Lane?
- An ode to spring.

How do you spell "massacre"?

- M-A-S-S-A-C-R-E.
- A... C...

R-E. Thank you.

Golly, how come you get
all the great stories?

A good reporter doesn't
get great stories, Jimmy.

A good reporter makes them great.

Here's that story on
the East Side murder.

Way I see, it's a banner headline,

front page with
maybe my picture...

There's only one P in "rapist."

Lois Lane, say hello
to Clark Kent.

- Told you one P.
- Hello, Miss Lane. How are...?

Remember my expose on the
sex and drug orgies...

in the senior citizens' home?

How you doing? Jimmy
Olsen, photographer.

Oh, hi. Clark Kent.
Nice to meet you.

Yeah.

It's got everything. It's got sex,
violence, the ethnic angle...

So does a lady wrestler
with a foreign accent.

- Kent, can you open this?
- Oh, sure, Mr White.

This could be a
series of articles:

"Making Sense of Senseless
Killings," by Lois Lane.

We get psychologists,
sociologists...

Lois, you're pushing a bunch
of rinky-dink tabloid garbage.

The Daily Planet
has a tradition...

Oh, I'm sorry.

Gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean
to shake it up like that.

Oh, of course not, Lois.

Why would anyone want to make a
total stranger look like a fool?

I'll take that.

Oh, thank... I'm sorry, Mr White.

Olsen, why am I paying you when I

should have you
arrested for loitering?

- Go get Mr... A towel.
- Kent.

- Move, kid, move.
- Right, chief.

- Make mine black, no sugar.
- Right, chief.

- And don't call me sugar.
- Blood is in Metropolis...

- Right, sugar.
- While the crocuses bloom.

Chief wants coffee, no sugar.
I'll take tea with lemon.

Lois, why don't you take Kent
out to meet everybody, huh?

Just introduce him around. He's
starting with the paper today.

I'm giving him the city beat.

Chief, that's my beat.

Lois, Clark Kent may
seem like just a

mild-mannered reporter,
but listen...

not only does he know how to treat

his editor in chief
with respect...

not only does he have a
snappy, punchy prose style...

but he is, in my 40 years in this

business, the fastest
typist I've seen.

- That's great.
- Excuse me. I'm sorry.

Here, you forgot my article.

Oh, excuse me, Mr White?

I was wondering if
perhaps you could

arrange for half my salary...

to be sent to this address
on a weekly basis.

- Your bookie, right?
- My what?

Don't tell me, he
sends a check every

week to his sweet,
grey-haired mother.

Actually, she's silver-haired.

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you very much, Mr White.

Excuse me.

Well...

Any more at home like you?

Not really, no.

I didn't think so.

Well, get yourself
a desk over here.

Over here?

Yeah, right here. There are some
papers in a pile right there.

Sorry. Excuse me.

- Hi, Bill Breesen.
- Hi, Clark Kent.

- Very nice to meet you.
- Welcome aboard.

Thank you.

- Here's your towel, Mr Clark.
- Kent.

- What?
- Kent.

Oh. Clark Kent.

Jimmy Olsen.

Yeah. It's fantastic. So you...?

- I met this really great guy.
- Hey, fabulous.

Yeah, fabulous. I met
him at this dude ranch.

- Did you know I used to ride?
- Yeah, I've been since I was 7.

- Oh, I got to mail these letters.
- Okay, bye. Good luck tonight.

- Oh, hi, Clark.
- Hi, Lois.

How'd you like your
first day on the job?

Well, frankly, the hours were
sort of longer than I expected...

but on the whole, I mean, meeting

you and Jimmy Olsen
and Mr White...

gosh, I'd say it's been swell.

- Swell?
- Yeah.

You know, Clark, there are very
few people left in the world...

who feel comfortable
saying that word.

- What word?
- "Swell."

Really? I always thought
it was kind of natural.

Ooh.

- I'm sorry.
- Clark.

It's alright.

- Sorry, Lois.
- Oh, hi, Rex.

- Oh, Lois.
- See anything good today?

- Not until you came along.
- Lois?

- Oh, Rex, this is...
- Clark Kent.

- Yeah, hi, see you around.
- Bye.

- Lois?
- Hey, where you going?

- Can I help you with your coat?
- Oh, yeah. Thanks.

- So you like Mr White.
- I thought he was a nice guy.

- Jimmy Olsen was fantastic.
- Hey, come here.

Come on, come on. Get in
here. Hurry up. Come on.

We'd better get out of here.

I think we'd better
do what he says.

Come on, come on.
Get in here, quick.

Don't do anything.

- That's it.
- We're coming.

- Come on.
- We're coming. Excuse me.

- Go on, back there.
- Here?

Please don't point
that at me, sir.

You could hurt somebody with that.

Yeah, yeah.

- Okay, okay, hold it there.
- Just a minute, mister.

I realise of course that times
are tough for some these days...

but this isn't the answer.

You can't solve society's
problems with a gun.

You know something, buddy? You're

right. I'm gonna turn
over a new leaf.

Good for you, sir.
That's the spirit.

He doesn't really
want to hurt anybody.

Huh.

Right after I rip off
this lady's purse.

Of course.

Now come on, lady, hand it over.

Lois, I think maybe you better...

Lois, what are you doing?

Clark. Clark.

Clark, are you alright? Clark.

What happened?

Golly. I guess I
must have fainted.

Fainted?

- You fainted?
- Sorry.

Swell.

Oh, really, Lois, supposing
that man had shot you?

Is it worth risking
your life over $10, two

credit cards, a hairbrush,
and a lipstick?

- How'd you know that?
- Know what?

You just described the exact
contents of my purse.

Wild guess.

Taxi.

- Mustard, sauerkraut?
- Plain.

- What, no mustard or sauerkraut?
- No, plain, man. Plain.

Here's a buck. Go buy
yourself a trip to Bermuda.

Gee, thanks a lot.

- Hey.
- Hi, Otis.

- So, what's happening, partner?
- Look what we got.

- Let's take him.
- Wait a minute.

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

- Lex Luthor?
- You got it, Armus.

We'll make captain by midnight.

Metropolis 46 to headquarters. We
have suspect under surveillance.

Let's go.

Hey, what do you read?

XK-101 rocket to be used.

Hey, what do you read?

- Hey, Matt.
- Hey, hey, Otis.

Just getting the
Daily Planet here.

Hey, what do you read? Down, down.

Okay, okay.

Okay. Alright. See, I'm paying
him. I got a pretzel too.

Thanks, Otis. Okay. How
many did he take, Shutzy?

Now arriving on track
10 upper level...

the Yankee Clipper from Augusta,
Boston, Springfield, Hartford...

This is Metropolis 46. We're
on foot. Over and out.

Let's go.

Your attention, please.

Your attention, please.

Metropolis Railway is announcing a

delay of departure
for the express...

to Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Indianapolis, and Chicago.

That train will now depart on
Track 28 lower level at 8:15.

No further delays are
expected at this time.

Your attention, please.

Your attention, please.

The Metropolis Flyer is now
ready for departure...

on the upper level, Track 6,
stopping at New Rochelle.

Alright, he's going down
to the train platform.

I'm going after him.

Okay, Harry. I'll call for
backup. Be careful, now.

- Alright, Armus, alright.
- All aboard, please.

Now boarding on the lower level...

Smoking cars forward, all aboard.

Hey.

Metropolis Transportation.
Metropolis

Transportation. Buffalo, Syracuse.

Come along, got to get these oars

going. Keep it moving,
keep it moving.

Ten minutes we leave,
folks. Ten minutes.

Metropolis Transportation,
folks. Hurry along, now.

All aboard. Boarding.

Ten minutes, folks. Come
on, air-conditioned cars.

Mount Vernon, Poughkeepsie,
Glen Corners.

Aboard now. All aboard.
Metropolis Transportation.

Metropolis Transportation.
Buffalo, Syracuse.

Smoking cars are
forward. Move along now.

Put your luggage up the top.

Smoking cars forward.
All aboard. Boarding.

Armus, Armus, make it Track 22.

I seen him, and I'm right on
him. Lower level, Track 22.

So that's it.

Armus, come in
please. Listen, make

it Track 23. Repeat, Track 23.

I watched him and I think I
know how he does it. Out.

It's amazing that
brain can generate

enough power to keep
those legs moving.

Harry.

Harry, where are you? Harry.

Oh, no.

Harry...

Sick.

- Sick. You're really sick.
- Sick, Miss Teschmacher?

Sick, when I'm mere days from

executing the crime
of the century?

No, no, no. Step away
from that, please.

How do you choose
to congratulate the

greatest criminal
mind of our time?

Do you tell me that I'm
brilliant? Oh, no, no.

That would be too
obvious, I grant you.

Charismatic. Fiendishly gifted.

Try "twisted."

Get away from there. Get
away, get away, get away.

Tell me something, Lex.

Why do so many people have to die
for the crime of the century?

Why? You ask why?

Why does the phone always ring
when you're in the bathtub?

Why is the most brilliantly
diabolical leader of our time...

surrounding himself
with total nincompoops?

I'm back, Mr Luthor.

Yes, I was just talking about you.

You were followed again.

In spite of those
catlike reflexes.

Mr Luthor. Mr Luthor, I'm sorry.

Otis.

Is that the newspaper I
asked you to get me?

Yeah.

Why am I not reading it?

Because I haven't
given it to you yet?

- Right.
- Oh.

At last, it's official.

Thanks to the generous
help of the United

States government,
we will pull off...

the greatest real-estate
swindle of all time.

Lex, what is this obsession
with real estate?

All the time, "land, land, land."

Miss Teschmacher, when I was 6
years old, my father said to me...

"Get out."

Before that. He said, "Son,
stocks may rise and fall.

Utilities and transportation
systems may collapse.

People are no damn good. But
they will always need land...

and they'll pay through
the nose to get it."

"Remember," my father said...

- Land.
- Right.

It's a pity that he didn't see
from such humble beginnings...

how I've created this empire.

An empire? This?

Miss Teschmacher, how
many girls do you know...

who have a Park Avenue
address like this one?

Park Avenue address?

Two hundred feet below.

Do you realise what people
are shelling out up there...

for a few miserable rooms
off a common elevator?

What more could anyone ask?

Sunshine? A night on the
town instead of under it?

- Otis?
- Yes?

Did you feed the babies?

Not... Not today, Mr Luthor.

Otis, feed the babies.

- Mr Luthor, please.
- Otis.

Relax.

Your babies weren't
hungry, Mr Luthor.

Lex, you're sick.

You are really sick.

You would take a diaper pin
to cut a baby's throat.

You'd fix the brakes on your
own grandmother's wheelchair.

I don't know, just explain
one thing to me, Lex.

Why do I love you so much?

Because life with
me is never dull.

No, it's never dull, Lex...

because you are the pits.

You're really the pits.

Later.

- Olsen.
- Yeah?

Get this Loch Ness update
right into Composing.

Yeah? No, that's it, Roth.
Put it to bed. Right.

What are you standing
around here for?

I'm not...

- I wasn't gonna say it.
- Go.

- Ah, the sex maniac profile.
- Right.

Look, 9-to-5 it's a Pulitzer
Prize winner. What do you bet?

There's no Z in "brassiere."

Hey, nice job on that
union scandal, Kent.

Well, gosh, thanks, Mr White.

Oh, hi, Clark. Good night.

- Here, let me carry that for you.
- Oh, thanks a lot.

Lois, have you got a minute?

Excuse me, please. Lois?

And these two go to the addresses
on the envelope, okay?

Lois, I was wondering if you would
like to have dinner with me?

Gosh, Clark, I'm
sorry. I'm booked.

Oh.

Air Force One's landing at the
airport and this kid's there...

to make sure you-know-who answers
a few questions he'd rather duck.

My goodness, don't
you ever let up?

What for?

I've seen how the other half
lives. My sister, for instance.

Three kids, two cats,
and one mortgage. Yech.

I would go bananas in a week.

Oh, can I take you to the airport?

Not unless you can fly.

- Clark? Ladies.
- Sorry.

Change my clothes. Thank you. Bye.

Hey, Lois, maybe we could...?

Lois?

Would you be a pet and mail that?

Oh, sure... Good night.

Oh. Going down,
please. Going down.

- Going down?
- Going up, up, up.

Good night.

Daily Planet Copter
One, this is ground.

Planet One, go ahead.

We have Miss Lane
here for a ride to

Metropolis Airport to
meet Air Force One.

Roger, we're on our way
and have you in sight.

Have one aboard for
transfer, over.

Roger, Planet One. You're cleared.
Wind, 020 at 15, gusting.

Altimeter two-niner-eight-niner.

Roger, over and out.

A malfunction. Can't get lift-off.

- You hooked the cable.
- What's happening?

- Ah.
- Set it down.

Oh, my God. We've lost stabiliser
rotor control, I can't hold it.

I can't hold it. I can't hold it.

Wake up.

Help.

Help. Help.

Come on, step back.
Step back, folks.

Alright, let's get back a little.

Move over across the street.

Bring the cameras over here. Okay.

Okay, you see the
helicopter up there?

Help me.

Alright, move back. Let
the ambulance through.

Help me.

Ah.

Okay. Come on, hold it. Get back.

Come on. Come on, get off the
streets. Come on, get back.

Move, let the firemen through.

Boys, come on, now. Make a line.

Move to the other
side of the street.

Come on. Get along.

Get away from the building.

Hold these crowds
back. Move. Move.

Help me.

- Say, Jim, whoo.
- Excuse me.

That's a bad outfit.

Whoo.

Okay, Bresslaw, move
these people out.

Oh, God, look up there.

What the hell's that?

- Oh.
- Easy, miss. I've got you.

You... You've got me?

Who's got you?

I can't believe it. I just
cannot believe it. He got her.

Gentlemen, this man needs help.

Well, I certainly hope this little

incident hasn't put
you off flying, miss.

Statistically speaking, of course,

it's still the safest
way to travel.

Right. Wait.

Who are you?

A friend.

Bye.

Hi there. Something wrong
with the elevator?

Ah.

Going down.

Nah.

Officer.

Good evening, Officer Mooney.

Well, they say confession
is good for the soul.

I'd listen to this man.

Take him away.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

Move your ass. Come on. Come on.

Okay, let's go. Let's go.

Drop your weapons.
Drop your weapons.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Okay, hold it. Hold
it right there.

- Freeze, you turkeys.
- Don't shoot.

Be cool. You got us.

Bad vibrations?

Sergeant, you don't believe
me. I swear, flying.

With a big red cape and
bright red boots, as well.

- Watch the desk.
- Quick as a wink, he was gone.

Flew up in the air again, he
did, like a big blue bird.

- A blue bird...
- You don't believe me.

- With bright red boots.
- Flying.

Take off, go back to Murphy's bar.

- Continue what you started.
- Don't believe me.

I'll be off in a few minutes and
I'll meet you there myself.

Mooney, the first bottle's on me.

Let me get my hat.

Hey, Frisky, will you
come down from there.

Hey, cat. Come on,
Frisky, come down.

Come on down, you dumb cat.

Come on.

Frisky, you dumb cat, will
you come down from there?

Come on, Frisky,
come on. Come down.

Hi. I'll get him.

Come on. It's alright.

Here you go, miss.

Gee, thanks, mister.
He's such a naughty cat.

- I always tell him not to...
- Hold on, now.

Let's not be too hard on Frisky,
okay? You know something...

we all get a little afraid
of heights now and again.

Well...

goodbye, Frisky. So long, now.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Mummy, Mummy, Frisky
was stuck in the tree.

This man swooped out of the
sky and gave him to me.

Haven't I told you to
stop telling lies?

Get a weather report
from Metropolis Airport.

Metropolis Airport,
this is Air Force One.

Could we have the weather report?

Roger, Air Force One.

Metropolis, currently
ceiling 500 overcast.

700 broken, visibility
one half and showers.

Wind 240 at 25, altimeter
niner-niner-eight.

Roger.

Well, it doesn't look too
good. What do you think?

No, it doesn't.

Yeah, and the old man hates
bumpy, that's great.

Better tell him to get
rid of his drink.

The old man drinks?

After a mouthful of
peanuts, wouldn't you?

- What the hell was that?
- What happened?

We lost power in number one.

Lost power? We lost
the whole engine.

- Shut down one.
- Pull one throttle closed.

- Bring up two and three.
- There's not enough pressure...

Mayday, mayday, Metropolis
tower. Air Force One.

We have lost port outboard
engine and part of wing.

Request emergency landing.
What's the position?

Ten miles south-west
of Metropolis Airport.

Notify them the
president's on board.

Position, 10 miles...

that's 10 miles south-west
Metropolis Airport.

Heading 305. Height, 6000 feet.

What the hell happened?
We got our engine back?

What the hell's
going on out there?

Fly. Don't look. Just fly.

We got something.

I ain't saying what
it is. Just trust me.

You enjoyed it.

I don't know what to say, Father.

I'm afraid I just
got carried away.

- I anticipated this, my son.
- You couldn't have.

You couldn't have imagined...

How good it felt?

You are revealed to the world.

Very well. So be it.

But you still must keep
your secret identity.

Why?

The reasons are two.

First, you cannot serve
humanity 28 hours a day.

- 24.
- Or 24...

as it is in Earth time.

Your help would be
called for endlessly.

Even for those tasks which human
beings could solve themselves.

It is their habit to abuse
their resources in such a way.

And secondly?

Second, your enemies
will discover...

their only way to hurt you:

By hurting the
people you care for.

Thank you, Father.

Lastly...

do not punish yourself for
your feelings of vanity.

Simply learn to control them.

It is an affliction common
to all, even on Krypton.

Our destruction could have been

avoided but for the
vanity of some...

who consider us indestructible.

Were it not for vanity, why...

at this very moment...

I could embrace you in my arms...

my son.

Reports are coming in of
a miraculous saving...

- of Air Force One...
- A burglar was apprehended...

by a man in a blue
suit and red cape.

Rescuing Miss Lois Lane...

writer on the Daily Planet,
with one hand, and a...

Yeah, that'll be the day, huh?

I said, that'll be the day
when a guy could fly, huh?

Oh, I don't know.
You'd be surprised.

- Yeah.
- Some sort of fantastic hoax.

Your guess is as
good as anybody's.

True or false, miracle or fraud?

- The answer is up to you.
- Man or myth? Miss Teschmacher.

Turn it off.

Mr Luthor? What's a myth?

Something unreal. Something
not quite human.

Something like you, Otis.

I'm a myth.

Lex, what's the story on this guy?

Do you think he's the
genuine article?

If he is, he's not
from this world.

Why?

If any human being were gonna

perpetrate such a
fantastic hoax...

it would have been me.

Otis. My robe.

Right away, Mr Luthor.

It all fits somehow, his
coming here to Metropolis...

and at this particular time.

There's kind of a cruel
justice about it.

Miss Teschmacher, you
look so pretty today.

I'm gonna take your picture.

Smile.

There you go.

Otis.

To commit the crime
of the century...

a man would just naturally want to
face the challenge of the century.

Listen, Mr Luthor,
maybe this guy that

flies is just sort
of passing through.

- You know?
- Passing through?

Not on your life, Otis...

which I would gladly
sacrifice, by the way...

for the opportunity of destroying
everything that he represents.

And, Otis, by the way...

the next time, put my robe on
after I'm out of the pool.

Mr... I'm sor...

Now look. The Post: "It flies."

The News: "Look, Ma, no wires."

The Times: "Blue bomb
buzzes Metropolis."

The Planet: We have the
story of the century here.

I want the name of this
whatchamacallit...

to go with the Planet
like bacon and eggs...

franks and beans, death and
taxes, politics and corruption.

I don't think that he
would lend himself...

to any cheap promotion
schemes, Mr White.

Exactly how would you
know that, Kent?

Just a first impression.

Who's talking cheap? I'll make
him partner if I have to.

- Right?
- Right, chief.

I want the real story.

I want the inside
dope on this guy.

Has he got a family? Where does he
live? What does the S stand for?

"Tonight at 8, your place.
Hopefully, a friend."

How does he fly?

A friend?

Tony, who is he? Mike,
what's his name?

What's he got hidden under
that cape? Batteries?

Why did he show up last night?

Dick, where does he come from?

Does he have a girlfriend?

What's his favourite
ball team, Kent?

Now, listen to me. I tell
you, boys and girls...

whichever one of you
gets it out of him...

is gonna wind up with the single
most important interview...

since God talked to Moses.

What are you standing
around about for?

Move. Get on that story.

Let me tell you
something, Vinnie. A good

reporter doesn't get
great stories...

a good reporter makes them great.

Oh, yeah?

- Olsen.
- Yeah. Chief wants me.

- Yeah, chief?
- Black, no sugar.

Black, no sugar. You heard him.

Sheesh.

"Eight o'clock," he
says, 8:00, 8:00.

Some friend.

The story of my life.
Cinderella bites the dust.

Good evening, Miss Lane.

Hi.

Oh, I'm sorry, did you
have plans this evening?

Oh. Oh, this old thing... No.

It's no trouble at
all to come later.

No. Don't move.

Or...

Sure, you can move.

Just don't fly away, alright?

Sorry to drop in on you
like this, Miss Lane...

but there must be a lot
of questions about me...

that people would
like the answers to.

Of course, yes.

You really shouldn't smoke,
you know, Miss Lane.

Don't tell me. Lung cancer, right?

Well, not yet, thank goodness.

Would you like a glass of wine?

No, thanks. I never
drink when I fly.

Nice place.

Oh, thank you. Thank you.

Should we get started
with the interview?

Oh. Thank you.

Well, let's start with
your vital statistics.

Are you married?

No. No, I'm not.

Do you have a girlfriend?

No, I don't, but if
I did, Miss Lane,

you'd be the first
to know about it.

How old are you?

- Over 21.
- Oh, I get it.

You don't want anyone to
know how old... Okay.

How big are you? How tall are you?

- About 6' 4".
- Six-foot-four.

- And how much do you weigh?
- Around 2, 225.

Two... 225?

Well, I assume, then, that...

the rest of your bodily
functions are normal?

Sorry. I beg your pardon?

Well, putting it delicately...

do you...

eat?

Yes. Yes, I do. When I'm hungry.

You do. Of course you do.

Well. Well, then, is it true...

that you can see through anything?

Yes, I can. Well, pretty much.

And that you're totally
impervious to pain?

Well, so far.

What colour underwear
am I wearing?

I'm sorry. I embarrassed
you, didn't I?

No.

- I did.
- No, no. Not at all.

It's just that this planter
must be made of lead.

- Yes, it is. So?
- Oh, you see, I...

I sort of have a problem
seeing through lead.

Oh, that's interesting.

"Problems seeing through lead."

- Do you have a first name?
- What, like Ralph or something?

- No. I mean like...
- Pink.

- Huh?
- Pink.

I'm sorry, Miss Lane. I
didn't mean to embarrass you.

You didn't embarrass me.

What's your background?
Where do you hail from?

Well, that's kind of hard
to explain, actually.

You see, I'm from...
Well, pretty far away.

Another galaxy, as
a matter of fact.

I come from a planet
called Krypton.

Huh?

Krypton.

Oh, Krypton. With a C-R-I...? No.

No, actually, it's Krypton,
with a K-R-Y-P-T-O-N.

K-R-Y... Do you like pink?

I like pink very much, Lois.

- Why are you...?
- I'm sorry?

I mean, why are you
here? There must

be a reason for you to be here.

Yes. I'm here to fight for truth
and justice and the American way.

You're gonna end up fighting every
elected official in this country.

I'm sure you don't
really mean that, Lois.

- I don't believe this.
- Lois?

I never lie.

Oh.

Oh.

Just how fast do you
fly, by the way?

I don't know, really.

You know, I never actually
bothered to time myself.

- No?
- Say...

why don't we find out?

And how do you propose we do that?

Take a ride with me?

You mean I can fly?

Actually, I'd be handling
the flying, if that's okay.

This is utterly fantastic.

Wait a minute. Where
are you going?

- Are you serious?
- Sure.

What's the matter,
don't you want to go?

Okay. You don't need these.

I need a sweater. It
must be kind of cold.

No, you'll be warm enough.

- Ready?
- Clark...

said that you're just a figment
of somebody's imagination...

like Peter Pan.

Clark. Who's that, your boyfriend?

Clark? Oh, Clark.
No, he's nothing.

- He's just a...
- Peter Pan, huh?

Huh.

Peter Pan flew with children,
Lois. In a fairy tale.

Ah.

Oh.

Oh. Ah.

Can you read my mind?

Do you know what it
is that you do to me?

I don't know who you are.

Just a friend from another star.

Here I am, like a kid
out of school...

holding hands with a god.

I'm a fool.

Will you look at me, quivering.

Like a little girl, shivering.

You can see right through me.

Can you read my mind?

Can you picture the
things I'm thinking of?

Wondering why you are...

all the wonderful things you are.

You can fly.

You belong in the sky.

You and I...

could belong to each other.

If you need a friend...

I'm the one to fly to.

If you need to be loved...

here I am.

Read my mind.

Oh, we forgot to time ourselves.

Huh.

Oh, well, maybe next time.

Oh.

- You okay?
- Huh.

Well, good night.

Oh, good night.

What a super man.

Superman.

Lois? Lois?

Anybody home? Hello? Lois?

- Hi. Can I come in?
- Oh, yeah.

Lois, for goodness sake, did
you even hear me knocking?

Huh.

Lois, we did have a
date tonight, remember?

Oh.

- Lois? You haven't been...
- Oh, no, no.

Well, I should certainly hope not.
Well, let's push off, shall we?

- I'd better get a coat.
- Okay.

It might be kind of
cold out. No, I mean...

I need a purse, and I have
to fix my hair, and...

put some blush on...

Lois...

there's something I have
to tell you. I'm really...

I mean, I was, at first,
really nervous about tonight.

But then I decided,
well, darn it, I was

gonna show you the
time of your life.

That's Clark, nice.

I was thinking maybe we
could go for a hamburger.

Now, then...

given the exact location of the
galaxy that he mentions...

and the proximity to our
own solar system...

it's amazing.

Amazing. Too good to be true.

It's too good to be true.
He's 6' 4", has black hair...

blue eyes, doesn't drink, doesn't
smoke, and tells the truth.

Miss Teschmacher, some
people read War and Peace...

and come away thinking it's
a simple adventure story.

Others can read the ingredients
on a chewing gum wrapper...

and unlock the secrets
of the universe.

Lex, what has chewing
gum got to do

with the secrets of the universe?

Right. Right, Miss Teschmacher.

N, N, N...

M. You want M, Mr Luthor?
Coming right up.

So there you go. M.

M, as in "moron," Otis?
No, no, no. It's N.

N, as in "Neanderthal,"
"nincompoop," "nitwit."

And I, as in "ladder".

Ladder, Mr Luthor.
Coming right up.

I didn't see, because I...

I'm sorry, Mr Luthor. I... Ooh.

In the interview, he says
that the planet Krypton...

exploded in 1948.

Ridiculous little freak
took three years

in a rocket ship to get to Earth.

- Ergo...
- Ergo. Ergo, 1948, three years...

- He's 6' 4", you know that?
- I said that.

Did you say he don't drink
and he don't smoke?

I said that. It was in the
paper right there. I said it.

Do you know why the number 200
is so vitally descriptive...

to both you and me? It's
your weight and my IQ.

Now, think, people, think.

Deductive reasoning, that's
the name of the game.

Fragments from the planet Krypton

exploded and went
into outer space.

It is reasonable to
assume that some

of those particles of debris...

drifted to Earth.

Meteorites.

[SPEAKS GERMAN]

Voilà.

Voilà.

Voilà.

A meteorite found in Addis Ababa?

I know I'm gonna get rapped in
the mouth for this, but so what?

So what? You mean, to us
they are just meteorites.

Fair enough. But the level of

specific radioactivity
is so high...

to anyone from the planet Krypton,
this substance is lethal.

Wait a minute, Mr Luthor.

You mean fire and
bullets can't hurt

this guy, but this stuff here...

Will kill him.

- Oh.
- Oh.

Yeah, wow...

Doesn't it give you kind of...

a shudder of electricity
through you

to be in the same room with me?

Not like the one you'll get when
you try to lay that rock on him.

He can see you coming from miles
with those super peepers of his.

Oh, Lord, you gave them
eyes, but they cannot see.

Nor can Superman, through lead.

He can't see through lead.

And kryptonite will destroy him.

- Any questions, class?
- Wow.

Wonder what they're
wearing in Addis Ababa.

Looks like a burnous,
a wraparound.

There's gold. It's 24 carat...

- Are we going to Addis Ababa?
- Not 18 carat gold.

Mother Bird to missile
convoy. Over.

Missile convoy to
Mother Bird, go ahead.

Everything looks good. See
you at base. Over and out.

Roger, Mother Bird. Over and out.

Mr Otis, do you live in England?

I don't think so, Mr Luthor.

Why are you driving
on the left side?

Ready, Miss Teschmacher?

Have you ever tried
running in high heels?

He probably has.

God, what a mess.

- What?
- I don't know, man.

Yeah, I'm gonna get a
call to headquarters.

See if we can get
an ambulance here.

This is Charlie-Baker-Four...

- Man, look at this.
- Whoo-wee. Looks pretty bad.

- Think she's dead?
- Better check her pulse.

Alright, get an
ambulance down here.

I don't wanna hold this convoy
up more than I have to.

She's having trouble breathing,
sir. What do you think?

Well, I suggest
vigorous chest massage.

If that doesn't work,
mouth-to-mouth.

Yes, sir.

Sergeant, I won't
have one of my men

doing anything I
wouldn't do myself.

- Yeah, but, sir...
- Get an ambulance.

Alright, men. Gather around.

About face.

Ow.

Hup. Two, three, four.
Hup. Two, three, four.

Enough. Enough, enough, enough.
I'm okay now. I'm okay.

By the way, what did you
have for lunch? Whew.

- My, my.
- Sorry.

Hi. Somebody hurt?

- Well, that was fast.
- Fast?

When this woman's
life is at stake?

Let's see here...

- You have a stretcher?
- Get a stretcher.

- Get a stretcher.
- Get a stretcher.

Get a stretcher.

Get a stretcher. Go on, you guys.

Anything I can do?

Oh, I think you've
already done it.

- Oh, yeah?
- She's gonna be alright.

- I don't feel too good.
- Miss Teschmacher...

- you've done very well.
- I've done very well.

I said that.

I did it. I did it, Mr
Luthor, Miss Teschmacher.

- I did it, just like you told me.
- Alright, Otis. Alright.

Alright, Otis. Listen, it isn't
that I don't trust you, but...

I don't trust you,
Otis. What'd you do?

Well, I set the first
directional vector to 38...

the second one to 67, and
the third one to 117.

- What about the fourth one?
- What fourth one?

Now, wait a minute. Wait a
minute. The third one to 117?

Yes. See? I wrote it down,
Mr Luthor. I wrote it...

Otis. Otis.

The third one was supposed to be
11, and the fourth one, seven.

Oh. Well, gee, Mr Luthor.

Oh, I see. I guess my arm
wasn't long enough, see?

Otis, would you like
to see a long arm?

Otis, would you like to see
a very, very long arm?

- Oh, no, Mr Luthor.
- Otis. Otis.

Ah.

My marshmallow.

Leave me alone. Give
me your arm, Otis.

Hand it over. I'll wring your
neck. I'll give you a long arm.

I'm sorry, Mr Luthor. I'm
sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

- I just got... I got mixed up.
- It's alright.

I'll go in there and
fix that thing.

It's okay.

It's okay, Otis, it's okay.

There's another XK-101 being
launched at the same time.

See? There's another XK-101 being
launched at exactly the same time.

I just said that.

No, she said there was a XK-101...

being launched at exactly
the same time, Mr Luthor.

Don't tell me that.

But there is another
XK-101 being launched...

- at exactly the same time.
- I told you not to tell me that.

Oh, no, no, no. Mr
Luthor, please. She

didn't mean it.
Miss Teschmacher...

Shut up in there.

Mr Luthor, are you mad?

You did it again, Otis.

Miss Teschmacher, I think you did.

- I know. But he
didn't say, "exactly."

- But he always hits me.

Mr Luthor, come on. Let me do
it again. I can get it right.

- Otis.
- I got experience now.

Otis, how would you like
the heady experience

of being thrown from
a moving vehicle?

You want a bite of that?

- Alright, get it right, will you?
- Yes, Mr Luthor.

McDonald, I thought you told
me this road was blocked off.

Jablonski, you said
it was blocked.

I didn't ask him, I asked you.

Alright, follow me.
Follow me, men.

- Back that thing off the road.
- Back that thing up out of here.

Off the road.

Back it off the road,
we got a convoy.

You fellas get back into that
thing and back it off the road.

We got a convoy
coming through here.

Listen, you're gonna
have to circle

back. I don't have time to argue.

Heck of a day, isn't it?

We took the wrong turn. We
were looking for Route 12.

Route 12? That's back
there, isn't it?

No, sir. It's up there.

Sergeant, we took the wrong route.

I'm a lieutenant, a naval officer.

Shut up.

Route 12 is back that way.

This man is a diabetic, you see.
And he has to have his insulin.

What's he eating chocolate for?

Well, it gives him a lot of sugar.

- Yeah.
- Alright, now listen, fellas.

Back out here, go back a
few miles, pull off...

Just back up, we'll open an exit.

Can't we get past you here?

Tell me, chief, what do you
think about all of this?

No oil, no uranium, no coal,
no precious minerals.

Hell, no water any more. Not since
the government dammed it all up...

to service those towns on the
other side of the mountain.

If we still had water,
we would never sell...

- our beloved land.
- Well my...

My associate, Mr Olsen...

is taking pictures of that dam,
but what I don't understand...

is why you'd sell out to a
person you've never met.

I mean, you don't even
know his name. Oh, yeah.

At the stupid-high
price he offered...

for this worthless piece of
desert, I hope it's Custer.

Perfect. That's just
what I need, thank you.

Reporting live from the
launch site, ground zero.

Well, today marks an
historic occasion.

Two XK-101 rockets will be
launched simultaneously...

one by the Army and by the Navy.

Hi, everybody. Has anybody
seen Lois around today?

No, I haven't, but the
chief wants to see you.

You're blocking the set, Clark.

Sorry, Gil. How's Judy
today, okay? Good? Great.

- Excuse me, Mr White?
- Come in, Kent.

You wanted to see me? Sir, have
you seen Lois anywhere today?

She's out west looking
into a land fraud deal.

Sent young Olsen with her
on his first assignment.

Some unidentified clown out there
is buying up thousands of acres...

of worthless desert
at incredible prices.

That doesn't seem to make sense.

The world doesn't make sense.
You ought to know that by now.

Look at this dispatch
from Addis Ababa.

People break into a museum
at night, kill two people...

and what do they take? A
worthless piece of meteorite.

- How do you figure that?
- Well...

frankly, I've never been able to
understand violence in any form.

I know that about
you, Kent. That's one

of the reasons I
wanted to talk to you.

I've been in this news game
40 years, man and boy.

And I got where I am with guts,
compassion, elbow grease...

and something you're
sadly lacking in, son.

- Humility?
- No, not humility.

You got bags of humility.

Aggression, confidence,
that's the ticket.

Take charge. Let people
know who you are.

This is Lex Luthor.

Only one thing alive
with less than four

legs can hear this
frequency, Superman: You.

In approximately five minutes,
a poison gas pellet...

containing propane-lithium
compound...

will be released through
air ducts in the city...

effectively annihilating half
the population of Metropolis.

I was a reporter before most
of my friends were copy boys.

I want you to do that. Get Lois
to introduce you to Superman.

Find out who he is.
What's he like?

Where'd he get that blue suit?

Did he have it made? Is
it silk? Is it plastic?

I know it all seems
a bit much, but

how else was I going to meet you?

I knew you'd never accept
an invitation to tea.

But a disaster, with people in
danger, people who need help...

well, I just knew
you couldn't resist

the chance to sort of pitch in.

Know what I mean?

It's Superman.

- Look.
- Oh, my God.

There's a strong streak of
good in you, Superman...

but then, nobody's perfect.

Almost nobody.

- What the...?
- Oh, Superman.

- Gee.
- Stand back, please. Stand back.

Nothing to get worried about.

Well, don't just sit
there. Get out.

Look at that overgrown boy
scout, Miss Teschmacher.

Tell me what you see.

Cuteness, dimples.

You like cuteness, huh?

Dimples.

I'll give you dimples.

The pressure is still on you,
Superman. You know what they say:

"if you can't stand the heat,
get out of the tunnel."

This is your last
chance, Superman.

Why don't you do yourself
a flavour and freeze.

Yeah.

Hah.

I think he's coming, Mr Luthor.

He's definitely coming, Mr Luthor.

It's open. Come in.

My attorney will be in touch with
you about the damage to the door.

Otis, take the gentleman's cape.

- I don't think he wants me to.
- Luthor, where's the gas pellet?

Somewhere...

in the back of my mind, actually.

It's a little idea
I was toying with.

Is that how your
warped brain gets its

kicks? Planning the
death of innocents?

No, by causing the death
of innocent people.

Seven, six, five, four...

three, two, one.

Fire.

Navy Bird, we have a launch.

Navy missile, XK-101.

Angle of attack is perfect.

- Climbing fast.
- Hydraulics, general function.

Now, as you may or may not
know, I am, as they say...

very heavy into real estate.

To make money in that
game, you have to buy

for a little and sell
for a lot, right?

- Right.
- Right.

So the problem:

How to make land more valuable
between the time you buy it...

and the time you sell it.

Now, this is California,
the richest,

most populous state in the union.

I don't need a geography
lesson from you, Luthor.

Oh, yes, of course,
you've been there. I

do forget, you get
around, don't you?

- Where was I?
- California.

California, right. The San Andreas
Fault. Maybe you've heard of it?

Yes. It's the joining of two land

masses. The fault
line is unstable...

which is why you get
earthquakes in California.

Wonderful. Couldn't have
said it better myself.

Everything west of
this line is the

richest real estate in the world.

San Diego, Los Angeles,
San Francisco.

Everything on this
side is just hundreds

of miles of worthless
desert land...

which happens to be owned by...

Lex Luthor, Incorporated.

Now, call me foolish,
call me irresponsible...

It occurs to me that a
500-megaton bomb...

planted at just the
proper point, would...

Would destroy most of California.

Millions of innocent
people would die.

The West Coast as
we know it would...

Fall into the sea.
Bye-bye, California.

Hello, new West
Coast. My West Coast.

Costa del Lex, Luthorville,
Marina del Lex, Otisburg...

- Otisburg?
- Miss Teschmacher...

- she's got her own place, Mr...
- Otisburg?

- It's a little bitty place.
- Otisburg?

Okay. I'll just wipe it off,
that's all. It's a little town.

You're a dreamer, Lex Luthor.
A sick, twisted dreamer.

Your plan couldn't possibly work.

I'll admit there
were a few problems.

Adjusting the precise
trajectory of the missile...

finding the optimum stress point
for the fault line itself.

Which, by the way, is
target zero, right...

here.

Ooh.

Chief, listen. I
promise you my friends

and I are gonna do all we can...

- to get to the bottom of this.
- Thank you, Miss Lane.

Okay, bye.

- What's happening, lieutenant?
- Trajectory malfunction, sir.

- Then abort.
- Yes, sir.

Function negative, sir.

- Can't you knock them down?
- Absolutely impossible, sir.

They have the new B-20
low-level avoidance systems.

Get me the Pentagon.

Red line.

Hello? Hello.

That's impossible. Stand by.

Two hundred and eighty
million dollars

and there's not a
goddamned thing...

- we can do about it?
- That's right, senator.

You got what you paid for.

Can't happen here. Heh.
Can't happen here.

Get me the president.

Yeah?

Mr President. Mr President.

- Goddamn it, what is it now?
- The Pentagon's calling, sir.

Well, what do you think,
Supe baby? Interesting?

Your theory's quite
impressive, Luthor.

Would you go to the viewing room?

But as for the rest, it's
nothing but a sick fantasy.

Fantasy? No. No.

It's history. It's
happening, Superman.

Miss Teschmacher.

- Yes, Lex?
- Where's the rocket now?

It's going like a bat over the
Grand Canyon. So is the other one.

The other one?
There's two of them?

Yeah, Superman. Double jeopardy.

Even you, with your great speed,
couldn't stop both of them.

While I, on the other hand, could
stop them with my detonator.

Alright, Luthor. Where is
it? Where's the detonator?

You diseased maniac.

Did you really think
you could hide

it from me by encasing it in lead?

I'll mould this box
into your prison bars.

Don't touch that.

I told you. It's
kryptonite, Superman. A

little souvenir from
the old home town.

I've spared no expense to
make you feel right at home.

You were great in
your day, Superman.

But it just stands to reason...

when it came time to
cash in your chips...

this old, diseased maniac...

would be your banker.

Mind over muscle.

You don't even care where the
other missile's headed, do you?

Certainly, I do. I know
exactly where it's headed.

Hackensack, New Jersey.

I have to leave you
now. No hard feelings.

We all have our little faults.
Mine's in California.

Lex, my mother lives
in Hackensack.

Miss Teschmacher.

Both birds uncontrolled.

Impossible to reset.

Otis.

Freeze.

Miss Teschmacher.

Miss Teschmacher.

Please, you can't...

You can't just stand there.

You can't just stand there...

and let innocent people, millions
of innocent people, die.

- Maybe.
- Please.

If it wasn't for my mother...

Please. Please help
me to save them.

If I help you, do you promise
to save my mother first?

But Lois and Jimmy...

Oh, but my mother comes first.

If you promise me,
I'll believe you,

because you always tell the truth.

I promise. I promise.

Why did you kiss me first?

It... I didn't think
you'd let me later.

Thank you, Miss Teschmacher.

Why is it I can't get it
on with the good guys?

Stand aside now.

I wouldn't stay here, either.

Army bird still heading due east.

Navy bird still heading due west.

Losing radar contact.

Next radar contact
in three seconds.

Intercept both birds.

Army bird still headed east, sir.

Someone's trying to
destroy Metropolis.

Actually sir, it looks like
it's headed for New Jersey.

Jersey? What the
hell's in New Jersey?

- Army bird gaining altitude.
- Miss Teschmacher.

- Radar contact strong.
- We have straight climb.

Miss Teschmacher.

Radar report, Navy bird,
San Andreas area.

Heading down. Fifteen
seconds to impact.

Navy bird heading down,
15 seconds to impact.

Fifteen seconds and counting.

- Impact: San Andreas.
- God.

We interrupt the program
for a news flash.

A military missile has exploded in
the Southern California desert.

The force of the explosion has
activated the San Andreas Fault.

California is suffering
a major earthquake.

What the...?

What's going on?

It's a quake. Look.

Look out.

Get to the back of the bus.

Okay, kids. It's alright now.

Thank God, we're
back on the bridge.

- Hey, it's Superman.
- It's Superman.

Holy mackerel.

Going off the tracks.

Hang on.

I can't hold her.

All personnel, evacuate now.

All personnel, evacuate now.

Watch that cable.

My eyes. I can't see.

Execute earthquake procedure.

- Execute earthquake procedure.
- Get out. Get out, get out.

Someone try and pull the main.

It's impossible, it's red-hot.

- Gentlemen, is that man alright?
- Yeah.

Gee, that's Superman. He must've
been the one that saved us.

- Ah...
- Hang on, Jim.

Go ahead, shoot.

The dam burst.

Forget the car. Come on, come on.

You're safe here, son.

That's okay. Miss Lane
will be driving by soon.

- Come on, George.
- Make for the hill.

There has been major
quake damage...

to Southern California.

The San Andreas Fault has
miraculously sealed itself...

yet Southern California
is suffering

major aftershocks of
a major earthquake.

The population is warned
to be aware of...

Please, come on, turn over.

- Which in some areas has...
- Come on.

Help me. Help me.

No.

Water.

Lois.

No, no, no.

No. No.

My son.

It is forbidden for you to
interfere in human history.

One thing I do know, son, and that
is you are here for a reason.

It is forbidden for
you to interfere...

Those things I can do...

all those powers, and I
couldn't even save him.

It is forbidden.

It is forbidden.

It is forbidden for you to
interfere with human history.

It is forbidden.

Hi.

Don't bother, I think it's dead.

Sure it's dead.

The problem with men
of steel, there's

never one around
when you want one.

Know what happened to me
while you were off flying?

I was almost in an earthquake...

I had this gas station blow up...

there's telephone poles
falling all over...

I'm almost killed, and to
top the whole thing off...

this stupid car runs out of gas.

I'm sorry about that, Lois...

but I've been kind
of busy for a while.

I'm sorry. That's alright.

We're sort of alike, aren't we?

I mean, our work comes first.

Hey.

Thanks a lot, Superman.

You put me in the middle of
nowhere during an earthquake.

No food, no water,
snakes everywhere.

I had no idea if you
were coming back...

Jimmy.

Listen, there's something I
have to do. I'll see you later.

He can't stay still for a second.

You could at least
send for a tow truck.

Oh. Golly, Miss Lane, it's too
bad Mr Kent didn't see all this.

Yeah, poor Clark.

He's never around when S...

Clark... Wait a minute.

- Wait a minute.
- What?

Lois Lane, that is the
silliest idea ever.

Let me tell you
something, Miss Lane,

I think he really cares about you.

- Clark? Of course he does.
- No, not Clark.

Oh, well, Superman cares
about everybody, Jimmy.

But, who knows, someday,
maybe, if he's lucky...

Miss Lane?

Jimmy, my hair.

Now.

Ooh, nice. Nice, nice.

Front page, Daily Planet?

Oh, gosh. I didn't have any film.

♪ You must have been
a beautiful baby ♪

♪ You must have been
a wonderful child ♪

♪ When you were only starting
To go to kindergarten ♪

♪ I'll bet you drove
the little boys wild ♪

♪ And when it came to
winning blue ribbons

Bet you showed the
other kids how ♪

♪ I can see the judges' eyes
As they handed you the prize ♪

♪ I bet you made the cutest bow ♪

♪ Oh, you must've been a
beautiful baby Because baby ♪

But Lex, you can't do this to me.

Why, Lex, why?

Because I love you,
Miss Teschmacher.

Miss Teschmacher...

By the way Miss Teschmacher,
your mother sends her love.

You're messing up my suit.

You big lummox, you.

Come on, stop it, will you.

Otis, it's your fault.
Watch the ground.

Good evening, warden.

These two men should
be safe here...

- until they can get a fair trial.
- Who is it?

Lex Luthor.

The greatest criminal
mind of our time.

Of our time.

- I hereby serve notice...
- Notice.

- That these walls...
- These walls here...

Will you shut up, please.

Alright, take them away, boys.

- You nitwit. Nincompoop.
- Guard, guard...

This country is safe again,
Superman, thanks to you.

No, sir. Don't thank me, warden.

We're all part of the same team.

Night.