Adventures of Superman (1952–1958): Season 2, Episode 17 - The Boy Who Hated Superman - full transcript

Clark Kent temporarily takes in Frankie, a juvenile street tough who has hooked up with Duke, a criminal. Clark, in his civilian identity, is trying to set Frankie on the right path. But Clark will have to do double duty, and utilize his Superman identity, in order to succeed.

[♪♪♪]

NARRATOR: Faster
than a speeding bullet.

More powerful than a locomotive.

Able to leap tall buildings
at a single bound.

MAN 1: Look! Up in the
sky! MAN 2: It's a bird!

WOMAN: It's a plane!
MAN 3: It's Superman!

NARRATOR: Yes, it's Superman,

strange visitor
from another planet

who came to Earth
with powers and abilities

far beyond those of mortal men.

Superman, who can change
the course of mighty rivers,



bend steel in his bare hands,

and who, disguised
as Clark Kent,

mild-mannered reporter for a
great metropolitan newspaper,

fights a never-ending battle

for truth, justice and
the American way.

[♪♪♪]

As judge of the juvenile court,

it's up to me to make some
kind of provision for you,

while your uncle's
waiting trial.

Just let me take care
of myself, huh, judge?

I'm afraid that's impossible.

You're a minor,

and a suitable guardian
must be found for you.

I don't need a
guardian. I can get along.



You think you know all the
answers, don't you, Frankie?

Listen, judge,

I lived with my old
man before he died.

He was a square.

He worked like
a dog all his life,

and we never had nothin'.

Then my uncle took me
in, and we had everything.

Everything but a decent home
and somebody to love you.

I don't need any of that junk.

I'm not like other guys.

I'm different, see?

Send Mr. Kent in, please.

Kent?

What's he got to do with me?

Just an idea, Frankie.

I'd like you to listen.

Hello, Frankie.

Let's lay it on
the line, Mr. Kent.

I feel the same about you
as I feel about Superman.

Oh? And how's that?

Don't you know?

You dug up a lot of
information to frame the Duke.

And if it hadn't been for
Superman, we'd have been

in South America right
now, with $200,000.

Money that your
uncle stole, boy.

Can't you see that you're
wasting your affection,

wasting yourself, on a
man who is simply no good?

The Duke is my uncle,
and he's my friend.

And he'd stick by me,
and I'm gonna stick by him.

Loyalty's a fine thing, Frankie,

when it's not misplaced.

Mr. Kent has offered
to look after you

until we find a
suitable home and...

Or some other relatives.

Why don't you
give it a try, Frankie.

Jimmy Olsen's
staying with me now,

while his mother's away.

He'd be a pal for you.

And you might
find it's not too bad

on our side of the fence.

I told Superman not
to do me any favors.

And the same goes for you.

All I wanna do is see the Duke.

I got a legal right.

All right, Frankie.
I'll arrange it.

Well, just in case
you change your mind,

I'll give you my address.

Hi, Frankie. Hi.

Is it real bad, Duke?

It ain't good.

The dirty rats.

They confiscate all the
money in the suitcase,

then slap me with $100,000 bail.

Shows they know
you're important, Duke.

Yeah. How's it with you, kid?

Wait'll you hear.

Clark Kent wants me to
come and stay at his apartment,

with him and that
boy reporter, Olsen.

What'd you tell him?

What do you think?

Frankie, you're gonna do it.

What for?

Listen, we know that Kent
has dug up enough evidence

to put me away.

But we don't know what
kind of evidence or how much.

But if we knew what kind of
a case they had against you,

then we could arrange
for payoffs and alibis

and buy enough witnesses
to make 'em look silly.

That's it. And if you
can't get it through Kent,

maybe you can get
it from that Olsen kid.

I'll do my best,
Duke. You know that.

Sure, Frankie. You're
the only one I can trust.

Remember what I always told ya.

Be smart.

Just a little smarter
than the other guy.

You know, Duke, I
think this is gonna be fun.

Okay, flatfoot, you
can let me out now.

[SIGHS]

What's the matter, Mr. Kent?

You hardly ate anything.

Don't you like my cookin'?

Hm? Oh, sure, Jimmy.

I'm sorry. It's swell.

It's just that I'm worried
about Frankie Harris.

Well, golly,

if the guy wants to be
a hoodlum all his life...

[DOORBELL BUZZES]
I don't see what you

can do about it. Excuse me.

Frankie, come on in, boy!

Hi, Frankie. I'm Jim Olsen.

Hi.

Sit down. Thanks.

We got some food left.
Won't you have a bite?

Oh, no, no, thanks.
I ate already.

What made you change your mind?

Oh, I don't know. I...

I guess I like to be with
guys that use their head.

You gotta be plenty smart
to get something on the Duke,

like you did, Mr. Kent.

Just doing my job.

Do you think you could
teach me to be a reporter?

I mean, tell me how
you dig up the stuff

like you got on the Duke.

Well, Frankie,
I'll tell you what.

Why don't you come
down to the office tomorrow,

and we'll see what
we can do. Sure.

In the afternoon all right?

Be fine.

Well, I think this is
gonna work out all right.

Yeah, so do I.

Checkmate.

I don't dig this game, boss.

You will. You will.

[DOORBELL BUZZING]

Hello, Fixer.

Hello.

Remember me? I'm Frankie.

I used to be with the Duke.

Oh, yes. His nephew, I believe.

Correct? Right.

Well, sit down. Thanks.

Too bad about the Duke.

I knew him well. He
was a very fine operator.

I presume your business
with me has something to do

with the Duke's recent, uh...

embarrassment, shall
we say, with the law.

Here's the setup, Fixer.

I'm living with Clark
Kent and Jimmy Olsen.

Now, I think I can get
the information I need

from one of them,
probably Olsen.

At least that'll give
us a chance in court.

Well, what exactly has
this got to do with me?

Well, if I can't get what
I'm after, then you take over.

Oh, I do, huh?

You know you're the only
one that can arrange it.

A bust-out while he's
still in the county jail.

Oh, I see.

If you can't risk a trial,
you want an escape.

Can you do it?

Naturally. I can fix anything.

For a price.

How much?

Shall we say about $5000?

Count it, Fixer.

As I said before, my price
is $5000, down payment.

What do you mean, down payment?

I mean you'll have to guarantee
another 5000, after the job.

But I haven't got it.

All I got left is a
few hundred dollars.

Where'd you get this, then?

The Duke had it stashed,
in case we were ever busted.

Sorry, but it's not enough.

Okay, I'll get the rest of it.

How?

Never mind. I'll get it.

Good. It's a deal.

[LAUGHS] Hi, Frankie.

Hi.

I thought this was supposed
to be Mr. Kent's office?

It is.

But he... He lets me use it
when I'm concentratin' on a story.

Where you been?

No place.

I'm sorry.

I guess that's none
of my business.

Well, just in time
for the guided tour.

On your left,

you have a magnificent
view of James Olsen, Esquire.

Hello, Mr. Kent.

How are you, Frankie?

And this is my office.

If you really want
to be a reporter,

make up your mind
to spend half your life

in a place just like this.

It's not very fancy, is it?

No, and it's not a very
glamorous profession, either.

Most people seem
to think reporters

are just like supermen.

Let's get one thing
straight, Mr. Kent.

I don't even wanna be
reminded of Superman.

I hate him.

All right, Frankie. Let's
just drop it, shall we?

Oh, Frankie, welcome
to the catacombs.

Hi, Ms. Lane.

Uh, the chief told
me to see you, Clark.

I need a voucher for $1000.

For what?

Uh, the Planet's donating
some television sets

to the children's hospital.

The man's here for the money.

Well, that's good enough for me.

What do you use around
here, the honor system?

Oh, pretty much so.

Once Clark signs a note,

we turn it in for
cash downstairs.

See, I'm beginning to
learn something already.

I thought you'd
keep it all in a bank.

You have no idea the
amount of ready cash

we use in just one day.

For example, we might
have to send a reporter

clear to Timbuktu
at a moment's notice.

Or buy three television sets.

Thanks, Clark. You're welcome.

What about it, Mr. Kent?

Do you think I could
get a job around here?

It... It might help
straighten me out.

Why don't you
wait just a minute.

Here, sit down.

Thanks.

I'll see what I can do.

Well,

that wasn't too bad for a
bachelor dinner, was it?

I thought it was pretty good.

It's just what I like: variety.

One night pork and beans.

The next night, beans and pork.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, what's on for tonight?

Well, I don't know
about you two,

but I have to go back
to the office and work.

Oh, how come
you don't do it here?

I do, sometimes.

See you later.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Now, there's a
real square for you.

What do you mean?

I think Mr. Kent's
a pretty swell guy.

No offense meant.

It's too late for him
to change, anyway.

But it's not too
late for you, Jim.

What are you driving at?

You want it straight
from the shoulder?

Yeah, straight
from the shoulder.

Take a good look at yourself
and tell me what you see.

Myself.

I'll tell you what I see.

I see a guy that could
use a new pair of shoes.

A guy that has to
shop in the basement.

A guy that's gonna
burn himself out,

workin' for somebody
else all his life.

Now,

take a look at me.
What do you see?

I'm not sure.

I'll tell you.

Tomorrow, I got a birthday.

Hey, we'll have
to give you a party.

That's not why I said it.

I never had a party in my life.

Who needs it?

But I've had everything else.

Take a look at this suit.

Two hundred bucks.

For one suit?

Sure.

Wait a minute.

Here, put this on.

Hey, I...

I've never wore anything
like this before in my life.

It's yours.

Oh, jeepers.

And here's a little something
to go along with the suit.

A hundred and fifty dollars?

There's plenty more
where that come from, Jim,

if you play it smart.

The Duke can always use a
young guy that wants to get ahead.

The Duke's in jail.

He'll be out again,
and doing big things,

with me... and you.

Golly. Frankie, you know,

that sounds good to me.

I even got a funny feeling,

here inside me, like
some new power.

Stick with me, Jim,

and you'll learn
to love that feeling.

And, Jim...

I've been taking a chance
talking to you this way.

You could tell Kent.

But just remember which
of us would lose the most.

Oh, listen, Frankie.

A guy can smarten up a
lot in a couple of minutes.

[♪♪♪]

"Documents of evidence,
Duke Dillon case."

[♪♪♪]

Babe, won't you ever learn?

Gee, boss. This game beats me.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

FRANKIE: Fixer?

Just a minute.

For you.

Who is it?

[WHISPERS] Frankie.
I gotta make it fast.

Kent might come back any minute.

I got it. I got the
stuff on the Duke.

It ought to tell us exactly
what we wanna know.

I can't leave, though.

You know where I am,
so send a car over here

and park in front.

FRANKIE: Blink the lights twice,

and I'll toss the
stuff out the window.

Got it?

Got it. I'll send Babe.

[♪♪♪]

[FOOTSTEPS]

Special delivery.

Hm.

A highly incriminating
assortment of data

if I ever saw one.

Isn't it a little late for you
to be up reading, Fixer?

Well, at least if I don't get
to read this, nobody else will.

[SUPERMAN BLOWING]

Almost takes your
breath away, doesn't it?

Gee, Superman, I was
only followin' orders.

Shut up.

All right, Superman,
so you've got it.

So good night.

But please, if you don't mind,

open the door before
you go through it.

I don't know what I'm
going to do about you two.

I can tell you that: nothing.

Babe found that file
lying on the sidewalk.

There's nothing illegal
about picking it up.

So again, good night.

Good night, Fixer.

[♪♪♪]

You sent for me, chief?

Yes.

Kent, I think you
should send Frankie

back to the
juvenile authorities.

But why?

Well, you've been worried
about something all morning.

Jimmy's acting like a kid
again, and I don't like it.

Frankie must have
something to do with it.

I'm afraid you're right, chief.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

Haven't you
anything better to do

than mill around
here and bother me?

Mm, I've been beating
my brains out all morning.

I'm not gonna kill myself.

Well, just who's
killing themselves?

Well not Little Lord
Fauntleroy. That's for sure.

No? What's with you, junior?

Me? Nothin'.

Well.

Did Frankie come in yet?

Nope.

He said he was
sick this morning.

I guess he still is.

I see.

Well, how 'bout lunch?
Let's go to Tony's, eh?

Lunch? Sure.

But not Tony's.

I... I take you to
some place fancy.

Frankie showed me last night.

Well, that's okay by
me. How 'bout you, Lois?

No, thanks.

Tony's is still good
enough for me.

All right.

Come on, junior.
Bring your money.

[♪♪♪]

[PHONE RINGS]

FIXER: Frankie?

Yeah, Fixer?

Did you get it? Did
you get the stuff?

How much does Kent
really have on the Duke?

That's why I'm calling you.

I was ready to go over it last
night when Superman showed up.

I don't have to
tell you the rest.

Superman again.

I'll get even with
him someday if...

That's someday.

Right now we've got to
use our ace in the hole

and spring the Duke.

I've made the
necessary arrangements.

That's swell, Fixer.
When do we move?

As soon as you show me
some guarantee of payment.

I told ya. I'll get it.

All right then. Come on over.

I've got some information I
want you to pass on to the Duke.

Hey, I'm gonna knock off early.

Tell the chief I figured I
did enough work for one day.

That's all. Come here!

Come right here.

I mean it.

Now what is this routine?

Routine? What do you mean?

You know what I
mean, and let's have it.

I've got enough on my mind

without worrying about
you turning on me.

Yeah.

Maybe it is better
for you to know.

[SIGHS]

Well, you see, Mr. Kent,

last night Frankie
started talkin' to me.

He tried to sell
me a bill of goods

to get me to throw
in with him and Duke.

JIMMY: And that's it, Mr. Kent.

I knew Frankie
was up to somethin'.

I thought if I played along,
I could find out what it was.

[CHUCKLES]

Well, what do you know.

But why didn't you tell us?

I don't know.

I figured it would
come off better this way.

But... I guess it
wasn't quite fair.

Well, I wouldn't worry about it.

You go on back to the apartment.

I'll see you later.

Even I feel better.

I was beginning to hate myself.

[LAUGHS]

[♪♪♪]

Hey, Frankie.

Hey, Frankie!

What's the rush. Where we goin'?

We're not goin' any place.

Hey, what's the
matter? You talk like I...

Like I just heard what
you told Kent upstairs.

Oh. Yeah.

And I thought we
were gonna be pals.

I must be going
soft in the head,

when I start figuring I got
friends that'll stick by me.

Frankie, I know it
looks pretty awful.

But it was the only
way I could figure

to keep you from
getting in real trouble.

Why don't you
try it on a violin.

Frankie, I'm sorry it
turned out this way.

All right, Frankie, in the car.

You, beat it. Save
yourself some trouble.

No, I'm staying with Frankie.

You better do like he says.

No, I'm stickin'.

Okay, but don't say I
didn't give you a chance.

Now, get in the
car, both of you.

Come on, hurry up.

What's the matter with
you? Why didn't you beat it?

I don't know. I guess I'm crazy.

All right, Frankie.

Around the alley,
back of butcher's place.

All right, out.

All right, Frankie.
Let's have it.

I haven't got anything of yours.

That's what you think.

The Duke owed me
five grand. I'm collecting.

I haven't got it.

The Fixer thinks you do.

Or he wouldn't have
arranged for the spring.

I'll get the money, sure.

But I gotta give
it to the Fixer.

You'll get yours someday.

I'll get it today or else.

Look, I gotta give it to the
Fixer so he can spring the Duke.

If there was a sucker
born every minute,

you took care of about
an hour's worth, kid.

What do you mean?

Couple of months ago,

the Duke got in trouble
with the River Gang.

They said one of the
Duke's boys was operating

in their territory, right?
Yeah. So far, yeah.

A week later you
got nailed in an alley

and beat up real good, right?

Yeah.

I'll settle that someday too.

Then settle it with the Duke.

The Duke had to
show his good faith.

He had to let the River Gang
teach somebody a lesson.

He needed a patsy, Frankie.

So he threw you to the dogs.

That's a lie, Babe!

Uh-uh. I know it's true

because he arranged
it through the Fixer.

And you know it's true because
the Duke was the only one

who knew where
you'd be that night.

The Duke was gonna take
me to South America with him.

Then Superman caught up with us.

Yeah? Where are
the plane tickets?

In my pocket.

They gave me his stuff
when they threw him in jail.

Look at 'em.

One.

One ticket.

He was gonna leave me.

You had to find out
sooner or later, Frankie.

He used me, just like
he used everybody else.

Tough luck, kid. That's life.

I'm in a hurry. Let's
have the dough.

Look, is it all right
if I take care of it?

Sure, kid.

I don't care where I
get it, as long as I get it.

Ooh!

Get in.

Well, hi, Frankie.

Hi.

Where have you two been?

Why, uh...

we've just been drivin' around,

huh, Jimmy?

I'm afraid I can't stay...

Uh, Clark, we're ready.

Now, all together.

ALL: Happy birthday, Frankie!

Hey, what is this?

Well, speech. Let's
have a speech, boy.

I don't know what to say.

I've never had a party before.

I guess I've never really
had anything before tonight.

Gosh, it's a... A great feeling.

Excuse me.

Hello, this is Frankie.

What are you doing?
You should be on your way.

I-I'm not going. It's all off.

What do you mean, all
off? I can't stop it now.

Now, listen to me, Frankie.

FIXER: And that's not all.

At 7:00, the Duke is
coming out of that manhole

in the back of the
stadium. He'll be armed.

If you don't meet him,
somebody's gonna get hurt.

I'm not going through with it.

Jimmy, will you turn
out the lights, please?

Frankie, make your wish
and blow out all the candles.

[♪♪♪]

[METAL CLANKS]

Well, somebody
turn on the lights.

[CHUCKLES]

Frankie, did you make a wish?

Yes, sir.

I wished something that's
supposed to happen tonight

is somehow prevented
from happening.

Hm. That's a strange one.

By the way, where's Clark?

Right here, chief.

Frankie, how does it
feel to be a year older?

It feels wonderful.

And, you know, I don't even
hate Superman anymore.

Oh?

Well, he'll be
happy to know that.

Very happy, indeed.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]