I received this script in scanned form from another party. notes: The * throughout probably means "this is a change from previous version" To pop everything into place... set top margin at 0.5", bottom margin at 0.5" (or minimums) left margin at 1", right margin at 0.5 (I had to tell the program my primitive printer was using legal paper) Assume cover page font styles like other versions and bulk of script used Courier 10 (or typewriter-style, nonproportional 10 characters per inch font) --page break-- LOIS & CLARK The New Adventures of Superman "Smart Kids" EPISODE SIX Prod. #455306 Written by: DAN LEVINE Directed by: ROBERT SINGER WARNER BROS. _Production Draft_ TELEVISION August 31, 1993 (Blue) 9/1/93 (Pink) 9/7/93 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Smart Kids_" _CAST_ CLARK KENT\SUPERMAN LOIS LANE PERRY WHITE JIMMY OLSEN LEX LUTHOR ____________________________________________________________________ CAT GRANT DR. ALFRED CARLTON PHILLIP MANNING AYMEE VALDES INEZ VALDES DUDLEY NICKOLAS KAREN MRS. POWELL CABBIE --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Smart Kids_" _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Daily Planet Beckworth State School Conference Room Playground The Pit Metropolis Street Luthor's Penthouse Outside Lois' Apt. Clark's Apartment Outside Bank Lois' Apartment Outside Police Station Bathroom Metropolis Harbor Living Room Beckworth State School Hallway Infirmary Mrs. Powell's Office Cab Warehouse * Kids' Lair Spy Center --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Smart Kids_" SC. 1 - 4 NIGHT 1 SC. 5 - 20 DAY 2 SC. 21 - 25 NIGHT 2 SC. 26 - 33 DAY 3 SC. 34 - 39 NIGHT 3 SC. 40 - 46 DAY 4 * SC. 47 - 50 NIGHT 4 * SC. 51 - 67 DAY 5 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Smart Kids_" _TEASER_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. BECKWORTH STATE SCHOOL - (NIGHT #1) 1 A state supported orphanage/school for kids with behavioral problems. Locked gates and high fences are designed to either keep the public out or the kids in, we're not sure which. 2 INT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - NIGHT 2 An eleven-year-old, DUDLEY, works on the security panel * lock outside a doorway marked "Infirmary" with a hand-built, jerry-rigged electronic decoder. Two other * kids, PHILLIP, 12, the leader and KAREN, 10, crouch * beside him in the shadowy hallway. They are joined by * AYMEE, 11, trailing on a leash a small pot-bellied pig * named Socrates. * PHILLIP (whispering urgently) * What's Socrates doing here? * AYMEE (defensively) * I'm not leaving him. We're in * this together. Socrates looks at Phillip, as if waiting for his decision, as if he knows exactly what's going on. * PHILLIP Okay, but he's _your_ * responsibility. * The door CLICKS open. The green light stays on. * DUDLEY We're in. * Aymee pushes through the door first. * AYMEE About time. 3 INFIRMARY 3 The kids fan out to perform pre-assigned tasks: they move with the precision of a military unit. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 2. 3 CONTINUED: 3 They copy files off a computer, locate documents in the * cabinets and either shred or pack them and load up a * variety of instruments and medical equipment. Phillip * watches Dudley work on a wall safe using the same rig * that cracked the outer door. Aymee joins them. * PHILLIP What about the main gate? * AYMEE I can't figure out how to zap the security system. The safe's door pops open. Inside, in trays stamped "Mentamide 5" and "Property of Lexlabs", are stoppered vials of a pink, frothy liquid. The liquid seems to dance with tiny pinpricks of light, as if a thing alive. DUDLEY Bingo. Dudley turns to Karen. * DUDLEY (continuing) What's four thousand nine hundred seventy-three times six thousand three hundred twenty-four? Karen shakes her head: she can't do it. PHILLIP Okay guys: let's get smart. The kids and Socrates crowd around and spoonfuls of the liquid are doled out. As they swallow they close their eyes, in the grip of a profound effect. They open their eyes, look at each other. PHILLIP (continuing, to Aymee) Main gate? Aymee thinks, smiles, gestures thumbs down. All look to Karen. KAREN (piping up) Thirty-one million, four hundred forty-nine thousand, two hundred fifty-two. DUDLEY Watch out, Metropolis. Here we come. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 3. 3 CONTINUED: 2 3 Socrates BELCHES. * CUT TO: * 4 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT 4 LOIS struggles to carry an armload of grocery bags up the steps. A can drops from one of the bags and rolls back to the sidewalk. Lois grimaces in exasperation. She's too precariously balanced to set the bags down. She can either forget the can, or go back for it. She chooses the latter. She carefully shuffles back down the steps, bends, bends, trips, drops everything, finds herself sitting on the sidewalk amidst her scattered and broken groceries. She looks up: watching her from the shadows are the newly escaped kids from the Beckworth School... and Socrates. It's not your typical street scene, even in Metropolis. LOIS Is that a pig? AYMEE Of course it's a pig. Haven't you ever seen a pig before? Aymee looks at the fallen Lois, the fallen groceries, then back to her pals. AYMEE (continuing) She's not very smart, is she? The kids continue past, turn the corner, are gone. LOIS (disgusted) Kids. FADE OUT. _END_ _TEASER_ --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 4. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 5 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - (DAY #2) 5 The morning staff meeting. A slow news day has everyone (Lois, CLARK, PERRY, JIMMY, CAT, etc.) lethargic. There's a TV In the room, but it's off. Clark bites into an apple with a satisfying CRUNCH. LOIS Could you turn up the volume on that, Clark? I don't think they heard you in Borneo. CLARK Fascinating place, Borneo. They've done wonderful work there * in preserving the natural habitat * of the native orangutans. * CAT (purring) I love well-traveled men. They broaden my horizons. LOIS (re: Cat's plunging neckline) Assuming that's possible. * JIMMY Orangutans always look so wise. * CAT Orangutans throw mud at people at * the zoo. PERRY (musing) * 'Scatter.' ALL (reacting) What? PERRY 'Scatter.' Elvis' pet chimpanzee. Poor little guy. Drank himself to death. Perry, oblivious to the stares, shakes himself back to reality. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 5. 5 CONTINUED: 5 PERRY (continuing, to Clark) Anything from the Governor's office? CLARK We can expect a fiscal turnaround * sometime next year. PERRY (sarcastic) Now _there's_ news. (to Lois) What about Washington? LOIS President's on vacation... again. PERRY Nice work if you can get it. Please. An idea, any idea. JIMMY Those kids are still missing from the Beckworth School. PERRY We've been using that as filler the past three days. Nothing's changed. Come on, Jimmy, where's your nose for news? CAT 'Man of La Mancha' opens at the Orpheum Friday with an all female cast. CLARK That's original. LOIS (appalled) That's a travesty. 'Man of La Mancha' is my all time favorite musical. CLARK & CAT (surprised) It is? PERRY There are twelve million people in the city of Metropolis. There must be something significant happening _somewhere_. The TV turns on... by itself. All turn to look. --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 6. 6 ON TV 6 Phillip, in jacket and tie, sits behind a parody of a newscaster's desk. PHILLIP We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this special report. (TRUMPET FANFARE) Smart Kids still at large! Authorities search for clues to * kids' whereabouts. Meanwhile, the kids say: _leave_ _us_ _alone_. * Don't look for us. Don't try to get us back... or else. (beat) We rejoin our show in progress. A vintage black and white cartoon comes on:. Porky Pig chases a hooded wraith around the city carrying a bomb hidden in an alarm clock. Porky doesn't know it's a bomb; he thinks he's doing a good deed in returning the clock to it's rightful owner. No matter what the wraith does, he can't shake the determined Porky. At the end, the wraith is hauled away in a police van as Porky pushes the clock through the bars. The cartoon is replaced by... 7 AYMEE AND DUDLEY 7 In director chairs. AYMEE What I like best about this film is the metaphorical content. Porky, of course, is our 'everyman' character, and his antagonist is 'death.' Dudley? DUDLEY I agree, Aymee. Who amongst us has not felt the pangs of mortality? * Yet, we persevere. * (beat, with a thumbs up) I give this film my highest recommendation. AYMEE (joining the thumbs up) I second that. And... that about wraps it up. Join us next time when we review that classic of post-modernist angst, 'Bongo's Bad * Day.' Ciao. PHILLIP (O.S.) This has been a production of... (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 7. 7 CONTINUED: 7 CHORUS (O.S.) The Smart Kids! The set turns off... by itself. 8 CONFERENCE ROOM 8 Stunned silence. LOIS (awed) Kids. 9 INT. DAILY PLANET - THE PIT - LATER 9* The room buzzes with activity, reporters and messengers * coming and going, faxes and print-outs piling up desks. * Everyone's there except Jimmy. CLARK It's theoretically impossible. PERRY Every television set in Metropolis? CLARK And every channel. LOIS Well, _someone's_ behind it. It sure wasn't a couple of grade-schoolers. CAT What _is_ post-modernist angst? * Jimmy, entering, pushes papers aside on the table and lays out four faxed photos of kids. Phillip's, Aymee's, and Dudley's are circled in red. JIMMY (in turn) Phillip Manning, Aymee Valdes, Dudley Nickolas. (again in turn) Twelve, eleven, and eleven. * They're three of the four who escaped from the Beckworth School last week. (smugly) Someone say something about a nose for news? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 8. 9 CONTINUED: 9 PERRY (ignoring the dig) What have we got here? A prank? A scam? CAT Kids do the darndest things. * Lois picks up Aymee's picture and examines it more * closely. LOIS I keep thinking I've seen her somewhere before. Perry looks at Clark. Clark nods. PERRY Okay, it's your baby. Get me some answers. LOIS (looking up) Huh? CUT TO: 10 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - DAY 10 Luthor has originals of the faxed photos of the kids on his desk. Nearby stands DR. ALFRED CARLTON, sweating, about forty. CARLTON We've got to get them back. LUTHOR Why so nervous, Dr. Carlton? CARLTON (accusing) You told me there was no risk of exposure. I have a reputation in the scientific community. I can't afford... Luthor SLAPS Canton across the cheek. The shocked Carlton staggers back against the desk. His features darken with anger, but then he looks at Luthor's calm, smiling face and swallows. By the time he straightens up, he's regained his composure. LUTHOR Better? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 9. 10 CONTINUED: 10 Carlton nods. Luthor politely pulls out a chair for him, motions for him to sit, then himself sits behind the desk. LUTHOR (continuing) This is no time for panic. We'll have our rug rats back in the lab soon enough. CARLTON But now the police are involved. LUTHOR (patiently explaining) If they find them before we do, they'll simply return them to the school. (beat, in Latin) Ex hypothesi. CARLTON But what if they talk? LUTHOR They're too smart for that. If they do, they've had their last taste of Mentamide 5. Do _you_ think they'd risk it? CARLTON (more confidently) No. The emotional dependence is too great. LUTHOR Well, then... Luthor gestures palms up, then leans forward. LUTHOR (continuing, more intensely) How smart _are_ they? CARLTON I expected a ten to twenty percent rise in I.Q. (beat) It seems to be a lot more. LUTHOR Marvelous. Don't you think? (beat) How long before they reach Stage Two? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 10. 10 CONTINUED: 2 10 CARLTON It depends on the rate of absorption into their individual systems. LUTHOR We need to pinpoint that data. CARLTON (shocked) But that would require vivisection. LUTHOR (placidly) My dear Dr. Carlton, you can't make chicken soup without plucking a few chickens. CUT TO: 11 INT. CAB - DAY 11 Lois and Clark in back; the CABBIE and Jimmy in front. They're at a dead stop, stuck in traffic. Lois, impatient, stares out the window, Clark reads a brochure for the Beckworth school, Jimmy fiddles with his camera lenses, the Cabbie HUMS to himself and DRUMS on the dashboard, the meter CLICKS inexorably. LOIS This is a total waste of time. CABBIE (stops drumming) Whatta ya want? I should pick up the cab and fly like Superman? LOIS In your dreams. The Cabbie shrugs, resumes drumming. CLARK (reading aloud) 'The Beckworth State School, founded in 1953, is dedicated to fulfilling the educational needs of orphaned children who require the individual attention and specialized instruction available in a controlled environment.' LOIS Translation: brats. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 11. 11 CONTINUED: 11 CLARK Why brats? LOIS Public schools can't handle them, so they're parked here to keep them out of trouble. CLARK That's sad. LOIS They're problem kids, Clark. CLARK Problem kids can be solved. JIMMY _I_ was a problem kid. LOIS You're still a problem kid. JIMMY (flattered) You think so? LOIS The point I'm trying to make is... The cabbie's been interested enough in this byplay to again stop drumming. CABBIE Yeah, what _Is_ the point? LOIS (ignoring the cabbie) This _story_ is a waste of time because it's entirely predictable. CLARK How so? LOIS (ticking off on her fingers) A: kids escape. B: kids get mixed up in something that seems at first unusual, but is, in fact, uninteresting and dull once the details are known. C: kids are found and returned to school. End of story. (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 12. 11 CONTINUED: 2 11 LOIS (CONT'D) (to Clark) _This_ you volunteered for. (to cabbie) We're walking. How much? CABBIE Six-fifty. LOIS Naturally. CUT TO: 12 INT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - DAY 12 Lois, Clark, and Jimmy are led along a corridor by MRS. POWELL, in her middle thirties, Director of the Beckworth School. Occasionally they stop to peer into classrooms. The school's a bit shabby, but the kids appear healthy and well-supervised. Jimmy snaps an occasional picture. MRS. POWELL Our funding comes from a variety of sources. Subsidies from the State Special Education Fund, private donations... we take whatever we can get. CLARK All your students live here full time? MRS. POWELL That's correct. JIMMY Any of 'em ever get adopted? MRS. POWELL At their ages, the chances are poor. (beat, emotionally) * This is their home. The escape * has been very unsettling for all of us. LOIS Have you considered the possibility they may have been kidnapped or coerced to leave? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 13. 12 CONTINUED: 12 MRS. POWELL We have. The police have, too. (beat) It would explain a lot. As far as Lois is concerned, it explains everything. Clark, though, isn't quite done. CLARK Is there anything else that links these particular children?. They seemed... unusual. MRS. POWELL (frustrated) We've been through their files with a fine tooth comb. Nothing. I mean, for what it's worth, they're very bright kids. LOIS Could we have access to those files? MRS. POWELL I've put together a package for the police. Everything that isn't confidential. You're welcome to a copy. (beat) We just want the children back safe. They pass a windowless door with a coded security lock marked 'Infirmary.' It's the same door from the night of the escape. Jimmy tries the knob. MRS. POWELL (continuing) We keep the Infirmary locked when Dr. Carlton isn't here. LOIS Who's Dr. Carlton? MRS. POWELL Alfred Carlton. Staff physician. Been with us a year. Wonderful man. He donates his time to the school free of charge. He also has a degree in Clinical Psychology. He's helped enormously with our testing and counseling programs. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 14. 12 CONTINUED: 2 12 JIMMY He must be busy now, the kids being upset about their missing classmates and all. MRS. POWELL As a matter of fact, no. He wanted things to calm down a bit before he began therapy. Frankly, waiting seemed contra-indicated to me, but... he's the expert. CLARK (intrigued) I see. He lowers his glasses, _X-RAYS THROUGH THE DOOR_... 13 INFIRMARY 13 Cleaned up now, otherwise as we remember it. A janitor dumps several trash cans of shredded documents into a * large trash bag and heads for the door. * 14 BACK TO SCENE 14 Clark raises his glasses as the door opens and the bag is * deposited in the hallway. MRS. POWELL If you'll come to my office, I'll get you those files. Lois nods as she and Mrs. Powell turn to leave. Clark, at _SUPER SPEED_, sifts through the trash and pockets several handfulls of paper scraps. He then hurries to catch up with the others. Lois pauses to look at a school bulletin board. Behind her, a six-year-old girl, INEZ, steps out of a room and hits Lois in the rump with a bean-bag. Lois stops. The others continue on around the corner. Lois turns. Inez motions for her to approach. Lois retrieves the beanbag and confronts her attacker. LOIS (angrily) Now you listen to me, young lady... INEZ I'm Inez. What's your name? Inez is very cute and very serious. Lois loses her head of steam, but tries to continue with the lecture... (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 15. 14 CONTINUED: 14 for Inez' own good. That's what adults are supposed to do, isn't it? LOIS Lois. Lois Lane. Listen carefully, Inez. I am not a target. I am an adult. You can't... INEZ Aymee's my big sister. Aymee Valdes. She escaped. Inez motions Lois down to her level; Lois kneels. INEZ (continuing) You have to help her. LOIS Help her how? INEZ She'll come back for me, I know she will. But then _he'll_ catch her. LOIS Who? Who'll catch her? Inez puts her finger to her lips. INEZ Can't say. Lois straightens up. LOIS Look, Inez, the best thing that could happen to you and your sister is for her to come back and _be_ caught. INEZ (disappointed) You don't know anything. Inez runs off before Lois can deny the charge. She stares after her. CUT TO: 15 EXT. METROPOLIS HARBOR - DAY - ESTABLISHING 15 A busy seaport. Piers extend into the harbor. In one apparently abandoned warehouse on one of those piers... --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 16. 16 INT. WAREHOUSE - GROUND LEVEL 16 Dusty, unlit, shrouded hulks of old machine tools spotted around the floor. Phillip and Dudley walk and talk. PHILLIP _How_ much is left on the credit card? DUDLEY A couple of thousand. PHILLIP (dismayed) That's all? I thought he was the richest man in Metropolis? DUDLEY Everything costs money, Phillip. Supplies, equipment... PHILLIP I knew that TV stunt was a mistake. DUDLEY (protesting) It was fun. They have reached an open freight elevator. They step onto the platform. PHILLIP It was expensive. DUDLEY We had to warn 'em to leave us alone. PHILLIP I don't think it worked. Phillip throws the handle on the elevator. It starts to descend. 17 INT. WAREHOUSE (KID'S LAIR) - DAY 17* The large space has been transformed into "Kidland": colorful painted blotches and drawings on the walls, toys and electronic paraphernalia everywhere, an odd assortment of furniture, etc. It's messy, but not disgustingly so. Karen has set up a banked track around which she races a remote-controlled car at full speed. A remote-controlled plane BUZZES the room. Socrates watches TV. Phillip and * Dudley enter. Aymee joins them. * (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 17. 17 CONTINUED: 17 AYMEE Surveillance system's up and running. Anyone tries to get us, we'll know about it first. We've * got the town wired. It's like a giant video game. DUDLEY Have you tied in the lasers? AYMEE I'm waiting on components. PHILLIP (gloomily) Which we can't afford. DUDLEY We'll come up with something. You worry too much. PHILLIP Someone's got to. Look at this place! They do, but don't see anything amiss. Karen approaches Dudley and the two huddle. PHILLIP (continuing) It's a mess. AYMEE We're kids. PHILLIP Yeah, but we're _smart_ kids. We don't have to live like this. AYMEE What a grouch! Just 'cause you're * the oldest and you've been on the smart stuff the longest... PHILLIP That's another thing. We're almost out. You want to go back to being dumb? AYMEE We'll get more. I'll do the job myself, soon as I rescue Inez. PHILLIP No way. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 18. 17 CONTINUED: 2 17 AYMEE I'm going. You can't stop me. Phillip sighs. He senses this is an argument he won't win. Dudley, all smiles now, sends Karen off. PHILLIP (to Dudley) What are you so happy about? DUDLEY I think we've got the money thing licked. CUT TO: 18 EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - DAY 18 Lois and Clark stand in line for one of the electronic * tellers at the Bank of Metropolis. Next to them, at the * curb, a man is fixing a flat tire. His car is jacked up * and the flat is removed, but he struggles with the spare. * Clark is busy examining the strips of shredded paper he * took from the school. * LOIS Anything? CLARK I can't believe it. LOIS What? CLARK That 'Man of La Mancha' is your favorite musical. What about 'Fiddler on the Roof?' What about * 'West Side Story?' LOIS I happen to love windmills. Sue me. CLARK (frustrated, re: the strips) I don't know what I'm looking for. Lois takes several from the bunch. Pauses to examine one. LOIS What's 'Mentamide 5'? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 19. 18 CONTINUED: 18 CLARK Never heard of it. It's mentioned several times. Maybe some kind of medication? The tire changer's repeated attempts to lift the tire * into place knock the jack off balance. It slips a notch, * the man's head and shoulders under the wheel well. Clark * notices, moves closer to the car. * LOIS That reminds me, didn't it seem strange to you that the school doctor would _delay_ counseling for the kids left behind? Aren't they supposed to do that right away? CLARK That'd be my guess, but... (beat) We should talk to him directly. LOIS (agreeing) As soon as possible. (beat) Inez seemed genuinely frightened. CLARK Poor little kid. LOIS Yeah. The jack falls, but the car doesn't. * 18A CLOSE ON BUMPER 18A* Clark holds it up with one cupped hand (behind his back * so Lois doesn't see). * 18B BACK TO SCENE 18B* There seems to be some consternation and commotion from the people who have already reached the tellers. Lois, * luckily, is temporarily distracted. The man finally * positions the tire, spins the lug nuts. Then, he looks * at the fallen jack. Clark quickly unhands the bumper. * LOIS (continuing) Those kids on TV seemed awfully smart. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 20. 18B CONTINUED: 18B CLARK Too smart. LOIS You can't be _too_ smart. CLARK Yes you can. Intelligence without maturity and restraint is a dangerous thing. LOIS Borscht. So they're involved in a few stunts. They're just kids. They've reached the front of the line. Lois enters her code and the amount of her withdrawal and receives, after a moment, her cash. Or is it? 19 CLOSE ON MONEY 19 Instead of the real thing, it's "Metropoly Money", multicolored bills in different denominations with the phrase "Smart Bucks" prominent on the face. 20 BACK TO LOIS AND CLARK 20 Lois is speechless with fury. CLARK (placidly) Just kids. FADE OUT. _END_ _ACT_ _ONE_ --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 21. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 21 EXT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - (NIGHT #2) 21 Aymee, dressed in black, face camouflaged, has the panel off on the exterior gate controller. She quickly snips a few wires, reconnects another. The gate slides open. She moves toward the door. A man steps from behind a pillar and grabs her. He wears a police uniform. On her face, trapped, we... CUT TO: 22 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - BATHROOM - NIGHT 22 Lois, towel-clad, turns on the tap in the tub. 23 CLOSE ON TUB 23 "Water" emerges from the tap as a blue gel. 24 LOIS 24 takes some of the goo on her finger, sniffs it, flicks it off in disgust, turns the tap off. The PHONE RINGS, Lois answers. LOIS Yes? INEZ (0.S.) It's me Inez. LOIS Inez? 25 INTERCUT BECKWORTH SCHOOL 25 INEZ From the school. Is it past your bedtime? LOIS Inez, how did you get this number? INEZ (lying blithely) Information. LOIS I'm not listed. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 22. 25 CONTINUED: 25 INEZ (the truth) I copied it off Mrs. Powell's desk. LOIS Isn't it past _your_ bedtime? INEZ I don't have a bedtime. LOIS All little girls have bedtimes. INEZ Not me. LOIS (tiredly) Inez, why are you calling? INEZ Aymee's in trouble. They caught her. She came back for me. I _told_ you. LOIS (suddenly awake) Who caught her? INEZ Policemen. LOIS Inez, Aymee's much better off being caught. INEZ (desperately) No! _He'll_ get her. LOIS Who? INEZ Can't say. LOIS One of the kids? INEZ No. LOIS One of the teachers? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 23. 25 CONTINUED: 2 25 INEZ Not exactly. LOIS (taking a leap) Dr. Carlton? INEZ (after a significant pause) Can't say. Lois thinks a moment, decides. LOIS I'll take care of it. CUT TO: 26 INT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - MRS. POWELL'S OFFICE - (DAY #3) 26 Lois, Clark, Mrs. Powell, and Dr. Carlton are present. Carlton is clearly upset. CARLTON As Aymee's physician, I strongly disapprove of this arrangement. LOIS Why? CARLTON It's not in the child's best interests. Besides, legally... CLARK (producing it) Legally, we have here a faxed copy of authorization from Mrs. Valdes, Aymee's mother. CARLTON Mrs. Valdes? She gave the child up for adoption. She has no rights. LOIS Just because she doesn't currently have custody doesn't mean she has no rights. * Mrs. Powell studies the document, passes it to Carlton. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 24. 26 CONTINUED: 26 LOIS (continuing) Aymee's already escaped from this * school once. Then she broke back * in to get her little sister out. Obviously this isn't a place she wants to be. CARLTON (frustrated, spitefully) Children don't know what they want. _Or_what's right for them. LOIS (coldly) Is that a professional opinion? Carlton realizes he's stepped over the line. CARLTON I'm only concerned for the child's welfare. MRS. POWELL We all are. (beat) I see no reason why Aymee can't stay with Miss Lane on a temporary basis. She'll still attend classes? Lois nods. MRS. POWELL (continuing) Aymee is waiting at the police * station to be picked up. I'll leave word she's to be released into your custody. CARLTON (nervously) Has she, uh, said anything about how or why... this happened? MRS. POWELL (shaking her head) Not yet. LOIS That's part of what I hope to find out. CUT TO: --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 25. 27 EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - DAY 27 Lois and Clark walk and talk, briskly. CLARK, (amazed) How you managed to pull this off... LOIS Once I found Mrs. Valdes, the rest was easy. Her husband left when Aymee was four and Inez just a baby. No money, no job, no family to help out. She felt like she had no choice but to give up her kids. CLARK Pretty tough on everyone. LOIS (nodding) Anyway, I guess I convinced her Aymee needed someone... CLARK To pump her for information? LOIS No. To protect her. (beat, off Clark's skeptical look) And to try and find out about the other missing kids. CLARK Lois, children don't automatically open up. You have to earn their trust. LOIS The day I can't outsmart an eleven-year-old, is the day I hang up my press pass. CLARK Maybe, but consider what these kids have accomplished already. (ticking them off) Escape, television transmissions, automatic tellers, gelatinous water, everyone in Metropolis looking for them, but not a clue to their whereabouts. (beat) No one even knows how they're doing this stuff. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 26. 27 CONTINUED: 27 LOIS They're not. They're a front. It's the only explanation. You saw their files. They're bright, but not _that_ bright. Look, I was a smart kid, too. That doesn't mean I could outwit an entire city and hold my own around competent adults. Well, some I could. Most, actually. Even so... CLARK Have you ever actually taken care of a child? LOIS (defensively) My sister Lucy. CLARK Uh-huh. LOIS Clark, if you're implying I'm incapable of handling this juvenile, you're in for a big surprise. Just arrange for us to have that private interview with Dr. Carlton. They've arrived in front of a building: 81st Precinct, Metropolis P.D. LOIS (continuing) Stop worrying. She'll be putty in my hands. CUT TO: 28 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY 28 Lois sits upright in a chair facing the television set... she has no choice. From neck to feet she's covered in a * neon green plastic-like goo. Nearby lies a crude, * hand-made "supersoaker" constructed from a flexible shower nozzle and hose connected to a hot water bottle. Aymee is just finishing putting Lois' TV set back together. AYMEE See, you'll get all the channels now, and you won't even have to pay for them. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 27. 28 CONTINUED: 28 LOIS (voice strained) That's terrific, Aymee. I'm so pleased. (beat) Could we talk in a calm, rational manner? AYMEE Sure. Because before you were yelling. LOIS (erupting) I was not... (deep breath) I may have raised my voice. (beat, hopefully) Does this stuff come off? AYMEE Maybe. LOIS Could you please... AYMEE You just want me to tell you where the other kids are because you're a reporter and you think we'd make a good story, and that's why you took me, right? LOIS Of course not. AYMEE Errrrp! Wrong answer. * LOIS They'll find the other kids sooner or later. AYMEE That's what you think. Pretty soon we'll have everything we need, and then we'll go away forever. LOIS (concerned, a little frightened) Aymee, if you and your friends are in some kind of trouble, I can help. Who did this to you? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 28. 28 CONTINUED: 2 28 AYMEE (warily) Did what? LOIS Took you out of the school. AYMEE No one. We're on our own, okay? And we don't need you or any other stupid old adults butting in. * * LOIS Really. Then why don't you leave and go back to them? I'm not exactly in a position to stop you. Aymee hesitates, looks around. AYMEE This is a nice place. I like it here. LOIS Errrp! Wrong answer. AYMEE Okay. (a beat) I can't risk being followed back. Besides, my sister Inez likes * you. She's a good judge of character. LOIS (attempting to play on Aymee's emotions) You know, we have a lot in common. My parents are divorced and I have a little sister, too. AYMEE (blowing) You don't know anything about me or my family. LOIS That's not true. I spoke to your mother. She was very concerned. AYMEE My mother doesn't care anything about me. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 29. 28 CONTINUED: 3 28 LOIS Aymee, sometimes it's helpful to speak to an impartial, understanding adult. AYMEE (convulsed with mirth) You? LOIS (ignoring the put-down) I hope we get to be friends. That's all. Aymee stops laughing, produces a vial of reddish liquid. LOIS (continuing, apprehensively) What's that? Aymee approaches. LOIS (continuing, more apprehensively) Aymee, what are you going to do? Aymee pours the liquid onto the "plaster." It dissolves immediately to sticky liquid goop. Awkwardly, Lois gets to her feet. LOIS (continuing) How does this stuff... AYMEE (turning back to TV) Can't say. (beat) You should clean up. You're a big mess. Lois closes her eyes, starts to count silently to ten. CUT TO: 29 EXT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - DAY - ESTABLISHING 29 30 INT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - INFIRMARY 30 Dr. Carlton fields questions from Lois and Clark. He tries to remain calm, but the cracks show. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 30. 30 CONTINUED: 30 CARLTON Of course I'm concerned. The * streets of Metropolis are no place * for unsupervised delinquent * children. LOIS (jumping on that) Unsupervised? So you don't believe someone else, an adult, a group of adults, is behind their escape? CARLTON I didn't say that. We simply don't have the facts. (beat) I'm a scientist. I abhor rampant, unsubstantiated speculation. CLARK In fact, you're a _distinguished_ scientist. Your work in experimental neuro-psychology is world renowned. CARLTON (surprised, but not unflattered) You've done your homework, Mr. Kent. CLARK That still doesn't explain why a researchist of your credentials * would be working as school doctor in a place like this. CARLTON I think of it as 'grounding.' * After all, the doctor/patient relationship is the framework for all medical science. Carlton glances nervously around the room. Clark picks up on it and begins to scan with _TELESCOPIC VISION_. * LOIS Then why, after the breakout, * wouldn't you think it necessary * to begin counseling the rest of the students immediately, to help them cope with any anxiety? Clark spots one slide among others on a wall display. * --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 31. 31 CLOSE ON SLIDE 31 It's coated with a dried, pinkish smear. The slide is labeled "Mentamide 5." * 32 RETURN TO SCENE 32 CARLTON (stiffly) I made an evaluation based on criteria a lay person such as yourself couldn't possibly. understand. LOIS That's convenient. Carlton is offended. Lois doesn't care. Clark moves at _SUPER SPEED_, pockets the slide, replaces it with a clean one, returns to his place without being noticed. CUT TO: 33 INT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INFIRMARY 33 LOIS 'Delinquent children' my... What * a jackass. * CLARK We have to find those kids; the * sooner the better. * Clark produces the slide. CLARK (continuing) * Look what I found. LOIS (reading) 'Mentamide 5.' Found? You mean * stole, don't you? Sheepishly Clark nods. CLARK Well... LOIS You took advantage of a privileged interview situation to grab potentially incriminating evidence from an unsuspecting subject. (beat) I love it. CUT TO: --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 32. 34 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - (NIGHT #3) 34 Luthor lies on his stomach on a therapy table and MOANS under the ministrations of HELGA, his valkyrie-like masseuse. The PHONE BUZZES. Helga finishes her routine with an loud SLAP to Luthor's backside, wipes her hands on his towel, hands him the instrument. He sits up, gives her a credit card. * LUTHOR Add a nice tip for yourself. * Helga nods, leaves. * LUTHOR (continuing, into * phone) Hello. Yes, doctor. Is that so? No, I see your point. Perhaps you _should_ leave for awhile. Of course I'm not angry. You've done splendid work. (waving toward the papers in his desk) The papers are filled with accounts of their exploits. I feel like a proud father. (beat) Come by now, if you like. I'll * have your final payment waiting. Luthor hangs up. Helga returns, her heretofore impassive face a storm cloud. She tears the credit card in two. HELGA Refused. Over the credit limit. * LUTHOR (confused) That's impossible. I have a line * of over five million dollars on that account. Helga folds her massive arms over her chest, unimpressed. HELGA Sure you do. * LUTHOR (meekly) * Would you take a check? CUT TO: 35 EXT. NIGHT SKY ABOVE METROPOLIS 35 Superman cruises, searching everywhere. Below... (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 33. 35 CONTINUED: 35 CROWDED STREETS AND TRAFFIC (STOCK) A BASEBALL GAME UNDER THE LIGHTS (STOCK) AN ARREST WITH SIRENS (STOCK) A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD (STOCK) A SHIP HEADED OUT TO SEA (STOCK) 36 EXT. ALLEY BY DAILY PLANET - NIGHT 36 Superman lands, disappears into the gloom, re-emerges as Clark Kent. PHILLIP (O.S.) Freeze. The image FREEZES. PHILLIP (0.S.) (continuing) Run it back. The image REVERSES to Superman's landing, then FAST FORWARDS to Clark's re-emergence and FREEZES again. PULL BACK TO: 37 INT. KIDS' LAIR - NIGHT 37 Phillip and Dudley have the scene on a monitor. They exchange a glance. CUT TO: 38 INT. DAILY PLANET - THE PIT - NIGHT 38 Clark is alone at his desk in the semi-dark room. Messenger #1 drops a letter off. Clark, surprised, tears it open, unfolds a note. 39 CLOSE ON NOTE 39 In crude block letters it reads: Dear Clark Kent, we know you're Superman. You're working for us now. Ha ha. The Smart Kids. FADE OUT. _END_ _ACT_ _TWO_ --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 34. _ACT_ _THREE_ FADE IN: 40 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - (DAY #4) 40 Lois, Clark and jimmy watch the Smart Kid News on a monitor, Phillip announcing. Clark seems especially riveted... with good reason. PHILLIP This just in: water supply returns * to normal! No ill effects from the Smart Kids' mysterious gelatin stunt. How did they do it? You'll never know. Meanwhile, the * kids say again, 'Leave us alone. It's a big city. Lots more things could go wrong with it.' (beat) The Reign of the Smart Kids continues. The TV shuts off. LOIS Wonderful. (to Jimmy) Okay, what have you got on Mentamide 5? * Jimmy flips open his pad, refers to notes. JIMMY It's an organic stew: amino acids, herbs, neurotransmitters, you name it. It's so complex even Star Labs' computers couldn't analyze it completely. They _were_ able to produce a synthetic facsimile. Jimmy hands Lois a detailed molecular diagram. She turns it sideways, upside down, right side up again: it's beyond her. Clark studies the diagram with interest, even, to Lois' disgust, traces some of the chemical linkages with his finger. She turns back to Jimmy. LOIS So... JIMMY They're testing the synthetic. Nothing conclusive yet, but it _seems_ to stimulate cerebral hyper-activity in lab rats. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 35. 40 CONTINUED: 40 LOIS Translation please? CLARK They got smarter. JIMMY A lot smarter. All three share a glance. LOIS (awed) Those kids _are_ on their own. CLARK (grimly) And someone was using them as * guinea pigs. LOIS I have a pretty good suspicion who. (beat, derisively) Mr. 'Experimental Neuro-Psychology.' Lois picks up the phone, quickly dials. LOIS (continuing, into phone) Dr. Carlton, please. Lois Lane calling. When? Thank you. (hangs up) Took a leave of absence. No forwarding address. Again, they stare at each other. JIMMY I'm going back to the lab, keep tabs on the testing. I'll let you know. He exits. CLARK How's Aymee doing? LOIS (sadly) I now get all the channels on my cable and I don't even have to pay for them. CLARK I guess that means no progress. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 36. 40 CONTINUED: 2 40 LOIS She won't talk to me. I'm a grown-up. That makes me the enemy. CLARK Think about what she's been through: orphaned, force-fed * drugs. Do you blame her? LOIS No. (beat) Even under normal circumstances, it's not easy being a kid. Everybody tells you what to do all day long. CLARK (smiling) Even if you're smart enough to have a better idea. Does this bring back memories? Lois smiles, too, gets up. LOIS I guess I'll go give it another try. CLARK I'll bet you were a cute kid. LOIS I'm still a cute kid. Lois leaves. Messenger #2 delivers a brightly wrapped box. With some trepidation, Clark opens it up. Inside is a silvery helium balloon with a card tied to the tail. 41 CLOSE ON CARD 41 It reads... Time: 2 P.M. Place: 344 Clinton. Attire: Superman costume. It's signed, "Smart Kids." CUT TO: 42 INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY 42 The room is unusually messy: dirty dishes, clothes on the floor, etc. Sitting on top of his TV is a video camera hung with a note that reads "Do Not Touch." Clark looks to his wall clock: one minute to two. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 37. 42 CONTINUED: 42 He puts on a bathrobe, then carefully positions a drinking glass and an empty bottle of "Old Metropolis" beer on an end table by an easy chair facing the TV. He next fills the bottle with apple juice. Then he pulls a slice of pizza out of a box and puts that on the table. Finally, he places an open container of catsup between the chair * cushion and the chair frame where it's hidden from view. The clock TICKS to the hour. The TV and video camera turn on. Clark sits in the chair, picks up the pizza slice. On the screen: Phillip and Dudley. 43 INT. KIDS' LAIR - SAME TIME 43 Phillip and Dudley watch Clark on their monitor. 44 CLARK'S APARTMENT/KID'S LAIR - INTERCUT 44 PHILLIP You're not wearing your suit, Superman. CLARK (after a messy bite of pizza) I don't have a suit. I'm not Superman. The apartment's messiness and the pizza sauce smeared on Clark's chin are a bit startling, but Phillip forges ahead. PHILLIP Here's what we want (producing a list) An F-18 Hornet fighter jet... * (Dudley whispers to him) painted red and yellow. Four * mountain bikes. An emerald, ten * carats at least. Three aqualungs. One hundred pounds of gooey bears. And an island. A nice one. (puts down the list) That's all we could think of for now, Superman. CLARK I'm not him. I wish I was. (beat) What makes you think I'm Superman? DUDLEY We saw you land. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 38. 44 CONTINUED: 44 CLARK Land? DUDLEY Last night. In the alley behind the Daily planet. CLARK (laughingly remembers) Oh... I didn't land there. Superman did. I was just waiting for him. (beat) As a matter of fact, he'd been out looking for _you_. He told me he hadn't found anything, so I left and went back up to my office. PHILLIP Why would Superman be looking for us? CLARK He's worried about you. So am I. Are you all okay? PHILLIP (ignoring the question) Where did Superman go after you left? CLARK Down a manhole, to check the sewers to see if you were somewhere down there. Clark pours himself a glass of "beer," drains the glass. Phillip and Dudley seem more and more uncertain. DUDLEY (whispering to Phillip) That could be true. We don't have underground surveillance. Clark drops the glass. It shatters on the floor. He * bends to pick up a large shard and sets it back on the table. He reacts as if cut, then, at _SUPER_ _SPEED_, he * reaches between the cushion and the frame, dips his finger in the catsup, pulls it out. PHILLIP We'll think about this and call you back tomorrow. Clark's TV shuts off. He looks at his finger tip: covered with blood/catsup. --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 39. 45 PHILLIP AND DUDLEY 45 watch Clark "bleed." DUDLEY (hesitantly) Superman doesn't bleed, does he? 46 CLARK 46 The camera shuts off. CLARK (with a sigh) I hope that worked. He licks the catsup off his finger. CUT TO: 47 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - (NIGHT #4) 47* Lois enters into a darkened living room and snaps on the light. Aymee sits on the floor, the parts of a disassembled stereo scattered around her. Her cheeks are streaked with tears. Lois immediately rushes to her side. LOIS Aymee, what's wrong? AYMEE (sobbing) I'm not so smart any more. I took it apart to make it work better, but then I couldn't put it back together. Lois cradles her. LOIS It's all right. It's all right. Lois wipes her tears away. AYMEE I think I broke it. LOIS That old thing? It doesn't matter. (beat) I know about Metamide 5 and what Dr. Carlton was doing to you and the other kids. It's awful. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 40. 47 CONTINUED: 47 AYMEE (arguing weakly) It made us smarter. LOIS It made you something you're not ready to be. We start out as kids so we can _learn_ to be adults. (beat) When I was a kid I thought all adults were incredibly stupid. I * figured it had something to do with your body getting bigger, but your brain staying the same size. Like dinosaurs. (beat) It's not that simple. AYMEE (hesitantly) Do you want to know how the smart stuff works? LOIS (relieved, a breakthrough) Only if you're ready to tell me. AYMEE At first you don't notice. Then, things get easier. You understand everything, and you remember everything. But, if you stop taking it, you get dumb again... like me now. (beat) It's hard going back and forth from smart to dumb. That's why we escaped. And also to stop him from doing any more experiments. LOIS Why didn't you tell someone what was going on? AYMEE Would _you_ have believed a bunch of 'problem' kids? LOIS (conceding the point) Do the other kids have enough... smart stuff to last them. AYMEE They're probably running out. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 41. 47 CONTINUED: 2 47 LOIS What will they do? AYMEE (conflicted) I can't say. LOIS Can you at least tell me where they are? AYMEE (shaking her head) If they get caught, no more smart kids. LOIS Would that be so bad? AYMEE That's up to them. LOIS (gently) Is it so bad for you? Aymee nestles deeper into Lois' arms. AYMEE (admitting) Not so bad. CUT TO: 48 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT 48 Luthor, animated and clearly pleased with himself, paces as he talks to the silent figure of Dr. Carlton, seated in a chair facing the blazing fire, back to the room. LUTHOR We knew precisely how many had escaped and precisely how much Mentamide 5 they had between them. We could therefore predict, with reasonable accuracy, how long before they had to come looking for a refill. A SOUND from Carlton, we're not sure what. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 42. 48 CONTINUED: 48 LUTHOR (continuing) Granted, it would have been easier if we'd caught them sooner, but then I'd have missed the pleasure of watching them perform. You know, Doctor, you really outdid yourself. I'm sure with enough time and testing we can overcome the Stage Two problem. Then, well, the sky's the limit. Another SOUND, a raspy indrawn breath? LUTHOR (continuing) Exactly. Either tonight, or tomorrow at the latest, our young Einsteins will mount their assault on Lexlabs. They will find * Mentamide 5 and, unable to restrain themselves, they will drink. * Another sound from the chair, a SLAPPING noise, palm striking knee. The noise continues; Luthor speaks above it. LUTHOR (continuing) Of course, it won't be Mentamide 5, but Mentamide 6, the new concentrated version. They'll be transported directly to Stage Two, don't pass Go, don't collect two hundred dollars. (he chuckles) A real knee-slapper. Luthor moves around to face Dr. Carlton. 49 ANGLE TO INCLUDE BOTH 49 Luthor grabs Carlton's hand in mid-air, gently lowers it to the Doctor's lap, where it rests next to a beaker that contains a residue of pink, frothy liquid. Next to that is a funnel. The Doctor's arms and legs are tied to the * chair; his expression a mixture of surprise and vacancy. Luthor checks his eyelids, pats him on the cheek. A KNOCK at the door. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 43. 49 CONTINUED: 49 LUTHOR Come in, Asabi. (to Carlton) I've arranged an entertainment for tonight, nothing fancy, perhaps you'd care to join me. Wine, beautiful women, strip charades, the usual. With another CHUCKLE Luthor moves toward the door. It swings open to admit a tall, cloaked figure. LUTHOR (continuing) Asabi? The figure steps into the firelight: it's Dudley riding on Phillip's shoulders. He wears a rig with a shoulder harness that holds a storage tank on his back. Attached to the tank is a flexible hose leading to a long nozzle. It resembles a super supersoaker. He presses the trigger and a stream of liquid, fast-hardening goo envelopes * Luthor. He falls with a thud. Dudley stops. Silence from the fallen Luthor. Karen enters. PHILLIP Get the cart. And get... (pointing) ... the Smart Stuff. * 50 ON THE DESK 50 Two racks of test tubes. Mentamide 5 and, in contrast, * Mentamide 6, a deep angry red. * FADE OUT. _END_ _ACT_ _THREE_ --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 44. _ACT_ _FOUR_ FADE IN: 51 INT. DAILY PLANET - (DAY #5) 51 52 CLOSE ON NEWSPAPER HEADLINES 52 It reads: "Smart Kids Nab Luthor." Beneath that, "Daring Penthouse Raid" and "Ransom Demands To Be Announced." 53 PULL BACK 53 To Lois, Clark, Perry, Cat. Everyone's in a state of semi-shock. LOIS Why Lex Luthor? PERRY If they wanted someone prominent, who better? (beat) What do you think they'll ask for? CLARK (speaking from experience) Could be anything. The nearby monitor turns on... by itself. On the screen: at the newscaster desk. * PHILLIP If Metropolis wants Lex Luthor back in one piece, listen * carefully. First, we want Aymee Valdes and her sister Inez released from custody. Second, we want promises _in writing_ there will be no more attempts to find or capture us. Third, we want our own island. A nice one. With palm trees. Fourth, one hun... one _thousand_ pounds of gooey bears. You have twenty-four hours to comply with these demands. The TV goes off. PERRY (shaking his head) What, no military jet? Perry leaves; Clark stares after him. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 45. 53 CONTINUED: 53 CAT That's a lot of gooey bears. * She leaves. Jimmy, wearing the same clothes as the * previous day and looking like he hasn't slept a wink - which he hasn't - hurries in. JIMMY Guys, you're not going to believe this... LOIS We heard. JIMMY You did? LOIS It was on TV. JIMMY (mystified) But I only just now got the test results. CLARK You mean from Star Labs. JIMMY Of course, what are you... CLARK Never mind. Just tell us. JIMMY Again, this is from the synthetic they made, but... the stuff does boost intelligence... for a while. (beat) Once enough residue has built up in your system, though, there's a kind of an overload. Ominously, Jimmy hesitates. Lois isn't sure she wants to hear this, but she steels herself and urges him to continue. LOIS Say it. JIMMY Conscious cerebral activity drops to almost nothing. (beat) It burns out your brain. CUT TO: --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 46. 54 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - DAY 54 Lois and Clark face Aymee. Aymee's conflicted, a little scared. LOIS It isn't a game anymore, honey. It's life or death. AYMEE How do I know you're telling the truth? LOIS We have the lab report. AYMEE That could be forged. LOIS You _don't_ know we're telling the * truth. Not for sure. You have to trust us. AYMEE I don't have to trust anyone. Adults lie all the time. Sometimes they think it's for your own good, but it's still a lie. CLARK Do you think we're lying now? Aymee looks at them. She doesn't think they're lying, but she also doesn't trust her instincts. Lois kneels, takes Aymee in her arms. LOIS You've got to believe us. Your friends are in danger. You can save them. (beat) Do what you think is right. That's all any of us can do, no matter how old or young or smart we are. * Aymee studies both their faces, decides. AYMEE Just you two? They nod. AYMEE (continuing) Metropolis Harbor. CUT TO: --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 47. 55 INT. KIDS' LAIR - DAY 55 Dudley and Karen have set up an ambush by the entrance. They wear the super-supersoaker rigs. KAREN (from hiding) Incoming! Lois, Clark, and Aymee enter, halt when they see the reception committee. DUDLEY Hold it right there. Aymee fearlessly marches up to Dudley and pushes the nozzle aside. AYMEE Dudley, cut it out. They're with me, okay? DUDLEY (aiming again) I have my orders. Amy pulls the plug on his tanks and a goo-colored liquid * begins to drain out. DUDLEY Hey! AYMEE (motioning to Lois and Clark) C'mon. Lois and Clark enter the room, look around in wonder. Everyone's present but Phillip. * LOIS Where's Lex Luthor? DUDLEY Not so fast, lady. AYMEE Guys, they're here to help us. (beat) They found out the smart stuff turns to poison if you keep using it. Really, it's the truth. Uncertainly, Dudley and Karen exchange a glance. DUDLEY Prove it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 48. 55 CONTINUED: 55 CLARK We have proof, but not here. DUDLEY It's a trick. CLARK It's not a trick. You've got to stop taking Mentamide 5 right now. KAREN (plaintive) Then we won't be smart anymore. LOIS You _will_ be smart. You were always smart. You'll just be normal. We know about Dr. Carlton * and what he did. He's through. * Another shared glance from the kids. They're on the fence. AYMEE Listen up. You know me. I wouldn't steer you wrong. (re: Lois and Clark) These are friends of mine. I think we should believe them. Slowly Dudley unhooks his harness; Karen follows suit. CLARK Where's Lex Luthor? DUDLEY Phillip's got him. In the spy center. Down the hallway. Clark looks at Lois. LOIS Okay, go. But be careful. I'll * keep an eye on these three. * Clark hurries from the room. * CUT TO: 56 INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE KIDS' LAIR 56 Clark has already taken several steps along the corridor. He looks both ways, then quickly removes his coat and tie and unbuttons his shirt. Beneath, the "S." --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 49. 57 INT. SPY CENTER 57 Lex Luthor sits in a chair ringed by mechanical arms holding hypodermic needles filled with a red, frothy * liquid. He has some freedom of movement, but not enough to escape the trap. Nearby, studying the array of monitors being fed information from all over the city, stands Phillip. * Phillip turns as a _RED AND BLUE BLUR_ approaches and stops several paces away. Phillip's eyes seem swollen * and unnaturally bright. Luthor, very alert but aware of his peril, remains silent. PHILLIP Hi, Superman. Guess you won game number one. SUPERMAN What game, Phillip? PHILLIP Hide and seek. Superman takes a step closer. PHILLIP (continuing) Careful. There's always game number two. SUPERMAN What's that? Phillip opens a clenched fist to reveal a small, wireless transmitter. PHILLIP (continuing, nodding toward Luthor) Pin the tail on the donkey. (beat) Even you're not fast enough to stop me from using this. Mr. Luthor here could end up with the I.Q. of a radish. SUPERMAN Phillip, are you all right? Did you take more smart stuff? PHILLIP Yeah. The new improved version. * My mind is so big... At this, Luthor can no longer restrain himself. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 50. 57 CONTINUED: 57 LUTHOR You took Mentamide 6? Phillip nods. LUTHOR (continuing, awed) But you're still... PHILLIP Smart? Oh, yes. There was a flaw in the formula, but I fixed it. Luthor licks his lips, his eyes lit with greed. SUPERMAN The other kids want to go back to the way things were. How about you? PHILLIP I can't go back. SUPERMAN You can. It'll wear off. If you don't take any more, you'll be normal again. PHILLIP Normal is boring. SUPERMAN Different is worse. _I_ know. Different is never quite fitting in, never quite blending in. Different is wishing you weren't. Now, for the first time, Phillip seems to focus on Superman, as if his words have had some effect. LUTHOR _Special_, not different. SUPERMAN Be quiet, Luthor. PHILLIP He can talk. For now. LUTHOR Thank you. You've become a very special person, Phillip. Unique. You deserve special treatment. I can arrange that, son. Anything you want. (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 51. 57 CONTINUED: 2 57 LUTHOR (CONT'D) (beat) I had no idea Dr. Carlton was using his research grant at LexLabs to experiment on you kids. I'm shocked, of course, but I take full responsibility. Let me make it up to you and the others. SUPERMAN He's lying. As long as you stay the way you are, men like Lex Luthor will find ways to use you for their own selfish ends. LUTHOR He wants to take it away from you. I want to give. SUPERMAN It's the other way around. (beat) Come with me, I can show you. * PHILLIP (nods at the monitors) We can see everything from here. Superman looks at the monitors, takes a deep breath, accepts the challenge. SUPERMAN Okay. (beat) Metropolis Park? Phillip punches numbers on a key board. 58 MAIN MONITOR 58 A sunny, busy day in the park: kids, adults, dogs, vendors, etc. The hidden camera PANS until... SUPERMAN (O.S.) There. A game of tag. Nearby, several adults dressed for work eat hasty brown bag lunches. The image FREEZES. 59 BACK TO SCENE 59 SUPERMAN What do you see? (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 52. 59 CONTINUED: 59 PHILLIP Kids playing, adults watching. SUPERMAN Why do they watch, do you think? PHILLIP I don't know. SUPERMAN They watch because they remember what it was like to be kids themselves. To have that much fun, and yet so few worries and responsibilities. PHILLIP I'm still a kid. SUPERMAN Are you? Do you feel like a kid? Like you used to? Is anything as good as it was? Phillip looks at Superman. LUTHOR Can I jump in? SUPERMAN PHILLIP No. No. SUPERMAN Go on. 60 MAIN MONITOR 60 Image UNFREEZES. Camera continues to PAN. SUPERMAN (0.S.) There. Don't stop it. Two frustrated kids struggle to get a kite aloft, with no success. 61 PULL BACK TO INCLUDE ALL 61 PHILLIP The angle's wrong. They should run _into_ the wind to get their lift. Basic physics. SUPERMAN You'd get it right the first time. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 53. 61 CONTINUED: 61 PERRY Every time. SUPERMAN So, why bother to try? PHILLIP I probably wouldn't. The kids, yelling with excitement, get the kite up. It soars. SUPERMAN Then you'd miss something. Learning as you mature, is an * exciting and rewarding process. * Why deny yourself? LUTHOR Because Phillip doesn't need to get stupid again just to work his way back to intelligence. Whatever he wants is in his grasp now: power, privilege, wealth. SUPERMAN But would he enjoy them? LUTHOR Who wouldn't? SUPERMAN Someone who had gone beyond humanity into becoming... something else. LUTHOR Something more. SUPERMAN Something we were never meant to be. LUTHOR Nonsense. SUPERMAN (to Phillip) What do you feel, Phillip? How wonderful or terrible is it really? You're the only one who knows. You're the only one who can decide. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 54. 61 CONTINUED: 2 61 LUTHOR _That_ I agree with. Come on, Phillip. Choose. Back to kiddihood, or onward to greatness. SUPERMAN (to Phillip) Are you smart enough to know a lie when you hear one? PHILLIP (to Superman) Would you go back to being a kid... if you could? SUPERMAN No. I've already been one. I've moved on. Someday you will, too. But not now. When it's time. PHILLIP It's not easy being a kid. SUPERMAN No one said it was. Phillip moves to Luthor's side, stares at the needles inches from Luthor's skin. For the first time, Luthor begins to sweat. LUTHOR Don't do anything you'll regret, Phillip. SUPERMAN (concerned) Phillip... Phillip hits the switch on the transmitter. Luthor tenses. Superman surges forward... The liquid sprays harmlessly over Luthor's body, drips down his chest, a * gummy mess. Superman sighs with relief. Phillip takes a * drop of the stuff on his finger, licks. * PHILLIP (smiling) * Cherry. On Luthor's expression, scammed by a kid, we... * CUT TO: --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/7/93 55. 62 EXT. BECKWORTH SCHOOL PLAYGROUND - (DAY #6) 62* Lois, Clark, and Jimmy watch with amusement as kids race past them: noisy, happy, energetic, definitely normal. JIMMY Some story. LOIS Thank god Lex wasn't hurt. He made sure all Carlton's notes, samples, everything were destroyed. A lesser man would have tried to take advantage. He even agreed to pay off the charges the kids put on his credit card. CLARK (sardonically) Luthor deserves a lot of credit. JIMMY I guess with the kids de-Einsteined and Carlton turning himself into a vegetable... CLARK (again sardonic) I think the phrase Luthor used was 'overcome with remorse.' JIMMY Yeah. Anyway, no more smart stuff. Too bad. I coulda used an occasional dose. LOIS What for? JIMMY Are you kidding? Women love brainy guys. Lois shakes her head. Jimmy moves off to join a basketball game in progress. Clark nods toward Aymee and Inez, jumping rope nearby. They pause: Aymee waves, Inez blows her a kiss. CLARK Sorry to give up foster parenthood? LOIS Sort of, but she was a handful. (beat) She told me she and Inez had a long talk with their mother. They're thinking about arranging a visit. (CONTINUED) --page break-- SMART KIDS (#6) Pink Rev. 9/793 56. 62 CONTINUED: 62 They begin to walk, passing a group of kids that includes Phillip and Dudley. The kids are writing something on the pavement with chalk. Lois doesn't notice, but as Clark passes he looks down at their handiwork. 63 CLOSE ON PAVEMENT CLARK'S POV 63 It reads: We still think you're Superman. 64 PHILLIP 64 catches Clark's eye, winks, scribbles over the writing. 65 LOIS AND CLARK 65 CLARK I don't know, Lois. I have a funny feeling we haven't seen the last of the smart kids. LOIS That's a silly thing to say. Which reminds me, what's wrong with 'Man of La Mancha'? I suppose _your_ favorite musical is 'State Fair' * or something equally... Lois stops and stares at something over by the fence. LOIS Hey! 66 LOIS' POV 66 Socrates, asleep on his side and SNORING, no longer a * "smart" pig. * 67 LOIS 67 LOIS I've seen that pig somewhere before. FADE OUT. _THE_ _END_