notes: To pop everything into place... use Courier 10 (or nonproportional, 10 characters per inch-type font) set top margin at 0.5", bottom margin at 0.5" (or minimums) (I had to tell my program that my primitive printer was using legal-size paper) left margin at 1", right margin at .25 (or minimum) NOTES: on front page LOIS & CLARK is in large, bold, underline The New Adventures of Superman is in not so large, italics "The Ides of Metropolis" is in same size font, not italicized EPISODE 14, Written by: Deborah Joy LeVine, Directed by: Phil Sgriccia (and) WARNER BROS. TELEVISION are somewhat smaller, all caps all other text on first page is in courier 10 * and (X) in script probably mean "this line has changed from previous version" NOTES - Typos in original: page 2 "Bailiff's" has 's but it's not a possessive word page 3 "Jonathan walks back up toward the entry area of his apartment" it isn't "his" apartment but CK's page 44: Generator had a capital G in line "Generator room of Harrison's..." page 49: Lois quotes 'Beware the Ides of March?' and original has "?" inside quote. --page break-- _LOIS AND CLARK_ The New Adventures of Superman "The Ides of Metropolis" EPISODE 14 Prod. 0455314 Written by: Deborah Joy LeVine Directed by: Phil Sgriccia WARNER BROS. TELEVISION Production Draft Dec. 7, 1353 BLUE Full 12/13/93 Pink Rev. 12/14/93 Yellow R. 12/14/93 Green R. 12/15/93 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_The Ides of Metropolis_" Blue Rev., 12/13/93 _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE PERRY WHITE JIMMY OLSEN MARTHA KENT JONATHAN LEX LUTHOR _______________________________________________________________ EUGENE LADERMAN * DETECTIVE BETTY REED HENRY HARRISON LENA HARRISON NIGEL JUDGE BEN THE BAILIFF TECHNICIAN * BODYBUILDER TRAINER NEWSCASTER MISS BIRD --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_The Ides of Metropolis_" _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Daily Planet Metropolis Courthouse The Pit Conference Room Harritech Company Perry's Office Coffee Room M.U.T. Metropolis Courthouse Courthouse Corridor Small Room Clark's Apartment Lois Lane's Jeep Lois' Apartment Kitchen Living Room Bedroom Harritech Computer Company Office Bunker Trash Compactor Room Luthor's Penthouse Study Balcony Gym/Weightroom M.U.T Laboratory Hotel Lobby (Video) --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_The Ides of Metropolis_" Blue Rev. 12/13/93 _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 - 4 DAY 1 SC. 5 - 8B NIGHT 1 * SC. 9 - 15 DAY 2 SC. 16 - 21 DAY 3 SC. 22 - 31 NIGHT 3 SC. 32 - 34 DAY 4 SC. 35 - 37 NIGHT 4 SC. 38 - 42 DAY 5 SC. 43 - 46 NIGHT 5 SC. 47 - 58 DAY 6 SC. 59 - 72 NIGHT 6 SC. 73 DAY 7 * SC. 74 - 77 NIGHT 7 * --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "_The Ides of Metropolis_" _TEASER_ FADE IN: 1 INT. METROPOLIS COURTROOM - (DAY #1) 1 We are TIGHT on the horrified face of EUGENE LADERMAN, a (X) slight man whose pale skin reflects the many hours spent in front of a computer, but who now has just heard his fate read aloud. The distorted face and echoed voice of the JUDGE is like a nightmare... JUDGE To the charge of murder in the first degree: guilty. The courtroom buzzes. In the front row, a familiar face. LOIS LANE stares at Eugene who looks to her for solace. (X) There is another face, unfamiliar, but who we will later come to know as DETECTIVE BETTY REED. A female Tommy Lee Jones, Reed, all smiles, nods to her Deputy sitting beside her. JUDGE (CONT'D) Mr. Laderman, before this court imposes sentence, do you have anything to say? EUGENE (X) (voice shaking) I'm innocent. If the Judge has any mercy, he does not show it. JUDGE It is the decision of this court that (X) Eugene Laderman be immediately (X) transported to the Metropolis Maximum Security Prison to begin serving a term of life without the possibility of parole. Two Bailiffs appear behind Eugene, take him away. Eugene (X) looks back into the courtroom audience at Lois, now standing, watching as he disappears behind a door. WIPE TO: --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 2. 2 INT. COURTROOM CORRIDOR - LATER 2 Lois argues with one of the Bailiff's (BEN) outside the closed door to a room. Note: There is no door knob... just a computerized keypad. LOIS Don't tell me what the rules are, Ben. I've broken every one of then before. BEN I can't let you in there, Lois. LOIS But you _know_ me. I've been covering this trial for months. I just want to get a statement. BEN It's against the... LOIS (trying a new tack) You a football fan? BEN Depends on where I'm sitting. Lois reaches in her bag, takes out two tickets. LOIS How about the fifty yard line? BEN Ten minutes. Ben knows the combination to the keypad, punches it in. The door opens and they step inside. 3 INT. SMALL ROOM IN COURTHOUSE - THEIR POV 3 Empty. 4 LOIS AND BEN 4 exchange a glance as we... WIPE TO: 5 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - (NIGHT #1) 5 From the starless night and into the darkened apartment, _FLIES_ SUPERMAN. He _LANDS_, only to see the shadow of a (X) large man wielding a flashlight. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 3. 5 CONTINUED: 5 Superman _SUPERSPEEDS_ to his supposed burglar, spins him around. Whoops... SUPERMAN Dad! Don't scare me like that! JONATHAN Scare _you_? How'd you like to be tackled by Superman? SUPERMAN Sorry. What happened to the lights? JONATHAN I don't know. Fuse must have blown. (X) Superman throws a breaker switch at the fuse box and the lights come on. When he gets a better look at his Dad, he sees that something's definitely rotten in Smallville. SUPERMAN Have a seat. I'll just go change. JONATHAN walks over to the sofa. By the time he sits down, CLARK exits his bedroom in a T-shirt and jeans. CLARK Everything okay at home? JONATHAN No. Son... (long beat) I think your Mom's having an affair with a younger man. CLARK Dad, don't be ridiculous. JONATHAN What an I going to do? How can I compete? The guy's forty-seven. He (X) doesn't need glasses. He can see his (X) toes. To top it off: he's an artist. CLARK Dad, Mom would never... JONATHAN Take a look at this. I found it in the barn, covered up. Jonathan walks back up toward the entry area of his apartment, brings down a covered painting. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 4. 5 CONTINUED: (2) 5 JONATHAN (CONT'D) He painted her. If this isn't proof... CLARK Dad, you said he was an artist. There's nothing wrong with him painting her portrait. JONATHAN In the nude? We are on Clark's face when Jonathan uncovers the painting. Clark's eyes widen as he stares... CLARK Mom? and we... FADE OUT: _END OF TEASER_ --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 5. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 6 INT. COURTROOM CORRIDOR - NIGHT 6 The courtroom staffers are still buzzing over Eugene's (X) escape. Cops are everywhere. Lois, Ban standing next to her, is being questioned by Detective Reed. DETECTIVE REED And when the door opened... LOIS He was gone. A TECHNICIAN with a note pad walks up to them. (X) TECHNICIAN (X) He accessed the code number from the (X) central courtroom computer. And the (X) evidence room was broken into. A gun (X) is missing. (X) BEN Detective Reed, I don't think that... DETECTIVE REED You don't _think_, period. I'll be mentioning the fact that you opened the door for Ms. Lane in my report. LOIS It wasn't his fault. I... made him do it. DETECTIVE REED He wasn't following procedure. (beat, to Lois) You're free to go. For now. LOIS (caustically) Thank you. Lois looks at Ben, shrugs her apology, and we're... 7 EXT. COURTHOUSE - NIGHT 7 Lois' jeep is parked right in front, in a "no parking" zone. She grabs the ticket from the windshield, opens the door, gets in. --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 6. 8 INT. LOIS LANE'S JEEP - CONTINUOUS 8 Lois starts up the car, looks in her rear view mirror... then whirls around to see Eugene Laderman sitting in the back seat. Eugene is in shadow, but the gun he's holding is quite visible. EUGENE Drive. LOIS Eugene! What are you doing? EUGENE Just... drive. 8A EXT. COURTHOUSE - NIGHT 8A The jeep pulls out from the curb into a nearby alley, stops. 8B INT. LOIS LANE'S JEEP - CONTINUOUS 8B LOIS Eugene, this isn't going to work. Everyone's looking for you. EUGENE I said drive. LOIS I know what you said, Eugene. Now give me that gun before you get into even more trouble. Eugene starts to tremble, hands Lois the gun. EUGENE I never would have... LOIS I know you wouldn't. EUGENE Ms. Lane. You're the only one I can turn to. (desperate) You know all the evidence against me (X) was circumstantial. You know I didn't kill Henry Harrison. And the look on Lois' face tells us she does know. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 7. 8B CONTINUED: 8B LOIS Eugene, I believe you're innocent. (X) But you're also an escaped felon now, 'armed and dangerous.' What are you going to do? EUGENE (X) I don't know except... I have to see Lena. Something's wrong. She didn't (X) look at me during the trial, she (X) never visited me in jail. (X) LOIS Eugene, you were just convicted of (X) killing her husband. EUGENE (X) But she loves ma! And I love her. (X) Please. I have to talk to her. Help (X) me. On Lois, torn, we... WIPE TO: 9 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - EARLY MORNING - (DAY #2) 9 Jonathan, apron on, is busy in the kitchen, when Clark, sleepy-eyed, enters from the bedroom. CLARK Dad? It's five-thirty. JONATHAN Oh, sorry. Guess I'm used to getting up with the chickens. CLARK Couch okay? JONATHAN Oh sure, fine. (the truth) Guess I'm also not used to sleeping without your mother. Clark pats his father on the shoulder. CLARK So... what's for breakfast? JONATHAN Ham 'n eggs, hashbrowns... you want some hotcakes, too? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 8. 9 CONTINUED: 9 CLARK Uh, no. I think this will do nicely. Jonathan picks up the skillet, then immediately sets it down. The handle is red hot. He shakes his hand, looks around... JONATHAN Where's your pot holder? CLARK Never needed one. Clark picks up the red hot skillet, empties the food onto the plates. Jonathan brings the plates over to the table and the men sit. Jonathan stares at his food, not making a move to sat. CLARK (CONT'D) Dad, it's going to be okay. I promise. (sore subject) Are you sure you don't want me to call Mom? JONATHAN She knows where I am. CLARK What'd she say when you left? JONATHAN we had a big fight. CLARK About the painting? JONATHAN And... CLARK Did you ask her... I mean, if there was anything... ? JONATHAN Not in so many words. (miserable) I couldn't ask her. Just then, the phone RINGS. Clark moves to pick it up. CLARK Hello? (beat, loudly) Hi, Mom! I'm fine, how're you? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Pink Rev. 12/14/93 9. 9 CONTINUED: (2) 9 Jonathan leaps from the table, stands beside Clark. CLARK (CONT'D) (into phone) Yeah, he's fine. We're having breakfast. When? Oh. Okay, that'll be great. See you then. Bye, Mom. Clark hangs up. JONATHAN Well? What'd she say? CLARK Not much. Said she wanted to talk to you in person. She's coming in. JONATHAN (brightening) Tonight? CLARK No. The day after tomorrow. JONATHAN (sagging) (X) Probably doesn't want to miss her (X) life drawing class. (X) Off of Clark, we... (X) WIPE TO: 10 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 10 We start CLOSE on today's Daily Planet Headline: "Convicted Killer Escapes." There are head shots of Eugene Laderman, Henry Harrison, and Lena Harrison. When we PULL BACK we see PERRY, Lois, Clark, JIMMY and other staffers around the table. Lois is nervously distracted. PERRY Lois, you doing a follow-up on Eugene Laderman's escape? (no response) Lois? You with us? LOIS On it, Chief. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 10. 10 CONTINUED: 10 CLARK (leaning in to bar) Bummed out over the verdict? LOIS (on her soapbox) The man is innocent. He's no more a (X) killer than I an. (X) PERRY Man signed a confession, didn't be? LOIS He was under duress when he signed (X) it, didn't even have his attorney present. CLARK Lois, the guy shot his boss, then set fire to the room to try and hide the evidence. JIMMY Fingerprints on the gun. His clothes had Harrison's blood on them. Not to mention that he and Harrison's wife were 'doing the deed.' LOIS Jimmy, it's okay to have an affair when your husband is a brutal sociopath. CLARK No, it's not. It's not okay. (in his own world) Assuming it's true. PERRY What's true? CLARK That they're having an affair. This is somewhat confusing to all of them. Clark obviously has more on his mind than Eugene Laderman. PERRY Well, you know, when Priscilla left Elvis, February '72, she went straight into the arms of her Karate instructor, Mike Stone, also married at the time. The King was devastated -- he was the one who introduced Priscilla to Mike a year before. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 11. 10 CONTINUED: (2) 10 LOIS (upset) Chief, forgive me, but I am not in the mood for another Elvis yarn. Besides, what does Elvis Presley have to do with an innocent mm fighting for his life? PERRY (pause, hurt) You're not in the mood for an Elvis yarn? LOIS (patiently) Chief, Eugene and Lena... JIMMY Speak of the devil.. Jimmy nods toward the pit and Lois turns to see LENA HARRISON enter. Lena is an extremely attractive woman in her late-forties. DISSOLVE TO: 11 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER 11 Lois and Clark sit facing Lena. LENA I'm very worried. I haven't heard from him. Lena takes Lois' hand. LENA (CONT'D) Jack wrote to me, told me how much he (X) trusted you. You were the only one (X) who believed in him. (X) Lois and Clark exchange a look. LOIS What can we do for you? LENA They'll find him. They'll track his down and kill him. Please write something in the paper. I know he'll read it. Tell him that if he really loves me he'll turn himself in. There's the appeal... there's always hope. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 12. 11 CONTINUED: 11 Lena breaks down in tears. CLARK Mrs. Harrison, I know this must be very difficult for you... LENA My husband was a violent and cruel man. There were nights, so many nights, that I thought... God forgive me... if only he were dead, (X) then Eugene and I... (X) (beat) He did it for me. And when I think about him, out there, alone, hunted... I hope he's all right. Perry opens the door, sticks his head in. PERRY Uh Lois? Can I see you outside for a moment? Lena stands, wipes away her tears. LENA I have to be going anyway. LOIS We'll write the story. LENA Thank you. Lena exits. Perry, Lois and Clark wait a moment before they venture out into the pit. 12 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - CONTINUOUS 12 Perry, Lois and Clark enter the pit. Clark walks toward (X) the coffee room. Lois notices a woman, back to us, (X) sitting on her desk, watching Lena exit. When she stands (X) and turns around we see that it's Detective Reed. Lois takes a gulp, walks up to her. LOIS Detective Reed. DETECTIVE REED Ms. Lane. (nodding toward the elevators) Lena Harrison have anything interesting to say? CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 13. 12 CONT 12 LOIS She's worried about Eugene. She wants us to write an article telling him to turn himself in. DETECTIVE REED Good idea. (beat) We've been tailing her since last night. LOIS No sign of Eugene? DETECTIVE REED The fugitive is still at large. PERRY Is there something specific we can help you with, Detective? DETECTIVE REED Well, no, not really. It just seemed (X) to me that during the trial, Ms. Lane and the escaped felon, became, well... friendly-like. LOIS I'm a journalist. I covered the trial. DETECTIVE REED Yes. And, of course, I'm _not_ a journalist, but it did seen to me that your articles seemed slanted toward proclaiming his innocence. No response from Lois or Perry. Reed continues. DETECTIVE REED (CONT'D) I was wondering if you might have any information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Laderman. (beat, pointedly) He hasn't called you, has he? LOIS (it's not a lie) No. He hasn't called me. DETECTIVE REED Well, just in case, if you do hear from him, give _me_ a call, will you? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 14. 12 CONTINUED: (2) 12 Detective Reed hands Lois her card, then turns to exit, turns back. DETECTIVE REED (CONT'D) Don't worry, Ms. Lane. I brought him in once, I'll do it again. Dead or alive. Lois stares nervously after her as she exits. None of this is lost on Perry. WIPE TO: 13 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - LATER 13 Clark walks innocently by Lois' desk. Lois grabs him by the sleeve, drags him off to a quiet spot. Their conversation is rapid-fire. LOIS _Tell_ _me_ _the_ _biggest_ _secret_ _you_ _have_. CLARK What? LOIS Tell me the biggest secret you have. Something you'd never reveal to a living soul. CLARK Why? LOIS Because I'm about to tell you the biggest one _I_ have, and I need blackmail material. CLARK I can't. LOIS Spill it. CLARK Okay. (a tough admission) The truth is... my mother might be having an affair with a younger man. LOIS (without a blink) Not big enough. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 15. 13 CONTINUED: 13 CLARK What?! My Mon and Dad have been married for thirty years. LOIS Okay, okay. What I'm about to tell you cannot be repeated. Swear it. CLARK I swear, LOIS On the lives of your future grandchildren. CLARK Hit me. LOIS And no matter what I tell you, you can't do anything about it. CLARK Got it. LOIS (deep breath) Eugene Laderman is hiding out in my apartment. Clark looks at her, takes a beat, then walks over to his desk, picks up the phone, hands it to Lois. (X) LOIS (CONT'D) What are you doing? (X) CLARK You are calling the police. Or _I_ (X) will. Lois grabs the phone out of his hand, slams it down. LOIS You swore! CLARK Lois... LOIS On your future grandchildren! CLARK Lois, you can't make me swear to something that's illegal. (more) (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 15A. 13 CONTINUED (2) 13 CLARK (Cont'd) (beat) You're harboring a fugitive. (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 16. 13 CONTINUED: (3) 13 CLARK (CONT'D) A murderer. The man is dangerous. He killed Harrison. He could kill you. LOIS He's innocent. CLARK He was tried and convicted by a jury of his peers. LOIS (disgusted) Oh, leave the truth and justice stuff to Superman, will you? A stalemate. Then... LOIS (CONT'D) I shouldn't have told you in the first place, but... I'm your partner, right? CLARK When it's convenient for you, yes. LOIS Come to my apartment. Talk to him. If you still feel that he's a murderer... then you can call the police. (beat) Deal? On Clark, unsure, but acquiescing by the second, we... WIPE TO: 14 INT. LOIS LANE'S APARTMENT - DAY 14 Eugene sits on Lois' sofa facing Lois and Clark. Clark is unsympathetic, asking pointed questions. CLARK You were heard having an argument the (X) day before he was killed. EUGENE That's true, but... CLARK And you admit that you hated him. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 14. 14 CONTINUED: 14 EUGENE It was the way he treated Lena. (X) CLARK You Were having an affair with his Wife. EUGENE It wasn't an affair. We were in love, but Lena didn't want to consummate it until... (X) CLARK You killed him? EUGENE No. Until she left him. (X) (beat) You didn't know him. Lena would come to work with bruises on bar. LOIS Tell Clark about Henry. (X) EUGENE He developed his own software and (X) started his own company after he got fired from LexComp. CLARK He worked for Lex Luthor? EUGENE (nodding) For twenty years. He was fired a month before he was eligible to retire with a full pension. (beat) His company wasn't making it. That's (X) what I think drove Henry crazy. (X) LOIS What do you mean, crazy? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 18. 14 CONTINUED: (2) 14 EUGENE He was a loose cannon. One day I (X) found a program he was working on... (X) the Ides Of Metropolis. When he (X) discovered that I'd seen it he went (X) berserk, threatening me, threatening (X) Lena. (X) CLARK Why did Lena testify as a witness for (X) the prosecution? EUGENE She was subpoenaed. She had to tell (X) the truth. And the truth was there was no way she could prove I _didn't_ (X) kill bar husband. (X) CLARK She thinks you did it. She said so today. EUGENE (shocked) You saw Lena? LOIS (nodding) She came to the Planet. (beat) It's a good thing you didn't go to her house last night -- she's being tailed by the police. Eugene looks stricken. Lois stands. LOIS (CONT'D) I'll make some coffee. Clark follows Lois into the kitchen. 15 LOIS AND CLARK IN KITCHEN AREA 15 Clark moves to the phone, hands it to Lois. (X) CLARK Make the call. (X) LOIS Clark, I can't do that! (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 14. 15 CONTINUED: 15 CLARK Lois! We had a deal. I haven't heard a single thing that makes me feel he's less guilty or less of a threat to you. LOIS Clark. Please. I'm sure about this. CLARK You're always sure. LOIS Two days. Give me forty-eight hours. The man's going to prison for life. Clark is torn. When he turns around, Eugene is standing behind him. He has a terribly pained expression on his face. LOIS (CONT'D) Eugene... what is it? EUGENE Lena told you that I killed Henry? LOIS She said you did it for her. Eugene turns away. Lois and Clark exchange a look. Lois thinks about something for a minute, then walks around to face Eugene. LOIS (X) Eugene, I think you better tell us (X) the truth. EUGENE Lena was right about one thing. I did do it for her. LOIS You killed Harrison? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 20. 15 CONTINUED: (2) 15 EUGENE (X) No. I originally confessed, then later, refused to take the stand to protect bar. CLARK Lena? EUGENE (X) Yes. She's the one who did it. She killed her husband. On Lois and Clark, now very confused we... FADE OUT: _END ACT ONE_ --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 21. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 16 INT. DAILY PLANET - COFFEE ROOM - (DAY #3) 16 Lois sits with Clark, having a cup of coffee. Jimmy enters, drops some files in front of her. JIMMY Transcripts from the trial, DA's depositions, forensic reports... more to come, computer's on the blink. LOIS Thanks, Jimmy. Nice work. (beat) Stay on Lena today, all right? Jimmy nods. Lois looks at Clark, arms folded across his chest. He's obdurate. CLARK I'm sorry. I can't help the way I (X) feel. Just because Eugene _said_ Lena (X) killed her husband, doesn't mean she (X) _did_. LOIS Clark Kent... since when did you become such a cynic? (beat) I'm usually the one saying 'hogwash.' What happened to that bright-eyed bushy-tailed Kansas boy I once knew? JIMMY Maybe he's been hanging around 'Mad Dog' Lane too much. Jimmy laughs at his own joke, but Lois is not amused. He tip-toes off. LOIS Or, maybe... he found out that his perfect little world isn't so perfect.... how's your Dad? CLARK Okay. I hope. LOIS You know my Mom and Dad got divorced when I was a teenager. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 22. 16 CONTINUED: 16 CLARK How'd you take it? LOIS I pretended that it didn't bother me. A lot of the girls I went to school with came from broken homes. (beat) But, it did. Bother me. Affected me. More than I thought. CLARK Lois, I'm worried about you. I'm (X) uncomfortable with Eugene staying in (X) your apartment. LOIS I'm not going to turn him in. Not now. (beat) Lena Harrison is guilty and I intend to prove it. CLARK I'm with you. (checking his watch) For the next 34 hours. WIPE TO: 17 EXT. HARRITECH COMPUTER COMPANY - DAY - TO ESTABLISH 17 A large building on the outskirts of the city. 18 INT. HARRITECH - DAY Lois and Clark interview Harrison's personal assistant, MISS BIRD. Bird is a career secretary, loyal to the end. MISS BIRD No one knew Mr. Harrison better than I did. I was his personal secretary for fifteen years. (beat) He was a genius, you know. LOIS We've interviewed several people who also say he was a tyrant. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 23. 18 CONTINUED: 18 MISS BIRD (defending) He had a company to run. It wasn't easy, starting his own line of software. And then, to find out that Lena and Eugene were... he didn't deserve to be two-timed. LOIS There was some evidence that indicated Harrison was abusive toward his wife. MISS BIRD Nonsense. He loved her. He would never touch a hair on her head. In his will, he left her everything. All the stock... LOIS The debts... MISS BIRD That's not fair. All these (X) accusations against Mr. Harrison. He's not here to defend himself. CLARK (pointedly, to Lois) No, he's not. MISS BIRD Henry Harrison had a heart of gold. one morning he found a homeless man (X) sleeping in the generator room. He (X) got him a cot. Brought him food. (X) Does that sound like a monster to (X) you? LOIS Where is this homeless man now? We'd like to talk to him. MISS BIRD I don't know. Since the murder... I suppose I can't blame him for not wanting to sleep in that room anymore. LOIS Well, thank you for your time. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 24. 18 CONTINUED: (2) 18 MISS BIRD You're welcome... I'm just (X) straightening up... we're closing the (X) doors tonight. (X) (beat) (X) Look, I know it's part of your job to dig around looking for new angles on (X) stories, but... Eugene Laderman (X) killed Mr. Harrison. That's the real truth. Lois and Clark exchange a look at as we... WIFE TO: 19 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE STUDY - DAY 19 LUTHOR is on his balcony, skeet shooting. NIGEL stands by his side. LUTHOR Pull! Nigel launches a clay pigeon into the air, and Luthor shoots. IN THE AIR The clay pigeon shatters to dust. NIGEL Excellent shot. An intercom buzzer sounds from Luthor's desk. Nigel goes to answer it, then returns. NIGEL (CONT'D) Ms. Lane and Mr. Kent are here, sir. LUTHOR Have then come in. Nigel moves through the study to open the door and admit Lois and Clark, who are shown through to the balcony. Luthor launches another pigeon, shoots. Again, the clay pigeon shatters. Clark walks to the edge of the balcony, looks down. CLARK What happens if you miss? LUTHOR Interesting question, Mr. Kent. Let's see. (more) (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 25. 19 CONTINUED: 19 LUTHOR (Cont'd) This clay pigeon weighs two ounces. We are on the one hundred and twentieth floor, approximately fifteen hundred feet above street level. Considering the G force and the speed... if the object hit the pavement, or some hapless passer-by, it would make contact at about two hundred miles per hour. My guess is that it would, unfortunately, kill him or her, instantly. (beat, with a smile) I never miss. Luthor puts down his shotgun, walks over to Lois, kisses her on the cheek. LUTHOR (CONT'D) So nice to see you again, Lois. LOIS Nice to see you, Lex. Clark rolls his eyes at the interplay; Luthor leads then inside, motions for them to sit. LUTHOR Please. CLARK About Henry Harrison... LUTHOR Yes, when I received your call, I requested that the head of LexComp personnel pull his file. (handing it to them) I'm afraid there's not much there to help you. LOIS Did you know him personally? LUTHOR Oh, yes. He was quite an ambitious and talented man when I hired him. Great thinker. Ahead of his time. CLARK Is it true he was fired only a month (X) before he was eligible to retire on (X) a full pension? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 26. 19 CONTINUED: (2) 19 LUTHOR Yes. When we downsized the company during the recession, hundreds of employees were forced out. (beat) We made every effort to relocate them. But Henry decided he wanted to be his own boss. Shame about the murder... have they caught the man yet? LOIS No, not yet. LUTHOR (intuitively) Lois... is there some doubt in your mind as to the man's guilt? LOIS Yes. A great deal of doubt. Luthor considers this for a moment. Lois and Clark stand. LOIS (CONT'D) Thanks for your help. Lois and Clark start to leave. LOIS (CONT'D) Lex, have you ever heard of a software program called 'The Ides of Metropolis?' Something Harrison was working on. LUTHOR Ides of Metropolis? No, I haven't. (beat) Sorry I couldn't have been of greater assistance. As soon as Lois and Clark have exited his office, Luthor turns to Nigel. LUTHOR (CONT'D) Are our technicians at LexComp still having those same problems... the computers running slow? NIGEL I believe so, sir. LUTHOR Hmmmm. You'd better get me LexComp internal security. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 27. 19 CONTINUED: (3) 19 LOIS (PRE-LAP) I don't believe it. WIPE TO: 20 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - DAY 20 Lois, Clark, and Jimmy are watching a video tape. 21 ON VIDEO TAPE 21 Lena moves through the lobby area of a hotel. Jimmy and the camera are momentarily distracted by a gorgeous pair of legs in a mini-skirt, then the lens whips back to follow Lena once more. LOIS (O.S.) How'd you get this? And what about Reed? Weren't her men tailing Lena as wall? JIMMY (O.S.) Two guys in a car in front of the hotel. Some stakeout. Lena walks toward the elevators. Suddenly, a man wearing a trench coat and a hat, his face hidden, falls in step behind her. Just before the elevator doors open, Lena and the man kiss. LOIS (O.S.) (triumphant) So much for the grieving widow. Jimmy turns off the machine, turns to face Lois and Clark. JIMMY What now? On Lois and Clark, unsure, we... CUT TO: 22 INT. GYM - (NIGHT #3) 22 Clark and his Dad, in their sweats, enter the gym. It's a happening place -- men and women on treadmills, steppers, a "Cardio Funk" class going on in the background. CLARK Dad, are you sure you want to do this? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 28. 22 CONTINUED: 22 JONATHAN I've got to get back in shape. Get back to the mm your mother married. CLARK Dad, I think getting in shape is a good idea, but you're doing it for the wrong reasons. Now, if you want to feel better, that's one thing, but Mon loves you just the way you are. A young woman (TRAINER) approaches them. Her amazing body (X) is evident in a jogbra, tights and g-string. TRAINER (to Jonathan) First time? CLARK Thanks anyway, but I pretty much know my way around the gym. JONATHAN _I_ could use a few... pointers. On Jonathan's appreciative gaze, we... (X) CUT TO: (X) 23 WEIGHT ROOM - LATER 23 Clark leads Jonathan toward the military press machine. (X) CLARK Okay. Just a few light reps, then (X) we'll hit the showers. Clark turns Jonathan to face away from the weight stack and is about to sit him down on the bench when a large, thick hand clamps on his shoulder. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 29. 23 CONTINUED: 23 BODYBUILDER (O.S.) That's my machine. Clark turns to see an oversized musclehead looming over them. The BODYBUILDER is an arrogant jerk. CLARK I didn't see anyone using it. BODYBUILDER Everyone knows I use this machine at this time every day, so buzz off four- eyes and take grampa with you. JONATHAN Come on, son. CLARK No, dad, we'll wait. BODYBUILDER Might be a while. Once I a pumping, it's hard to stop. CLARK Really. The bodybuilder gives a mighty push up on the bar: nothing. He looks at Clark, his flush part embarrassment, part exertion. He tries again, straining, straining, still nothing... 24 CLOSE ON WEIGHT STACK 24 Clark rests the tip of one finger on top of the stack. 25 THE BODYBUILDER 25 releases the bar, panting. Furious, he stands up. BODYBUILDER Stinking machine's broken. CLARK Really. (beat) Go ahead, Dad. Show him how it's done. At Clark's urging, Jonathan takes the bodybuilder's place. A small crowd has gathered, including the gorgeous Trainer. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 30. 25 CONTINUED: 25 CLARK That's right. Put your hands on the grips. Take a breath in, and, as you exhale, push up. The bodybuilder SNORTS derisively. But, to everyone's including Jonathan's surprise, he lifts with ease. He continues to lift and lower, seemingly without effort. 26 CLOSE ON WEIGHT STACK 26 Clark has a fingertip under the bottom weight. 27 JONATHAN 27 continues lifting. Finally, Clark puts his hand on his father's arm. CLARK That's enough. (to the bodybuilder) Once he starts pumping, it's hard to stop. Jonathan stands, stretches. Clark starts to lead him away. TRAINER Oh, Jonathan... They stop to stare at her. TRAINER (CONT'D) Would you like to... spot me? Jonathan looks at Clark, shrugs, sucks in his gut and goes off with the trainer as we... WIPE TO: 28 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT 28 Lois and Clark enter. Lois is surprised, and a little rattled to see Eugene hard at work on her home computer. EUGENE I've straightened out your files, (X) Lois. Gave you a simpler directory. (X) LOIS You... those were personal files, Eugene. I had a password. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 31. 28 CONTINUED: 28 EUGENE I know. Superman. (beat) Wasn't too tough to figure out. Lois is too embarrassed to look at Clark. She shifts into reporter gear. LOIS Eugene, let's go over what happened (X) the day Harrison died. (X) EUGENE Well, like I said, I found this now program he was working on. It wasn't in the regular files, but I figured out his security bypass pretty quickly... LOIS About the fight... EUGENE Henry asked me how much of the (X) program I'd seen. Suddenly he was (X) screaming at me, saying that I had (X) stolen his wife and now the 'Ides Of Metropolis.' (beat) I started yelling back at him. I (X) said I'd kill him if he hurt Lena (X) again. (X) CLARK So, Lena came to your apartment... (X) EUGENE (nods) I told her about the fight and she said she was going to the office, to have it out with him. When she didn't come back, I got worried, went to the office. LOIS You smelled something burning, went into the generator room. That's when you found him... (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 32. 28 CONTINUED (2) 28 Just then, a KNOCK on the door. Clark X-RAYS through the (X) door to see Detective Reed and her Deputy standing outside. CLARK It's Reed. LOIS How do you know? CLARK (covering) It was a police... kind... of... (X) knock. LOIS Quick. In the bedroom. Clark leads Eugene into the bedroom. Lois answers the door. Indeed, it is Detective Reed and two cops. She enters, walks past Lois, looking around. DETECTIVE REED I have a warrant to search the premises. LOIS My apartment? Are you crazy? DETECTIVE REED I don't think so, Ms. Lane. Call me wild, call me crazy, but I have a hunch that you're hiding something... or someone. She nods to her Deputies... who fan out to cover the apartment. Reed looks at Lois. DETECTIVE REED (CONT'D) Why don't you just have a seat on the couch. This won't hurt much, and it'll be over real soon. Lois, tensing, sits on the couch. 29 INT. LOIS LANE'S BEDROOM - SAME TIME 29 The Deputies enter the room. No one there. They move to the window; drapes are drawn and window locked shut. --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 32A. 30 EXT. LOIS LANE'S APARTMENT - SAME TIME 30 Clark has Eugene pressed up against the tiny ledge. It's not big enough to accommodate two people, but it's too dark out for Eugene to notice that... (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 33. 30 CONTINUED: 30 Clark isn't standing on the ledge. He's hovering in thin air. 31 INT. LOIS LANE'S LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME 31 The Deputy exits the bedroom, shaking his head. DETECTIVE REED Sorry to have bothered you, Ms, Lane. It appears I was mistaken... for the time being. LOIS I hope you never find him. Eugene (X) didn't kill Harrison. DETECTIVE REED Do tell. LOIS Lena Harrison killed her husband. DETECTIVE REED Interesting theory. Unfortunately at precisely the time of Harrison's death, Lena was at a Neighborhood Watch meeting. She was seen by at least twenty people who positively identified her. Lois is momentarily speechless. Then... LOIS But why would a man set fire to the (X) room the body was in to destroy the (X) evidence, wait there for the police, (X) then sign a confession? And why didn't he take the stand in his own defense when his attorney begged him to? Reed is cool as a cucumber, but do we see a faint look of... something in her eyes? DETECTIVE REED Good night, Ms. Lane. Remember to lock your doors and windows. We've got an escaped killer on the loose. She exits. A moment later, Eugene is led back into the (X) room by Clark. As Eugene walks into the kitchen to get a (X) drink of water... (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 34. 31 CONTINUED: 31 CLARK Talk about being out on a ledge... Lois? You okay? What'd Reed say? LOIS Oh. Not much. Just that Lena (X) Harrison has an iron-clad alibi for the night of her husband's death. They both look over at Eugene, more unsure than ever as (X) we... FADE OUT: _END OF ACT_ --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 35. _ACT THREE_ 32 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - (DAY #4) 32 Lois and Clark are at their respective desks, each on the phone, on hold, with plenty of time to argue with one another. LOIS Clark, men and women lie to each other all the time. It's a national pastime. Sometimes it's okay to lie. CLARK It's never okay. LOIS So, you've never lied to me? CLARK I didn't say that. I said, it's not okay. Besides, we're talking husbands and wives here. (into phone) Yes. I can hold. (to Lois) I just happen to think that it's always better to tell the truth, get everything out in the open. LOIS So, you're saying you'll never lie to your wife, assuming someone is crazy enough to say 11 do' to you. CLARK That's right. LOIS (into phone) Transfer me to who? I've been holding ten minutes.... Ugh. (to Clark) Okay, here's the scene. Your loving wife of twenty years has spent the entire day at the beauty shop. Dyed her hair red, got it cut... all to please you. Except she looks ghastly. She stands there when you open the front door, so hopeful... and says 'Honey, do you like it?' What do you do? CLARK My wife would know I love her the way she is. Why would she dye her hair red? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 36. 32 CONTINUED: 32 Perry White walks by en route to his office. Suddenly, the conversation stops. They both smile at him. He smiles back. When he's safely in his office... CLARK (CONT'D) Okay. I'd... tell her the truth. That I love her, that I liked her hair better before, but that, if she's happy with it, that's the important thing. LOIS (into phone) But I've already left a message. Never mind. (hangs up, to Clark) Poor woman. CLARK Who? LOIS Your wife. She's married to Mr. Right. Mr. _Always_ Right. Perry sticks his head out of his office. PERRY Lois? Clark? A moment of your time? Lois and Clark move into Perry's... (X) 33 INT. DAILY PLANET - PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE - DAY 33 The following conversation is very cagey, everyone knowing what everyone else is saying, although they're saying very little. PERRY Is there something the two of you want to tell me? LOIS No, not really, Chief. PERRY Huh. Well... good. (beat) You sure now? Nothing you want to get off your chest, uh, chests? Lois and Clark look very guilty. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 37. 33 CONTINUED: 33 LOIS We'd like to tell you, Chief, but we can't. It's better this way. CLARK Better off _not_ knowing. PERRY Well, I think it's a little late for that. (beat) I know. LOIS You know? CLARK What exactly do you know? PERRY You know... about... him. Where he is. CLARK Oh. You do know. LOIS How do you know? PERRY It's better you don't know. (beat) 'Course, I don't know officially. But, let's face it. If a man in my position _didn't_ know, unofficially, then, well, he wouldn't be a man in my position. LOIS So, now that you know, unofficially, are you going to tell anyone else that you, you know, know? PERRY No. I just wanted you to know. CLARK Thank you, sir. I feel much better knowing that you know. LOIS Me, too. PERRY There is something I'd like you know, though. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 38. 33 CONTINUED: (2) 33 LOIS What's that? PERRY The minute you step outside that door, I no longer know. And I don't want to know anything else worth... knowing... in the future. Lois and Clark nod, and are out the door. 34 OMITTED 34 35 INT. LOIS LANE'S APARTMENT - (NIGHT #4) 35 Lois and Clark enter with pizzas. Eugene still sits at Lois' computer. He rushes up to them. EUGENE Thank God you're back. You told me not to use the phone or go out, or... LOIS What happened? EUGENE Nothing happened. It's what's _going_ to happen. I think. Lois and Clark exchange looks. They're not following. EUGENE (CONT'D) All the programs on your computer were sluggish today... so I tapped into the Daily Planet bank. Their systems are slowed down, too. LOIS Eugene, there are more important things going on than a temporary computer slowdown. EUGENE That file that Henry was working on... it wasn't a program. It was a virus. A virus designed to destroy (X) all other software programs. A polymorphic encrypted virus. LOIS Come again? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 39. 35 CONTINUED: 35 CLARK The worst kind. It can attack any computer system, taking on different shapes to avoid detection. (X) LOIS Makes sense. The man was about to lose everything, might as well take everybody else's system with you. CLARK Can a virus just start up without the programmer initiating it? EUGENE Maybe. If it had some kind of doomsday code on it. LOIS How bad could this virus make things? (X) EUGENE In a nation entirely dependent on computers... it could mean... disaster. CLARK Banks, the stock exchange, air traffic control... even our nuclear missiles. They're all run by computers. LOIS What can we do? EUGENE You have to break me into MUT. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 40. 35 CONTINUED: (2) 35 CLARK MUT? EUGENE Metropolis University of Technology. I need a powerful central computer system to work off of. I have to find the antidote. I teach a class there... my students can help. Lois and Clark slink away, form a huddle. (X) CLARK You're already harboring a fugitive, you want to add breaking and entering to your rap sheet? LOIS Clark. I don't know if he's telling the truth. But if he is... and the virus gets out... CLARK Lois, all we have is a guy, a wanted guy, looking at a computer screen and telling us the nation's at risk. (beat) We need more proof. Lois looks over at Eugene as we... WIPE TO: 36 EXT. LEX LUTHOR'S TOWER - TO ESTABLISH 36 37 INT. LEX LUTHOR'S STUDY - NIGHT 37 Luthor stands by his balcony, looking over the city. Nigel enters. NIGEL Security has confirmed your suspicions, sir. There is a virus. LUTHOR No one is invulnerable. No system is guaranteed secure. At no time in history has the power of one destructive individual been so amplified. It's the ultimate terrorism. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 41. 37 CONTINUED: 37 Luthor wanders to his desk, takes out a cigar. Nigel is there to light it for him. LUTHOR (CONT'D) I've often wondered what would happen if our entire infrastructure dissolved. NIGEL Perhaps we are _too_ dependent, sir. LUTHOR Yes. Perhaps. I've never fancied myself as being dependent on anything, or anyone. And yet... I'm a slave. Like you, Nigel, like all of us... to a system we created. Still... Luthor sits down in his easy chair, throws back his head and laughs. NIGEL May I inquire? LUTHOR Just... musing, Nigel. What it would be like. No Luthor technologies, no Luthor Industrial, no Luthor communications... (a real question) Could I weather it, Nigel? Could I, a man who never has to think about money, could I do without? It might be for the best. I could got back to nature. Buy a pair of hiking shoes, get in my car, a car with no driver and drive as far as I could before I fell off the edge of the world. Could I? Would I? Nigel has been placed in a very awkward position. And yet, there still seems to be no answer except... NIGEL I think not. LUTHOR Yes. Quite right. The subject closed, for the time being, we... WIPE TO: --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 42. 38 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - (DAY #5) 38 The doorbell rings and MARTHA enters. Clark runs up the stairs to pick her up, give her a mighty hug. She hugs him back, looks around for... MARTHA Where's your father? CLARK Went to the store -- you're here early. MARTHA Is he all right? CLARK Yeah. But I'm not sure I an. (beat) Dad says you're having an affair with this artist teacher of yours. Is that true? Martha leads Clark by the hand to the living area. They (X) sit down on the sofa. MARTHA Clark, there are a lot of things that (X) go on between a man and woman, (X) husband and wife, that you've yet to (X) experience. CLARK (X) Mon... what are you saying? (X) The door opens and Jonathan walks in, carrying a bouquet of flowers. JONATHAN I got the peonies. Martha always liked... Martha stands. Now the two of then are standing, just looking at one another. Clark, embarrassed, walks off toward the kitchen as Martha slowly approaches Jonathan. MARTHA Are those for me? JONATHAN There's nobody else. MARTHA For me either, Jonathan. JONATHAN Is that true? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 43. 38 CONTINUED: 38 MARTHA Yes. You were the first man I ever kissed. You'll be the last. JONATHAN So... no affair? MARTHA Well... if you call two cups of (X) coffee at Maise's an affair... (X) JONATHAN I should never have doubted you. I know you too well. MARTHA Yes, and you should also know that just because I may qualify for membership in the Gray Panthers, that doesn't mean I'm slowing down. And it doesn't mean that I have to stop growing, experimenting, thinking, making friends with interesting people. JONATHAN I just hope I can keep up with you. MARTHA You don't have to. Just understand me, like you always have. Just be there for me, like I know you always will. Clark wipes a tear away as Jonathan and Martha hug, kiss. WIPE TO: 39 INT. DAILY PLANET PIT - DAY 39 Lois and Clark look up from their desks to see Detective Reed enter, walk over toward them. LOIS (harshly) Do you have a warrant to search the Daily Planet as well? DETECTIVE REED Nope. Thought I'd fill you in on something, though. Wondered if you might have a take on it. Reed hands Lois a report. She scans it... (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Green Rev. 12/15/93 44. 39 CONTINUED: 39 LOIS (reading) The deceased was exhumed at approximately... (to Reed) You dug up Henry Harrison's body? DETECTIVE REED Per you suggestion, I dug up a body. But it wasn't Harrison's. LOIS If the body found in the generator wasn't Harrison, who was it? DETECTIVE REED A homeless mm who lived in the (X) Generator room of Harrison's building. (beat) He'd been reported missing by his family -- seemed he called then once a week. Dental records match. LOIS How come they weren't checked during the trial? DETECTIVE REED They were. There was a match. CLARK How is that possible? DETECTIVE REED Computer records can be falsified. Especially by computer experts. Besides, Lena Harrison identified the body. LOIS Eugene was telling the truth. (beat) You can call off your manhunt now. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 45. 39 CONTINUED: (2) 39 DETECTIVE REED (shaking her head) I have a dead body on my hands, and Harrison's still missing. (beat) For all we know, Eugene Lad may (X) have killed _two_ men. LOIS You can't be serious. DETECTIVE REED I've got a job to do. Maybe he did it, maybe he didn't. That's up to the courts to decide. But right now, I intend to bring him in... by any means necessary. Detective Reed turns from them, exits. JIMMY (O.S.) Lois! Clark! Check this out. Lois and Clark rush over to Jimmy, sitting in front of a computer terminal. 40 CU - COMPUTER SCREEN 40 The writing on the page literally "malts" in front of their eyes. Now, on the screen, appears: "BEWARE THE IDES OF METROPOLIS." 41 IN THE NEWSROOM 41 Other staffers are groaning and moaning... the same thing is happening to all the computer terminals. 42 LOIS AND CLARK 42 look at one another, then race for the exit as we WIPE TO: 43 EXT. HARRITECH - (NIGHT #5) 43 A man wearing a trench coat and hat enters through a back door. --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 46. 44 INT. HARRITECH - NIGHT 44 We follow the man into his secret lair... a room filled (X) with computer equipment and large screens (X) When he takes off his hat and turns on the computer (X) screens, we now see his face in the green light and learn (X) that HENRY HARRISON is very much alive. 45 ON THE COMPUTER SCREENS 45 The same message: BEWARE THE IDES OF METROPOLIS. 46 HARRISON 46 starts to laugh, and continues to do so until we... FADE OUT: _END OF ACT THREE_ --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 47. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 47 INT DAILY PLANET - MORNING - (DAY #6) 47 Perry, Jimmy, and other newsroom staff are gathered around the TV, watching the news. 48 ON TV 48 NEWSCASTER The 'Ides of Metropolis' appeared this morning on the screens of over a million computers, and with its arrival came a catastrophe of unparalleled proportion. As he speaks we see (hopefully via STOCK FOOTAGE) the following: NEWSCASTER (O.S.) World financial markets are collapsing... 49 THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE 49 The room is going crazy as stock prices plummet. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) Banks and other financial institutions have closed their doors creating mass panic. 50 METROPOLIS STATE BANK 50 Angry lines of customers can't get their money out. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) Doctors are performing emergency surgeries under war zone conditions. 51 METROPOLIS HOSPITAL 51 Two surgeons are performing micro-surgery when the computer goes down. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) Airports are shutting down; several near misses have been reported. --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 48. 52 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 52 There is pandemonium in the room as all the screens go black. 53 TWO 747'S 53 have a "near miss" above the skies of Metropolis. NEWSCASTER (O.S.) Utilities, phone systems... nothing seems to have escaped this deadly virus, with no and in sight. As this reporter speaks, the Army and Navy are on full tactical alert due to the failure of the computer systems controlling the ground to air nuclear missiles... 54 BACK IN THE NEWSROOM 54 Perry and Jimmy are agog. Before Perry can say it... JIMMY Great shades of Elvis. Perry give him a harsh stare, then agrees, nodding his head. PERRY You can say that again. WIPE TO: 55 METROPOLIS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY - TO ESTABLISH - DAY 55 A huge campus just outside the city. 56 INT. MUT - COMPUTER SCIENCE LABORATORY - DAY 56 Lois and Clark hover as Eugene and his group of young (X) students are busy at their terminals, desperately trying to find the antidote to the virus. LOIS What exactly are you looking for? EUGENE (X) An entry code, so we can analyze the virus and find a cure. I've tried all the ones Henry ever used -- every member of his immediately family, etc. Now we're trying number combinations. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 49. 56 CONTINUED: 56 CLARK What about the name of the program 'The Ides Of Metropolis?' EUGENE 'Ides' refers to the fifteenth day of (X) certain months. I've tried some letter/number combinations using that factor, but so far... LOIS What about the dramatic reference? Julius Caesar... 'Beware the Ides of March?' It's a long shot, but... EUGENE (X) I'll give it a try. 57 ON SCREEN 57 Eugene types in "Julius Caesar." "Incorrect Password" (X) appears. 58 LOIS AND CLARK 58 LOIS The play was about a conspiracy. Traitors, politics... maybe there's another connection. Eugene thinks for a second, turns back to his computer. (X) Just then, the door to the lab bursts open, and Detective Reed, gun drawn, and one of her deputies enter. DETECTIVE REED Police! Step away from the desk. Laderman, down and kiss the floor. Lois rushes up to Reed. LOIS No, you can't. Eugene is working on (X) finding the antidote to the computer virus. He may be close... he's the only one who can do it. Reed looks at Eugene and the computer monitor. (X) Momentarily distracted, Lois takes the opportunity to kick Reed's gun away from her. Clark catches it. The women each take a self-defense stance. Reed kicks, Lois blocks. Lois kicks, Reed blocks. It's a standoff. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 50. 58 CONTINUED: 58 CLARK Are you ladies finished? Clark notices that Reed and her deputy have their hands up. LOIS Yes, _we_ are... Mr. Law and Order. Then, Clark realizes he's training Reed's gun on them. He empties the bullets, drops it to the floor. The deputy picks it up. Clark walks up to Reed. CLARK Don't you see what's going on? Have (X) you read the news? Eugene may be our (X) only hope. It might be his imagination, but Reed seems to be listening. Lois doesn't miss the opportunity... LOIS Eugene worked under Harrison. He saw (X) Harrison develop the virus. He's the only one who can find the antidote. For God sakes, let him try. Reed takes a moment, then looks to her Deputy. REED Stay here. Don't let anyone in or out of this room. LOIS Where're you going? REED HarriTech. I followed Lena there last night. She's got some explaining to do. LOIS I'm coming with you. REED In your dreams, Lane. (X) QUICK WIPE TO: (X) 59 INT. HARRITECH - (NIGHT #6) 59 Lois and Reed enter the dark building holding flashlights. (X) As they prowl the room, a voice stops them dead in their tracks. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 51. 59 CONTINUED: 59 HENRY HARRISON Good evening, Ms. Lane, Ms. Reed. As the lights are switched on, Lois @ Reed turn to see a man wearing the same trench coat and hat. He holds a (X) very big gun. As he removes his hat... HENRY HARRISON (CONT'D) Permit me to introduce myself. I'm Henry Harrison. (beat, to Reed) (X) I'll relieve you of your weapons now. (X) Reed and Lois exchange a glance as we... WIPE TO: 60 INT. HARRISON'S BUNKER - MOMENT'S LATER 60 Lena and Harrison face Lois and Reed. LOIS You were in on it all along. LENA Of course. I believe in marital fidelity. LOIS What about your loyalty to Eugene? (X) He loved you. (X) LENA Yes. Poor Eugene. I thought the (X) legal process would finish his off, now... I'll have to do it myself. DETECTIVE REED (X) (to Harrison) (X) Why? LOIS (X) I can answer that. HarriTech was (X) about to fail. His virus will make (X) all software other than his obsolete. (X) HARRISON (X) Quite correct, Ms. Lane. Billions (X) are at stake. I needed to disappear beyond suspicion. Like dead. Eugene (X) was the perfect foil. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 52. 60 CONTINUED: 60 LOIS Forgive the cliche', but you're not (X) going to get away with this. Eugene (X) is working on the antidote as we (X) speak. (X) HARRISON It doesn't matter. Within the hour every computer system in the country will be shut down. LOIS (X) The nuclear missiles... (X) HARRISON (X) Give me a little credit, Ms. Lane. (X) Surely you don't think I'd destroy (X) all those potential customers. Of (X) course, a few shut downs here and (X) there, medical facilities, control (X) towers, automated machinery... (X) there's bound to be a few glitches. (X) Harrison presses a button, sets a timer. (X) REED I can get you a deal. HARRISON I doubt that very much. LOIS So, what are you going to do now? Kill us? On Harrison's smile we... WIPE TO: 61 INT. MUT COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB - NIGHT 61 Eugene is still busy at his terminal. Finally... (X) EUGENE (X) Got it. Clark and some of the other hackers gather around. EUGENE (CONT'D) (X) Lois was right, the play's the thing. (off Clark's look) 'Et tu, Brute' That's the password. CLARK What now? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Yellow Rev. 12/14/93 53. 61 CONTINUED: 61 Eugene brings up a display on his computer screen: a map of the USA with a spider tracery of lines drawn between several main connection points. EUGENE By our calculations, in order for the (X) virus to reach full distribution, it has to pass through these three centers. On screen, the three connection points glow and blink red: one on each coast, one in the middle. CLARK So... we contact the centers and have then apply the antidote. (off Eugene's look) No? EUGENE It has to be done on the premises. (beat) We have to manually insert this antidote disk in each of the centers. CLARK How much time do we have? EUGENE None. By the time we'd fly then there... it might be too late. The virus has already penetrated the network. Clark takes the list and the disk. CLARK I know a way. He approaches the door. The deputy hesitates. CLARK (CONT'D) Don't even think about it. This is life or death. The fierceness of Clark's expression makes the deputy swallow, _hard_. He opens the door for Clark as we... WIPE TO: 62 EXT. EAST COAST COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT 62 Superman _FLIES_ alongside the power lines, veers off toward Center #1. --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 54. 63 INT. COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB AT MUT - SAME TIME 63 Eugene and the other hackers watch as the blinking red (X) light goes off at Center #1. 64 INT. TRASH COMPACTOR ROOM - NIGHT 64 Lois and Reed are thrown into a small room with four grey, cement walls. Used computer parts/trash are scattered on the floor. LOIS Great. Now you've done it! REED Me! You're the one who said 'What're you going to do now, kill us?' They teach you that in journalism school? LOIS Well, I suppose _you_ called for back- up and told them to burst in if we didn't come out in ten minutes. (beat) They teach you that in Detective School? It's sort of a tie. They sit. LOIS (CONT'D) What is this place? Lois looks from side to side. REED How do you get it to do that, anyway? LOIS What? REED Your hair. That bounce thing. When you turn your head. LOIS I don't know. It just... does it. Lois glances over at Reed's hands. LOIS (CONT'D) I wish I had your nails. REED You can. $1.98 at LexSave. LOIS Get out of here! They look so real. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 55. 64 CONTINUED: 64 The two women are now sitting close to one another, and suddenly realize they've just spend at least a minute in what might be construed as "girl talk." It makes then smile. 65 EXT. MIDWEST COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT 65 Superman _FLIES_ even faster, along phone lines. He dives toward Center #2. 66 INT. COMPUTER SCIENCE LAB AT MUT - SAME TIME 66 As the red light goes off in Center #2,, Eugene jumps for (X) joy. ALL eyes are on Center #3, still blinking... 67 INT. TRASH COMPACTOR ROOM - SAME TIME 67 The women are chatting like old school mates. REED Must be tough, being a reporter. Especially for a woman. LOIS No tougher than it must be for a detective. REED It's a boys club. LOIS Tell me about it. Suddenly, a NOISE, like a motor starting up, and THE WALLS START TO CLOSE. Reed and Lois are on their feet, looking for an escape route. They try to stop the walls, but they keep on coming. REED Find a brace, anything. They find some metal pipes, try to brace the wall to stop it... LOIS It's no use (beat) What does the manual say to do in a time like this? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 56. 67 CONTINUED: 67 The women look at each other for a beat,, then start to SCREAM as we... WIPE TO: 68 EXT. WEST COAST COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT 68 Superman is a _BLUR_ racing against the power lines. Once again, he dives. 69 INT. TECH - BUNKER - SAME TIME 69 Harrison watches in anguish as the third center is shut down. All of his monitors and equipment shut down as wall. 70 TRASH COMPACTOR ROOM - SAME TIME 70 Lois and Reed are inches away from being recycled as the WALLS STOP CLOSING. They breathe a sigh of relief. The automatic exit door pops,open. 71 INT. COMPUTER SCIENCE ROOM AT MUT - SAME TIME 71 Eugene and the hackers are hugging each other with joy. (X) Even the deputy joins in the celebration. 72 INT. HARRISON'S BUNKER - MOMENTS LATER 72 Lois and Reed enter. Harrison and Lena have their back to them, desperately trying to re-instate the virus into their terminal. Reed picks up her weapon on the counter, shoots the terminal. When the sparks die down... REED Okay boys and girls. Fun's over. You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, the right to have... WIPE TO: 73 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - (DAY #7) 73 Clark is at his desk when he sees his parents exit an (X) elevator. He runs up the stairs to greet them. (X) CLARK You guys all set? (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 57. 73 CONTINUED: 73 JONATHAN On our way. (beat) Thanks, Clark. Thanks for putting up with me. Clark shakes his head, hugs his dad. As he loans in to hug his mother... CLARK, (sotto) What about the painting? You going to leave it in the barn? (off her look) You're not going to hang it in the house, are you? MARTHA Well, I was going to give it to your father as an anniversary present. Guess I'll get him that set of socket wrenches, instead. CLARK Bye, Mom. Love you. MARTHA/JONATHAN Bye son. Take care. They enter the elevator as we... WIPE TO: 74 INT. LEX LUTHOR'S BALCONY - (NIGHT #7) 74 Luthor is again shooting skeet with night vision goggles. (X) Nigel throws up a clay pigeon and Luthor shoots. 75 IN THE SKY 75 The clay pigeon shatters. 76 LUTHOR AND NIGEL 76 As Luthor re-loads... NIGEL it is amazing, sir. All things considered, LexCorp came through this computer virus relatively unscathed. LUTHOR Yes. Tragedy averted. For now. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Green Rev. 12/15/93 58. 76 CONTINUED: 76 NIGEL For now? LUTHOR Yes. You never know when another virus might hit, one that has no code, or no code capable of being broken. NIGEL I suppose so. What a horrible end desperate act, utterly unthinkable. Unless... LUTHOR Exactly, Nigel. Unless it belongs to me. (beat) Pull! Nigel tosses the clay pigeon into the air. Luthor shoots. But this time, his timing is a bit off. LUTHOR (CONT'D) Ooops. Luthor and Nigel walk to the ledge or the balcony, look over and down. After a moment. LUTHOR (CONT'D) Call the lawyers, Nigel. NIGEL Yes, sir. Right away. WIPE TO: 77 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - NIGHT 77 Lois and Clark are at their respective desks when Perry walks by on his way out, a newspaper tucked under his arm. PERRY Eugene's a free man, thanks to you. (X) Nice work. (indicating the paper) Great story.. LOIS Thanks, Chief. And thanks for not blowing the whistle on us. (CONTINUED) --page break-- THE IDES OF METROPOLIS (#14) Blue Rev. 12/13/93 59. 77 CONTINUED: 77 When he exits, Lois and Clark stand, gather up their things. After a moment of silence... CLARK Well, go ahead. I'm waiting. LOIS For what? CLARK The morality play. The 'you should have trusted me and my infallible reporter's instinct' lecture. LOIS Clark, you don't need me to remind you of your shortcomings. I would have thought, by now... they'd be obvious. Clark leans forward, swats her on the rear with his newspaper. She laughs. LOIS (CONT'D) Come on, I'm starving and you're buying. (beat) And just in case you _did_ miss the moral to this story -- you should trust what's in people's hearts, not just the facts, ma'am. Clark smiles, shakes his head. They walk to the elevator arm in arm. On their backs... LOIS (O.S.) You know, Clark, I have a funny feeling that you didn't tell me your _biggest_ secret. CLARK (O.S.) Well, just to put your little mind at ease Lois... you're right. and we... FADE OUT: _END OF ACT FOUR_