notes: To pop everything into place... use Courier 10 (or 10 characters per inch) set top margin at 0.5", bottom margin at 0.5" (or minimums) left margin at 1", right margin at .25 (or minimum) (I had to tell the program that my primitive printer was using legal- size paper) Notes: Cover: "OPERATION BLACKOUT", Written by Kate Boutilier (and) Directed by Michael Watkins are in larger, bold script; WARNER BROS. TELEVISION is in an arial-type script; the rest of the document is in Courier 10 * and (X) used in script probably mean "this line changed from previous version" Typos noted: Page 12. near top "That's not true. Is it Clark" needs comma after "it"; also needs one in "actually Lois" two lines down Page 13. Clark speaking mid page: "Ah Molly," could use a comma after "Ah" Page 20. Missing comma after "Ryan" in Col Fane's first words on that page, about 1/3 down Page 21. "Relax Chuck." about 1/3 down the page, needs comma after "relax" commas missing here and there won't be pointed out any more... Page 35. 3/4 down, Pary says "Stormin' Normin," Normin should be Norman, as it was previously Page 43. after Lois's "Get in!" "Clarks" should be Clark --page break-- (logo; see logo.bmp or logo jpg) "OPERATION BLACKOUT" EPISODE SIX Prod #456456 Written by Kate Boutilier Directed by Michael Watkins WARNER BROS. TELEVISION _Production Draft_ September 16, 1994 FULL BLUE 9/23/94 Pink Rev. 9/26/94 Yellow R. 9/27/94 Green Rev. 9/27/94 Gold Rev. 9/28/94 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Operation Blackout_" Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE PERRY WHITE JIMMY OLSEN _________________________________________________________ MOLLY FLYNN * RYAN WILEY COL. CHARLES FANE * GEN. RALPH MARSHALL * ANDY TUCKER 2ND LIEUTENANT CHANTER MAN (WITH PREGNANT WIFE) SOLDIER TV REPORTER --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Operation Blackout_" Blue Rev. 9/23/94 _LOCATIONS_ INTERIORS: EXTERIORS: Daily Planet Daily Planet Newsroom Metropolis Street Greenhouse Bookstore Store Greenhouse Bookstore Backroom Fort Truman Lois' Apartment Field Platform Fort Truman Grandstand Col. Zane's Reception Guard Gate Col. Zane's Office Zane's Building Stockade Command Center Command Center Jeep Car * Lois's Building * Flag pole --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Operation Blackout_" Blue Rev. 9/23/94 _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 - 23 DAY 1 * SC. 24 NIGHT 1 * SC. 25 - 50 DAY 2 SC. 51 - 59 NIGHT 2 SC. 60 - 87 DAY 3 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "Operation Blackout" _TEASER_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. FORT TRUMAN - ARTILLERY PIT - DAY #1 1 Three targets at the end of the field. Opposite is a grandstand where LOIS, CLARK, and JIMMY sit near the top, amidst Press, City Officials. Down front is a small platform where several Officers flank COL. CHARLES FANE, (X) 40's, a sycophant with a dark side and GEN. RALPH MARSHALL, (X) 50's. 2 ON LOIS, CLARK AND JIMMY 2 sitting on benches. Lois shifts, trying to get comfortable. LOIS They spend eighty million dollars on a new weapon but we've got to sit on hard wooden benches. CLARK The army's not known for being big on comfort. JIMMY (squirming) Tell me about it. I just got a splinter in a very embarrassing place. 3 ON PLATFORM 3 COL. FANE (X) (into microphone) It is now my great honor to introduce the base commander of Fort Truman, General Ralph Marshall. (X) Marshall stands to APPLAUSE. They shake hands, then (X) Marshall speaks into the microphone. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 2. 3 CONTINUED: 3 GEN. MARSHALL (X) Thank you, Colonel Fane. (X) (to the crowd) What you are about to witness is a demonstration of the 'ATAS.' The first step toward taking the United States Military into the twenty first century. Marshall holds a small REMOTE CONTROL UNIT to his mouth. (X) GEN. MARSHALL (CONT'D) (X) Forward, five yards. (X) on his command, into frame comes a ROBOTIC WEAPON, moving on three wheels with a long neck and rotating head. 4 ON LOIS, CLARK AND JIMMY 4 Jimmy snaps a picture with a telephoto as Lois peers through binoculars. JIMMY Check it out. A killer robot. LOIS Actually, the ATAS is an 'all-terrain automated soldier.' JIMMY What's the difference? CLARK About a hundred thousand taxpayer dollars worth of P.R. 5 ON THE ARTILLERY PIT 5 The ATAS halts twenty-five feet from a target. The amplified VOICE of the Colonel over: GEN. MARSHALL (O.S.) (X) The ATAS has the ability to replace the fire power of an entire infantry platoon, with pin point accuracy. (into remote) Center target, fire! Lower left (X) quadrant, fire! Target three (X) niner west, fire! (X) The ATAS discharges, fragging a wooden target. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 3. 5 CONTINUED: 5 GEN. MARSHALL (O.S.) (X) Fire left! (X) The ATAS swivels and fires upon a troop truck, exploding it in flames. 6 ON LOIS, CLARK AND JIMMY 6 Jimmy's snapping pictures. JIMMY Remote voice-activated. Cool. Lois lowers her binoculars. LOIS (then, re: binoculars) Want to try these? CLARK Don't need 'em. (off her look) Uh... they're hard to use with my glasses. 7 ON THE FIELD 7 A MAN in CIVILIAN CLOTHES, RYAN WILEY, 30-ish, inconspicuously stands near the corner of the bleachers holding a small black case open against his torso. With one hand he punches some buttons on whatever's inside the case. 8 ON FANE 8(X) as he surreptitiously exchanges a look with Wiley. He turns and whispers something to General Marshall who nods, then (X) steps down from the podium as... GEN. MARSHALL (X) (into microphone) If the target is out of visual (X) contact, the ATAS will (X) automatically reposition itself. (into remote) Target one zero, zero south, one six zero east. Fire. 9 THE ROBOTIC WEAPON 9 rolls down field ten yards, then suddenly spins and aims DIRECTLY AT THE CROWD of spectators! --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 4. 10 ON GRANDSTAND 10 Before anyone can react, the ATAS FIRES on the podium area. People SCREAM and scatter in panic. Lois and Jimmy hit the deck, Jimmy continuing to shoot pictures. Clark jumps off the back of the bleachers and disappears. 11 ON RYAN WILEY 11 He turns and strides away from the grandstand. 12 ON THE FIELD 12 Superman lands in front of the ATAS. The weapon RAPID-FIRES into Superman. Bullets BOUNCE off his chest. Superman SNAPS the head of the rapid fire gun off its base, BREAKS it in half. The ATAS goes silent, bobbing up and down like a chicken with its head cut off. 13 ON GRANDSTAND 13 As a dazed Lois and the others slowly get to their feet, Superman approaches. The crowd ad libs their thanks to the man of steel as... SUPERMAN (to Lois) Are you all right? LOIS Yeah, I think so. Thanks. A shaken Jimmy comes up from the podium area, camera in hand. LOIS (CONT'D) (looking around) Where's Clark? SUPERMAN He... went to get an ambulance. JIMMY Too late. General Marshall's (X) dead. off their concern... 14 ON FANE AND WILEY 14(X) in the shadows of a barracks. Fane stares off at the (X) field, worried. Wiley's relaxed and confident. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 5. 14 CONTINUED: 14 RYAN For a man who's about to become base commander, you don't look too happy. COL. FANE For godsakes Ryan, we just killed (X) a man. (grim) Sometimes I think you're as inhuman as that robot out there. RYAN That would be a good thing, Chuck. (X) Because that's what it takes when you're going to hold the entire (X) world hostage. (X) FADE OUT _END OF TEASER_ --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 6. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 15 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY - LATER 15 Lois and Clark at their desks, each on the phone, pencils at the ready. LOIS Isn't there anyone at the Pentagon who can say something besides 'no comment?' A beat, then she stares at the dead receiver in her hand. LOIS (CONT'D) 'Good-bye' wasn't exactly what I had in mind. She hangs up, sighs, looks to Clark. LOIS (CONT'D) Are you getting anywhere? CLARK (re: the phone) No. But now I know all five verses of 'Windy.' (then, into phone) Yes, this is Clark Kent with the Daily Planet, and I'm trying to get an official statement regarding the death of General Marshall ... (X) He reacts as the other party LOUDLY HANGS UP. CLARK (CONT'D) I see. Would that be 'click' with one exclamation point or two? As he hangs up Jimmy approaches, holding a stack of photos. JIMMY Shots of the accident, just out of the soup. As he hands them to Lois ... JIMMY (CONT'D) (anxious) What do you think? Clark approaches as Lois flips through the photos. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 7. 15 CONTINUED: 15 LOIS They're kind of blurry. This one's completely out of focus. Jimmy, is this the best we have? JIMMY Sorry, but my finger froze on the shutter. That happens when I'm getting shot at. LOIS Is this a picture of your feet? JIMMY Yeah, but you can see the killer robot right between them. LOIS (discarding photos) No... no... Clark notices Jimmy's crestfallen look. CLARK I'm sure we'll find something we can use. LOIS No... no... (she stops, stares at a photo) Oh my God, this man's dead! JIMMY (confused) I know I'm still new at this, but I thought that was kinda' obvious. LOIS Not General Marshall. This man! (X) Jimmy and Clark lean in and look over Lois, shoulder. 16 INSERT - PHOTO 16 A tilted photo shows the man we know as RYAN leaving the side of the bleachers, carrying the briefcase. 17 RESUME SCENE 17 CLARK Lois. Dead people rarely walk. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 8. 17 CONTINUED: 17 LOIS Clark, it's Ryan Wiley! I went to college with him! He was a computer engineer at Fort Truman! (for emphasis) Where he died... a year ago! CLARK Ohhhh, he's a ghost... Well, why didn't you say that in the first place? LOIS Is that supposed to be sarcasm? CLARK I wasn't clear enough? LOIS He dated a very close friend of mine in college. They were engaged to be married. So I think I would know what he looks like and I'm telling you... this is Ryan! A now less doubtful Clark exchanges a look with Jimmy as Lois stares at the photo. Off her look... CUT TO: 18 EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - DAY - LATER 18 Lois and Clark walk thru... CLARK Did the military ever say how this guy died? LOIS Just that it was an accident. There were rumors that it had something to do with the Hawkeye Strategic defense system. CLARK What's that? LOIS It's top secret and Molly couldn't say too much but I think it's some kind of killer defense satellite. Whatever it is Ryan was dead and that was that. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 9. 18 CONTINUED: 18 CLARK (doubtful) But... he's alive now. LOIS Pretty weird, huh? What an I going to say to her? Your boyfriend's back and we think he's starting trouble, hey lah de lah? CLARK (spots something OS) There it is. He leads Lois across the street towards MOLLY'S GREENHOUSE BOOKSTORE, a small SoHo type hole in the wall. LOIS This can't be right. CLARK (checking piece of paper) It's the forwarding address her mailman had for her. LOIS But Molly's a computer engineer. What's she doing running a flaky place like this? They stop in front of the display window. Inside, a dozen books titled "TECHNOLOGY IS KILLING US" by Molly Flynn are (X) prominently displayed. CLARK 'Technology is Killing Us,' by Molly Flynn. (X) LOIS What? When did she start writing this junk? CLARK Why do I get the feeling you and Molly aren't exactly on the friends and family program? LOIS (defensive) So we've drifted apart a little. Have you stayed in touch with all _your_ college friends? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 10. 18 CONTINUED: 2 18 CLARK Well... yeah. LOIS Oh sure. That's easy when you go to Smallville U. with a graduating class of ten farmers and a cow. As she heads into the store... CLARK Just hate losing those arguments, don't you? CUT TO: 19 INT. MOLLY'S GREENHOUSE BOOKSTORE/CAFE - DAY 19 The new age look. Several customers browse the racks. MOLLY FLYNN, late 20's, but all earth mother, dressed in Birkenstocks, granny skirt and wire-rimmed glasses, talks to a customer as Lois and Clark enter. MOLLY You hang them in the corners of your room and they act like a spiritual air cleaner. 20 ON LOIS AND CLARK 20 CLARK Is that her? LOIS Just barely. I don't believe it (X) The customer moves off and Molly turns to greet Lois MOLLY Can I help you? (then) Lois? LOIS Molly. They hug. Then... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 11. 20 CONTINUED: 20 MOLLY You look wonderful. LOIS Thanks. And you're so... not yourself. MOLLY (beaming) I know. (gesturing around) What do you think? LOIS (smiling to cover) Why it's... um... uh... CLARK (baiting her) You had a word for it out front. I think you said it was... LOIS (interrupting) Nice! Very nice. As she shoots a bemused Clark a look... TIME CUT TO: 21 INT. BOOKSTORE/CAFE - LATER - DAY 21 The store is empty. Molly, Lois and Clark are in an aisle. Molly holds several crystals in her hand. MOLLY They have amazing healing properties. You can either wear them or meditate with them by putting them on your forehead. LOIS Wouldn't they fall off? CLARK You lie down when you do it. LOIS (covering) I knew that. It's a little new age humor. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 12. 21 CONTINUED: 21 MOLLY (amused) Same old Lois. Still can't admit you don't know everything. LOIS That's not true. Is it Clark? (X) CLARK Uh... actually Lois, we didn't (X) come here to talk about you. (X) Lois gives him a look as Clark quickly changes the subject. CLARK (CONT'D) (to Molly) Lois tells me you used to be a computer engineer. Molly walks down an aisle. They follow MOLLY That's right. I gave it up after the Hawkeye project. The machine (X) that can kill from space. It made (X) me realize the horror technology (X) has become. (X) Clark picks up a copy of Molly's book off a shelf. Unseen by Lois and Molly, he READS THE BOOK at SUPERSPEED through... LOIS Are you serious? Without technology we'd be in the dark ages. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 13. 21 CONTINUED: 2 21 MOLLY Lois, it's killing us. We've got (X) to release its death grip and free (X) the human spirit. (X) LOIS Gee, I feel like I'm supposed to yell 'Amen.' MOLLY Maybe it would help if you read my book. LOIS Sure. Do you have it on tape? As Molly eyes her dubiously... CLARK Ah Molly, I notice you mention your boyfriend's death on the last page, but there aren't any details. Did the Army ever tell you what happened? MOLLY (surprised) You went to end of the book first? CLARK I uh... read a lot of mysteries. It's a bad habit. MOLLY Oh. Well, they said he was installing the trigger system on the satellite when it somehow exploded. (then) They said the blast was so bad there weren't even any remains. LOIS I wonder what they'd say if they knew he was at Fort Truman this morning. MOLLY What?! She hands the photo of Ryan to Molly who eyes it through... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 14. 21 CONTINUED: 3 21 LOIS This was taken during a weapons demonstration. MOLLY (dismissing) This isn't Ryan. LOIS What do you mean it's not Ryan? MOLLY (irritated) It's not Ryan. It looks a little like him, but then he had one of (X) those faces. She hands the photo back to Lois and moves to a shelf with small dropper bottles. MOLLY (CONT'D) (flirtatious) Do you know much about Chinese herbs, Clark? She picks up a bottle. CLARK Well, actually, when I was in China... LOIS Molly, could we get back to Ryan? MOLLY Lois, he's dead. What more do you want? LOIS (getting exasperated) A little more than the military's official story would be... MOLLY It's the only story I know. (to Clark, charming, re: herbs) They say it's supposed to slow down the aging process by calming all the organs of the body. (to Lois, pointed) You might consider trying some, (X) Lois. SMASH CUT TO: --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Pink Rev. 9/26/94 14A. 22 EXT. BOOKSTORE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER 22 As Lois and Clark exit and walk... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 15. 22 CONTINUED: 22 CLARK You two have a very interesting friendship. LOIS It's Ryan. He's the only thing we ever argued about. He was a user and she couldn't see it. CLARK (needling her) Let me guess. And you tried helping her see the light, but in her love struck state, she mistook your sound advice for meddling. Lois shoots him a look. LOIS You think you're so smart. She never used the word meddle. (beat, then) But I'll tell you this. I was right about him then and I don't believe her now. 23 INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY - SIMULTANEOUS 23 Molly's at the window watching Lois and Clark as they walk off. Behind her a man steps into frame and puts his arm around her. It's Ryan. Molly looks up at him, a look of concern an her face and we... DISSOLVE TO: 24 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT #1 24 The door opens and Lois and Clark enter. LOIS I can't believe you actually agree with her! CLARK I didn't say that. All I said was that she's not alone. A lot of people realize there are drawbacks to technology. As Lois crosses into her kitchen... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 16. 24 CONTINUED: 24 LOIS Really. Well, tell me one technological advancement that you'd be willing to give up. CLARK How about cable television? Oh, wait a minute. You said advancement. LOIS What's wrong with cable? Clark, we're talking about five hundred channels. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. CLARK Including the possibility that you will never have to talk with another human being again. LOIS That's not true. First of all, there's always an operator standing by somewhere. As she pours some left over coffee from the pot into a cup and sticks it in the microwave... LOIS (CONT'D) And second, I've gotten to know my cable repairman so well, we exchanged gifts last Christmas. CLARK You're missing the point. Just look at your trio back here. You got money from an ATM. You paid for your gas at the pump. You used a security card to get into your underground parking... you didn't interact with one other human being the whole time. As the microwave dings and she removes her coffee ... LOIS Sometimes that can be a good thing. I'm going to fax an order over to the pizza place. You want something? CLARK How about a delivery boy who's interested in my opinion? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 17. 24 CONTINUED: 2 24 She shoots him a look, then, as she starts writing out her order, she suddenly stops and stares at her handwriting. LOIS Hey, wait a minute. Clark. Do me a favor? My college yearbook's on the top shelf of that closet. Could you get it down for me? CLARK (moving to closet) Why? LOIS Ryan signed it for me. CLARK (opening closet) So? LOIS So. Remember how everyone had to sign in at Fort Truman's front gate? If we can get a copy of the sign-in sheet, maybe we can find the name Ryan signed in under and compare the handwriting. Clark grabs the book, turns to her. CLARK Which would prove he's alive. Very clever. LOIS Don't sound so surprised. Clark opens the yearbook, starts to read the fly leaf. CLARK 'To Stretch: No one swings like you. Love, Teddy.' Stretch? LOIS We were in gymnastics together, okay? He was just trying to be cute. CLARK 'Stretch.' I kinda like it. LOIS And that's the last time you'll use it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 18. 24 CONTINUED: 3 24 She grabs the yearbook from him and flips some pages. LOIS (CONT'D) Here it is. CLARK 'Dear Lois. Eye to eye we've never seen, but friends we will remain. Let's stay in touch, Rye.' LOIS Yeah, right. He didn't like me anymore than I liked him. Everything about this guy was phony. CLARK Even his death. Off her look... DISSOLVE TO: 25 EXT. FORT TRUMAN - DAY - ESTABLISHING (DAY #2) 25 26 INT. COL. FANE'S RECEPTION AREA - DAY 26(X) A uniformed 2ND LIEUTENANT stands next to a fax machine as it spits out a message. The front door opens and Fane (X) enters. COL. FANE (X) Morning. Any messages? 2ND LIEUTENANT On your desk, sir. COL. FANE (X) Any more calls from that Planet reporter? 2ND LIEUTENANT No sir. (indicating machine) But she's faxing over her request to see yesterday's sign-in sheets, as you ordered. The 2nd Lieutenant pulls the finished fax from the machine and hands it to Fane. He studies it a beat, then... (X) COL. FANE (X) If she calls again... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 19. 26 CONTINUED: 26 2ND LIEUTENANT (beleaguered) You mean, _when_ she calls again, sir. COL. FANE Tell her we're having technical problems, we never got this. He crumples the fax, drops it into a wastebasket. COL. FANE (CONT'D) And she'll have to send her next request by certified mail. 2ND LIEUTENANT Yes sir. Fane opens his office door and steps into... 27 INT. FANE'S OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS 27 He closes the door behind him, revealing a uniformed Ryan, without a name tag, concealing himself against the wall. Fane reacts, grimaces. COL. FANE How did you get in here? RYAN Pretending to be dead for a year is a challenge, Chuck. Breaking into (X) your office isn't. Pane moves to the desk, lifts a nameplate reading GENERAL MARSHALL off the desk and drops it into a wastebasket thru... COL. FAKE Well, next time, ask. I'm in charge here now and I expect to be treated with... RYAN You're not going to say respect, are you? Ryan approaches the desk. Fane visibly tightens. RYAN (CONT'D) I'm the reason you're in charge. And I'm the man who's gonna make you rich. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 20. 27 CONTINUED: 27 RYAN (CONT'D) So _I'm_ the one who deserves the respect. Don't forget it. Fane just stares at him. Then... - RYAN (CONT'D) Now, there's a sergeant, I think his name is Cook. Every time I'm in the control room he hovers over me. Reassign him. COL. FANE Ryan I've already transferred everyone who could possibly have recognized you. Cook's a satellite engineer. Where can I put him (X) that wouldn't raise suspicions? RYAN I don't care if he ends up peeling potatoes, he's asking too many questions. I can't take control (X) of the Hawkeye if he's hanging on me like a bad suit. COL. FANE All right, I'll move him. (and then) Speaking of questions, there's a reporter from the Planet poking around. RYAN Lois Lane. COL. FANE (surprised) You know her? RYAN She's one of my biggest fans. Unfortunately, she thinks she saw me on the testing grounds yesterday. COL. FANE She's trying to get a hold of the sign-in sheets. RYAN Probably to cross-check handwriting samples. She always was a little too pushy for my taste. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 21. 27 CONTINUED: 2 27 COL. FANE I'm not sure how much longer I can (X) keep ducking her before she gets suspicious. (X) RYAN (eyes him, then) How did you ever convince anybody you were officer material? As Fane glowers, Ryan moves to a nearby computer. RYAN (CONT'D) Relax Chuck. Once I start the (X) chaos in Metropolis, Lois Lane's (X) going to be too busy to think (X) about us. (X) As he begins to tap in some commands... CUT TO: 28 EXT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 28 Jimmy's across the street, walking, head down, reading a ROCK magazine. He comes to the intersection, stops at the curb. 29 ON TRAFFIC LIGHT 29 RED. Drops to GREEN. 30 ON INTERSECTION 30 Two stopped cars get the GREEN LIGHT and accelerate. 31 ON TRAFFIC LIGHT - OPPOSITE DIRECTION 31 STAYS GREEN. Now all four sides are green! 32 ON JIMMY 32 stepping off the curb, oblivious to a car racing to make the green light, headed right for him. FADE OUT _END OF ACT ONE_ --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 22. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 33 EXT. STREET - DAY - CONTINUOUS 33 Clark approaches the Planet. He glances across the street. 34 HIS POV 34 The speeding car headed right for the unsuspecting Jimmy. 35 ON CLARK 35 He dashes into an alley, then comes out as Superman. 36 IN THE STREET 36 The speeding car is only feet from Jimmy when Superman FLIES into frame, a blue blur, and whisks Jimmy off his feet out of harm's way. 37 ANOTHER ANGLE 37 Superman deposits the shaken Jimmy on the curb, then jumps out of frame. 38 IN THE INTERSECTION 38 Superman lands and SPINS AT SUPERSPEED, arms outstretched, and stops each of four other cars about to collide in the center of the intersection. 39 AT THE CURB 39 Jimmy wipes his arm across his brow. Superman approaches. SUPERMAN Are you all right, Jimmy? JIMMY (breathless) I'd uh... feel better if my (X) breakfast... stopped dancing. (X) Superman pats him on the back then flies off. DISSOLVE TO: --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 23. 40 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY - LATER 40 Lois, Perry, Jimmy and staffers watch a reporter on the TV screens. REPORTER Metropolis Transit Authority reports that all 10,400 traffic lights are stuck on green. There have been several near disasters, but thanks to Superman, no serious injuries. JIMMY You can say that again. REPORTER All available police officers have been put on traffic detail... PERRY Jimmy, why are you standing here watching pictures when you should be out taking them? JIMMY Right chief. I'll get my camera. PERRY That would help. Perry starts for his office as Jimmy exits and Clark approaches holding Molly's book. (X) PERRY (CONT'D) Clark, where have you been? CLARK I was, uh... stuck in traffic. PERRY Well now that you're here, see if you can piece together a story on this mess for the afternoon edition. He exits to his office as Lois and Clark cross to her desk. CLARK Any word on what caused this? LOIS It sounds like sabotage. The Department of Traffic got an anonymous note saying... (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 24. 40 CONTINUED: 40 LOIS (CONT'D) (referring to a notepad) 'Cars are isolating us from each other. Walk among your fellow man.' CLARK (indicating book) (X) Lois, that's a direct quote from Molly's book. Do you think... ? LOIS No. Not Molly. She's an activist but she's the last person who (X) would do something like this. My (X) guess is it's probably some nut who read her book. Lois sits at her desk and taps keys on the computer. CLARK Any luck getting information on Ryan Wiley's death? LOIS Zero. Everything comes back 'classified, access denied.' But I wrote this follow up article on the A.T.A.S... She SHRIEKS, taps her keyboard wildly. LOIS (CONT'D) I just lost my story! 41 ANOTHER ANGLE 41 Perry comes charging out of his office. PERRY Somebody get me M.I.S.! My computer just froze up. LOIS So did mine. PERRY We're a half-hour from deadline! Somebody call the Systems Operator! Never mind, I'll do it. He picks up Lois' phone, listens, hits another button, slams it down. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Pink Rev. 9/26/94 25. 41 CONTINUED: 41 PERRY (CONT'D) It's dead! Jimmy rushes in from the elevators with his camera and an 8x10 piece of paper. JIMMY Chief! PERRY I thought I told you to get some pictures! JIMMY The guard downstairs found this taped to the lobby door. He hands it to Perry. Lois and Clark read over his shoulder. PERRY (reading) 'The phones of Metropolis are mute, its computers silenced. We have released the death grip of technology and freed the human spirit.' Lois opens a drawer in her desk and pulls out her yearbook, thru... PERRY (CONT'D) What kind of sophomoric claptrap is this? LOIS (to Clark) It's exactly the claptrap Molly was ranting about yesterday. CLARK Looks like Molly's graduated from activist to terrorist. LOIS I guess. There's nothing Molly (X) couldn't do with a computer system. PERRY (re: note) You know who wrote this? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 26. 41 CONTINUED: 2 41 LOIS Yeah. But not as well as I thought. PERRY Well what are you two standing here for? Get on it. As Clark and Lois exit... PERRY (CONT'D) Okay everybody, listen up. We may have lost the battle, but not the war. We've still got a paper to put out. JIMMY But Chief, we're fully computerized. PERRY Olsen, you're young, so I'll excuse that. Believe it or not, there was a Daily Planet before there were computers. JIMMY But there's no wire service, or faxes... PERRY So you pound the pavement, just like the old days. First rule of journalism: publish or perish! (to Staffers) Kathy, rustle up some typewriters! Virgil, see if that old linotype machine down in the basement still works! And Jimmy... I want you to stick with me like glue. You're about to learn what it's like to be a real newspaper man. As an unsure Jimmy follows Perry into his office... CUT TO: 42 OMITTED 42 --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 27. 43 INT. GREENHOUSE BOOKSTORE - DAY 43 Lois and Clark enter to discover SIX PEOPLE of various age and dress sit on the floor CHANTING, 'Om Mah-knee paad mee hun' to a tape playing on a small recorder on the floor. Lois looks skeptically at Clark. CLARK Sounds like some kind of Buddhist chant. What next? She looks around. No sign of Molly. She leans down to one of the chanters. LOIS Excuse me. Is Molly here? She's ignored. They all keep chanting. She tries another chanter. LOIS (CONT'D) Excuse me. Have you seen Molly? (she's ignored; tries another) Excuse me. I'm looking for Molly Flynn. (X) Again she's ignored. Frustrated she hits the button on the tape player, stopping it. They stop chanting. A nervous CHANTER, tie askew and sleeves rolled up turns on her. CHANTER Hey! What are you doing!? We're chanting here! LOIS I just wondered if any of you have seen Molly Flynn? (X) CHANTER No! We haven't! LOIS Who let you in? CHANTER We have a key, okay!? As he sits back in the circle... LOIS Um... just what is it you chant for? CHANTER Inner peace and brotherhood! Now go away! (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 28. 43 CONTINUED: 43 He hits the tape and they all start again. Lois and Clark walk off toward the back of the store. CLARK He must be new to the group. They approach the door that leads into the area behind the store. The sign says 'Private.' Lois knocks, waits, no answer. She looks to Clark then turns the knob. It opens. They step inside. 44 INT. ONE ROOM APARTMENT - DAY - CONTINUOUS 44 A small double bed, sink, tv, chair, dresser. Lois and Clark enter and look around. Lois eyes a small refrigerator. LOIS I guess anti-technology stops at giving up your refrigerator. Lois moves to a small closet as Clark lingers near the TV. LOIS (CONT'D) Her clothes are all gone. Big surprise. Clark opens the fridge. CLARK Not much in here. Yogurt, tofu, and a couple of cans of Golden Springs beer. (X) Lois rushes to the fridge, knocking Clark aside, and pulls a can of beer from the fridge. CLARK Gee, Lois, if you're thirsty you could have just asked me. LOIS Clark this isn't just any beer! CLARK I know. It goes with sun and good times. LOIS (beat) No! It was Ryan's favorite beer. (X) You have to special order it. And Molly doesn't drink. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 29. 44 CONTINUED: 44 CLARK You think she was hiding him here? (X) LOIS And we scared the off. I knew it (X) was him in that photo! They're pulling these stunts together. CLARK Yeah. But what was he doing at Fort Truman? (X) LOIS I don't know. But let's get back to the Planet and see if we can find out who headed the investigation of his death. I bet they'd make a very interesting interview Clark's SUPERHEARING suddenly picks up.. MAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Somebody help! My wife's having a baby! CLARK Uh... I'll catch up with you later. I uh... want to talk to some of these chanters. They might know something. LOIS See if they know a chant for missing persons. CUT TO: 45 EXT. FORT TRUMAN - DAY 45 A worried Fane exits his office, starts across the bass when an anxious Ryan strides up to him. RYAN Did you hear anything yet? Fane nervously glances at passing soldiers. COL. FANE For God's sake, salute me. I'm your, superior officer. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 30. 45 CONTINUED: 45 RYAN Chuck, there's nothing about you (X) that's superior. COL. FANE Ryan, please. People will notice! A beat, then Ryan gives him a halfhearted salute. Fane snaps a return. RYAN So? Fane looks around then pulls Ryan behind a building. COL. FANE I made the offer to the Mayor. It's her call whether she wants our troops or not. RYAN Well, she'd better decide by noon tomorrow. That's when the Hawkeye will be in range for me to override its tracking systems. COL. FANE Ryan, the Mayor's not going to ask for troops unless the city's really out of control! And it's not yet! RYAN Then tonight, we're just going to (X) have to help it along. CUT TO: 46 EXT. CITY STREET - DAY 46 A MAN, late 20's, dials a pay phone. In the background, a crowd's gathered around a car parked haphazardly at the curb. The man angrily slams the phone down. 47 ANOTHER ANGLE 47 The man rushes towards the car. As he pushes his way through the crowd... MAN The phone's are still dead! I can't get an ambulance... The man's stopped short by the sight of... --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 31. 48 SUPERMAN 48 kneeling at the open rear passenger door. We can just make out the form of a woman propped up in the back seat. There's suddenly the SOUND of a BABY'S CRY and Superman slowly rises, holding a wrapped bundle in his arms. The crowd APPLAUDS as Superman hands the baby to the man. SUPERMAN Not how you planned it I'm sure, but still the same result. As the man stares open mouthed at the newborn... SUPERMAN (CONT'D) Take your daughter and get in the car. I'm gonna fly all of you to the hospital. 48A INT. CAR - DAY - CONTINUOUS 48A The man gets in behind the wheel. As he pulls the shoulder harness around his baby and himself... MAN I can't believe it. My daughter was delivered by Superman... SUPERMAN (O.S.) Everyone buckled in? MAN Ready when you are, Superman. As he car is SLOWLY LIFTED OUT OF FRAME... 48B EXT. STREET - DAY - CONTINUOUS 48B As the crowd looks up and reacts to the shadow of the car passing over... MAN (O.S.) Honey? I just had this great idea for a name... WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Don't even think it. DISSOLVE TO: 49 OMITTED 49 --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 32. 50 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 50 A hotbed of activity except for the obvious absence of the sounds of technology. NO PHONE RINGING, FAX BEEPING, etc. Perry steps out of his office, grabs a passing staffers PERRY Tell the sports department I'm going to need their copy two hours sooner for paste up. The staffer nods, moves off. As Perry moves across the bullpen... PERRY (CONT'D) (loudly) Type faster people. I don't have a computer to help me edit. He approaches Lois' desk. She's typing at an old Underwood. As she applies whiteout to a mistake... PERRY (CONT'D) Look at that. I haven't seen whiteout in I don't know how long. Boy, that brings back a lot of memories. Mainly about mistakes. She shoots him a look. As she unjams some stuck keys ... LOIS Perry, it's hard enough to re-create my story on this antique without feeling like my teacher's standing over my shoulder. PERRY (sympathetically) Goin' through technology withdrawal, aren't you honey? As she nods and lets out a big sigh, Jimmy approaches, struggling with an old fashioned SHORT WAVE RADIO, complete with microphone and antenna. JIMMY Where do you want this, chief? (it starts to slip) Hopefully somewhere close ... PERRY My office. As Jimmy nods and heads O.S .... LOIS Is that a short wave radio? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 33. 50 CONTINUED: 50 PERRY Sure is. Battery powered. Used to be a hobby of mine. Until Alice decided I was talking too much to it and not enough to her. LOIS Could you get Washington on that? PERRY I could get Paris if I wanted to. Unfortunately, I'd have to talk to the French. LOIS Perry, I need to find out who investigated Ryan Wiley's supposed death. Do you know anyone in Washington who could find that out? PERRY Sure. Stormin' Norman. LOIS Schwarzkopf? PERRY Haberstetzer. Retired Admiral. Stormin' Norman's his handle. LOIS Do you think held mind looking into it for me? PERRY He'd love it. Give him something to do. There's only so much 'Battleship' a man can play. ANDY (O.S.) (loudly) Perry! That you?! Startled, Perry and Lois turn to see ANDY TUCKER, late sixties, burly, big and LOUD, immaculately dressed in suit and tie. PERRY Andy? (extends his hand) Thanks for coming by. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 34. 50 CONTINUED: 2 50 ANDY (loudly) Thanks for asking me! I thought just about everyone had forgotten about old Andy! Lois casually sticks a finger in the ear closest to Andy, trying to save her hearing. PERRY Oh, uh... (loudly) Andy Tucker, this is Lois Lane! ANDY Of course! You're one of the fourteen pointers! LOIS I beg your pardon? ANDY What'd she say?! PERRY In the old days, fourteen pointer was slang for a reporter. Andy's the only pressman I could find who knows how to run the old linotype. As Jimmy reappears... PERRY (CONT'D) Olsen, this is Andy Tucker. Take him down to the press room, let him take a look at the linotype. JIMMY Sure. Follow me. ANDY What!? PERRY You gotta talk loud son. Twenty years running linotype machines affected his hearing. JIMMY Follow me! ANDY (to Lois) Nice meeting you! (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 35. 50 CONTINUED: 3 50 LOIS You too. As Jimmy leads him away... ANDY (to Jimmy) What'd she say?! JIMMY You too! ANDY Me too what?! As they disappear off screen Perry pulls her story from her typewriter. PERRY Is this ready? LOIS Let's just say it's not going to get any better. Perry pulls out a red pen, starts to proof it right there. Lois watches uncomfortably as Perry marks a word. LOIS (CONT'D) I never realized how much I use spell check before... Perry stops and looks at her. PERRY Lois, you look tired. Why don't (X) you go on home and get some rest. We're covered here. If I get through to Stormin' Normin, I'll send a runner to your place. LOIS Thanks, Perry. Lois waves her thanks. As she grabs her purse... DISSOLVE TO: 51 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT #2 51 The door opens and Lois enters, her purse slung over her shoulder, carrying two bags of groceries. She flips on the light, closes the door, then notices an OPEN WINDOW across the room. A look of confusion crosses her face and she lays the grocery bags down. --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 36. 52 ANOTHER ANGLE 52 As she nears the open window, the LIGHTS suddenly GO OUT across the city. Everything's in darkness. The only illumination is the moonlight coming in through the open window. As a cacophony of protests start filtering up from the street, Lois slowly moves to the window and looks out. Suddenly a FIGURE in a DRESS rushes her from the blackness of the apartment and grabs her. Lois struggles with the figure an instant before she's shoved out the window. LOIS Noooo! 53 EXT. NIGHT SKY - ON LOIS 53 falling, flailing by the light of the moon, her purse still hanging from her shoulder. FADE OUT _END OF ACT TWO_ --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 37. _ACT THREE_ FADE IN: 54 EXT. NIGHT SKY - CONTINUOUS 54 Lois falls a few floors, then yanks her purse from her shoulder and SNAGS a flagpole jutting from the building with the strap. Lois quickly wraps her legs around the pole and holds on for dear life, breathing heavily. LOIS Uh... hello... anybody? She tries pulling herself up on the pole, but it bends under her weight. Suddenly Superman floats into frame beside her. SUPERMAN I know you probably have everything under control, but since I'm here... LOIS Well... I guess... if you're not doing anything... He gently untangles Lois from the pole and floats upwards with her. 55 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER 55 Superman floats in through the open window with Lois. As he sets her gently down on the floor... LOIS Thanks. SUPERMAN Want to tell me what happened? LOIS Somebody pushed me out the window. She indicates her open apartment door. LOIS (CONT'D) But it looks like they're gone. SUPERMAN Stay here. He SUPERSPEEDS out of the apartment. A beat, then Lois notices something on the floor reflecting the moonlight. She reaches down and lifts a CHARM off the carpet. As she studies it with dismay, Superman SUPERSPEEDS back in. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 38. 55 CONTINUED: 55 SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I didn't see anyone. LOIS Doesn't matter. I know who it was. She shows the charm to Superman. LOIS (CONT'D) I gave this charm to an old college friend. (then) I guess we're not friends anymore. WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Somebody help! They're stealing my car! LOIS Go ahead. (then) I'll be fine. Really. Superman nods, moves off screen toward her window. Lois watches him leave. We hear the WHOOSH, then HOLD ON her pensive look as we... DISSOLVE TO: 56 INT. DAILY PLANET - NIGHT 56 The news room is lit by COLEMAN LANTERNS. Staffers carry flashlights. Perry-stands near a desk, reading a paste-up, wearing a CONSTRUCTION HELMET WITH A FLASHLIGHT taped around it. He looks up as Lois enters from THE STAIRWELL, carrying a bag of groceries. PERRY Lois! I thought you went home for the night. She puts the bag down as Jimmy approaches. LOIS I figured you'd be pulling an all nighter, so I thought I'd bring some goodies. JIMMY (rummaging through bags) Chocolate chip cookies, corn chips, licorice... no double fudge crunch bars? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Pink Rev. 9/26/94 39. 56 CONTINUED: 56 LOIS I'm hoarding those for myself. Jimmy shrugs, takes out a cookie bag thru... PERRY What's the city like out there? LOIS It's eerie. Every soldier from Fort Truman must be on the street. (X) It's like we're under siege. Do we know what caused the blackout? PERRY Looks like your friend again. Power Company got a note that said something about electricity being the evil handmaiden of technology. Clark enters, looking tired. PERRY (CONT'D) Kent! Where have you been? CLARK (yawning) I was uh... covering Superman, chief. He's been out all night saving the day. There's a beat as Lois, Perry and Jimmy eye him, then Andy approaches, hands and arms covered in ink, smudges on his forehead. He carries a tabloid sized newspaper and hands it to Perry. ANDY (loudly) Here's the first copy, Perry! Hot off the press! 57 INSERT - NEWSPAPER 57 A smaller, TABLOID STYLE, black and white version of the Planet. A headline reads "Havoc in the City." 58 RESUME - SCENE 58 CLARK You pulled off a miracle, chief. PERRY Well, I couldn't do it alone. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 40. 58 CONTINUED: 58 LOIS (modestly) Aw, chief... PERRY (patting Andy's back) Andy, you're the best. ANDY It's okay! I don't need a rest! JIMMY (eyeing the paper) I don't know. Kinda looks like one of those papers that say stuff like 'I had Elvis' Alien Love Child.' PERRY (to Jimmy) Remember son... what looks like a (X) plow horse might run like a (X) thoroughbred. (X) ANDY What'd you say?! (X) PERRY Looks great, Andy! (X) ANDY I know it's late! You wanna run (X) it?! (X) VOICE (O.S) Chief? Someone's calling for you on the short wave. Perry hands the paper to Andy. PERRY Get down to the pressroom and (X) print like hell! Sun-up's around the corner! Jimmy, go with him. He's gonna need a lot of help. JIMMY (right in Andy's ear) (X) C'mon! I'll give you a hand! (X) As Andy and Jimmy exit.. . ANDY What are you yelling for?! (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 40A. 58 CONTINUED: 2 58 PERRY By God, we're going to be the only paper in this town to have a morning edition! As Perry exits toward his office... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 41. 58 CONTINUED: 2 58 CLARK (to Lois) Superman told me what happened at your apartment. Are you okay? LOIS (shrugging it off) I'm fine. So an old friend tried to kill me. These things happen. (off his look) okay, so they happen to me. (and then) I can't believe Molly's behind this. She's just not capable of terrorism and murder. CLARK People can have two sides to their personalities. (to himself) Believe me, I know. Perry enters, jazzed. PERRY Lois! The calvary came through. That was Stormin' Norman on the shortwave. CLARK Swartzkopf? LOIS Haberstetzer. I'll explain later. PERRY He got the name of the officer who investigated Ryan Wiley's alleged death. (pointed) One Colonel Charles Fane. (X) LOIS Fane?! (X) CLARK No wonder he's been ducking us. It'd be hard to explain how a man you swore was dead is walking around your base! LOIS I wonder if they're all in this together. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 42. 58 CONTINUED: 3 58 CLARK But why paralyze the city? PERRY Unless... y'know it's hard to spot a storm someplace else when there's trouble brewin' at home. Lois and Clark exchange a look. CLARK Are you saying that everything that's going on in Metropolis is just a diversion? PERRY I don't know. But my gut says there's something pretty coincidental about a man takin' over a base and then emptyin' it out twenty four hours later. CLARK A man who only took over because General Marshall was killed. (X) LOIS There's one way to find out what's going on. We've got to get on that base. CLARK Lois, if Fane emptied Fort Truman (X) for a reason they're not just going to let us drive on with a smile. A look crosses Lois' face, then... LOIS Meet me out front in ten minutes. As she hurries for the exit... PERRY I worry when she gets that look in her eye. CUT TO: 59 EXT. DAILY PLANET - NIGHT 59 Soldiers and several military vehicles are in evidence as Clark comes out the revolving doors and walks to the curb. He looks around, then hears the sound of SQUEALING TIRES. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 43. 59 CONTINUED: 59 An army jeep comes barreling around the corner and SCREECHES to a stop in front of him. Lois, wearing a fatigue hat, is behind the wheel. LOIS Hurry up! Get in! Clarks runs to the passenger side and hops in thru... CLARK You stole a jeep?! LOIS I didn't steal it. I'm returning it to the base for them. Three soldiers come running down the street behind them. SOLDIER'S VOICE Hey! Bring that jeep back! LOIS (pulling away) Here. Put these on. She tosses him a set of dress khaki's. As the jeep jack-rabbits down the street... CLARK (eyeing uniforms) Where did you get?... never mind. I don't want to know. CUT TO: 60 FORT TRUMAN - GUARD GATE - DAWN - DAY #3 60 Lois and Clark, in uniforms, drive to the GUARD GATE. Lois salutes with her left hand as the Guard waves them through. 61 ON GUARD 61 A suspicious look crosses his face, reaches for a phone ... 62 IN JEEP - DAY - MOVING 62 CLARK You just saluted with the wrong hand. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 44. 62 CONTINUED: 62 LOIS With everything that's going on I doubt he noticed. (looking around) Boy, there's hardly a soldier in sight. 63 INT. COL. FANE'S OFFICE - DAY - MINUTES LATER 63(X) Deserted. The outer door opens. Lois and Clark enter and approach the empty front desk. CLARK (disappointed) Great. No one's here. LOIS Fane must be around somewhere. (X) The soldiers outside the Planet said he stayed on the base. CLARK (eyeing lights) They must have their own generators. LOIS (near fax machine) Look at this. They said their fax machine wasn't working. (stroking the machine) It's true. You don't know what you've got til it's gone. She eyes a letter in the machine waiting to be faxed. Her eyes go wide, then she abruptly yanks it from the machine. LOIS (CONT'D) Clark! Look at this! CLARK (reading) To the Joint Chiefs. Fort Truman has just been destroyed. The Hawkeye Satellite is now under our control. Like my book says. 'Technology is killing us. Literally.' When's this set to be sent? LOIS (eyeing fax machine) The timer's set for nine a.m. That's fifteen minutes from now. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 45. 63 CONTINUED: 63 CLARK Perry was right. Metropolis is just a diversion. They killed General Marshall so they could (X) empty the base and hi-jack the satellite without interference. LOIS Clark, there are hundreds of dependents on this base. They'll never get out in time. CLARK Let's get to the command center. Maybe there's somebody who could jam their transmissions. 64 EXT. COL. FANE'S OFFICE BUILDING - DAY - CONTINUOUS 64(X) Lois and Clark come running outside, then stop. CLARK Any idea where that command center's located? LOIS No. And there's never a soldier around when you need one. Try those buildings over there. I'll go this way. As Lois disappears around the building, Clark starts to loosen his tie (to change into Superman) when a MILITARY SIDEARM comes into frame and pokes into his back. Clark freezes. 65 ANOTHER ANGLE REVEALS 65 Fane holding the gun. Two armed soldiers flank him. (X) COL. FANE (X) I guess you didn't know trespassing on a military facility is a federal offense. (to soldiers) Put him in the stockade. As the soldiers unshoulder their rifles we... FADE OUT _END OF ACT THREE_ --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 46. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 66 INT. STOCKADE - DAY 66 The soldiers march Clark toward a holding cell, rifles trained on him CLARK Guys, you're making a big mistake. Colonel Fane's planning to blow up the entire base. SOLDIER Is that the best you can do? Get in. CLARK Look, my name is Clark Kent. I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet. SOLDIER So? In case you hadn't heard, the military and the media aren't exactly best of friends. CUT TO 67 EXT. HAWKEYE COMMAND CENTER - DAY 67 Lois rushes up to a door. Over it is a sign reading 'Hawkeye Command Center.' She pulls open a heavy security door and rushes inside/ 68 INT. HAWKEYE COMMAND CENTER ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS 68 A high-tech command center. Deserted except for Molly, sitting in a swivel chair, her arms behind her. Off Lois' stunned expression... MOLLY Lois! LOIS Surprised to see me alive? MOLLY What are you doing in that uniform? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 47. 68 CONTINUED: 68 LOIS Why'd _you_ try to kill me last night? MOLLY Kill you?! LOIS Where's your psycho boyfriend? (X) MOLLY I have no idea. He kidnaped me! She swivels in her chair revealing her hands are bound. MOLLY (CONT'D) I've been locked in here the past twenty four hours! LOIS (rushing to untie her) Oh my God, Molly MOLLY He's going to hi-jack the Hawkeye LOIS I know. I thought you were (X) working with him. MOLLY Nice to know you think so much of me. LOIS Well, you lied to me about him being dead. How do you explain that? MOLLY I thought he _was_ dead! Until (X) he showed up at my door and told (X) me he faked his death. He said (X) he'd stumbled onto military (X) secrets and the Army was out to (X) kill him. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 48.-48a. 68 CONTINUED: 2 68 As she finishes untying Molly... LOIS And you fell for that? MOLLY Don't start with me, Lois! The door opens, revealing Ryan and Fane. Ryan carries a briefcase. RYAN Well, isn't this a surprising reunion? I thought you fell out a window. Lois. LOIS You mean pushed out... by a man who likes to dress up like his girlfriend. Lois charges at Ryan but Fane pulls his sidearm stopping her. COL. FANE Don't... don't make me use this. RYAN (needling) Ooh, Chuck. That sounded so (X) menacing (heads to bank of (X) computers) I'd love to stay and chat Lois, (X) but I've got a satellite to hijack. LOIS Death must have affected your brain cells. How are you going to get all this equipment out of here in ten minutes? He begins to remove a motherboard from a computer. RYAN Don't have to. I'm using the mobile remote system. You remember that, don't you, Mol? MOLLY I'm sorry I ever designed it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 49. 68 CONTINUED: 3 68 RYAN Spoken like a true anti-technology queen. LOIS It's people like you she's against. Not technology. MOLLY Actually, Lois, I am against technology. LOIS Molly, don't be ridiculous... As he slips the motherboard into his briefcase... RYAN Ladies, ladies. You've got ten minutes to live. Don't waste it arguing. LOIS What are you going to do? Use the (X) satellite to blackmail governments (X) so you can feel like the big man (X) you never were? RYAN (calmly charming) Oh, we're getting catty. But you're right. All done in the name of the great anti-tech author Molly Flynn. LOIS And you think that's going to (X) work? RYAN Of course. They'll be looking for (X) Molly but she... and you... are about to disappear without a trace. And they'll never look for me, because I'm already dead. As he and Fane had for the door... MOLLY (venomous) You can't leave us here! CONTINUED: --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 50. 68 CONTINUED: 5 68 RYAN You can watch it all happen on (X) that computer screen. When the (X) cross hairs are directly over this (X) command center... poof. Don't (X) worry. You'll never know what hit you. They exit, locking the big steel security door behind them. Lois runs to the door. It's sealed shut. As Molly hurries to the computer bank... LOIS Can you stop it?! MOLLY I don't know. As Molly starts to disassemble another computer... CUT TO: 69 INT. STOCKADE - DAY 69 As the guards push Clark into a cell... SOLDIER Get in. CLARK I'm telling you, Fane's hijacking the Hawkeye satellite. There's not a lot of time before this base is destroyed. SOLDIER Sure pal. Next you're gonna tell me you're Superman and you have to save the day. The soldiers laugh as they slam the doors on him then walk off. Now alone, Clark floats up to the small barred window at the top of the cell. He grabs the bars and spreads them apart, then rips open his shirt. CUT TO: 70 INT. HAWKEYE COMPUTER COMMAND CENTER - DAY 70 As Molly withdraws the motherboard from the computer... (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 51.-51A. 70 CONTINUED: 70 LOIS What are you doing? MOLLY Replacing the motherboard he took with this one. Pray it's (X) compatible. LOIS If it is, can you stop it? (X) MOLLY Who knows!? But I don't know what else to try! LOIS Hey, there's no reason to get snippy at me. _I_ wasn't the one who dated the psycho. As she hurries to install it in the computer Ryan cannibalized... MOLLY Lois. In what may be our last minutes together on earth, is this really what you want to talk about?! LOIS Well... just once I'd like for you to agree with me about Ryan. MOLLY Look, he was cute, we had a lot in common, we fell in love. How'd I (X) know he'd turn out to be a psycho?! She starts typing in commands. LOIS So you admit it! MOLLY Okay, I admit it! And we're still going to die so what good does it do!!? LOIS Well, _I_ feel a little better. MOLLY (facetious) Great. Lois has no comeback as Molly continues to bang the keyboard, then checks the screen. --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Pink Rev. 9/26/94 52. 71 CLOSE ON SCREEN 71 A graphic depiction of the base with high tech cross hairs moving over it. The edge of the base appears on the right side of the screen. LOIS (O.S.) There's the base! 72 RESUME SCENE 72 MOLLY I can see that! (then) You know what bugs _me_? LOIS (innocent) About me? MOLLY Yes about you! It bugged me when my best friend dropped out of my life over my boyfriend. LOIS What was I supposed to do? I hated him, you ignored me and that was that. MOLLY A real friend would have respected my feelings and kept our relationship alive. But I guess that would require someone who's not judgmental and self-absorbed. (X) On Lois' exasperated expression... CUT TO: 73 EXT. SUPERMAN - DAY - FLYING 73 over the Army base. He spots something and dips out of frame. CUT TO: 74 CLOSE ON - COMPUTER SCREEN 74 The graphic image of the command center is approaching dead center in the cross hairs. --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Green Rev. 9/27/94 53. 75 PULL BACK TO REVEAL 75 Molly feverishly working at the computer. She suddenly stops. LOIS Why are you stopping!? MOLLY (defeated) Ryan made the file read-only. LOIS Read-only? So you can't override it? So we're basically... so this is... MOLLY it. They look at each other a beat. As they start to hug... a loud Crash interrupts and the security door is RIPPED FROM IT'S HINGES. Superman appears. LOIS Superman! The Hawkeye's going to (X) blow up the base! We can't stop it from here! (X) He turns and rushes out. CUT TO: 76 EXT. COMMAND CENTER 76 Superman darts out into the daylight and looks into the sky. 77 HIS SUPERVISION POV 77 The Hawkeye Satellite floats ominously in space. 78 ON SUPERMAN 78 A leap and he's... out of frame. CUT TO: 79 EXT. SPACE 79 Out of the blackness a blue streak slows as Superman appears and approaches the edge of the huge dish-like Hawkeye. He grabs it by the rim and struggles to change its rotation. --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 54. 80 INT. COMMAND CENTER 80 Lois and Molly watch the computer screen. The cross hairs are a fraction of an inch from dead center on their building. 81 EXT. SPACE 81 Using al his strength, Superman finally gets the satellite to rotate just as a BLUE BEAM SHOOTS from its center, firing harmlessly off into space. 82 INT. COMPUTER BUILDING 82 Lois and Molly watch the computer screen, the cross hairs now focused on the Milky Way. They collapse against the control table in relief. MOLLY Lois, I'm sorry. LOIS (X) Me too. Life threatening (X) situations don't always bring out (X) the best in me. (X) MOLLY (X) I've missed you. (X) LOIS (X) I've missed _you._ I can't believe (X) we let a man come between us. (X) MOLLY Me neither. I haven't met the man yet who was worth giving up a good friend for. They break the hug. They return to the screen. MOLLY (CONT'D) Then again, I've never met Superman. I wonder what he's be like on a date? LOIS You and me both. Molly notices Lois' dreamy look, and smiles. DISSOLVE TO: --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 55. 83 EXT. MILITARY JEEP - DAY - SECONDS LATER 83 Fane drives, Ryan stares down at the remote control unit on his lap. Concern crosses his face. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Yellow Rev. 9/27/94 55. 83 CONTINUED: 83 RYAN Something's wrong... (tapping keys) The Hawkeye's facing the wrong way! Suddenly... 84 ANOTHER ANGLE INCLUDES SUPERMAN 84 pulling up alongside the moving jeep in a SITTING POSITION, as if he were behind the wheel of a car. SUPERMAN Let's see... satellite hijacking, attempted murder, terrorism and speeding... I'm going to have to ask you to pull over. As Ryan and Fane stare open mouthed... (X) SUPERMAN (CONT'D) (to Fane) (X) This is _not_ going to look good at promotion time. As the defeated men react... DISSOLVE TO: 85 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 85 Lois and Clark, still in uniform, enter from the stairwell. LOIS Clark, do you think I'm judgmental? CLARK No... not really. LOIS Am I self-absorbed? CLARK No... not often. They start down the ramp... LOIS Do you think I always have to be right? (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 56. 85 CONTINUED: 85 CLARK Well... not always. Lois, what's this all about? LOIS It's just something Molly said... (and then) Do you think I'm a good friend? CLARK I think you're a great friend. LOIS (beaming) Thank you. CLARK Although you do have your quirks. As they reach her desk... LOIS (defensive) I like my quirks. They make me unique. CLARK Oh, you're unique all right. She shoots him a look as Perry approaches. PERRY Hey, I just got off the shortwave with Stormin' Norman. I hear you two held down the fort. Nice work. LOIS Thanks Perry. PERRY How's your old friend? LOIS Molly? She has a lot to work through, but she'll be fine. I told her we'd talk in a few days... (to Clark) ...in person. Clark smiles at her, then... CLARK Where's Jimmy? Perry turns and indicates his office. --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) Goldenrod Rev. 9/28/94 55. 86 THEIR POV 86 Jimmy's fast asleep on Perry's couch. 87 RESUME SCENE 87 PERRY He's got the heart to be a real newsman, just lacks the stamina. Suddenly the power surges back on. As the light and computers flicker on... PERRY (CONT'D) All right! Looks like we'll be able to run an Extra edition! (to Lois and Clark) And we're leading with your story. (looks toward his office, then) I hate to do this. (exiting to office) Jimmy! Wake up! As Lois flops in her chair. LOIS I guess it'll take more than a few (X) terrorists to bring down this paper. CLARK (sits on her desk) With Perry and Jimmy on board? Definitely. LOIS And you too. CLARK Thanks. Clark heads to his desk... LOIS Notice I didn't say anything about myself? CLARK I did. LOIS But _you_ could say something. (CONTINUED) --page break-- OPERATION BLACKOUT (#6) FULL Blue Rev. 9/23/94 58. 87 CONTINUED: 87 CLARK I could. Clark's impish smile says it all and we... FADE OUT _THE END_