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) * and (X) used in script probably mean "this line changed from previous version" Notes: Cover: "A BOLT FROM THE BLUE", Written by Kathy McCormick, (and) Directed by Philip J. Sgriccia in larger, bold script; WARNER BROS. TELEVISION is in an arial-type script; the rest of the document is in Courier 10 Cover: while it indicates "FULL Blue", there are pages of other, later revision colors in my copy, too Notes: "Locations" Page: "Activites Area" spelled wrong in original Page 19.: RM speaking, mid page: "whole whole lot of money." "whole whole" is in original (may not be wrong) Page 26.: just below midpage "I'm a scientist. I can duplicaate" duplicate is spelled incorrectly in original --page break-- [Logo. See logo.bmp or logo.jpg] "A BOLT FROM THE BLUE" EPISODE EIGHT Prod. #456458 Written by Kathy McCormick Directed by Philip J. Sgriccia WARNER BROS. TELEVISION _Production Draft_: October 10, 1994 FULL Blue 10/17/94 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_A Bolt from the Blue_" Blue Rev. 10/17/94 _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE PERRY WHITE JIMMY OLSEN MARTHA KENT JONATHAN KENT _______________________________________________________________ WILLIAM W.W. WALDECKER/RESPLENDENT MAN GRETCHEN KELLY WANDAMAE WALDECKER ALLEGRA VENNUM DISTRAUGHT WOMAN * COP #1 * * MATRON --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_A Bolt from the Blue_" Blue Rev. 10/17/94 _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Daily Planet Perpetual Pines Cemetery Newsroom Van Dyne Crypt Van Dyne Crypt Metropolis Streets Underground Bunker Sky * Burning Building Lois' Apartment Ledge #1 Tattoo Parlor Ledge #2 Happy Hollow Rest Home * Happy Hollow Rest Home * Activites Area * Grove of Trees * Clark's Apartment * Kent House * --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_A Bolt from the Blue_" Blue Rev. 10/17/94 _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 - 6 NIGHT 1 SC. 7 - 22 DAY 2 * SC. 23 - 26 NIGHT 2 * SC. 27 OMITTED SC. 28 - 32 DAY 3 * SC. 33 - 43 NIGHT 3 SC. 44 - 58 DAY 4 SC. 59 - 73 NIGHT 4 SC. 74 DAY 5 * --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "A Bolt from the Blue" _TEASER_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. PERPETUAL PINES CEMETERY - NIGHT #1 1 It's a dark night, and it's about to be a stormy night. Distant THUNDER RUMBLES, distant lightning crackles. Well, not so distant, maybe, and it's moving this way. It's spooky here. Shadows flit across tombstones. Mausoleums loom. Moonlight teases the darkness but never quite penetrates the deepest gloom. LOIS and CLARK appear. They're sneaking, they're skulking, they're not supposed to be here. Lois is fine with this, Clark isn't. Both talking softly: (X) CLARK I think I need for you to explain (X) this to me again. Mrs. Cox called (X) you from prison... (X) LOIS She said, and I quote, 'If you (X) want to know what happened to Lex (X) Luthor, try a night visit to (X) Perpetual Pines Cemetery.' So (X) here we are. Don't you care what (X) happened to Lex? (X) Clark opens his mouth to speak, but: (X) LOIS (CONT'D) Shhh! She has put an arm out and stopped him. They listen. FOOTSTEPS, CRUNCHING through leaves, somewhere nearby. As Lois peers futilely into the murk, Clark, behind her, lowers his glasses and SUPERSEES through a mausoleum: The footsteps belong to a patrolling security guard. CLARK It's a guard. She turns her head to give him a look. He slides the glasses back up. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 2. 1 CONTINUED: 1 LOIS For somebody who wears glasses, your eyesight sure is -- He pulls her into deep shadow. He points. She looks. The guard appears, headed this way. Lois ducks down behind a tombstone, motions Clark to do the same, but something has caught his attention. He does duck behind another tombstone, where he uses his SUPERSIGHT to zero in on: 2 EXT. ANOTHER PART OF THE CEMETERY - NIGHT 2 The storm clouds, the lightning, the THUNDER are getting closer all the time. We're near an oversized tombstone, evidently marking the dual grave of a departed husband and wife. The husband's name -- Walter W. W. Waldecker -- is kind of scrunched up on one side of the stone; the wife's name -- Mae August Waldecker -- takes up most of the room. The death dates tell us that Mrs. Waldecker died recently, outliving poor Mr. Waldecker by some years. Standing at the foot of the grave is a little guy in his thirties -- WILLIAM WALLACE WEBSTER WALDECKER, only son of the deceased. Little Will, as he's known, is holding a handgun loosely at his side; he's come here to have a final conversation with his mother. He has a Southern accent, and he talks real fast: LITTLE WILL Well, Mama, I reckon you were right about me all along, everything I touch just seems to turn to cow pies. It's not like I'm not used to it 'cause God knows I am by now after a whole entire lifetime of it, and as long as it's just me I don't mind, really I don't, but, Mama, I went and lost all the money and now I can't afford to keep Sister in the rest home past the (X) end of the month, and being as how I am just worthless as a one-legged bird dog, well... 3 CLOSE ON THE GUN IN HIS HAND 3 There's a tattoo on the back of his hand, distinctive enough to be recognized when we see it again. He begins to raise the gun. 4 WIDER 4 As Little Will raises the gun toward his head, there's a WHOOSH, and Superman appears. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 3. 4 CONTINUED: 4 At the moment he grabs the gun in Little Willis hand, a ferocious BOLT OF LIGHTNING strikes Superman. The (X) electricity travels visibly from his body through the gun (X) and then through Little Willis body. (X) The flash briefly illuminates something in the b.g.: the massive Van Dyne mausoleum, and standing in the unexpectedly open doorway, a shadowy figure. We may not even be sure whether it's a man or a woman. Meanwhile, you expect that Little Will has been fried, but as the bright light fades, we see that he is still standing -- a little stunned, a little discombobulated, but very much alive. Oddly, Superman seems a little discombobulated, too. LITTLE WILL Well, my goodness... Recovering, Superman takes the gun from Willis unresisting hand. SUPERMAN Sir, please listen to me: Life is a precious gift. Every new day that we're alive is another chance to be the best that we can be. Little Will is recovering his usual self now. LITTLE WILL Oh, puh-leeze, what would you know about it, Mr. Nothing-Can-Hurt-Me- And-I-Don't-Need-Money-To-Live -- (eyeing the costume) -- and didn't anybody ever tell you that two primary colors just do not work together? SUPERMAN (kindly) You can criticize my appearance, or you can talk about what's really bothering you. Which would you prefer? WILL Well, if you put it that way... 5 BACK WITH LOIS 5 who's looking around. The guard is gone. LOIS (whispering) Clark... Clark... (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 4. 5 CONTINUED: 5 God, where _does_ he go? She stands up and starts looking for him. 6 WITH SUPERMAN AND LITTLE WILL 6 If Superman were capable of regretting having done the right thing, this would be the time. LITTLE WILL -- So, what with Wandamae being, um, in need of professional help and all, and me getting that very very bad advice about how biodegradable golf clubs were the wave of the future and I better get in on the ground floor, you can see how my life just is not worth living anymore -- Somewhere during this, Superman SUPERHEARS: LOIS (V.O.) Clark... Clark... Where are you? Even in a whispered V.O., we can tell she's getting a little annoyed. LITTLE WILL -- and I feel so guilty, my daddy went to an early grave, this one right here in fact, making all that money, and what do I do, I just go and lose every last bit of it in one fell swoop. Superman stems the flood of words: SUPERMAN Sir, Metropolis General Hospital (X) has a referral service for counseling and therapy -- He's crushing the handgun into a perfectly round steel ball, which he hands to Little Will. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) -- people you can talk to, people who can help you see that -- He puts a supportive hand on Little Will's shoulder. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) Life _is_ worth living. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 5. 6 CONTINUED: 6 He WHOOSHES away, leaving Little Will holding the wadded-UP (X) weapon. Little Will makes a face at the departing superhero. LITTLE WILL Easy for you to say. (looks at the gun) Well, Mama, I guess I won't be joining you and Daddy after all, not at this particular time. Peevishly he drops the gun-ball and halfheartedly kicks at it. The steel sphere rockets out of the cemetery and keeps going, destination Neptune. Little Will reacts, stunned. He looks down at his feet, his hands. Can it be? LITTLE WILL (CONT'D) Oh, my gosh. Another lightning flash illuminates the shadowy figure in the doorway of the Van Dyne crypt. As Little Will absorbs the fact that he now has superpowers, we PUSH IN ON the shadowy figure; and as we do, the storm breaks. Lightning (X) lets us see that the shadowy figure is Dr. GRETCHEN KELLY, personal physician to the gelatinous goo. She has seen. She knows. She covets. FADE OUT. _END OF TEASER_ --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 6. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 7 EXT. STREET - DAY #2 7 Lois and Clark are walking toward the Daily Planet building, going to work. It's a beautiful morning. L&C are in the middle of: LOIS Well, of course we got kicked out, and whose fault was that? I am not the one who stepped on the only dry twig in the entire cemetery just as that guard came back. CLARK Well, you are the one who (X) believed Mrs. Cox when she told (X) you that Lex is alive and well (X) somewhere in Perpetual Pines (X) Cemetery. A) How could he be (X) alive, and B) if he is alive, why (X) is he hanging around a cemetery? (X) Does that make sense, Lois? (X) Clark stops at a coffee vendor's stand. Lois keeps going, without noticing that Clark's no longer at her side. LOIS I didn't believe her or disbelieve (X) her. I'm a reporter, I was (X) following a lead, that's what (X) reporters do, in case you -- (X) A SQUEAL OF BRAKES, BLARING HORNS drown her out. (X) 8 WITH CLARK 8 He looks up to see a swerving car bearing down on Lois, who (X) has nowhere to go to get out of the way. No time to turn into Superman. Clark lunges toward -- 9 LOIS 9 but before he grabs her, a CAPED CRUSADER swoops down from the sky and plucks her from harm's way. Clark disappears under the front of the car as it stops a few inches before crashing into the side of the Planet building. In the b.g. we can see JIMMY furiously snapping pictures. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 7. 10 CLARK 10 emerges from under the car, looks around, finds everybody looking up. He looks up, too. (It should be clear here that the driver of the car is not hurt and does not need tending to.) 11 WIDER 11 as RESPLENDENT MAN (he'll get his name in Act Two) sets Lois down near Clark. The new superhero is dressed in a blue (X) and orange costume; he wears a half-mask, which does not (X) conceal his identity from Clark, who is absolutely stunned to recognize Little Will. Lois is stunned, too, to see a second Metropolitan superhero. RESPLENDENT MAN (to Lois) You are just about the prettiest thing I've saved so far, though.the day is young and my experience is somewhat limited. LOIS Who... who are you? Jimmy has gotten closer and is snapping away. Clark is goggling at Resplendent Man. R.M. takes Lois's hand, raises it to his lips and kisses it. The tattoo is visible, and Lois notices it. RESPLENDENT MAN That's for me to know and you to find out, isn't it? He grins charmingly and flies off, leaving a bunch of baffled people behind. 12 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 12 CLOSE ON prints of the photos Jimmy took. WIDEN as: PERRY By thunder, now this is a story! A new superhero in Metropolis! Who is this guy? Lois, Clark, PERRY, Jimmy. Clark's suit is ripped in a couple of places from his collision with the car. Lois is looking intently at one of the pictures. LOIS Clark... She points. He and the others look. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 8. 13 CLOSE ON PHOTO 13 It's the car. Clark has disappeared somewhere under it; all we can see of him is his hands clutching the front bumper from underneath. 14 BACK TO SCENE 14 They all look at him. CLARK Ah, it was -- Perry claps him on the back. PERRY You're a lucky man, son. A few inches either way and you'd've been under a wheel. RUNNER (O.S.) Miss Lane? Lois turns to see a young runner. He hands her an envelope. Perry keeps talking over this: PERRY A shame about your suit, though. No way to fix tears like that. Lois has opened the envelope, reacts to the contents: LOIS What?! Excuse me?! She has their attention. She waves a piece of paper around. LOIS He's charging me! This is a bill! $32.50! (reading) 'A small price to pay for being plucked alive from the snapping jaws of certain death.' They take a moment for their reactions to this piece of effrontery, then: PERRY Lois, Clark, see if you can track (X) this guy down. Find out who he (X) is. I want an exclusive. (X) He goes into his office. Jimmy hustles to layout. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 9. 14 CONTINUED: 14 LOIS (thinking aloud) (X) We could start with the costume. Whoever he is, he didn't just buy that off the rack. And there's a (X) tattoo on the back of his hand we (X) could check out. And we need to (X) talk to Superman. (X) CLARK You go ahead. I'll catch up with you. Lois can't believe this. (X) LOIS This is big. This is huge! What (X) could possibly be more important (X) than the story of the century?! (X) Clark indicates his clothes. CLARK I -- um -- have to change my suit. 15 EXT. SKIES ABOVE METROPOLIS - DAY 15 He's changed his suit: Superman is flying, scanning the city below. 16 EXT. BURNING BUILDING - DAY 16 It's a house -- the last remaining house in a neighborhood that's now all apartment buildings. SIRENS are approaching, but the fire department has not yet arrived. But Resplendent Man has; he's trying to calm a distraught ELDERLY WOMAN, the owner of the house. DISTRAUGHT WOMAN Oh, please, somebody save my sweet little Muffin! She clutches at Resplendent Man. DISTRAUGHT WOMAN (CONT'D) Can you save her, please, please? RESPLENDENT MAN Yes, ma'am, I sure can, is your sweet little Muffin a dog or a cat? (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 10. 16 CONTINUED: 16 DISTRAUGHT WOMAN A dog, just a wonderful little dog, please help me. RESPLENDENT MAN Dogs are twenty-nine ninety-five, a small price to pay for being plucked alive from the snapping jaws of certain death. Behind him, a blue and red streak goes by, into the burning building. From inside there's a big SUPERBREATH SOUND, and the fire goes out. Superman comes out carrying a dog. He hands it to the grateful woman. DISTRAUGHT WOMAN Oh, thank you, Superman, thank you! She smothers the dog with kisses. Resplendent Man is miffed. RESPLENDENT MAN (to Superman) Well, excuse me, Mr. Boy Scout, there's not enough work for both of us? Do I horn in on your action? The crowd edges closer, very interested in the superheroes' conversation. SUPERMAN Can we go somewhere and talk? Superman takes R.M.'s arm and starts to take off, but he (X) can't pull hard enough to make R.M. come along for the flight. A new experience for the Man of Steel. RESPLENDENT MAN If you want to provide your services for free, that is entirely up to you, but I personally have bills to pay. Okay, brute strength won't work. Superman tries persuasion: (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 11. 16 CONTINUED: 2 16 SUPERMAN Can we go somewhere and have a _private_ conversation? (X) But R.M. is on a roll: RESPLENDENT MAN I'm not greedy, my prices are real reasonable, and I'm not an ogre, I'm gonna throw in a little pro bono work. Superman sighs. SUPERMAN How about if I pay you to come with me and have a talk? RESPLENDENT MAN Now you know, that brings up a point I have always wondered about: Where do you carry things like money in that outfit? (lifts his cape) I sewed in some pockets underneath here, but it's a lot of trouble, gotta fumble around for the zipper, zip it open, zip it closed, and I'm afraid velcro would kind of pucker up the fabric and just absolutely ruin the lines. What do you do? Superman all but rolls his eyes and covers his ears. He smiles kind of maniacally -- for Superman, anyway and leans down for a sotto: SUPERMAN If you don't come with me, I will follow you everywhere you go from now till the day one of us dies, and I will save everybody before you do. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, gosh, you don't have to get nasty about it, all you had to do was ask. For goodness sake. How rude. Superman crooks his finger at R.M.: Let's go. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 12. 17 EXT. LEDGE - DAY 15 This is one of those really narrow ornamental ledges near the top of a tall old commercial building. There should be plenty of privacy here; no one who can't fly could get here, or stand here. Down below, a,crowd has gathered and is looking up, watching the superhero confab. The spectators can be INTERCUT as desired. SUPERMAN But how could that have happened? I've been struck by lightning before. My powers never got transferred. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, don't look at me, all I know is one minute I was a ninety-pound weakling and the next minute I was a ninety-pound Hercules, and I like it a whole lot better this way. SUPERMAN Well, I can understand that, Mr. -- What should I call you? RESPLENDENT MAN Do you know, I haven't quite decided on a good enough name yet. What do you think about Brawny Man? No? How 'bout Magnificent Man? (X) Superman takes the bull by the horns: SUPERMAN I'm sure you'll find the perfect name, but right now I want to talk to you about right and wrong. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, all right, if you think you know so much more about it that I do. Superman leans in, to impress this on R.M.: SUPERMAN You can't charge people for saving their lives. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, my goodness me, if that's not worth a little something, what is? (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 13. 17 CONTINUED: 17 RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) And excuse me, but I am simply plying a legitimate if somewhat unique trade in an increasingly service-oriented economy. I would think you'd welcome the help. You may be Superman, but even you can't do it all by yourself. Resplendent Man flies off, leaving Superman a bit exasperated. 18 THE CROWD BELOW 18 swiveling their heads to watch as Resplendent Man buzzes them and flies off. PUSH IN ON one of the spectators: Gretchen Kelly, watching him with a focused gleam in her (X) eye. 19 EXT. CEMETERY - THE VAN DYNE CRYPT - DAY 19 Gretchen Kelly appears, enters the crypt. 20 INT. CRYPT - DAY 20 Dark and spooky, until Gretchen Kelly opens a trap door, flooding the crypt with garishly bright fluorescent light. She descends into what is obviously an underground bunker. 21 INT. UNDERGROUND BUNKER - DAY 21 A few minutes later. CLOSE ON Gretchen Kelly as she talks to someone -- or, as it happens, someTHING -- O.S. GRETCHEN KELLY Superman's powers can be transferred. She laughs rather maniacally. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) Electricity and a conductor. So simple. So reproducible. We're WIDENING to see that she's talking to the cylinder of gelatinous goo, all that's left -- for the moment -- of the mighty Lex Luthor. She strokes the cylinder. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 14. 21 CONTINUED: 21 GRETCHEN KELLY If I can duplicate the (X) circumstances, you and I will have (X) superpowers, Lex. Together we will rule the world, my darling. And superman will be powerless to stop us. The woman is clearly obsessed. (X) FADE OUT. _END OF ACT ONE_ --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 15. ACT TWO FADE IN: 22 EXT. KENT HOMESTEAD - DAY 22 Clark has come home to talk to MARTHA and JONATHAN. This power-transfer thing really-has him down; and, of course, he has nobody else to talk to. His parents are naturally very interested in this phenomenon. JONATHAN How do you suppose that happened? CLARK I don't know, Dad. All I know is I wish it had turned out different. MARTHA You saved a life, Clark. You did the right thing. CLARK I know, Mom, but it sure is a mess. This little guy just doesn't understand the responsibility. MARTHA He's new at it. Maybe he'll learn. Clark ponders this, decides: CLARK I don't think so. Jonathan's been pondering the problem. JONATHAN You have superpowers because the earth has a yellow sun. The sun's (X) heat and energy make clouds. (X) Lightning occurs only in clouds, (X) cumulonimbus clouds, to be exact... MARTHA Oh, Jonathan, this is not about figuring out how it happened. Clark is still on his track. CLARK And everybody at the Planet is running around trying to get the story -- who is he, where'd he come from, how'd he get superpowers? (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 15A. 22 CONTINUED: 22 CLARK (CONT'D) I'm a reporter, I work at the Planet, and I _know_ the answer, but I can't tell them because I don't want anybody to know. Can you imagine? Every time Superman touched down he'd be mobbed by people wanting superpowers. MARTHA You can keep the secret, but what's to stop this little guy from talking? CLARK Probably the same thing that's (X) stopping me. (X) (then) And I _hate_ misleading Lois... (X) I don't know what to do. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 16. 22 CONTINUED: 2 22 Neither does Martha. Clark looks over at Jonathan. Maybe (X) he has some words of wisdom. But Dad is still gnawing at the mechanics of the transfer. JONATHAN (shrugs) There are properties of lightning (X) that are still mysterious to (X) science... Who's to say that (X) lightning might not have some unexpected effects on a (X) Kryptonian? 23 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - NIGHT #2 23 Lois has her entire current financial life spread out on the dining room table. Mounds of bills and receipts and suchlike stuff. Pencils, checkbook, calculator. A cardboard box full of papers. She's hard at work. A familiar WHOOSH causes her to look up smiling. But it's -- 24 RESPLENDENT MAN 24 standing on the window sill, flowers in one hand, candy in the other. He's come a-courting. RESPLENDENT MAN Now, I know it's kinda unimaginative and all, candy and flowers, I mean, but I'm just an old-fashioned guy at heart, can I come in? Lois would kill to interview this guy. LOIS Absolutely. R.M. steps inside, proffers the candy and flowers. RESPLENDENT MAN I flew all the way to Brazil to pick these flowers along the banks of the Amazon, just 'cause I wanted you to know how special I think you are. Lois studies the bouquet; she's not fooled. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 17. 24 CONTINUED: 24 LOIS Gee, I didn't know edelweiss was a rainforest kind of plant. R.M. looks at the flowers. Whooops. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, that's Amazon edelweiss, brought to the New World by some famous explorers or other, oh, a long time ago. He'd lie to St. Peter. LOIS Those famous Swiss explorers, I guess. Please, sit down. Can I get you anything? Do you mind if I ask you a few questions RESPLENDENT MAN You mean like an interview? LOIS Yes. He hasn't sat down, he's wandering, looking, touching things. He stops at the dining room table; he's looking at the cardboard box full of papers. (X) RESPLENDENT MAN Oh, Miss Lane -- you don't mind if I call you Miss Lane, do You? - this is a very very bad idea, just tossing out financial records without shredding them first. Dishonest people pray for this kind of trash. LOIS It's not-- At SUPERSPEED, he tears the contents of the box into (X) confetti, then turns to Lois, who's white as a sheet. RESPLENDENT MAN There now, that's better, isn't it? LOIS (a croak) Those were my '94 tax records. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 18. 24 CONTINUED: 2 24 RESPLENDENT MAN My goodness. Well... (deflecting) What do you want to ask me? He sits down, looking at her with eager, if spurious, innocence. For the sake of the interview, Lois swallows her anger and leads with the big question: LOIS Who are you? R.M. wags his finger at her: That one's a no-no. Lois moves on. LOIS (CONT'D) Are you from Krypton, too? RESPLENDENT MAN Well, no, ma'am, I'm from Tennessee. LOIS Have you always had superpowers? RESPLENDENT MAN (shakes his head) It's kind of a recent development. LOIS How did you get them? RESPLENDENT MAN Now it's quite a story, but I'm in the middle of negotiating with some real interesting people about selling my rights, so I really don't think I can give it up for free, I know you understand. As he talks, he's fumbling with a zipper on the underside of his cape. He now pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it to her. RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) But I was thinking maybe you could publish my price list so I won't have to keep on repeating myself every time I save somebody. Has he no shame? LOIS Have you no shame, Mr. -- What do I call you? (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 19. 24 CONTINUED: 3 24 Out of another pocket comes a pocket thesaurus. RESPLENDENT MAN Maybe you can help me with that, I just can't seem to decide. (reading) Magnificent, splendid, majestic, glorious... LOIS (under her breath) ... vainglorious... RESPLENDENT MAN What? LOIS (a dazzling smile) I said the main story is who you are and how you got your powers, but you don't seem to want to answer those questions. Unseen by either of them, Superman appears at the window, takes in the scene, and disappears. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, I might, if you paid me a whole whole lot of money. (smiles at her; it's kind of a leer) Or you could be my girlfriend... Lois is saved by the DOORBELL. 25 AT THE DOOR 25 Lois opens it: Clark. CLARK Hi, Lois. (peers beyond her) I see you have company. I should've called. She pulls him inside. LOIS No, please, come in, I don't think you've met the person with superpowers but no name -- This is Clark Kent, my colleague. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 20. 25 CONTINUED: 25 CLARK And friend. LOIS And friend. Resplendent Man has put out his hand; Clark takes it. RESPLENDENT MAN How good a friend? He's jealous. He's squeezing Clark's hand, not crushingly hard, but harder than necessary. Clark is real tempted to squeeze back, but he looks to Lois for a cue. LOIS Good friend. Very good friend. Clark nods. CLARK Very good friend. R.M. squeezes harder. Clark fakes a convincing wince. CLARK (CONT'D) But not romantically involved or anything like that. Resplendent Man releases Clark's hand and slaps him on the back -- well, kind of the lower back, since he's so much shorter than Clark is. Clark stumbles. RESPLENDENT MAN Well, you keep on looking, one of these days you'll find somebody. You're a handsome boy, though I would personally suggest losing the glasses and getting contacts. He takes Lois's hand, kisses it -- again we see the tattoo. RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) Don't forget my price list. Bye- bye. He waves goodbye and flies out the window. Lois and Clark watch in silence for a moment, then: CLARK I'm sure you'll be very happy together. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 21. 25 CONTINUED: 2 25 LOIS Bite your tongue, I was just trying to get an interview. Still teasing her, Clark picks up the flowers and the candy. CLARK Really? She swats at him. 26 LOIS' APARTMENT - A LITTLE LATER 26 The stuff on the dining room table has been moved aside. Lois and Clark are sitting opposite each other, the box of candy open between them. Lois has her notebook in her hand, bringing Clark up to speed on her day. LOIS -- so after going to sixteen tattoo parlors, only,they're all called dermal emporiums now, I finally found somebody who recognized the (X) tattoo on his hand as being the (X) work of a 'dermal artiste' named (X) Allegra Vennum, I am not making (X) this up, but by the time I got to (X) the relevant dermal emporium, it (X) was closed, so that's on the list (X) for tomorrow. (X) CLARK I've never been to a tattoo (X) parlor. (X) LOIS It's an experience... (X) CUT TO: 27 OMITTED 27 28 INT. TATTOO PARLOR - DAY #3 28 CLOSE ON a bald head being tattooed. (X) ALLEGRA VENNUM (V.O.) Yes, that's one of my most successful designs, artistically speaking. WIDEN to find ALLEGRA VENNUM, dermal artiste. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 22. 28 CONTINUED: 28 ALLEGRA VENNUM (CONT'D) It would look fabulous on you. WIDEN to see that she's talking to Clark. She likes him. (X) She circles him. (X) ALLEGRA (CONT'D) You have such a nice -- She's looking at his butt. ALLEGRA (CONT'D) body -- (strokes his arm) hard and smooth like polished steel. Do you have any designs on you? CLARK No... LOIS (to Allegra) Though you seem to... She points to the picture in the design book that's the same as R.M.'s tattoo. LOIS (CONT'D) Did you do this tattoo -- Allegra shoots her a venomous look. LOIS (CONT'D) -- dermal design on a little guy with a Southern accent? Here? She points to the back of her left hand. Allegra has abandoned Lois and is now running a light hand across Clark's chest. ALLEGRA VENNUM I love working on a big canvas. My specialty is maritime disasters. The Titanic, the Lusitania, the -- She's actually going to unbutton his shirt. Maybe we even see a flash of blue before he stops her. He's really (X) uncomfortable. (X) CLARK Um, I'll think about it, Ms. Vennum. In the meantime... Allegra sighs for what might have been. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 23. 28 CONTINUED: 2 28 ALLEGRA VENNUM Yes, a little guy with a Southern accent. LOIS Do you remember his name? ALLEGRA VENNUM Names? You want me to remember names? I remember the feel of flesh, the smell of fear, the gasp of pain... LOIS I'll take that as a no. Do you keep records? Clearly, Lois regards this as an unlikely possibility. But Allegra is already reaching for a diskette and inserting it into a computer on the counter. Lois looks over Allegra's shoulder as names come up on the screen. Clark pulls his glasses down and fries the disk with his HEATVISION. (X) ALLEGRA VENNUM Well... LOIS Do you have a backup? ALLEGRA VENNUM That was the backup. Lois takes Allegra by the arm and pulls her aside. LOIS (sotto) If you can remember the name, I'll try to talk Clark here into letting you tattoo the Battle of Midway on his chest. Allegra's eyes light up at this prospect, then she closes them, the better to concentrate. After a moment: ALLEGRA VENNUM Woodpecker... Windchecker... Woolpepper... Her eyes pop open. ALLEGRA VENNUM (CONT'D) Waldecker! It was Waldecker. William Wallace Webster -- --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 24. 29 INT. HAPPY HOLLOW REST HOME - DAY 29 Little Will is standing meekly at the front desk, announcing himself to the imposing MATRON who's sitting there. Allegra's voice BLENDS into his: LITTLE WILL Waldecker. William Wallace Webster Waldecker, I'm here to see my sister Wandamae. Wandamae Wingfield Waldecker. The matron motions to an orderly. MATRON Tell Mrs. Lincoln she has a visitor. 30 EXT. ACTIVITIES AREA - DAY 30 START ON ALBERT EINSTEIN, using Tinker Toys to construct models of molecules. As the CAMERA MOVES past him, we hear Wandamae before we see her: WANDAMAE (O.S.) Abe and I spent our first night in the White House last Friday. Abe's not used to having so many servants around. I told him he'd have to get used to it if he doesn't want people to think he's just a country bumpkin. Somewhere during this we've come upon WANDAMAE. She's dressed like Mary Todd Lincoln because, as far as she's concerned, she _is_ Mary Todd Lincoln. Beside and a little behind her is an easel on which sits a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Little Will sits with her. There are other people around, so he speaks softly. LITTLE WILL That's wonderful, Wandamae, but I want you to try to focus on what I'm telling you. Since I got Superman's powers everything's (X) gonna be just fine. (X) WANDAMAE You got Superman's powers? (X) LITTLE WILL That's what I've been trying to (X) tell you, Wandamae. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 24A. 30 CONTINUED: 30 WANDAMAE We could've used Superman at Fort (X) Sumter. (X) She's pretty seriously deluded. Little Will takes her (X) hand, looks deeply into her eyes with an expression of (X) caring and pity. (X) LITTLE WILL I was really awful worried there (X) for a while, 'cause I just love (X) you so much, and I want to be able (X) to take care of you like I (X) promised Mama I would. (X) Wandamae pats his hand. WANDAMAE You're a good boy, Tad. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 25. 30 CONTINUED: 30 LITTLE WILL I wish you could see my costume. It's orange and blue and I've got (X) these boots I wear with it. (X) Wandamae looks uncomprehending. (X) LITTLE WILL (CONT'D) Well, it's kind of hard to (X) explain, and I can't show it to (X) you here... (X) WANDAMAE Oh, Tad, I know it must look just (X) resplendent! Resplendent, resplendent. Little Will's face lights up. And behind him, someone reading a newspaper lowers it to peer at Little Will. It's Gretchen Kelly. 31 EXT. HAPPY HOLLOW REST HOME - DAY 31(X) Little Will comes out, walks toward: 32 EXT. A SMALL GROVE OF TREES - DAY 32 Hidden from view, Little Will starts to unbutton his shirt, stops when he hears: GRETCHEN KELLY I know who you are. Little Will wheels around to find that Gretchen Kelly's with him. LITTLE WILL Then you do, as they say, have the advantage of me. GRETCHEN KELLY That's the way I like it. She's moving closer to him. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) It makes life so much more pleasant for me. Suddenly, she reaches out and rips his shirt open, exposing the Resplendent Man costume. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 26. 32 CONTINUED: 32 GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) You see, I _do_ know who you are. And I can make you rich beyond your wildest dreams. LITTLE WILL Shoot, I can do that by myself. GRETCHEN KELLY I can do it faster. LITTLE WILL Well, aren't you just the sweetest thing to offer. This is said in a heavily sarcastic tone. Gretchen Kelly smiles. GRETCHEN KELLY I think we understand each other. LITTLE WILL I reckon we probably do. What do you want? GRETCHEN KELLY Three people know how you got your powers. You. Superman. And me. Little Will catches on right away; he knows what she wants. LITTLE WILL Oh, my goodness, I just knew this would happen if anybody ever found out. You want the powers, too. GRETCHEN KELLY I'm a scientist. I can duplicaate the conditions for transfer. LITTLE WILL And I can see why you'd want to do (X) that. But why would I want to (X) help you? (X) She leans against him suggestively; she runs a hand along his cheek and gently lifts his face to gaze into his eyes. GRETCHEN KELLY Because I'm part of the deal. William Wallace Webster Waldecker is not used to this kind of treatment from women. He's about ready to swoon. He lets her plant a big smackeroo on him, then: (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 27. 32 CONTINUED: 2 32 LITTLE WILL That's a mighty attractive inducement -- As he continues, he rips off his street clothes (which are velcroed together), revealing the Resplendent Man costume. LITTLE WILL (CONT'D) -- but see, I just don't feel (X) you're a truly honest person, and basically you don't have any leverage, blondie. She's in a cold fury. He winks at her. RESPLENDENT MAN But you're real cute when you're mad. He flies off. Gretchen's slitted eyes follow him. GRETCHEN KELLY (to herself) You want leverage, you insect? I'll show you leverage. 33 INT. DAILY PLANET - NIGHT #3 33 Lois and Clark are telling Perry what they've found out. LOIS William Wallace Webster Waldecker. He's not married, his parents are both dead, he has one sister in an institution. (X) PERRY What kind of institution? LOIS For people who are, um, challenged (X) by reality. (X) CLARK The family moved here from Little Big Holler, Tennessee, 25 years ago... He's interrupted by: JIMMY Guys! Hurry! They look over to where Jimmy's watching a TV. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 28. 34 CLOSE ON TELEVISION 34 over visuals showing Resplendent Man saving a baby from a ravening pack of wolves or something: ANNOUNCER (V.O.) (Bob Singer) In trouble? Need help no mere mortal can provide? Call Resplendent Man. Instant service, reasonable rates. Flashing across the bottom of the screen: DIAL 1-900-0-1- (X) RES-Q-U. In small print beneath that: $3.98 for the first (X) 15 seconds. LOIS (V.O.) Look, he even charges for the call. 35 WIDER 35 LOIS How greedy can you get? Clark looks upset. PERRY How in the Sam Hill did some guy from Little Big Holler, Tennessee end up with superpowers? (to Lois) Did you ask him that? LOIS Of course I asked him, Perry. He wouldn't tell me. PERRY Either one of you talked to Superman about this? They shake their heads. PERRY (CONT'D) Well, do it. Maybe he knows something. CLARK Like what? PERRY I don't know. Ask him. Lois has punched up a phone number: 1-900-0-1-RES-Q-U. She puts it on speaker: (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 29. 35 CONTINUED: 35 RESPLENDENT MAN (V.O.) (phone; recorded) You have reached the voice of Resplendent Man. If your situation is a bona fide emergency, press 1; if you can wait a little while, press 2; if you'd like to join the Resplendent Man Fan Club for a really teeny-tiny nominal fee, press 3; if you -- She hangs up. (X) LOIS Can you believe this guy? She turns, finds only Perry at her side. LOIS (CONT'D) Where's Clark? Perry looks around. PERRY He was right here... 36 EXT. SKIES OVER METROPOLIS - NIGHT 36 A grim look on his face, Superman flies over the city, (X) looking for Resplendent Man. (X) 37 SUPERMAN'S POV 37(X) A pair of blue beams, focused horizontally. Resplendent (X) Man is using his X-RAY VISION. (X) 38 SUPERMAN 38 Having located his man, he goes into a sudden dive. 39 EXT. WINDOW LEDGE - NIGHT 39 Resplendent Man is sitting on the ledge, eating a burger and aiming his X-RAY VISION at: 40 HIS POV 40 Through the wall of the building opposite we see a women's. locker room. Just as a woman is about to take off her T-shirt, something blocks the view. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 30. 41 WIDER 41 Hands on hips, feet spread, cape billowing -- the classic pose -- Superman stands between R.M. and the object of his licentious gaze. Resplendent Man refocuses to his normal vision. RESPLENDENT MAN Do you mind? SUPERMAN Yes, I do mind. He's angry but under control. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I've tried to be patient, I've tried to be understanding -- RESPLENDENT MAN Get a grip here. Do I tell you what to do? I do not, and I would appreciate the same courtesy from you. Superman is really pissed. He gets right in R.M.'s face for: SUPERMAN You will take this to heart, you will memorize it, you will live by it: The strong do not exploit the weak, the powerful do not attack the defenseless, and you do not use. your x-ray vision to spy on women in a locker room! R.M. gazes at him for a moment, then: RESPLENDENT MAN Oh, puh-leeze, what planet are you from? Try to grasp this, it is not a tough concept: You may not (X) like what I do, but there is not (X) one blessed thing you can do about (X) it. (X) He FLIES off, all but thumbing his nose at the Man of (X) Steel. Off Superman's utter and absolute frustration 42 EXT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 42(X) Lois is here, pacing, pacing, waiting. After a moment, Clark appears, key in hand. He's looking a little grouchy after his run-in with Resplendent Man. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 31. 42 CONTINUED: 42 LOIS Where have you been? CLARK Um -- hanging around. (X) Lois plows ahead. (X) LOIS Perry was right. We need to talk to Superman, and the only way I can ever seem to get his attention is to fall out of a window, which I'd rather not do right now, or tell you, so here I am. CLARK Oh, gosh, I forgot to get my mail when I was downstairs. LOIS Clark, this is important. You can get your mail later. He hands her his key. CLARK I'm expecting, um, my cheese of the month shipment. Go on in, I'll be right back. He heads down the stairs. Lois sighs and turns to find Superman standing there. He smiles. SUPERMAN You don't have to fall out a window, Lois. Off her reaction -- 43 EXT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - LATER 43 Lois is trying to get information from Superman. LOIS -- So Perry thought you might be able to help us find out how this thing happened. SUPERMAN Believe me, Lois, I was as surprised as anybody else to find out there was another person like me in Metropolis. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 32. 43 CONTINUED: 43 LOIS But you've talked to him. (X) SUPERMAN So have you. (X) LOIS I think he'd be more inclined to (X) bond with you, wouldn't he? You (X) do have a lot in common. (X) SUPERMAN Less than you might think. (X) (then) (X) I wish I could help you -- and Clark and Perry -- but I can't. LOIS You really don't know how he got (X) his powers? (X) He's between a rock and a hard place here -- perilously (X) close to having to violate his own ethics. (X) SUPERMAN When you talked to him, did he (X) answer your questions? (X) Lois is starting to get a little suspicious of his (X) evasiveness. (X) LOIS No... And you don't seem to be (X) answering them, either. (X) This is really disturbing the Man of Steel, but he doesn't (X) waver. (X) SUPERMAN I'm sorry, Lois. I wish there were something I could do. He FLIES off. Immediately, Clark comes up the steps. He's empty-handed. Lois looks at him. He shrugs. CLARK No cheese. FADE OUT. _END OF ACT TWO_ --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 33. _ACT THREE_ FADE IN: 44 EXT. HAPPY HOLLOW REST HOME - ACTIVITIES AREA - DAY #4 44(X) Lois and Clark are sitting with Wandamae and the portrait (X) of Abe. Lois is trying to keep Wandamae focused, not an (X) easy task. WANDAMAE -- My daddy thought I could make a better match than a skinny politician. But I've never regretted ignoring Daddy's advice. LOIS No. Not your father. Your brother. William? William Wallace Webster Waldecker? WANDAMAE It's a mouthful, isn't it? But there was a lot of family, you know, so he was called William after our daddy's great-granddaddy who lost three fingers at Antietam and Wallace after our mama's brother who tried to save his papa's best hunting dog from a big old alligator, the dog was fine but Wallace was not; and then there was Cousin Webster, who didn't actually deserve the honor but they needed another 'W.' As she rattles on, pretty much oblivious to her audience, (X) Clark leans over to Lois. (X) CLARK (sotto) (X) I don't think we're going to get (X) much useful information this way, (X) Lois. Maybe we should just go. (X) WANDAMAE But Abe and I use his nickname. We call him Tad. Lois jumps back in. (X) LOIS Well, okay. Tad. Have you seen him lately? (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 34. 44 CONTINUED: 44 WANDAMAE Oh, yes, he was here quite recently, yesterday, I think, or maybe last month. Clark gives Lois a look: See? Lois plows ahead: (X) LOIS And did he say anything about, ah, any changes in his life? Big changes? Like... he can fly? WANDAMAE Isn't it wonderful? Our little Tad, free as a bird. He was always the flighty one. LOIS I want you to stay with me here, Wand-- ah, Mrs. Lincoln. Did Tad tell you how he's able to fly? WANDAMAE Yes. He did. A nurse appears. Well, it's not exactly a nurse. It's Gretchen Kelly in a nurse's uniform. GRETCHEN KELLY It's time for you to see the doctor, Wandamae. Damn it! Lois gives the "nurse" an engaging smile. LOIS Two more minutes? GRETCHEN KELLY This institution, madam, is not (X) run for the convenience of the visitors. She reaches out to take Wandamae's arm, starts to pull Wandamae to her feet. Wandamae grabs Lois I arm, hangs on for dear life. WANDAMAE No, Abe, I don't want to go to the theatre! Please don't make me! GRETCHEN KELLY You're not going to the theatre, Wandamae. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 35. 44 CONTINUED: 2 44 She's tugged Wandamae to her feet. Wandamae is still hanging onto Lois's arm, so Lois is now on her feet, too. Clark watches. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) You're going to see the doctor, and you're going to do it now. LOIS (to Gretchen) How did you get this job? Your people skills are somewhat lacking. This pisses Gretchen off. She abandons Wandamae and faces Lois. Wandamae sits back down, smiles at Clark as: (X) GRETCHEN KELLY (to Lois) Maybe you'd like your teeth rearranged. Lois takes a defensive stance. LOIS You can try, Brunhilde. Clark drops his pencil, leans down to pick it up and -- 45 ANGLE 45 Shielded from view by the table, he lowers his glasses and aims his HEAT VISION at Gretchen's clunky nurse shoes, which start SMOKING. Clark looks up to find Wandamae's head (X) under the table, too. She has seen what he did. 45A BACK TO SCENE 45A Gretchen screeches and hotfoots it -- so to speak -- from the room. Lois has no idea what just happened, but she figures her time is limited here: LOIS How did Little Willie get his powers, Wandamae? Wandamae is looking at Clark. WANDAMAE Superman. Clark tenses. Lois is unsure what's going on. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 36. 45A CONTINUED: 45A LOIS What? Wandamae turns to Lois. WANDAMAE Tad got his powers from Superman. Clark is helpless. Lois is stunned. Wandamae turns back to Clark, who's expecting something besides: WANDAMAE (CONT'D) Thank you for your help, General Grant. The President will be grateful to you. Someday soon you will command the Army of the Potomac. 46 EXT. HAPPY HOLLOW REST HOME - WALKAWAY - DAY 46 Lois and Clark are leaving. LOIS (to herself, really) He lied. CLARK Who? LOIS (still to herself) I never thought he'd lie to me. Clark knows exactly what she's talking about, and he feels bad. Lois shakes it off, addresses Clark: LOIS (CONT'D) What a story this is. CLARK Wandamae is a little confused, Lois, though I'm sure the doctors will be able to help her. (then) What if it's not true, what she (X) said? (X) Lois stops, faces Clark. LOIS What if it is? If Superman's powers can be transferred to humans, that's _big_ news. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 37. 46 CONTINUED: 46 He looks at her for a second, then points to a sign that points in the direction of a men's room. He disappears in that direction. Lois walks to -- 47 EXT. HAPPY HOLLOW REST HOME - PARKING LOT - DAY 47 Lois stands by her car making notes while she waits for Clark. There's a WHOOSH, and Superman appears. She gazes at him for a moment, then: LOIS Did you lie to me? SUPERMAN What makes you say that? She's watching him closely. (X) LOIS Either you know what I mean or you don't... I think you do. He's silent, looking into her eyes. Then: SUPERMAN I didn't... lie. (X) LOIS All right. Did you lead me to believe something that wasn't exactly true? After a moment: SUPERMAN Yes... LOIS I wouldn't have expected that from you... I kept Kryptonite a secret (X) because it's life-threatening. (X) This is news. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 38. 47 CONTINUED: 47 He can see how disappointed she is, and he's sorry. But: SUPERMAN Lois, do you understand what will happen if this information becomes public knowledge? Everybody will want superpowers. Everybody will think they deserve superpowers. Lois is hurt, and she's pissed, and she's a reporter. LOIS It's a reporter's job to disseminate the news, not to ponder the consequences of every story. SUPERMAN If more people pondered the consequences of their actions, this planet would not be in the shape it's in. LOIS I'm not a philosopher, I'm a reporter. SUPERMAN And a human being. Which is more important to you? (then) I'm only asking you think about it. Talk it over with Clark. LOIS Clark's a reporter, too. Superman SUPERHEARS something. SUPERMAN Both of you have good hearts, Lois, good instincts. I know you'll do the right thing. And he's airborne. Lois watches him go, then looks over to the front entrance of Happy Hollow, wondering what's taking Clark so long. She doesn't see Clark, but she does see Wandamae being hustled into a car by the fake nurse, Gretchen Kelly. The car squeals away. Lois is torn for an instant: Should she wait for Clark? Only for an instant. She hops in her car and follows Gretchen Kelly and Wandamae. 48 EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY 48 SHOOTING UP, we see Superman catch up with Resplendent Man. (X) They're now flying side by side over the city. (X) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 39. 49 EXT. SKIES ABOVE METROPOLIS - DAY 49 A fly-and-talk between Superman and Resplendent Man. SUPERMAN This time you've gone too far. (X) You almost got people killed. (X) RESPLENDENT MAN Excuse me, I most certainly did (X) not. All that man had to do was (X) get out of his car and get out of (X) the way of the train. Is it my (X) fault he cared more about his (X) classic Mustang than he did about (X) his life? (X) SUPERMAN You have superpowers! All you had (X) to do was pick up the car with him (X) in it and move them both out of (X) the way. (X) RESPLENDENT MAN Well, I would have if you hadn't (X) done it yourself. (X) SUPERMAN You were _negotiating_ with him! (X) RESPLENDENT MAN There was plenty of time. That (X) train was way far away. (X) SUPERMAN And what about the people on the (X) train? Did you think about them? (X) Do you think about anybody but (X) yourself? (X) RESPLENDENT MAN I had the situation under control! Now leave me alone, I do not need (X) to hear any more of your carping and complaining! Resplendent Man peels off, streaking toward the ground. Superman follows him. 50 EXT. DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - DAY 50 Resplendent Man LANDS, then Superman. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 40. 50 CONTINUED: 50 SUPERMAN Well, you're going to listen to it until it sinks in! Your behavior is unacceptable! Resplendent Man has pulled his arm back, now throws a roundhouse. Superman's never been punched by someone with strength equal to his own. It hurts. He puts his hands up, palms forward. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I don't want to fight with you, I just want you to understand what it means to be -- (X) Resplendent Man FLIES into Superman head first, right in the gut. It sends Superman flying into a bus bench, which (X) collapses. By now a crowd is, of course, gathering. some (X) enterprising lowlife is already taking bets. Superman (X) picks himself up. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) -- to understand that you can't just -- Resplendent Man is going to do it again. This time Superman defends himself: He puts a hand out, catching Resplendent (X) Man's forehead. Resplendent Man swings at Superman, but (X) his arms are too short to connect. As he swings: (X) SUPERMAN (CONT'D) -- act like there's nobody else (X) who matters but you -- (X) RESPLENDENT MAN All right, come on, come on, one (X) of us has to go! Put 'em up, (X) duke it out! (X) Resplendent Man stops swinging, steps back. (X) RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) Metropolis is not big enough for (X) the both of us! (X) SUPERMAN Do you see what kind of example (X) this sets? (X) Resplendent Man backs off some more. (X) SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I'm _not_ going to fight with you. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 41. 50 CONTINUED: 2 50 RESPLENDENT MAN Well, all right. You do whatever you want... SUPERMAN Violence is a poor solution to conflict -- R.M. lunges at Superman. Off Superman's reaction -- 51 INT. LOIS' CAR - DAY 51 Lois is still following Gretchen Kelly's car. They're approaching Perpetual Pines Cemetery. The CELL PHONE RINGS. Lois answers. Before she can even say hello: 51A INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 51A Perry's at the other end of the call: PERRY (yelling) Where is everybody?! Get (X) downtown, right this second, and I mean right this second! 51B EXT. PERPETUAL PINES CEMETERY - CONTINUOUS 51B Gretchen Kelly's car stops. Lois stops, too, well back of them, watches as Gretchen pulls Wandamae from the car and disappears with her into the heart of the cemetery. During this: 51C INT. LOIS' CAR/INT. DAILY PLANET - INTERCUT 51C LOIS I'm in the middle of something, Perry. PERRY I don't care if you're in the middle of the Atlantic in a leaky lifeboat, get yourself to Second and Main, now! LOIS Perry, this may be big, I have to go. I'll call you later. She hangs up and follows Gretchen and Wandamae. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 42. 52 EXT. DOWNTOWN METROPOLIS - DAY 52 CLOSE ON Jimmy, snapping pictures as CRASHING and CRUNCHING SOUNDS fill the air. Then there's silence, except for the murmuring crowd. 53 WIDER 53 FOLLOW Jimmy as he approaches the winded superheroes, who (X) are leaning against whatever's handy, trying to catch their (X) breath. We see the destruction: dented cars, toppled (X) newsracks, whatever. Even though the battle seems to be (X) over, the crowd is not going anywhere. This is great. The (X) fight of the century, and it's free. JIMMY 'Scuse me, are you guys done here? (X) I don't want to miss anything, but (X) I do have a deadline. (X) Getting no answer, he looks expectantly from one to the (X) other of them. (X) 54 EXT. VAN DYNE CRYPT - DAY 54 Lois sees Gretchen and Wandamae enter the crypt, with Gretchen closing the door behind them. She creeps to the entrance and listens. There's a very loud CREAKING NOISE, then silence. Steeling herself, she opens the crypt door and enters 55 INT. VAN DYNE CRYPT - DAY 55 Dark, silent, no sign of Gretchen and Wandamae. Lois is perplexed until she finds a tiny chink of light. Investi- gating, she discovers a trap door. She opens it. Bright light floods the main crypt from the underground bunker. Gretchen Kelly looks up and sees Lois. She smiles, not a nice smile. She presses a button on a control panel; the main door of the crypt slams shut with a final sounding THUD. GRETCHEN KELLY There's no way out. You might as well come on down. Off Lois' reaction -- FADE OUT. _END OF ACT THREE_ --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 43. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 56 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 56 Perry and Jimmy are looking at the pictures Jimmy took of the superhero face-off. PERRY These are great, Olsen. Just (X) great. But I have no story to go (X) along with them. (X) Clark enters, unwittingly walking into the buzzsaw: PERRY (CONT'D) Kent! Where have you been?! Do (X) you have any idea what you (X) missed?! Perry shows him the pictures. (X) PERRY (CONT'D) The story of the year, that's what! I have these perfect pictures and no story. (X) Clark has been trying to get a word in, now succeeds: CLARK It's okay, Perry. You'll get your story. I was there. PERRY You were? (X) JIMMY I didn't see you. CLARK You had a camera attached to your face. PERRY And where is Lois? CLARK I don't know. I left her at the rest home. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 44. 56 CONTINUED: 56 PERRY Sometimes I think we all belong at the rest home. He stumps off toward his office. PERRY (CONT'D) I want that story five minutes ago! Clark sits at his computer. (X) 57 EXT. STREET - DAY 57 Resplendent Man is coming out of a bakery. He's carrying a (X) bag of doughnuts. He's explaining to someone: (X) RESPLENDENT MAN Even superheroes have to eat. (X) He runs smack into Gretchen Kelly. He looks up at her. RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) I do not believe you and I have anything further to discuss. He starts to move away, but she stops him by holding up the Mary Todd Lincoln hat that Wandamae wears. GRETCHEN KELLY How's this for leverage, you little tic? RESPLENDENT MAN You have Wandamae? You have my sister? Why, you -- He grabs her collar and pulls her down to his level. RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) I can snap you in half. GRETCHEN KELLY If you do, Wandamae will die. RESPLENDENT MAN I'll find her, I'll save her. I am Resplendent Man. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 45. 57 CONTINUED: 57 GRETCHEN KELLY You can find her, but if you try to save her... She makes a "boom" gesture with her hands. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) BOOM! 58 INT. UNDERGROUND BUNKER - DAY 58 CLOSE ON explosives attached to the bars of a cage. WIDEN to find that Lois and Wandamae are prisoners in the cage. Wandamae is weeping, Lois is trying to deal with her. The cage has a keypad lock. LOIS She lied to you, Wandamae. Try to focus here. This is 1994. There's no Abe Lincoln, there's no Ford's Theatre, there's no John Wilkes Booth. Everything is fine (to herself) -- except that I'm in a cage in a bunker underneath a mausoleum in a cemetery, and nobody knows I'm here except a bunch of very strange people... There's a ZZZZZTTT noise, accompanied by a BLINDING FLASH of light. RESPLENDENT MAN (O.S.) Miss Lane, there just is no point in trying to convince Wandamae that she's not Mary Todd Lincoln. (to Gretchen) Though I really think it was too bad of you to tell the poor thing that Abe had a bad night at the theatre. (X) During this, we WIDEN to find that R.M. is here, too. He's standing on a steel plate. Throughout the scene, Gretchen Kelly is experimenting, trying to transfer R.M.'s powers into a white rat, which is on a second, connected steel (X) plate. She has just completed one such experiment, and she has failed. We know that because a nearby meter says (X) so. (SEE PHIL SGRICCIA.) She's peering at the rat, which (X) is grooming itself or something. Gretchen has no response (X) to make to R.M.'s comment. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 46. 58 CONTINUED: 58 RESPLENDENT MAN (CONT'D) What are you expecting that rat to (X) do? (X) GRETCHEN KELLY Shut up and concentrate. (X) RESPLENDENT MAN I don't think concentration has anything to do with it. It's just the electricity and the conductor playing off each other somehow. GRETCHEN KELLY Shut up anyway. LOIS (to Gretchen) Who _are_ you? Wandamae starts to wail. WANDAMAE Oh, Tad, please get me out of here! RESPLENDENT MAN I would if I could, Wandamae, but this awful woman has done something to that cage. If I try to get you out, the cage will explode and you and Miss Lane will surely die. LOIS What if she's just saying that? Resplendent Man ponders the likelihood. GRETCHEN KELLY Go ahead. Bend the steel with your bare hands. See what happens. (to Lois) The explosives are motion- sensitive, Little Miss Lois Lane. Don't shake the bars too hard. Lois has been holding onto the bars as she talked. She lets go of them and backs up. RESPLENDENT MAN (to Lois) Well, maybe I better not risk.it. Gretchen is now ready to start the next experiment. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 47. 58 CONTINUED: 2 58 LOIS I think you have to, Will. She's trying to get superpowers for herself, and whoever she is, she is clearly not a person who should have superpowers. At this moment Gretchen throws the switch that activates the fake lightning. Resplendent Man glows, the rat glows. The glow fades. The meter needle drops. Curses. Gretchen Kelly is pissed. She gives a guttural SCREECH and goes to stroke the cylinder of gelatinous goo, murmuring indistinctly to it. LOIS (CONT'D) In fact, she is clearly a person who should not be allowed out by herself. (X) 59 INT. DAILY PLANET - NIGHT #4 59 Perry slaps Clark on the back as they look at page one of tomorrow's Planet -- Clark's story, Jimmy's pictures. Headline: BATTLE OF THE TITANS. Subhead: Superheroes Fight To A Draw. PERRY Great story, Clark. I see another (X) Kerth Award in your future. CLARK Which reminds me: where is Lois? (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 48. 59 CONTINUED: 59 PERRY I don't know. The last time I (X) talked to her, she said she was onto something big. (X) CLARK Did she say what? PERRY No, but I'm getting a little (X) worried. That girl does have quite a nose for trouble. CLARK Um, maybe I'll go see if I can find her. 60 INT. UNDERGROUND BUNKER - NIGHT 60 Gretchen's still trying to figure out the formula for the transfer. Wandamae is asleep. Lois is talking to Resplendent Man, who's standing on the steel plate. LOIS I think she's getting closer, Will. The meter didn't go all the way back down that last time. GRETCHEN KELLY (to Lois) Shut up. LOIS (to R.M.) Whatever havoc she wreaks once she has superpowers -- it'll be on your head. GRETCHEN KELLY Shut up or die. She clearly means it. Lois shrugs, moves away from the bars of the cage. Gretchen prepares another experiment. As she is doing so, with her back to Lois, Lois starts entering numbers on the keypad that controls the cage's lock: 2424ENTER, 3535ENTER, 4646ENTER. Nothing happens, of course. Without turning around: GRETCHEN KELLY There are a million possible combinations, Miss Girl Reporter. (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 49. 60 CONTINUED: 60 GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) I think it's unlikely you'll find the right one in your lifetime -- (laughs) which is getting shorter by the instant. Lois just keeps on trying. Gretchen is checking her (X) equipment, begins talking to herself. (X) GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) I am duplicating cloud-to-ground (X) lightning... The negatively (X) charged atoms move downward to (X) meet the positively charged -- (X) (eureka!) (X) That's it! That's it! I didn't (X) account for the action of the (X) return stroke! (X) She fiddles with dials and things while Resplendent Man's eyes go back and forth between Gretchen and Lois, who just keeps on entering numbers. Then: RESPLENDENT MAN (to Gretchen) You know, I'm just not feeling right about doing this, I think Miss Lane is right, I think Superman was right all along, I think I've just been selfish and greedy, and I think you and I are just really not superhero material -- Gretchen throws the switch. Fake lightning flashes, R.M. and the rat glow, the glow fades. The meter needle stays at the highest setting. Gretchen senses triumph. She reaches for the rat, but: 61 ANGLE 61 A white STREAK zooms past her, moving vertically. There's a CRASH, and debris rains down on her head. She looks up. 62 HER POV 62 A hole in the ceiling of the bunker shows where the rat powered through. --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 49A. 63 WIDER 63 Gretchen is thrilled. She laughs, she strokes the cylinder. GRETCHEN KELLY I've done it, I've done it! Nothing can stop us now, my darling! Lois and R.M. are watching her. She really is crazy. LOIS (to Gretchen) What _is_ that stuff? (CONTINUED) --page break-- page 50 is missing from my copy [may have shown Superman's airborne search for Lois; seeing her Jeep] --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 51. 65 CONTINUED: 65 RESPLENDENT MAN Yes, I do, I do see how dangerous she is, she is dangerous enough to kill poor Wandamae, who never did an unkind thing to anybody in her life. Oh, how I hate dilemmas! Gretchen Kelly throws the switch. Flash, glow, fade. She's still alive, but does she have superpowers? She picks up a steel bar and bends it like a pretzel. Aha! At that moment, Superman crashes into the bunker and lands in front of Gretchen. GRETCHEN KELLY You're too late! You couldn't kill Lex Luthor, and you can't kill me! RESPLENDENT MAN She made me do it! I had to! She was gonna kill poor Wandamae! Superman takes it all in in a sweeping glance: the equipment, the switches, the steel plates, Lois and Wandamae in the rigged cage. LOIS (to Superman) You can reverse the transfer if you get her on the other plate! Superman moves toward Gretchen Kelly. GRETCHEN KELLY (smiles) You and what army? She steps off the steel plate and throws a superpunch, connecting with Superman's chin and sending him flying into the opposite wall. Everyone is surprised; Lois is stunned. LOIS (a whisper) Superman... Superman is on his feet. Gretchen is in his face. (X) GRETCHEN KELLY Did I hurt you? It's okay, I'm a (X) doctor. (X) WHAP! She slaps him with her right hand. He backs off. (X) She follows. She points to her chin. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Pink Rev. 10/19/94 52. 65 CONTINUED: 2 65 GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) Go ahead, hit me. Hit a woman. (X) She slaps him with her left hand. He backs off. She follows. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) (mocking) You can't, can you, it's not the superhero thing to do. She throws another power punch, sending him flying toward: 66 66 THRU OMITTED THRU 67 67 68 SHOOTING FROM INSIDE THE CAGE 68 as Superman's back comes toward the explosives. Lois yells: LOIS Superman! The explosives! He veers to the side just in time, hits a wall more or less harmlessly. Lois exhales her relief. 69 SUPERMAN AND GRETCHEN KELLY 69 Superman struggles to his feet to find Gretchen Kelly in his face again. She laughs. GRETCHEN KELLY You can't do it! You can't fight (X) a woman! You poor sap. Suddenly, from the side, a fist connects with Gretchen Kelly's chin, sending her flying across the room. WIDEN to see Resplendent Man rubbing his knuckles. RESPLENDENT MAN I, on the other hand, have no such compunction. Gretchen landed near Resplendent Man's steel plate. As she starts to get up: SUPERMAN (to R.M.) Now! They both lunge at her, hold her on the plate. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 53. 69 CONTINUED: 69 SUPERMAN (CONT'D) Hold her here! Superman leaps onto the other plate. GRETCHEN KELLY (to R.M.) If he reverses me, he reverses you, you idiot! Superman throws the switch. Flash, glow, all that stuff. When it's over, Gretchen Kelly and Resplendent Man stand there, looking kind of exhausted and wondering if they still have superpowers. Gretchen Kelly goes over to Superman, throws a punch to his midsection. Oh, the superpowers are definitely gone. GRETCHEN KELLY (CONT'D) (to Superman) You _really_ shouldn't have done that. Say goodbye to your girlfriend. She presses a button. The bars of the cage begin to VIBRATE. Superman leaps toward the cage, is stopped by: LITTLE WILL You can't stop it, Superman! Oh, I'm so sorry, Wandamae! GRETCHEN KELLY Say goodbye to the would-be Mrs. (X) Luthor! She's giving Lois a horribly malevolent glare. A lightbulb goes off in Lois's head. 70 CLOSE ON LOIS 70 She hurriedly enters six digits into the keypad. As she hits "ENTER," the bars cease their vibrating, and the cage door swings open. 71 WIDER 71 Lois, Superman and Little Will are almost exhausted from the release of the tension. Wandamae doesn't have a clue. As Little Will goes to get her out of the cage -- --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) FULL Blue Rev. 10/17/94 54. 72 CONTINUED: 72 Lois smiles a little shakily. LOIS (nods) Are you? He smiles at her, then gets serious: SUPERMAN Now do you see why I didn't want anybody to know? Before Lois can respond: WANDAMAE (O.S.) Where is that nice blonde lady, Tad? 73 WIDE 73 As Superman, Lois and Little Will realize: Gretchen Kelly is gone. 74 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY #5 74 A wrap-up. Lois, Clark, Perry, and Little Will. Jimmy's at a nearby desk, feet up, reading a tabloid. PERRY How did you figure out the combination, Lois? LOIS She seemed to be fixated on my connection to Lex, so I tried the date of my wedding. CLARK Thank God it worked. LITTLE WILL Yes, we do have an awful lot to be grateful for. LOIS How's Wandamae? LITTLE WILL Oh, she's just fine, Miss Lane. Well, as fine as she gets, but who's to say it's a bad life? He looks at his watch. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 55. 74 CONTINUED: 74 LITTLE WILL (CONT'D) Well, I have to go. And he starts to, but turns back for: LITTLE WILL If I learned one thing from all this, it's that life is worth living for as long as you get to, 'cause you just don't ever know what's going to happen next. CLARK You learned something else. You found out who you are deep down: You did the right thing when it counted, even though it meant making a big sacrifice. I think Superman would say... that's what being a hero is all about. LITTLE WILL I'm not sure it _was_ such a big sacrifice. To tell you the truth, having superpowers turned out to be kind of a burden. He waves and leaves. After he's gone: PERRY What a story. Some nobody little (X) guy suddenly wakes up one morning (X) with superpowers. And then, just as suddenly, the powers fade. (X) Lois and Clark exchange a quick look. PERRY (CONT'D) I'd give my pension to know how it happened. (X) He moves toward his office, passes Jimmy, sees what he's reading. PERRY (CONT'D) Boy, don't read that tabloid trash in the Daily Planet building. He takes the paper from Jimmy and tosses it into the wastebasket. We see the headline: MYSTERIOUS FLYING RAT TERRORIZES SEWER WORKERS. Perry keeps going, into his office. (CONTINUED) --page break-- A BOLT FROM THE BLUE (#8) Yellow Rev. 10/20/94 56. 74 CONTINUED: 2 74 CLARK Well? LOIS Well what? CLARK How do you feel about not telling Perry everything we know? LOIS Bad. I feel bad. But Superman was right. CLARK Yeah. It's one of his more irritating qualities. Ordinarily, Lois would take him up on this, but she's got her mind on something else. She sighs. CLARK (CONT'D) What? LOIS Poor Lex. I know you never liked (X) him, and I know I was wrong about (X) him, and I know he wasn't a nice (X) man... but what a way to end up... (X) 75 EXT. MAUSOLEUM - DAY 75 The cylinder of gelatinous goo is here, having been moved up from the bunker. Two POLICEMEN are stuck with guarding it until it's picked up. They're peering at the crystal coffin. OFFICER FRIC Is he dead or alive? OFFICER FRAC I dunno. What's the difference? It's not like he's suddenly going to regenerate himself. They back off a little. You never know. At this moment a coroner's van backs up to the cylinder of goo. REVEAL that the driver of the van is Gretchen Kelly. She's come to spirit the goo to a new hiding place. Lex Luthor will return. FADE OUT. _THE END_