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 0.25" (I had to tell the program that my primitive printer was using legal-size paper) Notes: Cover: "Contact" Written by Chris Ruppenthal [and] Directed by Daniel Attias are all in large, bold print. WARNER BROS. TELEVISION is in an arial-type font. The remainder of the script is in Courier 10. Typos noted: none...! --page break-- (graphic - insert logo.bmp or logo.jpg) "Contact" EPISODE THREE Prod. 0457403 Written by Chris Ruppenthal Directed by Daniel Attias WARNER BROS. TELEVISION _Production Draft_ July 24, 1995 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Contact_" _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE JIMMY OLSEN PERRY WHITE MARTHA KENT JONATHAN KENT _________________________________________________________________ BOB FENCES STAR DR. MARTIN SOLSVIG SIMONE THIEF #1 WOMAN VENTRILOQUIST --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Contact_" _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 - 3 DAY 1 SC. 4 - 5 NIGHT 1 SC. 6 - 24 DAY 2 SC. 25 - 33 NIGHT 2 SC. 34 - 52 DAY 3 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Contact_" _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Daily Planet Daily Planet Street Newsroom Conference Room Airport Perry's Office Lois's Apartment Building Lois's Apartment Living Room Country Road Kitchen Bedroom Nanosoft Headquarters Lois's Jeep Clark's Kitchen The Kent's Bedroom Bob Fence's Office Dr. Solsvig's Lab Zenith Chip Corporation Helicopter Flashback - Hazy White Space --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "Contact" _TEASE_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. AIRPORT - AFTERNOON - DAY #1 1 LOIS suddenly bursts through the rear doors of the baggage terminal building, running at full speed. LOIS (yelling) Stop! Stop! Two THIEVES (#1 and #2), dressed as airline baggage handlers, flee on a little baggage tractor, pulling several open carts of luggage. Lois sprints across the concrete, legs driving, arms pumping, and leaps onto the last cart. She starts climbing her way forward. Thief #1 starts hurling luggage at her from the first cart, trying to knock her off, as Thief #2 drives faster and faster. 2 CLARK 2 suddenly steps out of another door in the terminal and for the first time hears Lois's cries. CLARK Lois?! Spotting the trouble, he reaches to loosen his tie as he dashes forward. He passes behind another luggage cart piled high with baggage and when he emerges from the other side, he's SUPERMAN, disappearing in a streak. 3 THIEF #2 3 a look of horror on his face, slams on the brakes and stops the tractor; he was about to run into Superman. Thief #1 catapults back into his seat. THIEF #1 (groaning) Oh, man... SUPERMAN Gee, that must've been painful. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 2. 3 CONTINUED: 3 Superman steps close, his arms blur, and a second later he's tied the two thieves wrists to the steering wheel with their windbreakers. Lois runs up from the last cart. SUPERMAN Lois, are you okay? LOIS They couldn't've hit me if I'd been standing next to them! SUPERMAN (smiles) Wait right here. I've gotta drop them off at the police, then I'll see you home. LOIS You don't have to do that. SUPERMAN Lois... LOIS (mimics his tone) Superman... The two thieves perk up; is this a little domestic spat they're watching? Embarrassed, Superman gestures Lois a few steps away. They speak in whispers. SUPERMAN Lois, I'd feel better if you'd wait for me. It's going to be dark soon. LOIS Clark, I've driven home alone for as long as you've known me. And like two million times before that. I'll be fine. SUPERMAN But... LOIS Look, okay, I admit, ever since I figured out... you know... maybe I've taken a few more chances because I always know you'll be there. But it's not like I'm six, Clark. I can cross the street _fine_. Superman relents. He can't help it. He loves her. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 3. 3 CONTINUED: 2 3 SUPERMAN Don't forget to buckle up. Lois smiles and leaves. Superman turns back to the two hapless thieves. THIEF #1 Girlfriend trouble? SUPERMAN (to himself) Don't get me started. He reaches to untie the thieves. CUT TO 4 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT #1 4 Lois drives her Jeep along the empty road. 5 INT. LOIS'S JEEP - NIGHT 5 Lois hums a little tune to herself. Suddenly, her car dies. It coasts to a stop. Lois tries the ignition. Click click. Nothing. LOIS (puzzled) Hey? All of a sudden, a blinding WHITE LIGHT descends from above. It engulfs Lois and her car, completely whiting out the screen. Then the light abruptly vanishes... and Lois is gone. FADE OUT. _END OF TEASE_ --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 4. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 6 EXT. LOIS'S APARTMENT BUILDING - DAWN - DAY #2 6 A 1972 Cutlass 442 convertible, stacked high with personal belongings, is parked in front; the passenger door hangs open, more belongings spilled onto the sidewalk. Lois pulls up in her Jeep behind it. She drags herself out. She carries notepads, purse, and a bulging canvas tote bag slung over one shoulder. The tote bag has the Daily Planet logo and "Lois Lane" embroidered on it. Lois looks shook-up and uncertain. STAR ADAMS, a young woman about the same age as Lois, is energetically moving stuff from the Cutlass to the lobby. She's dressed in casual, but funky clothes and wears a small crystal on a chain around her neck. Star notices Lois heading up the steps and brightly turns to greet her. She always speaks in bursts. STAR Oh. wow! Don't tell me _you_ live here! This is so cool! You're Lois Lane, right? The Daily Planet? That must be a great place to work. I don't have a subscription, but I really love the logo. I'm your new neighbor: Star. Lois feels flattered at being recognized and it brings her partially out of her preoccupation. LOIS Hi. It's, uh, not often I meet people who recognize me. STAR Oh, I didn't! I've never seen you before in my life. Not even a picture! If you were a snake you could've bit me. LOIS (a shade annoyed) Then what are you; like, psychic? STAR Yeah! You, too?! LOIS No. But how'd you know my name? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 5. 6 CONTINUED: 6 STAR I got it off your tote bag. (hands her a card) I do psychic counseling and channeling, but don't worry, I'm really quiet. Occasionally, I _do_ do hypnosis and tarot and crystal healing, but I _never_ do any of the dark stuff. Too scary. I'm a Pisces, at least in this life, but I have been a Taurus; wow, was that bad. So did you just come in from a story or something, you look really whipped. LOIS Um... yeah. I was out on a... story. Lois starts to move to the door. Star suddenly puts her fingers to her temples and closes her eyes. STAR Wait a minute. Wait a minute. (opens her eyes) You don't really have to close your eyes, but most people expect it. I'm getting... I'm seeing... something more than a story happened to you tonight. Lois is suddenly very uncomfortable. She tries to get past a mound of Star's belongings. LOIS Nope. Just... a boring old story. Nothing to get brainscanned over and... anyway... I like to keep my brain private. STAR Oh, I'm not prying. Your mind's practically shouting. LOIS It is? STAR Lemme see, you were... buying groceries and met Mel Gibson. No, that's not it. You... just came into a lot of money, but it doesn't belong to you. You stole it. No, that's someone upstairs. You... went for a drive... (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 6. 6 CONTINUED: 2 6 LOIS Yes ... ? STAR ... and stopped... (in a rush) at a tiny little diner, ordered the breakfast special, even though it was night, and... Mel Gibson sat down next to you! No. Ha! I guess you can tell where _my_ mind's at. Okay, un, gee, you're tough. Oh, I know! I know! You were abducted by aliens! LOIS (stunned) Yes! That's amazing. How'd you know?! STAR (meaningfully) I always know. CUT TO: 7 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - EARLY MORNING 7 Lois and Star are having tea. They sit facing each other, practically knee to knee. LOIS ... then there was this blinding white light and, I don't know, sort of this... floaty feeling. Then, I have a vague, hazy memory of... creatures... (with more confidence) ... and then, I'm back in my car, but it's six A.M. and three hours have gone by. STAR It must've been terrifying. LOIS That doesn't begin to describe it. STAR You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 7. 7 CONTINUED: 7 LOIS No, actually, it feels good to tell some one. It's just too weird not to. STAR More tea? Star gets up. LOIS Thanks. You know, I have to admit, when I met you downstairs, I thought you were a little flaky. But you are really... I'm touched by how understanding and... down to earth you are. STAR (brings more tea) Who knows. Maybe we were friends in an earlier life. LOIS (uh-oh) Maybe. STAR Do you remember anything else about the aliens? LOIS Not really. Just that they had big heads, large, dark, slanting eyes, and... hands... like ours, you know. STAR Hmph. I thought you were going to describe these guys I know from the Pleiades, but these sound different. LOIS The Pleiades? STAR Or Cassiopeians. (gossipy) I mean, those guys, faster than light travel, cities that float, but _no_ indoor plumbing. You gotta love it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 8. 7 CONTINUED: 2 7 LOIS You've been to where they live? STAR Not physically. But astrally, dozens of times. This is too much for Lois. She makes a big show of looking at her watch as she stands up. LOIS Gee, look at the time. I hate to say this, but I've got to get ready for work. STAR No problem. I've still got some moving to do. Lois escorts Star to her front door and opens it. Halfway out, star pauses and turns back to Lois. STAR (CONT'D) Gemini, right? LOIS Libra. STAR I knew it! She smiles and is gone. 8 INT. DAILY PLANET - NEWSROOM - DAY 8 The newsroom is in full bustle. Lois enters and heads straight for her desk. Clark meets her there. CLARK So, I see you got home safe last night. LOIS Um, yeah. CLARK Want some Danish? LOIS Sure. CLARK Are you mad at me? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 9. 8 CONTINUED: 8 LOIS No. CLARK (awkward) Look, I'm sorry. it's just that, I worry about you. Even more than I used to. Lois makes up her mind and decides to tell him. LOIS Clark, last night I was-- PERRY (O.S.) Lois! PERRY sails in, trailed by JIMMY, carrying papers. PERRY Clark told me how you two cracked the airport luggage theft story. Ride 'em, cowgirl! I can't wait to see that copy on my desk! Say, half an hour? He's gone before they can even reply. JIMMY He's been on a tear all morning. Just started boxing lessons. Very pumped. (grins; confidential) I think he caught Alice checking out a waiter the other night. With a wink he's gone, zipping after Perry. Lois relaxes and turns back to her desk, only to be surprised by the presence of Star. How'd she get here; it's almost spooky. Star drops a stack of books on Lois's desk. LOIS Star?! STAR I had a sudden flash, right after you left to go to work. I knew you'd left for work 'cause I can see who comes and goes from one of the windows in my living room. Anyway, maybe you'd like to read these books. They're _all_ about alien abductions. (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 10. 8 CONTINUED: 2 8 STAR (CONT'D) Maybe you'll get a clue about the guys who took you last night. Everyone around suddenly stops and listens. Lois squirms with embarrassment. STAR (CONT'D) Oh, and if you've only got time for one, read this one by Dr. Martin Solsvig. He's the world's leading authority on alien abduction. Lives right here in Metropolis. Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt. (to Clark, re: danish) Cinnamon apple? CLARK Yes. Star taps her right temple. STAR I knew it. Then she charges towards the exit. Everyone still stares at Lois; she glares right back. LOIS If you want some entertainment, go turn on the TV! Everyone returns to their work. CLARK (sotto voce) Lois, did something happen last night? LOIS (sotto) No. Nothing. Sort of. No, just... (in a rush) ... my car stalled, a big white light engulfed me, I saw some aliens and I woke up in my front seat three hours later but it only seemed like two seconds. (beat) Did I mention floating? CLARK (skeptical) Lois, you saw some aliens? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 11. 8 CONTINUED: 3 8 LOIS What, you think Krypton is the only planet in the universe with intelligent life?! Or should I say, 'semi-intelligent'? CLARK It's just that -- PERRY Gort, klaatu barada nikto! Perry and Jimmy have arrived. Jimmy flips open his wallet like a Star Trek communicator. JIMMY Stand by to beam me up. LOIS Go ahead, laugh! I know what happened! I'm not an idiot. Don't you think I've asked myself a thousand times what really happened? But I'm telling you, it really did! Perry's demeanor instantly changes. He can hear the anguish in Lois's voice; the time for kidding has passed. PERRY Lois, I apologize. Something obviously has upset you. Now, I don't know what it was, but I do know you, and you wouldn't lie... at least to me... most of the time... so forget about the airport story for now; you can turn it in later. Whatever happened, I want you and Clark to get to the bottom of it, okay? Spend whatever you need. LOIS Perry, are you feeling all right? PERRY Hey, I gotta make Accounting sweat every once in a while, keeps them on their toes. Now git! 9 INT. CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE - NANOSOFT CORPORATION - DAY 9 BOB FENCES, the 25-year-old billionaire boy genius founder of Nanosoft, sits behind his desk. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 12. 9 CONTINUED: 9 He's got narrow shoulders and big glasses. He makes noises and plays with plastic action figures and spaceships. FENCES Look out! Bzzzzt! Ahhh, the death ray! Skkkkk. Don't worry, I'll save you, Princess Cleavage. Gzzz! DR. MARTIN SOLSVIG, 57, enters and stops at the desk. A bit of the absent minded genius, he has two pairs of glasses pushed up on his head. FENCES (CONT'D) So, Martin, what can I do for you today? (to the toys, falsetto) Bzzzzt! Oh, golly, my dress is on fire, I'll have to take it off! SOLSVIG I don't know. You called me... didn't you? FENCES No. _You_ called me. (to toys) Take _that_, Count Gravity! Arggh! SOLSVIG Oh, right! (beat) Why did I call you? FENCES Could it be the Super Microwave Transmitter? The project you've been working on the last six months? You know, if we microwave, they will come? SOLSVIG (snaps his fingers) Right! Right! Our attempt to contact alien civilizations! Sorry, I was trying to remember where I left my glasses. Fences, with restraint, taps the top of his head. Solsvig does the same to his own and finds his glasses. As Solsvig talks, Fences continues to play, though at a lower volume. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 13. 9 CONTINUED: 2 9 SOLSVIG (CONT'D) Much better! Anyway, I got your new program and we've loaded it into the computer, but as I said in my memo, there are still two problems we haven't been able to lick if we want to reach your goals... FENCES (in action figure voice) Standby the anti-boredom ray! SOLSVIG (oblivious) First, our computer chips aren't as good as the ones I used to have at NASA. Those were from Zenith Chip, far above anything commercially available, but we just haven't been able to match them. Fences holds up an action figure and pretends it's speaking in a deep commanding voice. FENCES I an Bob, Master of the Universe, my word is action. Worlds tremble at my feet. A crack team is already working on your chip problem. SOLSVIG Really? Excellent. Second, we need a stronger pulse amplifier. (reluctantly) Unfortunately, one doesn't exist. FENCES (thru the action figure) That's all right. I am Bob, owner of a seventy billion dollar software company. I can do what I want. You shall have your chips and amplifier. Do not worry, Bob will take care of it. SOLSVIG (to the figure) Thank you, Bob. FENCES (thru the figure) Don't mention it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 14. 9 CONTINUED: 3 9 Solsvig leaves and an attractive woman enters. This is SIMONE, Bob's personal secretary. She has a lot of cleavage. Fences putt down the figures and speaks normally. SIMONE Has he figured it out, yet? FENCES Not a clue. He still thinks this is a hobby of mine. (mocking) Albeit a _really_ expensive one. He picks up an Action figure and stares at it. FENCES (CONT'D) (gloating) For the last few years Nanosoft's profits have been limited by trade barriers overseas, but since negotiations have failed, they leave us no choice but to make our money another way. He checks his watch. It's two minutes to Eleven. FENCES (CONT'D) In two minutes, the empire begins to strike back. He crashes one action figure into another. (NOTE: INTERCUT THE FOLLOWING TWO SCENES AS NEEDED) 10 INT. ZENITH CHIP CORPORATION - DAY 10 It's a high tech computer chip manufacturing facility, like Intel. (That is, as high tech as our budget will allow.) Everything is super sterile. The MANAGER checks his watch as it just hits 11AM. Suddenly, a _trance-like_ expression comes over his face and he moves to open the high security door that permits access to the room. 11 INT. HELICOPTER - DAY 11 Lois, Clark and Jimmy, plus a PILOT, fly over the countryside (STOCK SHOTS) near the airport we saw in the Teaser. Jimmy shoots random photos as Clark stares at Lois, who's focused on studying the ground. Suddenly, Lois becomes aware of Clark's stare. LOIS What? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 15. 11 CONTINUED: 11 CLARK Nothing. LOIS Don't give me that look. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I should've waited for you last night. CLARK (lying) No, I'm not. LOIS Clark, you can't control everything. We're both rational, thinking adults. Sometimes I'm going to do things we disagree on. CLARK That's what worries me. Jimmy suddenly turns to Lois. JIMMY So what are we looking for? Lois reluctantly twists to face him. LOIS I don't know. Landing sites. Scorch marks. A snapshot of themselves at Disney World. Anything that might show that a UFO has been here. Jimmy glances at Clark, who just shrugs. LOIS (CONT'D) Go left. There... that's about where it happened. She suddenly glances at her watch. It reads 11 AM. A _trance-like_ expression comes over her face, but no one notices. 12 INT. ZENITH CHIP CORPORATION - DAY 12 The Manager opens the security door. MASKED ROBBERS, brandishing machine guns, rob the place., dumping trays of finished chips into small athletic bags. A WORKER presses a hidden alarm button. --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 16. 13 INT. HELICOPTER - DAY 13 The police scanner in the helicopter crackles RADIO ANNOUNCER All cars in the vicinity of Fortnum and Mason, we have a Two-Fifteen silent alarm at Zenith Chip Corporation. Robbery in progress. I re- Clark urgently taps the pilot. CLARK Take us down! We have to go down! The PILOT nods and works the controls, but before they can descend, Lois, still in her trance, undoes her seatbelt and dives out of the chopper! Everyone gasps. FADE OUT. _END ACT ONE_ --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 17. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 14 INT. HELICOPTER - DAY 14 Clark look out the open door, horror struck. For a moment, he freezes... he can't change into Superman here. Then he gets an idea. He undoes his.seatbelt and lunges after Lois as if to see if there's any hope. All this takes about a second. CLARK Lois?! Clark lets his lunge "accidentally" carry him out of the helicopter. JIMMY C.K.! 15 EXT. CLOUDS - DAY (SPECIAL EFFECTS) 15 Lois plummets earthward, disappearing into a cloud. Clark plunges in after her, loosening his collar as he goes. Lois continues to plunge until she's suddenly caught by Superman. SUPERMAN Don't worry, Lois. I've got you. Lois doesn't speak; she just nods. 16 EXT. AIRPORT - DAY 16 Superman lands with Lois. SUPERMAN Lois, are you okay? LOIS (vaguely) I'm... fine. He sets Lois on the ground. SUPERMAN Stay right here, I'll be right back. I have to stop a robbery. 17 SUPERMAN 17 turns, takes a step, jumps... and stops in mid-leap. He looks back at Lois... who's tottering like a zombie. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 18. 17 CONTINUED 17 Superman goes back to her. SUPERMAN (gently shaking her) Lois? Lois! LOIS, look at me! Lois blinks and comes out of her trance. LOIS Clark? What happened, what are we doing here? SUPERMAN You jumped out of the helicopter and I saved you, don't you remember? LOIS (nervous laugh) No, really. SUPERMAN Really. Lois's worried look is interrupted by the off screen landing of the helicopter and the pounding arrival of Jimmy. JIMMY Superman! Thank God! Lois, I thought you were a goner! But where's Clark?! (to Superman) You caught, Clark, didn't you?! SUPERMAN He's fine. Lucky I heard him shouting. He went to tell the control tower that everything's okay. JIMMY Man, Lois, you were like Greg Louganis. Whooosh, right out the door. LOIS I... I must've slipped. SUPERMAN Jimmy, why don't you go get Lois's car. (to Lois) I think you've had enough flying for the day. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 19. 17 CONTINUED: 2 17 JIMMY Sure thing. He runs off. SUPERMAN (to Lois) And I think _we_ should have a conversation with Dr. Solsvig. CUT TO: 18 INT. CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE - NANOSOFT - DAY 18 Fences beams as Simone dumps a double-handful of Zenith computer chips on his desk. Fences pauses in his action figure playing. SIMONE Everything went perfectly, Superman was completely distracted. He never made it to the robbery. Fences divebombs a figure at the chips. He makes a whistling bomb and machine gun sounds. FENCES Kh-kh-kh-kh-kh-kh! Give them to Solsvig. He'll be overjoyed. (checks his watch) And at three o'clock, if things continue to go as plan, he'll have his pulse amplifier, too. Then I'll be... (voice deepening) ... Bob, Supreme Ruler of Everything; and I will crush everyone who has thwarted me in the past. He flies his action figure in a heroic-manner, knocking over several other toys with smashing noises. Simone gives him an adoring smile. CUT TO: 19 CLOSEUP - SOLSVIG'S FACE 19 SOLSVIG Hypnosis. --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 20. 20 INT. SOLSVIG'S LABORATORY - MANOSOFT - DAY - CONTINUOUS 20 Solsvig sits by a computer that's "on", speaking to Lois and Clark, who sit across from him and lean towards him. Behind him is the super Microwave Transmitter. His lab is filled with photos of UFO'S, crop circles, drawings of aliens, etc. LOIS I've never really been comfortable with that idea. SOLSVIG It's the best way to determine if what you experienced really happened. (eagerly) I'd be happy to arrange a session for you. LOIS I don't know. What if I said something I didn't want to get out? SOLSVIG (chuckles) Then it'd be out. Excuse me if I seem so excited, but I've worked my whole life towards contacting alien civilizations. Soon I'll complete my Super Microwave Transmitter, but until then, talking to people who've had your 'experience' is the closest I'll ever get. CLARK There's always Superman. SOLSVIG Yes! A one of a kind. So unlike all the other aliens ever reported. I'd love to meet him. Lois and Clark exchange glances. LOIS Dr. Solsvig, one last thing. Some 'unusual' things have been happening to me since... you know. SOLSVIG (excited) Really? Like what? LOIS This morning, I, uh, went into a trance for a brief period. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 21. 20 CONTINUED: 20 SOLSVIG (disappointed) Oh. Perfectly natural. Some people report enhanced paranormal abilities, others bizarre behavior. CLARK Have you ever heard of a person putting themselves into jeopardy after an abduction? SOLSVIG No. That would be unusual. Lois lets that sink in, then rises to her feet. LOIS Thanks for your time. SOLSVIG My time is space-time. (off their blank looks) Sorry. Physicist's joke. LOIS Oh. She forces a smile, but as they turn to leave, Bob Fences enters. He's surprised to see them, but quickly covers. FENCES Lois Lane and Clark Kent, am I right? The two most famous reporters in America. Lois sticks out her hand and they shake. LOIS I know we've never met, but I've the strangest feeling that we have. FENCES I'm afraid I've been in the news a lot lately. CLARK Yes, I read your interview on trade barriers. You were rather adamant. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 22. 20 CONTINUED: 2 20 FENCES (serious) Unfair trade barriers are the bane of U.S. businesses overseas, and if negotiations fail, I believe we should go to war. (grins) Metaphorically speaking. CLARK Let's hope it never comes to that. Clark gives a parting nod, and they leave. Fences watches them depart with a thoughtful look. 21 EXT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 21 Lois parks her Jeep about a block from the Planet; it's the closest space she could get. She and Clark get out. They start walking towards the Planet. CLARK The thing I don't understand is, what would you jumping out of a helicopter have to do with aliens? LOIS I haven't the faintest. Lois checks her watch. It's 3 o'clock. The trance-like expression returns to her face, but Clark doesn't notice. Lois peels out of frame as Clark continues to speak. CLARK I mean, in Close Encounters, Richard Dreyfuss was drawn to the mountain, but what could've been drawing you? The ground? It doesn't make sense. It's just lucky I was there. You know, that's my nightmare, you'll get in trouble and I'm not there. That's why when you -- The blasting horn of a semi-truck cuts Clark off. He spins towards the street and WE SEE that Lois is walking down the middle of the street straight towards the speeding truck! The truck blasts it's horn again. --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 23. 22 CLARK 22 With no time to change into Superman, cups his hands to his mouth as he pretends to cough and SUPERBLOWS Lois up into the air and out of the path of the truck. Then, still hiding his breathing with his hands, he GENTLY BLOWS a supporting cushion of air and lowers Lois softly to the far sidewalk. He zigzags across the street to her. CLARK Lois.... But Lois is still in the trance. CLARK (CONT'D) Lois! Listen to me, it's me, _Clark_. He shakes her and her eyes slowly clear. A scared look wrinkles her face. LOIS It happened again, didn't it? CLARK You nearly became a hood ornament. Come on, I'm going to take you home. Clark firmly takes hold of her hand and they walk back towards the Jeep. 23 EXT. LOIS'S APARTMENT BUILDING - AFTERNOON 23 Clark, driving the Jeep, parks in front of the building. He and Lois get out and pause on the sidewalk, mesmerized by what they see. 24 LOIS AND CLARK'S POV - A NEON SIGN 24 That shines brightly in a first floor window. It reads: "Psychic Channeling and Advice by Star". LOIS Unbelievable. A second later, a man dressed in a bad, homemade set of clothes who looks like Ben Franklin, sprightly steps out the front door and waves back at Star, who's opened the window next to the sign. STAR See you next week, Mr. Schaffenberger! (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 24. 24 CONTINUED: 24 STAR (CONT'D) (to Lois and Clark) That's Mr. Schaffenberger. Ever since he got hit by lightning, he's thought he's Ben Franklin. I've been helping him reach Thomas Jefferson; they're working on a revision of the Declaration of Independence. Ooops, gotta get ready for my next appointment. Star waves goodbye and disappears back into the recesses of her apartment. Lois looks at Clark. LOIS Maybe you're not the only alien on the planet. CLARK She seems good hearted. LOIS Actually, she is. That's what's so creepy. They both laugh. Lois starts to go in and Clark follows. Lois stops. LOIS (CONT'D) Where're you going? CLARK I thought... I mean (confused) ... I just... felt... you might not want to be alone right now. LOIS Clark, I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. CLARK How do you know? LOIS I _know_, now _go_. Besides... (putting on a brave front) ... you can't babysit me 24 hours a day, other people need you, too. She leans up and kisses him, then makes a shoo-ing motion with her hand. Clark reluctantly nods, and leaves. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 25. 24 CONTINUED: 2 24 Lois heads for her entrance, but is cut-off by a WOMAN rushing ahead of her. The WOMAN carries a ventriloquist's DUMMY on one arm. DUMMY I hate it when you make me late! WOMAN I don't know why you keep going to her, she's a nut! DUMMY She's a nut? _She's_ a nut?! Who diagnosed termites when nobody else could find anything? Huh? Huh?! And as the bickering pair enters, Lois takes a final glance at the neon sign and goes in. 25 INT. SOLSVIG'S LABORATORY - NIGHT #2 25 The lab is dark except for Solsvig typing away on his computer. He runs his finger along lines of data in a program for the Super Microwave Transmitter. He double checks something, frowns, and reaches for the phone. He dials and waits a beat. SOLSVIG (worried) Mr. Fences, I've just discovered something in that new program you gave me that I'd like to talk to you about. CUT TO: 26 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT 26 Lois reads Solsvig's book: "The Alien Touch" as she removes a pint of ice cream from the freezer; it's chocolate brownie and vanilla. Unfortunately, it's practically empty. Disappointed, she scrapes a half-spoonful out of it and throws the container away. She turns back to the book and nurses her meager bite. LOIS (to herself) No way! Still reading, she walks towards her fish tank and begins to read aloud. Occasionally, she looks at her fish to see if they're listening. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 26. 26 CONTINUED: 26 LOIS (CONT'D) Get this: 'Some abductees report an increase in their ability in psychic communication, either in reading thoughts, or having their own thoughts read.' (alarmed; to herself) Star. (to fish) What if she found out about Clark?! Lois hurriedly reads more, but she does it silently until... LOIS (CONT'D) 'A few individuals stated that the only way they could prevent their thoughts from being perceived by others was to wear a skull cap of aluminum foil.' (to the fish) Can you believe this? (to herself) What am I saying? I'm talking to a fish? (to the fish) Don't you turn away from me like that! Lois sighs and flops in a chair, dispirited. A moment of self-pity lingers, then there's a knock at the door. STAR (V.0.) Lois? It's me, Star. I brought you some ice cream. It's chocolate brownie and vanilla. Lois glances at her own spoon of chocolate brownie and vanilla; a look of alarm consumes her face. She bolts for the kitchen. LOIS I'll be right there. She frantically rummages in a drawer for aluminum foil, finds some, tears off a sheet, and quickly fashions a skull cap onto her head. She races to the door, stops, and opens it with an air of studied nonchalance. Star enters. STAR You know, I just had the funniest feeling. A little voice said, Lois wants some ice cream. _Fish_ ice cream. I didn't have any of that, so I brought this instead. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 27. 26 CONTINUED: 2 26 She flops on Lois's couch. STAR (CONT'D) (beat) What's that on your head? CUT TO: 27 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - LATER 27 Lois and Star are deep in conversation. Each has a spoon. The ice cream is mostly gone. LOIS ... It's just that, Clark's such a worry wart. He thinks I'm always putting myself in danger. STAR Well, are you? LOIS No. (beat) Not that often. (beat) I mean, you can't be a great reporter without taking some risks. STAR And _that's_ the only thing that's keeping you two apart? Lois unconsciously readjusts her aluminum foil beenie. LOIS That, and one or two other things... (Star waits) some of which may be my own problems... (Star waits more) ... like, okay, maybe.the biggest thing that scares me is just the idea of committing to a relationship. For life. STAR Don't you think he's scared, too? LOIS Yeah. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 27. 27 CONTINUED: 27 STAR But you both love each other? (with growing intensity) It's not like you think that one morning you're going to wake up and find out that he's shaved his head and tattooed the entire third Act of Henry the Fourth on it and has gone to live in a commune in Brazil where they all worship a giant butterfly named Fred, is it? Ooops, sorry. I mean, you really _love_ each other, right? LOIS Yes! But so did my parents, and then _they_ got divorced. STAR But you're not your parents, anymore than they're you. What you want is a guaranteed, risk free, happy ever after relationship. But there IS no such thing. LOIS But it's scary. STAR Lois, you're willing to risk your life for work, why not risk your life for love? Lois thinks about this for a moment; then comes to a decision. She suddenly beams. LOIS Okay, I'll tell him! (beat) I just have to figure out when. CUT TO: 28 INT. LOIS'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 28 Lois sleeps alone in her bed, a slight smile on her face. The smile slowly changes to a frown. CAMERA PUSHES IN on her face as she moves uncomfortably in her sleep. 29 LOIS'S FLASHBACK #1 29 We see everything from LOIS'S POV. We are in a hazy, all white space. Everything is slightly blurry. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 29. 29 CONTINUED: 29 Lois is lying on an examining table, looks left and right. Other people lie on tables, too. To her left WE recognize the Manager from Zenith Chip. To Lois's right, a RED-HEADED WOMAN in a business suit. We HEAR strange, garbled noises and Lois's POV turns to look up and see weird, HIDEOUS BEINGS in all white garb, large heads with freakish, oversized dark eyes and some mechanical device over where their mouths should be. They're speaking as they loom down, but because it's a memory and hazy, we can't distinguish what they're saying. Sometimes it has the tone of questions, sometimes the tone of commands. Occasionally, they seem to talk to another alien out of sight and behind Lois's head. We can't see this alien because the examining table has a tall headboard on it. Suddenly, a mechanical arm swings into Lois's POV with a hugely sinister hypodermic at its end. It grows larger and LARGER as it looms down and we hear Lois screaming and SCREAMING and SCREAMING. FADE OUT. _END ACT TWO_ --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 30. _ACT THREE_ FADE IN: 30 INT. LOIS'S BEDROOM - NIGHT 30 Lois, still screaming Wakes UP with a jolt, a look of terror in her eyes. 31 INT. KENTS' BEDROOM - NIGHT 31 MARTHA and JONATHAN are peacefully asleep. The phone RINGS and Jonathan groggily opens one eye and gropes the sidetable. JONATHAN I hate alarm clocks. Martha reaches out and turns on her light. MARTHA It's the phone, Jonathan. She picks up her phone as she eyes the clock on her side. It's 2:13.AM, Smallville time. MARTHA (CONT'D) Hello? 32 INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN - NIGHT 32 Clark talks on his portable phone; it's wedged between his shoulder and ear. He's washing mud off his cape and uniform in a square plastic bowl in his sink. It's a sudsy mess. (NOTE: INTERCUT WITH MARTHA AND JONATHAN AS NEEDED.) CLARK Hi, Mom. MARTHA Clark, is everything okay? Jonathan picks up his extension. CLARK I'm fine. Had to stop a mudslide in Chile. You know. JONATHAN How's Lois? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 31. 32 CONTINUED 32 CLARK That's what I wanted to call you about. MARTHA Is this one of those father-son talks you want me to butt out of? CLARK It's not that kind of conversation, Mom. It's just that... sometimes I think Lois and I shouldn't be together. MARTHA (sympathetic) Oh, Clark, did you have a fight? CLARK No. I'm just worried I'm a jinx. JONATHAN A jinx? CLARK Yeah. Let's face it, ever since she's known me, Lois's been kidnapped, frozen, pushed off buildings, almost stabbed, poisoned, buried alive and who knows what else, and it's all because of me. MARTHA Did something happen today? CLARK No! No. It's just something I've been thinking about. JONATHAN Clark, they weren't all your fault. CLARK You know what I mean. MARTHA Have you talked to her about this? CLARK Sort of. But we never get very. far. It's kind of uncomfortable. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 32. 32 CONTINUED: 2 32 MARTHA Honey, you're going to have to talk about it some more; communication is key. JONATHAN Something I learned a long time ago, son: no matter how much you love somebody, you can't protect them from all the evil in the world all the time. Even if you _are_ Superman. CLARK (unconvinced) Yeah, I guess. MARTHA And don't forget, Lois knows what being involved with you means. It's her choice, too. She's not a six year old, you know. CLARK That's what she said. JONATHAN See? She's smart, just like your Mom. Clark gives a tiny grin. His doorbell suddenly rings, followed by hard knocking and... LOIS (V.O.) Clark?! Clark?! Wake up, it's me! Clark?! CLARK (into phone) Mom, Dad, I gotta go. Love ya, bye! Martha and Jonathan exchange a glance. Clark runs to the door and opens it. Lois streaks in, hyper. She's only thrown on a few items over her pajamas. LOIS Clark, I remember being kidnapped by the aliens! I had a flashback! I could see them! They had big, bulging heads, and they'd snatched these other people and they had, had these thingamajiggies over their mouths so they sounded like... (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 33. 32 CONTINUED: 3 32 Clark tries to gently embrace her. CLARK Lois, it's okay, it's okay. You're here now. Everything's all right. LOIS ... then this big mechanical arm came over me with a needle pointed at my neck and I was screaming and screaming and screaming, and you weren't there... CLARK Lois, are you sure you weren't just dreaming? LOIS Oh, God, I don't know what to think. It seemed so real. CLARK I never should've let you go home alone that night. LOIS It's not your fault. CLARK But I feel responsible. LOIS But you shouldn't. CLARK Sure I should. I love you. That's what makes it so difficult. When I'm catching some bad guy, I'm thinking, is Lois okay? Or is somebody slowly boiling her in oil? LOIS (touched) Really? Clark takes a breath. He's unused to these strong, new feelings he has and it's difficult for him to talk about them. CLARK Yes. And what I can't stand is the idea that the closer we get, the more at risk you are. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 34. 32 CONTINUED: 4 32 LOIS That's not true! CLARK Lois, for the sake of argument, let's just say you _were_ kidnapped by aliens. In a way you were lucky, because what if it had been your average earthbound criminal and when you were drugged, you'd let slip that Clark Kent is Superman? Everyone knows that you and I are an item, and to get to Superman, they would do _anything_ to you. LOIS But that's a worse case scenario. CLARK Who could've predicted you'd be kidnapped by aliens?! LOIS So what do you want me to do, hie thee to a nunnery? CLARK (re: their situation) No! It's just, hard, that's all. Harder than I ever thought it would be. Moved by Clark's admission of vulnerability, Lois throws her arms around him. LOIS But we can make it work, I know we can. Clark holds her tight. He brushes her hair with his hand. LOIS (CONT'D) In fact, I want you to know, I'm ready to say -- Clark notices something on Lois's neck. It's a puncture mark. CLARK Lois, what's this? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 35. 32 CONTINUED: 5 32 LOIS (mood broken) What? (no answer) What? CLARK It looks like a puncture mark. Lois looks at Clark. Her eyes begin to widen in renewed horror. CUT TO: 33 INT. SOLSVIG'S LABORATORY - NIGHT 33 The computer hums quietly in the FOREGROUND. All we see is _Solsvig's shadow_ looming on one wall as he angrily walks about. ANOTHER SHADOW stands quietly listening; we can't see who it is. SOLSVIG (O.S.) This is diabolical! This is monstrous! This is not nice! I won't stand for it! The other shadow shifts its weight; Solsvig instantly falters. SOLSVIG (CONT'D) Okay, I'm willing to talk! Let's not be precipitate! (nervous laugh) Heh heh, a small ... joke there. CUT TO 34 INT. DAILY PLANET - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY #3 34 Lois is elbow deep in research on abductions. Books and magazines litter the table, all about UFO's and aliens. Clark stands by the small food and coffee table in the corner and microwaves some tomato vegetable soup. It pings and he takes it out. He moves back to Lois and hands it to her. She eats as she reads. LOIS Thanks. Ooo, hot! Mmm, listen, there're all sorts of reports of medical examinations by aliens on abductees, and people having flashbacks, but nothing on trances. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 36. 34 CONTINUED: 34 CLARK And you had two in one day. The first was -- LOIS -- at eleven o'clock exactly. I remember looking at my watch. CLARK (nodding; singsong) You jumped, I saved you. I take off for the robbery, save you again; forget the robbery, stay with you. LOIS Then at three o'clock exactly, I do my trance thing again. They both look at each other. Then... LOIS & CLARK Jimmmmy!!! Just then Jimmy blows through the door with an armload of books and magazines. He dumps it on the table between them. Jimmy Hey, Louise down in research can only move so fast. LOIS Forget the books! Call the cops and see -- CLARK -- if there was another robbery yesterday -- LOIS -- at exactly three o'clock. Particularly at a -- CLARK -- high tech firm. Ask for everything -- LOIS -- they've got. JIMMY Did you guys practice that? (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 37. 34 CONTINUED: 2 34 LOIS & CLARK (annoyed) Go. He vanishes out the door. CLARK Okay, let's assume there _was_ another robbery. Then maybe the timing of your trances _wasn't_ completely accidental. LOIS Maybe they were meant to keep Superman from stopping those robberies! CLARK But what would aliens want with our technology? They're way ahead of us already. LOIS (beat; deflates) Yeah, that doesn't make sense. Jimmy rushes back in. He carries some pages. JIMMY Man, are you guys psychic or what? LOIS Don't use that word. JIMMY This just came in over the fax. At exactly three o'clock yesterday, some guys broke into WaveTech Industries; they're a top contractor for the Department of Defense. They stole the prototype of an advanced pulse amplifier. LOIS Yes! JIMMY They figure it was an inside job, just like the one at Zenith Chip. In both cases, they've already arrested a suspect. Here. They even faxed over their mug shots. Jimmy lays them on the table. Lois pales. One is a picture of the Manager; the other of the Red Headed Woman. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 38. 34 CONTINUED: 3 34 LOIS Clark, I know them. Both of them were in my dream. On Clark's look of concern, we... CUT TO: 35 A SPINNING, HYPNOTIC SPIRAL DISC 35 It fills the frame, whirling whirling whirling, drawing us in. STAR (V.0.) (softly) Now I'm going to ask you... 36 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - DAY 36 Star takes away the disc from in front of Lois, who sits hypnotized on her couch, eyes open. Clark sits next to her. STAR ... a few simple questions, just to put you at ease. First, what's your name? LOIS Lois Lane. STAR And where do you live? LOIS At 1058 Carter Avenue, Metropolis. Apartment 407. STAR And if you were an animal, what type of animal would you be? Excluding invertebrates, viruses and certain classes of photo-plankton. LOIS (confused) What? Clark gestures for Star to get on with it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 39. 36 CONTINUED: 36 STAR Okay, now I want you to remember that you are in a warm, secure place. Clark and I are with you. Nothing is going to harm you. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable, you will emerge from this session by your own choice. Nothing can stop you. Are you ready? LOIS Yes. STAR I'd like you to think back to the dream you had last night. What do you see? (NOTE: INTERCUT AS NEEDED WITH A REPLAY OF THE FLASHBACK, THOUGH THIS TIME IT'S ALL IN CRYSTAL CLEAR FOCUS) LOIS I'm in a white room. There's a man and woman on either side of me. These... creatures are leaning over me, talking to me. Clark, who's been scribbling a note, shows it to Star, who nods. STAR What are they saying? LOIS I... don't know. It seems like questions. They keep talking to someone who stands behind my head. He seems to be giving them orders. CLARK What's he look like? LOIS I can't see him. It's blocked... by a kind of... headboard. STAR You never see him? LOIS No. (beat) Yes. There's a reflection. A tiny reflection. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 40. 36 CONTINUED: 2 36 STAR Where? LOIS On the mechanical arm. STAR Can you focus on it? LOIS Yes. It's... it's... We CUT in closer and closer to the reflection until we see... Bob Fences, dressed normally, speaking to the "aliens". LOIS (CONT'D) ... it's Bob Fences! Lois instantly comes out of her hypnosis. She's animated and grabs Clark. LOIS (CONT'D) He was right there! Talking to them! CLARK To the aliens? LOIS No, don't you get it?! They weren't aliens, the whole thing was staged! Then they drugged me and gave me, um... (searches for the word) CLARK ... post hypnotic suggestions? LOIS Exactly! Everybody knows I'm a friend of Superman's. CLARK So, they kidnap you... LOIS ... and brainwash me... CLARK ... to put yourself in jeopardy whenever they want to rob somebody... (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 41. 36 CONTINUED: 3 36 LOIS ... and presto-change-o, Superman's forced to miss the robberies 'cause he's too busy saving me. CLARK But what would Fences want with computer chips and a pulse amplifier? LOIS That's where Solsvig comes in. The phone rings. Star looks at it, but doesn't pick it up. STAR (dead serious; to Lois) It's for you. LOIS (beat) Thanks. She answers. LOIS (CONT'D) Hello? 37 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY - CONTINUOUS 37 Perry's on the phone. Jimmy hovers next to him, anxious. PERRY Lois? Good. Look, I thought you'd want to know this as soon as it came in, I just got a call from the police. 38 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 38 Lois is shocked. LOIS Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes, thanks, Perry. (to Clark and Star) Martin Solsvig's been killed. Clark and Star react. FADE OUT. _END OF ACT THREE_ --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 42. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 39 EXT. NANOSOFT - DAY 39 Clark and a very determined Lois march towards the building. CLARK Lois, it's the oldest trick in the book. LOIS Clark, who's the best poker player at the Planet? You're talking to the Queen of Bluff. If I can't maneuver him into talking, no one can. Clark gives a dubious look. 40 INT. CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE - NANOSOFT - DAY 40 Fences is at his desk. His computer is "on", but the screen is blank. He plays with two action figures. He tosses one high up in the air, out of frame. FENCES (Action Figure #1 voice) Oh, no, my jet pack failed! The figure smashes down onto the desk and bounces, scattering others. Fences makes smashing noises, then... FENCES (CONT'D) (Action Figure #2 voice) Lucky you landed on your head. (Action Figure #1 voice) Too bad I didn't land on _you_! He crashes Figure #1 into Figure #2 and they get into a strenuous fight, with appropriate sound effects. Simone enters. SIMONE The transmitter's almost ready. FENCES About time. (back to fighting; Figure #1) Take that, you boogerhead! (Figure #2) Oh, yeah, I'll microwave your butt, you overgrown cuisinart! (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 43. 40 CONTINUED: 40 SIMONE And those two reporters are back, Lane and Kent. They want to speak to you. FENCES (Figure #1) They're awfully nosy. (Figure #2) Let's kill 'em! (Figure #1) With what, you're breath? (Figure #2) No, your face! (Figure #1) Ha ha ha. Krassshhh! He smashes #1 into #2; they fight some more; then Fences stops, panting. FENCES (CONT'D) (Figure #1) Okay. Okay. Let's see what they want first. Then we'll decide. (Figure #2) Hope they're not whiners, like solsvig: (imitates Solsvig) But Bob, you shouldn't've done this without my permission. This... this... could _hurt_ people. (normal Figure #2 voice) Yeah, like no kidding, Sherlock. That's the _point_! Simone clears her throat. FENCES (CONT'D) All right, all right. Show them in. He puts the figures to one side and waves an admonishing finger at them. FENCES (CONT'D) Not a word. Lois and Clark enter. Simone shuts the door behind them. FENCES (CONT'D) Ms. Lane. Mr. Kent. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 44. 40 CONTINUED: 2 40 LOIS Mr. Fences, I'll get straight to the point: you kidnapped me, then you drugged me, and then you brainwashed me. FENCES Good to see you, too. Anything else? LOIS You killed Martin Solsvig. FENCES Nope to both of them. Next. CLARK Mr. Fences, Lois saw you in the white room. FENCES White room? Was it padded? LOIS (frustrated) I know what I saw. FENCES And where did you see this? LOIS (reluctantly) In my dream. FENCES Have a nice day. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. He presses a button on his phone. Lois gives Clark a look that says, "Okay, watch me now." LOIS (bluffing) I have a witness who can connect you to my kidnapping. FENCES Ms. Lane, I didn't do anything. Your witness must've been dreaming, like yourself. Now if you'll excuse me?. Simone opens the door and waits for Lois and Clark to leave. Reluctantly, they do. She shuts the door after them and turns a questioning face to Fences. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 45. 40 CONTINUED: 3 40 FENCES Lane and Kent are getting close. Tighten security, but otherwise, we stay on schedule. When the time comes, Lois will keep Superman occupied. And hold my calls, I've gotta finish that letter. Simone nods. Fences hits some keys on his computer. 41 EXT. NANOSOFT HEADQUARTERS - DAY 41 Lois and Clark pass several people, chatting. LOIS (sotto) What's he doing now? Clark turns back with his X-RAY VISION. 42 CLARK'S X-RAY POV - (SPECIAL EFFECT) 42 Fences is just turning off his computer screen, whatever was on it shrinking to a dot. 43 BACK TO SCENE 43 Clark shakes his head. CLARK Nothing. Something was on his computer, but he turned it off just before I could read it. LOIS Did you hear anything? CLARK They're out of three-hole paper. Otherwise, too many people. LOIS (sighs) So much for spooking him into giving himself away. CLARK Lucky he doesn't play poker. Lois gives Clark the eye. --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 46. 44 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAILY PLANET - DAY 44 Lois and Clark scan stacks of books and magazines. LOIS Here's another one on his personal fascination with aliens. CLARK And another one about the unfairness of trade barriers. They each toss their magazines on a stack and pick up two more. LOIS Here's one on him personally funding Solsvig's transmitter. CLARK And yet _another one_ on him railing against trade barriers. Again they toss the magazines onto the stack and pick up two more. LOIS Solsvig said the transmitter was nearly complete, so what does he need more chips and a pulse amplifier for? CLARK Maybe he wants to make a really long distance call. LOIS So funny. (takes a new magazine; reads title) 'Aerospace, Submersible and Land Technologies Monthly.' That's a grabber. She flips through the magazine. Something-catches her eye and she reads with greater intensity. LOIS (CONT'D) Whoa! Whoa! Listen to this: (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 47. 44 CONTINUED: 44 LOIS (CONT'D) (reading) 'However, due to Department of Defense budget adjustments, research on several new weapons systems were terminated in fiscal 1994, among them the Navy's personal undersea laser rifle,' blah blah blah, blah blah blah, 'and NASA's Super Microwave Transmitter.' CLARK Weapons system? Everything else says it's for communications with aliens. Clark gets up to read over her shoulder. LOIS (nods, reads, skims) Theoretical modifications... project a deadly beam of microwave radiation... CLARK (reads) ...that could literally boil any living thing, but leave buildings and other non-organic structures intact. LOIS So it could look like a harmless transmitter, but actually be deadly! CLARK Solsvig must've found out that Fences had other plans for his transmitter... LOIS And that's why he was killed. Clark speed reads the rest of the article. CLARK Hmph. The microwave could be bounced off any satellite... hit any city on Earth... fired so quickly, it's point of origin would be undetectable. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 48. 44 CONTINUED: 2 44 Lois and Clark look at each other. Lois sinks into her chair. LOIS Fences can blackmail countries for billions. CLARK It's the perfect way for him to get revenge on their trade barriers. LOIS But who's first? He hates practically everybody. CLARK I don't know, but we've got to stop him. Even I can't outfly a microwave. LOIS (dismayed) But we don't have any proof. Are you sure you didn't see _anything_ on his computer screen? CLARK Nothing. It was just a... shrinking dot. LOIS (gets an idea) Maybe you just need some help remembering. 45 CLOSEUP SPINNING SPIRAL DISC 45 As it whirls and whirls. 46 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - DAY 46 Star has just hypnotized Clark. Lois watches attentively. Star puts down the spiral. STAR (softly) Now I'm going to ask you a few simple questions, just to put you at ease. First, what's your name? CLARK (beat) Kal-el. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 49. 46 CONTINUED: 46 Lois jumps in as Star turns a puzzled face towards her. LOIS Can you believe this guy? He can joke even under hypnosis! Let's just cut to the chase, okay? Lois hands her a list of questions. Star raises an eyebrow, but goes ahead. STAR Now remember, Clark, you're in a warm, safe, fuzzy place; kind of like you're living inside a giant Teddy Bear ... that's missing one eye because your stupid sister used him for homeplate while you were trying to get your retainer unstuck from your bicycle spokes... Lois flicks Star on her arm and without missing a beat, Star gets back to business. STAR ... and any time you want to emerge, it's your choice, all right? CLARK Sure. STAR (checks list) Okay. I want you to think back to your visit this morning to Bob Fences. (Clark nods) As you were leaving, you glanced at his computer screen. Correct? CLARK (beat) Yes. STAR Did you see anything on it? CLARK He was turning it off as I looked. Lois gestures for Star to keep going. STAR Maybe just a glimpse, or a glimmer? Clark concentrates. --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 50. 47 FLASHBACK - CLOSEUP COMPUTER SCREEN 47 The screen is filled by a document, but then vanishes. 48 BACK TO SCENE 48 CLARK A document. Lois perks up, points to another question on the list. STAR Good. Very good, Clark. Now relax. Let your mind remember what you saw. Let it hold onto the image of the document. Hold until you can see it... and read it. Clark frowns, but then relaxes. 49 FLASHBACK - DOCUMENT ON COMPUTER SCREEN 49 Now we can read it. It's a letter, addressed to the Prime Minister of Pacifonesia. 50 BACK TO SCENE 50 CLARK It's a letter. To the Prime Minister of Pacifonesia. STAR And what does it say? We see Clark's eyes move under his eyelids, as if he's reading something. CLARK It demands one billion dollars to be delivered to an offshore bank in the Cayman Islands or one of their cities will be destroyed. If he contacts Interpol or anyone else, five cities will be destroyed. Lois urgently points at another question. STAR When will all this happen? CLARK Today. At 5 PM, Eastern Standard Time. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 51. 50 CONTINUED: 50 Lois glances at her watch. It's five minutes to 5. LOIS (sotto, to Star) Ask this one, then we've got to go! STAR Is there anything else you remember? Anything important? CLARK Yes. His secretary has the most beautiful body in the world... LOIS What?! CLARK ... next to Lois's. Star looks at Lois and smiles. 51 INT. SOLSVIG'S LABORATORY - DAY 51 Fences sits at the computer. On the screen is a map representing several islands. A pair of glowing red crosshairs blink over a port city. "Pacifonesia" is written across the top of the screen. A countdown clock reads 1100:05 seconds and HOLDING" in the upper right corner. Fences slams down the phone and looks over at Simone, who's anxious. FENCES Those pikers still haven't paid up. So, time to french fry! He types on the computer keyboard. SIMONE What about Superman? FENCES Will you _stop_ with the Superman stuff? (checks his watch) By now, Lois is probably hurling herself in front of a subway. BOOM! The doors slam open and Superman strides in, with Lois right behind him. FENCES (CONT'D) Then again, maybe not. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 52. 51 CONTINUED: 51 Superman looks at the super Microwave Transmitter and focuses his heat vision on the transmitting rod at the top. With a shower of sparks, the rod topples over and hangs downwards. FENCES (CONT'D) You idiot, it's still going to get the signal to fire, but now it's going to explode! EVERYTHING SUDDENLY GOES TO SUPER SLOW MOTION: A SERIES OF SHOTS: 1. Superman looks from the transmitter to Fences, alarm spreading across his face. 2. Fences turns to run. 3. Lois's mouth goes wide in surprise. 4. Simone starts to duck. 5. The countdown on the computer clicks from 1 second to 0 second. 6. Superman blurs out of frame. 7. A blue blur sweeps Lois away. 8. A rainbow of exploding light blots out the room. BACK TO NORMAL SPEED A shower of debris bounces off Superman as he crouches near one wall, his cape spread by his arms over the huddled forms of Fences, Simone and Lois. After the debris stops falling, he stands up, debris falling from his shoulders like snowflakes. A shaky Fences and Simone also rise, but Lois remains sitting. FENCES Well, that was... invigorating. SUPERMAN Lois? Lois lies unconscious, a trickle of blood from one nostril, a red bump on her forehead. Superman checks her pulse. FENCES Is she...? Furious, Superman whirls to face Fences. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 53. 51 CONTINUED 2 51 SUPERMAN This is all your fault! For a second, it looks like he's going to kill Fences and Simone; they shrink in horror. Then his arms blur and he's tied them tightly together with a scrap of heavy electrical cable. A moment later he bends and picks up Lois. He leaps out of frame. 52 INT. LOIS'S APARTMENT - DAY 52 Lois lies in bed, a square gauze bandage on her forehead. She's slightly propped up on a pillow. There are Get Well bouquets and balloons around her. Perry and Jimmy stand beside the bed. LOIS ... then, because I'd had two trances already, we checked for any other hypnotic suggestions and had Star remove them. JIMMY That is so incredible. PERRY Lois, I don't want to see you for a week. You've had a bad concussion and if it wasn't for that thick skull of yours, it would've been a fracture. LOIS Don't worry, I get nauseous every time I move faster than a crawl. PERRY Good! That'll teach you to keep your head down the next time you-know-what starts hitting the rotating blades. LOIS (smiles) I'll remember that. There's a breeze and everyone turns to see Superman. SUPERMAN (tentative) Hi. Perry and Jimmy nod. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 54. 52 CONTINUED: 52 SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I wonder if I might have a moment alone with Lois. PERRY Sure. We were just leaving. I'm late for the gym. He makes boxing motions. JIMMY If you need anything... anytime... just call. LOIS Thanks, Jimmy. They leave, and then there's a moment of awkward silence between Lois and Superman. Then... SUPERMAN Lois... I feel horrible about this. LOIS Clark, it wasn't your fault. You saved my life. SUPERMAN No. I got... careless. I was overconfident. No matter how bad the situation is, I always think I'm strong enough, or fast enough to fix it. LOIS And you _are_! You saved a whole city full of people from being microwaved like popcorn! SUPERMAN But you still got hurt. I used to saving people, not getting them injured. LOIS You can't control everything. You can't protect everybody all the time, Clark. It's impossible. SUPERMAN I know. That's what my Dad said. (CONTINUED) --page break-- "CONTACT" (#3) C. Ruppenthal 7/24/95 55. 52 CONTINUED: 2 52 LOIS But we can handle it. Clark ... darling ... there's something I want to tell you. SUPERMAN (in hell) There's something I need to tell you, too. LOIS I know this isn't the best time, or the most romantic, but -- But Superman isn't listening. He's come here to say something and he's going to say it. SUPERMAN Lois, I love you too much to ever let something like this happen to you again. I know I can't control everything, but I can control people not using you to get to me. (he stands up) That's why I came here. To tell you... I don't think this is going to work out. I'm sorry. Lois is stunned. Superman cocks his head. He's heard another emergency. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I gotta go. With a sad look, he leaves. LOIS (beat) Clark? FADE OUT. _THE END_