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 1" for pages---BEFORE TEASE Page For TEASE Page and after, left margin at 0.8 and right margin at .25 (or minimum) (I had to tell the program that my primitive printer was using legal-size paper) sometimes in the original the formatting changes slightly (as in the numbers at the end of the lines), but I'm going to keep consistent because it's easier * and (X) used in script probably mean "this line changed from previous version" Notes: Cover: "Individual Responsibility", Written by Chris Ruppenthal & Grant Rosenberg [and] Directed by Alan J. Levi are all in large bolt print. WARNER BROTHERS TELEVISION is in an Ariel-type font. The remainder of the text is in Courier 10 (10 characters per inch) Note: page 55.-55A - the "-55A" is typed in a different font; I wonder if it's for the changes T. Hatcher reportedly asked for in that scene? Typos noted: "alright" misspelled 3 times; should be "all right" Page 9.: Clark, just past mid page: "seem be dart away" is in original; "be" should be "to" scene continued-type info missing from original on page 24/Yellow version, page 31/Pink version, and page 38/Pink version --page break-- (graphic - insert logo.bmp or logo.jpg) "Individual Responsibility" EPISODE TWENTY Prod. #456470 Written by Chris Ruppenthal & Grant Rosenberg Directed by Alan J. Levi WARNER BROS. TELEVISION _Production Draft_ March 10, 1995 FULL Blue 3/15/95 Pink Rev. 3/16/95 Yellow R. 3/17/95 Green R. 3/20/95 Gold Rev. 3/21/95 White R. 3/22/95 Blue Blue 3/23/95 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Individual Responsibility_" Blue Rev. 3/15/95 _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE JIMMY OLSEN PERRY WHITE _______________________________________________________________ BILL CHURCH, JR. GENE NEWTRICH DR. FRISKIN WALLY SCIARRA TIFANI GUARD WILLIE BAUMGARDNER JULIE TUCKER HANK MORRISSEY * OLDER WOMAN OLDER MAN * KARL DELIVERY GUY * RECEPTIONIST * --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Individual Responsibility_" Blue Rev. 3/15/95 _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Daily Planet Daily Planet Newsroom Perry's Office Metropolis Street Luxury Suite Costmart Bill Church Jr.'s Office Office Building Office Hallway Medical Building Dr. Friskin's Office Office Waiting Room Gene Newtrich's Office Office Hallway Parking Garage --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ "_Individual Responsibility_" Blue Rev. 3/15/95 _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 NIGHT 1 SC. 2 - 27 DAY 2 SC. 28 - 30 NIGHT 2 SC. 31 - 40 DAY 3 SC. 41 - 48 NIGHT 3 SC. 49 - 68 DAY 4 SC. 69 - 70 DAY 5 --page break-- _LOIS & CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "Individual Responsibility" _TEASE_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. WOODS - NIGHT #1 1 Wisps of fog dot the ground. Ten silent and determined men (X) search the earth, the beams of their flashlights strange glowing pillars that seem to spring from nothingness. Half the men guide hi-tech metal detectors over the dirt; they're led by GENE NEWTRICH, 50. He has the look of a man who's spent his life outdoors. Suddenly, Gene's detector gives a BEEP. He makes a hand signal and all the others congregate around. He's handed a shovel and begins to dig Hard. Fast. Precise. There's a CLUNK as the shovel strikes something. Gene drops to his knees. His gloved hands probe the soil, grasp the object and pull it up. A GLOWING RED ROCK, the size of an orange, illuminates his face. Gene looks at the rock in wonder. CUT TO: 2 INT. BILL CHURCH, JR.'S BASEMENT OFFICE - DAY #2 2 BILL CHURCH, JR., 32, is on the phone pacing. He's pissed (X) off. A copy of today's Daily Planet lies on his desk. A (X) picture of Bill Church, Sr. is on a credenza behind him. (X) 3 CLOSE ON - DAILY PLANET HEADLINE 3 It screams: "INTERGANG BEHIND OIL SCAM!" 4 BILL, JR. 4 winces as he listens to the other person. (X) BILL, JR. Yes. _Yes_, I _saw_ it, Dad. (X) Of course I'm upset. No, it's (X) _not_ good. (X) (listens; winces) (X) How's your golf score? (X) (winces again) (X) Sorry I asked; but you know how (X) windy it is at Kapalua. Okay, (X) talk to you soon. Bye. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 2. 4 CONTINUED: 4 He hangs up and looks at the paper. (X) BILL, JR. One of these days I'm going to get you, Perry. Then we'll see who's smiling. There's a knock on the door. BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Come. Gene Newtrich enters, carrying a small box. He's dressed in clean khakis and a flannel shirt which contrasts with Bill, (X) Jr's elegant suit. Bill, Jr. spots the box. BILL, JR. (CONT'D) This better be good, I'm in a bad (X) mood. But don't feel pressured. (X) GENE Um, as you know, Mr. Church, over a year ago your father commissioned my team to try and find some Kryptonite. Using the data we've recovered from Bureau 39, we knew approximately where Superman's spaceship crashed. Last night, we found this... Gene opens the box. Bill, Jr. looks in fascination at the glowing red rock. GENE (CONT'D) ... twelve-point-seven kilometers from the ship's estimated point of impact. As far as I can tell from my experiments, what you're looking at is... Kryptonite. BILL, JR. Kryptonite? I thought it was green. This is red. Is there a difference? What can it do? Can (X) it kill Superman? GENE I don't know. All I _do_ know is: its atomic weight and structure are slightly different from green kryptonite, but its radiation is in the same part of the spectrum. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 3. 4 CONTINUED: 2 4 BILL, JR. So, what we need is a field test. Of course, that means we have to send someone expendable. Someone we at Intergang won't miss if they wind up in jail. (beat) How 'bout you, Gene? GENE (gulps) My pleasure, Mr. Church. CUT TO: 5 EXT. METROPOLIS STREET - DAY 5 LOIS and CLARK walk to work together, sipping cappucinos, a slightly awkward air between them. A van marked "SPEEDY PAYROLLS" passes and parks in front of the Daily Planet. Clark finally asks the question he s been dying to ask. (X) CLARK So, how was your ice cream date with Agent Scardino? LOIS (avoiding him) Now there's my favorite sight in the whole world: the truck that delivers our payroll checks. CLARK Okay, if you don't want to talk (X) about it, I understand. (X) LOIS It was... okay. I had chocolate, (X) he ordered Rocky Road. (X) CLARK And you talked about ... ? (X) LOIS Things. (X) (quickly) Lots of things. And at least he (X) stuck around long enough to have a (X) conversation, unlike some people I (X) know who are always running off! (X) CLARK Lois, I do not always run off -- (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 4. 5 CONTINUED: 5 PAYROLL GUARD (V.O.) Help! Police! Clark and Lois look to see three armed and HOODED MEN (one of whom is Gene), attacking the PAYROLL GUARD as he unloads a large box of checks from his van. A Chevy Suburban with blacked out windows idles next to it. CLARK I'll call the cops! Clark dashes away. (X) LOIS (to herself) (X) Unbelievable. (X) (to anybody who'll listen) Hey! Help! They're robbing that truck! One Hooded Man holds down the Guard as the other two load (X) boxes of checks into the Suburban. Whoosh! Her hair gets blown as SUPERMAN appears next to her. SUPERMAN Don't worry, Lois, they'll be in jail before you can say 'cappucino'. He runs out of frame in a BLUR. 6 ANGLE ON HOODED MEN 6 Whoosh! Superman arrives. They turn in surprise. SUPERMAN I'm afraid you'll have to take a raincheck on those checks, boys. GENE (HOODED) (nervous) Really? What if we don't want to? With one hand low to his side, he makes a signal. Inside the back of the Suburban, behind Superman, ANOTHER HOODED THUG, opens a box, exposing the red Kryptonite. 7 SUPERMAN 7 suddenly blinks. His face changes from firm justice to almost casual. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 4A. 7 CONTINUED: 7 SUPERMAN Oh... maybe nothing. I mean, they'll just have to reissue them, so... what do I care? GENE Uh... right. (to the other thugs) Come on! (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 5. 7 CONTINUED: 7 They all jump into the Suburban and speed off. Lois runs up to Superman. LOIS Superman, you let them get away! SUPERMAN No big deal, Lois. Most criminals are repeat offenders. I'll probably catch then again later. LOIS What?! SUPERMAN And if I don't, well... 'que sera, sera.' See ya. He gently FLOATS up into the air, then ZOOMS out of sight. LOIS (beat) Hey! Come back here!!! (X) FADE OUT. _END OF TEASE_ --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 6. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 8 INT. PLANET - DAY 8 The elevator doors open and Lois and Clark emerge. Lois is practically buzzing. LOIS Clark, I mean, I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and see Patrick Duffy in the shower and this will all have been a dream. He just let them drive right off! Clark is still a bit apathetic due to the lingering effects of red Kryptonite. He's NOT lethargic, he just doesn't care about the robbery. CLARK Lois, you know there is such a thing as individual responsibility. LOIS What's that mean? CLARK The payroll company is responsible for the safety of the checks, not Superman. Let them take care of (X) it. LOIS What about the responsibility of the individual to the society as a whole? The social contract that obligates one person to help others for the betterment of everyone? CLARK If that's what you feel like, great. Otherwise, I say, kick back. Enjoy. Do your own thing. They arrive at Lois' desk. Clark snags a donut and a bear claw from a passing INTERN carrying a box of donuts, etc. LOIS Are you serious? CLARK As a bear claw. Or would you prefer jelly filled? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 7. 8 CONTINUED: 8 Clark's grin exasperates Lois. As she flops in her seat with a disgusted sigh, we... CUT TO: 9 INT. BILL CHURCH, JR.'S BASEMENT OFFICE - DAY 9 Bill, Jr. is on the phone. Gene loads a video tape of the (X) paycheck robbery. The POINT OF VIEW indicates it was taken (X) from a second floor window across the street. (X) BILL, JR. (slightly exasperated) (X) No, Dad, I don't know what's in (X) poi, but it's okay to eat it. (X) What? Yes, I _haven't_ forgotten (X) about Operation Nirvana. Okay. (X) Okay. Don't hula too hard. (X) Aloha. (X) Bill, Jr. turns a long suffering eye to Gene, who's pointing at the playback of the tape on the screen. GENE This is where Superman comes in! I talk to him, and then -- Gene suddenly freezes the picture. GENE (CONT'D) There! That's when we opened the box. When he got within about ten feet, his mood changed. Suddenly, it was like he didn't care. Bill, Jr. stares at the screen in amazement for a moment, then bursts out laughing. BILL, JR. This is better than killing him! He just doesn't care! (chuckles) That was the problem with green Kryptonite; it always ticked him off. But this, this is perfect; (thinking aloud) (X) For Operation Nirvana to succeed, (X) it's essential we control the (X) media, and _that_ means The Daily (X) Planet. And if... (X) Bill, Jr. picks up the copy of The Daily Planet we saw in the Teaser. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 8. 9 CONTINUED: 9 BILL,, JR. (CONT'D) ... Franklin Stern won't sell The (X) Planet to me, we'll just have to do things the old fashioned way. (evil chuckle) And Perry White's pal Superman (X) won't be able to do a thing about it. Yes! He pounds his desk in glee and sits on the corner. CUT TO: 10 INT. PLANET BULLPEN - DAY 10 CLOSEUP on Clark at his desk; he leans back in his chair, lost in thought, a slight frown wrinkling his face. He is slowly coming out of his apathy. Someone stands behind him. JIMMY C.K., here are the photos you need (X) for the Quine project. CLARK (turns, takes photos) (X) Huh? Oh. Sorry. I was just (X) wondering about why Superman let those crooks get away. JIMMY Was that wild or what? I mean, what was he thinking? CLARK (worried) I don't know. I -- He just didn't (X) seem to... care. JIMMY Man, those are the luckiest crooks in Metropolis. CLARK (completely back to old self; determined) Not for long... As he speaks, Clark suddenly spots a DELIVERY GUY exiting (X) the elevators with a large arrangement of tulips. He (X) stands, an even more determined look on his face. His eyes never leave the Delivery Guy as he heads towards Lois. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 9. 10 CONTINUED: 10 CLARK (CONT'D) ... because when Superman makes up his mind, he doesn't stand by for anything. Excuse me. Clark crosses to Lois's desk just as the Delivery Guy arrives. DELIVERY GUY Sign here, please. Lois does. CLARK Don't tell me, Agent Scardino's on a stakeout in a florist's shop. LOIS Jealousy is so unbecoming, don't you think? CLARK I wouldn't exactly call it jealousy, but... maybe we could discuss it Saturday night? Say... over dinner and _after_ a show? (X) LOIS Clark... I have plans Saturday night. Clark glances at the flowers, then back to Lois. CLARK Lois, I know I sometimes seem be dart away just when things start to get serious, but now I feel like you're the one who's backing off. Lois doesn't know what to say, so she avoids answering by plucking the note that's nestled amidst the flowers. LOIS Oh, look, a note. (opens it and reads) 'Dear Lois. Sorry, but I need to reschedule lunch; I have to go out of town. Should be back by Saturday. Can't wait. Yours in tulips, Dan.' Lois is bummed by this news. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 10. 10 CONTINUED: 2 10 CLARK Maybe subconsciously Agent Scardino has finally realized he's no good for you and is avoiding you. LOIS Was that a joke? CLARK Kind of. But seriously, maybe you (X) and I are both a little afraid of the same thing... of being (X) completely intimate. (X) LOIS (avoiding again) Thank you, Dr. Freud. (shifting gears) Maybe you could turn your powers of analysis to the robbery. Anything from the cops, yet? CLARK Nothing. LOIS I wonder how Mr. Stern's taking it? Through the windows to PERRY's office, they can see him on the phone, pacing agitatedly. CLARK Judging by the way Perry's pacing, I'd say 'Not good'. 11 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 11 Perry's still on the phone. PERRY (trying to get a word in; in a rush) Whoa-whoa-whoa. Now Franklin, I disagree! The Planet is harder hitting than it's ever been. We're the last bastion of truth in Metropolis. We're the lead man in the fight for justice! Perry spots Clark and Lois hovering outside his door. He waves for them to come in as he continues to speak. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/17/95 11. 11 CONTINUED: 11 PERRY (CONT'D) The lighthouse of enlightenment! The -- ? Okay... great! Yes. Yes. Give my best to Muriel. Call me when you get to Paris. You, (X) too. Bye. He hangs up. PERRY (CONT'D) Have I lost my edge? (X) LOIS No. Why do you say that? (X) PERRY Oh, no reason. (X) CLARK So what'd Mr. Stern say? PERRY He's got an offer and he's thinking about selling The Planet to Multiworld Communications. LOIS NO! He can't sell it to Intergang! PERRY Now, Lois, we've never had any proof that Intergang runs Multiworld Communications. LOIS Everybody on the street knows it! Bill Church ran Intergang, and now that he's retired, his son does! PERRY Whoa whoa whoa. Put a brake on that wagon. I know you've been working on that story since November, but you're talking about Bill, Jr. I've known him since he was old enough to throw up on me! LOIS (sarcastic) Oh, that means he's innocent. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/17/95 11A. 11 CONTINUED: 2 11 PERRY Billy used to caddy for me and his Dad, and the _only_ thing he took over from Bill, Sr. is Costmart Stores. And he's doubled the stock. Now he's one of the biggest philanthropists in the country. LOIS And certainly the biggest fake. Before Perry can snap back, Clark butts in to head off a full scale argument. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 12. 11 CONTINUED: 11 CLARK Chief! What did Mr. Stern say he was going to do about the offer? PERRY Well, between the printers' strike and the delivery drivers' sick out and now this payroll thing, he was _this_ _close_ to selling, but I talked him out of it... LOIS Great! PERRY ... at least for seventy-two hours. Then we're goners. _Unless_... (to Lois) ... we can prove to Mr. Stern, and me, that Bill Church, Jr. is behind Intergang. LOIS Seventy-two hours?! CLARK It'll take us that long just to organize all our research. PERRY Hey you want to swim with the billionaires, you gotta swim fast. Now, I suggest we adjourn for lunch and you can bring me up to speed on what you got so far. CLARK Chief, it's nine fifteen in the (X) morning. (X) PERRY Am I still in charge here?! When I say lunch, it's lunch! Now move! They head out the door. 12 INT. RESTAURANT PARKING GARAGE - DAY 12 Lois, Clark, and Perry walk up to the elevator. A sign on the wall says "Larry's Bar & Grill." Perry feels his hip pocket and frowns. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 13. 12 CONTINUED: 12 PERRY You know, I got so many things on my mind, I left my wallet in the car. I'll be right back. Perry exits frame. LOIS Gee, I can hardly wait to have some nice, _fat_, pastrami at nine-thirty in the morning. CLARK Yeah. Ya-hoo. But if it helps (X) keep us from being sold to Multiworld Communications, I'm all (X) for it. LOIS What, you don't want to be writing stories about 'My Stepmother Was An Alien Go-Go Dancer'? The elevator opens. Clark's smile is interrupted by... PERRY (V.O.) Get the hell away from me! Clark and Lois spin to see the Three Hooded Men again, dragging a struggling Perry from Perry's Lincoln Mark VIII towards a van. Lois spins to look at Clark. LOIS Clark! But the doors to the elevator have just closed. Clark is gone. PERRY Let go! Let go of my arms! They struggle for a second longer and Perry manages to rip the hood off one of his assailants. It's Gene. GENE (hard) That was a big mistake. Whoosh! Superman FLIES up the ramp and arrows around the corner towards Perry as Lois races towards the struggle. Superman comes to an instant stop. SUPERMAN Gentlemen... The thugs freeze. Unseen by Superman, the Fourth Hooded Man opens the box with the Red Kryptonite again. --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 14. 13 SUPERMAN 13 undergoes an instant change. Perry doesn't notice. PERRY (cocky; to thugs) Lucky for you Superman showed up. I was about to do a little tap dance on your heads. SUPERMAN Go ahead. PERRY What? SUPERMAN Tap dance. Or conga. Do whatever you want. I mean, what would you do if I wasn't here? Gene and the thugs smile and start to drag Perry into the van. PERRY Superman! LOIS Perry! She tries to pull the thugs off. For a moment, the struggle gets complicated, but they finally shove her away. Lois stumbles to the ground next to Superman. The doors slam and the van roars off. Lois looks up and can't believe her eyes. Superman's completely absorbed in a conversation with a babe, TIFFANI, who's unloading four cocker spaniels oh (X) leashes from a mini-van. on the side and doors of the mini-van it says 'Friends of Fido Grooming'. (X) SUPERMAN So, is that Tiffany with an 'I' or a 'Y'? LOIS (scrambling up) Superman, Perry's just been kidnapped! TIFFANI With an 'I', I didn't want to seem cliched, you know? LOIS Go get him! Go stop the truck! (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 15. 13 CONTINUED: 13 SUPERMAN Lois, don't have a stroke. What do you think police are for? Tiffani admires Superman's muscles. TIFFANI So, do you like have to work out and stuff? SUPERMAN Nope. It's all natural. Wanna feel? He pumps up a bicep. Tiffani giggles as she touches it. Lois can't believe this. LOIS I'm going to call the cops! (X) SUPERMAN (unconcerned) Cool. Lois glares, then darts for the elevator. Superman turns back to Tiffani as she ambles for the elevator. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) So, how long have you been in the canine personal care industry? TIFFANI Oh, this isn't my normal job. I'm really an actress. SUPERMAN (feigning surprise) No. Really? And as they stroll off in conversation, we... FADE OUT. _END OF ACT ONE_ --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 16. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 14 EXT. COSTMART STORE - DAY - ESTABLISHING (STOCK) 14 15 INT. LUXURY SUITE - DAY 15 It looks like a two thousand dollar per night suite at a five-star hotel. Tasteful antiques. Heavy drapes. Wood panelling. Very.elegant. From outside the closed door we HEAR voices arguing. The door opens and a blindfolded (X) Perry is thrust inside by Gene and one of the other formerly hooded men. PERRY ... have you in jail longer than a cat with nine lives! Perry wrenches his arms free and tries to regain a semblance of dignity. Gene simply smiles. GENE If you need anything, just pick up the phone. He and the-other thug back out. We hear several locks closing. Perry shouts at the closed door. PERRY I'd be phoning my attorney if I were you! There's no response. Perry sags in defeat. Gingerly he removes his blindfold. Suddenly, we HEAR a pair of hands slowly clapping. Perry spins and CAMERA MOVES TO INCLUDE Bill Church, Jr. rising from a chair. He takes a cigar from his mouth. BILL, JR. Bravissimo. I'd expect nothing less from the crusading Perry White. PERRY Billy. They got you, too? BILL, JR. (enjoying this) Actually, they work for me. So in effect, I've got you. PERRY Wanna run that by me again? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 17. 15 CONTINUED: 15 BILL, JR. Intergang. I run it. Now do the pieces fit? PERRY Like horns on a June bug. _You're_ behind Multiworld Communications's (X) offer to buy The Planet? BILL, JR. Of course. Not only did I take over Dad's legit businesses, but I took over Intergang, too. Kind of a two for one deal. (smiles) Unfortunately, you made Mr. Stern hesitate on our bid, so... I thought this might help tip the scales (beat) Oh, now you're frowning. Perry, if he sells, _you_ still have a job. I want you to stay on. PERRY The only paper you're about to become publisher of is the Maximum Security Monthly. BILL, JR. Perry, look, I brought you here to make you an offer. I want you to be part of the Intergang family. You and Alice will be taken care of for life. We've got a great medical program and a terrific retirement plan. PERRY You're serious, aren't you? BILL, JR. Absolutely. Perry just glares at him. BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Anyway, I know this is a lot to absorb. Think it over. We'll talk some more. Then we'll see. He walks to the front door and knocks. We HEAR all the locks open. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 18. 15 CONTINUED: 2 15 BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Oh, there's a sauna and a racquetball court through that door. You wear a size eleven sneaker, don't you? Bill, Jr. smiles, steps out and the door closes and locks. Perry suddenly turns and runs to the window. He pulls back the drapes... and stops in surprise. There's nothing but a rock wall on the other side of the window. He slumps in a chair next to it. PERRY Superman, where are you when I need you? CUT TO: 16 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 16 The blinds are nearly closed. Lois paces. Superman sits. He's slowly recovering from his exposure to Red Kryptonite. LOIS Superman, you just stood there and let Perry get kidnapped! What's going on?!!! SUPERMAN I, uh, honestly don't know. LOIS (sarcastic) Don't know?! Well, who do I call who _does_ know?! Miss Cocker Spaniel?! SUPERMAN Lois, it's difficult to explain. It's like I suddenly just don't care. LOIS How can you _not_ care?! Perry's gone and The Planet is about to be sold! SUPERMAN Here. Maybe this'll help. Superman SUPERDRAWS on a legal pad on Perry's desk. In an instant he has a very good likeness of Gene. He hands it to Lois. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/17/95 19. 16 CONTINUED: 16 SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I should've thought of this sooner. LOIS No kidding. (softens) But thanks. She opens the office door and yells out into the bullpen. LOIS (CONT'D) Jimmy! Jimmy appears in a second. LOIS (CONT'D) Fax a copy of this to the police, and get one to everybody we know on the street, including Bobby Bigmouth. Somebody's got to know this guy. JIMMY Roger. He zips away and Lois shuts the door. SUPERMAN Lois -- LOIS Superman, have you ever had these... 'moods' ... before? SUPERMAN (worried) (X) Never. LOIS And now, for no particular reason, you feel kind of down? Kind of like, what's the point of everything? SUPERMAN Exactly! Lois smiles. She takes a pen from a cup on the table and pulls over a legal pad someone left behind. She starts to write down a telephone number. LOIS Here. Call this number. She did wonders for my sister Lucy. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Gold Rev. 3/21/95 20. 16 CONTINUED: 2 16 SUPERMAN (reads note) Doctor Friskin? LOIS She's a psychotherapist. A shrink. Superman, you're depressed! SUPERMAN (beat) A shrink? CUT TO: 17 INT. LUXURY SUITE - DAY 17 Perry sits sunk in thought. We HEAR the locks open and Bill, Jr. re-enters the room carrying red and blue polo shirts. Perry stands. BILL, JR. Sit sit sit. (re: shirts) What do you think? You like the pique, or the smooth weave? I prefer the pique. I want to upgrade the image of Costmart. Dad always went for low costs, but I want to attract a more upscale consumer. (X) Perry just glares at Bill, Jr. (X) BILL, JR. (CONT'D) (changing topics) (X) Oh-kay! Have you thought anymore about my offer? PERRY (gestures around the room) And all I have to do for all this is... what? Give up my pride, my integrity? Just throw away the public trust I've earned through forty years of hard work? To 'back off' on my responsibility to give the American people the truth? BILL, JR. Basically. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 20A. 17 CONTINUED: 17 PERRY It doesn't matter what you do to me, because there're others out there that still feel the same way I do! Hank Morrissey at _The Post_ _Chronicle Express_! Willie Baumgardner at _The Metropolis_ _Herald_! And Julie Tucker at _The _ _Globe Guardian_! They'll never give up! During Perry's speech, Bill, Jr. has drifted back to the front door. Now he opens it. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 21. 17 CONTINUED: 17 BILL, JR. I don't know, Perry. Why don't you ask them. Perry is stunned as HANK MORRISSEY, WILLIE BAUMGARDNER and (X) JULIE TUCKER walk into the room. PERRY Hank! Julie! HANK You really don't have to do much, Perry. JULIE And let's face it, none of us can live on our pensions anyway. WILLIE And they've got profit sharing. (X) PERRY From what? Prostitution? Drugs? BILL, JR. Please, Dad wouldn't cross the street for that stuff, and neither would I. We're into much bigger things... like oil exploration in the national parks. (to Perry) That is, until somebody gets their nose out of joint about it. PERRY I just hate to see a dozen endangered species wiped out for the sake of greed. BILL, JR. Willie investigated and mentioned that in his paper, too; just not as 'vigorously'. He chose to accentuate the _benefit_ a few thousand more jobs would bring to the local economies. Perry just glares again. Bill, Jr. turns to the others. (X) BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Will you excuse us for a moment? They nod and leave. Bill, Jr. reaches into his pockets and (X) pulls out a cigar. He cuts the end with his cigar trimmer. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev 3/22/95 22. 17 CONTINUED: 3 17 BILL, JR. You know, I talked to your mom today. PERRY My mom? BILL, JR. I love the rest home. Very tasteful. She's in great shape for a woman her age. She cheats at bridge, but she's in great shape. She sends her love. PERRY My mother would twist your head off if she knew what you'd done. Bill, Jr. casually repockets his cigar cutter. BILL, JR. No doubt. Oh, and Alice says, hello, too. Though don't you think she deserves a new car? You know, after a few years, things always start to go wrong. Like brakes. Perry's face changes. He crosses to Bill, Jr. and puts his (X) hands on his shoulders. (X) PERRY Billy, let's put our differences (X) aside for a moment. You and me... (X) we go way back. Listen to what (X) you're saying. This is... this is (X) _Alice_ you're talking about. (X) Perry's voice almost breaks with emotion. Bill, Jr. (X) thrusts the clinging Perry away. BILL, JR. Get a grip on yourself, Perry, you'll stain my suit! PERRY (sniffling) I'm sorry. Just... not Alice. BILL, JR. Don't worry, Perry, I'm a patient man... up to a point. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 22A. 17 CONTINUED: 4 17 Bill, Jr. smiles and backs out of the room. The door shuts and so do the locks. Perry remains teary for a second, then turns away and looks down at his hand. Bill, Jr.'s cigar cutter is in it. Perry smiles. CUT TO: --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 23. 18 18 THRU OMITTED THRU 19 19 20 INT. THE PLANET'S BULLPEN - DAY 20(X) Jimmy darts over to Lois at her desk. Clark walks in (X) behind him. JIMMY Lois, Mr. Stern is on line one! He says he _has_ to talk to Perry. She punches a button on her phone. (X) LOIS (to Clark) Where've you been?! CLARK Um, when I went to call the police, I saw the van pull out. I tried to follow in a taxi, but I lost them. JIMMY Lois, _Mr. Stern_. Lois picks up the phone and prepares to vamp. (X) LOIS Hello, Mr. Stern? Lois Lane here. (X) Perry's not in right now because he had to... had to ... meet a source that would talk only to him. Jimmy gives her a thumb's up for quick thinking. LOIS Um, no, we don't have anymore on the Intergang connection, but we're working on it. Uh-huh. Yes. I know I'm speaking for Perry when I say he still thinks it's a very bad move to sell. (face falls) Great. No. No problem. Say (X) hello to the Eiffel Tower for me. Oh, you're in Rome now. Well, ciao. CLARK So? (X) LOIS He's gonna call in for regular (X) updates. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/17/95 24. JIMMY Lois, why didn't you tell Mr. Stern Perry's been kidnapped? LOIS Because that's just the thing that'll make him sell! One more crisis and BOOM! We'll be writing headlines about Oprah's latest diet! We've gotta keep this quiet. WHANG! The door flies open and KARL, from Travel, zips in. He holds up two tropical beach photos. He's frantic. KARL Bali! or Seychelles?! LOIS Perry's not here, Karl. KARL Oh. I need an answer now! The Sunday mag closes in five! LOIS Ohhhh, run both! KARL That means I need more copy! Oh, Godddd! Then before Lois can reply, Karl runs out of the room, a man in hell. Clark checks his watch, then starts to head for (X) the door. (X) LOIS Where're _you_ going?! CLARK I, um, have an appointment. With (X) a source! To, uh, see if I can get a line on the van used in Perry's kidnapping. Then he's out the door. LOIS Don't be long! (beat; to Jimmy) Maybe I should've only gone with Bali. --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 25. 21 INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY 21 A RECEPTIONIST sits behind a sliding glass window. Superman finishes a form on a clipboard-and hands it,to her. (X) RECEPTIONIST Uh-huh. _No_ permanent address. _No_ social security (X) number. And _no_ medical insurance. I assume you'll be (X) paying in cash? (X) SUPERMAN Well... (X) Superman squirms, but is rescued from the Receptionist's (X) tough stare by a MIDDLE-AGED COUPLE exiting from one of the (X) doors. The WIFE looks at Superman and whispers to her (X) HUSBAND. Superman grimaces. (X) DR. FRISKIN Superman? Superman turns to see DR. FRISKIN, a warm, kindly woman. (X) DR. FRISKIN (CONT'D) I'm Dr. Friskin. DISSOLVE TO: 22 INT. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - DAY 22 Superman is on the couch. Dr. Friskin sits nearby. A series of, tasteful, oriental landscapes decorates one (X) wall. SUPERMAN It's just that... I haven't been myself lately. I've kinda been... apathetic about everything. (X) DR. FRISKIN And this worries you? SUPERMAN Dr. Friskin, everyday I make decisions that affect the lives of millions of people. Life and death. Good and evil. Sometimes, the fate of the _whole_ planet hangs on the choices I make or the things I do. So _yes_, it worries me. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 26. 22 CONTINUED: 22 DR. FRISKIN (beat) So you're feeling stressed. DISSOLVE TO: 23 INT. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - LATER 23 SUPERMAN Then, instead of stopping the kidnappers, I was talking to a girl. DR. FRISKIN Did you find her attractive? SUPERMAN (beat) Yes. But I should've been helping Perry. DR. FRISKIN Hmmm. Do you have a girlfriend now? SUPERMAN Yes. No. It's kind of complicated. See... I haven't (X) exactly told her everything about (X) me and I'm afraid... that's... (X) making her go towards this other (X) guy. (X) DR. FRISKIN (beat) (X) Does he have superpowers, too? (X) DISSOLVE TO: 24 INT. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - LATER 24 SUPERMAN ... sometimes, you know, I think (X) about... taking on a secret identity. (quickly) I'm speaking hypothetically. That way, I could... (X) DR. FRISKIN I'm afraid we have to stop. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 27. 24 CONTINUED: 24 SUPERMAN Stop? DR. FRISKIN My next appointment is here. But we could continue this tomorrow. (stands; checks her book) Say... ten fifteen? SUP (standing; awkward) Um, sure. If I'm not saving the world or something. DR. FRISKIN Fine. I look forward to it. 25 INT. WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 25 Superman exits Dr. Friskin's. A couple of people in the waiting room look up. Gene, disguised as a janitor, empties the waste basket and gestures towards Dr. Friskin's office. DR. FRISKIN Go right ahead. Gene nods and slides past her into... 26 INT. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 26 Gene empties the wastebasket into his cart and then quickly pulls some Red Kryptonite out of a box hidden in his cart. He embeds it in a wad of sticky putty and sticks it to the underside of the couch. 27 INT. WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 27 Gene exits Friskin's office. GENE All done. DR. FRISKIN Thank you. And as Gene smiles, we... FADE OUT. _END OF ACT TWO_ --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 28. _ACT THREE_ 28 EXT. COSTMART - NIGHT #2 - ESTABLISHING 28 29 INT. SUITE - NIGHT - SAME TIME 29 Perry is pacing the suite, holding the cigar cutter in his hand. He suddenly gets an idea and walks over to a lamp that is sitting on a table by the door. He flips the light switch on the wall and the lamp turns on. Perry smiles and turns the lamp off again. He bends over and unplugs the lamp from the wall socket. He uses the cigar cutter to (X) begin stripping the insulation off the wires near the plug. (X) He hears FOOTSTEPS in the hallway and stuffs the wires behind the sofa, then sits down. A moment later, Church (X) enters. PERRY You run a first class prison here, Billy. Bill Jr. pulls a cigar out of his pocket and unwraps. BILL, JR: Don't think of it as a prison. I'd like you to think of it as your future corporate headquarters. PERRY I'll never join up with Intergang. Bill Jr. holds the cigar in one hand and pats his pockets, looking for his cigar cutter. He smiles at Perry. BILL, JR. Perhaps you don't fully grasp the situation. If you work for me, you get rich beyond your wildest dreams. If, on the other hand, you continue to cling to your misguided morality, you die. At Harvard Business School, we'd call that a no-brainer. Bill Jr. finally gives up and slides the uncut cigar back into his pocket. Just then, Gene enters the room. He motions he wants to speak in private. BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Anything you have to say you can say in front of Perry. He's either going to be part of our team, or he'll soon be playing for the angels. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Gold Rev. 3/21/95 29. 29 CONTINUED: 29 GENE I put the Red Kryptonite in Doctor Friskin's office. PERRY (reacts) _Red_ Kryptonite? What's he Talking about? BILL, JR. We discovered it by accident, but we're very pleased with its affect on Superman. Evidently, it makes him rather apathetic about his work. PERRY You mean that's why he didn't try to save me the other day? GENE (nods) Except he thinks he's having some kind of nervous breakdown. BILL, JR. It's perfect. Superman is going to a shrink to get well, but all he'll get is more exposure to the Red Kryptonite. My scientists tell me that eventually his condition could become permanent. PERRY Permanent? BILL, JR. (to Gene) By the way, send a nice little gift to Friskin's receptionist for tipping us off. Something along the lines of... a Mercedes. GENE (proudly) Already handled, Mr. Church. PERRY I can't believe I held you as a (X) baby. I'm ashamed I ever let you (X) spit up on me. (X) CUT TO: --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 30. 30 OMITTED 30 31 EXT. MEDICAL BUILDING - MORNING - DAY #3 - ESTABLISHING 31 32 INT. DR. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - LOW ANGLE SHOT 32 shows that the small hunk of Red Kryptonite is still stuck to the underside of the couch. PAN UP to Dr. Friskin who is sitting in a chair. We pick up the session in mid (X) conversation. (X) SUPERMAN Do I really want to continue to be (X) Superman? Of course. (X) DR. FRISKIN Why? (X) SUPERMAN (searching for an answer) (X) Because... people need me. (X) DR. FRISKIN So you see being Superman as your job. Well, everyone needs to take a break from their job to gain some perspective and avoid burnout. When was the last time you had a vacation? I mean, really got away (X) from Metropolis? (X) SUPERMAN Got away? I spent some time in (X) London last year. (X) DR. FRISKIN That sounds wonderful. How long (X) were you there? (X) SUPERMAN About two minutes. I was (X) diverting a wayward nuclear (X) missile. (X) DR. FRISKIN How... relaxing. (X) CUT TO: 33 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 33 Lois is at her desk, talking on the telephone and generally frazzled. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 31. LOIS (into phone) No, Mr. Stern. I haven't seen Perry this morning. Maybe he had car trouble. (beat) I realize you need to give Multiworld Communications an (X) answer in forty-eight hours. You know, Mr. Stern, you might want to reconsider your position on... (beat) Of course. I'll tell him to call as soon as he gets in. Lois hangs up and reacts as Clark strolls in. LOIS (CONT'D) Where have you been?! CLARK (matter of fact) I had a dentist's appointment. LOIS (with an attitude) You're out having your teeth cleaned at a time like this?! CLARK I wouldn't worry about the paper. When Stern sells we'll all be out of a job. (beat; nonchalantly) Any word from the police on Perry? LOIS Nothing. CLARK Well, don't worry. He'll show up. LOIS 'He'll show up?' This is Perry we're talking about, not some lost poodle! CLARK I know, but there's no reason to get upset about things you can't control. As a matter of fact, I spoke to Superman this morning. He said he's thinking about taking a vacation. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 32. 33 CONTINUED: 2 33 LOIS (crazed) A vacation? Now? Dr. Friskin is supposed to be helping Superman, not encouraging him to book a cruise. CLARK I thought it was a good idea. (beat) Well, it's just about time for lunch. Want to try that new Italian place around the corner? LOIS (incredulous) How can you be thinking about lunch? CLARK You're right. (beat) It's too early for lunch. Maybe I'll just grab some danish and an espresso. Clark exits, leaving behind a flabbergasted Lois. Jimmy drops a mound of proofs on Lois' desk. JIMMY Here you go. LOIS Jimmy, i've got to go out for a while. Hold down the fort. JIMMY (his eyes go wide) Isn't that what they said to Jim Bowie at the Alamo? Lois exits on the fly. CUT TO: 34 INT. DR. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - DAY 34 Lois _sits_ on the couch across from Dr. Friskin. (X) LOIS Doctor, I need Superman back to his old self right away, and _you've_ got him talking about a vacation. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 33. 34 CONTINUED: 34 DR. FRISKIN These things don't happen overnight. It could take years to (X) get him back on the, road to recovery. LOIS (stunned) Years? DR. FRISKIN If ever. He's in the process of making some very critical life decisions at this juncture. LOIS But, he's Superman. What's to decide? DR. FRISKIN He might be Superman to you, but first and foremost, he's a person... a very complex person. How would you describe your relationship with him? LOIS (flustered) It's kind of complicated. There's (X) Superman, and then there's Dan (X) Scardino, and of course there's (X) Clark. Though I'm worried that (X) Superman's attitude seems to be rubbing off on him. (X) DR. FRISKIN (nods) So two of the men in your life are (X) suffering from the same malaise. LOIS Well, yes. (beat) Wait a minute. You don't think this has anything to do with me... do you? DR. FRISKIN (beat) What do you think? Lois looks at the couch and winces. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 34. 34 CONTINUED: 2 34 LOIS No offense, but I haven't had very (X) good luck with psychiatrists. (X) DR. FRISKIN Oh? Have you spent a lot of time (X) in therapy? (X) LOIS No, but the last Psychiatrist I (X) knew created an exact double of (X) me, and then tried to kill me. (X) Dr. Friskin slowly nods. (X) DR. FRISKIN And how did that make you feel? (X) On Lois, reaction, we... CUT TO: 35 EXT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 35 JIMMY (V.O.) He's, uh, not here. 36 INT. DAILY PLANET - PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 36 Jimmy is sitting behind Perry's desk. Standing in front of the desk is WALLY SCIARRA, and old time reporter in an ill fitting suit. (X) JIMMY (vamping) Perry went to... an executive retreat. You know, one of those think tank things where they talk about the future of the world, then play a little golf. WALLY When's he getting back? JIMMY I'm not exactly sure, but soon. WALLY I'm sitting on a major story. I just learned that a certain aide to the Mayor has been the unwilling recipient of her honor's sexual advances. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/17/95 35. 36 CONTINUED: JIMMY Wow! Are there any witnesses? WALLY I've got an eyewitness, but she's not back in town until tomorrow. JIMMY (hemming and hawing) Gosh, I don't know, Wally... (X) WALLY _You_ don't know? Who cares if _you_ don't know. I need Perry's approval to go with this now. JIMMY I'll try to get him on the phone and run it by him. WALLY You do that. I'll go finish the story. Wally leaves. Jimmy is in a panic. A copy of the Daily Planet sits on the desk in front of him, open to the personals. Jimmy looks down and his face brightens. 37 CLOSE ON 37 an ad which reads: "Need advice? Psychic counselling of all kinds. Call 1-900-ASK ZINA." A red pen comes into frame and circles the ad. 38 BACK TO JIMMY 38 as he dials. JIMMY Yeah, hi. Is this Zina? (beat) You gotta help me. CUT TO: 39 INT. NEWSROOM - DAY - SAME TIME 39 Lois enters and heads to her desk. She sees a phone message stuck to her phone. As she reads it, Clark enters. The effects of the Red Kryptonite are wearing off, and Clark is almost back to his old self. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 36. 39 CONTINUED: 39 CLARK Lois, listen, I'm sorry about my (X) attitude earlier. It's just (X) that... LOIS (excited) Bobby Big Mouth called. He got an (X) ID on that picture. Gene (X) Newtrich. He's a soil engineer. CLARK Soil engineer and part time kidnapper. LOIS (holds up the message) (X) We even got a work address. (X) CLARK What are we waiting for? Let's jump on this now. LOIS Wow. I guess that danish and (X) espresso really did the trick. CUT TO: 40 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - DAY 40 Jimmy is still behind the desk as Wally storms in. (X) WALLY I got the word that Perry is holding up the story. JIMMY (nervous) He said he wanted a sworn statement from the eyewitness before he'll run it. WALLY (angry) I'm gonna get scooped on this, kid, and it's gonna be your fault. JIMMY My fault? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 37. 40 CONTINUED: 40 WALLY You obviously did a lousy job explaining the situation. This story's got to break today. Now, find Perry and try to get it right this time. Wally storms out. Jimmy picks up the phone and dials. JIMMY (into phone) Hello, Zina? CUT TO: 41 EXT. OFFICE BUILDING - NIGHT #3 - ESTABLISHING 41 42 INT. BUILDING - HALLWAY - NIGHT 42 Lois and Clark move down the empty hallway. They come to a door which reads "GENE NEWTRICH ENGINEERING." Under this in smaller letters, it reads "State Licensed Land Surveyor." CLARK This is the place. Lois tries the door, but of course it's locked. 43 CLOSE ON LOCK 43 which is a five digit key pad lock (like on a car door). (X) 44 BACK TO SCENE 44 Lois looks at the lock and shakes her head. LOIS There must be over a zillion possible combinations to that lock. (X) CLARK Let me give it a try. You keep a watch on the hallway. Clark crouches down in front of the lock, blocking his actions from Lois. Using his SUPER SPEED, he tries thousands of combinations in a few seconds until he hits upon the right one. The door unlatches and Lois reacts. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 38. LOIS How did you do that? CLARK I... uh... I don't know. (X) The enter the office, closing the door behind them. 45 INT. GENE'S OFFICE 45 It's a single room, organized with an engineer's efficiency. File cabinets line the walls and a large drafting table dominates the center of the office. Lois and Clark start opening drawers, digging around. CLARK What exactly are we looking for? LOIS I have no idea, but hopefully we'll know when we find it. As Lois rifles through the drawers to one filing cabinet, Clark tips his glasses and uses his X-RAY vision to speed scan another entire cabinet. He doesn't see anything of interest. CLARK Lois, I've been thinking about Saturday night and... LOIS (cutting him off) Let's try to stay focused on the problem at hand. CLARK (chastised) Okay, but I still don't see why a soil engineer would be involved in a plot to kidnap Perry? LOIS That's the $64,000 question. Lois finds a stack of rolled up blueprints and starts spreading them out on the drafting table. In the meantime, Clark leans over and grabs a drawer handle. As he begins sliding it open... (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 39. 45 CONTINUED: 45 LOIS Newtrich has to be tied into some larger organization. As Lois speaks, Clark looks up and doesn't see the contents of the drawer. 46 CLOSE ON RED KRYPTONITE 46 in the bottom of the drawer, giving off a tiny eerie GLOW in the darkened office. 47 BACK TO SCENE 47 CLARK (looking at Lois) You're probably right, but then again, why should we care? Clark slams the drawer shut without looking inside it as Lois reacts. LOIS Uh oh. Is Mr. Hyde back again? CLARK We're wasting time here. (beat) If we hurry we can still catch a nine o'clock show at the multiplex. Lois shakes her head, then suddenly her face lights up. LOIS These are the plans for the substructure of Costmart. CLARK That's nice. (X) LOIS Newtrich has worked for Costmart, and Costmart is run by Bill Church, Jr., which means Newtritch could be part of Intergang. Just then, they hear the rumbling of a janitor's cart (X) coming down the hallway. Lois folds up the blueprints and stuffs them under her jacket. LOIS What are we going to do? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 40. 47 CONTINUED: 47 CLARK Get caught in the act, I guess. They hear the sound of the key pad activated and the door (X) handle begins to turn. Lois grabs Clark and pulls him into a dark corner behind the door. The office door opens and a JANITOR enters. He is wearing a set of headphones and the sound of muffled rock music leaks into the office. As he moves to the garbage can, Lois and Clark slip out from behind the door and into the hallway. 48 INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT 48 Lois hurries down the hall and Clark lags a few steps behind. LOIS Come one. We've got to get out of here. CLARK (smiling) Great. We've still got time for that movie. Lois shoots Clark a lethal glance as they exit. FADE OUT: _END OF ACT THREE_ --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 41. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 49 INT. DAILY PLANET - MORNING - DAY #4 49 Jimmy is walking through the newsroom when he hears... WALLY (O.S.) Olsen! Jimmy turns to see Wally headed in his direction. Jimmy starts to sweat. WALLY (CONT'D) I'm meeting with the eyewitness tonight. Perry's line rings and Jimmy answers it. Wally glares. JIMMY (into phone) Mr. White's office. (beat) Hello, Mr. Stern. Perry's not in right now. (beat) Where is he? I think he's getting a haircut. WALLY I thought you said he was at some in of retreat. JIMMY (to Wally) I talked to him this morning, (X) Wally. He was going to get his hair cut... at the retreat. I guess they've got a great barber there and... A loud voice booms through the phone. Jimmy brings the receiver back to his mouth. JIMMY (CONT'D) (into phone) Yes, Mr. Stern. As soon as he gets in. Jimmy hangs up. WALLY I need an answer now! I've already lost one day! (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 42. 49 CONTINUED: 49 JIMMY (sweating) Perry said that until you speak to the witness, and we have her checked out, the story is on hold. WALLY Damn! Wally throws up his hands and storms away. As he does, Jimmy collapses into a chair. JIMMY At least, that's what he would've said... I hope... CUT TO: 50 INT. SUITE - MORNING 50 Perry is wiring the cord from one lamp onto the cord of (X) another lamp and _that_ lamp's cord goes to the lamp by (X) the wall switch we saw in scene 29. Basically, he's wiring (X) all the light sources in the room together so they work (X) from one switch. (Note: whenever he does his wiring, it (X) must be CLEAR the wire is unplugged). (X) CUT TO: 51 INT. DR. FRISKIN'S OFFICE - MORNING 51 Superman is lying on the couch and Dr. Friskin is sitting across from him. SUPERMAN ... but I love being Superman. Fighting crime, helping people... it's what I live for... or at least, used to live for. Now I don't know... it's all so _frustrating_. Superman begins to FLOAT off the sofa, hovering above it. DR. FRISKIN That's good. Can you stay with that emotion? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 42A. 51 CONTINUED: 51 SUPERMAN (mounting anger) I'm frustrated because Lois is going out with another guy and I can't stop it! (MORE) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 43. 51 CONTINUED: 51 SUPERMAN (CONT'D) I'm frustrated because every time (X) I try to talk to her I have to (X) dash off and rescue somebody! I'm (X) frustrated because I'm the (X) strongest man in the world and (X) everything seems to be spiralling out of my control and that makes (X) me mad! (X) Superman suddenly erupts it total frustration and anger. (X) He lashes out, kicking over the couch and SLAMMING his fist (X) through the wall. 52 INT. DR. FRISKIN'S WAITING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 52 An older couple reacts as the wall across from them EXPLODES into fragments. OLDER WOMAN You see, Bob? He's in touch with his feelings. OLDER MAN (taken aback) Who recommended this shrink? 53 BACK TO SUPERMAN 53 who turns away from the hole in the wall with great embarrassment. SUPERMAN I'm sorry, doctor. I didn't mean... DR. FRISKIN (smiling) That's okay. I would've gone with the primal scream, though. (X) Superman looks down and sees a large chunk of glowing red rock on the floor where the couch used to be. SUPERMAN What's that? DR. FRISKIN I have no idea. Superman X-RAYS the rock and reacts. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 44. 53 CONTINUED: 53 SUPERMAN It's got all the properties of Kryptonite, but it's red! Superman immediately confronts Dr. Friskin, nose to nose. She leans backwards to get some space. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) Did you plant this here? DR. FRISKIN (stunned; confused) I have no idea how it got here. I don't even understand what this is all about. SUPERMAN Oh, really? Superman picks up the red Kryptonite and holds it in his hand. Suddenly, his anger leaves him. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) On second thought, maybe it doesn't matter. He lowers Friskin. DR. FRISKIN (realizing) That rock seems to have a calming influence on you. Superman looks at the Kryptonite in his hand then suddenly throws it at the window. It CRASHES through the window and flies out into the sky. SUPERMAN Sorry about the window. DR. FRISKIN Would you like to talk about what just happened? SUPERMAN Well, it's not exactly easy to (X) explain, but when the planet (X) Krypton blew up, meteors from the planet crashed into Earth. Green Kryptonite can kill me, but I've never seen this red variety before. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Blue R. 3/23/95 45. 53 CONTINUED: 2 53 DR. FRISKIN If green Kryptonite affects you physically, it's possible red Kryptonite could be affecting you mentally. If I had to guess, I'd say that it unleashed the deep feelings you've been harboring. SUPERMAN Does that mean I really am tired of being Superman? DR. FRISKIN It just means you're finally feeling the frustration of trying to be perfect for all these years. Even a super hero has the right to be resentful once in a while. After all, you're only human. SUPERMAN Well, almost. But what if I run into Red Kryptonite again? I mean, whoever put this here might have more. DR. FRISKIN To be honest. I don't know. This 'Red Kryptonite' seems to let you feel emotions you normally aren't aware of. SUPERMAN (speculating) But now that I am aware of them, it's up to me to deal with how I react to them. DR. FRISKIN Exactly. Now that you're aware of how it can make you feel, maybe you can do something about it. But it could be a struggle. SUPERMAN That's all part of being superman. DR. FRISKIN (warm smile) Of _any_ man. SUPERMAN Thanks for all the help, Dr. Friskin. I'll make sure you get paid for everything. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Blue R. 3/23/95 45A. 53 CONTINUED: 3 53 Hold on Friskin as we HEAR Superman open the window, and ZOOM out. CUT TO: 53A SUPERMAN FLYING OVER THE CITY (STOCK) 53A 54 54 THRU OMITTED THRU 55 55 56 INT. SUITE - DAY 56 Perry has moved a halogen floor lamp from one corner of the room to a point near the wall opposite the front door. He is doing something mysterious to the bulb; but _we can't_ see what it is exactly. Suddenly, he hears FOOTSTEPS outside the door. He quickly plugs in the halogen and then turns, trying to look nonchalant. A GUARD dressed in conservative grey suit enters, carrying a covered tray. GUARD Lunch time. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 46. 56 CONTINUED: 56 Perry casually moves his hand up to the light switch on the wall. The guard pulls the cover off the tray and begins (X) setting out the food. GUARD (CONT'D) Caviar, smoked salmon, and a petite fillet. PERRY A man could get used to this. GUARD Mr. Church has his own chef. Perry leans against the wall, his elbow near the switch. (X) The guard turns and smiles at Perry. GUARD (CONT'D) Bon appetite. As the guard heads away, Perry hits the switch, plunging the room into _total_ _darkness_. GUARD (CONT'D) Hey! (X) Then there's a huge FLASH of light (like a strobe). The (X) light catches the guard by surprise, blinding him as he (X) reaches for his gun. The FLASH is from Perry's doctored (X) halogen lamp. The brief flash also shows Perry pointing (X) the halogen at the guard like a giant flashlight. After (X) the strobe, all returns to BLACK and we HEAR thuds and (X) grunts as Perry knocks the guard out. (Maybe even a BONK! (X) from hitting the guard with the metal tray cover.) A (X) second later, Perry turns on all the other lamps. (X) PERRY Buenas noches, amigo. (X) The guard moans as Perry yanks the lamp cord out of the wall and starts tying him up. CUT TO: 57 INT. DAILY PLANET - DAY 57 Lois studies the blueprints from Newtrich's office, which are spread out across her desk. She looks up to see Clark headed in her direction and she greets him less than enthusiastically. LOIS (sarcastic) How was the movie? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 46A. 57 CONTINUED: 57 CLARK I never made it. I ended up just aimlessly walking around the city. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 47. 57 CONTINUED: 57 LOIS Well, if you're back in the land (X) of the living, you can give me (X) some help by taking a look at these. Clark moves over to look at the blueprints. 58 INTERCUT WITH INT. COSTMART - BASEMENT 58 Perry quietly moves down a hallway. He hears VOICES and opens a nearby door and ducks in, shutting the door behind him. 59 INT. CHURCH'S OFFICE 59 Perry turns around and realizes he's in Bill Church, Jr.'s office. Perry quickly moves to the desk and starts looking through Church's things. 60 INT. DAILY PLANET 60 Clark and Lois are pouring over the blueprints. CLARK This might be something. There are two full basements in these plans. LOIS So? They need a lot of room for excess merchandise. CLARK The loading docks back up to huge doors on the first level basement. But, the second level is only reached by one small passenger elevator. LOIS Which means they don't use the sub-basement for storage. What do you think is down there? The phone rings. Lois grabs it. LOIS (CONT'D) (into phone) Lois Lane. --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 48. 61 INTERCUT PERRY 61 who is sitting behind Church's desk. PERRY (hushed tones) Lois, it's Perry. LOIS (reacting) Perry? (to Clark) It's Perry! (into phone) Are you alright? PERRY I'm fine. Listen, I'm being held by Billy Church. He's the head of the whole Intergang operation. LOIS (ecstatic) I knew it! I knew it! (to Clark) Church is the head of Intergang. He's holding Perry prisoner! CLARK That's great, Lois. Ask him where he is. LOIS Oh. (into phone) Perry! Where are you? (beat) Perry? 62 TO PERRY 62 who is looking down the barrel of a gun, being held by a (X) very unhappy Bill Church, Jr. In Church's other hand is the phone jack, which he has ripped out of the wall. 63 TO LOIS AND CLARK 63 Lois slams down the phone. LOIS We were disconnected. CLARK You want to take a look at what's in that sub-basement? (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 49. 63 CONTINUED: 63 LOIS It's our only shot. Clark nods and they run out. 64 INT. BILL CHURCH, JR.'S BASEMENT OFFICE - DAY 64 Perry is still at Church's desk. Bill stands across from him, his gun trained at Perry. BILL, JR. You disappoint me, Perry. Why did you have to go snooping around? PERRY Old reporter's instinct, I guess. BILL, JR. Too bad that doesn't include an instinct for survival. Off Church's smile. DISSOLVE TO: 64A INT. COSTMART BASEMENT - FIRST LEVEL 64A Lois and Clark stand at the elevator, trying to figure out a way to activate it. There is a black control panel with a key card slot but no buttons. Lois points to two sensors on either side of the elevator. LOIS Did you bring along your 'Mission Impossible' tool box? Clark reaches into his pocket and pulls out a paperclip. CLARK I'm travelling a little light today. Lois grabs the paperclip. She quickly unbends it and uses it to start fiddling with the control panel. As she does, Clark tips down his glasses and X-RAYS the wall above the (X) panel. He follows the wiring from the panel up and over to (X) one side and then lets loose with a BLAST of PINPOINT HEAT (X) VISION, shorting the electronic alarm system. In a moment, (X) the elevator doors open and Lois turns around with a triumphant smile. LOIS Ta-da! (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 50. 64A CONTINUED: 64A Clark covers the heat vision holes in the wall with his (X) hand and smiles. (X) 65 INT. BASEMENT - ON ELEVATOR DOORS 65 as they open and Lois and Clark exit. Lois looks around at the plush hallway. CLARK (hushed) You go left; I'll go right. Be careful. Lois nods. They move off in different directions. 66 INT. BILL CHURCH, JR.'S BASEMENT OFFICE - DAY 66 CLOSE ON Church as he finishes erasing the data on his computer. BILL, JR. There. The computers are wiped clean as a newborn. Now if we have any 'unpleasant' visits from the (X) authorities, there'll be nothing (X) for them to find about Intergang. (X) PULL BACK to see that the guard has his gun aimed at Perry. Gene stands nearby, with a square, lead box under his arm. BILL, JR. (CONT'D) ... and by this time tomorrow, (X) Multiworld Communications will own the Daily Planet. (to Gene) How far is that landfill site? GENE Half hour outside of town. BILL, JR. (smiling at Perry) Ready for a little investigative _digging_? The guard motions with his gun and Perry slowly gets up from the sofa. --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Green Rev. 3/29/95 50A. 67 ON LOIS 67 as she makes her way down the hallway, trying doors. Suddenly, the door in front of her opens and she comes face to face with Perry. LOIS Perry! PERRY Lois, run! The guard steps out from behind Perry and aims his gun at Lois. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 51. 67 CONTINUED: 67 GUARD Stay right there. A moment later, Church appears with Gene by his side. BILL, JR. Miss Lane, your timing couldn't have been worse. (to Gene) Is there room for two in that landfill? SUPERMAN (O.S.) I think we'll skip the tour of the landfill, Church. 68 ANGLE TO INCLUDE SUPERMAN 68 who is standing in the hallway. BILL, JR. (smiling) Superman. So nice to see you. This little situation is really no concern of yours. Church motions to Gene, who opens the box and exposes the (X) shining red Kryptonite. Church smiles as Superman takes a slight step backwards. PERRY Fight it, Superman. Don't give in. LOIS Give in to what? What's going on? BILL, JR. Alright now, Superman. Time to be on your way. SUPERMAN Maybe it is... but then again... maybe it's not, _Billy_. (X) Superman walks over to Gene and grabs the Kryptonite out of (X) the box. He casually tosses it up and down while Billy and (X) his boys realize they are in deep trouble. Suddenly, (X) Superman throws the Kryptonite down the corridor, where it (X) SMASHES through the wall at the end of the hall, and buries (X) itself deep in the earth beyond. (X) Perry takes advantage of the distraction by elbowing the guard in the chest and follows up by punching him in the face, sending the guard sprawling. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 52. 68 CONTINUED: 68 Gene turns to run, but Lois grabs him by the arm and spins him around. She uses her martial arts to take Gene out, finishing him off with a high kick to the side of his head. Church suddenly grabs Lois around the throat and places a gun to her back. (X) BILL, JR. Nobody get excited and Miss Lane may live to see another sunset. Suddenly, Bill Jr's portable phone RINGS. Nobody moves. (X) Frustrated, he digs it out of a pocket and answers. (X) BILL, JR. (CONT'D) Hello? Hi, Dad, um, can I call (X) you back later? I'm in the middle (X) of something. You shot a (X) seventy-three? Um, great. Bye. (X) LOIS (pleading) Superman? Church cocks the gun. BILL, JR. Don't move, Superman. This gun has a very delicate trigger mechanism. I wouldn't want it to accidentally go off. Just stay right there. (X) Suddenly, Superman goes into HYPERSPEED and one second later he is standing behind Church. SUPERMAN How about here? Before Church can react, Superman yanks the gun from his hand and crushes it into a metallic ball. He grabs Church by the neck and lifts him off the ground. SUPERMAN (CONT'D) Lois, why don't you call the police while I keep Mr. Church and his friends entertained. (beat; to himself) It's great to be back. Lois smiles and moves off toward Church's office. CUT TO: --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Blue Draft 3/15/95 54. 69 INT. DAILY PLANET - NEXT MORNING - DAY #5 69 Lois and Clark walk through the newsroom on their way to Perry's office. LOIS So the red Kryptonite made Superman completely apathetic and his attitude wore off on you? CLARK Actually, I was trying to put myself in Superman's shoes to get a better understanding of what he was going through. LOIS Well, you did a great job. They enter Perry's office. (X) 70 INT. DAILY PLANET - PERRY'S OFFICE 70 Perry is talking to Jimmy. The newspaper on Perry's desk features a banner headline which reads: "BILLIONAIRE CHURCH REVEALED AS HEAD OF INTERGANG." Beneath it is a long story, written by Perry White. PERRY I was just telling Jimmy how I took out Church's thug with an old karate move. You know, Elvis was into karate. LOIS It was impressive. CLARK Almost as impressive as your story, Chief. PERRY I haven't had a byline for seventeen years. It's nice to know I've still got the stuff. LOIS It's also nice to know that Mr. Stern is not selling the paper. PERRY I think we're safe for awhile. I (X) heard you were running the place (X) while I was gone, Jimmy. (X) (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) Pink Draft 3/16/95 54. 70 CONTINUED: 70 JIMMY (nervous) Not exactly. You see... PERRY You did a good job, son. Wally's (X) eyewitness turned out to be a world class liar. If we'd have gone with the story, the Mayor would've sued our butts off. JIMMY I just did what you always taught me, Chief. I went with my gut. PERRY I only have one question, son. Perry pulls out the newspaper from his office with the circled ad. PERRY (CONT'D) What's this 'Ask Zina?' LOIS Isn't she that person who has a 900 number for 'psychic guidance?, Everyone looks at Jimmy. He immediately deflates. JIMMY I... I can explain... CLARK I think we should go now. (X) 70A INT. NEWSROOM - CONTINUOUS 70A Lois and Clark leave the office and cross over to Lois' desk, where she has a message. She reads it and she sags a little. CLARK Bad news? LOIS Dan called. He's not going to be back in town until Monday. CLARK (brightens) Which means you're free tonight, so we can go out. (CONTINUED) --page break-- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY (#20) White Rev. 3/22/95 55.-55A 70A CONTINUED: 70A LOIS Hold on. These two situations are mutually exclusive. Dan's availability, or lack thereof, has nothing to do with _our_ relationship, and your continual disappearing act. CLARK Lois, I'm not gonna try and stop you from going out with Dan; that's your choice. But, I've given this a lot of thought and I realize that instead of dancing around my feelings for you, I have to deal with them head on and verbalize my emotions... and your going out with Dan _does_ upset me. LOIS Clark, I don't know what to say. CLARK Say you'll go out with me tonight and I swear I won't suddenly disappear. Lois equivocates for a moment, then relents. LOIS Alright. You can pick me up at seven; and I promise I won't disappear on you either. But you (X) better be there at seven (X) (increasing sexiness) (X) And seven-oh-one. Seven-oh-two. (X) Seven-oh-three. And (X) seven-oh-four. And seven-oh... (X) And as Lois continues to talk and the heat between them (X) continues to build, we... FADE OUT. _THE END_