Superman: The Man Of Steel Part 8

...if you're not doing anything after work I was hoping you might...

EAVESDROP #6.

...are a bunch of heathen anyway...

EAVESDROP #7.

...can't be trusted...

EAVESDROP #8.

...don't know what I would do without...

EAVESDROP #9.

...the nine thirty show...

EAVESDROP #10.

...because of the gun...

EAVESDROP #11.

...is so yummy...

EAVESDROP #12.

...aren't really hers...

The voices get more and more singled out until there is one lone voice.

EAVESDROP #13.

...emergency vehicles stand by for ma.s.sive collision victims at Monorail Base fourteen...

The sound focuses again on WALKER.

WALKER.

...but is appreciated regardless, Mr. Knox. And the last question goes to Kent.

The attention in the room s.h.i.+fts to an empty chair where CLARK was seconds earlier. n.o.body saw KENT leave and no one is as surprised as OLSEN.

CUT TO:.

INT. CITY HALL PRESS ROOM.

CLARK scurries around the corner past employees. An elevator being repaired and the doors are wedged open. Two REPAIRMEN are working on the doors. CLARK moves to the elevator in a blur. Both REPAIRMEN turn away as the blur moves between them and drops down the darkened shaft.

The two REPAIRMEN turn and look at each other and then go about the business.

INT. ELEVATOR SHAFT.

CLARK freefalls down the shaft, his body a perfectly rigid form. His tie wisps above his head and his hair flips in the breeze as he plummets several stories. His eyes are closed enjoying the moment. The camera CLOSES IN on his chest.

His hands gently take the edges of his b.u.t.toned s.h.i.+rt and TEAR THEM APART REVEALING THE RED AND YELLOW "S" s.h.i.+ELD ON BLUE THAT FILLS HIS CHEST.

INT. CITY HALL ELEVATOR SHAFT.

The Lobby elevator is opened and marked off with "OUT OF ORDER" signs.

SUPERMAN flies out of the shaft and through the lobby. Someone enters and SUPERMAN meets the open door perfectly and flies out.

CUT TO:.

EXT. SECOND MONORAIL.

A SECOND MONORAIL is unaware another has lost control and not switched tracks.

They are heading directly toward each other.

EXT. TRACKS FROM OVERHEAD.

SUPERMAN swerves into view and catches up with RUNAWAY MONORAIL.

INT. RUNAWAY MONORAIL.

From inside, Pa.s.sENGERS look and point at SUPERMAN flying overhead.

EXT. RUNAWAY MONORAIL.

SUPERMAN flies in front of the monorail, places himself AGAINST the front car and pushes in an attempt to slow it down in vain. The MONORAIL CONDUCTOR can see SUPERMAN through the window. MONORAIL CONDUCTOR Come on, Superman! You can do it!

The second monorail is gaining. SUPERMAN uses his telescopic vision and can see the other MONORAIL miles away closing in.

CUT TO:.

INT. SECOND MONORAIL.

CONDUCTOR is on the radio. CONDUCTOR WHAT!.

He throws a series of switches stopping the monorail. Pa.s.sengers are thrown about as it halts.

CUT TO:.

EXT. RUNAWAY MONORAIL.

The RUNAWAY MONORAIL is within immediate distance.

CLOSE on SUPERMAN's face, which is tightened and strained.

The MONORAIL frame begins to cave in making an indention with SUPERMAN at its center.

CLOSE on SUPERMAN's face, which is contorted...

The noise stops.

All is silent.

CAMERA pans back from SUPERMAN's face and reveals a halted MONORAIL with his body pressed against it. He looks like a child in front of a semi compared to the train. CAMERA pans further revealing the SECOND MONORAIL maybe two feet in front of him.

The CONDUCTORS stare at him in disbelief. CONDUCTOR Wait till my wife hears this one.

CAMERA moves along side the distance of the RUNAWAY showing the relieved pa.s.sengers through the windows and finally coming to the end of the train revealing the STRANGER holding the back end. From a back window, people inside the train have been watching him.

The STRANGER lets go and steps out onto the platform tired and worn. This is the first time we fully see him in light. His is huge and bald with a goatee and dressed in black. In the distance, SUPERMAN staggers out from the train.

SUPERMAN and the STRANGER's eyes meet. The train doors open and people flood out.

CUT TO:.

TELEVISION INTERVIEWS.

All taken from witnesses to the day's events and all in different places.

SCHOOL GIRL.

(nervous) Then the bus flipped over and we all fell and the train was coming but somebody pushed us out the way and he was big and strong and big and he pushed us off the tracks.

COP.

I don't know where he came from but he grabbed that guy and tosses him through the window into traffic like he was nothing. He made him apologize to Leah but I don't know, I might have let the guy get hit by that truck.

MONORAIL CONDUCTOR.

I've seen Superman in action but he looked different today. Like he wasn't all there.

The interviews are part of: NEWSCAST: ACTION COMMENTS FEATURING SUPERMAN.

The show is a daily broadcast with a special segment every day on SUPERMAN's daily exploits. The logo in the background is made of slanted letters that appear to be flying off the screen.

The host is ANGELA CHEN. ANGELA Metallo. Who is he? What is he? Where did he come from? In the past twenty-four hours, he's been responsible for six different rescues and stopping three crimes in progress. With rumors of Superman's abilities waning, could his timing be better?

Here to address the issue of Superman's abilities and limitations is STAR Labs' Chief Science expert, n.o.bel Prize winner and personal friend of Superman, Professor Emil HAMILTON.

PROFESSOR HAMILTON is a man in his early fifties with gla.s.ses; gray hair and a matching beard.

ANGELA.

Professor HAMILTON, how accurate are the reports of an "injured" Superman?

HAMILTON.

Since Superman's potential and the origin of his abilities are unknown to us, there is no sure way to tell to what extent he's suffering, if he's suffering at all.

ANGELA.

So you will agree Superman is not the Man Of Tomorrow he was last month.

HAMILTON.

I have done more tests on Superman than anyone else has on Earth but the duration of time it took for his powers to deteriorate to their current state, only he knows. I can only imagine the effect having such power and then suddenly have it dissipate...

HOST gets a message from her earpiece.

ANGELA.

(interrupting) Hold on. We have a report Metallo just stopped a jewel heist in the downtown financial district. We have a camera there now. Let's see if we can go live.

A window appears with a scene of overturned cars on fire and several other wrecked vehicles.

ANGELA.

Folks, I'm not sure what we're looking at here. There appears to be some fire and property damage.

The JERKY CAMERA pans catching METALLO hoisting a THUG in each hand in the air and into the back of a POLICE van.

ANGELA.

Wait! There's Metallo.

CAMERA gets closer.

ANGELA.

Metallo!

He turns.

ANGELA.

This is Angela Chen with Action Comments. Can we have a few words?

METALLO.

Sure.

Despite his ma.s.sive intimidating size and almost threatening appearance, METALLO speaks very articulately and is well-mannered. He is a paradox of himself.