notes: To pop everything into place... use Courier 10 (or 10 characters per inch) set top margin at 0.4", bottom margin at 0.4" (or minimums) left margin at 1", right margin at .25 (or minimum) (I had to tell the program I was using legal paper) page breaks in hard copy indicated by ---page break--- regular tabs, hard returns and right flushes are used to position things to look as much like original as possible sometimes 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 logo on front page will be noted when used but not included here as this may be sent in .txt, originally underlined words will look like _this_ NOTES: on front page LOIS & CLARK is in large, bold, underline The New Adventures of Superman is in not so large, italics "The House of Luthor" " is in same size font, not italicized EPISODE 20 (and) Written by: Deborah Joy Levine & Dan Levine are somewhat smaller All other text on first page is in courier 10 page 27. "...Krytonite coating..." lower mid page, decription; Kryptonite spelled wrong in original page 28. "not the regular. And cayanne..." cayenne spelled wrong in original page 33. "...desk lamp emiting a..." emitting is spelled wrong in original _LOIS AND CLARK_ The New Adventures of Superman "The House of Luthor" EPISODE 20 Prod. #455320 Written by: Deborah Joy LeVine & Dan Levine WARNER BROS. TELEVISION _Production Draft_ February 28, 1994 Blue FULL 3/7/94 Pink Rev. 3/9/94 Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 Green Rev. 3/11/94 ---page break--- _LOIS AND CLARK_ "_The House of Luthor_" Green Revision 3/11/94 _CAST_ CLARK KENT/SUPERMAN LOIS LANE PERRY WHITE JIMMY OLSEN LEX LUTHOR ________________________________________________________________ FRANKLIN STERN JACK ELLEN LANE MRS. COX INSPECTOR HENDERSON * MR. VITKAY THE ARCHBISHOP GIANT GUARD ---page break--- _LOIS AND CLARK_ "_The House of Luthor_" Blue Revision 3/7/94 _LOCATIONS_ _INTERIORS_: _EXTERIORS_: Lois Lane's Apartment Daily Planet Bedroom Living Room Lexcorp Building Clark Kent's Apartment Metropolis Park Bench Living Room Kitchen Metropolis Graveyard Bathroom Entry/Hallway Perry's Florida Rome Porch Juvenile Detention Facility Jack's Cell Luthor's Balcony Perry's Florida House Go-Go Club * Luthor's Penthouse Metropolis Sidewalk * Den Wine Cellar Dressing Room Pawnshop Ballroom Non-descript Phonestands Restaurant Bar Clark's Apartment Uni-World Insurance Company * The Stern Building Apartment House Foyer Skies above Metropolis Luthor's Limousine * Bigelow & Fuller Office Hallway Franklin Stern's office ---page break--- _LOIS AND CLARK_ "_The House of Luthor_" Blue Revision 3/7/94 _CHRONOLOGY_ SC. 1 - 14 NIGHT 1 SC. 15 - 18 DAY 2 SC. 19 - 21 NIGHT 2 SC. 22 - 29 DAY 3 SC. 30 - 33 NIGHT 3 SC. 34 - 45 DAY 4 SC. 46 - 49 NIGHT 4 SC. 50 - 83 DAY 5 SC. 84 - 91 DAY 6 ---page break--- _LOIS AND CLARK_ _The New Adventures of Superman_ "_The House of Luthor_" _TEASER_ FADE IN: 1 EXT. SKIES ABOVE METROPOLIS - (NIGHT #1) 1 We are CLOSE ON Superman in flight, so close we see only the red and blue-clad body, not the face, as he weaves lazily between the skyscrapers, out for a pleasure cruise. We slowly PAN to the chest emblem... but something's wrong. Instead of the famous "S," there's a "LEX" on the * yellow shield. We MOVE to the face: it's LEX LUTHOR. He's smiling blissfully. He looks down to see... 2 LOIS LANE'S APARTMENT 2 LOIS is being fitted for her wadding dress, yards and yards of elaborate, frilly, formal white. She seems happy and excited. 3 LUTHOR 3 nods his head in satisfaction, continues on, looks down again. 4 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT 4 CLARK, unshaven, is trying to type, but a pile of crumpled-up papers testifies to his futility. 5 LUTHOR 5 laughs, looks down again. 6 EXT. METROPOLIS PARK BENCE 6 JIMMY, wearing a thin jacket and shivering with the cold, studies the want ads, occasionally circling something. 6A CLOSE ON WANT ADS 6A Jimmy circles an ad saying "Dishwasher Wanted." ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 2. 7 LUTHOR 7 shakes his head in false sympathy, looks down again. 8 EXT. METROPOLIS JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY 8 Through the barred window we see JACK pacing in his tiny * cell.. 9 LUTHOR 9 executes a playful roll in the air, looks off toward the far horizon to see... 10 INT. PERRY WHITE'S FLORIDA HOME 10 PERRY, holding the remote on his belly, is asleep in front of the TV test pattern, SNORING. He seems years older. 11 LUTHOR 11 rights himself, looks down one last time. 12 EXT. METROPOLIS GRAVEYARD 12 The lonely, untended grave of Superman. A flash of * LIGHTNING briefly illuminates the grave. * 13 LUTHOR 13 sighs with satisfaction, then _ROCKETS_ _OFF_ at top speed, master of all he surveys 14 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT 14 Luthor sits in front of his fireplace, arms extended wing-like, dipping or raising them to simulate flight. A Virtual Reality helmet covers his head. He removes it to * reveal an enormous smile... because soon he will need no * helmet. FADE OUT. _END OF TEASER_ ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Pink Rev. 3/9/94 3. _ACT ONE_ FADE IN: 15 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - (DAY #2) 15 Clark "sits" crossed-legged in the air,, typing at _SUPERSPEED_ on a laptop computer, the attached printer cable dangling like a lifeline. He pauses, reads the screen, presses "Print." As the printer begins to work, Clark lowers himself down, stands, stretches, in the process _LEVITATING_ up several inches before coming back to earth. Clark is unshaven, uncombed, wears rumpled baggy sweats. Clark walks into the kitchen, looks in the fridge. Nothing but a bag of onions and garlic. But, he's suddenly famished, starts scrounging. He looks in the cabinets, then the freezer: frozen steak. He puts the * steak on the counter, uses his _HEAT VISION_ on low to * defrost, then throws the meat into a pan and cranks up the level to _COOK_. When it's almost done he grabs the onions and garlic from the bag, dicing then faster than Benihana's ever could, and adds them to the pan. By the time he grabs a soda, his meal is done. He puts it on a plate, is about to turn back to his work when his eyes fall upon something else. On his coffee table: a framed photograph of himself, Lois, Perry, Jimmy, and Cat standing in front of the Daily Planet. He picks it up, stares at it, lifts the phone, dials long distance. CLARK Mr. White? 16 EXT. PORCH - SOMEWHERE IN FLORIDA - INTERCUT 16 Perry, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sun hat, sits on the porch sipping a fruit smoothie and reading a book. He speaks into his cellular phone. PERRY Clark? CLARK Yes, sir. How are you? You sound... tan. PERRY See, son, you got to _layer_ in a good brown. Little bit at a time, so you don't peel. It's an art. CLARK Uh... huh. How's the good life? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Pink Rev. 3/9/94 4. 16 CONTINUED: 16 PERRY You tell ms. I get up around nine, take a stroll on the beach. By the time I get back, Alice pulls a fresh-baked bread out of the oven. Then I sit and read my papers, have my coffee. Sometime around noon, I'll walk over to the club house. There's usually a card game going on. In the afternoon, there're first run movies, arts and crafts, lemonade and cookies. I go to bad around nine, sleep like a baby. Weather's perfect, never changes, and I haven't had a cab try to run me down since I got here. CLARK You're miserable. PERRY Completely. To tell you the * truth, I was even a little * disappointed in Graceland * (beat) How's the novel coming? Clark leans over, pulls the pages out of the printer, scans them: a series of title pages with different titles on each. CLARK Not so good. I've been spending most of my time trying to figure out what really happened to the Planet. PERRY You and me both. Anything interesting? CLARK Nothing I can prove... yet. (beat) Actually, I'm calling about Jimmy. Have you board from him? PERRY Called about a week ago. Said he was fine. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Pink Rev. 3/9/94 4A. 16 CONTINUED: 2 16 CLARK Well, his phone's been disconnected. And today I went to his apartment and his landlord said he'd been thrown out for not paying the rent. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 5. 16 CONTINUED: 2 16 PERRY Blast that kid - why didn't he tell me? CLARK I'm going to start an all-out search for him tomorrow. PERRY (hopeful) So... you need my help? CLARK I think I can manage. PERRY Dang it, Kent. Tell me you need my help. CLARK I need your help. PERRY Thought so. I'll be on a plane in the morning. Meet you at your place. CLARK That's great, Chief. See you then. Clark hangs up, looks back at one of the title pages. It reads: "Metropolis Blues." 17 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - DAY 17 Luthor and Lois are studying the blue prints for their new country estate. Lois is dressed casually, jeans and a sweater. LUTHOR This is wrong. I wanted the doors off the master side balcony to be sliders. (explaining) French doors make the room look smaller. LOIS Lex, the master bedroom is three thousand square feet. That's more than twice the size of my apartment. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 6. 17 CONTINUED: 17 LUTHOR Well, what about the exercise area? Should we put it back on the ground floor? LOIS No, I think this is right. It'll be great to get out of bed and have that stair climber staring me right in the face saying 'Now, Lois. Now.' LUTHOR But, darling, that'll be My line. Luthor kisses her. When they break... LOIS Thank you, Lex, for understanding about my wanting to wait... for our wedding night. I just want it to be special. LUTHOR It will be. A KNOCK on the door and MRS. COX enters. MRS. COX Lex, could we run through your schedule for tomorrow? LUTHOR Of course. Come in, Mrs. Cox. Lois eyes Mrs. Cox as she approaches Luthor, sits next to him, and shows him a calendar. Even though the ladies acknowledge one another with smiles, we can tell there's no love lost between them. MRS. COX You'll notice the Series K field test is set for 3:45 p.m. LUTHOR Excellent. The PHONE RINGS. Mrs. Cox picks up, listens, puts the caller on hold. MRS. COX Bagdonis in Chicago. LUTHOR (getting up) I'll take it in the library. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 7. 17 CONTINUED: 2 17 Luthor exits. The women sit in silence a beat, then... LOIS What's Series K? MRS. COX (deliberately vague) Oh. something we've been working on. (beat) The details are confidential. Lois is being subtly baited and doesn't like it. LOIS Lex has no secrets from me. MRS. COX (amused) Really? LOIS Tell me, Mrs. Cox, is there a _Mr_. Cox? MRS. COX He died. LOIS (suddenly chagrined) Oh, I'm sorry. MRS. COX Don't be. I'm not. Lois' eyes widen as Luthor re-joins them. LUTHOR (to Mrs. Cox) Anything else? MRS. COX Nothing I can't handle. LUTHOR Thank you, Mrs. Cox. That'll be all for now. Mrs. Cox stands and exits. When she's gone, Lois turns to Luthor. LOIS I don't like that woman. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 8. 17 CONTINUED: 3 17 LUTHOR She's easily the best assistant I've ever had, but, if you object to her, I'll... LOIS No, it's okay, really. She stands, walks out to the balcony. Luthor follows. 18 ON LUTHOR'S BALCONY 18 LUTHOR What is it? You seen distracted this morning. LOIS Well, with my mon coming in, and * all the wedding preparations... * LUTHOR (knows her too well) * What else? * LOIS Oh... I was just wondering how * everybody was. I haven't spoken to Perry, or Cat, or Jimmy... LUTHOR ... or Clark? LOIS Or Clark, in weeks. LUTHOR Why don't you give then a call? LOIS I think I will. (beat) Any news about Jack? LUTHOR (shaking his head) I don't understand that boy. Against my advice, he fires one of the finest criminal lawyers in the country and hires a woman right out of law school. (beat) I tried. LOIS I'll talk to him. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 9. 18 CONTINUED: 18 LUTHOR I doubt he'll listen. He motions back toward the blueprints. * LUTHOR (Cont'd) Now, did we decide on the twelve car garage, or the fifteen? CUT TO: 19 EXT. SUICIDE SLUM - THE GO-GO CLUB (NIGHT #2) 19* The worst part of town: bars, pawn shops, abandoned * buildings, etc. * JIMMY (O.S.) No cover, no minimum. Step right up. All girls, all the time. Girls, girls, and more girls. Seven, count 'em, seven revolving stages for your viewing pleasure. Jimmy stands outside one of these establishments (The * Go-Go Club), his collar pulled high to brace himself * against the cold. Two sailors pass. JIMMY (Cont'd) Hey, the fleet's in! Guys! You want girls? We got 'em short, we got 'en tall, skinny, meaty, blond, brunette. They dance, they prance, they romance... Wait a minute. * You're leaving? Anchors aweigh! * But they walk on by. Jimmy can't seem to find any customers. Out from the club steps a burly GIANT with a face only a mother could love. GIANT Hey, punk! JIMMY Me? GIANT No, your kid sister. Get over here. Jimmy moves toward the man, who helps by reaching his long arm out and grabbing Jimmy by the collar. GIANT (Cont'd) I need fifty extra customers inside by dawn or you're fired. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 10. 19 CONTINUED: 19 JIMMY I'm trying, really. GIANT Try harder. JIMMY Do you think I could come inside for a minute? It's pretty cold and my throat... GIANT Whadda ya think this is? A hotel? You want this job or not? JIMMY Yeah. Sure. I need this job. I'll get your customers, don't worry. The Giant lets go, moves inside. Jimmy sighs, starts his "barking" again, although his throat's getting a little hoarse. JIMMY (Cont'd) Step right up, folks. We got 'em all. Blondes, red-heads, brunettes -- all natural, all the time. YOUNG MAN'S VOICE How much? Jimmy whirls to see who his potential customer is. When the man picks his head up we see it's none other than... JIMMY Jack! They trade back-slaps, then Jimmy realizes, grabs him and drags him into a nearby alley. JIMMY (Cont'd) You're out? JACK Uh, sort of. JIMMY Jack.... JACK No big deal. It's not Alcatraz, it's Juve. They won't even miss me until the trial. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 11. 19 CONTINUED 2 19 JIMMY You're in a lot of trouble. JACK You should talk. Nice gig. JIMMY (defensively) It's all I could get. JACK Where you staying? JIMMY I got a room at the 'Y.' It's not too bad. * JACK Wanna roommate? JIMMY Jack, why'd you break out? I know it must have been tough, but... JACK No. That wasn't it. I overheard some stuff. They brought in a kid last week -- he was bragging about how he and his brother pulled this frame-up. You know, planted * incriminating evidence in some guy's crib. JIMMY So? JACK So _I_ was the framee. He was talking about me and the explosives they found at my place after the fire at the Planet. (beat) I have to clear my name, Jimmy. It's not gonna happen with me on the inside. And, I'm gonna need * help. Lots of it. * JIMMY I don't know... JACK Come on. Didn't you see 'The Fugitive?' Jimmy relents, throws an arm around Jack and they start walking off. He dumps his stack of handbills in the first trash can they pass. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 12. 20 INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 20 Clark is sitting up in bed, reading, when the phone RINGS. He still hasn't shaved. CLARK Hello? 21 INT. LOIS LANE'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - INTERCUT 21 Lois is also propped up, reading. LOIS Hi. It's me. Clark is thrilled to hear her voice, but tries to mask it. CLARK (after a beat) Hi. How are you? LOIS Terrific. You? CLARK Great. They-re both padding the truth, and they both know it. LOIS So, how's the rest of the gang? CLARK Perry's coming out for a few days to stay with me. We're a little worried about Jimmy. He moved out of his apartment. LOIS (concerned) * Do you think he's okay? I mean, * if he was in trouble he'd call me * or you or... wouldn't he? * CLARK (easing her concern) * Of course he would. * An awkward moment of silence, then... CLARK (Cont'd) How's the new job? LOIS (evading) Oh, you know. Settling in. You? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 13. 21 CONTINUED: 21 CLARK Busy. Exploring my options. LOIS I'm sure you'll find something. CLARK Yeah. Well, it's kind of late. I guess I'll go to bed. LOIS Me, too. (beat) Clark? CLARK Yes? LOIS I miss you. CLARK I miss you, too, Lois (beat) Good night. They both hang up, lay their books aside, turn off the light, roll over as we... CUT TO: 22 INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT BATHROOM - (DAY #3) 22 Clark, a towel around his waist, shaves Kryptonian style. Because his beard is too tough for razors, he holds a hand mirror in front of his face and bounces his _HEAT VISION_ off of it to burn off the stubble. Little by little, his beard comes off. When he's finished, he feels his smooth face with his hands, then, satisfied, slaps some aftershave on, winces at the burn. The doorbell RINGS. He moves from the bathroom and into... 23 INT. CLARK KENT'S LIVING ROOM/ENTRY - DAY 23 Clark hops up the stairs to open the door. Perry stands there, large as life and twice as welcome. The men exchange a warm handshake. Clark grabs Perry's suitcase as they head downstairs, momentarily leaving the front door open. CLARK It's so good to see you. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 14. 23 CONTINUED: 23 PERRY Nice to be back, if only for a few days. CLARK What'd you tell Alice? PERRY Son, I've been married twenty-five years and if there's one thing I've learned it's you don't lie to your spouse. CLARK (repeating) What'd you tell Alice? PERRY Told her I went fishin'. (beat) No word from Jimmy? CLARK Not a thing. PERRY Where could he be? JIMMY (O.S.) Right behind you, Chief. Clark and Perry whirl to see Jimmy standing in the doorway. He rushes down the stairs And they all hug like schoolmates. CLARK Where've you been? JIMMY It's a long story, but first things first. Got anything to eat? Clark chuckles, walks to the phone, picks it up, dials. CLARK Coming right up. Canadian bacon, right? JIMMY You remembered. CLARK Yeah. I'd like to order two large pizzas to be delivered... (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Pink Rev. 3/9/94 15. 23 CONTINUED: 2 23 JIMMY Uh... CK. I think you'd better make that three. Neither Clark nor Perry are following until Jimmy's eyes move to the door and theirs follow. As Jack steps inside we CUT TO: 24 INT. CLARK's LIVING ROOM - LATER - DAY 24 Four men and three empty pizza cartons. JACK The guys name was Pete. Pete Black, and his brother John. PERRY Anything about who hired them? JACK Just that it was someone important, and they got paid a ton of money. He called him: 'The Boss.' CLARK I can't believe this 'Boss' would burn down the Daily Planet just to frame you for the job. There's got to be another, bigger reason. You were just the fall guy. PERRY (the general deploying his troops) Jimmy, Jack, find out where we can contact this John Black character. Clark, get me whatever you can on anyone known as 'The Boss.' (beat) I'll do some digging into Daily Planet finances. JIMMY (cheerfully) Just like old times. Jimmy swings his arms wide, in the process knocking a half-full open bottle of soda off the table. As it falls we go to... ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 16. 25 BOTTLE 25 In _SLOW-MOTION_, Clark's hands move into frame as the bottle falls. He catches it, screws the cap on, then lets it continue to fall. It bounces on the expensive-looking area rug. 26 BACK TO SCENE 26 Back to _NORMAL SPEED_. As Jimmy picks up the bottle, his expression changes from dismay to confusion. He thought he left it uncapped. Quickly, Clark jumps in, indicating Jimmy and Perry. CLARK You two might as well bunk here for awhile. JACK What about me? CLARK You're checking back into the Metropolis Juvenile Detention Center. We'll think of some way... JACK I can't. (beat) Pete Black didn't just happen to get sent to Juve. He was put there to look for _me_. All of them pause as this sinks in. JIMMY This is getting serious. PERRY Maybe we should call in the big guns. JACK The police? PERRY No, Lois. CLARK (shaking his head) She's too busy -- planning her wedding. Suddenly, Clark's _SUPER HEARING_ picks up the sound of an ALARM. He heads for the door. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 17. 26 CONTINUED: 26 CLARK I'll be back in a sec. I... left my clothes in the dryer. Clark races out as we... CUT TO: 27 EXT. METROPOLIS BANK - DAY 27 The ALARM still sounds. Superman lands, looks around: everything seems calm. A GUARD spots Superman, approaches him. GUARD Thanks for coming, Superman, but it was a false alarm. The security system just went crazy all of a sudden. Sorry to take your time. SUPERMAN No problem at all. 28 ANOTHER ANGLE 28 Mrs. Cox, smartly dressed, walks by. Suddenly, Superman feels faint, doubles over. GUARD Superman? Are you okay? Mrs. Cox continues walking, unseen by Superman, who starts to straighten up. SUPERMAN Yes. I'm... fine, now. For a minute there... Superman realizes something, looks around at all the people on the street, suddenly very afraid. 29 EXT. METROPOLIS SIDEWALK - DAY 29* Mrs. Cox, back to us, speaks into a cellular phone. * MRS. COX We have the genuine article, Lex. Works like a charm. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 18. 29 CONTINUED: *29 When she turns around, we see she is wearing a necklace made of _KRYPTONITE_. As she fondles it with her hand, we... FADE OUT. _END OF ACT ONE_ ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 19. _ACT TWO_ FADE IN: 30 INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - (NIGHT #3) 30 Clark, alone in his apartment, talks to his mother on the phone. CLARK Mom, it _had_ to be Kryptonite. The feeling's unmistakable: pain, weakness, dizziness... It took me hours to return to full strength. (beat) I thought it was destroyed, too. But then I remembered the chunk supposedly sent off for testing at the University. The one that disappeared. With _SUPER HEARING_ Clark hears someone approaching his door. He lowers his glasses, glances in that direction. * CLARK (Cont'd) (calling out) Key's under the mat, Chief! 31 HALLWAY OUTSIDE CLARK'S APARTMENT - SAME TIME 31* Perry's toting a heavy briefcase, has his arm poised to knock. Instead he bends and retrieves the key, but not without glancing at the door in bewilderment. 32 BACK TO CLARK 32 CLARK I'll be careful, Mom. Promise. Bye. Perry unlocks the door and enters as Clark hangs up. PERRY (still mystified) How did you...? CLARK (quickly changing the subject) Let me help you with that. Clark takes the case, sets it on the table. CLARK (Cont'd) How'd it go? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 20. 32 CONTINUED: 32 PERRY (as he gratefully sits) Every member of the Daily Planet's old Board of Director's is ducking me. (points toward the bulging case) I did get hold of the transcript of the session where they decided to sell to Luthor. (taps his nose) Instinct tells me they're hiding something. (beat) What I need is leverage. CLARK (frustrated) I just hope we're not too late. * Perry easily reads between the lines. PERRY Wedding's coming up pretty fast, isn't it? CLARK (gloomily) Two days. (beat, helplessly) Maybe it doesn't matter _what_ we find. Maybe Luthor's what she wants. PERRY (teasing) And here I thought we were trying to save the Daily Planet. CLARK (blushing) We are. I only meant... PERRY Whoa, I'm just funnin' with you. Clark tries to smile, can't. PERRY (Cont'd) (sympathetically) Women are like trout, son. You tug too hard on the line, you'll lose 'em. You just gotta hope fate and the currents push 'en your way. (beat) We still got a couple of days. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 21. 32 CONTINUED: 2 32 CLARK (grimly) Right. Let's get to work. CUT TO: 33 VISUAL MONTAGE 33 (To the tune of, "I'm Getting Married in the Morning.") 34 INT. RESTAURANT/BAR - (DAY #4) 34 A tall, curvaceous young woman kisses a bald older man goodbye, slips out of their booth, and leaves. Before the man can leave, Jack appears from the booth behind, shows * him a palm-sized video recorder. The man turns pale. * 35 INT. WAY OUTSIDE ACCOUNTANT'S OFFICE - DAY 35 Perry is ushered out by a business-suited woman. The sign on the door reads: Bigelow and Fuller, Certified Public Accountants. Perry and the woman exchange a few final words, then shake hands. 36 INT. APARTMENT HOUSE FOYER - DAY 36 The place is very run down, dirty, dimly lit. Jimmy brushes grime away from a name on the row of broken mailboxes. It reads: John Black. Jimmy smiles and heads up the stairs. 37 EXT. SIDEWALK OUTSIDE ANGELO'S PAWN SHOP - DAY 37 Clark exits the shop, makes some notes on his pocket pad, moves to a nearby phone booth. END MONTAGE 38 PHONE BOOTH 38 As Clark dials and lets the phone RING, we go to... 39 SPLIT-SCREEN - UPPER LEFT QUADRANT - PHONE STAND 39 JACK (into phone) The Planet board originally voted _not_ to sell to Lex Luthor. (MORE). (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 22. 39 CONTINUED: 39 JACK (cont'd) Then, suddenly, they all changed their minds. They're all also driving new Ferraris. * We no longer hear Jack, but go to... 40 SPLIT-SCREEN - UPPER RIGHT QUADRANT PHONE STAND 40 JIMMY (into phone) I found John Black. Now all we have to do is set him up. I thought I'd... We no longer hear their conversation. Instead we go to... 41 SPLIT-SCREEN - LOWER QUADRANT - PHONE STAND 41 PERRY There _was_ additional insurance on the Daily Planet building through a subsidiary of LexCorp-called Lexel Investments. Nov all I have to do is find out how much and... We no longer hear Perry. SPLIT-SCREEN LOWER RIGHT QUADRANT - CLARK'S PHONE BOOTH The RINGING stops. CLARK Just about every criminal element in Metropolis pays protection money to a shadowy character they call 'The Boss.' Most of them have no idea who he is, and the ones who might are too terrified to talk., (beat) If Luthor first manipulated the Board to sell the Planet to him, then burned it down to collect the insurance... what if 'The Boss' is actually Lex Luthor? (beat) Okay. See you back at the apartment. Everyone hangs up at once. END-SPLIT SCREEN CUT TO: ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 23. 42 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CLARK'S APARTMENT - DAY - LATER 42 Clark is about to enter the building when a car HONKS. Clark looks. 43 CLARK'S POV 43 A new Mercedes convertible, Lois driving, at the curb. LOIS (trying to be light) Need a lift, big boy? Clark stares at her, then the car, long enough for the levity to disperse. CLARK Present from Luthor? LOIS (uncomfortable) I borrowed it. CLARK Then I guess you owe him one. Clark starts walking. LOIS Please, Clark. Get in. Clark hesitates, then does get in. CLARK What do you want, Lois? LOIS I want you come to my wedding. CLARK I can't. LOIS Why not? CLARK I just can't. Clark starts to leave, Lois puts her hand on his arm. LOIS You hate him that much? Or is it me you hate now? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 24. 43 CONTINUED: 43 CLARK I could never hate you, Lois. But there is no way I'm going to sit there and watch you walk down the aisle with that... LOIS What? Thief? Gangster? Psychopath? Murderer? CLARK Maybe all of the above. LOIS (tiredly) Clark, can't you see what's happening? All you're doing is driving us further and further apart. CLARK I'm not the one doing the driving, Lois. You are. Clark gets out. CLARK (Cont'd) And if you're so sure Luthor is filled with nothing but good intentions, you might ask him about Lexal Investments and the extra * insurance policy they had on the Daily Planet. A policy that may have made easy to rebuild the paper. (beat) You're an investigative reporter. Investigate. Clark walks away; Lois stares after him. 44 INT. LUTHOR'S DEN - DAY 44 Luthor and Mrs. Cox listen to a cassette tape. CLARK (on tape) You're an investigative reporter. Investigate. Mrs. Cox turns off the tape. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 25. 44 CONTINUED: 44 LUTHOR Modern surveillance technology is a beautiful thing, Mrs. Cox. If the Borgias had had it, they'd still be running Italy. MRS. COX Shall I take the necessary precautions? Luthor nods, but seems deep in thought. MRS. COX (Cont'd) A billion for your thoughts. LUTHOR Sold. (beat) Everything is falling into line. I was able to make the Planet * vulnerable for a takeover, then I * bought it, then I destroyed it. I * broke Lois out of her comfortable routine _and_ made a few bucks in the process. Now, when Kent's highly insulting accusation proves false, it should drive a final wedge between Lois and her old life. MRS. COX Part One of your plan is complete. LUTHOR Yes. Time for Part Two: to conclude our business with Superman. (beat) Is everything arranged? Mrs. Cox nods. LUTHOR (Cont'd) Good. Then put in a call to Clark Kent. She moves to the phone. LUTHOR (Cont'd) Tell him I'd appreciate it very much if he'd contact his friend Superman on my behalf. I'd like a word with the Man of Steel concerning Lois Lane. Mrs. Cox dials. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 26. 45 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR - DAY 45 Luthor draws himself a taste from a wine cask, makes a face, spits it out. LUTHOR Not quite ripe. There's a KNOCK an the metal door. It opens and Mrs. Cox ushers in SUPERMAN. LUTHOR (Cont'd) Come in, come in. Don't be shy. Mrs. Cox leaves, closes the door behind her. Luthor has picked up a dust bottle of wine from a crate. He wipes it clean, holds it up to the light. LUTHOR (Cont'd) They say that civilization was invented so that men could cooperate in the making of wine. SUPERMAN What do you want, Luthor? LUTHOR A favor. SUPERMAN From me? You must be joking. LUTHOR Hear me out. When Superman doesn't speak... LUTHOR (Cont'd) My fiance, Lois Lane, _should_ be deliriously happy at the prospect of our forthcoming wedding. Unfortunately, she is not. She misses her friends from the Daily Planet. Especially Clark Kent. Despite himself, Superman is fascinated. Why is Luthor discussing this with him? SUPERMAN (warily) So? LUTHOR So, you and Clark are friends. He was even able to bring you here. Luthor strolls among the casks, Superman follows. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 27. 45 CONTINUED: 45 SUPERMAN I'm not following. Luthor looks back, sees Superman _is_ following, smiles, continues on. LUTHOR I'm asking you to use your influence to convince Clark to attend our wedding. (beat) You're invited, too. Luthor stops. Superman stops several paces away. SUPERMAN You live in a fantasy world, Luthor. Neither Clark nor I will ever do anything to support your marriage to Lois. LUTHOR I see. Then, I suppose, you're of no further use to me. Luthor pulls a lever mounted on the wall. A metal cage drops from the ceiling to encase Superman. SUPERMAN (scornfully) Bars won't hold me, Luthor. LUTHOR Oh? I think they will. Superman strides to the bars, reaches to crush them, then recoils in pain and drops to one knee. Luthor switches off the overhead lights. The bars GLOW an eerie green from their Krytonite coating. Superman falls over onto his back. LUTHOR (Cont'd) A fantasy world? Perhaps. But it's all about to come true. On Luthor's smile we... FADE OUT. _END OF ACT TWO_ ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 28. _ACT THREE_ FADE IN: 46 INT. CLARK'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - (NIGHT #4) 46 Perry's cooking up a storm in the kitchen: every burner in use. He hears the sound of a KEY TURNING in the lock and looks up. PERRY About time. Jimmy and Jack enter thru the door: not unwelcome, but not who Perry was expecting. JIMMY (echoing Perry's concern) Where's Clark? PERRY I don't know. He should have been here. Perry taps the biggest pot with a wooden spoon. PERRY (Cont'd) Crawfish etouffee anyone? Perry pours in the raw crawfish. They hit the boiling water with a HISS. Jimmy and Jack exchange a glance. JACK Actually we just ate. PERRY (unphased) You'll eat again. (adding spices and liquids) You gotta use the sweet paprika, not the regular. And cayanne pepper, plenty of it. 'Course the secret is the apple juice, half a cup. Perry points to the plates. Reluctantly, Jimmy and Jack begin to set the table. PERRY (Cont'd) (to Jimmy and Jack) What'd you get? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Green Rev. 3/11/94 29. 46 CONTINUED: 46 JIMMY Plenty. (he holds up a microcassette recorder) John Black'll do just about anything he's paid to do: break in, plant explosives, anything. (beat) Just like he did for a woman named Mrs. Cox in the case of our young Jack here. He even gave me her number... for a reference. PERRY Beautiful. We'll get that tape * down to Inspector Henderson first thing in the morning along with Jack's statement. (to Jack) Looks like you're off the hook, son. Congratulations. JACK Thanks. I got something, too. (beat) Mr. Simon Truesdale, former Daily Planet board member, has had a sudden attack of conscience. He's now willing to confess to receiving a substantial cash 'inducement' I think he called it to support the sale of the Planet to Luthor. JIMMY Any particular reason for this 'sudden attack of conscience'? JACK It might be related to a certain video tape he's hoping his wife never receives. PERRY Poor woman. JACK Not after the divorce settlement. JIMMY What about you, Chief? PERRY Well, now, Lexel Investments _did_ have additional insurance on the Daily Planet building. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Green Rev. 3/11/94 30. 46 CONTINUED: 2 46 JACK How much? PERRY About twice what it would've cost to repair it. (beat) Lex Luthor cleared a cool seventy-five nil on the deal. JIMMY That's motive. He's nailed. JACK So, what are we waiting for? PERRY Clark. (motioning) Sit. Let's eat. They take places around the table while Perry serves the mixture over rice. JIMMY This is all great, of course, but the problem is none of it'll bring back the Planet. PERRY Elvis, first recording session for Sam Phillips, June of '54 it was, didn't turn out too well, but darned if he wasn't back in that studio in July and turning out his first couple of hits. JIMMY I just know there's a point to that story. PERRY Elvis didn't give up; we won't either. Got I ? JIMMY Got it. They all dig into the food. * PERRY I hope you like it spicy As one, Jimmy and Jack grab their throats and rush for the kitchen sink. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 31. 47 INT. LEX LIMO - NIGHT 47 Luthor and Lois, dressed in evening clothes, sit in the back of the Lex Limo. Lois stares out the window at the lights and rain-drenched streets of the city. LUTHOR I don't know when I've had better garlic chicken. Chef Andre deserves a raise. LOIS Mmm. LUTHOR And what a magnificent production of Othello. I especially liked the black and white set. Very inventive. LOIS Mmm. LUTHOR (Staring at Lois) You know, Shakespeare didn't write Othello. It was actually written by Dr. Suess. LOIS Mmm. LUTHOR (after a sigh) Lois, an I boring you? Lois realizes her distraction, turns back to Luthor, puts a hand on his arm. LOIS What? No, of course not. I'm sorry. All I can think about is that enormous stack of RSVP's on my desk. (beat, wryly) Minus a few. LUTHOR Your dad and sister absolutely * can't make it back? * LOIS (shaking her head) * My dad's medical relief mission is * in Africa, and Lucy's still * trekking in Nepal. At least my * mom's coming. * (MORE) (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 32. 47 CONTINUED: 47 LOIS (cont'd) (sadly) But it's not just my family. Not * one of the people I thought I was closest to is coming. LUTHOR Propinquity. LOIS What? LUTHOR Propinquity. A relationship based on convenience. You work in a particular place, shop in certain stores, become attached to the people that surround you. But, when you move on, the relationships end. (beat) That's what you have to do, Lois. Move on. It's not fair to you... or to me. LOIS You're right. I just wanted our wedding day to be something I could share with Clark and Perry and the others. LUTHOR After the honeymoon, I promise you we'll heal all old wounds. LOIS You still won't tell me where we're going? LUTHOR (teasing) No. LOIS Not even a hint? LUTHOR Clothing is optional. Lois laughs, lays her head on Luthor's shoulder. Then, she remembers something. She takes a moment to choose her words so as not to put Luthor on his guard. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 33. 47 CONTINUED: 2 47 LOIS Lex... when the Planet was destroyed, you lost quite a bit of money, didn't you? LUTHOR Yes, but I have wide shoulders and deep pockets. LOIS But, I mean it wasn't a total loss. There was insurance. LUTHOR Several policies. Unfortunately, not enough to justify reconstruction. (beat) Why the sudden concern? LOIS Because I can't help but feel that your buying the Planet in the first place had something to do with me. LUTHOR It did. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I bought the Planet in a desperate, lovesick attempt to bring us closer together, to bring my life in tune with yours. Ironically, it wasn't necessary: here we are together. Our love was too strong. We were _meant_ to be together. On Lois, we... CUT TO: 48 EXT. THE STERN BUILDING - NIGHT 48 To establish a downtown highrise. 49 INT. FRANKLIN STERN'S OFFICE - NIGHT 49 Perry is shown into the immense, lavish office of FRANKLIN STERN. The office is dark, save for a desk lamp emiting a pale green light. An impressive looking African-American man in his late 50's sits in the massive, high-backed desk chair. PERRY Mr. Stern? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 34. 49 CONTINUED: 49 STERN Come in, Mr. White. Please, sit down. PERRY (as he sits) Thank you for seeing me at this late hour. STERN Perry, may I call you Perry, I work a fourteen hour day, always have. If I show my face at home before eleven p.m. my wife calls the police. (beat) I'm sure you know what that's like. PERRY Too well. They share a smile. STERN Strange that we've never met. I'm very familiar with your work, of course. PERRY As I am with yours. STERN I miss reading the Daily Planet. It has imitators, but no true successor. Metropolis has lost an asset. PERRY Those of us who worked there were proud to call it home. (beat) That's why I've come. STERN I didn't think you were here looking for a fourth for bridge. PERRY Mr. Stern... you own television and radio stations. And you have interests in book publishing. But, have you ever considered owning a newspaper? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 35. 49 CONTINUED: 2 49 STERN Perry... correct me if I'm wrong... there _is_ no newspaper. PERRY The Daily Planet was more than concrete and girders. It was people and ideas and principles. Those still exist. (beat) There _is_ a newspaper. There just isn't a place to print it. Stern loans forward. STERN Even if that were true, why would _I_ want to own the Daily Planet. PERRY I can't imagine anyone wanting anything else. Stern gives this some thought, then finally shakes his head. STERN I'm sorry, but my answer is no. (beat) I wish you luck, though, in finding some way to rebuild. If you do, you have my subscription. Stern stands, offers his hand. The men shake and Perry turns to leave. Perry's deeply disappointed, but trying not to let it show. PERRY (half to himself) I just hate to see Lex Luthor win. STERN (sharply) What's that? PERRY Lex Luthor. We've gathered evidence that suggests he was * behind the Planet's fall. I'd * just like to see the expression on his face... well, thanks again for seeing me. Perry exits through the door. Stern sits back down, thinking. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 36. 50 INT. LOIS' APARTMENT - (DAY #5) 50* Lois has her feet up on her kitchen table. She looks at * the phone: silent. She picks it up, speed dials. * SECRETARY (O.S.) LNN. Lois Lane's office. * LOIS Any calls, Lorna? SECRETARY (O.S.) No, Ms. Lane. LOIS (disbelieving) Nothing? What about the uprising * in Qurac? Are we pulling our * correspondents out? I have to * decide... SECRETARY (O.S.) Oh, I thought you knew. Mr. Ahern already arranged their departure. I guess he didn't want to bother you. LOIS What?! SECRETARY (O.S.) We just assumed... with your wedding and all... LOIS (angrily) Now I _am_ bothered. I'm bothered because no one bothered to bother me. You expect me to work at LNN * day after day, week after week, * completely... unbothered? SECRETARY (O..S.) Ms. Lane? LOIS Never mind. Lois hangs up. She then pulls a scratch pad from the * counter, looks at it, almost puts it back, then sets it * by the phone. 51 CU - SCRATCH PAD 51 Lois has written: Uni-World Insurance Company 555-8900. * ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 37. 52 LOIS 52 dials the phone. LOIS Mr. Vitkay? INTERCUT 53 INT. UNI-WORLD INSURANCE COMPANY - DAY 53* MR. VITKAY is a bookish fellow sitting behind a desk with a mound of files on it. MR. VITKAY Yes? LOIS This is Lois Lane. We spoke yesterday. I was wondering if you got that information I requested. MR. VITKAY Yes, yes. I have the file right here. (beat) Lexel Investments _did_ have * supplemental insurance on the Daily Planet building. Lois sags. MR. VITKAY (Cont'd) 'But... the amount was insignificant. Far below replacement cost. Lexel must have * suffered a substantial loss. (beat) Guess they can afford it, though, huh?. LOIS (relieved) Yes. They can. Thank you very much. Lois hangs up, elated. She looks at her desk calendar. 54 CU - CALENDAR 54 Only one thing on her agenda, in the afternoon: Wedding. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 38. 55 BACK TO INSURANCE OFFICE 55 When we PULL BACK we see Mrs. Cox sitting in the chair in front of Vitkay's desk, long legs crossed. She reaches in her briefcase. MRS. COX I assume you accept cash. CUT TO: 56 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR/PRISON - DAY 56 The cage is as before. Superman, doubled over in pain, lies on his side. Luthor enters thru the doors. He's dressed in his wedding tux and carries two cummerbunds, one red, one white. He removes a key on a ring from his pocket, unlocks the cage door, moves to stand over his weakened and fallen arch enemy. LUTHOR And how are we feeling today? Superman tries to speak, but can only manage a GROAN. * LUTHOR (Cont'd) (false sympathy) Ohh. Still a little green around the gills? Luthor LAUGHS, produces a pocket mirror, examines himself as best he can, straightens his black tie. He's never been in a better mood. LUTHOR (Cont'd) I, on the other hand, am feeling wonderful. (quoting) 'She's beautiful and therefore to be wooed. She is woman, therefore to be won.' (beat) 'Henry the Fifth.' Superman makes a weak grab for Luthor's ankle, but Luthor calmly steps away. LUTHOR (Cont'd) I know this must be hard for you. Seeing me all decked out, on my way to marry Lois Lane, while you can only lie here helplessly and suffer. Then tonight, tonight... (bursting into song) ... won't be just any night... (MORE) (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Pink Rev. 3/9/94 39. 56 CONTINUED: 56 LUTHOR (Cont'd) (cont'd) (beat, wickedly) I love Lois, but she's much too independent, don't you think? Well, leave that to me. Luthor steps toward the door. SUPERMAN (a croak) Clark Rent knows where I am. LUTHOR (pausing) That's right. I'll have to kill him, too. (beat) That reminds me. Which one? (holding out the cumberbunds) The red, or the white? Red for passion, or white for purity? Superman struggles to a sitting position. Luthor loops the white cumberbund around Superman's neck and pulls him back down. Superman moans in pain. LUTHOR (Cont'd) I agree. Definitely the red. Luthor exits the cage, re-locks it, sets the key down on a wine cask as he dons the red cumberbund SUPERMAN (a hoarse whisper) Luthor... LUTHOR Strange to hear you say my name and know It's probably for the last time. (beat) Is this a mistake? Will the pain of losing the challenge you represent be worse than the discomfort of constantly losing to you? (another beat) Nah. Luthor turns to leave. LUTHOR (Cont'd) I'll be back later... when it's all over. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 40. 56 CONTINUED: 2 56 Luthor taps a fire ax hanging on the wall. LUTHOR (Cont'd) We'll have a little... heart to heart (beat) Have a nice death. Luthor's gone. But, Superman's eyes are wide open and he's staring at something. SUPERMAN'S POV The key. FADE OUT. _END ACT THREE_ ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 41. _ACT FOUR_ FADE IN: 57 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - DRESSING ROOM - DAY 57 Lois wears her magnificent wedding gown, stares into a * full-length mirror. Intermittently, she practices a wide smile, then bursts into SOBS. She goes through this cycle several times until there's a KNOCK on the door and a VOICE says... VOICE Five minutes, Miss... Mrs. Luthor. Lois quickly collects herself, dabs at her eyes with tissues, then takes a deep breath. LOIS (to the mirror) Mrs. Lex Luthor. (beat) Lois Lane Luthor. (beat) Lois Luthor Lane. (beat, a stray thought) Lois Lane... Kent? (shakes her head to clear it) Lois... Lane. We PULL BACK to include the rest of the room. Now, for * the first time, we see ELLEN LANE, Lois' mother, sitting * on the sofa, looking at her daughter. * LOIS (Cont'd) Mom, what an I going to do? * ELLEN Honey, if you're not sure... * LOIS It's too late. * ELLEN No, it's not. Do what your heart * tells you to do. * Lois drops her veil, exits the room. Her mother * follows. * CUT TO: ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 42. 58 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR - DAY 58 Superman has crawled to a position near the bars across from where the key still rests on the wine cask. The closer to the bars he is, the more intense the pain, but he bears it. Concentrating, trying to build power by breathing deeply in and out, Superman finally "aims" at the key and _INHALES_. It's weak, a pale shadow of his former power, but does have an affect. 59 THE KEY 59 flutters, slides to the edge of the cask, but sticks there with the ring dangling over the side. 60 SUPERMAN 60 collapses, COUGHING from the exertion. Inadvertently, he grasps the bars for balance and CRIES OUT in pain, clutching his hands as if burned. He lies back, resting his head on the fallen cummerbund. Faintly, in the distance, he hears ORGAN MUSIC. 61 INT. LUTHOR'S BALLROOM - DAY 61 The room is packed with the cream of Metropolis Society. Ellen Lane sits toward the front. Conversation dies as * the WEDDING MARCH begins. Luthor enters from the side and takes his place by the altar. Now Lois appears in back and all eyes turn. Slowly, she begins to walk. As she walks, she remembers. FLASHBACK #1 Lois and Clark share Chinese food (pilot episode). FLASHBACK #2 Lois shows plenty of leg as she perches on Clark's desk ("Pheromone My Darling"). FLASHBACK #3 Lois and Clark brush their teeth together ("Honeymoon in Metropolis"). FLASHBACK #4 Clark, having quit, walks away from Lois ("Man of Steel Bars"). BACK TO SCENE Lois continues down the aisle. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 43. 62 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR - SAME TIME - DAY 62 Superman stands shakily by the bars. He has torn the white cummerbund into strips and tied then together. He now holds one end and tosses the other to land several feet away from the key. He rests a moment, tries to compose himself, and BLOWS. 63 THE CUMMERBUND 63 lifts, a silken snake, and drifts toward the key. The end flutters up and near the key, then, like threading a needle, moves through the ring and twists back on itself to create a loop. 64 SUPERMAN 64 in great pain, leans through the bars and gives his "rope" a tug. 65 THE KEY 65 is pulled off the cask onto the floor, within several feet of Superman's outstretched hand. 66 SUPERMAN 66 near collapse, tries to _INHALE_, but the key moves only an inch. He sits there, gasping for breath. 67 INT. LUTHOR'S BALLROOM - SAME TIME - DAY 67 The Wedding March ends as Lois joins Luthor, smiling with pride, at the altar. She stares in shock at who's to perform the ceremony. LOIS (whispering) The Archbishop? LUTHOR The Pope had a prior engagement. * THE ARCHBISHOP Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God, and in the presence of these witnesses, to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Lois desperately scans the audience, but is disappointed. The faces she hoped to see aren't there. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Green Rev. 3/11/94 44. 68 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR - DAY 68 Superman kneels by the bars and reaches, but he's still several feet short of the key. He staggers to his feet retreats to the other end of his cage, and runs at the bars. He CRIES OUT at the impact, but the cage is pushed closer to the key. He lowers himself and stretches, stretches... an inch short. Fighting off unconsciousness, he tries again, straining, almost... 69 INT. LUTHOR'S BALLROOM - DAY 69 THE ARCHBISHOP ... till death do you part? LUTHOR I do. THE ARCHBISHOP And do you, Lois, take this man to be your wedded husband from this day forward, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part? LOIS I... She looks around, pauses. The room waits breathlessly. LUTHOR (gently prodding) Lois. LOIS I... can't. The rear doors CRASH open. Everyone looks. 70 ANGLE ON DOORS 70 Perry, Jimmy, and Jack. LOIS (thrilled) Oh, Lex. They came. They... Lois stops in confusion as half a dozen Metropolis cops, led by INSPECTOR HENDERSON, enter behind her friends. * PERRY Stop the wedding! All rush up the aisle. As they near... (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 45. 70 CONTINUED: 70 PERRY (Cont'd) Lois, you can't marry this man! LOIS (petulantly) What, is there an echo in here? I just said that. LUTHOR (furious) What is the meaning of this?! PERRY The meaning, Luthor, is that you're through. We have all the evidence against you we need. LOIS Evidence? Evidence of what? HENDERSON I have a warrant here charging you with arson and other crimes too numerous to mention. LUTHOR You be out of your minds. All of you. HENDERSON You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney... LUTHOR Will you stop that! I can afford a _thousand_ attorneys. I'll have your head... badge for this. Someone get the Governor on the phone! Wait, make it the President, make it... Luthor's mouth falls open as he glances toward the back of the ballroom. There, standing next to two detectives, in handcuffs, is Mrs. Cox. She shrugs at Luthor, who yells * out to her. * LUTHOR (Cont'd) Et tu, Mrs. Cox? * (then, turning to Lois) * Sorry, Lois. I'll have to take a rain check. I'm afraid something's come up. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 46. 70 CONTINUED: 2 70 Henderson grabs Luthor's arm, but Luthor twists free, disposes of the two cops in his way with several well-executed karate moves, and disappears through the side door. Other cops throw themselves against the door, but they rebound. It's been bolted from the inside. * PERRY Lois, I know things didn't turn * out exactly as planned, but... * LOIS (a bit hysterical), Why? Doesn't every woman dream of * a wedding like this? Henderson rushes over. HENDERSON Don't worry, we'll get him. We have the entire building sealed off. He rushes off. Lois looks after him, then down. 71 LOIS' POV 71 On the floor, a plain, gold wedding band. 72 LOIS 72 bends to retrieve it. She stares at it and her friends, not really seeing any of it. JIMMY Talk about the nick of time... Jimmy takes the wedding bouquet, breathes in the flower scent; Lois snatches it back from him. Jack salutes the Archbishop. Lois bursts into tears. 73 INT. LUTHOR'S WINE CELLAR - DAY 73 Luthor, tie askew, bursts in, grabs the ax off the wall. * LUTHOR Sorry, Superman, I don't have time to chat. I'll just take my pound of flesh and... The cage door is open, key in the lock. The knotted "rope" lies on the floor. Superman is gone. Luthor ROARS his anger and buries the ax in a wine cask. Then, * reacting to sounds of pursuit (FOOTSTEPS, CALLS, etc...), Luthor runs out. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 47. 74 BEHIND A WINE CASK 74 Superman, drained of energy, sits propped against the cask. 75 EXT. STREET OUTSIDE LEXCORP BUILDING - DAY 75 Lois, Perry's jacket draped over her shoulders, is led outside by-the rest of the gang. Police cars and personnel are everywhere. Lois is still in shock. LOIS I've always been such a good judge of character. PERRY He fooled us all. JACK Not me. JIMMY _I_ never trusted him. PERRY Lois, don't blame yourself. LOIS (suddenly realizing) Where's Clark? CLARK (O.S.) Right here. Still shaky and pale, Clark steps to her side. They look at each other. He holds out his arms... she moves into them. Suddenly, a police walkie-talkie delivers a loud burst of STATIC. VOICE OVER RADIO He's in the Penthouse! * All look up. LOIS Lex? 76 INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE - DAY 76 Luthor runs: police after him, police in front of him. He knocks several more down, but is cornered and backs to the balcony. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 48. 77 EXT. LUTHOR'S BALCONY - CONTINUOUS - DAY 77 Henderson steps forward. HENDERSON It's over, Luthor. Give yourself up. Luthor looks at Henderson, then over the edge. He climbs up on the ledge. LUTHOR Lex Luthor will not live in a cage. Luthor turns to face the drop. HENDERSON Luthor, no. LUTHOR (calmly) Did you know this is the tallest building in Metropolis? (beat) Top of the world. He steps over the edge. 78 SIDEWALK BELOW 78 The crowd REACTS as the body falls. Clark releases Lois, steps forward as if to fly... but can barely walk. CLARK (anguished) I can't. Lois averts her eyes, buries her face in Clark's chest. The bouquet drops from her hand to the sidewalk. Someone running by steps on it. 79 SPINNING NEWSPAPER #1 79 Headline reads: LUTHOR PLUNGES TO DEATH. 80 SPINNING NEWSPAPER #2 80 Headline reads: LUTHOR'S CORPSE STOLEN FROM MORGUE -- Sub-headline: Police Fear Body Snatchers. 81 SPINNING NEWSPAPER #3 81 Headline reads: LUTHOR RESPONSIBLE FOR DAILY PLANET'S DEMISE. ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 49. 82 SPINNING NEWSPAPER #4 82 Headline reads: LUTHOR VAST CRIMINAL NETWORK REVEALED 82A SPINNING NEWSPAPER #5 82A* National Whisper Headline reads: LUTHOR & ELVIS ALIVE! * Sub-Headline: Open Surf Shop in Rio * 83 SPINNING NEWSPAPER #6 83* Headline reads. FALL OF THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR. DISSOLVE TO: 84 EXT. DAILY PLANET BUILDING - A WEEK LATER (DAY #6) 84 Lois, Clark, Perry, Jimmy and Jack have convened on the sidewalk. The entrance has been boarded up, "BUILDING CONDEMNED" signs are posted, and the area is still cordoned off. JIMMY I wish they'd get it over with and tear this old place down. PERRY Yep, too many memories. LOIS Most of then good. PERRY There's a lesson to be learned here. JACK Why an I not surprised? PERRY We ought to appreciate what we've got when we've got it. Lois looks at Clark, who's looking at the ruin. He feels her stare and turns to her. Quickly she changes the subject. LOIS (miserably) It's my fault. All of it. If Lex hadn't wanted me so badly he never would've destroyed the Planet. (beat) Why me? (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Yellow Rev. 3/10/94 49A. 84 CONTINUED: 84 CLARK Because Lex Luthor always wanted what he could never have. LOIS He almost did. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 50. 84 CONTINUED: 84 CLARK (fervently) No. You said 'no.' You never would have gone through with it. Lois looks gratefully at Clark, tries to reply, but can't speak. Perry jumps in to cover the awkward moment. PERRY I know I've said this before, but I hate the idea that Lex Luthor got his way... (notions toward the ruins) ... even in this one thing. (O.S.) He didn't. Stern appears at their side, points. STERN (Cont'd) Look! We hear the sound of a CRANE. 85 THEIR POV 85 A flatbed truck pulls up and parks. Workmen remove a * tarp covering a large object on the truck bed: the Daily * Planet globe. Now, a crane begins to move it into * position. * 86 BACK TO SCENE 86 VARIOUS How? What? Is this really ... ? PERRY Great Shades of Elvis! STERN We'll start on the building next week, but first I thought we'd announce to the world we're back in business. (beat, to Perry) I reconsidered your proposal. I agree with you, Mr. White. Metropolis needs the Daily Planet. Besides, one more nail in Lex Luthor's coffin suits me fine. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 51. 86 CONTINUED 86 The group rushes to him; hand shaking and hugging all around. STERN (Cont'd) There were some ideas I had about modernization. PERRY (warily) Modernization? STERN Yes, improvements, expansions... Would you like to see the plans? Stern moves off. PERRY (as he, Jimmy, Jack follow) Now, Stern. Stern! Wait just a doggone minute! Lois and Clark are left alone. CLARK (per the globe) I've never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. Lois looks at Clark, seeing him in a newfound light. LOIS You never gave up. On the Planet, on your friends, on me. Clark looks at her. CLARK I couldn't. You've just named almost everything in the world that's precious to me. LOIS I don't think I've ever, _will_ ever meet anyone quite like you. LOIS CLARK Clark... Lois... LOIS (Cont'd) Let me go first, please. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 52. 86 CONTINUED: 2 86 CLARK No. Not this time. (beat) I'm sorry. About a lot of things. I wanted to bring Luthor down, but I never wanted to hurt you. I should never have said anything... about the way I felt toward you. It put you in an incredibly awkward position. LOIS No. Clark, I... CLARK The fact of the matter is, it wasn't true. I'm not in love with you. 87 CLOSE ON - CLARK'S FINGERS 87 Crossed behind his back. 88 BACK TO SCENE 88 LOIS (crestfallen) You're not? CLARK I would have said anything to stop you from marrying Luthor. Lois tries to mask her disappointment. LOIS Oh. Well, if that's the way you feel... CLARK I want the same thing you do, Lois. I want us to be friends, and partners. Forever. LOIS Forever. CLARK Now, what did you want to say? LOIS Oh, nothing. The same. What you just said. Sort of. (CONTINUED) ---page break--- THE HOUSE OF LUTHOR (#20) Full Blue Rev. 3/7/94 53. 88 CONTINUED: 88 They're about to share a hug, but, at that moment, Clark, with _SUPER HEARING_, picks up... VOICE (O.S.) Help! CLARK Uh, could we continue this later, Lois? I've got to go. He hurries off. LOIS (slightly put off) Sure. Why not? Go. Run off and disappear like you always do whenever we're having a discussion. (a sigh) I guess everything's back to normal. 89 UP IN THE SKY 89 A red, yellow and blue-streak. 90 LOIS 90 LOIS (looking up) I'm not done with you either, big fella. 91 UP IN THE SKY. 91 Superman pauses, looks down on Lois and the city of Metropolis, and smiles. As he _ROCKETS_ off into a new season we... FADE OUT. _END ACT FOUR_