Sup and Lois Script 1

Superman & Lois
Ep. #101
“Pilot”
Story By
Greg Berlanti & Todd Helbing
Teleplay By
Todd Helbing
Directed By
TBD
Based on characters appearing in

The DC Comics’ “Superman”
DC Entertainment
Berlanti Productions
Studio Draft – 1.13.20
© 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. This script is the property of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. No portion of
this script may be performed, reproduced or used by any means, or disclosed to, quoted or published in any medium
without the prior written consent of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

OVER BLACK:
We hear a BEATING HEART -- bah-bump-bump, bah-bump-bump --

somehow both AMPLIFIED and MUTED -- like we’re in utero.
CLARK (V.O.)
My most vivid memories, are of the
days when my life changed...
CRAASSHHHH! We HEAR the LANDSCAPE being EVISCERATED around

us -- we're INSIDE Kal-El's POD when he arrived on earth.
CLARK (V.O.)
I remember coming to this earth...
feeling the sun on my face for the
first time...
We settle, the pod SPLITS OPEN -- SUNLIGHT instantly blinds

CAMERA. AMNIOTIC-LIKE FLUID GUSHES OUT onto FLATTENED CORN
STALKS and PLOWED EARTH. Kal-El’s heartbeat POUNDS FAST.
CLARK (V.O.)
I remember hearing the voices of my
parents...
MARTHA (V.O.) JONATHAN (V.O.)

-- Jonathan! Oh my God, -- Martha, hold on --
Jonathan!
MARTHA (V.O.)
-- It's... it's a baby boy...
MARTHA and JONATHAN KENT, late 40s, come into FRAME, blocking
the light's path. Martha reaches towards Kal-El, teary-eyed
and mesmerized. As his odd heartbeat starts to CALM --
EXT. KENT FARM - DAY
A SUNNY DAY. FIND Martha and Jonathan on a BLANKET with TWO-

YEAR OLD CLARK, playing with TOY TRACTORS -- a new family.
Clark picks up one of the metal tractors --
CLARK (V.O.)
My mother called me their "greatest
surprise." Boy, there sure were
lots of them...
-- then THROWS IT! It bullets THROUGH the FARMHOUSE,

destroying all in its path. Jonathan and Martha eye the
house in shock a beat...
JONATHAN
I'll fix it.
Ep. 101 SUPERMAN & LOIS "PILOT" 1.13.20 2.
EXT. SMALLVILLE - DOWNTOWN - DAY
PEOPLE out and about. Lively. There’s decorations for a

HARVEST FESTIVAL. Find a SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Clark with Martha
and Jonathan. Waving at friends. Talking. Laughing.
CLARK (V.O.)
I remember loving Smallville. The
people. The community. How the
small things were the big things.
I thought I'd live there forever...
Jonathan suddenly grasps his CHEST -- falls to his knees.

Grabs Clark’s ARM. As fear and panic cover Clark’s face...
EXT. SMALLVILLE - CEMETERY - MORNING
FIND a teary TEENAGE Clark with Martha before Jonathan’s

CASKET. The TOWN of SMALLVILLE behind them.
CLARK (V.O.)
But my father's death made me
realize, I was here to save
people...
EXT. METROPOLIS - UNDERPASS - DAY
ON a GREEN VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE -- MID-AIR -- as it flies

towards a YOUNG BOY wearing a METROPOLIS METEORS CAP. The
boy crouches instinctively, when SUPERMAN -- early 20's now --
BLURS IN and CATCHES the car! Almost surprises himself.
CLARK (V.O.)
Eventually I moved to Metropolis to
become the hero I was sent to Earth
to be...
As Superman sets the car down -- people nearby look around,

did you see that? Superman picks up the Young Boy's cap,
hands it to him.
SUPERMAN
You okay?
YOUNG BOY
Yeah. Cool costume.
SUPERMAN
Thanks, my mom made it for me.
He winks. The Young Boy smiles. Superman salutes, BLURS

away...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
CLARK (V.O.)
But my most vivid memory of all,
was the day I met her...
INT. DAILY PLANET - BULLPEN - DAY
Bustling with ACTIVITY. FIND Clark -- BRIEFCASE, JACKET and

TIE, GLASSES -- following after the gruff editor, PERRY
WHITE, 50s, mid-rant...
PERRY
Everyone in here... we're the most
dependable friends the people of
Metropolis have. Remember that.
CLARK
Yes, Sir.
PERRY
Stick with Lane. She'll show you
the ropes.
Perry moves away -- leaving Clark confused.
CLARK VOICE (O.S.)

Lane -- ? Who told you to wear a tie?
Clark turns to see -- LOIS LANE. Mid-20s. He's instantly

transfixed. Becomes a klutzy ball of uncool.
LOIS
Let me guess, Mencken? Ignore him,
he's old school.
Lois grabs a FEW FOLDERS, starts off. Always in a rush.
LOIS (CONT'D)
No interns at the Planet, or
reporters for that matter, wear
ties anymore.
They pass REPORTERS at CUBICLES -- none wearing ties.
LOIS (CONT'D)
See what I mean? This is Lombard,
Sports. Box tickets, Meteors. Get
on his good side. You like
baseball?
CLARK
Who doesn't like America's pastime,
Miss Lane.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
LOIS
It's Lois. What'd you say your
name was again?
CLARK
Clark. Kent.
LOIS
(stops; studies him)
Huh, I've never met a Clark before.
CLARK
I've never met a Lois before...
Well, actually now that I think
about it there was my first grade
teacher Lois Hannigan. So really
you'd be the second Lois...
Clark looks up but SHE'S OFF -- he watches her, completely

smitten. A SWIRL OF IMAGES, faster now, of CLARK AND LOIS
DURING COURTSHIP: first date, revealing HE'S SUPERMAN...
CLARK (V.O.)
But the newer memories -- those
aren’t as clear... I fell in
love... told Lois who I really was
and where I really came from...
POP TO: Clark and Lois, each holding a BABY BOY. The FOOTAGE
is more FADED -- like memories that aren't fully formed.
CLARK (V.O.)
We married, moved in together...
the twins came...
QUICK MOMENTS of JONATHAN KENT in childhood: sleeping

peacefully, laughing, enjoying life -- a charmed young life.
CLARK (V.O.)
Jonathan was easy. He was always
happy, always smiling. One of
those special kids my dad said
seemed "privileged from birth"...
TEN-YEAR-OLD Jonathan makes a TRIPLE PLAY in a LITTLE LEAGUE

GAME as Clark and Lois watch on -- more than impressed.
CLARK (V.O.)
Things with Jordan were... more
challenging...
QUICK MOMENTS of JORDAN KENT in childhood -- screaming;

crying; a tormented and difficult youth.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
CLARK (V.O.)
Tantrums, night terrors... about a
year ago he was diagnosed with
social anxiety disorder. Thank God
for Lois... she took over, knew
exactly what to do...
THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jordan is in the corner of a room,

HYPERVENTILATING as Lois helps ease him out of a PANIC
ATTACK. Clark and Jonathan watch on, concerned.
CLARK (V.O.)
Figured out how to give Jordan all
the help he needed, while I tried
to keep doing what any parent would
do...
POP to Superman saving the day as seen in NEWS REPORTS OF

MULTIPLE CITIES -- LOS ANGELES, PARIS, JAPAN -- back to back
-- using every POWER in his arsenal --
CLARK (V.O.)
...make the world a little safer
for the people I love.
EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - NIGHT
CHAOS. WARNING LIGHTS SPIN. ALARMS BLARE. ARMY SOLDIERS

hurriedly escort EMPLOYEES donning WHITE BODY SUITS past
haphazardly parked ARMY TRUCKS, far away from the LARGE
CONTAINMENT STRUCTURE that homes a BOILING WATER REACTOR --
at its side, a massive, inactive NATURAL DRAFT COOLING TOWER.
CRISS-CROSSING SPOTLIGHTS from Army trucks ILLUMINATE a

section of the tower as SOLDIERS hurry to unravel LONG FIRE
HOSES connected to an ARMY WATER TANKER...
ARMY GENERAL (O.S.)

How long we got before this thing
pops its top, Gentlemen?
AN ARMY GENERAL, 50's, approaches a clutch of SCIENTISTS.

Scientist #1 eyes his TABLET, notes the TEMPERATURE GAUGE --
it reads 1600 degrees Celsius and is RAPIDLY RISING.
SCIENTIST #1
Minute. Maybe two.
ARMY GENERAL
The fallout?
SCIENTIST #1
Far as Metropolis.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
The General regards a SMALL DEVICE in his hand that's been

activated -- a military-style ELT (EMERGENCY LOCATOR
TRANSMITTER) used to alert Superman that his help is needed --
GENERAL LANE
Christ. Let's hope he hears this.
And a SHARP RINGING SOUND takes us to --
EXT. SKY - NIGHT
-- SUPERMAN, SPEEDING through the night sky, racing over

LAND. His eyes narrow as that SHARP RINGING turns into a
FLURRY of CONVERSATIONS; MUFFLED VOICES; SCREAMING. All
Frantic. The sounds NARROW IN, until WE HEAR:
SCIENTIST #1 (V.O.)
We don't get water back in the
reactor vessel, we're going to have
a meltdown the size of Fukushima.
The situation's bad. Superman kicks it into HIGH GEAR --
We HEAR what sounds like a SUPERSONIC JET approaching --

WHOOMMM! -- a beat, then a BLUR races past them and
disappears into the mouth of the cooling tower.
SCIENTIST #1
We need to tell him what's wrong?
GENERAL LANE
He knows.
As they all watch on, we CUT TO...
INT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - COOLING TOWER - NIGHT
ON Superman landing atop the BRIDGE inside the massive tower.

Superman uses his X-RAY VISION to examine the space around
him. Like THERMAL IMAGING, we see PURPLE and YELLOW HEAT
SIGNATURES outlining the innards of the tower -- its
DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLD, the FILL, and HEXAGONAL COMPARTMENTS
that lead to a large, empty BASIN.
Then he sees -- a LARGE FISSURE that runs the length of the

basin -- the reason all the water escaped. RED BEAMS blast
from his eyes, melt the concrete to a GLASS-LIKE compound,
essentially WELDING the crack together. WHOOSH! Superman
SPEEDS out of the opening in a BLUR and we're --
EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - ADJACENT LAKE - NIGHT
SUPERMAN FLIES out to the body of water. Hovers above it,

then inhales deep and lets out a COLD, LONG BREATH that
starts FREEZING a LARGE SECTION of WATER. Superman stops his
breath, flies up into the air... loops back down and SPLASH!
DISAPPEARS into the lake.
After a few beats, a MASSIVE ICEBERG starts to rise from the

water, held up by Superman. He flies with the iceberg
towards the tower, passing over the throng of Soldiers and
Scientists and the General, watching on in awe...
INT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - COOLING TOWER - NIGHT
Superman's hovering inside the tower, holding the massive

iceberg above his head. The tremendous heat starts MELTING
THE ICE and WATER FALLS into the basin. As water DISAPPEARS
into the TUBES below that lead to the REACTOR VESSEL...
ON Lane with the Scientists. Scientist #1 notes the

TEMPERATURE on the tablet still rising. 2100 degrees,
2200... then it holds a beat... and STARTS FALLING.
SCIENTIST #1
It's cooling down.
As they fill with relief, Superman LANDS behind them.

Everyone turns, stares at him with reverence and awe. The
General approaches, ushers Superman out of earshot --
GENERAL LANE
And?
SUPERMAN
Just like Oyster Creek. Same kind
of crack in the basin of the
cooling tower.
GENERAL LANE
How is it no one at either plant
saw or heard anything?
SUPERMAN
I don't know yet, but you can't get
equipment in here unnoticed. Both
cracks were man-made, General.
THE GENERAL
That's what concerns me.
(eyes Superman a beat)
You've been putting in a lot of OT
lately. Lois okay with that?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
Now we see his NAME TAG: GENERAL SAMUEL LANE, Lois' father.
SUPERMAN
She understands. Some days she's
busier than I am.
THE GENERAL
I was thinking I could take those
grandsons of mine fishing. Bass
are gonna start biting again.
SUPERMAN
They'd love that. Let me talk to
Lois about some dates. Good night,
General.
And with a SONIC BOOM, he disappears into the night sky. OFF
Lane, watching...
EXT. SKY - NIGHT
As the SCORE plays over CREDITS, there's a SERIES OF SHOTS of

Superman flying through the night: OUTSKIRTS of METROPOLIS;
through downtown, past THE DAILY PLANET -- a city that's
ALIVE and NOISY and BUSY. Superman flies towards --
EXT. ALLEY/BROWNSTONE - NIGHT
-- in the HEART of the city. He lands, disappears behind a

GARAGE -- then appears dressed in WORK CLOTHES. Grabs a pair
of GLASSES from an EMPTY LIGHT SCONCE, puts them on... and
becomes Clark Kent. He takes a few steps, and BANG! --
nearly trips over some METAL TRASH CANS, causing a LOUD
RUCKUS. A NEIGHBOR'S LIGHTS turn on --
NEIGHBOR (O.S.)
That you, Clark?
CLARK
Sorry, Mrs. Costello.
NEIGHBOR (O.S.)
You know the city has plastic
garbage cans you can get now.
He heads towards the MODEST BROWNSTONE, enters...
INT. KENT BROWNSTONE - REAR ENTRANCE - NIGHT
-- and closes the door behind him as he hears Lois' VOICE...
LOIS (O.S.)
...and the delivery truck crashed
into your car?
INT. KENT BROWNSTONE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
-- Clark finds LOIS LANE on her CELL, taking notes on a

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK. The kitchen's a mess -- remnants of
dinner in POTS and PANS in the sink, on countertops. A MUTED
TV plays a REPORT of his escapades at the nuclear plant.
LOIS (INTO PHONE)

...It was an unmarked box truck? I
guarantee it wasn't even owned by
Pangaea, was it?
(notices Clark)
Could you hold one sec please?
(to Clark re: dinner)
Your plate's in the fridge. 10-
month-old killed by a contracted
delivery driver, company won't
accept liability. Foswell said if
he gets copy first thing in the
morning, may get to print for
Friday. And apologize to Jordan --
you missed another session with his
doctor today.
(kisses his cheek)
Don't wait up.
Clark eyes her, understanding who he married.
INT. KENT BROWNSTONE - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - NIGHT
Clark moves before a door. Knocks.
JONATHAN (O.S.)
Come in!
FIND JONATHAN KENT FACETIMING with his GIRLFRIEND on his

COMPUTER. TROPHIES won from playing MULTIPLE SPORTS dot the
room. He sees Clark in the doorway...
JONATHAN (CONT'D)
Oh, hey, Dad. It's Elisa. We're
going over our summer reading.
Mom tell you? Jones and Baron got
cut today. In the last round.
CLARK
So... You made the varsity team?
JONATHAN
First freshman to ever do it.
Coach Suter said he's gonna start
me, too. I can tell some of the
upper classmen are already ticked
off.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
CLARK
Don't worry about them, Son...
JONATHAN
Worry? It's awesome. You shoulda
seen their faces. Hey Dad, I hope
you don't mind... I kinda gotta...
Motions to Elisa on the computer.
CLARK
Sure. Not too late. Okay?
As Jonathan turns back to the computer, Clark exits back into

the HALLWAY and moves towards a room where we hear MUSIC
BLASTING. Knocks. No response. Knocks again. Nothing.
CLARK (CONT'D)
Jordan?
He opens the door to FIND JORDAN KENT, sitting on a BEANBAG

CHAIR, engrossed in a VIDEOGAME -- ironically, it's SUPERMAN
FIGHTING SOME BAD GUY. Clearly neither he nor Jonathan have
any idea who their father is. POST-PUNK POSTERS line the
walls. "Under the Sun" by DIIV BLASTS. Clark hits the music
off. Jordan looks up.
JORDAN
I was listening to that...
CLARK
You make a pretty good Superman.
JORDAN
I'm the other guy. Superman's
boring.
CLARK
Sorry I didn't make it to your
session today. I was in Wichita
for this story I'm working on, and
couldn't --
JORDAN
-- catch a flight back. Mom said.
It's clear this is a long standing issue between them.
CLARK
High school starts tomorrow.
That's a big deal. It's okay if
you're nervous. You know, freshman
year was tough for me. I ever tell
you when I was the manager of the
basketball team --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
JORDAN
-- and everyone duct taped you to a
tractor. Yeah. It's a little
different in Metropolis than
Smallville. But thanks.
Clark just looks, it's tough with this one --
CLARK
Okay, well... if you need anything.
I'm here to talk.
JORDAN
Dad...
(Clark turns, hopeful)
...the music.
Clark sighs, flips the music back on. But lowers the volume.
CLARK
This is as loud as it gets.
Clark exits, closes the door. It's clear this all isn't the
way Clark pictured family life.
EXT. KENT BROWNSTONE - METROPOLIS - TIME LAPSE
WIDE SHOT of the Kent home. It's one of many in this

overcrowded, busy city. And as NIGHT gives way to the RISING
SUN, we MOVE towards the KITCHEN WINDOW --
INT. KENT BROWNSTONE - KITCHEN - MORNING
-- to see Clark placing EGGS on a plate before Jonathan. As

Jonathan begins scarfing down his large serving...
CLARK
Jordan, your breakfast's getting
cold!
Lois enters in a PANTS SUIT, blouse unzipped in the back.
LOIS
He's coming. Little help?
(as Clark zips up blouse)
Your mother called about planning a
visit while you were in the shower.
JONATHAN
Are we going to Grandma's?
CLARK
Maybe for Christmas...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
JONATHAN
Smallville... where you can spend a
full year in one afternoon.
LOIS
It's not that bad.
Lois makes a face at Jonathan as she passes -- it is that

bad. Jordan enters. Haphazardly dressed. "I Put The 'Bad'
in Badminton" TEE. And now we really see the stark physical
difference between the twins.
JONATHAN
That's what you're wearing our
first day? Wow. Someone got the
punch-me-in-the-face memo.
JORDAN
You think I want to dress like you?
Like some human version of a
participation trophy --
JONATHAN
Fine, you want to be a loner the
rest of your life --
LOIS
Enough. Your ride's here, go on.
Both of you. Get to school.
As Jordan exits first...
JONATHAN
Eggs were good, Pop. Love you.
He kisses Lois on the cheek. They both watch them go --
LOIS
You're worried about Jordan.
CLARK
I tried to talk to him last night
but he was mad I wasn't at his
doctor's appointment.
LOIS
We've talked about this Clark. It
might be easier if he knew where
you really were?
CLARK
No way.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
LOIS
Your parents told you about your
real heritage when you were six.
CLARK
That was different, I had powers.
LOIS
And you don't think Jonathan's got
something? A freshman making the
varsity football team?
CLARK
And Jordan? All it's going to do
is make him feel like more of an
alien than he already does. Trust
me, I've been there. We're not
telling them until we have to.
Lois clearly doesn't agree -- but drops it. Eyes the CLOCK --
LOIS
We gotta get to work --
As she grabs her BRIEFCASE and hustles out the door.
INT. DAILY PLANET - BULLPEN - DAY
-- as the ELEVATOR DOORS open. Clark and Lois enter, and can
instantly gather something's wrong. Typical bustle missing
from the place. They stop at the cubicle of RON TROUPE,
50's, one of the most veteran reporters at the paper.
LOIS
Who got it today?
TROUPE
Mencken.
LOIS
This is the third layoff this week.
I knew when Edge bought The Planet
there'd be some cuts, but this is
wholesale slaughter, even for him.
Clark and Lois eye a REPORTER the other side of the office --
MAX MENCKEN -- placing ITEMS from his desk in a BANKER'S BOX.
LOIS (CONT'D)
Twenty-five years means absolutely
nothin' to these people. Maxy has
two kids in college.
FOSWELL (O.S.)
Kent!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
Clark and Lois turn to see SAMUEL FOSWELL peeking out from
his office. 50's. Newly-minted EDITOR.
FOSWELL (CONT'D)
Got a minute?
Clark and Lois exchange a concerned look --
LOIS (PRE-LAP)
Fired! They fired you?
INT. DAILY PLANET - BREAK ROOM - DAY
FIND an irate Lois fighting with a VENDING MACHINE as she

vents and tries to get a piece of candy at the same time.
CLARK
It's called a legacy package. I
can keep my benefits for five
years. Write on assignment.
Better me than some other person.
(whispers knowingly)
I do have another day job, Lois.
LOIS
What are we going to tell the boys
now why you're gone all the time?
I'm quitting!
CLARK
You're not quitting.
LOIS
Foswell's not an editor. He's a
patsy for Morgan Edge. Because
Morgan Edge, like all these
billionaires that own media
conglomerates, doesn't care about
real journalism. Or facts. Or
human interest stories that help
the little guy. Ouch!
Her last slam of the machine hurts. Clark slyly tilts the
vending machine until her candy bar falls out.
CLARK
Everything's gonna be fine.
There's never been a problem we
haven't solved... together.
(phone rings; eyes number)
Mom, hi, sorry I haven't called...
And after a BEAT, Clark's face falls. He BLURS OUT. Lois

instantly knows something's wrong. Incredibly wrong.
EXT. SKY - DAY
ON SUPERMAN, racing through the sky. WE GO CLOSE ON HIS FACE

-- HE REACTS AS IF HE HEARS SOMETHING. Then... Flying as
fast as he can go. Desperate...
EXT. SMALLVILLE - KENT FARM - DAY
Its apparent maintenance hasn't been kept up lately. Paint's

chipping. Weeds in the yard. CAMERA FINDS Superman as he
flies into the far side of the BARN. Then exits on the other
side as Clark Kent.
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
-- where he's met by the FAMILY DOCTOR -- a woman in her

50's. Exudes kindness, compassion, and right now -- sadness.
DOCTOR
Clark... How did...?
(then, never mind)
Listen, the stroke was...
Clark rushes into --
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - MARTHA'S BEDROOM - DAY
-- where he finds MARTHA KENT, eyes closed, lying atop the

bed. She's in her 60s. Grey hair. Clark slowly approaches.
Using all his strength to keep it together. Grabs her hand.
CLARK
Mom... It's okay, go be with dad
again...
Clark leans down, kisses her forehead lovingly. He pulls

away, eyes his mother -- knows she's passed away. And as we
SLOWLY PULL BACK, leaving Clark alone with his grief --
END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO
EXT. SMALLVILLE - VARIOUS SHOTS - MORNING
The SCORE plays LOW under VARIOUS SHOTS of SMALLVILLE:

endless CORNFIELDS and FARM HOUSES; MODEST RANCH HOMES; the
"Smallville" WATER TOWER behind the one-street DOWNTOWN;
AMERICAN FLAGS; CHURCHES; mid-western Americana.
PASTOR LINQUIST (V.O.)

Faithful God, Lord of all creation,
you desire that nothing redeemed by
your Son will ever be lost, and
that the just will be raised up on
the last day...
We start to notice some of the homes are RUN DOWN. There's a

few FOR SALE SIGNS on YARDS. EMPTY BUSINESSES.
EXT. SMALLVILLE - CEMETERY - AFTERNOON
FIND a LARGE GROUP of NEIGHBORS and FRIENDS from the

community -- bedecked in ATTIRE ranging from DARK SUITS and
DRESSES to tucked in FLANNEL and 501's -- encircling a GRAVE
SITE. The ADJACENT HEADSTONE reads "EBEN 'JONATHAN' KENT."
PASTOR LINQUIST (V.O.)

...comfort us today with the word
of your promise as we return the
ashes of our sister to the earth...
In the center of them all we FIND the Kent Family in their

FINEST BLACK. ON CLARK, remembering the day of his father's
funeral -- and we're THRUST INTO --
EXT. SMALLVILLE - FIELD NEAR CEMETERY - MORNING - FLASHBACK
Martha drops a ROSE on the casket. Clark's about to -- but

that makes it real. He SPRINTS AWAY.
MARTHA
Clark!
EXT. GRAVESITE - MORNING
-- BACK WITH CLARK, a tear runs down his face as Pastor

Linquist finishes the rite of committal.
PASTOR LINQUIST
...to live with you and all your
children, for ever and ever...
ALL
Amen.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
The boys drop their roses on her casket. Then unlike when he
was a teenager, Clark drops his.
FOLDING TABLES are on the lawn, covered with RED CHECKERED

TABLECLOTHS. CHILDREN play HORSESHOES near the CORNFIELDS.
There's a SERIES OF SHOTS as Clark, Lois and THEIR SONS chat

with VARIOUS GUESTS from the funeral -- eating SANDWICHES,
sipping at BEER, BOTTLED POP; we see some guests LAUGH at
told stories; others wipe away TEARS with napkins.
FIND Jordan seated at a table on his CELL. Jonathan sits

down across from him, plops TWO SLICES of PIE on the table.
JONATHAN
Here. Got you some dessert.
(off Jordan's look)
It's almost one. You need to take
your pill with something.
JORDAN
Who are you, Mom?
JONATHAN
No, but if you want I can let her
know.
Jordan grimaces. Then reaches into his pocket and takes OUT
A PILL of some kind. NEARBY... Lois and Clark talk to COBB
BRANDEN -- an old farmer ignorant of personal space.
COBB
Clark was plowin' the back eighty
acres by himself when he was ten.
He and Jonathan harvested crops
faster'an any farm in the area.
Even Butch Dressler's --
CLARK
How's your place, Mr. Branden?
COBB
Oh we sold to Oberlee Foods about
five years ago. Family farms don't
make it around here anymore.
LOIS
I'm sorry to hear that.
Clark's SUPERHEARING kicks in and he discerns a FAMILIAR

LAUGH. Turns to see...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
The PROFILE of a WOMAN in her late 30's standing with a MAN

the same age, KYLE CUSHING, and TWO YOUNG GIRLS -- SARAH, 14,
WILD CHILD and SOPHIE, 8 -- chatting with some GUESTS. A
beat, then the Woman turns, locks eyes with Clark, revealing
LANA LANG CUSHING.
Poised. Taste far beyond her surroundings. She gives Clark

a sympathetic look. As he responds in kind, CAMERA CATCHES
Lois seeing Clark seeing Lana... then Kyle seeing Lana seeing
Clark. Both aware of some history here.
Lana and her family approach. BACK ON THE BROTHERS, SOTTO:
JONATHAN
Hey. You remember the name of that
girl we hung out with that summer
we stayed here. Her mom and Dad
were high school friends --
JORDAN
Sarah Cushing.
JONATHAN
Yeah, she's here.
And Jordan looks up -- for once loses interest in his phone.
JORDAN
She is? Where?
JONATHAN
Ten feet away and approaching.
(Jordan turns around)
If you hurry you still have time to
go inside and change into... a
totally different person.
BACK ON Lana, Kyle, and the girls as they arrive.
LANA
I'm so sorry, Clark.
(hugs Clark)
Your mother was always so kind to
me. To all of us.
CLARK
It's good to see you, Lana.
Kyle extends his hand, Clark shakes it.
KYLE
Our condolences, Kent.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
LANA
Lois. Nice to see you again.
Sorry it's under these
circumstances.
LOIS
Nice to see you, Lana. You
remember our boys, Jonathan and
Jordan.
Jonathan smiles warmly. Jordan looks on awkwardly. Both

can't keep their eyes off Sarah.
KYLE
This is our littlest... Sophie.
She was a baby when you saw her
last. Your boys may remember our
wayward daughter, Sarah...
Kyle is trying to be funny but Sarah isn't having it. She

turns to the boys --
SARAH
Sorry about your grandma. She was
really special, even my Dad liked
her and he's an asshole, so --
KYLE
A house of girls, Kent. Someone's
always pissed at me. You dodged a
bullet with two boys.
SOPHIE
(realize, points to Clark)
Mommy, that's the man.
LANA
Yes, sweetheart, Mr. Kent and your
Daddy and I went to high school
together.
SOPHIE LANA (CONT'D)

Daddy said you dated him, (uh oh, tries to cover)
remember. He got really mad Go play, honey.
when he saw you on his
Facebook page that time --
LANA (CONT'D)
-- I said go play.
Sarah chuckles. As Sophie runs towards the games...
LANA (CONT'D)
How are you holding up, Clark?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
CLARK
Could use a drink, actually. Join
us inside, catch up?
KYLE
Love to.
AS THEY MOVE INSIDE, STAY WITH SARAH, JORDAN, AND JONATHAN.

The kids awkwardly stand there for a beat so Sarah jumps in.
SARAH
I wasn't sure you guys would
remember me from that summer. It
was like forever ago.
JORDAN
Of course we do. You changed
your... everything.
JONATHAN
What my brother's trying to say is,
whatever you're doing is totally
working for you.
SARAH
We still get puberty in Smallville.
Go figure. But the internet, not
so much. I've been trying to get
on since we got here. As a teen
girl if I don't Tik Tok within an
hour I burst into flames.
(off them)
Kidding -- the Meteors are playing
and I want to see the score.
JORDAN
I've been trying to get on all
morning. There's a problem with
the router.
JONATHAN
Which can be resolved. My brother
can fix anything that helps him not
have to talk to real humans.
JORDAN
Jon, it's in the barn?
SARAH
Ooo mysterious. What's in the
barn?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (4)
JORDAN
Our Dad doesn't like us in there.
He says it's filled with stuff that
can kill you.
JONATHAN
When we were, like, eight.
SARAH
As a card carrying member of the
FFA, with two merit badges to my
name, I think I can keep you boys
safe. C'mon.
As they all head off --
JONATHAN
What's the FFA?
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
They're all seated. Beers are almost gone.
LANA
God, look at you. You look the
same as you did in high school.
You never age.
Lois gives Clark a quick look. Kyle shrinks.
CLARK
Good genes, I guess.
LANA
And Lois, I read all your stories.
I always tell my girls I hope they
grow up to be just like Lois Lane.
LOIS
Thanks, Lana.
CLARK
You still at the bank?
LANA
Still there. And Kyle's still at
the firehouse. Made fire chief
after his dad retired. Everyone
else we know moved away.
KYLE
She means bailed.
CLARK KYLE (CONT'D)

-- Lueck? -- Twin cities --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
CLARK KYLE (CONT'D)

-- Sippy? -- St. Louis.
LOIS
You'll see them at the next reunion
then.
KYLE
You didn't come to the last one.
LANA
Kyle -- He always gets fired up
like this when he's drinking.
KYLE
I had a beer. Get off my back.
(to Clark and Lois)
Used to be, when people left to get
a degree they'd bring their skills
back to where they grew up. Pay
back the community that nurtured
them when they were young. But
that ain't happening anymore.
(beat, then --)
At least we're getting a lifeline
if this Edge proposal goes through.
LOIS
Morgan Edge?
CLARK LOIS (CONT'D)

Oh boy. What's he want with
Smallville?
LANA
Edge Industries has been buying up
old coal mines like they did in New
Carthage and Fawcett City.
Retrofitting them to mine for
alternative energies.
KYLE
It's gonna put a lot of folks back
to work around here.
LOIS
Until it doesn't.
CLARK LOIS (CONT'D)

Lois -- Morgan Edge ruins everything
he touches.
KYLE
He's a billionaire. What's he
ruined?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
CLARK LOIS
Bit of a sore subject with He is single-handedly
her -- destroying the Daily Planet.
KYLE
C'mon. People stopped reading that
paper 'cause none of you reporters
can keep your politics to yourself.
LOIS
Edge Industries barely pays its
workers a living wage. You think
he's going to treat the people of
Smallville any differently. I just
don't understand how he's able to
fool people over and over again --
KYLE
You mean fool us dumb, backward
small town folk --
LOIS
That's not what I meant --
KYLE
I know what you meant Miss Lane.
People like you look at Smallville
and see the past and feel bad for
us, people like Morgan Edge look at
Smallville and see the future.
LOIS
Well it's not a future I would want
to live in.
KYLE
I guess we won't have to worry
about that now there won't be any
Kents in Smallville anymore.
CLARK
We haven't made any decisions about
the farm, Kyle.
KYLE
No but your mother did.
LANA
Kyle. No. Stop.
CLARK
What's that supposed to mean?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
LANA
Kyle, that's enough. Now go get
the girls. We're going home.
A last look and Kyle exits. His comment lingering --
CLARK
Lana, what's he talking about?
LANA
It's not for today, Clark. Come by
the bank tomorrow. Your Mother had
some business with us we need to
discuss, that's all. It'll be
fine, I promise.
(then)
Martha was a great lady. The heart
of Smallville really. I'm sorry
she's gone.
She exits. Off Lois and Clark --
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - DAY
Sarah moves through the EQUIPMENT as Jonathan and Jordan

follow -- they pass a HARROW, CULTI-PACKER, COMBINE -- RAKES,
AXES, SICKLES -- everything's OLD and DANGEROUS.
SARAH
All that sharp scary stuff is for
tilling and that sharp scary stuff
is for sowing. Your Dad's right,
pretty much this baler is the only
thing in here that can't kill you
and that hasn't been used in years.
JORDAN
And what about those?
Above them -- HEAVY, LONG WOODEN POLES line the barn's upper
two-third's to the ceiling.
SARAH
For drying crops. After your
grandma closed operations here, she
used this barn to store crops for
other farms. It's how most of the
places around here got by... for
awhile.
JONATHAN
Wow. You really do know your farm
equipment.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
SARAH
You learn a lot of useless stuff
growing up in Smallville.
JORDAN
Our dad told us a bunch of stories
about growing up here.
SARAH
He tell you how boring it is?
JONATHAN
He liked it. Anyway, it can't be
that bad. It's really the people
that make up a place, isn't it.
Jordan grimaces at Jonathan's innate flirtation but Sarah

isn't really having it --
SARAH
Wow. Metropolis boys are really
starting to lose their game.
JONATHAN
Please, I'm very taken. But we're
gonna be here at least a few days.
I thought maybe someone could show
my brother and I around.
SARAH
Okay, City Mouse. Your phone.
(Jonathan reaches for his)
Not you. I meant Jordan.
A surprised beat. Jordan and Jonathan look confused. Jordan

grabs for his phone clumsily. Hands it over --
SARAH (CONT'D)
(as she types)
Here's my math. There's an end of
summer bonfire tomorrow at the old
Shuster Mines. Hit me up if you
want to go. Can't promise I won't
get you into a little bit of
trouble though.
JORDAN
I'm all about trouble.
SARAH
Yeah. You seem it.
A connection between these two. Much to his shock and

Jonathan's chagrin. Jonathan looks off and spots something --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
JONATHAN
Found it. The router --
He points ALL THE WAY up to the top of a HIGH, HAND-MADE POLE

LADDER.
JONATHAN (CONT'D)
(concerned)
It's pretty high up there. You
want me to --
JORDAN
-- I got it.
Jordan is half-way up the ladder already, climbing towards

the top of the barn -- a clear attempt to impress Sarah.
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - SAME TIME
Lois starts to clean the dishes. Clark is lost in thought.
LOIS
"Come by the bank?" I wonder what
that's all about? Oh, and I'm
sorry I lost my cool with Kyle -- I
know Smallville's suffering but
Morgan Edge is never the answer --
CLARK
Kyle's right, Lois. I should have
been here.
She stops. Turns to him --
LOIS
Clark... he's not. Your Mom knew
where you were, who you were.
That's what she wanted for you.
CLARK
When she was dying -- as I was
flying here, I heard something...
something she must have hoped I
would hear -- I wasn't sure what
she said, but now I know --
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - MARTHA'S BEDROOM - FLASHBACK
-- MARTHA KENT, lies atop the bed. The DOCTOR hovers. Her
final moments. Realizes Clark may not make it...
MARTHA
(barely a whisper)
Clark... it's time...
EXT. SKY - FLASHBACK
ON SUPERMAN, racing through the sky -- he closes his eyes to

concentrate and NOW WE HEAR WHAT HE HEARD:
MARTHA (V.O.)
Come home.
BACK WITH LOIS AND CLARK --
CLARK
She wanted me home. I need to
understand why.
Lois takes his hand.
LOIS
(echoes his words)
Then we'll figure it out.
Together.
JORDAN (PRE-LAP)
Okay! Try it now!
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - THAT MOMENT
Jordan hovers way above them. Looking far down below.
SARAH
(checks her bars)
You did it! Great job, City Mouse.
Jordan smiles at his own victory. Then goes to get back

down, shakily trying to reach the ladder with his foot.
JONATHAN
Careful, man...
JORDAN
Relax. I got it.
His foot lands safely. Phew! But as Jordan goes to shift

his weight onto the rung -- THE RUNG SNAPS! HE FALLS -- THE
BARN WALL SHIFTS AND ALL THE POLES CONNECTED AND HANGING FALL
WITH HIM -- JONATHAN PUSHES SARAH OUT OF THE WAY AS --
END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE
MOMENTS AFTER WE LEFT OFF. Clark and Lois hurriedly exit the
house -- share a look with Lana, Kyle -- now holding Sophie.
SARAH (O.S.)
Help help help!!!
They turn to see Sarah, the fear of God in her, SCREAMING as

she runs out of the barn -- she points at the barn, frantic.
SARAH (CONT'D)
They're hurt!! The boys...
Clark beelines it for the barn as Lois knows what she has to
do -- keep everyone else out of that barn -- turns to Kyle --
LOIS
Call 911. Use the phone in the
kitchen.
Lois hustles after Clark as Kyle rushes for the house. Sarah
and Lana share a look -- it's not good.
Clark rushes in, sees the PILE of POLES. QUICK POP to X-RAY
VISION -- we see HEAT SIGNATURE OUTLINES of Jonathan and
Jordan BURIED under the poles -- NOT MOVING.
Lois' heart sinks when she enters. Clark TOSSES the POLES
aside like small sticks. One by one, until --
They see Jonathan and Jordan huddled together, arms

intertwined -- UNCONSCIOUS and UNHARMED. Jonathan and
Jordan start coming to, slowly start moving.
LOIS
Jordan! Jonathan!
Lois gets on her knees to help -- sees there's NO BLOOD.

Lois turns back to Clark -- both realizing why.
EXT. KENT FARM - THAT NIGHT
An AMBULANCE is parked in the driveway. LIGHTS flashing.
EXT. KENT FARMHOUSE - ON THE PORCH - SAME TIME
An EMT (BENNY, 40's) exits to Clark and Lois on the porch.
CLARK
How are they, Benny?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
EMT #1
Mild concussions, that's it, Clark.
Contrary to popular belief, rest is
good for them. You notice anything
else, let me know right away.
CLARK
Thanks again, Benny. Best to the
family.
As Clark and Lois watch the EMT head for the ambulance --
LOIS
You thinking what I'm thinking?
CLARK
Jonathan must have somehow caught
Jordan, shielded them both from the
poles.
LOIS
We have to tell them. We can't
wait any longer. They deserve to
know the truth --
CLARK
And what's the truth going to do to
Jordan? It's hard enough on him
that his brother is an all star
athlete. Wait until he finds out
Jonathan can bend steel with his
hands or fly into the stratosphere?
LOIS
We don't know what he can do yet.
And sure, it'll be hard. But
Jordan will have his family to help
him figure things out. Just like
he does now.
Clark shakes his head. A rare moment of looking lost for a

God who walks amongst men.
CLARK
When I dreamed of having a family
with you, it wasn't supposed to be
like this.
LOIS
I know. It wasn't supposed to have
lost jobs and teens suffering with
anxiety or parents gone too soon.
No one ever dreams of the problems.
But every life has them. Even the
extraordinary ones.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
GENERAL LANE (O.S.)

What the hell happened here?
PAN TO... GENERAL LANE approaches, motions to the AMBULANCES.
GENERAL LANE (CONT'D)

Forget it, I don't want to know.
Came to pay my respects, Clark.
Sorry about your mother.
(kiss to Lois)
Hello, pumpkin.
LOIS
Hey, Dad. I'm only pumpkin when
you want something... usually from
him.
General Lane chuckles. Holds up BRIEFCASE PC.
GENERAL LANE
Can we talk? Someplace private?
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT
Door closed. Lane has BRIEFCASE PC's MONITOR open for Lois
and Clark. He FRAMES THROUGH GRAINY IMAGES from the Nuclear
Power Plant in Act One. Speaking in a grave, HUSHED TONE:
GENERAL LANE (O.S.)

The cameras at the nuclear plants
were updated per S.T.A.R. Labs
specifications to a trillion frames
per second. We cross analyzed the
footage from both facilities where
the ruptures occurred and this is
the only commonality --
ON the MONITOR: a BLACK BLURRY IMAGE streaks through ONE

FRAME -- GHOSTLIKE -- then leaves the next frame.

Whatever did this is moving fast.
CLARK
Another speedster? Sounds like
this is the Flash's territory --
GENERAL LANE
That's not all -- in doing repairs,
the engineers noticed a
submicroscopic etching at both
sites. They thought maybe it was a
fingerprint at first. It wasn't --
Lane flips to AN IMAGE of ALIEN WRITING. Familiar to Clark.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:

It's a message in a language only
two known beings on Earth can read
or write. And I don't think this
is a post-it note from Supergirl.
CLARK
It's Kryptonian.
(reads)
"I will not be erased. Kal-El."
(a beat)
Whoever wrote this, speaks
Kryptonian and knows who I am.
GENERAL LANE
Now I'm sure there's a phone booth
in this podunk town because we're
gonna need you to suit up --
Clark nods. Lois shakes her head.
LOIS GENERAL LANE (CONT'D)

Now? No. Lois --
LOIS
I get it, there's a powerful...
something out there that doesn't
like Superman or nuclear power
plants and that's a bad
combination. But this is not a
moment Clark can just take off on
patrol. His mom just died, there's
stuff going on with the farm, the
kids --
CLARK
Lois --
LOIS
I mean it, Clark. The world is
always going to need Superman. And
when something really bad happens,
you'll fly off and be there for
them. But right now this family
needs you more. You owe it to us
and to yourself to stay here and
figure things out.
Clark considers, then turns back to General Lane --
CLARK
I'm sorry, Sam. She's right.
General Lane considers this. Shuts the briefcase, as:
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
GENERAL LANE LOIS

I tried to warn you, Lois. (shakes her head)
When you both first fell in Oh, c'mon, Dad, not this
love, wanted to get married. again --
I tried to warn you --
LOIS (CONT'D)
And I told you, Clark deserves to
have the same things he protects
for everyone else: life, love,
family --
GENERAL LANE
You may have fallen in love with
Clark Kent, but you married
Superman. And Superman doesn't get
to have a normal life. No matter
how much you want one for him. Or
yourself.
They HEAR from the other side of the DOOR --
JONATHAN (O.S.)
Grandpa?
Lane's demeanor shifts -- the door opens, he smiles wide --

Jonathan and Jordan enter giving him a hug --
JONATHAN (CONT'D) GENERAL LANE

We saw your truck -- Boys!
JORDAN
What were you all hiding in here
for --
CLARK
Just going over a few things.
Jordan looks at Clark differently than he ever has. Clark

notices for a brief moment. Lane does, too.
GENERAL LANE
I'm sorry about your Grandma,
fellas. Now c'mon, follow me
outside. I got us some new lures
for our next fishing trip...
As they disappear into the kitchen, OFF Clark and Lois --
EXT. SMALLVILLE - DOWNTOWN - NEXT MORNING - ESTABLISHING
EMPTY BUSINESSES. FEW CARS in PARKING SPACES. Not a lot of

people outdoors. The iconic water tower needs a paint job.
EXT. SMALLVILLE - MERCHANTS BANK - ESTABLISHING
As Clark and Lois make their way to the bank, it's hard for
them not to survey how rundown things seem.
LANA (PRE-LAP)
How are the boys doing?
INT. SMALLVILLE - MERCHANTS BANK - MORNING
Lana leads Clark and Lois past TELLERS towards her CUBICLE.
LOIS
Fine. Just a little shaken up.
LANA
Looks like good luck runs in the
Kent family. Lois, did Clark ever
tell you about the time all of us
were in a car accident coming back
from a Soul Asylum concert?
CLARK
I try not to talk too much about my
Soul Asylum days.
LANA
Pete was driving. He fell asleep,
drove off the road. When we came
to, the car was a pretzel around
us. But none of us were harmed.
It was the strangest thing. A lot
of strange things happened around
here back then. Now, I'd pray for
something strange... For anything
that reminded me this town was
still thriving.
As they sit, she gets out A LARGE MANILLA FOLDER.
CLARK
(sees, confused)
Mortgage papers. My mom paid hers
off years ago.
LANA
Her first. About five years ago,
when the farming crisis in this
town hit its peak -- the bank
owners were trying to figure out a
way to keep many of the older
farmers from losing their farms.
They offered a reverse mortgage to
seniors.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
LANA (CONT'D)
Cash today for an opportunity for
the bank to purchase the remainder
of the farm upon their death, if
the landowner's heirs couldn't
repay the balance of the loan.
CLARK
But my mother didn't need that kind
of money, Lana --
LANA
No, she didn't, Clark. But the
Gordons were going to be evicted
from a farm that had been in their
family for generations. And the
Keltons were so in debt from
Margie's lung surgery, they
couldn't put food on their table.
The grade school couldn't afford
new children's books. I could give
you a dozen other stories. Anyone
in Smallville knew, if you needed
help, Martha Kent would be there.
Like your friend you always write
about, Lois -- she was this town's
very own Superman.
Clark smiles, in awe of his Mom. Lois looks to him, moved.
LOIS
Sounds like they had a lot in
common.
LANA
She still protected half the value
of the farm. She wanted to ensure
you had enough money to send the
boys to college when the time came.
(then)
So those are your options, you can
repay the loan or you can accept a
healthy buyout for the remaining
value of the property.
CLARK
How much time do we have to make a
decision?
LANA
I'll need to know soon. I'm sorry.
CLARK
Not your fault. We'll get back to
you quick. Thanks, Lana.
We HEAR the SOUNDS of metal on metal -- then PING! And the

BARN DOORS SLIDE OPEN, REVEALING Jordan, holding a CROWBAR,
and Jonathan. Jonathan eyes the broken, rusty HINGE.
JONATHAN
Good luck explaining that to Dad.
They enter -- it's DIMLY LIT. LIGHT filters in from the many
CRACKS in the barn. Jordan uses his CELLPHONE FLASHLIGHT to
examine the area where he fell, the poles on the dirt floor.
JONATHAN (CONT'D)
Come on, you really think Mom and
Dad are hiding something from us?
JORDAN
I fell forty feet from a ladder?
We had about a half ton land on us!
How did they get all those poles
off of us anyway?
JONATHAN
I don't know, musta been
adrenaline? Like those stories
about hundred pound moms lifting
cars off kids.
JORDAN
Dad can't put up the Christmas tree
without falling off the ladder --
(then)
And what's the thing they say every
time we come to Smallville?
JONATHAN
No fighting.
JORDAN
"Stay out of the barn," dummy.
Jordan follows the poles, shining the light on the ground

around them. Jonathan follows.
JONATHAN
What are we looking for?
JORDAN
I don't know. Something out of
place, that looks weird...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
JONATHAN
-- right, like an invisible
forcefield -- or maybe something
like the Upside Down?
Jordan sees SOMETHING METALLIC peeking through the DIRT FLOOR

where they landed in the fall -- he shines the light on the
ground. Jonathan sees it. Jordan brushes the dirt aside,
finds a SMALL FLUSH DOOR PULL.
JORDAN
Told you...
Jordan yanks at the pull, determined -- STRUGGLES -- so

Jonathan assists... and they pull open a HATCH DOOR, FIND
WOOD STAIRS that lead to a HIDDEN ROOM underneath the barn
floor. As they look down into the DARK SPACE...
JONATHAN
You first.
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - HIDDEN STORAGE SPACE - NIGHT
FIND Jonathan and Jordan at the bottom of the stairs -- the

FLASHLIGHT wiping the room reveals it's a WORK SPACE of
sorts. TOOLS. BENCHES. PARTS OF MACHINERY. Then the
flashlight crosses a TARP COVERED OBJECT in the corner.
They approach, and Jordan rips off the tarp REVEALING the
KRYPTONIAN POD that brought Clark to earth as an infant -- an
otherworldy design that architecturally resembles nothing the
boys have ever seen. A THIN LAYER of DUST covers it.
JONATHAN
What the hell is this thing?
JORDAN
Whatever it is, it is not from
Kansas.
END OF ACT THREE

ACT FOUR
EXT. KENT FARM - INSIDE THE KENT TRUCK - LATE AFTERNOON
Clark and Lois pull up to the farm. They sit in the quiet of
the late day, taking in the landscape and all its beauty.
CLARK
Look at this place. All my
memories of my childhood and both
my parents are tied to it.
(shakes his head)
I don't get it, Lois, why would my
mother want me to come home just to
sell the farm?
LOIS
I don't think she wanted you to
sell. I think she wanted you to
save it... and Smallville, too.
Like she was trying to.
CLARK
How? We're not exactly flush with
cash. Especially after I just got
fired. I'm Superman, Lois, not Lex
Luthor.
LOIS
I don't know how... yet. But for
starters those reverse mortgages
weren't just because the bank was
feeling generous. You may have
super-strength and super-hearing --
but I have super-smell, and those
loans don't smell right.
CLARK
I have super-smell. I just don't
use it a lot. Especially with two
teenage boys in the house --
LOIS
(notices something)
Two very upset teenage boys --
Clark turns to see what Lois sees -- JORDAN and JONATHAN are
storming out of the barn toward the truck --
CLARK
(realizes, oh shit)
They found the ship.
Clark and Lois get out as the boys arrive -- upon closer
look, Jordan is more pissed, Jonathan more confused --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
JORDAN
So that's why -- that's why you
never want us in the barn? Because
you keep a friggin' alien ship in
there --
CLARK JORDAN (CONT'D)

I can explain -- Can you?! Can you explain
how we survived yesterday?
How I fell forty feet and
nothing happened? How those
poles all came off us while
we were unconscious --
JONATHAN JORDAN (CONT'D)

Calm down, Jordan. Give him -- Because all you said
a chance -- yesterday is that we were
lucky. But that was a lie
wasn't it?
CLARK
Yes. It was a lie.
Clark looks to Lois. She nods. It's time.
CLARK (CONT'D)
That ship brought me to Earth. I
was sent here as an infant when my
planet, Krypton, was destroyed. I
landed in Smallville, actually...
right in those cornfields. Because
I wasn't from this planet, I
possessed certain... powers unlike
any human. Your grandparents
raised me as their own, taught me
to control my abilities and to fit
in until the day I was ready to
leave and become the hero I was
sent to this world to be.
The boys know what this means. It takes a moment...
JORDAN
You're Superman?
They study Clark a beat -- but they can't see it yet.
JONATHAN
No way... We've seen Superman
before -- we've seen him!
Clark looks around. No one else as far as the eye can see.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
Clark REMOVES his GLASSES... raises his head, his POSTURE

adjusts slightly, his STATURE shifts -- and he begins exuding
STRENGTH and POWER in a way that alters how he's perceived.
He looks to the family truck.... and then, in a familiar ode

to the Donner film, he lifts the end of the truck without
even straining... only this time, he keeps going and lifts
the whole thing off the ground, gets beneath it.
ON Jonathan and Jordan -- for the very first time in their

lives, seeing their father as the Man of Steel.
BACK ON CLARK -- truck above his head, he HOVERS OFF THE

GROUND. TEN FEET ABOVE. Backlit by the sun and looking as
Godlike as he ever could. Then, as he gently comes back
down, returns the truck to the ground. Lois tries to help --
LOIS
-- the first time your father told
me, I didn't understand either. I
was confused --
JORDAN
I'm not confused. I'm angry. All
the excuses, all the times you were
gone -- you lied to us about where
you were. You both did!
LOIS
Your father was saving lives --
JORDAN
That doesn't make it less true.
You lied to us to protect his
secret -- all the things I've been
feeling, going through -- you let
me think I was crazy -- they put me
on pills --
LOIS
Your mental health has nothing to
do with who your father is.
JORDAN
How do you know it doesn't?! I'm
half human, half whatever the hell
he is --
CLARK
This isn't your mother's fault.
She wanted to tell you. It was me
who didn't want you to know.
JORDAN
Why?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
CLARK
I didn't want you to feel any more
different than you already did. I
knew what kind of burden it would
be if you did have my powers... Or
worse... if one of you had them and
one of you didn't.
Finally... things are all making sense to Jordan now.
JORDAN
You think Jonathan's the reason,
don't you? You think he's why we
survived yesterday.
JONATHAN
Me? What are you talking about?
JORDAN
Go on, Dad. Tell your super-son
why he's really so perfect --
Lois turns to Jonathan, explaining:
LOIS
Your athletic talents, we thought
those could be latent abilities
starting to express themselves.
And then, yesterday --
CLARK
The only way for you both to
survive that accident is for at
least one of you to be like me.
Jonathan looks at his father, trying to comprehend the

immensity of that thought and the potential life before him.
JORDAN
And you wouldn't want it any other
way, would you, Dad?
Jordan walks off -- Clark reaches out -- Jordan shakes off

his father's touch, tears in his eyes --
JORDAN (CONT'D)
Don't touch me. You may have been
sent here to be a hero. But you
definitely weren't sent here to be
a father.
Jordan turns and runs off this time --
LOIS
Honey --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (4)
JONATHAN
Mom... it's better if you leave him
alone for a while...
(equally hurt)
Both of us, actually.
Jonathan exits. Lois and Clark share a look, devastated.
LOIS
They were gonna be upset no matter
when you told them. Just give them
some time.
CLARK
What if he's right, Lois? And your
father, too? This life we're
living now, the one that Crisis
gave us, it was the life I always
dreamed of -- but what if it wasn't
the life we were meant to have?
What if I was never meant to be a
father? Or have a family? And
that's why it's all falling apart.
LOIS
Your life falling apart doesn't
mean you're special, Clark, it
means you're human. And it doesn't
matter how it happened. Or why.
This is the life we have now.
A beat and Clark's head snaps to the side -- and WE HEAR what
HE'S HEARING -- that RINGING SOUND General Lane uses to alert
him his help's needed.
Clark focuses... MUFFLED WORDS that at first only Clark can

make out. Lois has seen that look before.
CLARK
Another nuclear facility!
LOIS
Go.
EXT. ANOTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - DAY
-- BOOM! Superman lands in the middle of the plant. But this

one's different -- it's been DECOMMISSIONED. There's no one
there. That's strange. It's EERILY QUIET for a few beats.
INT. ANOTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - TURBINE ROOM - DAY
Clark enters a GIANT, DARK HALL filled with MASSIVE, CEMENT-

ENCASED TURBINES and GENERATORS. Superman surveys the room,
then --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
SUPERMAN
You're here aren't you? We found
your message.
We POP TO X-RAY vision as Superman searches the room for the

voice, but it's not working. IN SUPERMAN'S POV and all we
see is STATIC NEARLY EVERYWHERE.
THEN A CHUCKLE, AMUSED -- it ECHOES -- followed by a VOICE of

SOMEONE that Superman (and the audience) will see soon enough
-- but whom we will call, THE STRANGER.
THE STRANGER (O.S.)

Lead encasements.
SUPERMAN
(realizes)
That's why you're choosing nuclear
facilities --
THE STRANGER (O.S.)

Yes. You can't see in here. One
of your few weaknesses, Kal-El.
The VOICE LAUGHS A HAUNTING LAUGH -- IT ECHOES.
EXT. RIGHT OUTSIDE THE SHUSTER MINES - EVENING
FIND Sarah waiting on a DIRT ROAD. She checks her phone,

then sees a LYFT pull up... Jordan exits.
SARAH
I still don't get how you guys
aren't hurt?
JORDAN
Still figuring that out...
His demeanor's different than before -- she notices.
SARAH
Sure you're okay?
JORDAN
You know... parents.
SARAH
I feel you.
(beat, smiles)
Well I'm glad you came.
JORDAN
You promised me trouble.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
SARAH
I'll do my best.
And as they head down the road, we REVERSE TO SEE an enormous

OPEN PIT COAL MINE -- HEAVY MACHINERY, EXCAVATORS, etc., line
the burrowed earth. At the very bottom of the steep pit, we
see a RAGING BONFIRE. HEAR the slight echoes of MUSIC and
KIDS -- a party underway.
INT. ANOTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - TURBINE ROOM - DAY
DIRECT PICK-UP -- Superman wanders the LOUD TURBINES --

searches the room -- but he's all but blind in here.
SUPERMAN
How do you know my name?
THE STRANGER (O.S.)

I know everything there is to know
about the Last Son of Krypton.
Where I come from... let's just say
you and me, we have, history.
SUPERMAN
And... where is that exactly?
As The Stranger talks, Superman uses his senses to GAUGE THE

SHADOWS, trying to pinpoint where THE VOICE emanates from.
THE STRANGER (O.S.)

A place far away from here. My
world was destroyed in what you
call... Crisis. Lucky for me, I
wasn't there at the time. I
survived. Left to wander the
multiverse searching for a place to
call home. I think I've found it.
SUPERMAN spots a FLICKERING SHADOW and SUPERSPEEDS AT IT,

BLASTING THROUGH A TURBINE AND INTO A WALL. But -- he was
wrong, it was no one. He gathers himself, looks back to the
other end of the room where the STRANGER NOW EMERGES --
A BEHEMOTH, nearly twice Superman's size. DARK BODY ARMOR.

LONG BLOOD-RED CAPE. A SINISTER MASK.
THE STRANGER (CONT'D)

Nice try. You'll have to move
faster than that if you're going to
catch me, Kal-El.
And -- the STRANGER BLASTS OFF. As Superman gives chase --
END OF ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE
EXT. SHUSTER MINES - NIGHT
The lowest level. A LARGE GROUP of SMALLVILLE TEENS mingle,

flirt near a BLAZING PIT FIRE, ICED KEG. MUSIC BLARES.
FIND JORDAN AND SARAH heading for the keg. Sarah grabs his
hand. It's a tender moment --
SARAH
Maybe you shouldn't. Beer and
benzos don't mix.
JORDAN
(surprised)
Whattaya mean -- how did --
SARAH
-- I saw you pop one, at the
reception. For what, anxiety?
You're not the only one, y'know.
On something.
A brief moment of confession -- Jordan looks at her --
JORDAN
You? For what?
SARAH
Are we really going to do this now?
Go full Euphoria on each other.
JORDAN
We don't have to --
SARAH
No it's cool.
Sarah sits. Backlit by the fire. Jordan joins her.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Up until I was eleven or twelve I
had this awesome life. It wasn't
perfect but it was... nice. Dolls
and dance class. The people around
here they call it the Sadness.
Like something you can catch, like
the flu. I never thought it would
get our house. But it did. Now
half the nights my father sleeps on
the couch and he says it's 'cause
he's too tired to go into the
bedroom but really I know it's
because my mom won't let him when
he's drunk.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
SARAH (CONT'D)
And my mom's always yelling at him
about it -- but maybe he's drunk
all the time because as a fireman
in this town he sees all the really
bad crap, I mean the stuff none of
us want to even think about -- like
the parents cooking meth in their
kitchen and the house catching on
fire with little kids inside --
(then)
Anyway, about a year ago I took a
bunch of my Mom's pills. I still
don't really understand why I did
it. I'd never done anything like
that before. My mom made like this
big drama out of it -- lots of
therapy and whatnot --
Jordan looks at her. Moved. Connected.
SARAH (CONT'D)
I know. For a sad story it's
really basic.
JORDAN
No it's not.
And then, moved by her story and her beauty, Jordan leans in,
gently kissing her -- she pulls away quickly --
SARAH
Whoa, what are you doing?
JORDAN
(innocent)
I don't know, I thought you...
Jordan's embarrassed, shaken.
VOICE (O.S.)
Yo!
SARAH
(to herself, oh no)
Dammit.
TWO LARGE FARM BOYS in LETTER JACKETS watching. Farm Boy #1,
SEAN, is pissed...
SEAN
The hell you doing there, Romeo?
That's my girlfriend.
Jordan looks to Sarah -- really confused now --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
JORDAN
Girlfriend? You didn't tell me --
SARAH
I would have gotten around to it,
but you sorta kissed me first.
Anyway, it's so not a big deal.
(to Sean)
Sean, why don't you leave us alone
and go back to Fortnite dancing
with your homies.
SEAN
When whoever this guy is apologizes
first --
SARAH
Sean, it's fine...
(concerned; to Jordan)
You should go.
Sean grabs Jordan's shirt -- when --
JONATHAN (O.S.)
Hey! Back off!
Jonathan suddenly appears and shoves Sean back, hard.
JONATHAN (CONT'D)
You know how many locals I had to
randomly DM to find out where this
party was. We're leaving. You
shouldn't be down here.
Kids can smell a fight coming. They start approaching. MORE

HARD ASS FARM BOYS come over. Sean nods at his friends.
SEAN
You ain't going anywhere just yet.
Your brother owes me an apology.
JONATHAN SARAH
Get out of our way -- Sean, just leave them alone --
JONATHAN
You really don't want to get in my
face, bro. I promise you.
He goes to move Sean back with his hand when --
Sean throws a punch -- but Jonathan ducks and lands a quick

ROUNDHOUSE to the JAW -- knocking the considerably larger KID
ON HIS ASS. Jonathan's fucking strong. And then --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
A BRAWL ERUPTS. Every testosterone raging townie jumps in.

Kids RECORD with PHONES -- watch, CHEER ON the local boys.
EXT. SKY - NIGHT TO DAY
Superman and the Stranger fly as fast as they can -- crossing

state lines, over the ocean. The sky starts getting LIGHTER
as they head towards the other side of the world --
Then Stranger dives -- Superman follows -- and they're

suddenly negotiating the space between the HIGH-RISES of a
FOREIGN CITY -- Stranger turns quickly -- is gone -- Superman
looks, WTF -- then TURNS and BAM! -- the Stranger plows into
him from the side -- driving him down towards --
EXT. SHANGHAI STREET - DAY
-- and BOOOM!!!! Superman SMASHES onto the pavement with a

force strong enough to break a thousand men's backs before
CRASHING into a CHINESE STREET SHOP. ONLOOKERS flee.
Superman looks up to the SHOP'S OWNER:
SUPERMAN
(in WU CHINESE; SUBTITLED)
Sorry about that. Be back later to
fix it. I promise.
He's off again. Superman sets his jaw in resolve, and with a
SONIC BOOM, follows The Stranger high into the atmosphere...
EXT. SKIES - NIGHT
SUPERMAN bursts out of the CLOUD COVER -- reaching the dark

side of the thermosphere where the earth's hidden from the
sun. Superman hovers, desperately scanning the skies... but
The Stranger's nowhere to be found.
It's EERILY SILENT up here, and for a few moments all we HEAR
is Superman's ODD, RACING HEARTBEAT and his BREATHING --
which strangely seems labored.
BAM! The Stranger suddenly CRASHES into Superman. CAMERA

CIRCLES round the fighters like two crazed hummingbirds as a
battle royale in the heavens ensues -- INTERCUT WITH:
INT. SHUSTER MINES - SAME TIME
BACK ON the Brothers holding their own. Like father like

sons. Jonathan takes down TWO LARGER FARM BOYS as Jordan
connects -- unleashing his rage -- but Jordan gets sucker
punched and tossed into the CORNER of the MINES.
He turns to get up, but BAM! -- he gets KICKED in the HEAD.

And as he rolls on the ground in pain...
EXT. SKIES - SAME TIME
BACK WITH Superman as The Stranger gains the upper hand --

there's NO SUN, NO AIR at this altitude -- so Superman starts
to struggle. The Stranger unleashes --
THE STRANGER
You get your power from their sun.
(BAM!)
Aren't you curious how I know so
much about you?
(BAM!)
Like me, your home was destroyed.
You were sent here, as an infant...
(BAM!)
To a world where you'd spend your
entire life trying to prove your
worth...
INT. SHUSTER MINES - SAME TIME
ON Jordan, as he turns over and sees Jonathan now on the

ground -- getting KICKED by MULTIPLE PEOPLE -- over and over
and over -- everything suddenly SLOWS DOWN -- SOUND DROPS OUT
-- we hear his LABORED BREATHING as he rages out --
THE STRANGER (V.O.)

But you're still that scared, lost
child. Desperate for the love of
people that will never accept you.
-- and the pain that's been building up inside Jordan boils

to the surface, Jordan lets out a SCREAM -- and YELLOW LASERS
ERUPT OUT OF HIS FUCKING EYES!! The lasers hit the bonfire
like a thousand gallons of kerosene -- and BOOOM!!! The
EXPLOSION sends EVERY KID FLYING BACK ON THEIR ASSES...
The Stranger produces a CHAIN on WHICH HANGS a SMALL ROCK of

KRYPTONITE. HE HANGS IT AROUND SUPERMAN'S NECK. Any
strength SUPERMAN had left begins to drain from his face.
THE STRANGER
And the only remnants of your
home... make you sick.
(leans in, in a whisper)
We'll meet again, Kal-El. That
is... if you survive the fall.
The STRANGER LETS HIM GO... Superman PLUMMETS towards the

earth like a meteor, threatening to destroy the CITY below.
END OF ACT FIVE

ACT SIX
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
NEWS plays on the MUTED TV. Lois is mid-conversation on

SPEAKER PHONE, Martha's MORTGAGE PAPERWORK before her.
LOIS
Maxy... Lane, here... still got
those contacts at HUD?... good, I
need you to check on Smallville
Merchant's Bank, see if there was
any strange activity around five,
six years back... investments,
purchases, mergers...
A REPORT on the TV grabs her attention. ON TV: FOOTAGE of

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING a FIRE at the SHUSTER MINES. A SCROLL
reads: "BREAKING STORY: SHUSTER MINE FIRE BREAKS OUT, LOCAL
TEENS TRAPPED IN FIRE."
LOIS (CONT'D)
Oh my God... Maxy, I gotta go.
She grabs her PURSE -- then finds the same kind of ELT that
her father has -- hits its BUTTON. Then runs to the door,
opens it up and SCREAMS!
LOIS (CONT'D)
Claaaaarrrr....
Her scream CARRIES OVER...
FIND Superman FALLING like a dead weight towards the city,

KRYPTONITE NECKLACE still on... weak, pale -- nearing death.
While still plummeting, Superman's hit with a BARRAGE OF

IMAGES of his life post-Crisis -- images that now are CLEAR
unlike the opening of our show: the boys as kids running to
the doorway to greet Clark; family breakfast; a laugh, a hug,
a look -- the small moments in life that stick --
LANDING ON TEENAGE CLARK -- BACK by the GRAVES the day his

father died -- as Lois' scream becomes Martha's --
MARTHA (O.S.)
...aaaarrrrkkk!
Teenage Clark turns to find Martha approaching.
TEENAGE CLARK
I don't want to talk to them.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
MARTHA
I know, sweetheart. But they can
help you if you let them. They're
not just neighbors and friends.
They're your family.
TEENAGE CLARK
All these things I can do. All
these powers I have... what's the
point if I can't save the people I
love?
MARTHA
Whether you have powers or not, you
can't save everyone, Clark. Loss
is a part of life. And days filled
with tremendous sadness, like
today. Those will be the days you
need saving, too. That's what
family is for, son.
(beat)
Now come home.
And as "Come Home" ECHOES, we SLAM BACK to Superman nearing

the traffic below -- he musters the strength to grab the
kryptonite -- yank the necklace free -- and THROW it off of
him just before --
He STOPS HIS FALL an inch above a CAR that's just SCREECHED

to a HALT in the middle of the street. He hovers above the
car, eyes locked on the DRIVER inside... nods --
Then he hears a RINGING SOUND -- slightly DIFFERENT THAN

LANE'S -- followed by a MUFFLED VOICE that quickly becomes
clear is LOIS' -- we HEAR a FEW of her FRANTIC CRIES -- FIRE!
-- MINES! -- JONATHAN AND JORDAN! -- PLEASE!... and with a
SONIC BOOM! -- he's gone. Racing back to his family.
EXT. SKIES - NIGHT
Superman desperately races through the skies. He sees SMOKE

in the distance -- takes off for the MINES...
EXT. SHUSTER MINES - NIGHT
Superman lands at its outskirts -- we lose him behind a tree

briefly and when he emerges, he's Clark Kent. He BLURS to --
The bottom of the mines. SMOKE BILLOWS. It's hard to see.

FIREFIGHTERS spray down what remains of the now controlled
FIRE, bring the kids to an area near AMBULANCES -- some
shaken, some crying. But Clark doesn't see his boys.
POP TO X-RAY VISION: Clark scans the smoke, nothing. Again,

nothing... he starts to panic -- he was too late.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
Until he finally spots a FIREFIGHTER helping a teen. Clark

rushes over and sees... it's Jonathan.
CLARK
Jonathan?
Jonathan turns and Clark hugs him tight. As they pull away,
Clark sees Jonathan's BRUISES from the fight.
JONATHAN
I'm okay, Dad... I'm okay.
But Clark can tell something else is bothering his son.
VOICE (O.S.)
Your other one's pretty shook up,
though...
Clark turns round to see the Firefighter... is Kyle Cushing.

Kyle points at Jordan seated on the ground, nearby. Still
shaking. Scared. But without a scrape on him. Clark locks
eyes with Jordan -- the look on his son's face tells Clark
everything he needs to know: Jordan has powers; not Jonathan.
KYLE
Twice in two days, Kent.
Luckiest family I know.
Kyle starts off -- but Clark calls out --
CLARK
Kyle...
(sincere)
Thank you.
KYLE
Glad they're okay.
Kyle moves off. As Clark turns back to his boys -- knowing

his world just flipped upside down again...
LOIS (PRE-LAP)
So it was you...
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - FAMILY ROOM - NIGHT
WITH Lois with Clark and the boys. Jonathan nurses his
bruises with an ICE PACK.
LOIS
You saved your brother?
JORDAN
I guess so, I... I don't really
remember much...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
As Jordan recalls what he remembers, we're THRUST INTO --
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - DAY - FLASHBACK
ON Jordan as he reaches his foot for the wood ladder -- makes

it safely -- then the rung SNAPS! --
JORDAN (V.O.)
I just remember falling... feeling
something come over me...
Ramp into SLOW MOTION as Jordan falls.
JORDAN (V.O.)
A strength I've never had before.
Control...
Jordan grabs Jonathan -- PICKS HIM UP impossibly with ONE

ARM, CRADLES HIM -- holds his FREE ARM above them both. They
CRASH to the floor. Jordan takes most of the brunt of the
fall and blocks the poles. As their HEADS HIT the ground --
BACK WITH THE KENTS --
JORDAN
I don't know, it's hard to
explain...
CLARK
It is.
JONATHAN
What's going to happen to him?
CLARK
We're not sure, exactly.
Everything about the way your
powers are manifesting is different
than it was with me.
LOIS
But we'll be there, to help you
through it.
CLARK
Every step of the way.
Jordan takes that in. Unconvinced to say the least.
JORDAN
Like how you've been there for me
so far, Dad? You can barely make a
doctor's appointment, how're you
gonna help me with this?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
Jordan heads out, still upset.
JONATHAN
Any chance those powers will fix
his anger issues?
(beat)
I need more ice...
Clark watches Jonathan exit...
CLARK
(with guilt; a lesson)
I didn't get there in time, Lois.
Thank God Kyle was there.
LOIS
What happened?
CLARK
This guy attacking the nuclear
plants... He knew about Crisis.
Said his planet was destroyed.
That he's the lone survivor.
LOIS
That sounds familiar...
CLARK
He knew everything about me, Lois.
Everything. Even had some
kryptonite. Used it on me...
LOIS
How'd you get away?
CLARK
I remembered something my mother
said to me...
(beat)
Lois... I know why she wanted us to
come home. I think she felt this
family needed Smallville, as much
the world needs Superman.
LOIS
She was a wise lady.
Clark looks outside, sees Jordan by himself.
EXT. KENT FARM - NIGHT
Clark moves beside Jordan. There's a long beat, then --
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
CLARK
When I was your age, I thought my
dad knew everything. But what I
realized as I became a father
myself, especially lately, is that
he was figuring it all out as he
went along. Just like I am now.
Nothing from Jordan.
CLARK (CONT'D)
I ever tell you that when your
grandfather died, I almost ran away
from here.
JORDAN
I thought you were the perfect
child.
CLARK
I know you think we're different,
Jordan. And we have been... more
so than your brother and I... but
we're actually quite a bit alike.
Maybe now, you'll get to see that.
Another beat. Clark's about to start off, when --
JORDAN
Dad... I'm really scared...
Clark takes Jordan in his arms, holds him tight --
CLARK
You don't have to be, son. Not
anymore.
We ANGLE TO the upstairs bedroom window -- where Jonathan

watches. For the first time in his life, feeling left out.
EXT. KENT FARM - NEXT MORNING
The YELLOW SUN rises over the farm and its cornfields.
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - MORNING
There's a SERIES OF SHOTS of the family cleaning up the barn:

Clark placing the drying poles back on their holds; raking
the dirt over the hatch -- everything back to how it was.
The family hears a CAR PULL UP. Exits to find Lana and Sarah
at their car, Sarah holding a HOMEMADE PIE, Lana a BRIEFCASE.
As they all share knowing looks...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
LANA (PRE-LAP)
Been an eventful few days here for
you...
INT. KENT FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Clark and Lois with Lana at the table. The pie nearby.
LOIS
You have no idea...
LANA
Well hopefully this doesn't add to
it...
She pulls out TWO SETS of PAPERWORK -- one to sell, one to

take over the second mortgage payments.
LANA (CONT'D)
I was able to pull some strings...
got you $2100 an acre -- $200 more
than market value for land in Rice
County.
CLARK
Wow... that's very generous.
(eyes Lois, then --)
But we decided, we're not selling.
LANA
You're not?
CLARK
We're going to re-open the farm...
run it how me and my parents used
to... and pay back that loan fair
and square.
LANA
You're staying here?
LOIS
We're working that all out still.
Going to take a look at the high
school, see if the Planet will let
me work remotely.
CLARK
But at the very least, you'll be
seeing a lot more of us round here.
Lana's surprised -- happy. Her old friend back in town.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
LANA
Clark Kent back in Smallville...
we'll all be lucky to have you.
Lana excitedly grabs the other set of documents, places them

in front of Clark and Lois...
LANA (CONT'D)
Then let's go over the pre-
negotiated terms for taking over
the loan...
LOIS
Before we do... Lana, did you know
that a few months before these
reverse mortgages were offered to
the elderly of Smallville, a
company acquired your bank.
LANA
No, I didn't know that...
CLARK
Galaxy Holdings... whose majority
share holder, is Morgan Edge.
That gives Lana pause.
LANA
Why would someone like Morgan Edge
be interested in a bunch of family
farms in Smallville, Kansas?
LOIS
I'm asking myself that very same
question...
OFF the mystery...
INT. KENT FARM - BARN - MORNING
Sarah eyes the barn in awe -- now cleaned up...
SARAH
You guys put this all back by
yourselves?
JONATHAN
With our mom and dad, yeah.
JORDAN
Wasn't as hard as you'd think.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
JONATHAN
(changing subjects)
How's everyone doing from last
night?
SARAH
They're fine. Nobody got hurt,
luckily.
Jordan's relieved, but can't help but wonder --
JORDAN
Anyone figure out what caused the
explosion?
SARAH
I don't think so. My dad said it
probably was coal dust or a methane
pocket, something like that...
The boys exchange a look. Jordan's in the clear.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Look... I, I just wanted to
apologize for what happened. No
texts, no stupid "I'm sorry" memes.
Just a real-life, in person
apology.
JONATHAN
Accepted... but that boyfriend of
yours is kind of a dick.
Jordan shoots a look at Jonathan -- really?
SARAH
He can be... though he's not really
a fan of you guys, either.
(to Jordan)
Especially you...
Awkward beat -- there's more to say, but -- Jonathan moves

off. Once out of earshot...
SARAH (CONT'D)
Jordan... I'm sorry I didn't tell
you about Sean. I just really
wanted you to come to the bonfire.
(beat)
I thought about you a lot after
that summer we first met. You were
so sweet. And then when I saw you
take that pill at the reception...
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (2)
SARAH (CONT'D)
I thought if someone like you who I
always thought was so happy and so
nice had issues... maybe I wasn't
so messed up.
JORDAN
I don't think that about you,
Sarah.
SARAH
You don't... but it's not like I
can talk to many people here about
that kind of stuff. One person
finds out, everyone knows. It's
impossible to keep a secret in this
town.
JORDAN
(uh-oh)
It is?
(off her eye roll)
Well it's safe with me.
The two lock eyes for a beat. A nice moment...
LANA (O.S.)
Sarah?
Sarah turns to see Lana motioning to leave as she exits the

house with Clark and Lois...
SARAH
So can I text you, City Mouse?
JORDAN
Sure.
Sarah shoots him a smile, exits. He watches her from the

barn entrance. Jonathan approaches.
JONATHAN
You guys good?
JORDAN
Yeah... Are we?
There's some hesitation, but Jonathan covers.
JONATHAN
Gonna take more than you having
powers to do anything with us, man.
You're my brother. Weirdo or not.
(beat)
Besides, all this does is confirm
what I've known all along...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: (3)
JORDAN
Yeah, what's that.
JONATHAN
My skills on the field are legit.
Clark and Lois approach... Clark heads for the tractor.
CLARK
Boys... let me show you how to
attach this plow...
The boys exchange looks for a beat.
JORDAN
For what?
LOIS
Those fields aren't going to plow
themselves.
JONATHAN
Hold on a second. We just found
out our dad is Superman. We got
questions...
CLARK
Yeah?
JONATHAN
Yeah, like... thousands of
questions...
Lois eyes Clark -- the family closer now than it ever has
been. As the CAMERA SLOWLY begins to PULL BACK ON THIS ALL
AMERICAN IMAGE of CLARK AND LOIS and THEIR TWO SONS,
connecting again, happy for now --
CLARK
Tell ya what... we get the front
eighty tilled today, I'll answer
any question you guys have...
CAMERA STARTS RISING in the air -- takes off like it's flying
itself... faster, moving over LANDSCAPES, WATER, until we see
a LARGE MOUNTAIN in the distance.
As we get closer we realize, it's a VOLCANO. CAMERA DIVES

through its opening --
INT. VOLCANO - DAY
-- and we see A BIZARRE SHIP embedded in its WALL.

INT. BIZARRE SHIP - DAY
CAMERA MOVES through a hallway as we HEAR a familiar VOICE.
THE STRANGER (O.S.)

...we'll need to improve tactile
function and speed...
We MOVE into the HOLD of the ship, where we see the back of
The Stranger standing before an AI DEVICE.
CAMERA ROTATES round him as the suit begins to separate off

his body... this man isn't twice Superman's size -- he was
only wearing a SUPERSUIT that made him appear larger. The
SUIT is DAMAGED from the BATTLE with Superman.

And I need to be able to fly for
longer periods of time...
CAMERA reaches the mask as it opens, but ROTATES round before

we can see the SCARRED FACE BENEATH...

Much longer. Understood?
AI DEVICE
Understood. I'll begin working on
upgrading your suit right away...
And CAMERA settles at the back of the STRANGER'S HEAD.
And as it's finally revealed that this man is BALD...
AI DEVICE (CONT'D)
Captain Luthor.
END PILOT

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Superman & Lois

Based on characters appearing in

Studio Draft – 1.13.20

We hear a BEATING HEART -- bah-bump-bump, bah-bump-bump --

CRAASSHHHH! We HEAR the LANDSCAPE being EVISCERATED around

We settle, the pod SPLITS OPEN -- SUNLIGHT instantly blinds

MARTHA (V.O.) JONATHAN (V.O.)

EXT. KENT FARM - DAY

A SUNNY DAY. FIND Martha and Jonathan on a BLANKET with TWO-

-- then THROWS IT! It bullets THROUGH the FARMHOUSE,

EXT. SMALLVILLE - DOWNTOWN - DAY

PEOPLE out and about. Lively. There’s decorations for a

Jonathan suddenly grasps his CHEST -- falls to his knees.

EXT. SMALLVILLE - CEMETERY - MORNING

FIND a teary TEENAGE Clark with Martha before Jonathan’s

EXT. METROPOLIS - UNDERPASS - DAY

ON a GREEN VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE -- MID-AIR -- as it flies

As Superman sets the car down -- people nearby look around,

He winks. The Young Boy smiles. Superman salutes, BLURS

INT. DAILY PLANET - BULLPEN - DAY

Bustling with ACTIVITY. FIND Clark -- BRIEFCASE, JACKET and

Perry moves away -- leaving Clark confused.

CLARK VOICE (O.S.)

Clark turns to see -- LOIS LANE. Mid-20s. He's instantly

Lois grabs a FEW FOLDERS, starts off. Always in a rush.

They pass REPORTERS at CUBICLES -- none wearing ties.

Clark looks up but SHE'S OFF -- he watches her, completely

QUICK MOMENTS of JONATHAN KENT in childhood: sleeping

TEN-YEAR-OLD Jonathan makes a TRIPLE PLAY in a LITTLE LEAGUE

QUICK MOMENTS of JORDAN KENT in childhood -- screaming;

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jordan is in the corner of a room,

POP to Superman saving the day as seen in NEWS REPORTS OF

EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - NIGHT

CHAOS. WARNING LIGHTS SPIN. ALARMS BLARE. ARMY SOLDIERS

CRISS-CROSSING SPOTLIGHTS from Army trucks ILLUMINATE a

ARMY GENERAL (O.S.)

AN ARMY GENERAL, 50's, approaches a clutch of SCIENTISTS.

The General regards a SMALL DEVICE in his hand that's been

And a SHARP RINGING SOUND takes us to --

EXT. SKY - NIGHT

-- SUPERMAN, SPEEDING through the night sky, racing over

The situation's bad. Superman kicks it into HIGH GEAR --

EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - NIGHT

We HEAR what sounds like a SUPERSONIC JET approaching --

As they all watch on, we CUT TO...

INT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - COOLING TOWER - NIGHT

ON Superman landing atop the BRIDGE inside the massive tower.

Then he sees -- a LARGE FISSURE that runs the length of the

EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - ADJACENT LAKE - NIGHT

SUPERMAN FLIES out to the body of water. Hovers above it,

After a few beats, a MASSIVE ICEBERG starts to rise from the

INT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - COOLING TOWER - NIGHT

Superman's hovering inside the tower, holding the massive

EXT. NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - NIGHT

ON Lane with the Scientists. Scientist #1 notes the

As they fill with relief, Superman LANDS behind them.

EXT. SKY - NIGHT

As the SCORE plays over CREDITS, there's a SERIES OF SHOTS of

EXT. ALLEY/BROWNSTONE - NIGHT