Part 11 (2/2)

CLARK.

And then in a split second I justified it thinking if I saved myself and let those few hundred people die how many more could I save in my lifetime? A few thousand? Tens of thousands? Would letting a few hundred people die be worth saving a few million in the end?

DIANA.

But you could never do that. Do you think you could just let some asteroid drop into the middle of downtown and whatever happens, happens.

(Beat) That's not like you. I know it's a lot of pressure but you raise the standard.

Hal doesn't tell anybody but I can tell he tries to run the League like you would. People strive to be like you and that's a good thing.

CLARK.

I'm afraid one day I'm going to fail them.

DIANA.

And one day you might. But you can't live in fear of that. One day we both might die but it isn't how you die that's important... it's how you lived.

There is a long silence.

CLARK.

It's nice to have someone who understands.

DIANA.

Anytime, Clark. Anytime.

CLARK.

This is a really nice spot. I always wondered why it's here.

DIANA.

Do you really want to know?

CLARK.

Nah.

The CAMERA pans out and reveals they are sitting in the center of STONEHENGE.

CUT TO:.

INT. METROPOLIS NUCLEAR FACILITY - CORE MONITORING STATION.

A TECH is seated behind a large panel of gauges, lights and switches. His feet are propped up on another chair and he's leaning backwards in his chair reading copy of NEWSTIME. Several SUPERVISORS walk past the gla.s.s booth and one knocks to get his attention. SUPERVISOR (Through the gla.s.s) Don't fall asleep in there, Thomas.

TECH nods his head in acknowledgment and goes back to his reading.

SUPERVISOR #1.

(To SUPERVISOR #2) He is such a bookworm.

CAMERA pans behind him and we see the PLAYBOY hidden behind the NEWSTIME.

A siren starts to wail. On the panel, lights flare on and off.

TECH drops the magazines. He pulls two ma.s.sive books from underneath the desk and flops them open reviewing procedures. The SUPERVISORS burst in immediately taking positions on the board and making phone calls.

SUPERVISOR #1.

What the h.e.l.l happened?!

TECH.

We have a core breach in sectors seventeen, five, sixty-six, seventy-five and forty-three.

SUPERVISOR #2.

Barrier fifteen will reach maximum potential in three minutes. Reserve s.h.i.+elds are in place.

SUPERVISOR #3.

(Holding a telephone) It's Damage Control. They want to know can you contain it?

Extremely long beat.

SUPERVISOR #1.

Sound 'em off.

CUT TO:.

EXT. SUICIDE SLUM - AFTER MIDNIGHT.

Suicide Slum Metropolis' only ghetto and bigger than some towns. The buildings are run down tenements with barred windows. The cars are old and decrepit with exception if the occasional gangster ride that people cross the street to avoid. Unless you can protect yourself, you don't walk here at night.

On a corner, dozens of youths are hanging out when the sirens begin to wail.

They echo through the night like air raid sirens from World War II.

One by one, everything stops. Cars stop moving. Music stops playing. People stop talking. People sleeping wake and look out their windows to see the commotion. Everyone already outside walks to the center of the street where they can get a clear view of the nuclear power plant visible in the distance at the edge of the slum.

CUT TO:.

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