Part 13 (1/2)

HAMILTON looks up. He grabs the telephone.

CUT TO:.

WGBS NEWSCAST.

ANCHOR #14.

(Listening to his earpiece) ... wait, wait. This just in. SUPERMAN IS ALIVE! I REPEAT, SUPERMAN IS ALIVE!

REPORTS OF HIS DEATH HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED. SUPERMAN IS ALIVE!.

CUT TO:.

VARIOUS SHOTS.

PEOPLE in the previous scenes REJOICE, as do people worldwide...

Except LUTHOR who fumes while he can hear his employees cheering in the halls.

CUT TO:.

INT. STAR LABS.

SUPERMAN sits upright and peels the monitoring tabs from his body. HAMILTON rushes to his side. SUPERMAN (Very weak) How did I get here?

HAMILTON.

They took you to the hospital and broke six needles trying to get a blood sample. They gave up and brought you to me.

SUPERMAN.

Are the people safe?

HAMILTON.

Everyone is fine. Metallo shut the reactor down and saved you.

SUPERMAN gives him a look of surprise and disgust that he failed at the same time.

SUPERMAN.

I have to get out of here.

HAMILTON.

Superman, you're very weak. I'd like to run some more tests.

SUPERMAN.

I'm sorry, Professor, but I haven't got time for that.

SUPERMAN staggers across the room and exits. People stare as he exits the elevator, a shadow of his former self, and exits the front door.

EXT. STAR LABS - DAY.

SUPERMAN moves across the pavement, lifts his hands in the air and gently rises into the sky. His movements are concentrated and not fluid. He is like someone sick trying to accomplish basic tasks.

CUT TO:.

INT. SMALLVILLE, KANSAS - LANA LANG'S HOME.

LANA is watching the news with her feet curled beneath her and clutching a pillow.

A tap at the balcony window startles her. Outside is SUPERMAN, hovering in the air. He looks much better than he did earlier. LANA tosses balcony window open and leaps out into SUPERMAN's arms with no concern for her safety. He holds her thirty feet above the gra.s.sy lawn. LANA They said you were dead.

SUPERMAN.

I'm not.

Gently he floats to the balcony and carries her inside.

SUPERMAN.

Lana, may I stay here with you for awhile?

LANA.

Sure, Clark. Is everything all right?

SUPERMAN.

I just need some time away.

LANA.

I'm so glad you came.

CUT TO:.

MAYORAL TELECAST.

Members of the press are gathered. DEPUTY MAYOR MICHAEL WALKER steps up to the podium. WALKER Ladies and gentlemen, Mayor Frank Berkowitz.

MAYOR FRANK BERKOWITZ takes his place.

BERKOWITZ.

I appreciate your coming on such short notice. I will try to make this brief.