Part 23 (1/2)

I'm always interested in progress.

WENG leads LUTHOR to a gla.s.s tube filled with liquid. Inside is what's left of METALLO being kept alive.

WENG.

Since the Metallo body was a prototype, we were able to salvage the main processors and reflex circuitry. The brain still functions well... surprisingly.

LUTHOR.

Keep the equipment. That costs money. You can toss the brain. I'll find another one.

(Beat) And the Police...?

WENG.

Will have the useless replica we designed to replace this one and will be none the wiser.

(Beat) It still puzzles me how you managed to retrieve this one from a secured Police facility.

LUTHOR.

Gotham has some of the best thieves in the world if you can find them. Pay them enough money and they can get you anything.

WENG.

We have also made great strides with the cloning.

LUTHOR.

What have you got.

WENG.

The last was orangutan. Fully mobile and intelligent. She lived for three days. Seventeen hours longer than the previous one. It was quite marvelous.