Hmm.
(Clark) It's deep. Back, back, back, back, back.
'It's going, going..'
...but it's caught by Kent.
And this ball game is over.
What do you mean, you can't make it?
The poker game starts in a few hours.
Hey, where am I supposed to find another player
at the last minute?
Alright, alright. Look, I'll talk to you later.
- How you doing, Kent? - Oh, hi, chief.
You know, it occurs to me that
well, we don't see enough of each other.
We see each other ten hours a day, sir.
Oh, no, no, no. I mean socially.
You know, a couple of old newspaper cronies
going out, having a few beers, some laughs.
Well, that's nice of you, chief. I think I have Thursday free.
The game starts at 9:00 tonight.
Right here.
See you then.
- Uh, game? - Poker.
I'll bet you were a real monster around the tables
back in Smallville, huh?
Actually, I was never very good at poker, sir.
Oh, well, that's, uh, even better.
I'm out.
Twenty.
Too rich for me.
Alright. Let's see, Clark.
Just to...make this interesting
I'm gonna, uh, see your 20
and I'm gonna raise you, uh..
How much do you make here during the week?
I'm just funnin' with you, son. Relax.
Let's just say, uh, oh, 50.
(Perry) 'Take your time now. Make the right decision.'
You know who would be a great poker player? Superman.
Oh, great, Jimmy. We'll just invite him next week.
I don't even know if Superman gambles.
(Jimmy) 'But in his case, it isn't gambling.'
Jimmy, please, shut up.
The man's trying to think.
He's got X-ray vision. He can look at everyone else's cards.
Hey.
- Superman wouldn't do that. - 'Why?'
(Perry) 'Because it wouldn't be fair play.'
Fair play is what Superman is all about.
It'd be awfully tempting though.
It sure would.
(Jimmy) 'I mean, especially with this kind of money on the table.'
I mean, if it were me, I would have to muster up
a lot of super willpower not to sneak a peak.
Give us a break here, huh?
Fold.
That's okay, son. Don't let it bother you.
Poker is just like anything else.
It takes a little practice.
Okay. Seven card stud, high-low. First and last cards down.
'One-eyed jacks and deuces wild.'
- Partners? - Now, you and Kent.
The experience of the battle-scarred veteran
paired with the hunger of the exciting, fresh talent.
I am not that scarred and he is not that exciting.
Your tenacity, his tact.
Believe me, Lois
the two of you, there's chemistry there.
It's gonna make for great stories.
But, Perry, partnership, it's like marriage.
That's right. You've got to work at it.
It takes patience and understanding
and a willingness to be supportive.
I know, honey. Fake it.
Now, go find your partner.
Howdy, partner?
What sounds better, Kent and Lane or Lane and Kent?
'Kent and Lane. Lane and Kent.'
- Neither. - Lane and Kent, definitely.
- Why? - Tradition.
Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis.
The straight man always goes first.
- Either way, it'll never work. - Come on. It won't be that bad.
It'll be that bad. It'll be worse.
Let's go. He wants to see us.
- Boxing? - It's not just boxing.
The ultimate street fight.
It's the fight card of the century
right here in Metropolis.
- It's still boxing. - It's a civic event.
- It's sports. - Lois, just do the story.
This wouldn't have anything to do
with my connections, would it?
Connections?
Oh, you-you got connections in the fight game, Lois?
- You know I do. - Wh-what connections?
Oh, that's right.
- 'How is your father?' - Hmm.
- Come on, Clark. - Oh, your father's a fighter?
The Menken Gym.
Do you realize how many champions have come out here?
Give me a minute to pat down my goosebumps.
You wouldn't say that if you followed boxing.
Oh.
Billy Mason, maybe the greatest middleweight of all time.
Welterweight.
I'll never forget it. Mason-Rodriguez, June '78.
'79, October.
Mason takes Rodriguez down in the eighth round.
- Fourth. TKO. - Would you cut it out?
Clark, you're thinking of the Mason-Ramirez fight
a year earlier before Mason moved up in weight class.
Wait a minute, how did you know that?
- Lucky guess. - No, no, no. How?
During the Mason-Rodriguez fight, Mason tore a rotator cuff
which was later operated on by Dr. Sam--
Sam Lane.
Sam Lane? Wait a minute. Is he--
My father. So you've heard of him?
Anybody who's ever read the sports pages has heard of him.
He practically invented reconstructive surgery
for athletes.
He builds them a new hip, new knee, whatever
and they come back better than they were before.
So he's your connection.
In Perry's dreams. There's Tommy Garrison.
Let's see if we can get a statement.
'Tommy, can I talk to you a minute?'
- Holy. - Who are you?
Lois Lane, Clark Kent, "Daily Planet."
Somebody wanna throw these two out of here?
Hey, quiet down. They're okay.
- Allie. - Hiya, pumpkin. How are you?
- Pumpkin? - 'What happened?'
Perry White finally put you on the sports pages
where you belong?
She's forgotten more about sports than I ever knew.
- I'm beginning to see that. - How is Perry?
- Still cheating at poker? - 'Oh, he's fine.'
Allie, this is Clark Kent, my..
The guy that I'm working on the story with.
Her partner.
How are you? What brings you here?
Oh, you have four fighters going for titles this Saturday night.
That's the biggest thing in boxing history.
And we can't get to any of the fighters. I don't get it.
Max Menken will talk to you for as long as you want.
Menken's the promoter.
We'd like to speak to the fighters if that--
I'm sorry, Kent. I can't do..
You wanna talk to me?
'Okay, but you can't learn anything from down there.'
Come on up. See what it feels like.
Go on, Clark. Go on. Get in there.
- Maybe this isn't a good idea. - This is what we came here for.
If you're not gonna go up there, I will.
Okay, okay.
Clark.
You look pretty solid.
- You ever been in a fight? - I try to avoid them.
How can you write about boxing
when you don't know what it's like, huh?
You ever see punches like this?
Come on, give it back to me. Your best shot.
Come on. No? Then try to avoid me, okay?
Whoo hoo hoo hoo. That one almost connected.
You know something, princess, you better keep your guard up
or somebody's gonna knock you through the ropes.
Then what are you gonna do, huh?
You might be surprised.
Clark, why don't you get down from there?
Well, you just sent me up here.
Allie, he's just playing with him, right?
See, I got you right where I want you
and I haven't even thrown a punch.
What now, princess?
- Clark, no! - 'Garrison.'
Hit the showers.
That's right. Everybody, let's go.
I'll see you later, princess.
- You okay, kid? - I'm fine.
Forget it, Clark. That guy's a jerk.
I guess you can get away with a lot
when you're the strongest man in the world.
One of the strongest.
Saturday night, you can see them all.
The ultimate street fight.
The most spectacular night of boxing there ever was.
'And the winner's gonna fight Superman.'
The eyes of the world, right here on Metropolis.
Write about that. Now, uh, excuse us.
The gym is off limits to the press.
You should've known better.
Everybody's a little nervous. There's a lot riding on this.
I can see that. Take care, Allie.
- Good luck on Saturday. - Yeah.
- Nice meeting you, Clark. - Nice to meet you.
Let's go, pumpkin.
Lois.
- Hi, dad. - What brings you here?
The ultimate street fight.
Oh, right, right. What else?
I'm trying to get to the fighters, you know.
Clark Kent, sir. Her partner on this story.
Sorry. Uh, Sam Lane, Clark Kent.
Nice to meet you, Kent.
I wish I could help you with the press
but it's not my department.
Oh, sure. We know.
And, of course, the fighters, they're a little jumpy.
Yes, wanna keep them away from us wicked reporters.
Well, uh, are you going to have some time
Lois, for, uh, dinner or--
Uh, maybe. Soon.
Yeah, I'm really busy and..
Sure.
Well, when you get out from under--
Sure.
I'll call, yeah. Uh, yeah.
I see. No, I didn't realize they were that close.
Well, yes, it's a problem, which is why I suggested
a press blackout in the first place.
Max, calm down.
Well, let me paint you a little portrait.
Imagine a man whose net worth is in excess of $20 billion
and that this same man is currently
the third richest man on the planet.
Superseded only by Mr. Albert Chow of Hong Kong
and Elena Pappas of Athens, Greece.
And when I say currently, I really mean temporarily.
And that this same man has an additional annual income
of over two billion, which is approximately
two hundred million a month, seven million a day
three hundred thousand an hour, five thousand a minute.
How long have we been talking, Max?
That man is me.
I hope you see my point.
You don't see my point.
Why am I not surprised?
Well, then, let me explain it you, Max.
If a man like you has a problem, I expect you to solve it
with your own usual flair.
For a man like me, on the other hand
life is a bowl of rubies.
An extremely large bowl.
I have no problems.
No problems at all.
There you go.
(Lois) What are you still doing here?
- Working. - Uh-huh.
- On what? - Just..
You're waiting for me to talk about it, to open up.
See, this is exactly why I hate partnerships.
Why?
Because your partner's always
there for you whether you want them or not
because your partner's there to share your troubles.
Well, I don't feel like sharing.
Okay, so I don't get along with my father.
- Big deal. - No big deal.
I mean, haven't you ever met anyone
who's so wrapped up in their work
they don't have time for anyone or anything?
Is this a trick question? 'Cause..
Okay, okay. But at least I don't have kids.
A lot of parents are workaholics.
Well, the ones that I knew at least
tried to spend some quality time with their family.
My dad just came home to criticize.
"Daddy, I got 98 on this test."
"Oh, that's good, Lois.
That leaves two points for improvement."
Lois Lane.
Allie? Calm down. What's wrong?
Okay, just tell me where and when.
- Okay. Allie Dinello. - What'd he say?
Just that he needs to talk to me. Something about fight night.
He didn't wanna say any more on the phone.
Well, let's go.
Clark, I think that I should go alone.
Okay.
I, it's just that I think that it'll be--
Be more comfortable talking to someone he knows. I get it.
Go.
Sometimes you surprise me.
Allie.
Oh, Allie.
- 'It's done.' - Are you sure?
(male #1) 'Positive.'
It's...always such an embarrassment..
...having to do away with someone.
It's like announcing to the world
that you lack the savvy and the finesse
to deal with the problem more creatively.
I mean, there have been times, naturally when I've had to have
people eliminated, but it's always..
...saddened me.
I've always felt like..
...I've let myself down somehow.
I've known Allie almost my whole life.
To see him like that was just..
Police are calling it a hit-and-run.
Probably a drunk driver.
But, uh, well, we're not buying that, right?
I was there. It was no ordinary hit-and-run.
That car was coming straight at him. It bore down on him.
- It was dark. - It wasn't that dark.
(Lois) 'And anyway, you didn't talk to him on the phone.'
You didn't hear how upset he was.
He said he was in trouble.
I think whatever he was gonna tell me cost him his life.
Well, now do you have any idea what he wanted to say?
No.
You think your father can help?
I don't know.
Well, are you gonna ask him?
Sorry, dad.
He was a real character.
- 'Tough.' - That he was.
Always had a soft spot for you though.
He used to call you pumpkin.
Still did.
Hit-and-run.
Never dreamed he'd go out like that.
He didn't.
- I think he was murdered. - What?
I was there. I saw the car coming at him straight and fast.
It wasn't a drunk. It wasn't an accident.
- What were you doing there? - Allie asked me to meet him.
- Did the driver see you? - No.
Lois, I want you to stay away from this.
This? What's this? What am I on to?
Nothing. It's just that there are a lot of rough characters--
What did Allie wanna tell me about the fights?
- Are they fixed? - No, they are not fixed.
Now, just stay away.
I can't stay away. I'm a reporter.
This is my story.
- Can you help me? - No.
- You're lying. - Don't be ridiculous.
- I know the look. - Lois, let's not do this.
Not now and certainly not here. I can't help you.
- Can't or won't? - Lois, no.
You would just like to forget everything, wouldn't you?
The perfect father/daughter relationship.
I never claimed to be a perfect father.
You were hardly a father at all.
Lois, please don't.
Look, never mind.
Can you tell me anything about the murder or not?
I know nothing about the death of Allie Dinello.
Whatever you say, dad.
(Clark) 'Are you sure you wanna break into your dad's office?'
(Lois) 'He's hiding something.'
I've seen Jimmy do this before. It always works.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong.
(Clark) 'Nothing. You did it.'
That was pretty good for a first time, huh?
All these training logs and medical reports.
Look at this.
Tommy Garrison's file.
He had an okay boxing record until his surgery.
- After that, perfect. - Same with this one.
Uh, these guys didn't have just winning records
they made mincemeat out of their opponents.
What do you think, some kind of steroid?
Then keep looking.
Clark, how did you--
My Uncle Ian has the same setup in his den.
Oh.
Well, it's definitely not steroids.
Mechanical parts.
And little motors to drive them.
No wonder these guys are invincible.
Oh, my God, Clark, I'm Dr. Frankenstein's daughter.
- What? - I heard something.
- I didn't hear anything. - I'm gonna take a look.
- Wait here. - Hey, you're not--
If we both get caught, there'd be no one to get the story out.
(Tommy) 'Let me at him, boss. I could take him.'
'I could take Superman.'
You ain't ready yet, kid.
- Earthquake! - What the hell?
Let's get out of here before the building
comes down on our heads!
Did you feel that? It must've been at least a five.
Yeah.
This is incredible.
Incredible.
The Boxing Commission will never allow these fighters in the ring
if they know they're half-robots.
If it weren't for the earthquake
we'd be the lead story.
- What earthquake? - Last night, the earthquake.
There was no earthquake last night.
- There was an earthquake. - Not in Metropolis, Lois.
If the Earth moved for you last night
it must've been, uh, something else.
- What are you writing? - The story.
Saying what?
Dr. Sam Lane is performing these surgeries secretly.
- Are you sure? - Sure, I'm sure.
Well, I'm not so sure we were at your father's office last night.
What?
Maybe I was home asleep
and you were watching a late movie on TV.
What is with you? We were together.
- We took those pictures. - What pictures?
Clark, this is the biggest scandal in boxing history.
No doubt about it.
Look, we print this, whoever killed Allie
is gonna want your father out of the way too.
An ordinary hit-and-run?
The police think so too.
Alright, now. Now just a minute.
Yesterday you told me it was murder.
I was wrong.
(Perry) What about Dinello's phone call?
You find out why he was so upset?
Well, there are lots of reasons why people get upset.
What about your father?
He says he doesn't know anything.
Oh, what the Sam Hill's going on here?
Sometimes a piece runs dry, chief. You know that.
Oh, well, that's just great, Kent.
We'll put that up on billboards all over the city.
Lane And Kent Come Up With Squat.
On sale at your newsstands now.
You agree with her take on this?
I'll go with my partner, chief.
Very nice. Relax your arm. Good.
Alright, would you take it easy for few days? Baby it.
Light workouts and no sparring.
- Thank you, doctor. - Good.
Lois.
This, um, isn't easy for me, so I'll just get right to it.
I know about the surgeries you performed.
- I've nothing to say. - I wanna know, dad.
Not, not as a reporter, as your daughter.
- Sorry. - I'll not let you shut me out.
- Not after I killed the story. - You did what?
You could've been hurt.
- Murdered. - You should've written it.
Oh, and have you end up like Allie?
- That's my problem, not yours. - Of course, it's my problem.
You're my father. I care about you.
This has nothing to do with caring, Lois.
Oh, you would say that.
Do you think I don't know anything about caring?
I know that you resent me and you should
for those times that I've let you down.
But it doesn't mean I didn't care.
It was because of my work.
Work that's building machinery to beat men's brains in?
Not at first, Lois.
At first, I set out to design and build replacement parts
for victims of catastrophic injury.
That's a good dream, Lois. That's noble.
- It's worth sacrificing for. - Sacrificing your family?
You always think you'll make it up to them
and then time gets away from you and you never do.
Did Menken kill Allie?
I've been afraid to ask myself that question.
Write your story, Lois.
You're a professional. It's your job.
Do what you feel is right. I will too.
- The auto show? - 'Yeah.'
See, there's been a rash of thefts down there.
Hubcaps, rear-view mirrors, that sort of thing.
Perry, there has to be a more important story
you can assign me.
Uh, ordinarily, yes, but you see, Lois
the first time a reporter blows a really big story
it can rattle them, fill them with self-doubt.
I, uh, well, I've seen it happen.
Perry.
Lois, just take the auto show piece.
'It's a good little confidence builder.'
Well, I've seen it before, but I've never been in it.
- What's that? - Perry's doghouse.
- Police academy graduation. - Nice.
Well, I guess we're not partners anymore.
- Guess not. - I'm sorry, Clark.
- Really. - It's just as well.
Yeah, you're right. It is just as well.
You don't wanna be partnered with a hypocritical reporter
who talks a good game, but backs off the minute
things hit too close to home.
Yes, I do.
Nothing in the "Planet."
I told you we got to Dinello before he talked.
- 'Excellent.' - Yeah. Smooth sailing now.
Our boys becoming the new world champions.
Everything we dreamed about finally coming true.
- It's a start. - A start?
With all due respect, Mr. Luthor
once you've got a champ in each division
there's not much more you can do.
Is that what you think this is all about
winning a few prize fights?
Is that why I've invested millions in this project?
Oh, I get it.
After this, we branch out into other sports, huh?
- 'Football, baseball, tennis--' - Max.
We've created five men of inordinate human strength.
Now suppose we can take these men
and make them even more powerful.
Fifty times more powerful.
A hundred times more powerful.
Even, dare I say it, invulnerable.
'Just like Superman.'
You see the possibilities?
An army of Supermen under my control.
Stronger? Max, there's no need.
The fighters are winning every fight.
- We want them stronger. - They're too strong as it is.
- We'll be the judge of that. - No, I will.
I did not develop these limbs to be battering rams.
'And the cash didn't hurt neither.'
Every cent went back into the work.
Yeah, well, now we're going into mass production.
We're gonna turn them out like Detroit does cars.
- Cars are machines, Max. - Welcome to the party.
I want out of this.
Sure, doc, at the end of your contract.
- We don't have a contract. - Yeah, we do.
Lifetime.
Dinello have the same contract?
It's a dangerous business.
- You killed him. - Who'd you think?
I'd hate to have to waste you too.
Did you get it?
It may not be enough to arrest him.
It'll be plenty for the Boxing Commission.
- 'You killed him.' - 'Who'd you think?'
(Max) 'I'd hate to have to waste you too.'
- I don't know what to say. - Don't say anything.
Write your story. The whole story.
Including the one you didn't write before.
Daddy.
Please be careful.
I need your piece on the auto show, Lois.
- I don't have it. - You don't have it?
I've been working on this instead.
Assignments are not optional at the "Daily Planet."
We write what we are assigned to write.
'Furthermore, what is this?'
Oh, boy.
That'll be the day Lois Lane will back down off of a story.
You've been funnin' with me, haven't you, huh?
Pulling your editor's old leg.
But, you see, I knew about it all along.
You all ought to be ashamed of yourselves
for what you've been thinking.
(Perry) 'Kent.'
I wanna thank you for a first-rate job.
You're welcome, sir.
Oh. Uh, the police academy story.
Show-off.
Chief, the fights are tonight.
If we hurry, we can get that in the afternoon edition.
Copy.
Take this downstairs right away.
And tell them they can take as much room they want.
- Yes, sir. - Wingate!
- 'Yes, sir.' - 'Get sales on the phone!'
Tell them I want TV spots, radio spots
skywriting, the whole nine yards!
(Wingate) 'You got it.'
Let Metropolis know that Lane and Kent
'are the greatest writing team since, uh'
uh, well, Woodward and Bernstein.
And they can read about it in the "Daily Planet."
Now what do we do?
I know you're upset, Max. You're not thinking clearly.
But do you really think that I wouldn't have a plan?
Sorry. What is the plan?
To not have this unpleasantness find its way to my doorstep.
What about my doorstep?
It's already past your doorstep, Max.
It's into your house. But don't worry.
You'll do one last favor for me, you and your fighters
and then you'll all be relocated and very well compensated.
- What favor is that? - Dr. Lane.
Without him, there's no witness, no case.
He's, uh, kinda disappeared, Mr. Luthor.
Well, wouldn't you, Max, in light of this story?
But his daughter..
...is still accessible
and we'll use her to get to him.
(Tommy) 'I want Superman. I want Superman!'
Gonna kill him. Gonna kill him. Gonna kill him. Gonna kill him!
Ladies and gentlemen
in accordance with a ruling of the commissioner's office
tonight's title card is canceled.
I have the further unpleasant task of announcing
that the five challengers scheduled to appear
this evening have been placed on indefinite suspension
pending investigation of misconduct charges.
No! He can't do that!
No man alive can hurt us!
We're the greatest of all time!
And no two-bit Boxing Commission
or a bunch of loudmouth
know-nothing fans can change that!
'You bring me Superman, I'll show you!'
(Lex) 'Miss Lane.'
Well, I was hoping to find you.
I was hoping these rumors about your father were unfounded.
I'm afraid not.
Lois, your father's a visionary
and I have nothing but contempt for those
who have led him down this path.
That's why I've come here today to find you
and to make this pledge.
I will do everything in my power to see
that your father redirects his energies
to the injured and handicapped.
I don't know what to say.
- Well, ain't this touching? - Menken?
I think someone's looking for you, Max. Maybe the DA.
Alright, let's nobody get heroic here.
Back off! She's taking a ride with me.
(Lex) 'Haven't you caused enough trouble?'
I'm just warming up.
(both) I'll go for help.
What are you gonna do when he comes for me?
- Who? - Superman.
Oh, you and him real close, are ya?
Let's just say he's always there for me when I need him.
Well, I'd say you need him now. Where is he?
(Superman) 'It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Menken.'
Superman, behind you.
(Max) 'Hey, my guys are doin' alright.'
Steel versus Steel. That's how I'd promote it.
- Too bad we can't stick around. - No!
(Lois) 'Superman, help!'
- 'Unhand her.' - Superman.
- Drop the gun. - You lousy..
Are you okay?
You saved my life.
Well, I couldn't let any harm come to you.
But I know you can't be everywhere at once, Superman
but I'm glad one of us got here on time.
(Tommy) 'Superman!'
I'm waitin' for ya!
I wanna see what makes you so super!
Where do you suppose he is?
You don't think he's scared, do you?
Why would he be scared of me?
Superman!
Are you looking for me?
Yeah.
What's your pleasure?
A prize fight.
Marquess of Queensberry rules.
Of course.
Are you hurt, Superman?
No. He just caught me off guard, that's all.
Yes!
Keep your left up.
Something wrong?
I knew he had his hang-ups.
You're wondering why I didn't eliminate Max earlier.
I think that's a good question.
I knew the robotics project was lost. I knew I had to lose Max.
You see, but by waiting, by using Max one last time
I was able to gain something from my losses.
The gratitude of Lois Lane who now owes me her life
and the look on Superman's face.
That was a delightful bonus.
Now, it was a stunning example of a trait
that I particularly admire in myself.
It's the ability to profit even from setbacks.
Oh, the evening started poorly
but I have to say, I took a lemon and made..
...champagne.
This is a terrific follow-up.
By the way, Kent, where were you when all this went down?
I went for help.
No criminal charges against Dr. Lane. Oh, that's great.
Oh, this is nice.
Lex Luthor offered to testify as a character witness
'before the Medical Ethics' Board.
Well, good for Lex.
You know, he carries a lot of weight in this community.
Well, looks like my instinct was right.
You're a great team.
Circulation ought to hit the roof with this piece.
So I guess that means we're partners full-time now?
Oh, no, no, no. Let's don't overdo a good thing.
Only when the time is right and only on special stories.
What did he mean, where was I?
You were looking for help.
'Come on. Let's get something to eat.'
I'm not hungry.
Clark, if it makes you feel any better
even Superman got there too late.
Are you coming or are you gonna stay there and sulk?
Hey, Kent. Don't forget. Poker game tonight.
- Nine o'clock. - Uh, not tonight, sir.
I've got other plans.
Not bad for a mild-mannered reporter.