Well, you must be excited.
No, I don't know, Clark.
Walking to work with you isn't really the thrill it used to be.
Ha ha. No, no, no. The Kerth Awards.
They announce the nominees tomorrow.
Oh! Is that tomorrow?
Yeah, come on, Lois, you get nominated every year.
Not every year.
Just every year since I've been eligible.
I bet you'll win it for the "Bolivian Drug Cartel Series."
Well, the dinner's always fun.
It'll be a nice way for me to break in
that new black dress I got.
Did you get your tux yet?
The dinner's just for nominees, Lois.
And their dates. You want to go?
Re-really?
- Sure, yeah. - Great.
I want you to run in and get a tux.
And I'm gonna go to the bank. I'll meet you back here in 5:00.
Okay.
Lois.
- Hey. - Clark..
You're okay?
Last thing I remember, I was standing here
and I felt really tired.
Apparently, you weren't the only one.
- Come on. - Ah.
(Lois) 'What could have knocked us all out so fast?'
I don't know. But, somebody made a big withdrawal.
(male #1) 'Hello, Metropolis. I'm here to teach you a lesson.'
'Don't get too attached to material things'
'because you won't have them for long.'
'But you will catch up on your rest.'
'And you're gonna need it.'
(Lois) 'Look, I've talked to your sergeant'
'your detectives, and your lieutenant.'
Now, captain, how can the police have no leads?
- 'Ms. Lane, that's not true..' - Oh, I see. You have leads.
You're just not willing to share.
Didn't your mother teach you it's rude not to share?
Hello.
Didn't your mother teach you
it's rude not to share? Good one.
Didn't your mother teach you it's rude to eavesdrop?
What's with this pen?
It's not a pen.
Jimmy, if this is some Zen parable
about pens not being pens
and desks not being desks, I'm not in the mood.
It's a bug. I stuck it on your desk.
Look. You listen on this. Cool, huh.
I Got it at Spies "R" Us.
Super hearing for sale.
Well, it's not super super.
It's only got a range of about 500 feet.
But here's the coolest thing.
'See this switch?'
AM/FM radio.
- I got it. - What?
Video from the bank's security cameras.
Now maybe, we'll find out why the police
have such a tight lid on this thing.
It's the sound.
- Sound? - What sound?
The sound in the bank here.
The one that made you guys just..
Made us all just like get drowsy just now.
Look! Check it out.
- What? - That jacket.
- I wonder where he got it. - Will you pay attention?
I'm looking for a new biker jacket.
I thought that might have a label.
A biker jacket?
Going for a new look.
(Jimmy) 'Wow!'
'The first sound that can put a whole room to sleep.'
No, I think Yanni did it first.
Alright, everybody, let's gather around, listen up.
Nominations for the Kerth
'Investigative Journalism prize are in.'
And I'm happy to announce that one of our very own
has gotten the nod.
So, let's have a big round of applause..
This is embarrassing. He always does this.
(Perry) 'For Mr. Clark Kent.'
Well, come along, Clark. Don't be shy. Stand up.
You know, I think you stand a real good chance
of winning this.
That retirement home scandal--
Wait. He-he got nominated for the retirement home piece?
He certainly did.
It was first-class journalism.
- Emotional wallop-- - Good pictures, too.
If I say so myself.
'They didn't-didn't happen to mention..'
Olsen, that was your first photo assignment.
Even secretariat didn't win the purse the first-first time out.
Who?
Boy, I'm glad you're not in sports.
Now, Lois, don't you, uh
have anything to say to Clark?
Uh.. Right.
Clark, I, uh..
I'm very.. Uh..
Surprised?
Stunned. Shocked.
In need of oxygen.
Lois, you've been nominated every year.
You won three times. Don't go getting petty.
The "Planet" is a team.
One person's success is everybody's. You got it?
Gotten.
Good.
Alright, everybody, let's get back to work.
Congratulations.
- Look, Lois-- - Here's what I think.
I think we should do a who and a what.
Who has the capability of making these sounds
and what would make them?
Okay, let's get started.
Every object has it's own natural frequency.
The theory among physicists is
find the precise frequency.
It's like a code
and you can make anybody or anything
do whatever you want.
Fall asleep, blow up, disappear.
That is the what. Now the who..
There are four cutting-edge experts in the field.
One of them died of a coronary four weeks ago.
Another has been on a research trip
in the Antarctic for the last six months.
And then, the third
is a rock musician, Lenny Stoke.
(Clark) 'Sounds familiar.'
Put out a couple albums, great reviews, no sales
heavy into sonic R&D
had some bad luck financially.
Patents stolen accountants ripping him off.
And then... there's Derek Camden.
'He cracked up because he tested'
a new kind of thought-altering sound on himself.
Got shipped off to some state mental ward
released six weeks ago.
Current whereabouts unknown. But get this.
Stoke and Camden they've worked together once.
Sounds like we're onto two very likely suspects.
So...who do we go after first, Camden or Stoke?
Well, actually there's something I wanted to ask you first.
Shoot.
Since we already went ahead and made plans
I was wondering if you'd like to go
to the Kerth Awards?
You mean, as your date?
I was going to go as yours.
So, you want me to hang on your arm and smile
and tell people how proud I am
of my great, big reporter man?
Sounds good to me.
Lois, I'm kidding.
We are, you know, we'd have fun
and since you already bought that dress..
I did not buy that dress for the awards.
I bought that dress around the same time as the awards.
It was a coincidence, and to tell you the truth
I don't even like the stupid thing, and I'm returning it.
Lois, you're not upset because I got nominated--
That is ridiculous. We both did great stories.
Mine destroyed an international drug network
and yours told the really searing truth
about old people.
And, and... I can't believe that.
I mean, there's got to be some mistake.
They either lost my story
or their brains were taken over by aliens
or something. I mean, because..
Oh, God, look at me.
This is really pathetic, isn't it?
I didn't know I could be this small. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
So do you want to come with me or not?
Oh, Clark, can we talk about this later?
Okay.
So, who do we go after first, Stoke or Camden?
Let's go for Stoke.
[sonic soundwaves] Yeah, but Camden, he..
Look, um, maybe the smart thing for us to do
is to split up.
Split up? What do you.. Oh, oh, I get it.
You got a lead that you want to take care of on your own.
Look, no. That's not it. I..
No. Really, Clark, it's fine. It's fine.
'You go after Stoke. I'll find Camden.'
'And we'll meet back at the "Planet," okay.'
Right. And then you'll have your next award all sewn up.
Notice how I'm not getting mad about this?
Do you know why?
Because I'm a lot bigger than that. Ugh!
Alright, boys. Let's go liberate some stones.
Right. Got it.
- It ends here. - How right you are.
Superman, this sound's for you.
You know, I'm sure you never thought your super hearing
would make you super vulnerable.
Underneath that steel skin
you're just a sensitive guy, aren't you?
Your equilibrium's shot.
In a minute, you won't even walk again...let alone fly.
(male #2) 'Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air.'
Get 'em up. Get 'em up. Freeze!
Bye, bye, Superman. You'll be hearing from me.
Never thought I'd see it. Superman having to run.
Well, knowing Superman, you won't have to see it again.
- He'll think of something. - Yeah. He sure will.
But until that time, this paper's number one priority
is finding out who this lunatic is.
- I'm on it, chief. - Attagirl.
- Oh, Clark. - Aah! Yes, chief.
What'd you find out about that sound man?
Uh, well, uh..
He's probably got plenty.
He's been out chasing leads.
- Yes. - Without me.
- No. - C.K., are you feeling okay?
- I just have a little headache. - It's fine, Clark.
You've decided it's best to work on your own.
I've decided you're right. No argument.
Uh, uh, just, just a minute here.
Now, is there something going on between you two--
(male #1) 'Hello, Metropolis.'
'For those of you who haven't read the papers'
'I'm the one who brought Superman to his knees.'
'In celebration of that momentous event'
'I'm creating a new tax, a sound tax.'
'The rate, 50% of all money in Metropolis banks.'
'The money will be bagged and waiting outside'
'each branch by 9 A.M. tomorrow.'
'Oh, and one final message to Superman'
'try and stop me...please.'
Olson! Where are you going?
I'm going to get you some page one
prize-winning pictures, chief.
(Lois) 'That's our man, Lenny Stoke.'
Clark, what's your read on this?
Well, Stoke knows a lot about sound
but among experts, he's considered hit and miss.
He doesn't have the technical
know-how to pull something like this off.
On the other hand, Derek Camden does.
It's Stoke, chief. I know it.
'The theatricality of it all'
"the look at me, see how great I am."
It is pure rock 'n' roll.
Well, sounds like to me
that you all are headed for a fork in the road.
He forked first.
Alright.
Now, you want to go your separate ways on this?
Be my guest.
Just bag me a headline.
Lois, this is stupid.
I'm sorry I ran off.
I, it was a... personal thing.
Now, come on, let's work together.
No way.
Son, I've seen her like this before.
The doors are locked, the alarm's on
and you ain't getting in.
Well, I guess a little time apart
isn't such a bad idea.
The jacket from the bank.
Kerth Award for outstanding photography.
Here I come.
[automated] 'Database password accepted.'
'Subject Lenny Stoke. October, 1984.'
'June, 1985. December, 1986.'
'Collating data.'
'Hmm. Likes trashy brunettes.'
Our hospital files are normally confidential
Mr. Kent, but under the circumstances
'Camden was released into the care of a friend.'
Let me guess, Lenny Stoke.
'I spoke to Derek not long after his release.'
He said he and Stoke had a new business venture in the works.
And the last address I have for him was...the Stoke Club.
Yeah, Camden was living in the back room over there.
Weird little guy.
Kinda jumpy.
- Thanks. - You're welcome.
(female #1) 'Hey, what are you doing here?'
Um, I'm looking for a, a bathroom.
Eh-uh.. I don't..
Okay.
The bathrooms are that way.
Thanks.
I'm sorry. Sorry, I..
Lois?
What.. Why are you dressed like this?
You're too much competition for me, Clark
so I'm chucking my career and becoming a groupie.
Look, I've got a lead on Camden
who's staying here in the club, in the back room.
(male #3) '...Lenny Stoke!'
That's great, Clark. I'm happy for you.
But, um, you know what? I have my own leads, so..
What else is there to say, but, see you at the finish line.
[chuckles] Hi!
You know, I-I was just wondering
where you got your jacket.
You see, I think it gets to a point in a relationship
you know, one that's got this kind of immediate connection.
But it's not about me, Lenny, and you..
What was your name again, darling?
- Linda. - Right. Linda.
Yes, of course.
But my point is, Linda
that it's not about names and identities
you know, the five or ten minutes that we've known
each other my darling, time is irrelevant.
Something else is taking over.
Wow!
What?
This.
- Oh! - Aah!
- Oh, I'm so sorry. - Not to worry, darling.
That's okay.
What's this?
You've got some on the old vest here, my darling.
Oh.
Don't worry about it.
Now, where were we?
- 'Hey, Lenny.' - Yes.
- There's a message for you. - Right. Thank you.
- Linda. - Linda..
I won't be a moment.
- Lenny? - Yeah?
- Uh.. - Oh.
How kind of you, my darling. Thank you.
Don't forget me.
Not to worry.
The mayor's holding a televised news conference.
'I think you'll wanna hear this.'
Neither this city nor it's financial institutions
will cooperate with such outrageous blackmail.
The Metropolis Police, in conjunction..
I think it's time to get back to business.
- Clear out the party. - Right.
Oh, and, darling..
Tea.
- Talk to me. - 'Everything is set.'
'We caught a kid following us and taking pictures.'
(female #1) 'Come on, you guys, everybody out. Let's go.'
'Party's over. Out. Out. Out. Out.'
Come on, out. You guys out.
Hey, you, too, honey. Come on, let's go.
- Lenny asked me to wait. - Yeah, right.
I'm sure he meant it at the time.
Come on, let's go. Let's go, sweet faces.
Let's go. Come on.
Guys, get out. Out.
Listen up, Metropolis.
Thank you, darling.
Hello. Is the mayor around?
Oh, dear, well, I suggest you
get her down to the corner of 9th and Grandview
because I intend to topple all the buildings
on the block, one by one.
Think of them as pins
and this is a sort of a sonic bowling for dollars.
Tell the mayor I'll call her right back.
Run, Jimmy!
(Lenny) 'Well, well, look who's back for more.'
'This is super.'
(Lenny) 'Like my new sound?'
This doesn't just attack the eardrums, Superman.
This an ultrahigh frequency
of 500 million megahertz tearing through you
melting that metallically dense nervous system of yours.
'To put it a little more simply'
'this is your brain, and this is your brain on sound.'
'Any questions?'
Well, well, well.
You must be quite a pool player.
'I believe that makes it your shot.'
You can't hide forever.
'Believe me, I don't intend to.'
Oh, uh.. Hey, Lois.
I-I was just borrowing your computer.
I-I hope you don't mind.
Uh, see
Superman saved me from this building
the-the sound guy blew up.
'Even though I'm not a reporter'
'I thought I'd write down a few paragraphs'
show the chief on it but, uh
I can finish it someplace else.
Yeah. Uh, let me get out of your way. Okay. Yeah.
Hey, you're wearing the receiver from my spy pen.
How'd it work?
Uh-huh.
Um, I-I can see you're not really
into the talking thing right now
so, uh, I'm just gonna cut you a wide berth.
Like a couple blocks.
Nice tattoo, Lois.
Oh.
Ooh. Oh, hi.
Hi.
How's the Stoke lead going?
I was so close, then I rammed myself into a dead end.
Clark. Have I lost something?
- Your fashion sense. - My edge.
When did it happen? Is it gone forever?
You know, like socks that go into the dryer
but they never come out?
Lois, you're kind of babbling.
I know. See? I never babble.
Are you kidding? You're a brook.
A what? I'm a what?
Lois, the, the point is
that you're the same reporter that you've always been.
You're hard-working, dedicated
a little over the top sometimes.
You could use a few more vacations
'maybe some semblance of a life.'
Is this leading anywhere?
Lois, you are the best reporter in the city.
You always have been, and you always will be.
Oh, Clark.
Thank you.
You're such a good friend.
I'm really sorry that I got all wound up
about that stupid award.
Not even the award. Just the nomination.
Exactly. How ridiculous.
So, how's the Camden search going?
Well, I think I know where he is.
We do?
We?
Echo Canyon. Interesting.
Now, wait, wait. What-what is all this we stuff?
- Well, you said I was the best. - Yeah--
So, who do you want for a partner, the worst?
[chuckles] No, but--
So, are we gonna quibble about this?
Or are we gonna go after our story?
Here. It'll pick up the bug now.
- What was wrong with it? - Nothing.
You just had it set to AM radio.
It's a small button.
(Clark) 'Camden had a friend from the hospital, Naomi Valdez.'
'She didn't speak English too well'
'but she talked about a place he liked to go.'
'Canyon Del Sonido.'
- 'Echo Canyon.' - 'You-you know it?'
(Lois) 'It's famous for the way sound'
'can bounce and carry it for miles.'
'State park. No houses, no camping.'
'But there is an old ranger station.'
(Clark) 'What do you do, stay up nights memorizing maps?'
(Lois) 'So?'
- Ow! Ah. - Shh, shh, shh.
I'm sorry if my ankle shattering annoys you.
No, it's not me.
- It's him. - Who?
The guy...with the gun.
Are you my appointment in Samarra?
What?
Are you death come to visit me?
No, we're reporters.
And you're Dr. Camden, right?
You, you, you work for him.
You're his assassins.
For God's sake, if we were his assassins
do you think we would've been this clumsy?
[chuckles] She has a point.
So those sounds that put people to sleep
and blow things up..
Here. All from my heart, my soul.
Doctor, be careful.
- Don't touch me. - Don't worry.
Calm down. We're your friends.
Stoke lied to you.
He said he was your friend just to get you out of the hospital
then he stole your inventions, right?
No. No. He-he stole my dreams.
He, he wants to keep my dreams.
He wants, he wants to end my body
and-and-and, and keep my dreams.
But Lenny Stoke is the sound man?
Thief. Killer. Destroyer.
I'll take that as a yes.
Ha! I knew it. I was right.
- We were both right. - Doctor Camden.
What about that frequency that hurts Superman?
What makes it so powerful?
Power, Lenny. Lenny has the power.
What power?
The, the power, the power.
It's all ab-about power.
It doesn't, it doesn't work without power.
Where, where is he getting the power?
I never could find the power. But Lenny found the power.
He stole the power. Now, he is the power.
And now he's coming. He's coming for me.
He's coming for you. He's coming for everybody.
And n-nothing can stop him.
Mayor Sharp, I do hope you're not trying to trace this call.
Because I routed it through three islands
four oceans, and five continents.
You'll be drawing social security before you ID me.
Now listen to me.
I also hope you don't think this is a negotiation.
This is not a negotiation. This is a demand.
So what's it to be, Mayor Sharp, yes or no?
I see.
Well, then I suppose it's time for a little more show
and a little less tell.
Alright, boys, into the cellar.
'We need some more power. Let's go.'
I agree that a tactical police team
could infiltrate Stoke's Club and pull his plug
but do we really have enough evidence to go to them?
- Camden said that-- - The nutty professor?
Come on.
Okay, Lois, what do you have in mind?
Something dangerous, something reckless?
The fly-by-the-seat- of-your-pants plan
guaranteed to get you killed?
You could not be more wrong.
We're not even gonna leave the car.
Now, just give me a chance to get firsthand confirmation
that Stoke's our man
and a few juicy quotes for page one.
Hang on, I'm getting something.
- 'We're in position.' - Are the speakers set?
(male #4) 'Two more minutes and City Hall will be ready to fall.'
(Lenny) 'Set the focus of the speakers'
'for the triangulation coordinates I gave you.'
'The angles must be positioned'
'for maximum sympathetic vibration.'
Clark, he's gonna destroy City Hall.
What do we do?
You know what?
I bet he's getting his power
from the city lines underground, siphoning it off.
You know, and if we could just get on--
That is absolutely the most ridiculous thing
I've ever heard.
I need as much power as you can pull
but make sure the city can't trace it.
You're right. How did you know?
Lucky guess.
Look, we have to get inside the club.
Hi. I just wanted to give you girls a tip.
See, Lenny told me that he really likes his women, well.
How should I say this? Uh..
Smaller than the average milk cow.
'So, If I were you, I would either lose some poundage'
or, uh, start grazing someplace else.
Should I be using smaller words?
Look, girls, I don't want to hurt you.
- Hyah! - Hey!
She went that way. Come on!
- Hyah! - Unh!
Hyah!
- Yay! - Whoa!
By the way, your roots, they're a little dark.
(Lenny) Farewell, City Hall.
Superman.
Surprise! Darling, please.
As you can see, this glove
is not just an affectation, Superman.
This is a little something that I dreamt up
called the Wall of Sound.
A sonic barrier so dense that nothing can get through it.
Not even you.
No plug to pull.
Independent power supply.
Oh, that's wonderful.
That lantern-jawed look of concern for human life.
How Superman of you.
Am I missing something?
Is there something going on that I'm not aware of?
She's your girl, isn't she? Eh?
That's very romantic.
It is unfortunate, however
because she only has five seconds to live.
No!
- Four, three, two.. - Ah. Oh.
No! No!
I know, darling, but really you will see, I'm so much more fun.
Oh, no!
Get back downstairs and hook us up to the city main.
- Give me the jumpers. - I got them.
Okay.
[scoffs] Look, Lenny--
No, you're not gonna say something boring
like "You can't possibly get away with this, now," are you?
Well..
Just keep your happy little greeting card thoughts
to yourself. Alright, my darling?
What was that?
Sound...is a mechanical disturbance with limited speed.
When an object reaches 740 miles per hour
it catches up with it's own noise.
And the piled-up energy
takes the form of a violent shock wave
called...a sonic boom.
Whew!
They should have never fired you from NASA.
Tell me about it.
Like I was trying to tell you, this was a bad idea
because you don't want to make him mad.
- How'd you do that? - Simple.
I broke the sound barrier.
Now, let's go for a little ride, Lenny.
No, no. You see, you don't understand.
I have this problem, it's kind of a "Rain Man" thing.
I, I hate flying.
You'd hate it more if I dropped you
you'd better hold still.
[laughing] Oh, boy, what an evening. I'll tell you.
Now I know exactly how the colonel felt
when Elvis brought home that first gold record.
Clark, I'm so proud of you. I can't see straight.
Not as proud as I am. That was a great speech.
Well, now that's quite a little attitude change.
What brought that about?
I'm just glad to have such a good partner.
Oh, I'm comin', honey.
You know, every time Alice sees me in one of these monkey suits
she can't wait to get me home and tear it off.
I'll, uh, I'll see you two later.
- See you, chief. - Aw!
So, how did I rate as a date?
Oh, A plus.
I hung on your arm decoratively?
You did.
- Fawned appropriately? - Absolutely.
And just faded into the background
during your big moment.
You were beautiful, yet invisible.
Make me go through another night like that
and I'll rip out your spleen.
Okay. Fair enough.
It's...smaller than I thought.
Not quite as shiny close up.
You know, you win a few of these to find out
they don't mean as much.
Quick rush, few pats on the back
and then you're back on the beat only as good
as your next story.
Where do you think I should keep it?
I'm the wrong person to ask.
I keep mine in the bottom of the closet.
Oh.
I saw your light.
Is this a bad time?
Oh, of course not.
I was just, um..
...doing a little dusting.
I wanted to thank you for the other day.
I couldn't have stopped Stoke without you.
You were very brave.
Well...me and Clark.
Yeah. I'll be sure to thank him, too.
What are those?
Oh, nothing. Just, uh..
Journalism awards?
You sure do keep them up.
Oh, no.
I hardly know that they're there.
I like the lighting.
It makes them look...bigger.
Well, I better...be going.
Wait.
What's this?
It's a rose.
What's this for?
Do I have to have a reason?
I guess not.
Goodnight, Lois.
Goodnight.