He's gone.
[sobs] He's gone.
Lois?
Lois, you're crying.
Don't you know what happened?
I understand Superman left the country.
Too bad. I'll miss him.
He didn't leave.
He was sent someplace by John Doe.
And, and his name's not John Doe.
It's Tempus a-and he's a monster.
He-he's from the future and he's trying to destroy
everything that's good in the country.
Gee, that's just the kind of stuff he said you'd say.
What?
President-elect Doe told me you supported the other side.
Mr. President, you were the other side.
I know, but in my heart, I knew he was right.
Lois, the whole country's behind John Doe.
Get on board.
He bears you no ill will.
[people chanting] 'John Doe. John Doe.'
We just have to trust him.
[people chanting] 'John Doe. John Doe.'
John Doe. John Doe. John Doe. John Doe. John Doe. John Doe.
Oh, my God.
[theme music]
[music continues]
We got on the plane as soon as we got your call.
What's happened to my boy?
I wish I knew exactly, Martha.
Lois, are you sure he's gone?
Clark vanished through a time window.
It was, uh, brought here by..
...the most evil man I have ever met.
He comes from the future..
...and he's always wanted two things.
To control the world
'and to destroy Superman.'
But who is this person?
The new president John Doe.
Oh, but, Lois, that can't be.
John Doe is..
Well, he's just a darn nice guy.
See, this is what I'm up against.
I know who he truly is
and as long as I keep that image, I can think the truth.
'But no one else knows him.'
And somehow he has brainwashed the entire country
into thinking that John Doe is a darn nice guy.
Oh, honey. Honey, we believe you.
It just doesn't seem like Clark is dead.
Maybe he can be found.
If I haven't learned anything else in this life
I've learned you have to cling to hope.
[telephone rings]
That's what Clark would say.
- 'Hello.' - Yes, he would.
Lois, Perry White.
Lois, don't you dare go in to work right now.
Perry, it's Lois.
Yeah, that's wonderful news about John Doe.
What?
Alright, I'll be there.
- Lois, at least get some rest-- - I'm going in.
I've got to stay close to this thing.
I have to find a way to beat Tempus.
What did Perry want?
Congress is so anxious to have John Doe in office
they may move up the inauguration.
In two days, Tempus might be
the most powerful man in the world.
Hmm.
Well, it's all very presidential
but does it say emperor to you?
Well, we don't actually have emperors in this country.
Not yet, but it's only a pen stroke away.
This is America, Garner. A man can dream--
(male #1) You can't go in there.
- I tried to stop him, sir. - You wanted to see me?
Yes. Dragon, isn't it?
(Dragon) That's the name.
Dragon, I'm told that you are the cruelest
most sadistic, most feared cutthroat in Metropolis.
You killed your parents when you were three
and it's been downhill ever since.
That's more or less it.
How'd you like to be secretary of state?
Now, my friend President Garner--
Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dragon.
And his lame-duck Congress
will be enacting several bills into law.
They'll need enforcing.
Well, I guess you don't get it.
I don't enforce laws.
I guess you don't get it.
I'm giving you carte blanche
to shoot anyone who doesn't agree with me.
But everybody agrees with you, Mr. Doe.
Well, an astronomically high percentage does, yes.
But there's still holdouts.
That's why I need legislation
making it illegal not to use the phone.
But that's silly.
Not to mention, unconstitutional.
- You want me to plug him? - Patience.
Do me a favor. Pick me up some new suits and a new watch.
This stuff was damaged in a little explosion we had here.
Now, look, Mr. President.
If we're to have an orderly transition
you have to remember that I am the most popular politician
the world has ever known.
Even Reagan in his heyday
couldn't have gotten away with this.
[screaming]
[glass shatters]
You just killed him.
Guess you'll have to report me.
This is for you, prez.
'John Doe just did a very wise thing.'
Uh, this is the president.
I need to..
...let you know that John Doe just did a very wise thing.
That's why the phone, you idiot.
Lois, where's Clark?
Uh, Clark, he's..
He's not feeling well. He's not here.
Oh, well, he'll be alright.
Tell him to drink plenty of liquids.
Now, listen, I want you to skedaddle
over to the Regent Hotel.
President-elect Doe has picked you
for his very first post-election interview.
- Oh, he has, has he? - Yes.
He says you're the only one that understands him.
Oh, he does, does he?
Well, I'd like to have a few words with Mr. Doe.
[sighs]
- Oh, I'm sorry. - I'm dreadfully so..
- Miss Lane. - H.G. Wells, oh.
Mr. Wells, Tempus is out.
Ah, I feared as much.
He's president of the United States.
Catastrophic.
And, Miss Lane, has something happened to Superman?
- Yeah. - That's why I'm here.
I was visiting the future, the wonderful utopia there
suddenly changed to a world of chaos and mayhem.
The statue of you and Superman
honoring you for your good work vanished.
Does that mean Clark is dead?
Well, it-it means he's not present.
Tempus tricked him into stepping into this time window
and then it exploded.
But you could travel through time. You could find him.
Mm. No, my dear, it's not so simple.
You see, if the time window exploded
then Clark has been banished to a nanosecond
that's actually out of time as we know it.
A vortex without past or future.
- Finding him would be-- - Impossible.
You know, I don't like that word.
But the longer Clark remains in the time warp..
In the next forty eight hours, it could diminish
until it vanishes into nothing.
Well, I was wondering how long it'd take
to get to that part of the interview.
You are dirt. You are filth. You're pocket lint.
You are pocket lint in the pockets of lawyers.
[laughs] Oh, calm down. You want a martini?
No, I don't want a martini.
Tempus, don't you realize that if I was able to block out
this John Doe hypnosis, then others can too.
And we will bring you down.
No, you won't.
You are alone, Lois.
The only other living soul who knows the truth about me
is Clark and whoops.
He's not living anymore, is he?
Yes, he is. He's coming back.
What do you think this is? A family television show?
Only unhappy endings allowed here, Lois.
Let's see.
I could shoot you or hang you on the spot
but what's the fun in that?
Now you're the only sane one in the asylum, darling.
Between that and losing your husband
you should be clawing the walls in no time.
This interview's over.
You don't get it, do you?
You can't stamp out goodness.
'You might take the whole world in tonight'
but a little sliver of light is gonna come through
and we'll have you.
You make a very attractive widow.
[laughs]
(man on TV) 'John Doe supporters by the millions'
'flooded Times Square for the eighth night in a row'
'to celebrate the election of America's newest folk hero'
'the President-elect John Doe.'
'Not perhaps since Lincoln'
'has a candidate risen from such obscure beginnings..'
Oh, John Doe doesn't exist.
It's Tempus. It's Tempus.
[sighs] Clark, where are you?
[doorbell rings]
- Mr. Wells. - Lois, brace yourself.
- I've brought.. - Clark!
- Oh. - 'No, my dear, it's not Clark.'
Or at least not yours.
I'm sorry, my dear.
I know this must seem an awful trick.
But you remember this Clark, don't you?
You helped create his Superman in the alternate universe.
Even in that world, Tempus wanted him gone.
What he couldn't do there, he's done here.
Lois, I know how bringing Clark here must look.
That any thought of retrieving my Clark is hopeless?
That the only thing that stands
between Tempus and world conquest is Superman?
Is that what you think I think it looks like?
I'd say the world could use a Superman just now.
Lois, I'm not your Clark..
...but I can be Superman.
In my world, I've become the Superman
'that you encouraged me to be.'
I know this sounds awful..
...but I really don't want you here.
It's like having Clark, but not.
And accepting you means accepting that he's gone
and I'm not ready to do that.
Clark would want me to stay.
How do you know what Clark would want?
He'd want me to protect this world.
He'd want me to protect you.
Hon, your cookie dough ice cream is..
[gasps] Clark.
- Oh, Clark. - Son.
Martha, this is not our Clark.
If it's not our Clark, whose Clark is it?
Perhaps I can explain.
- And who are you? - H.G. Wells.
The writer?
Aren't you dead?
Well, only some of the time.
Martha, Jonathan, H.G. Wells can travel through time and space
and he brought this Clark here from a parallel universe
where we all exist, but in altered forms.
Oh, I see.
But you look so much like my son.
And you look so much like my mom..
'...and dad.'
And in that place, we're your parents?
Were.
My parents died when I was a kid.
I never thought I'd see you..
...them again.
- Clark, I'm sorry. - Wh-what?
I'm sorry for forgetting that as rotten as all this is for me..
...for all of us, that it must be pretty hard for you too.
Lois, I'd really like to help.
- Are you okay with it? - Yeah.
Then I shall be on my way.
Perhaps I can locate your Clark.
[machine whirring]
Hello, Herb.
Tempus.
That's President-elect Doe
but I'll forgive the faux pas this once.
- I've been expecting you. - Yes.
You knew I'd deduce that a corrupted future
was your doing and would return through time to find you.
[chuckles] You're a regular Jack Webb.
On the other hand, as easy as it was
for you to trace my movements backward
that's how impossible it will be for you to find your Superman.
You're a fiend beyond comprehension.
And a good dancer. But enough small talk.
[laughs] Let's go to my place.
There's only room in town for one time traveler
and you and this contraption are better off in my hands.
If I refuse?
Go ahead. Make my days.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting] John Doe, John Doe, John Doe, John Doe.
Citizens, voters and phone owners
thank you for the huzzas.
If I could have just an impromptu moment of your time.
Like I have to ask.
Everything I have I owe to you
because we are one big family.
[cheering]
- With me as the papa.. - Papa!
- And you as the kiddies. - Kiddies!
We will prosper under one big roof
'obey one big set of laws'
use one big phone company
and you'll do everything that papa says.
I'm pleased to announce Congress has also
unanimously passed the non-phone act
making it treasonous not to use the phone.
'And we know that if we're good girls and boys..'
...all will be well.
We also know that if we're bad
we'll be punished.
'A papa must know when to cut back on your allowance'
and when to shoot you.
I had to use a postcard. We don't own a phone.
A papa must be stern.
Ready.
Aim..
I get to be commander in chief with a war already on my hands.
- Thank you, Superman. - Thank you.
He was gonna shoot us just because we don't use phones.
- He's a madman. - Nuts.
So y-you don't like John Doe?
We hate John Doe.
I'm glad you're here.
The world gets pretty desperate without Superman.
I'll stay as long as it takes.
Did you hear what they said about not liking John Doe?
There were some homeless people that were murdered
around the time of the election.
They didn't like John Doe either.
What do you think they have in common?
Hmm.
He'd probably have the answer right away, wouldn't he?
I think it's phones.
They both didn't have phones
and now there's a law against not using the phone.
So that's how Tempus is controlling the country.
He's getting his message out through the phone system.
Exactly.
I'll scan the phone system for any internal abnormalities.
I'll find out how real this inauguration thing is.
Lois?
Is this how it is with the two of you..
...working together like this?
Yeah.
Wow.
I know what you've done, you treasonous little bug.
You've imported that muscle locked boy scout
from that other universe to this one.
The power of the human spirit cannot be confined
to one time or place. It's everywhere.
Oh, save that drivel for your overrated novels.
It's only a matter of time before he scans the city
with X-ray vision and locates me.
Anticipating that possibility
I've relocated to this abandoned fallout shelter.
It's lined with lead.
Now get in that machine and take that overstuffed set of tights
back where he belongs.
And what will you do if I refuse?
- Kill me? - You bet.
Anticipating your villainy, I have adjusted the machine
so that only I can operate it.
Now what's going to happen to your plan
when Superman examines the phone system, as he will
and discovers your fiendish alteration?
While you were anticipating my villainy
I was anticipating your anticipation
and began implementation of an even more insidious plan
to spread my message.
And now that you're my captive
you won't be able to blow the whistle on me
or use the bloody time machine yourself.
But I'm getting bored with you, Herb.
We seemed joined at the hip, you and I
and when I get really bored with someone..
Well, Mr. Secretary
I believe you're familiar with your duties.
I am.
Hi.
'The Kents are already asleep.'
I picked up a couple things from the market.
- What? - Nothing.
I mean, you don't, you know
spin in and out of the suit?
Spin? Never tried that.
- Oh, is that what he does? - Mm.
Well, maybe I'll give it a shot sometime.
Oh, no, that's okay.
I-I mean, it's a fine way to change.
I-I just, it's not him. I mean, you're, you're not him.
I have to remind myself sometimes.
Twinkies, cupcakes and ding dongs?
Where's my brain?
I just thought..
That because he likes those things, so would I.
Yeah.
- Anyway.. - Uh, here.
So, um..
...did you find any subliminal message-sending device
in the phone system?
No. Whatever was there, he must have moved someplace else.
So the whole country's gonna keep believing in this lunatic.
Did you hear anything from H.G. Wells?
No.
So he hasn't found Clark.
Lois.
Love..
...is the only thing that keeps people going sometimes.
It's that strong.
And right now, you have to grab hold of that strength..
...and know that it's gonna get you through this.
It's a lonely world without love.
I know..
...because it's how I live my life.
A while back, before I became Superman in my world..
...a new friend told me to trust in myself..
...and the power of the goodness inside of me.
She was a pretty smart woman..
...and I believed her.
Now she has to believe me.
You sound like you've gotten pretty smart yourself.
You helped me get there.
- Oh, this is unforgivable. - I'm so sorry.
- Just shameful. - I'm really sorry.
No, not you. Me. I-I almost kissed you.
- How could I almost kiss you? - No, I almost kissed you.
- No, no, believe me--
Okay, fine, we almost kissed us.
Look, Clark, other-other Clark
I'm in a, in a really weird place right now.
I-I miss my husband whom you look exactly like
and-and it wouldn't take a lot of imagination
to pretend that you were him, but you're not him
and I love him and you have to understand that.
Y-yes, understood. Completely.
Uh, but, Lois, see, my life is that lonely thing
that I talked about a-and then there's this weird chemistry
between you and I that I don't really understand
but I promise you it will never ever, ever, ever
ever happen again.
[sighs]
Dragon, Herb, you scamps.
I knew, given time, you'd find something fun in common.
I, on the other hand, have been laboring
on a way to operate my subliminator
while bypassing the phone system.
The subliminator's microwave transmission
has been fed into ordinary electrical wiring
which acts as an antenna.
- No. - I don't understand.
There's a surprise.
Every home and business in the US
will serve as a continually online receiver
for what I call Tempus Think.
I refuse to believe that
something so diabolical could be so easy.
Well, that's the Protestant in you.
Let's wrap fish in the constitution
and chuck all the old laws.
Would you turn that light switch on, Herb?
Let's wrap fish in the constitution
and chuck all the old laws.
[laughs]
- Why did I say that? - Because I wanted you to.
Because the very walls pulse with Tempus Think.
I may have succumbed to your device
but there are others who won't.
Only two that I can think of
and that number's about to shrink.
Trust me on this, Herb, I'm unstoppable.
♪ My eyes see yours ♪
♪ And there's nothing else ♪
♪ Is this some trick of my heart ♪
♪ No sounds no breath ♪
♪ The world stops moving ♪
♪ That's how you can see me ♪
♪ Time stands still ♪
♪ When we're together ♪
♪ One kiss is ♪
♪ Like forever ♪
♪ Time stands still ♪♪
[sighs]
What am I doing?
(Lois) 'About what?'
Uh, oh.
Tempus, the country, you know.
Sorry if I disturbed you.
No. I couldn't sleep either.
If Clark can't be found in the next 24 hours..
...he may just disappear.
You know the terrible thing about marriage?
'You take it for granted.'
You think that that person sleeping next to you..
...that sound they make when they're breathing..
...you think you'll always have that.
Lois, if there was any way that I could get him back--
I know.
'Listen, uh..'
About that...chemistry thing..
'I think that your feelings..'
Just like it was easy for me to confuse you with Clark..
...I think that your feelings for me..
...are really meant for her.
'Your Lois.'
But you see, I, I've never even met her.
She was lost on an assignment in the Congo, so..
I just think that somehow you're meant to be together.
You know..
...it is so much less complicated being Superman..
...than being Clark.
That sounds like something Clark would say.
'It's amazing how much like him you've become.'
[sighs]
Well, now that we're both up..
...why don't I make us a midnight snack?
- Ah. - 'Lois?'
- Ah. - 'Lois, are you alright?'
Tempus is evil.
There's no such thing as John Doe.
- It's Tempus. - Are you okay?
I don't know.
All of a sudden, I got these warm fuzzy feelings
about John Doe.
It all started when you turned on the lights.
What are you doing?
I'm following the electrical wiring in your house.
I couldn't find any signs of a mind control device
in the phone system
so they've obviously developed another delivery system.
(Tempus) John Doe is papa. He's finally here.
Everything he does is right.
He's sending it through the electrical wiring.
If you could just stay tuned into that transmission..
I could follow it back through the power system
and find the source.
Yes. Go for it.
Okay.
[sighs] What the heck.
[whooshing]
You know, I kind of like that spin thing.
I ordered a jumbo pepperoni, not green peppers
and a six pack of beer.
I-I-I-I-I don't care if you are closing.
I'm the secretary of state.
Where are you, you little worm?
Where are you?
[grunts]
Forgive me if I gloat.
Unconscionable little brute.
(Clark on answering machine) 'No one can answer your call right now'
'so leave a message when you hear the beep.'
[beep]
Lois, Wells here.
I'm being held against my will
'in some sort of underground bunker.'
Mr. Wells, what happened?
- Tempus kidnapped me. - What?
Lois, I've critical news for Superman.
Well, he's not here.
Oh, my, then I'll have to come to you.
I'll be there as soon as the time machine warms up. Ta.
Uh, ah.
[dialing]
So she's finally alone.
Uh, no!
[crackling]
Mr. Wells?
It's you.
Well, I would have preferred hail to the chief
but everything in time.
What's he doing here?
(Tempus) Making America safe.
I'm clearing the streets of terrorists.
I believe that includes you.
[clicks tongue]
Mr. Wells, what are you doing?
My dear, I believe if we knew to the second
the exact moment of Clark's disappearance
I might be able to find him with the time machine.
To the second?
Well, anything less
and I could miss him by literally billions of years.
[sighs] I have no idea.
There was so much going on.
I-I barely remember what day it was.
Yes, well, there you have it.
You know, as fun as all this is
the one wild card is still that copycat Superman of yours.
But as I recall, he was quite fond of Lois here
'so he's probably containable.'
Probably not, he's out there right now
finding your mind control device.
Once that's gone, so's your power base.
Well, you're just little Miss Spunky, aren't you?
Garner, get in here.
You better pray your boyfriend fails, Lois
because as bad as you think things are now
the nightmare's only just started.
Hi, Lois. I heard you were visiting.
I'm not visiting. I'm his prisoner.
[laughs] Ah, Lois, ever the funster.
Stop, my sides are splitting.
Anyway, we have here
the country's nuclear launch codes.
What?
I gave them to John Doe as a pal gift.
The traitor Superman may find a way
to turn the public against the president-elect.
'If that happens, we'll launch a nuclear strike'
against every capital on earth.
- That true? - Excellent.
You can't do that. The other countries will retaliate.
The whole world will be destroyed.
Also quite good.
If this world no longer wants me
then I no longer want it.
Let the fools be swallowed up in flame.
I'll go rule the alternate earth.
It's almost as nice.
Better even, for its Superman will be trapped here.
Hero to a lifeless planet.
(Tempus) John Doe is papa.
Everything he does is right.
John Doe is papa.
[crackling]
[device beeping]
Well, I'll be damned. He did it.
Does he think that's all it takes to finish me?
All that spandex must keep the blood from his brain.
President Garner, tell
your secret service men to arrest him.
- Who? - Sorry, Lois.
The subliminator's effects won't wear off until..
Well, it's way too late.
Oh, Jonathan.
They haven't been here all day.
They weren't at the "Planet." They never showed up.
Maybe that Tempus person got his hands on them.
- Lois? - Clark?
[whooshing]
Clark.
I found the source of Tempus' mind control.
- Where's Lois? - Oh, dear.
- Wasn't she with you? - No.
Maybe she left a note or something.
The answering machine light is on.
She might have called in.
(Wells on answering machine) 'Lois, Wells here.'
'I'm being held against my will'
'in some sort of underground bunker..'
- Underground? - Maybe she's with him.
I just scanned the entire city. There was no sign of them.
Unless, unless they're in a place lined with lead.
Back in the '50s, Metropolis built
a series of fallout shelters.
Those were lined with lead.
But they were abandoned years ago.
Where can I find these shelters?
Oh, honey, we couldn't begin to tell you.
Well, then I'd better find someone who can.
Gee, you got into the missile launch system
without any help at all.
Computer codes for this century are so primitive
it's laughable.
(Tempus) 'Why, you look nervous, Lois.'
Contemplate your future as a charcoal briquette.
It's soothing.
(Clark) Uh-uh, Mr. Olsen, Mr. Olsen.
Mr. Olsen?
Oh, sorry. I-I keep thinking you own the "Daily Planet."
Who can I ask to do some research for me?
Are you kidding? Here's how it works.
You come barreling in and say
"Jimmy, I need so-and-so and I need it now"
and then I drop everything and I do it.
- Not your old self today, huh? - Jimmy!
I need to know the location
of every fallout shelter in the city.
Oh, is it urgent?
I got this date with this chick just out of prison.
I think she's really hot--
Jimmy, I need those locations. I need them right now.
[sighs]
You know, I liked that whole Mr. Olsen thing a lot better.
(Lois) 'Tempus, don't do it.'
You still have time. You can escape.
You could, you could go to the alternate universe.
Where Mr. I'm So In Shape can return me to jail?
Thank you, no.
Besides I want to kill billions of people.
[automated message] 'Launch integration locked.'
And that ought to do it.
Here's the city infrastructure from 1958 forward.
[automated message] 'Target sequencing locked.'
'Missile launch in 30 seconds.'
[dramatic music]
[automated message] 'Launch in 25 seconds.'
'Commence primary ignition.'
'Twenty, nineteen, eighteen..'
(Brock on TV) 'And on the international scene'
President-elect John Doe is launching
an all-out nuclear attack on targets around the world.
- What? - Oh, great idea.
[automated message] 'Sixteen, fifteen..'
[alarm blaring]
Alright, got them. There's three in the area.
Thanks, Jimmy.
(both) Nine, eight, seven..
[rumbling]
- 'Five, four..' - You're too late.
You need an abort code to cancel the..
[automated message] 'Countdown sequence interrupted.'
Or that. You could do that.
John Doe, you are hereby impeached.
- Oh. - Oh.
Oh. Oh, my God.
Superman, I did a terrible thing.
I gave him the launch codes.
It's understandable, Mr. President.
- It's not your fault. It's his. - Get them out of here.
(male #2) Yes, sir. Let's go. Come on. Move it.
Superman, I..
Oh, God.
I think I'm up for re-election again.
Thank you. You were wonderful.
Just like I knew you would be.
Lois, I just wish that I could
do the same thing for your Clark.
We need the exact second the time window exploded.
- We don't have that. - Explosion?
You mean like in John Doe's hotel room?
Yeah. What do you know about it?
Let me go, you goon.
I tell you what, Lane.
If I scratch your back
maybe you could put in a good word for me.
He wanted me to go out and get a new watch for him.
He said it was stopped by an explosion.
[dramatic music]
We must arrive at precisely the moment I've chosen
or he's lost.
[grunts]
Oh, Lois.
So John Doe was a myth created by Tempus
'an escaped criminal and planted in your brains'
by a sophisticated method of brainwashing.
He'll return now to prison
where he'll do no further damage.
"Any last words, Tempus?
"Why, yes, glad you asked.
"Time you chowder-heads all got let in on a little secret.
"This Superman of yours, this chiseled God
is in reality Clark Kent of the "Daily Planet."
[indistinct chatter]
In chess, this is where I'd say "check."
Uh, honey.
I-I think the media would like us to comment
on Mr. Tempus' last remark.
We regret that Mr. Tempus' mental health has not improved.
He's obviously still delusional.
This is where I would say "checkmate."
No, you cretins. He is Clark Kent.
One of them is from another dimension.
I mean, it's obvious. Duh!
Thanks for giving me a world to come home to.
Thanks for giving me a legend to live up to.
Can't tell you how grateful I am.
The two of you have been wonderful.
So were you.
We really must be going.
You are the luckiest man alive.
I know.
If my Lois had lived, my world would be a better place.
Especially for me.
I've been meaning to ask you.
She was lost in the Congo before you two even met?
Which is strange, you know
missing someone that you've never even met.
I tried to find her, but..
...it's impossible.
My boy, I never say impossible.
Oh, I don't think I'm ever letting go.
I hope you don't.
You know...he's right.
I am the luckiest man alive.
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