[intense music]
(Smith) 'Clark Kent is Superman.'
Clark Kent is Superman.
In a way...too perfect.
Monster?
No. Thing of beauty like Superman.
But things of beauty never last.
[laughs]
- Hi, honey. - Hi.
What'd you find out in Australia?
[sighs] Plenty.
Leslie Luckaby doesn't really exist.
So there's a chance he is Lex Luthor Jr.
Yeah, what I could come up with was this.
Leslie's life seemed to start about five years ago.
Before that, it was just blips and shadows.
Well, I've been checking what happened
to all of Lex Luthor's bank accounts.
- And? - Frozen before his death.
With only one way to access them.
- An heir. - Yeah.
Oh, Clark, maybe we're wrong.
I mean, Lex wasn't old enough to have a son Leslie's age.
Who knows how old Lex was?
The guy was a master of deception.
I-I think the larger question here is..
...if Leslie is the son..
...why's he lyin'?
And does he know that you're Superman
like his father did?
And what does he want?
I'll tell you what I want, I want action!
Superman's been in Australia.
He's been asking questions about me.
When do we get rid of him?
That was never part of the plan.
It should be.
No. No.
The plan is far more elegant.
Superman is going to become
an employee of LexCorp.
And you..
You are going to marry Lois Lane.
[theme music]
[music continues]
Lois, here's that LexCorp research you asked for.
A lot of money changin' hands.
Oh, there sure is.
Uh-oh.
[chuckles] The world's most romantic husband strikes again.
He's the best.
Hey, do me a favor. Call this lawyer in Washington.
See if he minds me asking a few questions.
Got it.
[dramatic music]
Well, I'll tell you, this is a first for me.
Not only do I get a good news headline
but it's about my new boss.
Phone company gives rate break first in 20 years
thanks to new owner Luckaby.
I know, I was pretty shocked
to see the hikes LexTel made over the years.
You were shocked?
Every time I'd get that phone bill
I'm looking in there for a ransom note.
Oh, Lois, honey, can you take the story on this phone thing?
Sounds like Leslie here
has got lots of plans for his company.
I'll bet he does.
Lovely. From an admirer?
So when do you want to do the interview?
Now? Step into my temporary office.
Is this tension I'm picking up?
You're not still angry with me?
To tell you the truth, I don't know what I am
other than a reporter who's been assigned a story.
Really? At the very least, I thought we were friends.
W-what are you doing here?
(Smith) 'It's your new suit, sir.'
I told the tailor that he'd not get a cent
until you personally approved it.
- I'm sure it's fine. - Oh..
It's a masterpiece, sir.
Miss Lane..
...look at this workmanship.
It's very nice.
Feel the fabric, Miss Lane.
It's a beauty.
[device buzzing]
Miss Lane doesn't want to feel the fabric.
Miss Lane and I wish to be left alone.
Very well, sir.
As you...wish.
I just feel a thing of beauty..
'...deserves to be admired.'
That'll be all, Mr. Smith.
[intense music]
[distorted] Well, now, where were we?
Could we finish this later, Leslie?
[music continues]
- Hey, you. - Hi.
Oh, guess what.
Seven of Lex Luthor's major cash accounts
have been accessed by an heir.
Was it Leslie?
I don't know.
Let's ask him.
Oh, by the way, thanks.
You're welcome. For what?
The rose.
I didn't get you a rose.
Oh.
You know, I think this would be
an excellent time to confront Leslie.
[traffic bustling]
[explosion]
There's been an explosion.
Don't do anything till I get back.
[dramatic music]
[siren wailing]
- Is anyone.. - They didn't make it.
- What did it, Superman? - All I could find was this.
Oh, oh, you're not leaving?
- Afraid so. Late for lunch. - What about the interview?
Uh, we hardworking reporters, we have deadlines.
Well, I suppose I could be a little later.
[chuckles]
- Dr. Klein.. - Whatever it is, Superman..
It'll have to wait, I'm sorry
but I'm catching a plane to Barbados.
It's very important. There was an explosion downtown.
Did you know that between you and Lois and Clark
and this lab, I haven't had a vacation in five years?
This shouldn't take too long.
It-it's a mechanism from the explosive.
There's something else that I haven't done in..
Well, not quite five years, but close.
- Uh-huh. - Her name is Carolyn.
I met her at a Chemical Weapons Seminar.
Dr. Klein, lives are at risk here--
She is waiting for me..
...right now, in a shack on the beach.
She's a Particle Physicist from MIT, she's 25.
And she thinks I'm a God.
If you could just take a look at this.
It's incredibly sophisticated.
I've never seen anything quite like it.
A God.
She actually e-mailed those words into my hard drive
so.. A Nelberg processor.
Hmm, look at that.
Where did he get a Nelberg? Those are highly classified.
Listen, um, I could fly your friend up.
She could spend a couple of days in Metropolis.
And then when you're done
I could fly the both of you down to the islands.
No charge, myself.
Uh-huh. Yeah, yeah, that-that would be wonderful.
Listen, let me just run a couple of tests on this thing, huh?
Great. Tests. Perfect.
Oh-oh, speaking of tests, the ones we ran on you
the first batch of results came in
and, uh...I must say, looks encouraging.
Great, so then it seems like it..
it's possible for me to have children?
Well, there is one last test I need to run.
It'll only take a moment.
Great, can we do it right now?
Well, right. Yeah.
Uh, o-okay.
Well, then why don't you just, uh, step down the hall
into that little room, and we'll, uh, we'll go from there.
Which little room?
Uh, that little room there.
- Uh, just me? - Just you.
- Alone? - Alone.
- What's in the room? - Nothing's in the room.
- Nothing? - No.
Alright, a couple of magazines.
Oh, okay.
I don't-I don't understand.
What exactly is supposed to happen in there?
Oh, God, I could be on a plane right now.
Well, I don't mean to be evasive about my background.
I'm just a very private person.
Private is one thing.
A life that only starts five years ago is another.
Well, we all have secrets, don't we?
This is about you, Leslie.
We both know what this is about.
You're so smart, Lois.
'I knew the minute we met you'd figure it out.'
'I just didn't know it'd be this fast.'
Figure out your real name, you mean?
- Lex.. - Luthor Jr.
It's, uh..
...even a little hard for me to say.
Must not be much fun to hear.
What do you want here?
Why have you lied to everyone?
I didn't see much of my father growing up.
I was raised and educated behind high walls
where my father visited me once..
...just once.
And he'd ask me "Do you believe the sins of the father
are visited upon the son?"
I told him I didn't know.
And he said, "You better hope not, for your sake."
Then he smiled.
That was the last time I ever saw him.
I'm not my father, Lois.
Well, you have a lot in common.
An elastic sense of truth, for one.
I'll tell the world who I am now, if that's what you want.
And finish what I came here to do.
Which is what?
Make up for everything he did
to the world and to you.
Lois, I didn't choose my name, my father or..
[sighs] ...the life he left me.
'I wanna do good.'
And I want you...to know
how much I need your understanding.
This is news, Leslie.
Big news.
But if you want us to wait, so you can
put it into your own words, we will.
- Thank you. - One last thing.
Don't give me flowers.
It upsets me. It upsets my husband.
- Flowers? - The rose on my desk.
I didn't send you a rose, Lois.
Don't give her roses, it upsets her.
Upsets her or you?
You're getting carried away with your play-acting.
Nice performance just now, by the way.
Lois seemed suitably moved.
How do you know? You weren't even there.
Oh, I was there.
I don't understand.
You'll be getting a call from the authorities.
I blew up a building this afternoon.
What?
I murdered several of LexCorp's employees
and the union leaders they were meeting secretly with.
'No more of this nonsense about LexCorp going union.'
But of course, you'll publicly say what a tragedy it all is.
I'll write it all down for you, don't worry.
What's all this?
This is the way in which I was able to know
everything you said to Lois upstairs.
Watch.
[machine whirring]
This is a neural scanner.
Every person's brain gives off a kind of frequency.
It's like each of us is broadcasting
sound and pictures.
This specifically locks on to the frequency
of those sounds and pictures.
And this..
'...shows us what's being beamed out.'
I scanned Lois and locked into her.
You mean this..
We're looking at..
The world, as seen and heard by Lois Lane.
[dramatic music]
I don't believe it.
Oh, and I saw Dr. Klein
for some more of those tests today.
Oh, good. When do we find out?
Few days.
These, uh, pieces here are starting to fit.
Lex Luthor Jr. was born in Hong Kong.
Mother died in childbirth.
Lex Sr. sent him to Australia
where not another living soul has seen him since.
Wow, I don't know.
Can't help feeling sorry for him.
I've got this feeling there's something else
going on here.
It's a feeling deep in the pit of my stomach.
'I used to get it when Lex would smile.'
She is an incredible woman, isn't she?
Oh, yes.
- She is that. - Hm.
I must admit..
...at first, I didn't like her very much.
- But now I think-- - What?
I think I've never felt quite this way about a woman.
Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to marriage.
Listen to me.
You are a lucky man.
Lucky I found you bussing tables at that cafe
hoping for an acting break.
Lucky I educated and trained you.
Lucky I handed you the world's most powerful corporation.
Fine, t-take it easy.
Let us be clear with one another
so the lines of truth and fiction don't blur
and cause your luck to change.
You pretend to love Lois lane.
I am in love with Lois lane.
You play Lex Luthor Jr.
I am Lex Luthor Jr.
Never forget that.
[dramatic music]
(Leslie) 'My God, the way you're inside her.'
It's the only time you seem halfway human.
Aren't you late for a facial?
You can make fun of me all you want.
Call me lucky, whatever.
But, uh..
'...check out your competition.'
(Smith) My last name is Luthor.'
I have no competition.
What I have is...power.
And good thing.
Look in a mirror one of these days.
You forget your place, Busboy.
No, you forget yours.
I have had it with you ordering me around.
I am not your employee anymore.
- I'm your partner. - Really?
(Leslie) 'We may know you're really Lex Jr.'
But no one else does, and they won't.
Because I finally realized that you can't exist up there.
You're, uh..
...too hideous, too terrified.
'You can only experience life through me.'
Well..
...you'll experience it to the hilt
because that's what I'll be doing.
Enjoy the ride
but don't order me around anymore.
[dramatic music]
(Leslie) I'd like to introduce myself.
My name is Lex Luthor Jr.
[camera shutter clicking]
[indistinct chatter]
Funny, I thought that would be much harder to say.
In fact, it feels like a weight being lifted.
Like light being let into a dark place.
'But there's a reason Shakespeare wrote'
"This above all else to thine own self be true."
Just hate that Shakespeare guy, he's always right.
[laughing]
[clapping]
I present to you..
'...Luthor Tower.'
[applause]
Today we start a new age.
The name Luthor no longer synonymous with greed.
In addition to the already announced phone-rate rollbacks
my utility companies will be cutting
'all power and water bills by one-third.'
[applause]
'But of course, this is just the beginning.'
And money is the least of the debt
my family owes to the citizens of Metropolis.
From this moment on, everything I do will prove that.
Well, whatever his name is
he certainly knows how to work a crowd.
Ah. Can't quite get my head around this.
Lex Luthor's son.
You can't get your head around it.
Yeah, but listen to these people.
He-he's got something they like.
It's money, he's throwing it at 'em.
But you're not buying.
- You are? - Clark Kent.
(Jimmy) 'Guys, it's like he said.'
It's not his fault who his father was.
I say give him a chance.
Thank you. Detective Henderson.
They've ID'd two of the bodies from the blast site.
'Both Metro Union officials.'
And the other two?
They're still...putting the pieces together.
Ah, Judas Priest.
Alright, uh, we'll see you back at the factory.
(Leslie) Lois, Clark.
You know, we never did get around to that interview.
Well, I guess we could hear your plans for LexCorp.
(Leslie) It got to be like a nightmare.
Everywhere I'd go, the second people heard my name
there'd be this look, fear, hate.
So one day, I just gave another name.
No reaction.
It was like a game at first but I felt...I don't know
'like I was getting a whole new start.'
I'll say this for him, he knows the script.
(Clark) 'So now you're rebuilding your father's empire'
essentially using the money and the resources
that he made criminally--
To serve all people, yes, Clark.
You've hit the essence of my goal.
There's still the question of the missing years
'in your background.'
Yes.
Do you care to fill us in?
Well, it's all very simple.
You see, I'm a Masai Warrior.
- Pardon? - Masai Warrior?
Good God, he's off the script.
You know, the African tribe.
[laughing] Yes, we-we know the tribe.
Just, uh, you don't seem to fit the typical..
...membership profile.
I don't like to talk about it much.
They're a people I feel a great and powerful kinship with.
Don't you have to kill a lion with your bare hands
to be one of those guys?
[sighs] Ah, yes.
Y-you did this?
It's a powerful and cleansing experience.
Oh, my God. No! No! No!
You idiot. Shut up.
And it taught me, feel...the moment.
You're losing sight of our objective.
Lois.
'Lois Lane.'
Don't speak, don't move.
'Only you can hear me.'
I see everything you see, hear everything you hear.
They're nomadic?
No, they move around a lot.
[laughing]
- Honey, you okay? - What?
(Smith) 'Tell him you're fine.'
Or I tell the world he's Superman.
- Oh, my God. - What?
'Tell him you have to go.'
Tell him you have a headache.
No.
Ohh!
Yes.
[beeping]
Lois, are you okay?
The pain can be much worse..
...and it can last far longer.
It can also kill you.
'Don't make me punish you, Lois.'
[groans]
Stand up.
I, uh..
I-I just got a headache.
Okay, uh, then we'll go.
No, tell him you need to go home and lie down.
No, uh..
...it's okay, Clark.
I just, uh, need to go home and lie down.
Honey, are you, are you sure you're okay?
Yeah, you just finish up with Lex.
[door closes]
[dramatic music]
Are you still there?
I'm here, Lois.
Oh..
[door opens]
What did you do to her?
Because of your arrogant recklessness
I have to make my move now
'so they don't find out that you're nothing'
but an ego-driven
imbecilic impostor who can't stick
'to a well-written script.'
And in case I didn't make it clear the last time
do not, for a single moment
think that your marriage to Lois is anything but a performance.
She's mine.
Don't threaten me.
You need me.
I'm you.
I don't need anyone.
And if you want me to prove that..
...keep pushing.
Now...do what you were hired to do.
Hello?
Oh, my God, I'm going nuts.
(Smith) 'No, Lois.'
'I'm sorry, I frightened you.'
And I'm sorry I had to hurt you.
It is my fondest hope that from this moment on
our relationship will be the definition of serenity.
What do you want?
'I want a great deal.'
But I'm also prepared to give a great deal.
Look, if you're trying to bully me
you picked the wrong girl.
I picked the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world.
You also picked somebody who doesn't like
being told what to do.
Believe me, I've taken that into account.
[device buzzing]
[screams]
(Lois) 'Aah!'
[rapid beeping]
(Smith) 'The pain is unbearable, isn't it, Lois?'
It's unbearable for me to see you like this.
- That's enough. - Lois..
The only reality for you now is my voice..
Cut it out.
This pain..
...and its relief.
[panting]
Now, stand up and do
exactly what I tell you when Clark walks in.
Lois?
Oh, there you are.
'How you feeling, any better?'
Clark, I-I have something to tell you.
Sure.
Are you going somewhere?
Our marriage isn't working.
What?
I'm leaving you.
I want a divorce.
[intense music]
Lois, what's going on?
I said our marriage isn't working.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
'But you're not walking out that door without telling me.'
Oh, this is magnificent.
My father only dreamt of a moment like this.
(Clark) 'Something is going on here.'
I don't what it is, but something is.
It's very simple, Clark.
I told you I'm not happy.
[sighs] So...you don't love me?
(Smith) 'No.'
- No, I don't. - Good, Lois.
Very good.
I know that was difficult for you.
But his pain is as important to me as yours.
[dramatic music]
Now, go to the door
'open it'
and tell him..
Clark..
(Lois) '...don't you or Superman follow me.'
I mean it.
If you do, you'll never see me again.
[intense music]
- Jimmy, has Lois been here? - Uh, no.
Where's Leslie or Lex, whatever his name is?
Uh, C.K., I don't know what's goin' on..
- But I'm really sorry. - Clark!
(Perry) 'What the Sam Hill is going on?'
Leslie, uh, Lex..
...he was just here, he cleaned out Lois' desk.
Said, uh..
...that she was leaving you.
- Did he? - Yeah, yeah, he did, son.
And he said that, uh..
...that she was going to marry...him.
C.K., phone for you.
- Hello. - Clark.
I'm trying to reach Superman.
I can get a message to him, Dr. Klein.
Well, first of all, I'm-I'm so grateful
he brought Carolyn up, she's, uh
she's been a huge help in all of this.
That's great. Yeah.
(Bernard) 'I think you want the inducer coil, Pumpkin.'
Thanks, honeybunch.
Dr. Klein, please.
Oh, sorry, uh, well
this is a pretty complex little device he brought me.
It receives a signal telling it to, uh
set off the explosive.
It also sends signals back
uh, acknowledging the instructions.
I, I'll have Superman call you as soon as I can find him.
'Oh, so what I'm saying is'
that if I can get this thing to transmit a-a signal
it's possible he could trace it back
to whoever set off the bomb.
Well, that's great.
Okay, thank you very much.
Jimmy, Jimmy, did Inspector Henderson
ID'd those other bodies from that explosion?
Uh, yeah, some supervisors from the LexCorp factory.
Meeting with union leaders, probably to unionize LexCorp.
Maybe somebody didn't want that to happen.
Like Lex Luthor Jr.
- Where are you going? - I'm gonna find Lois.
Look, call Dr. Klein and tell him that I wanna know
the second that that transmitter's working.
Okay.
[cork pops]
It doesn't get any more romantic than this, Lois.
I bought out the whole place..
...for us.
- Impressed? - Yes.
- I'm glad you like it.
I live to make you happy, you know that.
[instrumental music]
That's our song.
[music continues]
Dance?
Go to hell.
Aah!
[buzzing]
[groans]
Say "Yes, I'd love to."
Yes..
[buzzing continues]
...I'd love to.
[music continues]
What a perfect evening.
Just the way I always pictured it.
Do you realize we're a king and queen?
We have an empire at our feet.
We have resources without limit
our lives bounded
'only by our imaginations.'
Yes, I'm..
...beginning to see it.
It sounds wonderful.
I wish to God you'd say those words to me and mean them.
Stick to the script.
I promise you a romance unrivaled by any in history.
No God ever had a more exalted place
than yours in my heart.
Say you love me.
I..
Say it, Lois.
- I.. - Say it!
- No! - Oh, the hell with this!
[grunts]
[yells]
Did he tell you to do that?
No, that was all me.
Bring me back to the master at once.
Enough of this.
Do it!
[screaming]
[buzzing]
[Lois groaning]
[siren wailing]
Alright, stop.
[buzzing continues]
No more.
[dramatic music]
So you see, my dear, I am actually Lex Jr.
I thought a more presentable version of myself
might be appealing to you.
But, clearly, this is not working.
Let her go.
You couldn't just say your lines and collect your check.
You had to want her for yourself.
- You would have killed her. - 'Oh!'
"One must prepare to risk everything"
daddy always said.
Why do you want me?
You can force me to say things but you know I don't mean them.
But I believe things can change.
And after years without sunlight or..
....human contact..
...even I may look good.
What are you talking about?
The plan has changed.
If I can't live up there, she'll live down here.
'The empire will be headquartered here.'
And I shall rule by memoranda.
And you?
You...are...dismissed.
Okay.
Okay, uh..
This just got way out of hand.
(Leslie) 'Not so tough without this thing, are you?'
'Can't make her whimper and whisper'
sweet nothings into your ear.
Give it to me.
Come on, tough guy, come on.
How about this?
How about we let her choose?
'Lois, w-which one of us do you like better?'
No, I'll make it easier.
Which one of us doesn't make you
want to sprint to the toilet?
You ugly, revolting, rotting cadaver.
Now, you might as well let her go.
Your big ace in the hole
is about to flow into the sewer.
Give it to me.
Shoot me...and it's gone.
I'm gambling you're as empty and cowardly
as I think you are..
'...busboy.'
[intense music]
Okay, okay, d-don't shoot.
[gunshot]
[splashes]
Good help is so hard to find.
[instrumental music]
My Lois.
Don't do that.
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.
I must learn to be gentle.
I will...over time.
Lois, I can't bear this silence.
Tell me what you want me to say.
Isn't that how it works?
Oh.
You mean..
...this?
[clatters]
Tell me what you're thinking.
The truth...without reprisal.
I was thinking..
My God, what did he do to you?
- Who? - 'Your father.'
To turn you into this.
I was a bitter disappointment for my father.
I was raised alone in shadows.
But I'm not alone anymore.
You'll always be alone.
Don't waste your energy hating me.
I don't hate you.
I feel sorry for you.
Like your father, you want everything
and can give nothing.
That is what being alone is.
I could learn to love you.
You could teach me.
I can't teach you to love.
- I don't love you. - Stop it.
You've wasted all this time
thinking it's your looks that have ruined your life.
But it's not your looks, it's your soul.
- It doesn't exist. - Stop it!
You're a monster.
'Lex..'
...the most I could ever do is pity you.
[opera music]
[glass shatters]
Is the transmitter working?
Yeah, well, I hope so.
I just have to solder these two wires.
Uh, pumpkin, would you get me the soldering iron?
Sure.
Here.
Alright. Here it goes.
[transmitter buzzing]
Well?
Nothing, I don't understand.
Doc, Lois Lane's life depends on this.
Oh, honey, look.
The oscillating transponder, its polarity is reversed.
[device beeping]
- Is she great? - Uh, she's fantastic.
- Can-can we, uh.. - Oh, yeah.
[device beeping]
Latitude, 47.55
longitude, 38.69.
That's right under The Daily Planet.
Clark.
Oh, Clark..
[wall crumbles]
Clark.
Are you okay?
Smith is really Lex Luthor, not Leslie.
He's controlling my mind with some sort of device.
It's here somewhere.
(Lex Jr.) 'This what you're looking for?'
Don't even think about taking her out of here.
[screams]
- Stop! Stop! - Absolutely.
'But remember, I can kill her in an instant.'
Well, Lois in my power.
Superman held at bay.
'And the reason I'll succeed'
'where my father failed is backup.'
If one system doesn't stop you, the other will.
A force field.
If a hand so much as touches it
a bomb will explode
destroying everyone in the streets above.
Well, wouldn't your father be proud.
His son turned out to be as sick and deranged as he was.
[laughs] Thank you.
What is it that you want? Junior.
You, as my employee.
'You'll help rebuild LexCorp.'
You'll take out my enemies
or my garbage, whichever I want.
'You'll do anything I ask'
'because you're cursed with a flaw I don't have.'
You can love.
- And you love her. - I do.
I love her enough to know
that she could never exist like this.
But she will. You both will.
No...it ends here.
You think she'd be better off dead?
[dramatic music]
Lois...I think you know what I am about to do.
Yeah. I think I do.
What's going on?
Look, I'm warning you, alright, enough of this!
What have you done?
It's over.
Are you insane? You killed her.
She'd rather die than live her life as your prisoner.
And so would I.
'Oh, no..'
...you're not gonna die.
You'll live with the deaths of everyone
above us on your hands.
[grunting]
As long as I don't touch you
the bomb doesn't go off.
Do I get the rules?
And let's see where it's all controlled from.
[pounding]
Stop!
[crackling]
I'll set it off myself!
[dramatic music]
Get her out of here, Superman.
Let me just disarm the..
No!
Lois.
[explosion]
[people screaming]
[rumbling]
[intense music]
[indistinct shouting]
[grunting]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
Well, at least we know what tonight's headline is gonna be.
Huh, okay, Lois, here we go.
[instrumental music]
Come on, Lois, we've done this before.
Lois?
[dramatic music]
Come on, breathe.
Breathe.
[gasps]
[groans]
Did it.. Did it..
It worked.
It's over. It's over.
How you feeling?
- Better. - Hm.
Well, you just stay put.
I told Perry we're taking the day off.
It looks like they got the paper printed without us.
Can I make you breakfast or anything?
Well..
No, actually, I think I need you
to warm me up some more.
Okay.
You know, every time I think there is nothing more
that could possibly happen to us..
[chuckles] I know.
[sighs] I'm not gonna fight it anymore. That's us.
Our lives are just..
What? Weird?
[chuckles]
No.
Alright, come on. Our lives are just..
Oh, what's the word I'm searching for?
- 'Help! Superman!' - Oh, I know.
Um, I gotta go, someone's in trouble.
[sighs]
Perfect.
[theme music]