THE FOUR GREAT VILLAINS

THE FOUR GREAT VILLAINS:  

Three of these creatures are men: the fourth is a woman. She is tall and has a magnificent body which is shown to its best advantage in a Krypton outfit that reveals more than it conceals: high boots, a clinging body suit, and all shiny black. Long raven hair frames a strikingly beautiful face; her eyes are almost fiery in their grace. A woman whose beauty makes strong men weak, she is consumed by total hatred of the male sex. This is URSA.

         One of the men, who struts and swaggers like the leader, is got up in a Kryptonian version of

ultra-military attire - ­Jackboots, high collar, uniform. All this, however, is belied by his

pasty-faced, even sickly appearance. A pathological dictator, as super-Fascist whose only

quality is utter contempt for everyone but himself, whose only goal is to command a world of

inferiors. This is GENERAL ZOD.

The second man is a thin, wiry character whose face seems to be permanently contorted into a twisted, mocking grin. There is something seedy and second-rate about his appearance, even as his clothing is flashier, gaudier and, finally, more vulgar than the others. A psychopathic jokester, whose pranks and "practical jokes" are only funny to him when they cause death and suffering to others, this is JAK-EL.

The fourth member of the band is only a man to the extent that he is not an animal. A monstrous brute, his ugly face twists with violence. He does not speak but instead utters horrible animal-like growls and howls. Almost pure if, bent only on mindless destruction, he is a force of frightening evil. This is NON.

FADE IN

283     EXT. SPACE

A caped figure flies high over the United States, gaining speed as the atmosphere begins to blur into the dark. mysterious blue of space. This is SUPERAN.  
                                                                              CUT TO

         EXT. SPACE

WIDE SHOT  -  SUPERMAN, flying with the speed of light, zooms through the universe, past the moon, as the Earth grows smaller in the distance. Faster and faster he goes until he bursts through into another galaxy.

         CLOSER ON SUPERMAN  --  As he hurtles the warhead into the void of outer space.

                                                                                                   CUT TO

         EXT. SPACE

WIDE SHOT  -  As the warhead, speeding through the galaxy, EXPLODES. The closest star breaks into shooting, fiery fragments.

                                                                                                   CUT TO
 

         EXT. SPACE

ON SUPERMAN  -  As he his sent reeling through the limitless void, falling away, stunned by the explosion.

                                                                                                   CUT TO

         EXT. PHANTOM ZONE  -  SPACE

WIDE SHOT  --  The shock waves reverberate in the realms of the unknown far out in space until they meet the resistance of a great crystalline cloud  -  The Phantom Zone.

         SPECIAL EFFECT:  The crystalline cloud walls shatter.

                                                                                                   CUT TO

THE FOUR GREAT VILLAINS as they rush to the opened wall and suck in the air of

         unexpected freedom.

         As the crystal cage breaks and they rush forward into space:

                                                      JAK-EL

                                             Free!

                                                      URSA

                                             Free!

                                                      GENERAL ZOD

                                             Free!

         Non lets out a terrifying howl, like an animal who has burst its bonds.

284     The effect must be truly frightening,  as if Pandora’s box has been opened and all the plagues are unleashed on the world.

         Their horrifying faces FILL THE SCREEN with howls of glee as they drift off into space.

         HOLD ON THE IMAGE of the void of black space as. . .

         CREDITS ROLL.

         As CREDITS END. . .

                                                                                                   DISSOLVE TO

285     EXT.  SKY  -  DAY

         On a cloud bank floating peacefully in the blue sky over Earth. Suddenly it is broken with

SOUND of RUSHING FLIGHT as SUPERMAN comes diving out of it, headed for the Earth.

286     EXT. SKY – DAY

DISSOLVE TO:

On a cloud bank floating peacefully in the blue sky over earth. Suddenly it is broken with SOUND of RUSHING FLIGHT

as Superman comes diving out of it, headed for the earth.

PAN DOWN WITH him to:

287     EXT. GARBAGE DUMP - OUTSKIRTS OF METROPOLIS - DAY

A site that instantly creates the biggest contrast with the mysterious beauty of outer space that we have just seen: a city garbage dump, dotted with reeking mounds of refuse and grey smoking bonfires. For it is here, in a place as close to deserted as can be found near the great city of  Metro­polis, that Superman can land unobserved.

CLOSER ON HIM - FULL LENGTH: He lands, looking just a bit bushed from his recent

ordeal.

SUPERMAN

                                             Whew. . .

         He brushes himself off and walks OUT OF FRAME, RIGHT.

                                                                                                            CUT TO

288     EXT. SHACK - GARBAGE DUMP - DAY

         FULL SHOT: ON a beat-up, dilapidated old shack on the edge of the dump. Superman

walks behind it from LEFT. For a moment he is blocked from OUR VIEW, as CAMERA

HOLD IN PLACE. Then, emerging from RIGHT of shack, transformed into his familiar

guise of Clark Kent: suit, tie, glasses, etc.

PAN with him as Clark turns onto the dirt road and begins walking jauntily toward

Metropolis.  In b. g. the skyscrapers and bridges if the city can be SEEN.

                                                                                                   CUT TO

289     INT. CITY ROOM OF "THE DAILY PLANET" - DAY

         MED. WIDE SHOT of' Lois Lane seated at her desk, her feet up, today’s newspaper in her

lap, turning the pages and looking quite pleased with herself. DOLLY IN AT ANGLE

ENABLING US TO SEE the giant banner headline.

LEX LUTHOR”S SCHEME “BOMBS”
SUPERMAN SAVES NATION
CRIMINAL DRAWS HARSH SENTENCE

Photos and Lois' byline accompany the article. As we SEE this, we HEAR O.S. the voice of

Jimmy Olsen.

                                             JIMMY (O.S.)

                                    A great story told, by a great reporter.

CONTINUED

289     CONTINUED

         PULL BACK AND WIDEN TO INCLUDE Jimmy as Lois looks up and grins.

                                                      LOIS

                                             My mother thanks you, my father thanks you --

CLARK (O.S.)

-- and Superman thanks you.

         WIDEN MORE TO REVEAL Clark Kent who has Just come over to Join them.

                                                      CLARK

                                                      (kidding)

                                             How much does he pay you for all the P.R.

stuff you write?

         The mood between them, though light and chipper, is compli­cated. Lois is more "up" than

Clark, who seems to have a barely disguised, case of unrequited love. Odd, but true: the more

he does to make her head spin as Superman, the  less she appreciates good old Clark Kent.

                                             LOIS

                                    Ahhh, the boy reporter. Late as usual.

                                             CLARK

                   (lightly)

Stuck in traffic.

                 (gestures toward the

                    headline; a bit less airy)

Not everyone can fly, you know.

                  LOIS

                   (not unpleased)

Do I detect a note of jealousy?

                  CLARK

                     (a bit miffed)

I know I can't compete with some body who

can fry an egg by winking at it.

FAVORING LOIS -- who smiles fondly at him. Jimmy silently slips away with utmost discretion.

                                                                                          CONTINUED

289     CONITINED (2)

                                             LOIS

                                    Clark Kent, you are jealous. And it is very

becoming. I'll tell you the truth - if I hadn't

had my girlish head turned by Superman, I'd

say you were a prize catch.

                  CLARK

                 (very hopeful)

                                             Me?   

                                                      LOIS

                                             Sure. You've got everything.

         FAVORING CLARK - who smiles as. But the quickly fades as --

LOIS

                                             But nobody knows it. What good is everything if

you haven't got it together?

                 (pushing)

Do you mind if I give you some constructive

criticism?

                  CLARK

Yes.

                  LOIS

               (goes right on)

You could be a take-charge guy! All you need is a

little drive. Be aggressive. Push! Not just personally.

Professionally, too. All those chances to be a top

reporter are just waiting to be grabbed! I grab them.

                  CLARK

God knows . . .

         She rises, trying to get to him, shake him up.

                                                      LOIS

                                             You've had those chances, too! But where were

you?

                                                       (ticking off a list with

                growing impatience)

'Making a phone call.' 'In the washroom.' 'Stuck in

traffic.'

                                                               CONTINUED

289     CONTINUED (3)

                  CLARK

A charming metaphor for my life. 'Stuck in traffic.'

LOIS

                                             Well? Weave in and out, Clark!

                                                      CLARK

                                             In and out.

                                                      LOIS

                                                   (practically a

                                                     cheerleader now)

                                             Get up and go!

         ZOOM PAST THEM to the frosted glass door leading to Editor Perry White's office as the

door is swung open and an ex­cited Perry comes rushing out toward them.

PERRY

                                                   (Just as Lois

                finishes last line)

You said it!

He dashes to them. MOVE IN TO TIGHT THREE SHOT.

PERRY

Something big is breaking!

                  LOIS

A dinosaur egg?

                  PERRY

                (sarcastic as usual)

Excuse me ma’am, I hate to interrupt my star

reporters who are so busy sitting on their --

                  LOIS

                 (quick grin)

-- Laurels?  

                                                               CONTINUED

289     CONTINUED (4)

                  PERRY

Yeah, well, move your laurels down to 73rd

and Park. A gang of terrorists just seized

some cockamamie U.S. delegation!

Instantly Lois grabs her notebook and starts the elevator; Clark Kent is right with her. As the hustle off:

                                             PERRY

                                    Try and talk to them! Get an interview

                                    if you can!

ON THE ELEVATORS: One opens and they go in.

                                                                                          CUT TO

290     INT. ELEVATOR

         Indicator shows it is going down quickly.

                                                      LOIS

                                                    (a bit embarrassed)

                                             Well, that sure put an end to my pep

                                             talk.

                                                     (changing the subject)

                                             I wonder which delegation --

                                                      CLARK

                                                   (sincerely)

                                             Listen, thanks for that advice before. I

                                             mean it, Lois.

                                                      LOIS

                                             Oh. Well.

                                                    (awkward now)

                                             I didn’t mean to sound like a coach, Clark.

But that’s what friends are for.

                  CLARK

               (plaintively)

‘Friends. . . ‘

         The elevator stops; door opens. TRACKING OUT with them into --

291     INT. LOBBY - "DAILY PLANET" -  DAY

-- at a dead run for the exit, in a hurry, all emotion fighting the professional tension. TRACKING FAST.

LOIS

I don't mean I only think of you as just a

friend, Clark.

They are out the door.

                                                                                          CUT TO

292     EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF "DAILY PLANET" BUILDING - DAY

         ON them as they dash out into the street, wildly hailing a cab in the middle of a real city

traffic Jam: bumper-to ­bumper, HORNS blowing.

                                             CLARK

                 (still eagerly pursuing

                                                        her last remark)

                                             You mean . . . ?

                                                      LOIS

                                             I mean . . . in a way . . . Look, this isn't the

time or the place to -­-

         Suddenly they turn to each other with a little conspira­torial grin and, speaking almost in

unison, hit the same realisation at the same moment:

                                             CLARK AND LOIS

Stuck in traffic . . .

                                                      CUT TO

293     EXT. DELEGATION SKYSCRAPER - DAY