INT. CLARK KENT'S APARTMENT.
CLARK, shirtless and in sweatpants, is sleeping alone. In the back of his head, he can hear muffled voices. His eyes flutter beneath his closed lids until the voice becomes clear: VOICE (OS) --has ruptured and reached threatening levels in the Suicide Slum borough of Metropolis- CLARK shoots upright and darts into the living room where the CAMERA centers in on a television tuned to Metropolis' 24 hour news network WGBS. The volume is almost inaudible making the ANCHOR appear to be moving her lips without sound.
As the CAMERA pans back out, CLARK's pajamas are on the floor where he was standing. In the background there is an open window with curtains waving from the night air.
CUT TO:.
EXT. SUICIDE SLUM - NIGHT.
Panic in the streets as people try to evacuate the area. Cars are gridlocked and the monorails overrun as people force themselves inside pressing the already overcrowded cars tighter. A small RIOT has broken out with people looting while others are trying to escape the slum.
In a blur, SUPERMAN passes overhead straight for the power plant. People stop in their tracks behave themselves reminded there will be consequences for their actions.
INT. POWER PLANT.
Employees are fleeing when SUPERMAN flies through the open doors and over the evacuees. He hits the corners at top speed making virtual 90 degree turns.
INT. CORE MONITORING STATION.
SUPERMAN appears in a room full of harried MEN in radiation containment suits trying unsuccessfully to control the problem. SUPERMAN Gentlemen...
SUPERVISOR #3.
Thank God, you're here, Superman. We've lost control of the fail-safes and the core is ruptured. We'll reach a red zone in less than ten minutes.
SUPERMAN.
What do you need me to do?
SUPERVISOR #1.
The core functions with Uranium 238 rods surrounded with water-- SUPERMAN.
--Creating steam which powers turbines creating the electricity.
(Beat) I really haven't got time for the science lesson.
SUPERVISOR #1.
(Stunned) The containment systems and backup systems have gone off-line.
SUPERMAN.
How old is this plant?
SUPERVISOR #1.
It was built in 1984.
SUPERMAN.
Then I assume you're using Barium and lead shielding to contain the radiation?
SUPERVISOR #1.
Yes. If you can manually force the fail-safe shields back into place we can control the rupture from here. If not, radioactive steam forces the chamber to depressurize and there are going to be a lot of dead people in this city.
SUPERMAN.
Not tonight.
(Leaving) Yell when the shields are in place. I'll be listing for you.
INT. NUCLEAR CORE.
SUPERMAN enters the core and begins to push the shields into place.
INT. CORE MONITORING STATION.
The men are watching his progress on a series of monitors. One of the graphics representing a shield slides into place. SUPERVISOR #3 He's doing it!
SUPERVISOR #1.
This is amazing! Nobody can survive that much radiation!
SUPERVISOR #3.
Come on. Come on.
A few more lights go positive on the monitor and one gets halfway into place and stops.
SUPERVISOR #2.
What happened?
SUPERVISOR #1.
Maybe the radiation got to him?
SUPERVISOR #2.
No. The computer must be malfunctioning from the heat.
SUPERVISOR #3.
That's not possible.
SUPERVISOR #3 panics and hits the panels and nothing changes.
There is a long silence and nothing. Suddenly the monitors show the panels being slid into place.
The men cheer. The computer returns to its normal mode. The disaster averted.
CUT TO:.
EXT. SUICIDE SLUM STREET - NIGHT.
The sirens stop and people begin to cheer and shout SUPERMAN's name and praises.
CUT TO:.
INT. NUCLEAR CORE ENTRANCE.
The three MEN rush to the entrance and two of them pull the vault-like door open as a figure steps from the core. SUPERVISOR Thank God, Superm- SUPERVISOR stops in mid-sentence. The figure steps into the light and it's METALLO. In his arms is SUPERMAN. His face pale and body limp. His uniform is darkened and tattered.
FADE TO BLACK:.
VARIOUS TELECASTS.
There is a slow fade in from black with voices becoming clear before the image. The following series of telecasts blend into each other between scenes of them being watched by people worldwide. ANCHOR #1 ... conflicting reports from around the globe...
A couple watching TV in the morning. The WIFE stops in the middle of making breakfast to listen.
ANCHOR #2.
... of a near-nuclear meltdown in Metropolis...
Crowds of people gather in an airport around a television.
ANCHOR #3.
... at 3am this morning...
Inmates at Blackgate Maximum Security Prison are quiet in the cafeteria...
ANCHOR #4.
... sources are unable to clarify the cause of the accident...
Generals gathered at the Pentagon watching of massive screens. Astronauts in the space shuttle listen.
ANCHOR #5.
... but what is known at this time is Superman appeared...
A young red-haired woman with glasses in a wheelchair behind a several dozen computer monitors in a state-of-the-art information center.
ANCHOR #6.
... and attempted to shut down the reactor...
Children watching televisions in classrooms.
ANCHOR #7.
... other details are sketchy...
ANGELA CHEN and the other members of the WGBS television station.
ANCHOR #8.
... some stating Superman was unable to contain the leakage...
GUARDS and DOCTORS at Arkham Asylum.
ANCHOR #9.
... and was assisted by Metallo, another hero who appeared in Metropolis several weeks ago...
METROPOLIS MAYOR FRANK BERKOWITZ and DEPUTY MAYOR MICHAEL WALKER.
ANCHOR #1.
... and has since built a very loyal following...
PERRY WHITE and other members of the DAILY PLANET listen.
ANCHOR #11.
... among these rumors are Metallo rescued a fallen Superman from the destructive core...
LEX LUTHOR in his bedroom with a marvelous view of the city. In the bed is one of his various BIMBOS filing her nails while LUTHOR concentrates on the telecast from wall of televisions which combine making a single image.
ANCHOR #12.
...and another disturbing piece, that we would like to stress has not been confirmed or denied is...
MA and PA KENT holding each other's hands, each filled with dread.
ANCHOR #13.
...Superman is dead.
SLOW FADE TO BLACK AND THEN SNAP TO:.
INT. STAR LABS.
PROFESSOR EMIL HAMILTON is barely awake. He's been working non-stop and it's taken its toll on him. In the background is an EKG machine with an extremely slow heartbeat. The pattern skips a beat and catches the next one. The pattern quickens and becomes irregular.