METALLO is still standing. She presses the button again. Nothing. A look of fear sweeps over her face as METALLO gently takes the box from her hands and crushes it in his fist. MERCY (Quiet) Shit.
He lifts MERCY and tosses her.
The SECURITY TEAM opens fire riddling METALLO with bullets. METALLO charges them.
SNAP CUT TO:.
INT. LUTHOR'S PENTHOUSE.
LUTHOR is in bed with another anonymous BIMBO when the videophone rings.
Annoyed, he sits and answers it. LUTHOR What?
SECURITY.
Mister Luthor, there's been a problem.
LUTHOR.
What kind of problem?
SECURITY.
You better just come down here.
CUT TO:.
INT. LEXCORP LOBBY.
LUTHOR enters what looks like a battlezone. The walls are on fire and riddled with bulletholes. There is a LEXCORP MEDICAL TEAM attending to the wounded.
Furiously, LUTHOR looks for someone to blame. SECURITY We did the best we could. We barricaded the exits to contain him.
LUTHOR.
Then where is he?
SECURITY GUARD points OFF CAMERA and LUTHOR turns as the CAMERA pans revealing a door-sized hole in the wall.
CUT TO:.
EXT. JUMPERS BRIDGE - NIGHT.
JUMPERS BRIDGE is the entrance to SUICIDE SLUM. METALLO walks across the desolate bridge, occasionally being passed by vehicles.
EXT. SUICIDE SLUM MAIN STREET NIGHT.
Despite the hour, there are people, drug dealers, gangs and hookers wandering the streets. He walks into the center of the main strip. Traffic stops around him and comes screeching to a halt. Horns start to blare and people become irate that he refuses to move. A crowd starts to gather.
A car screeches to a halt barely missing him. DRIVER WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!.
METALLO reaches under the front end of the car and flips it over landing it on its top.
People are too frightened to move but the noise stops.
His voice, which starts as a low roar and escalates without effort.
METALLO.
(Bellowing and building) GET OUT!.
CUT TO:.
EXT. SMALLVILLE GENERAL MARKET (6AM).
CLARK is getting groceries. The market owner, METCALF, spots CLARK behind the shelves. METCALF Clark? Is that Clark Kent?
CLARK.
Hi, Mister Metcalf.
Excitedly, he comes around the counter and shakes his hand.
MERCALF.
I don't think I've seen you since you went off to the big city to be reporter.
CLARK.
That's not true. You saw me last Christmas.
METCALF.
Then it just feels like forever. You know, I bet we're the only store in all of Kansas that gets the Daily Planet sent in everyday. Granted, it gets here two days late but it's the effort that counts.
CLARK.
I appreciate that.
METCALF.
Where are your folks?
CLARK.
They're probably at home. They don't know I'm here. It's kind of a surprise.
CLARK hands him some money and METCALF gives him change.
METCALF.
I get it. Mums the word. You take care.
CLARK.
I will.
EXT. GENERAL STORE - DAWN.
CLARK exits and LANA is in her truck listening to the radio, singing and tapping the steering wheel like drums. He gets in the passenger side.
CUT TO:.
EXT. APPROACHING LANA'S HOUSE - MORNING.
On the radio are SONNY & CHER. LANA is singing along. CLARK much more shy.
LANA.
(Singing) ...before it's earned our money's all been spent.
(To CLARK) Come on, Clark.
(Coaching) "Put your little hand in mine."
CLARK.
(Singing badly) Put your little hand in mine. Ain't no hill or mountain, we can't climb.
CLARK & LANA.
(Singing) Babe, I got you, babe. I got you, babe.
CLARK.
(Loosening up) I got you, babe.
LANA.
(Singing) I got you, babe.
CLARK.
If you've got me, who's got you?
LANA laughs.
LANA.
(Singing) I got you, babe.
The car pulls into her driveway. CLARK carries the groceries inside as LANA is still humming the song.
CUT TO:.
INT. LANA'S KITCHEN.
CLARK puts the groceries up while LANA turns on the television. Her humming stops. Without being called, CLARK comes out of the kitchen.
On the television is a LIVE broadcast of Metropolis where a city block has been devastated. Behind the reporter are barricades and what looks like hundreds of POLICE in riot gear swarming into the area. In the center of it all is METALLO. REPORTER (VO) ...don't understand. We're a safe distance but that's uncertain since Metallo has been seen to toss various debris, some the size of cars, several blocks...
LANA changes the channel and the same scene is shown from a helicopter POV.
REPORTER (VO).
...just tuning in, Metallo, who only days ago prevented a meltdown and saved hundreds of thousands of lives in Metropolis' Suicide Slum, came in this morning and ordered, repeat ordered, it's citizens to evacuate as he then took over the fifteen square mile project...
She changes the channel again.
REPORTER (VO).
...declared Suicide Slum his property and said, and we quote, "whoever wants it can come and get it," and then forced its inhabitants out of their homes...
Another channel.
REPORTER (VO).
...luckily, most of the people in the area have not returned since the nuclear scare days ago...
Another channel.
REPORTER (VO).
...Berkowitz has called in the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit and is in contact with the Governor requesting National Guard assistance in the absence of Superman...
The CAMERA is close on CLARK's stunned face and then pans forward revealing LANA looking at him.
CLARK.
I have to go.
LANA.
Why does it always have to be you, Clark?
CLARK.