This is not standard procedure, Luthor.
LUTHOR.
(irritated) As far as I know you're an industrial spy and sent the bomb yourself to get into my building with no witnesses-- SERGEANT.
(furious) Are you accusing me of not doing my job!?
LUTHOR.
I have pens that cost more than you make in a week.
The two begin to argue when BYSTANDER #1 in the background looks up and points.
BYSTANDER #1.
Look! Up in the sky...
Several others look.
BYSTANDER #2.
It's a bird...
The focus shifts from LUTHOR to the sky.
BYSTANDER #3.
It's a plane.
A whisper builds through the crowd.
SUPERMAN gracefully descends to Earth, his red boots gently connecting with the pavement as his red flowing cape cascades off his shoulders and perfectly hangs from his frame. He lands on the clear side of the barricade.
He is a muscular man, 6'3" and 225 pounds. His ice blue eyes and jet black hair compliment his chiseled features. The red and yellow "S" shield covers his entire chest. He has a presence unlike any other.
LUTHOR is still ranting as the SERGEANT notices him and stops arguing.
SERGEANT.
Superman.
SUPERMAN stares at the building like he's looking through it... because he is.
SERGEANT leaves LUTHOR who isn't used to being walked away from in mid-sentence.
SERGEANT approaches SUPERMAN who is concentrating on his invisible x-ray vision.
SERGEANT.
(slightly nervous) Sir, I'm SERGEANT Pennington of the MPF Bomb Unit.
SUPERMAN stops scanning and shakes SERGEANT's hand.
SUPERMAN.
Nice to meet you, SERGEANT Pennington. There's no bomb in this building.
LUTHOR.
(screaming) How could you know that?
SUPERMAN.
I checked. There are some lead lined rooms which isn't unusual in a research facility but they're secured areas. So unless Luthor put the bomb there himself, the bomb is out here.
LUTHOR.
What? How dare you insinuate- SUPERMAN motions to LUTHOR to be quiet.
SUPERMAN.
("listening") Wait...
LUTHOR.
Do you hear your mother calling you?
SUPERMAN "listens" to the crowd. We hear what he hears. What sounds like a massive chaotic bass-heavy thumping narrows down shorter and shorter until there is one incredibly quick heartbeat.
SUPERMAN stares into the crowd looking "through" them. The crowd parts as if they know he isn't looking at them until the WOMAN from the receptionist desk is left standing alone. Her face is full of tears and she looks like hell.
SUPERMAN.
(to LUTHOR) Ex-wife?
LUTHOR.
Hardly. I pay the six of them enough money not to try a stunt like this. She's a former EMPLOYEE I had to transfer to a "less desirable position."
WOMAN.
(crying) All I wanted was to talk to you, Mister Luthor. You told me you cared and I just want one more chance. I just wanted to talk.
LUTHOR.
Did you have an appointment?
Furiously the WOMAN pulls a trigger from her pocket and rips her jacket open showing the bomb. Immediately, SUPERMAN begins to inspect it with his telescopic vision.
SERGEANT.
Hey lady! I don't know what this schmuck did to you but you're gonna kill a lot of innocent people.
LUTHOR.
Look...
MERCY leans into LUTHOR and whispers in his ear.
LUTHOR.
...Cheryl, I know there may have been some misunderstandings.
WOMAN.
Transferring me to Bludhaven is hardly a misunderstanding.
LUTHOR.
How about I'll have someone give you a call if you leave your number with- WOMAN.
I'LL GIVE YOU A NUMBER!.
THREE!.
People begin to scramble from the scene.
LUTHOR.
I can give you a promotion. Maybe move you into a nice office on the one-hundred and fourth next to the Executive Wash Room.
WOMAN.
TWO!.
People begin to knock each other over fleeing the area. The POLICE are right behind them. People take shelter behind cars and structures.
SUPERMAN is watching her, totally calm.
LUTHOR.
Five hundred percent salary increase. That oughta buy a lot of therapy.
WOMAN.
ONE!.
She presses the trigger and there is an almost inaudible click. She presses repeatedly and nothing. She looks at the trigger and in its place is a sterling silver pen. She clicks it again and the point extends and retracts. She looks down at her mid-section and there is no bomb.
SMASH CUT ACROSS TO:.
LUTHOR, SUPERMAN and SERGEANT.
They are confused except for SUPERMAN who no one notices is holding and inspecting the bomb. SUPERMAN Where did you get this? This is very impressive.
(To SERGEANT) What is this?
SERGEANT does a double take and then inspects it without touching it.
SERGEANT.
That is impressive. That is your basic Class Six explosive with a chemical balance and wire trigger. It's a common weapon used by American Militias and Querac Jihads.
(Beat) You disarm it by cutting the yellow, the pink and then the black.
SUPERMAN's irises turn red and three wires burn clean through. He hands it to SERGEANT who just stares at him in amazement.
Two OFFICERS arrest the WOMAN. As she's being taken away...
LUTHOR.
Cheryl...
She turns with hope in her eyes.
LUTHOR.
...you're fired.
She breaks free of the POLICE and lunges at LUTHOR. Stepping in the way of her charge is MERCY. With a martial arts move that appears to be one fluid motion, she drops her to the ground. POLICE gather her and take her away.
SERGEANT.
Superman, how did you know where the bomb was?
LUTHOR.
(Answering for SUPERMAN) A heartbeat has a particular rhythm that's corrupted when someone is under duress, a threatening situation or lying.
SERGEANT.
Like a polygraph.
SUPERMAN.
Exactly.