ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - MORNING
Lois and Clark are both working at their desks. The rest of the pit is busy,
as usual.
CLARK
(idly, while working)
So, where do you want to go for dinner
tonight?
LOIS
(also preoccupied)
Go, as in go out?
CLARK
Yeah, you know. A date. I am allowed to take
my wife on a date, aren't I?
LOIS
Well, I haven't got any objections, but you
know as well as I do that the universe doesn't
approve of us going out. Something always
happens.
CLARK
Not always--
His phone rings, cutting him off. She looks over at him and smiles at this
proof of her theory. He shrugs helplessly and picks up the phone.
CLARK
(into phone)
Clark Kent... Yes, I did... Oh really?... Thanks
for returning my call, Sergeant.
(hangs up, turns to Lois)
LOIS
(looks over from her desk)
News about Kevin?
CLARK
Yep. Seems he passed out in the patrol car,
and when he came to, in the hospital, he didn't
remember a thing.
LOIS
And you said, this morning, he seemed as if he
were in a trance--
(looks at him inquiringly)
CLARK
(nods agreement)
--or drugged. Superman asked them to take a
blood sample, and send it to S.T.A.R. labs;
with any luck Dr. Klein can find something for
us.
LOIS
Well, in the meantime, we'll have to find out all
about poor Kevin. Jimmy!
CLARK
(frowning)
Yeah... I wish I knew how to find that girl from
last night.
JIMMY OLSEN walks up during this sentence, standing next to Clark's
desk.
JIMMY
(grinning)
Hey, CK, you're not supposed to be looking for
girls, you're married now!
LOIS
(laughs)
Thanks for reminding him, Jimmy, but in this
case he's innocent.
CLARK
In this case? I'm always innocent!
LOIS
Yes, to the grave disappointment of millions,
worldwide...
CLARK
(pointedly)
So, Jimmy, what have you got on our man
Kevin?
Lois and Jimmy exchange laughing glances at Clark's discomfort, then get
back to business.
JIMMY
Not much. He's just out of college, lives in a
cheap apartment, an entry-level broker at a big
stock market-type firm.
LOIS
Not usually the type to rob a convenience
store.
CLARK
Not usually...
As Lois and Clark look at each other and shrug, we
CUT TO:
5 INT. BRIAN'S LAB - MID MORNING
The camera pans over a chemist's work shop. The desk is untidy, with
books and papers everywhere. The shelves of chemicals are neatly
labeled, with every vial and bottle in order and labeled, the work spaces
are clean and clear. In the background, through a window, we can see a
smaller office area. A small television is on a shelf, tuned to a news
program, but with the volume off. Brian is measuring liquids into a test
tube, frequently referencing the same battered notebook he had in the
store.
A door opens, and we see ANALISA PETERSON in the doorway, looking
around in disdain. She is in her early thirties, dressed very
professionally, and very pretty. She stands there for a moment. When
Brian doesn't look up, she knocks on the open door.
ANALISA
(plaintively)
Brian, where have you been?
BRIAN
(looks up, startled)
Working. Hi, Analisa.
ANALISA
But I called, and all I got was Stuart!
Brian turns back to his work, measuring and mixing liquids together in a
test tube, almost ignoring Analisa as they talk.
BRIAN
Well, I didn't say I was here, did I? I was field
testing.
ANALISA
Field testing what, exactly? Brian, you told me
that you could develop a tasteless, totally non-detectable vitamin additive. With the health-food market today, that could earn us quite a
tidy little income! So have you been working
on it or not?
BRIAN
(unapologetic)
I guess you'd have to say not. I found
something much more interesting.
ANALISA
(groans)
Brian, you've got to quit doing this. Ever since
high school, you've been so distractable!
When will you pick a goal and stick with it?
The door bangs open again, and STUART stumbles in. He's in his late
teens, very scruffy-looking.
STUART
Hey Dr. Shapiro, sorry I'm late, and I can't stay
long, I have to get to the coffee shop, but...
He cuts off in mid-ramble when he sees Analisa. He stares at her
worshipfully.
STUART
Morning, Ms. Peterson, how are you?
ANALISA
Fine. Now, Brian, darling...
She emphasizes the word "darling" and shoots a sharp glance at Stuart,
to make sure the love-sick teenager gets the point. He wilts, and goes
about his business, clattering things in the background.
ANALISA
(continued)
Brian, you've got to stay focused. This is
exactly why you lost your job at LexLabs.
Brian looks annoyed.
STUART
Hey, it wasn't Dr. Shapiro's fault that Luthor
decided to take a header off a building.
Analisa glares at him until he shrinks back off into the background.
BRIAN
Analisa, if you would like to stop repeating
ancient history just for a moment, I need to tell
you something.
ANALISA
Fine. What?
BRIAN
I've come up with something far more
interesting than vitamins. It's tasteless and
non-detectable, all right, but it's not exactly
health food.
CUT TO:
6 INT. DAILY PLANET - PIT - MORNING
Back at the Daily Planet, Clark is looking something up on the computer,
with Lois looking over his shoulder. Jimmy approaches hesitantly.
JIMMY
Uh, Clark? Could I talk to you a minute?
LOIS
Am I in the way here?
JIMMY
No! I've got a kind of a problem, and I can use
all the help I can get.
CLARK
So, what's up?
JIMMY
(nervously)
Well, see, I have a date for Saturday night,
and I'm not quite sure what to do about it, and I
figured you must be doing something right, so
maybe you could help.
LOIS
Jimmy, you've had lots of dates before, what's
different about this one?
JIMMY
It's not the date that's different... it's the girl.
Her name's Tracy, and I really like her, you
know, really really like her, but what if I don't
like her after I meet her?
CLARK
(confused)
What?
JIMMY
(sheepish)
I guess I didn't mention that I met her on the
Internet?
CLARK
No, you didn't...
JIMMY
Hey, it's not like I was trolling for girls... well,
not exactly, anyway... I was just on Usenet
talking about music, and I liked her messages.
Then we met up on the IRC and really hit it off.
Clark looks faintly baffled. He turns to Lois, but she shrugs - it's all Greek
to her.
JIMMY
(continued)
So then we were e-mailing back and forth, and
found out that we both live in Metropolis. And
she said, hey we ought to go out, and I said,
sure why not, and we set up this date, but
now...
(sighs)
CLARK
Now you're getting nervous.
JIMMY
Yeah. What if we don't get along in person?
Maybe she's got an annoying voice, or she
won't like me...
(beat)
There's no way she'll like me.
CLARK
She'll like you, Jimmy, how could she not?
JIMMY
Lots of women have managed not to like me,
CK.
PERRY
(off-stage)
Clark!! Get in here!
Clark shrugs and exits to Perry's office, leaving Lois to deal with Jimmy.
LOIS
Jimmy, she already likes you, if what you're
telling us about e-mail and I-R-whatever is
true.
JIMMY
(glumly)
Maybe.
CUT TO:
7 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
PERRY WHITE motions Clark to come into the office and shuts the door
behind him, while keeping a close eye on the newsroom.
PERRY
Has Jimmy been telling you about this girl?
CLARK
Well, yeah, actually. How did you know?
Perry dismisses the question with a wave of his hand. He's the Chief
Editor, he just knows these things.
PERRY
I want you to keep an eye on him for me. I
don't trust this Internet stuff, and this girl really
has him down for the count. I want to make
sure it doesn't turn out to be a sucker punch.
8 INT. THE DAILY PLANET - LOIS'S DESK - SAME TIME
Jimmy is continuing to ramble on, oblivious to Lois' desire to get back to
work.
JIMMY
Do you think I should wear a suit?
LOIS
(smiles)
Not if you're going to the movies.
JIMMY
(doesn't notice the joke)
Because I thought a suit would make me look
better, more successful...
LOIS
(more serious)
Jimmy. Don't try to pretend to be what you're
not... it only gets you in trouble. Believe me.
CUT TO:
9 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
CLARK
I don't know how I'm supposed to watch over
him, Chief - he's too old for a chaperon--
PERRY
Judas Priest! Haven't you ever had a sneaky
thought in your life?
Perry eyes Clark, who's looking uncomfortable and playing with his
glasses.
PERRY
(continued, relenting)
Well, ask Lois. The point is--
Through the window, Clark spots a woman entering the newsroom,
holding a bundled up apron in one hand.
CLARK
That's the girl from the bridge!
PERRY
What?
CLARK
Never mind.
Clark starts for the door, when he sees the girl approaching Jimmy. He
stops, confusing Perry, and uses his SUPERHEARING to pick up their
conversation. As he tunes in, we
CUT TO:
10 INT. DAILY PLANET - LOIS' DESK
Up close, we see that the girl is pretty, in her early twenties.
GIRL
Excuse me, are you Jimmy Olsen?
JIMMY
(confused)
Yes.
GIRL
(smiles widely)
Hi, I'm Tracy!
He looks shocked, and Lois looks very interested.
TRACY
(smile falters)
I know we weren't going to meet until Saturday,
but the waiting was driving me crazy, so I said,
what the heck, I know where he works, I mean,
you work, so why not? I just work down the
street, actually, and I came into the city early
today...
Jimmy still hasn't recovered.
LOIS
Hi, I'm Lois Lane, I work with Jimmy. He was
just telling me a little about you. You met on
the Internet, he said?
CUT TO:
11 INT. PERRY'S OFFICE
Perry and Clark are both watching the scene avidly.
PERRY
Oh, boy, I'd bet anything that's Tracy. Get out
there, Clark! And find out if she's a keeper!
With determination and no plan, Clark heads out the door, and the
camera tracks ahead of him back to the group around Lois' desk.
12 INT. DAILY PLANET - LOIS' DESK
Despite Lois' best efforts to distract her, Tracy is looking nervously at
Jimmy.
TRACY
Jimmy? Are you okay?
JIMMY
Oh! Yeah, I'm fine... Just a little surprised, is
all.
Jimmy looks down at his outfit and brushes off imaginary lint. Clark joins
the group, slipping an arm around Lois with a big smile.
CLARK
Hi, I'm Clark Kent, and I see you've met my
wife. You're Tracy, right?
Tracy nods. Jimmy looks pleadingly to Clark. He's lost, he doesn't know
what to do.
CLARK
(continued)
Tell you what. Lois and I have some time to
kill before we go over to S.T.A.R. Labs, and we
were just about to take a break...
Lois looks briefly confused, but follows his lead.
CLARK
(continued)
...so why don't you two join us? Maybe we
could go get some... ah...
He looks around for a clock - it's ten a.m. Too early for lunch.
LOIS
--some coffee!
CLARK
Yes, some coffee would be good, I think, don't
you think so, Jimmy?
JIMMY
Um, yeah, sure. Tracy?
TRACY
Well, there's the coffee shop I work at...
She holds up the bundle in her hand to show the logo of PJ's Coffee
Shoppe.
CLARK
Great! PJ's it is, then.
Clark herds the group out of the newsroom, and we
CUT TO:
13 INT. BRIAN'S LAB - MID MORNING
Brian has been showing Analisa his notes, which are spread out
everywhere. She holds up her hands impatiently.
ANALISA
(skeptical)
So what you're saying is, you can suppress a
person's free will and higher brain functions?
BRIAN
Yes, although I need more tests--
He's cut off by a resounding CRASH from the next room.
STUART
(off-stage)
Sorry!
Analisa rolls her eyes.
ANALISA
Why do you put up with that klutz, Brian? He's
useless and he's creepy.
BRIAN
Oh, no, he's not useless. Not useless at all.
Stuart comes into the shot, now marginally neater in appearance and
wearing a white apron.
STUART
I've gotta get to work, Dr. Shapiro; do you have
another batch?
Brian hands him the test tube he's been preparing, and as Stuart leaves,
the camera focuses on his uniform, clearly showing the logo of PJ's
Coffee Shoppe.
FADE OUT
END OF ACT ONE
Teaser
- Act I - Act II - Act III - Act IV