This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. 
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express 
written permission of the author.

FINAL DRAFT. ANIMATION.
JULY 5TH. 2003.

                           S U P E R M A N
                              THE ARENA


                        STORY BY Matthew Fisher and Frank Saunders
 
                            SCRIPT BY Matthew Fisher
                            SolidSnake26301@aol.com 

PRE-CREDIT SEQUENCE                                  
SCENE 001-EXT. APOKOLIPS - NIGHT

We PAN across APOKOLIPS, which is littered with SKELETONS and BODIES. All of 
which were the victims of DARKSEID, the evil ruler of Apokolips. We come to a 
STOP on a balcony overlooking the planet. We see DARKSEID himself. He turns, 
walks into his lair and looks ahead to BRAINIAC.
  
DARKSEID
So you understand?

BRAINIAC
Sure, but why should I even do it?

DARKSEID
If you bring me Superman, you need not worry about him again. The lack of his 
protection means the domination of Metropolis. Bring. Me. Superman.

SCENE 002-EXT. METROPOLIS - DAY
 
A sunny day in METROPOLIS. All seems peaceful. Quiet. But suddenly, a FIGURE 
is knocked back and crashes into a large building. As the rubble falls from 
the indent in the building, the MAN OF STEEL, SUPERMAN, falls out and lands on 
the ground. He looks up and sees Brainiac in front of him. As Brainiac goes in 
to plant a kick, Superman grabs his foot and pushes him away. As Superman 
stands, Brainiac runs in and rams his shoulder into him. He holds Superman up 
by his costume.

BRAINIAC
Do you have a last wish, Kal-El? Make it a quick one.

Superman cocks his elbow back and slams it deep into Brainiac's skull. As 
Brainiac stumbles back in pain, Superman shoots a stream of heat vision and 
knocks Brainiac back. As Brainiac stands, Superman runs in and rams his 
shoulder into him to knock him back. Brainiac stands and rushes at Superman 
with anger.

BRAINIAC 
I'll crush you where you stand!

Superman flies forward, hands stretched forward and collides with Brainiac, 
who flies back and lays motionless. As Superman stands for a moment, SQUAD 
CARS pull up and MAGGIE SAWYER exits one while her men take Brainiac away. 
Maggie walks up to Superman.

MAGGIE
Why was Brainiac here?

SUPERMAN
Got me. 

MAGGIE
Could it have something to do with Parasite? He was at this exact spot last 
week.

SUPERMAN
I noticed that.

MAGGIE
Think it's connected?

SUPERMAN
It's a coincidence, Maggie, trust me.

MAGGIE
Yeah.

Maggie looks back to the officers taking Brainiac away.

SUPERMAN
But if it is connected...

She looks back to Superman.

SUPERMAN
...we may have a problem.

Superman darts off into the sky. 

DISSOLVE TO:
MAIN TITLE SEQUENCE.

SCENE 003-INT. DARKSEID'S LAIR

Darkseid paces back and forth as he speaks outloud to himself.

DARKSEID
Parasite failed. Brainiac failed. So I guess I'll have to succeed where they 
have not. 

He presses a button that brings up a large board from the ground. The words 
"GRAMATIX EXPERIMENT" are written in a BOLD RED above an outline of an arena 
of sorts. 

DARKSEID
Of course...Gramatix. That will be the death of him. 

SCENE 004-INT. DAILY PLANET. PERRY'S OFFICE

PERRY WHITE sits at his desk, LOIS LANE sits across from him. 

LOIS
I can't do it, Perry. There's just no way I can get out of this.
                    
PERRY
Can't get out it? C'mon Lois, how imporant could a date with Bruce Wayne be? 
Even if it gets serious, long distance relationships don't work. 

CLARK KENT enters.

CLARK
Here are those reports you wanted, Perry.

PERRY
You agree with me don't you Kent?

CLARK
On what?

PERRY
I need Lois to go with me to the journalist convention this month.

CLARK
Y'know Lois, I'm sure you could break a date with Bruce Wayne, he's probably 
got a million of 'em lined up.

LOIS
How did you know I had a date with him from all the way out there?

Clark responds as he exits.

CLARK
The grapevine.

SCENE 005-INT. DARKSEID'S LAIR(APOKOLIPS)

Darkseid continues to peice his plan together. As he walks past a table, he 
stops and looks down at a small chest. He opens it to reveal a stone of 
Kryptonite. He holds it tightly with glee at the thought of the death of 
Superman.

SCENE 006-INT. DAILY PLANET

STEADY ON THE TV INSIDE THE PLANET. 

JANET WESTWOOD reports the news of Brainiac and Superman's fight.

JANET
I'm Janet Westwood with channel 6 news. Earlier today, a fight erupted between 
Superman and Brainiac in downtown Metropolis, causing destruction to the 
Siegel and Shuster manufacturing company. What's strange is that Parasite, 
another one of Superman's foes, was defeated by the Man of Steel earlier in 
the month. Wether this is connected remains unclear. That's all for now, back 
to you in the studio.

PAN AWAY FROM THE TV AS:

Lois steps away from it.

LOIS
That's what happens when you send a superhero to do the job, they tear the 
place up.

JIMMY OLSEN steps into the conversation.

JIMMY
Think of it another way, Lois, if Superman hadn't showed up, who knows what 
would've happened.

LOIS
The police could've handled it.

JIMMY
You sure do pick on Superman a lot.

LOIS
I'm not picking on him, I'm just...criticizing him. If he can't take a little 
constructive criticizm, then maybe he shouldn't be a superhero. Right Clark?

CLARK
Who says he can't take it?

Lois smirks sarcastically.

SCENE 006-EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - DAY

All seems quiet until a portal opens and Darkseid's minions run rampant.

SCENE 007-INT. DAILY PLANET

Daily Planet reporters watch from the large window.

LOIS
What's Darkseid doing here now? First Parasite, then Brainiac, now Darkseid? 
Are you seeing this Clark?

Clark doesn't respond.

LOIS
(turning around)
Clark?

SCENE 008-EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - DAY

Darkseid emerges from the portal and shouts.

DARKSEID
Where does your protector dwell? Where is Superman?!

Superman's voice comes in from behind.

SUPERMAN
Right here Darkseid.

Darkseid turns as Superman flies toward him. Darkseid rears back and slams his 
fist into Superman. As Superman flies back, Darkseid prepares the stone of 
Kryptonite in his other fist. Superman flies toward him again and Darkseid 
hurls the Kryptonite forward. It connects with Superman and he falls to the 
ground. As the silence ensues, Darkseid motions with his hand to his minions. 
They pick Superman up and enter the portal as Darkseid fires a blast of energy 
from his eyes into the top of a building. The rubble falls down and just 
misses a few pedestrians.

SCENE 009-INT. GRAMATIX ARENA

A CRANE lowers down holding Superman. Darkseid, who is standing in front of a 
podium, snaps his fingers and Superman is dropped down to the pit of the 
arena. 

DARKSEID
Wake him up.

Darkseid's minions wake him up. Superman, confused, looks around.

DARKSEID
Superman...

Superman looks up and sees Darkseid.

DARKSEID
This...is Gramatix. It's an arena of sorts, similar to that of the gladiator 
days. Instead of large cities for epic battles, I've chosen a smaller and more 
effective place. A place where not only does death knock at your door 
consantly, but you are also quite constricted. Here, you cannot fly as high as 
you would like. Here, the fences are laced with Kryptonite. Should you try you 
escape, you will be immobilized quickly. Superman, son of Jor-El, you will 
make a worthy opponent. Let us begin.

From the other end of the arena, a large door slides open and the huge 
creature known as the GORNALLA appears and runs at Superman. The Gornalla 
misses his target as Superman flies up above it. The Gornolla swats at 
Superman as he flies at it and slams into it with two outstretched fists. The 
Gornalla flies back as Superman rams into it again. It falls with a thunderous 
crash.

SUPERMAN
Is that all you've got, Darkseid?

DARKSEID
You've only hit the tip of the iceberg, Superman. What you just faced was a 
test, a preliminary bout to determine your prowess within Gramatix.

SUPERMAN
Bring everything you've got.

Suddenly, the eight-legged spider-type creature known as the LYNCH appears. It 
leaps up and pins Superman down, ready to strike. Superman fires his heat 
vision up into the Lynch's chest. It stumbles back in pain as Superman gives 
it a punch and takes it down for good. 

DARKSEID
Ok, fun's over, time for the real fight. 

Darkseid snaps his fingers and Superman is dropped into the lower part of 
Gramatix. Darkseid takes an elevator to the pit of the arena and looks to the 
spectaters.

DARKSEID
Unfortunately, the rest of Superman's fate inside Gramatix will be decided in 
the areas that are not big enough for crowds. So I give you a live-video feed 
of what's going on with Superman.

On the feed, Superman walks through the ankle-high sewage water of the dingy 
area. 

WE GO INTO THE FEED AS:

A dog-like creature known as a FARIN jumps at Superman. It bites into him, 
forcing Superman to hurl it forward into the wall ahead. It slumps to the 
ground.

SCENE 010-INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE

Perry slams a newspaper on his desk.

PERRY
Tell me Lois, why do you think the Planet is responsible for the disappearance 
of Superman?

LOIS
What?

PERRY
You say in this story that the Planet may have been somehow connected to 
Superman being taken by Darkseid. Why is that?

LOIS
I didn't say it was directly responsible, I just said it was weird that it 
happened here.

PERRY
Well, you'll just reprint it so it doesn't say that.

LOIS
What? No way, Perry.

PERRY
If you don't, then you better start--

Lois finishes the sentace for him.

LOIS
--looking for a new job. I get it.

Lois sighs and begins to walk out.

PERRY
Kent...

LOIS
What?

PERRY
Get Kent in here.

LOIS
I can't.

PERRY
Why?

LOIS
I don't know where he is.

Perry pauses in frustration.

PERRY
Look for him...then reprint it.

SCENE 011-INT. LOWER AREAS(GRAMATIX)

A two-legged lizard creature known as a SHAKAL slams Superman into the wall. 
It's razor-sharp fangs drip with saliva as it scratches it's claw into 
Superman, ripping his costume and bringing blood to the surface. Superman 
punches the Shakal again and again, ducking each swat it takes at him and 
finally knocks it down for good. Superman continues his trek through the area.

SCENE 012-EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - DAY

A group of pedestrians watch a news report from the front of the Daily Planet. 
Janet Westwood stands in front of the camera.

JANET
Hello I'm Janet Westwood with channel 6 news. It seems that Superman has been 
captured by the being known as Darkseid. It happened here, right in front of 
the Daily Planet. Many people saw it, and were taken by surprise when Superman 
was defeated rather quickly.

Lois exits the Daily Planet and gets into her car as Janet turns to an elderly 
man.
    
JANET
You sir...

ELDERLY MAN
Yes?

JANET
You were there when Superman was captured correct?

ELDERLY MAN
That's right.

JANET
And what did you see?

ELDERLY MAN
Well, I don't know how to explain to ya what it was. It was like some kinda 
time poral, ya know? Then all these funny lookin' critters popped out and 
started runnin' all over the place.

JANET
And what happened to Superman?

ELDERLY MAN
Oh I don't know.

JANET
So you didn't see what happened to Superman?

ELDERLY MAN
Well...uh...no...

A pause.

JANET
Thank you sir.

He walks off as Janet turns to the camera.

JANET
So many are wondering. When will Superman come back? Will he come back? All we 
can do is wait.

SCENE 013-INT. LOWER AREA(GRAMATIX)

Superman comes to a split hallway, one part going left, the other going right. 
He takes the right hallway and comes to a room full of small flying creatures 
known as LARKS. They crowd Superman as he stumbles back and fries three of 
them with his heat vision. The remaining six continue to fly around him as 
Superman backhands another three and they splat against the wall. The other 
three begin to spit a burning acid, just missing Superman and melting away a 
peice of the area. Superman runs forward and rolls to duck the acid. He comes 
up and smashes into two of them with his fist. The last one panics and flies 
off. 

SCENE 014-INT. METROPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Maggie Sawyer exits her office as Lois trails behind her.
 
MAGGIE
I'm sorry Lois, but he has to be missing for 48 hours before I can call a 
search.

Lois sighs.

LOIS
Why?

MAGGIE 
That's just the way it is. I'm worried about Clark too, but it's a rule I 
can't break.

LOIS
He could be hurt.

MAGGIE
Noted, but I just can't call a search unless he's been missing for 48 hours. 
No way around it.

A pause.

MAGGIE
Now if you'll excuse me.

Maggie walks toward the front desk as Lois sighs in frustration.

SCENE 015-INT. FACTORY

Superman plows through the wall and looks around. Darkseid's voice comes 
through the speakers planted inside.

DARKSEID
Superman, I see you've found my abandoned factory. This place once shipped 
spare ship parts to the planet of Mixix IV, but the leader there didn't 
understand compromise. But enough about that, I'm sure you want to get to the 
surface.

Suddenly, a large flying creature known as a MANDRAL flies out and slams 
Superman into the wall with it's leg. It screeches loudly as Superman fights 
for his life.

DARKSEID
Disgusting creature isn't it, Superman? The Mandral has a grip that would kill 
an ordinary human, but I'm sure you can find a way out.

Superman knees the Mandral in the gut and punches it back. Superman takes a 
peice of rusted metal from the factory and knocks the Mandral back. It colides 
with the wall, breaks through and falls to the ground. Suoerman looks up the 
the top and sees a door marked "Engine Room".

SCENE 016-EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Lois' car pulls up and she exits.

SCENE 017-INT. THIRD FLOOR

Lois comes to Clark's apartment and knocks--nothing. 

LOIS
Clark?

No response. She takes out her cell-phone and calls Clark's number. It rings 
from inside, but still no response.

LOIS
(to herself)
Clark where are you?

SCENE 018-INT. ENGINE ROOM

Superman comes through and looks ahead as Darkseid enters from the other door.

DARKSEID
Superman, you have fought my creations in a way I did not expect. 

SUPERMAN
Get me out of here, Darkseid.

DARKSEID
And if I do, then what? You'll go back and protect that worthless city known 
as Metropolis. I just can't understand that. You have extraordinary powers, 
ones that mortal men dream of. You are an extremely powerful being, yet you 
use your powers to protect the useless? Why, Superman? Why do you feel the 
need to protect a race that is beneath you?

SUPERMAN
Because...

A pause.

DARKSEID
You don't have an answer do you? Because there is no answer to that question. 

Darkseid circles Superman as he speaks.

DARKSEID
Join me Superman. Imagine what we could do, what kind of destruction we could 
bring on Metropolis. And they wouldn't even see it coming. 

A silence.

DARKSEID
I've seen it in you, Superman. You want to destroy...

SUPERMAN
No...

DARKSEID
You want to cause utter carnage--chaos, panic...

SUPERMAN
No...

DARKSEID
All you need do...is join me...

SUPERMAN
NO!

Superman runs at Darkseid but is quickly knocked back by a shot from 
Darkseid's fist. 

DARKSEID
Pathetic fool...

SCENE 019-EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Lois sits in her car and calls what was supposed to be her date, Bruce Wayne.

LOIS
Yeah I can't make it tonight, Bruce.

BRUCE
Any reason? Well if you don't mind my asking...

LOIS
Well, a friend of mine is missing and I'm trying to find him.

A pause.

LOIS
I'm really sorry.

BRUCE
No it's not a problem, Lois. We'll just reschedule for another time.

LOIS
Right. Sorry again.

BRUCE
Don't be. 

LOIS
Well...bye.

BRUCE
Bye. 

Lois hangs up, disappointed, and drives off.

SCENE 020-INT. WAYNE MANOR, LIVING ROOM

Bruce sits in his chair and hangs the phone up. His butler, ALFRED PENNYWORTH, 
enters from the other room.

ALFRED
Shall I press your best suit, sir?

BRUCE
You'd better put it away and exchange it for the other suit, Alfred.

ALFRED
Sir?

BRUCE
Lois just called and broke the date.

ALFRED
Any reason?

BRUCE
Something about a missing friend. I wonder if she could mean Clark?

Bruce ponders this.

SCENE 021-INT. ENGINE ROOM

Superman lays there as a hole is punched through the roof and a cable falls 
down, wrapping around Superman and pulling him up to the roof.

SCENE 022-EXT. ROOF OF GRAMATIX(APOKOLIPS) - NIGHT

We CUT UP TO THE ROOF as Superman's body comes through the hole and lands on 
top. He looks ahead just as the cable unwraps from him and flies back into the 
wristband of VERIDAL. He has knives attatched to his forearms and blades on 
his elbows. Superman stands and flies toward Veridal as he hurls knives at 
him. The knives just shatter upon impact with Superman. A punch connects and 
Veridal flies back, landing hard. As Superman runs in, Veridal flips up and 
kicks Superman in the jaw. Superman looks up from the ground as Veridal walks 
toward him. 

VERIDAL
Darkseid was right...you're pathetic...

Superman rises from the ground and punches Veridal back. He continues to lay 
punches into him, gradually taking him back. One last punch  sends Veridal 
away and into the deep abyss of Apokolips. Superman turns as Darkseid stands 
behind him.

DARKSEID
That was an incredible victory, Superman.

SUPERMAN
I don't want your congratulations. You've proved your point, Darkseid. 

A pause.

DARKSEID
Tell me Superman, have you ever wondered about another?

SUPERMAN
Another?

DARKSEID
Yes. Another surviving Kryptonian.

SUPERMAN
There is no other.

DARKSEID
Oh but I'm afraid there is. I found him on the outstretches of the planet 
Zardol, just 70 light years away from where Krypton once was. 

Superman is dumbfounded.

SUPERMAN
How did he--

DARKSEID
--get here? Your guess is as good as mine, but perhaps Jor-El wasn't the only 
one to believe in Krypton's impending doom. And to think, you could have been 
the last son of Krypton. Hm, I guess not.

A silence.

DARKSEID
Would you like to meet him? He's waiting to meet you.

Darkseid fires a beam of energy from his eyes and knocks Superman down.

SCENE 023-INT. GRAMATIX

Superman stands at the pit of the arena as Darkseid stands in front of the 
podium.

DARKSEID
Superman, in a few moments, Tel-Zar will come for you. When he beats you, and 
he will, I will take your body to the highest building in Metropolis and drop 
it to show the people there just what kind of a hero you are. There is 
something about Tel-Zar you should know. When I found him, I was able to 
extract the weakness that Kryptonians share.

Superman realizes what Darkseid is talking about.

DARKSEID
That's right. He has no weakness, nothing can destroy him. Kryptonite has no 
effect whatsoever. You can't possibly win, Superman.

A pause as the door at the end of the arena slides open and TEL-ZAR steps out. 
After a moment, he flies forward at an incredible speed and collides with 
Superman. Superman slams into the fence hard and reacts to the Kryptonite on 
it. Superman stands and sees no sign of Tel-Zar. He turns just as Tel-Zar 
fires heat vision at him. Superman flies up as Tel-Zar continues to fire, 
missing each time. Superman flies down and plants an shot into Tel-Zar's jaw. 
He slams his fist into Tel-Zar again. Tel-Zar catches himself in mid-fall and 
hovers below Superman.

TEL-ZAR
Is that all you can dish out? I'm very disappointed.

Tel-Zar flies up, grabs Superman's wrist and kicks him away into the fence. 
Superman falls and lies motionless. Tel-Zar floats to the ground and looks at 
the spectaters.

TEL-ZAR
Kal-El is defeated!

They begin to cheer but stop, gasping. Tel-Zar, confused, turns just as 
Superman plows into him. As Tel-Zar stands, Superman fires a stream of heat 
heat vision. Tel-Zar rises, but is knocked back again by heat vision. Superman 
slowly walks forward and fires a steady stream of heat vision into Tel-Zar. As 
he screams in pain, Superman stops abruptly.

SUPERMAN
No! I won't kill him!

Superman looks up.

SUPERMAN
I won't kill him, Darkseid. You'll have to get your kicks somewhere else.

Superman picks up Tel-Zar's body and flies up to the control room. He lays 
Tel-Zar's body down and looks at Darkseid with rage.

DARKSEID
That was quite an honerable thing to do, Superman. I really must commend that. 

A tense silence ensues as Superman and Darkseid stare each other down. After a 
moment, Darkseid makes the first move and fires a beam of energy. Superman 
flies back and lands in the pit of the arena. As he lays there, Darkseid takes 
the elevator down and fires energy into Superman again.

DARKSEID
You've lost Superman.

He continues to rain energy upon Superman. Superman screams in immense pain 
until a stream of heat vision flies in from the side and knocks Darkseid back 
a bit. Darkseid looks up as Tel-Zar floats down to Superman's body.

TEL-ZAR
Enough Darkseid!

He checks on Superman as a fit of rage comes over Darkseid.

DARKSEID
You ignorant fool! Don't you realize that you're better than him? You should 
have been the one to protect Earth. 

TEL-ZAR
I can't change the past...but I can stop the future.

Tel-Zar guns for Darkseid, but is destroyed within a matter of seconds. Only a 
crater sits where Tel-Zar once was. As Superman rises, Darkseid opens a portal 
into Metropolis.

DARKSEID
If you want to finish this, follow me!

Darkseid jumps into the portal as Superman gives chase.

SCENE 024-EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - DAY

The portal opens as Superman and Darkseid fly out. They tumble away from each 
other and rise.

DARKSEID
You're an amazing specimen, Superman. You really are incredible. The pain that 
you are able to withstand would easily kill a normal man, but you...

Darkseid walks around Superman as the pedestrians on the street stare in awe.

DARKSEID
...you can withstand a great deal of pain that seems utterly impossible to 
take. It's one of the reasons I'm so fascinated by you. 

From around the coner comes Lois' car. It slows to a stop as Lois speaks 
outloud to herself.

LOIS
What the...?

Superman sees the energy charging in Darkseid's eyes and screams.

SUPERMAN
No!

He runs forward and takes the beam himself. As Superman lays there, Darkseid 
smiles evily.

DARKSEID
Nothing has changed. Still taking the hits for these...pathetic creatures. 

Superman flies up from the ground and punches Darkseid. He drives Darkseid 
back, but is stopped as Darkseid grabs his fist and punches Superman a great 
distance. Darkseid fires a beam of energy from his eyes and brings the rubble 
from a building crashing down on Superman. 

DARKSEID
Oh how the mighty rise, and how the mighty fall...
 
Superman busts out from the rubble and collides with Darkseid. He punches him 
three times before Darkseid grabs his hand and flings him up into the air. 
Superman's legs connect with the top of a building, forcing him to flip up and 
land hard on the top of the building and crash through it. At the bottom, 
Darkseid holds Superman up by his costume.

DARKSEID
The son of Jor-El has disgraced his father's name. 

Superman sees the energy charging in Darkseid's eyes and fires his heat vision 
directly into the energy. The heat vision pushes the energy back and explodes 
in a violent manner. Darkseid is knocked back with tremendous force and slams 
into a building with a loud thud. The rubble falls and buries Darkseid. In the 
silence, Superman looks to see if Lois is alright and takes off into the sky.

SCENE 025-EXT. METROPOLIS SKYLINE - NIGHT

PANNING SHOT as the day passes in Metropolis.

SCENE 026-EXT. FIFTH DIMENSIONAL UNIVERSE - NIGHT

We PAN across and see a figure known as MR. MXYZPTLK. He giggles with glee as 
he stands next to Tel-Zar, who is alive and well, sent to the fifth dimension 
by Darkseid.

MXYZPTLK
Darkseid has made a very large error. His blast of energy did not kill you, it 
only sent you here--to the fifth dimension. Home to Mr. Mxyzptlk. 

TEL-ZAR
I'm in...the fifth dimension?

MXYZPTLK
Exactly. And I want to ask a favor of you.

Tel-Zar doesn't respond.

MXYZPTLK
I can just see the headlines, Superman killed by Tel-Zar; the new protector of 
Metropolis!

SCENE 027-INT. PERRY WHITE'S OFFICE

Perry sits at his desk, somewhat worried about Clark.

LOIS
I looked everywhere, Perry. No sign of him anywhere. I even went by his 
apartment.

Clark enters, fully healed.

LOIS
Clark!

CLARK
Sorry about just vanishing Perry, I came down with the worst case of the 
stomach flu and had to go home.

LOIS
But I came by your apartment, Clark.
 
CLARK
Oh...well it was so bad, I probably didn't even hear the knock.

PERRY
Well don't just run out on us again, Kent. You missed a pretty big story.

CLARK
That's usually my luck.

LOIS
It's pretty creepy how you and Superman disappeared at the same time. 

A reporter from outside shouts in.

REPORTER
Hey! It's Superman!

Clark, interested, runs out. Perry and Lois follow.

SCENE 028-INT. DAILY PLANET, FRONT OFFICE

Everyone looks out and sees a FIGURE FLYING IN THE SKY. But this is not 
Superman, it is Tel-Zar.

LOIS
Hm, I guess I was wrong about you, Clark.

CLARK
(side-tracked)
Yeah...I guess so.

SCENE 029-EXT. METROPOLIS STREETS - DAY

As the police try to fix the situation, Darkseid's hand slowly rises from the 
rubble. 

SCENE 030-EXT. DAILY PLANET, ROOF - DAY

The wind blows as Superman stands on the edge, overlooking the city and 
watching it rest. BATMAN'S voice comes in from behind.

BATMAN
Clark...

He turns.

SUPERMAN
Bruce? What are you doing here?

BATMAN
Lois said a friend of her's was missing, it didn't take long for me to figure 
out who she meant.

SUPERMAN
It was Darkseid.

A pause.

SUPERMAN
What he said scared me.

Batman is curious.

SUPERMAN
He asked me why I protect a race that's beneath me. Why do I protect something 
I could easily destroy. Why do I, Bruce?

BATMAN
Just be happy that you don't have someone to avenge. I'll be stuck with this 
burden the rest of my life, but you...you can quit anytime you want. 

SUPERMAN
I can't quit. I need to protect this city...if I don't...no one will. You've 
got it wrong, Batman. No one asked you to become Batman, you did it because 
you thought you had to. Me...I was thrown into this planet. It's 
funny...people call me Superman, but the minute I was thrown onto Earth, I 
caused plenty of pain and misery.

BATMAN
I thought that way too at one time. When I first became Batman, I wasn't sure 
of how long I was going to do it. I expected a couple years at most, but I 
found out that I can't quit. The only time I can is when I avenge those who 
meant the most to me--the ones who cared for me before anyone else did.

A silence.

SUPERMAN
Well, all I know for sure is that from here on, I'll protect Metropolis as 
best I can. And if I can't...

He looks at Batman.

BATMAN
(smiling)
I'll be sure to fill in for you.

SUPERMAN
Thanks.

Batman fires off his grappling hook and swings away. Superman watches him and 
flies up into the sky.



END CREDITS.

Return to Simply Scripts