Act 1 Teaser

Dr. Hamilton is walking down the hall in Lex's mansion. Night. His left hand is twitching and he is walking slowly, obviously trying to control it. He enters Lex's study where Lex is waiting.

Dr. Hamilton: Lex, I, uh, I thought we had an arrangement. Why this sudden urge for a face-to-face?

Lex sees Dr. Hamilton's trembling hand.)

Lex: You don't look well.

Dr. Hamilton: Why did you pull me away from my research? You know I hate progress reports.

Lex: I hear you're having some personnel problems at Catmus Labs. They all quit when you turned violent and started throwing lab equipment.

Dr. Hamilton: They were incompetent. Look, I thought our relationship was clear. You write the checks, I have free reign to do my work.

Lex: I hired you to research the meteor rocks. But instead of results, you provide me with potential lawsuits. Frankly, Doctor, you have become a liability. Look, I'm afraid we've reached the end of our road together. Now that I am running my own company, I don't have the time or the resources to pursue projects that don't bear fruit. I suggest you see a doctor in Metropolis. I'll take care of the expenses.

Dr. Hamilton: I don't need your doctor, Lex, and I certainly don't need your condescension. It's you who needs me. (He points at Lex with his shaking hand) You're just a little to uh, (He pulls his hand back) myopic to see it.

He leaves the room, slamming the door.

CUT TO a man, RAY WALLACE, driving his truck down a dark road. He is listening to loud country music and eating sunflower seeds. He turns to the window and spits, only to realize that the window is rolled up. He rolls down the window and spits again. The driver's side door says Ray's Lock and Key.

Dr. Hamilton is driving on the same road, toward the truck. His hand continues to shake, and he reaches for a pill bottle on the dashboard, accidentally knocking it onto the floor of the car, spilling the pills. He sees the truck in the distance and leans over to grab the pills, causing his own car to swerve all over the road.

Ray sees him and starts to honk his horn. Dr. Hamilton sits upright, but doesn't have enough time to steer out of the way. The truck swerves violently out of the way, causing it to fly off the road and topple into a cornfield. It comes to a stop completely upside down with the horn blaring continuously.

Dr. Hamilton remains in his car panting. Another car drives toward him where he is still blocking the way. The horn honks, and Dr. Hamilton speeds away. The approaching car pulls to the side of the road and we see that it is Pete.

He gets out of his car and looks into the cornfield where he sees a small patch of red light where the truck's taillights are reflecting on the corn. He runs out into the field and kneels next to the truck.

Pete: (Knocking on the window) Hey, man. Hey, are you all right?

The horn continues on a steady drone and Pete turns to his right. Sitting in the cornfield next to the truck is Clark's spaceship and a look of shock comes over Pete's face.

[Opening Credits]

Act 1 Scene 1

Clark is playing basketball outside the barn. Day. He dribbles the ball a few times as he walks an extremely long way from the basket. He shoots the ball at an incredibly high arc, and makes the shot. He super speeds over the basket to catch the ball as it falls through. He then super speeds back to where he was standing and is about to make another shot when Pete drives up behind him, honking the horn.

Pete: Clark, Clark, Clark. You're dreaming if you think you're gonna make a basket from there.

Clark: No, no, no. The ball rolled out here. Want to play a game of horse?

Pete: (Laughs and gets out of the car) Forget basketball. We gotta borrow your dad's truck.

Clark: For what?

Pete: I'll explain on the way. Come on, we don't have much time.

Clark: What's going on?

Pete: If I told you, you'd never believe me. You gotta see it with your own eyes.

CUT TO Clark and Pete walking up to the overturned truck in the cornfield. Pete makes a trumpeting sound his voice as they approach the spaceship.

Pete: Pretty mind-blowing, huh?

Clark: (Shocked) What do you think it is?

Pete: Oh, Clark, it's a spaceship! What the hell else would it be?

Clark: Well, I mean, I don't know if it was some, like, downed specialty aircraft or a Russian satellite or something.

Pete: No, no, no. This thing's got extraterrestrial written all over it.

Clark: Yeah, I bet there's little green guys running around the cornfield too, Pete.

Pete: I'm serious, Clark. Have you ever seen anything like it?

Clark: If the aliens came to Earth, don't you think they'd find a place a little more exciting than Smallville?

Pete: No, no, no, think about it. Crop circles, cattle mutilation. They'd be like kids in a candy store here! Come on, man, let's load it into the truck!

Pete grabs the edge.

Clark: Wait, you're not just gonna take it.

Pete: Clark, when the sheriff questioned me about the accident, I told him in all the confusion I couldn't remember where the truck went off the road. But it's only a matter of time before he shows up. Come on. (He grabs the edge again) Come on!

Clark: All right fine. We'll take it to my house.

Pete: No, no, no, Clark! I know your dad. He'll make us turn it over to the authorities.

Clark: I won't even tell him. He won't know it's there.

Pete: Clark, we're taking it to my house. We'll hide it in the tool shed in my backyard. No one ever goes back there.

Clark: Pete, my house would be perfect. It'll be safe there.

Pete: Clark, last time I checked, I found this thing. You're acting like you got license and registration on it, man. Lighten up. We're taking it to my place.

Finally giving in, Clark helps Pete pick up his space ship.

Act 1 Scene 2

Lex is making a drink in his study as Lionel enters with a servant. Day. Lionel is wearing sunglasses and using a walking stick to feel his way around.

Servant: Right here.

Lionel: Lex? Lex, are you in here?

Lex: Yeah, Dad, I'm right here. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you.

The servant starts to take Lionel's jacket and Lionel bats his hands away.

Lionel: No! Get out.

The servant leaves.

Lex: Is everything all right? (He helps Lionel to a chair) Your doctors tell me your recovery is going well.

Lionel: It is. So well, in fact, that Dr. Roland suggested I take a break from the, uh…rigors of a… physical therapy. He, uh… he thought that some time away from the uh… stress of living and working in Metropolis would be more… beneficial right now.

Lex: Of all the places you could have gone, you, uh, decided to come here?

Lionel: We'll have a chance for some father-son bonding. You've always told me I've been lax in that requirement, Lex.

Lex: How long are you planning to stay?

Lionel: A few days, maybe a week.

Lex: Are you sure you wouldn't be more comfortable at the beach house? I think the sea air would be invigorating.

Lionel: I'm getting the distinct impression, Lex, that you don't want me here.

Lex: No, Father, I just want what's best for you. Stay as long as you like.

Lex's has a look of reluctance on his face.

Act 1 Scene 3

Nell and her new boyfriend, DEAN, are sitting in the Talon. Day.

Dean: (Playfully kissing her shoulder) No.

Nell laughs as Lana approaches with their check, looking uncomfortable.

Dean: (Clearing his throat) Hey, Lana, you know I was just thinking. If you move those tables away from the counter, it would open up space for extra stools. More customers, more cash flow.

Nell: That's a wonderful idea.

Dean: (Glances at his watch) I gotta go. (Lana looks away as they kiss) I'll see you tonight. Bye, Lana.

Lana: Bye.

Nell: (Sighs) Isn't he wonderful?

Lana: Yeah, he's great.

Lana looks back at Dean who is looking at her as Chloe walks in. She gives Dean a strange look and walks to Lana.

Chloe: Hi.

Lana: Hey.

Nell: Hi, Chloe.

Chloe: Hi.

Nell: Oh, how did the sleepover go? Did you two get a lot of studying done?

Chloe: (Confused) Uh, I have to be completely honest with you, Nell... (Lana gives her a look) We didn't study. We had a Keanu DVD-a-thon. Once you get lost in those brown eyes, just geometry loses its appeal.

Nell: Well, I'm just glad you two had fun. Don't let the grades suffer.

She gets up to leave.

Chloe: Okay.

Lana: Bye.

Nell: Bye.

Lana: Thank you so much, Chloe!

Chloe: Yeah, sure, if you'd given me more of a heads up I could have come up with something a lot better than a Keanu DVD-a-thon.

Lana: Sorry, it was a last-minute thing. I had to get out of the house, so I told Nell I was staying at a friend's place. You were the first person that came to mind.

Chloe: Really?

Lana: Really.

Chloe: So, uh, where were you last night? Is there a new guy in Lana Lang's life?

Lana: Yeah. His name's Dean. You passed him on the way in.

Chloe: You're dating an older man?

Lana: Relax. He's Nell's new boyfriend. He's an insurance adjuster she met after the tornado. He's always around and they're in this lovey-dovey daze all the time.

Chloe: Yeah, and you want to tell them to get a room but it's her house.

Lana: Tell me about it. After I caught them slow dancing in the living room, I decided to stay at the Talon.

Chloe: Well, you know, next time you need to clear out of the love shack, you don't have to lie about it. You can stay at my house for real any time.

Lana: Thanks.

Act 1 Scene 4

Clark and Pete drive to Pete's house in Jonathan's truck. Day. The spaceship is in the back partially covered by a tarp.

CUT TO the two of them pushing it into the tool shed.

Pete: Man, this thing weighs a ton.

Clark: I know.

Pete: I'm gonna go call Chloe.

Clark: Wait, wait. Don't

Pete: Why not? To her, this thing's like the Holy Grail.

Clark: She'll write an article about it.

Pete: That's the point. Then we'll be famous! We'll write a book, we'll go on all sorts of talk shows, and then we'll sign a big movie deal.

Clark: Wait, don't you think we should keep this between us until we know more about it?

Pete: Why are you being so gun shy, Clark? We gotta move on this thing before the driver of the truck tells someone else.

Clark: Suppose we tell Chloe and it turns out to be some sort of high-tech crop duster or something.

Pete: She'll never let us live it down.

Clark: Exactly. We'd be the subject of her next “Eat Crow” column for sure. I don't know about you, but I'm not willing to risk it.

Pete: How do you think you open it?

Clark: I'm not sure. (He grabs a crow bar) Um, here. You work on that, I'm gonna go see if anyone's put up missing spaceship flyers around town.

Pete: All right.

Clark: I'll meet you back here tomorrow morning.

Pete: All right, cool.

He starts trying to pry open the ship.