Has it Now Become a Crime, to Cherish Life?

Lastly... Do not punish yourself for your feelings of Vanity. 

Simply learn to control them.

It is an affliction common to all, 

even on Krypton.

 

Our Destruction could have been avoided but for the vanity of some who considered us... indestructible. 

If not for Vanity, why...

at this very moment...

I could embrace you in My Arms...

My Son...

 INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY

We see a pristinely immaculate area that contains two ROTATING HOOPS which glow white and, within, a revolving intelligence source which presents some sort of information. The ELDERS stand either alone or in groups. JOR-EL is now dressed like the others, with an electric WHITE AURA and his House crest clearly visible. He appears deeply concerned.

FIRST ELDER

(friendly)

An unpleasant duty has been masterfully performed, Jor-El. 

They have received the fate they deserved. 

Isolation in the Phantom Zone - an eternal living death.

 

JOR-EL

holding the lapels of his white robe as in the B.G. other ELDERS talk

A chance for Life, nonetheless. 

As opposed to us.

There is instant consternation from the ELDERS, as everyone focuses on him.

JOR-EL

(suddenly angry)

It's suicide!
No, it's worse. It's genocide!

FIRST ELDER

(no longer friendly)

Be warned, Jor-El. 

The Council has already evaluated this outlandish theory of yours.

JOR-EL

My friends, you know me to be neither rash nor impulsive. 

I'm not given (starts walking) to wild, unsupported statements. 

And I tell you that we must evacuate this planet immediately!

FIRST ELDER

Jor-El, you are one of Krypton's greatest scientists...

SECOND ELDER

Ah, yes, but so is (gesturing) Vond-Ah.

VOND-AH

(comes forward, an elegant brown-haired woman of middle age. There is no House crest on her chest. She stares at the revolving intelligence source before looking to JOR-EL)

It isn't that I question your data. 

The facts are undeniable.

JOR-EL stares at her as VOND-AH walks around the intelligence source, and then smiles thinly at him.

VOND-AH

(gesturing at the intelligence source, but still looking at JOR-EL)

It's your conclusions I find unsupportable.

JOR-EL

(stares at VOND-AH as she comes to a halt before him)

This Planet will explode within 30 days. 

If not sooner.

There is consternation again amongst the ELDERS.

VOND-AH

I tell you Krypton is simply shifting its orbit.

SECOND ELDER

(coming forward)

Jor-El, be reasonable.

JOR-EL

(coming forward to him)

My Friend. 

(places his hands on the ELDER's shoulders) 

I have never been otherwise. 

This madness is yours.

FIRST ELDER

(snaps firmly)

This Discussion is Terminated. 

The Decision of The Council is final.

There is a short pause. All the other ELDERS and VOND-AH gather together, standing away from JOR-EL.

FIRST ELDER

(to JOR-EL)

Any attempt by you to create a climate of Fear and Panic among the populace must be deemed by us 

An Act of Insurrection.

JOR-EL

(looks angry)

You would accuse me of insurrection? 

Has it now become a crime, to cherish life?

FIRST ELDER

You would be banished to endless imprisonment in the Phantom Zone - the eternal void, which you yourself discovered.

There is momentary silence. The FIRST ELDER maintains eye contact with JOR-EL.

FIRST ELDER

Will you abide by the Council's decision?

JOR-EL

(closes his eyes in seeming despair, pauses and then grabs his lapels again as he opens his eyes)

I will remain silent. 

Neither I nor my wife will leave Krypton.

The FIRST ELDER stares at him, and finally seems to accept this. He looks away though, troubled, and then exits to JOR-EL's left. Frowning, the SECOND ELDER follows him. The rest of the ELDERS follow, as JOR-EL looks deep in thought. The intelligence source VANISHES as the last two ELDERS leave, leaving JOR-EL to stare at his departing colleagues before looking at the two ROTATING HOOPS of white light.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - NIGHT

The RED SUN seems to be more active than before, with some solar flares to be seen rising from its surface. Again we see there are other Kryptonian cities in the background to Kryptonopolis. DISSOLVE INTO:

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

Massive brightly glowing energy columns encircle the lab. The CAMERA PANS around them to show LARA (JOR-EL'S wife) walking along. Like VOND-AH she has no House crest on her chest. Carried in her arms is a BABY, swaddled in three blankets of red, blue, and yellow. The BABY makes baby noises as she walks. JOR-EL works in the lab, no longer wearing his robe.

ANGLE ON LARA

The sad look on LARA'S face deepens as she stops and watches JOR-EL, who senses her presence and turns.

LARA

(briefly stares at the BABY)

Have you finished?

ANGLE ON JOR-EL

JOR-EL starts walking. To one side we see a gleaming, crystalline, spike-y object in two halves (a Kryptonian rocket ship).

JOR-EL

Nearly. (comes to a halt before LARA, a crystal in his hands) It's the only answer Lara. If he remains here with us, he will die as surely as (looking down at the crystal) we will.

LARA

(pleading)

But why Earth, Jor-El? They're primitives, thousands of years behind us.

JOR-EL

He will need that advantage to survive. Their atmosphere will...will sustain him.

JOR-EL looks at his son, briefly smiles in pain and walks over to the area where the ship that will carry the BABY lies. There are information crystals placed in slots on the edges.

LARA

(walks after him, carrying the BABY)

He will defy their gravity.

JOR-EL

He will look like one of them.

LARA

He won't *be* one of them.

JOR-EL

No. His dense molecular structure will make him strong.

(looks at the rocket ship)

LARA

(looks down)

He'll be odd. (stares at JOR-EL again) Different.

JOR-EL

He'll be fast. Virtually invulnerable.

LARA

(staring at him)

Isolated. Alone.

JOR-EL

(sighs, looking down at the transparent crystal in his hands)

He will not be alone.

(holds up the crystal, and takes a long look at it)

He will never be alone.

JOR-EL places it in one of the slots along with the other crystals in the ship.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - NIGHT

The COUNCIL of ELDERS, back in session, listen attentively to a hologram of a masked, glowing MILITARY OFFICER standing before them within the two ROTATING HOOPS of white light.

CLOSE ON OFFICER'S MASKED FACE

MILITARY OFFICER

The energy input to Jor-El's quarters is now in excess. Our data indicates the loss is due to a mis-use of energy.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER - NIGHT

The FIRST ELDER exchanges a worried glance at the SECOND ELDER, then looks back at the OFFICER.

FIRST ELDER

Investigate.

SECOND ELDER

And if the investigation proves correct?

FIRST ELDER

(dramatic pause)

He knew the penalty he faced. Even as a member of this Council.

(The SECOND ELDER looks distraught but resigned)

The law will be upheld.

The MILITARY OFFICER vanishes.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - DAY/NIGHT

The RED SUN now seems to be more active, with more solar flares to be seen rising from its surface.

EXT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

The CAMERA PANS towards the windows of the laboratory

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

CAMERA CLOSE on JOR-EL, LARA, and the BABY, as the parents stare at their offspring. Baby noises are heard. LARA kisses their child on the head as she tearfully hands him to his father. JOR-EL holds his son, troubled, and briefly kisses him on the head too before placing him the lower module of the rocket ship.

JOR-EL

(staring sadly down at his son, as does LARA)

You will travel far...my little Kal-El.

(puts his arm around LARA, who does the same)

But we will never leave you. Even in the face of our deaths.

(KAL-EL looks around, blissfully ignorant of what is to come)

The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I have, all that I've learned, everything I feel, all this and more I...I bequeath you, my son.

(rubs the child's head lovingly)

You will carry me inside you, all the days of your life. You will make my strength your own, see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine.

(pause)

The son becomes the father and the father the son.

(KAL-EL whines)

This is all I...all I can send you...Kal-El.

(JOR-EL looks solemn and LARA looks like her heart is being torn out, as the baby reaches up and tries to grab the crystals and play with them. LARA places her head on JOR-EL's chest in pain as her husband tries to smile and be strong for her)

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - DAY/NIGHT

The RED SUN now seems to be spewing out more intense solar flares.

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

The massive energy columns throb with white light. A GREEN CRYSTAL rises out of the central scientific control column. JOR-EL takes it, then turns and steps towards the rocket ship. LARA is still touching their son as JOR-EL places the last crystal inside. A tremor then takes place, as both JOR-EL and LARA look up. JOR-EL quickly heads over to the console again, pressing some buttons as crystalline glass starts falling from the ceiling. The massive energy columns flicker and go out.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - NIGHT

The RED SUN is much larger in the background now, and lights appear to flash within the city.

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - NIGHT

JOR-EL joins LARA and holds her as more crystals fall from the ceiling. KAL-EL, wrapped in his blankets, eventually vanishes from sight as the lower module finally slides into the upper part of the spacecraft and is sealed in. One of the columns flashes brilliantly, and the room shakes with a violent tremor. The energy columns flash brightly.

EXT. CITY - DAY/NIGHT

Another tremor suddenly shakes the ground - a tall spire comes crashing down. The proximity of Kryptonian RED SUN has bathed the planet in a reddish glow. NOTE: all scenes on KRYPTON, both interior and exterior, from now on reflect this color.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER

The ELDERS look concerned as the destruction starts to take place.

EXT. CITY - DAY/NIGHT

More structures come crashing down, bathed in that hellish red glow.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER

The ELDERS look around in concern and disbelief as the tremors grow worse, and the room starts shaking itself apart.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - DAY/NIGHT

The RED SUN is even larger in the background now, bathing the planet in light.

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY - DAY/NIGHT

The tremor continues in the lab. More crystal fragments crash down into the room as JOR-EL hits the control which activates the ship's take-off. The spike-y circular rocket ship starts to glide upwards as JOR-EL rejoins LARA, holding her as the ship blasts through the ceiling, the crystal roof shattering, falling to the floor and letting in that intense red sunlight.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - CLOSE ON MODULE

The ship races away from the disintegrating city, as two explosions rock Kryptonopolis. The CAMERA PANS down through the windows and we see JOR-EL and LARA watching the rocket taking KAL-EL away safely, as the massive energy columns pulse alongside them.

INT. JOR-EL's LABORATORY

JOR-EL and LARA start walking, hurrying away even though they know there's nowhere to run to. A massive crystalline spire unexpectedly bursts up through the floor.

INT/EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS

The destruction continues.

INT. JOR-EL'S LABORATORY

JOR-EL and LARA hurry through a cascading shower of debris, clinging together desperately in their final moments.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS

More scenes of destruction, as the city starts to collapse and people fall to their deaths in the chasms. Screaming is heard everywhere.

SPACE - RED SUN and KRYPTON

The rocket ship hurries away, leaving both celestial bodies behind.

INT/EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS

More destruction as the Kryptonians futilely run for their lives. The white dome of the TRIAL CHAMBER starts sinking down out of sight. Thunder and lightning is present.

INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER

The ELDERS all start to die as the CHAMBER collapses completely. The FIRST ELDER gets killed by a collapsing spire, and the SECOND ELDER goes down with a look of horror on his face as well.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - DAY/NIGHT

The COUNCIL CHAMBER begins sinking out of sight.

INT/EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS

JOR-EL and LARA run helplessly, like all the other Kryptonians. There is intense screaming to be heard everywhere. The path beneath them collapses and JOR-EL barely pulls LARA back in time before she falls to her death.

EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS - DAY/NIGHT

The RED SUN now dominates the SCENE, obscenely huge and pulsing. A subterranean explosion takes place, and then another and then another, ejecting plumes of matter onto KRYPTON'S surface not far away from the crumbling city.

INT/EXT. KRYPTONOPOLIS

More people plunge to their deaths, screaming and shrieking as the city and the planet begins to be torn apart.

SPACE - ANGLE ON KRYPTON AND RED SUN

The CAMERA faces both the sun and the planet when suddenly - an incredible explosion takes place, which violently sends out fragments of what had once been a living world in all directions, some of which are red or white or green or gold, and leaving behind a vast black void. NOTE: The RED SUN is no longer present after the explosion.

EXT. SPACE - CLOSE ON SHIP

The rocket ship speeds through space to the accompaniment of steady electronic pulsings.

EXT. SPACE

The THREE VILLAINS, pressed against the linear Phantom Zone, watch the ship hurtle past.

VILLAINS

(muffled echoes)

No...stop...come back...

INT. SHIP

Crystals in the background, there is soft lighting seen as KAL-EL floats within the rocket ship.

COMPUTER

(JOR-EL'S VOICE)

...which Einstein called his Theory of Relativity. Embedded in the crystals before you, is the total accumulation of all literature and scientific fact from dozens of other worlds, spanning the 28 known galaxies...

EXT. SPACE

The ship voyages on through space, passing through the limitless void for a long time. It passes by/through a red glowing spherical body.

INT. SHIP

KAL-EL has grown, and can be seen in the red light of the interior.

COMPUTER

(JOR-EL'S voice)

Early Chinese writings point out the complex relationship between...

EXT. SPACE

The rocket ship continues on.

INT. SHIP

COMPUTER

(JOR-EL'S voice)

By carrying this complex equation to its ultimate power, one can...

(later, KAL-EL has his eyes closed with the white crystals in the B.G.)

Chief among these powers will be your sight, your strength, your hearing. Your ability to propel yourself at almost limitless speed. The early history of our universe was a bloody mosaic of interplanetary war...

EXT. SPACE

The ship is travelling through space: the planet Saturn becomes visible as the vessel enters the SOLAR SYSTEM.

INT. SHIP

COMPUTER

(JOR-EL'S VOICE)

Each of the six galaxies which you will pass through contain their own individual law...

(later)

...space and time. It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history...

EXT. LOCAL SPACE, CONTAINING EARTH and the MOON

The ship enters Earth's atmosphere.

INT. SHIP

KAL-EL is awake and aware of his surroundings.

EXT. SHIP

As the ship speeds down through the atmosphere, the resistance gradually transforms its shape from the jewel-like geode form into a geodesic sphere, the spikes mostly burned away by the heat and pressure of passing through the atmosphere. It glows WHITE HOT at this time.

EXT. SPACE, LOW EARTH ORBIT

The ship heads for North America.

EXT. EARTH

The CAMERA POV spins around and around madly, heading down.

EXT. KANSAS WHEAT FIELD - DAY

Miles and miles of golden wheat can be seen. CAMERA PANS: A dilapidated farm pick-up truck comes chugging down a long flat dirt road.

INT. PICK-UP TRUCK - DAY

Two PEOPLE are seated in the truck cab, dressed in 1940's period clothing. The MAN is in his 50's, the WOMAN in her 40's. They are JONATHAN AND MARTHA KENT.

EXT. KANSAS WHEAT FIELD - DAY

A loud whooshing sound, the CAMERA POV shows the ship coming to Earth as it crash-lands.

INT. PICK-UP TRUCK - DAY

JONATHAN is startled, darts a momentary look in the direction of the noise as MARTHA raises her arm to shield her eyes from the EXPLOSION of LIGHT and SOUND.

MARTHA

Whoa!!

JONATHAN

What was that?

(struggles to keep control of the car)

EXT. WHEAT FIELD ROAD - DAY

The "bang" of a tire blow out is heard. JONATHAN slams down on the brakes. The truck lurches violently, the rear left tire having burst. The truck swerves and jiggles, and eventually stops.

INT. - TRUCK

JONATHAN looks at MARTHA.

EXT. - WHEAT FIELD ROAD - DAY

JONATHAN rolls down the window, steps out of the truck, angrily slams the door and looks at the punctured tire as MARTHA exits the vehicle as well.

JONATHAN

(kicks the flat tire)

Well, wouldn't that beat all get out. (looks at MARTHA) Wouldn't you...uh?

MARTHA gazes across at the wheat field. Her face is frozen in astonishment at something she's seen.

MARTHA

(whispering)

Oh...

JONATHAN turns, looks, eyes widening, equally amazed.

ANGLE ON ROCKET SHIP - THEIR POV

The Kryptonian ship has landed in the field, a black trail burned across the wheat to its final resting spot.

CLOSE on JONATHAN and MARTHA

JONATHAN

Oh my...

EXT. FIELD - CLOSE TO SHIP - DAY

JONATHAN and MARTHA look down over the edge of the hole and see KAL-EL, a little boy aged around 3, climbing out of the craft, completely naked. He stretches and smiles, the geode in the background, as JONATHAN and MARTHA stare at him in astonishment.

CLOSE-UP SHOT OF THE TRUCK

Sitting on the ground, JONATHAN removes the lugs and the punctured tire. There is a jack holding the truck up. MARTHA is the B.G. with KAL-EL, whose legs and groin are now covered with the red blanket.

MARTHA

(staring at the smiling KAL-EL, shaking her head and smiling herself)

All these years, as happy as we've been, how I prayed and prayed the good Lord would see fit to give us a child.

(he hugs her and she him in delight)

JONATHAN

Honey, will you hand me that rag up there?

MARTHA

(as she does so)

You take things easy now, Jonathan, remember what Doc Frye said about that heart of yours.

JONATHAN smiles and shrugs it off, before sobering up as he stares at the LITTLE BOY.

JONATHAN

Well the first thing we gotta do when we get home is find out...who that boy's proper family is.

MARTHA

(somewhat defensively)

He hasn't got any. Not around here, anyway.

JONATHAN

(looks at her)

Martha, are you thinking what I think you're thinking?

MARTHA

(holding the boy's hand)

We could say he's the child of my cousin in North Dakota. And just now orphaned.

JONATHAN

(grins and shakes his head)

Oh, Martha.

MARTHA

Jonathan, he's only a baby!

JONATHAN

Martha, now you saw how we found him...

MARTHA is staring off to her right.

JONATHAN

(notices her intense look)

Martha Clark Kent, are you listening to what I'm saying?

INSERT SHOT - JACK

The jack begins to collapse. Suddenly, it gives way completely.

CLOSE ON MARTHA

MARTHA cries out, runs to her husband and tries to drag JONATHAN away as the truck is about to fall on him.

BACK TO JONATHAN

JONATHAN shoots a quick look at his wife, then - as her scream stops in a gasp - he looks behind him.

EXT. KANSAS - DAY

KAL-EL is holding up the truck, two wheels off the ground. Then he lifts it even higher. JONATHAN and MARTHA are poleaxed with disbelief, and then turn around to stare at the landing site of the rocket ship. Then they look back at each other.

INSERT SHOT - JONATHAN and MARTHA

KAL-EL continues to hold the truck up effortlessly, as Jonathan tosses the rag down onto the dirt.