I love the morning. Anything is possible in the morning.
I hope so. As of right now we don't even have the tiniest fragment...
of something that some day, with a lot of work, might resemble a story.
Come on, Lois. We had a great story yesterday.
You know Perry. You're only as good as today.
Short nonfat milk and decaf, no foam, no sugar, no whip.
Grande latte, full caf, whole milk, three sugars.
Thank you.
Still on that health kick I see.
Life is short, Lois. Order what you want.
Life is long, Clark. And you are what you eat.
Most of us, anyway.
- What's going on? - Solar eclipse?
But they always announce them.
Clark.
Are you all right?
You're not bleeding.
- What happened? - The sun just blocked out.
- But why? - Good question.
Yeah, it'll make an even better story. Come on, this could be our lucky day.
That concludes the Eprad presentation on today's solar eclipse...
caused by the so-called Nightfall asteroid.
Phones are available outside for those who need to file stories immediately.
Take out Madison behind you.
Those TV Guides all get on the air before our afternoon edition, anyway.
- I'm sorry. - Okay.
Give me a break, Lane.
- Was that really necessary? - Kill or be killed.
Lois, you're talking about war. This is journalism.
See, your problem is you think there's a difference.
Harry, Lois. Here's the story.
It definitely was a solar eclipse, but get this.
It was caused by some huge asteroid nobody's ever heard of.
I think there's more here than they're telling us.
- Mr. Kent, might I have a moment, please? - Sure.
Is there an update to the briefing?
I understand the Daily Planet has a special relationship with Superman.
We've had our share of exclusives.
Do you think that you could get a message to him?
I could try.
- I need to see him here this evening. - Well, what's the message?
Please.
What did he want?
He was just saying what a big fan he is of our Superman coverage.
Are you done? Lois, hello. Thank you.
Okay, people. I know it's late, but this is a big one.
I got us an extra half-hour before we put this baby to press.
Let's make the most of it. Lane, Kent, one of you should be writing.
- Perry. - Go ahead.
Jimmy, how's the lab coming with the slide from that telescope?
It will be ready on time.
Okay, I want you to march down to that lab...
pull out a chair, sit your fanny down and wait.
The second that picture's ready, I want it in layout.
I just thought I would be more helpful...
Hey, Jimmy. I'm in a give-order mode, not in a discuss mode.
What kind of mode are you in?
The pull-out-a-folding-chair- at-the-lab-and-wait mode.
Good choice.
Cat, where were you when the lights went out this morning?
- In bed. - Quite a surprise.
All right, ladies, talking sidebar here.
Cat, I want you to call every big name that you have on that Rolodex...
you keep locked in your office and get me some human interest.
If you need some help, ask Applegate.
I work alone.
- You've been looking for me, Professor? - Superman.
Mind if I take a look?
I thought you had enhanced visual abilities.
I do. But I also have my limits, too.
Fascinating what kind of surprises the universe can turn up, isn't it?
Nightfall is approximately 17 miles across.
Traveling at close to 30,000 miles an hour.
You told Kent and the other reporters that much at the news conference.
Why am I here?
If my calculations are correct...
in a little more than four days it's going to hit the Earth.
The sky literally is falling.
What kind of damage could this cause?
Superman, it could knock the Earth off its axis.
It could throw us out of our current solar orbit.
See this one...
is larger than the meteor that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
The crater it creates itself...
will throw enough dust into the air to start a new Ice Age.
We're not alone.
You might as well come out, gentlemen. I know you're there.
My apologies, Superman...
but we felt you should hear the news from Professor Dach before being introduced.
I'm General Robert Zicke...
this is Secretary John Cosgrove.
You can't keep this a secret.
The President will tell the people, but he needs to avoid a panic.
Put simply, he needs to get you on board before he makes an announcement.
The country needs your help, Superman. So does the world.
You're asking me to fly a million miles into space to stop a piece of rock...
the size of Metropolis.
You're our only hope, Superman.
I guess we're about to find out what my limits really are.
- How do you feel? - This will work.
- That's a relief. Why are you so sure? - Because it has to.
The power of positive thinking?
- How are you feeling, Lois? - Scared enough for the both of us.
- I'll be back. We'll go flying. - I hope so.
- I have to go. - Good luck.
Okay, let's set him up now. Right this way, Superman.
This will be your communications link to Ground Control.
We'll be able to hear everything you say...
and we'll be able to uplink our response through the satellite.
- Sound check, Superman. - Testing, testing.
We're assuming that you'll be out there...
longer than the 20 minutes you say you can hold your breath.
This is a six-hour supply for the average human.
That'll be fine. Getting there fast won't be a problem.
Superman, I'd like to offer you our tactical nuclear option once again.
The Eprad science team has given me a clear indication...
of the asteroid's structural weak point.
If I hit it at maximum speed...
it's their opinion that I'll achieve a 50 megaton explosive force.
I think we should try that first and not risk the nuclear fallout.
Several hours ago, Superman said his final goodbyes to the crowd.
He was described as calm but determined.
His last words were and I'm quoting now, "I'll do my best. "
He took off, and this time the entire world was watching.
I'm being told that we have a live transmission from Superman.
We'll take that live feed from Mission Control.
I can see it now. In fact, it's hard to see anything else. It's a mess.
Roger, Superman, we copy you on the ground.
Do you have stress point acquisition and visual?
Yes, I do.
Stand by for a final briefing procedure.
I know what I have to do. Well, here I go.
Impact in five, four...
three, two...
This is Eprad Control.
We have lost transmission with Superman.
His microphone went out. He's fine. He has to be.
Hey, man, what you doing down there?
You gotta be freezing.
There, put that on.
Where are you from?
- I don't know. - I hear that.
You hungry?
I think so, yeah. Maybe.
Get a move on. Come on. We can still catch breakfast down at the shelter.
You go ahead.
Don't be putting down the shelter, man. You sleeping in a hole.
You ain't got no clothes on.
Here, put those on, at least you won't look so dumb.
This thing up in the sky hits, we're all gonna be sleeping in holes.
I'll tell you that.
You got a name?
I don't remember.
You is a mess. Come on.
Henderson, this better be good.
I'm working on the asteroid story with my partner AWOL.
- What is he doing here? - He doesn't know.
We picked him up at the Fifth Street Mission.
I was working when they brought him in, so I gave you a call.
He can't see you, it's a one-way.
Doesn't matter, anyway. He doesn't remember a thing.
Where he works, who he is, me, you.
Doc.
Dr. Terri McCorkle, this is Lois Lane. Doc is our department shrink.
- What could've caused this? - Several possibilities.
I guess anxiety caused by this asteroid could be a factor.
On the other hand, these cases are often triggered by some kind of physical trauma.
He got knocked down by a car and hit his head...
- but that was the day before yesterday. - It could be a delayed reaction.
- Will he be okay? - Physically he's fine.
Whether he regains his memory immediately, I don't know.
Based on the a battery of questions that we ask...
it seems that Clark is suffering from what we call the Superman complex.
Don't we all.
What I mean is that he's a chronic do-gooder...
who thinks that he can handle anything.
This kind of setback can be very frustrating.
Tell me what I should do.
Clark needs to be surrounded by familiar people, do familiar things.
It will come back to him in time, just be patient with him.
That's asking a lot, Doc.
I can be patient.
This look familiar?
I'm sorry, no.
Well, you always get a doughnut when you come in.
You usually like these cake things.
This is a little stale. You hungry?
I can't remember much of anything.
I'm not hungry. I'm fine.
You keep an extra pair in here.
There you go.
Now look at me, Clark. You really don't remember anything?
We are a reporting team. Isn't that what you said?
Well, I'm more like the senior partner.
- So you call the shots. - You could say that.
Okay, so what do I do?
We're full partners, nobody works for anybody.
Although, I do think in the immediate future you should follow my lead.
Probably a good idea.
Clark, what's the fashion statement here?
The statement is Clark has amnesia.
Clark, this is Cat Grant.
She writes the gossip column for the paper, we write the news.
- Is there a punch line I'm missing? - No, it's true Miss Grant.
I really can't remember much of anything.
Would you excuse us just a moment?
Honey, it's me, Cat.
How could you not remember what we meant to each other?
I guess we work together, right?
- We do a lot more than that. - We do?
We kept it a secret.
You're so worried about what people think.
Especially her.
You don't even remember us.
Does this refresh your memory?
Excuse us, folks. Clark, Perry White.
Sorry to hear about what happened, son.
- This is Jimmy Olsen. - Hi, Clark.
Actually, I always call you C.K.
Now how are you feeling? You feel up to doing a news conference?
- I think so. - Good.
Something's up at Eprad.
Now, no offense, son, but maybe we can get you into a different outfit.
Jimmy, why don't you run him down to the lockers?
Come on, Clark.
One thing you have to learn right away is that Metro cabbies cannot drive.
Never trust them.
Now, this news conference that we're going to...
it's about Superman and the asteroid I told you about.
This Superman, he sounds like he means a lot to you.
He means a lot to everybody, Clark.
Superman's impact on the Nightfall asteroid was substantial.
It was not, however, decisive.
Are you telling us there's still something out there?
A rather large portion, approximately three miles across...
remains on a collision course with Earth.
- When? - About 55 hours from now.
Why haven't we heard from Superman? Is he working on a return mission?
We have not yet heard from Superman, although we expect to soon.
Now, there is no need for panic.
Even without Superman's help...
we are confident we can handle this latest challenge...
with just-in resources. General.
We have several delivery systems and notably the Ascot booster...
which we are in the process of reprogramming.
At the same time we are currently attaching nuclear payloads...
and if we can deliver them, we'll finish the job Superman started.
Are you looking for Superman?
Kent asked a question. Good sign.
Superman knows how to find us easier than we know how to find him.
- Okay, I'll be in my office. - Chief, we need to talk.
Not now, Jimmy, we're in the middle of a crisis.
- Yeah, that's why we need to talk. - All right, Jimmy, talk fast.
Clark's right, somebody ought to be looking for Superman.
Didn't you just hear them? They got their hands full with that rocket.
I don't wanna bet my life on a rocket, Chief. I'm 21 years old.
You've a great career, but I haven't even written my first story yet.
- I'm not ready to give up. - What do you got in mind?
Okay, I was making some calls for Lois.
Right after Superman broke that asteroid up the other day...
many people near Hobbs Bay reported a shooting star.
But they think it crashed in Suicide Slum.
Maybe it was just a piece of that asteroid.
How could it get here ahead of the rest of it? But Superman could.
- Come on now, Jimmy, that's a long shot. - You got a better idea?
I'll get my jacket.
You begin to take it for granted.
You assume that every day...
the sun will rise in the east and set in the west.
You assume that every night the moon will be there for your inspiration.
You assume that spring will follow winter.
I shall use this moment as a constant reminder for the future.
Assume nothing.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
That's always been my credo.
Asabi, see to it that Miss Lane is invited to our little party...
and let's make sure that she has all the comforts of home.
Yes, sir.
Clark, come in. This is your place.
Does it look familiar?
Not yet.
You played in college.
- My parents? - Nice people.
The office tried to get in touch with them, but they didn't answer.
Phones have been overloaded all over the country.
I'll keep trying.
Well, I should get going.
Do you have to?
Clark, there's too much at stake. I can't just write Superman off. We need him.
- You're right. We should keep at it. - No, I should keep at it.
We need you, too. You've been through a lot.
Why don't you get a good night's sleep? I know you must be scared.
To have time running out and not even know what you've missed, it's...
Well, you've traveled the whole world and you have a family that loves you.
You haven't missed anything important.
And we're friends, right?
Sure we're friends.
Are we more than friends?
More than...
Like I told you, we're partners. We work closely together.
- How close? - Close.
Not "close" close...
but close.
I bet you're a great reporter.
Well, see? Your memory's already starting to come back.
You know, I was in Beirut in 1982 before the Marines showed up...
it was never as bad as this.
Wait a second, I think this is it. Chief, you gotta pull over.
If you draw a line between all the sightings, they intersect right here.
Now, Jimmy, it's dangerous out there.
Chief, you've already taken strolls through war zones. Now give me a chance.
Look!
What are you looking for?
This.
- I'm looking for this. - That's the "S" from his uniform.
- He made it back. - Yeah, but where is he now?
My God, Jonathan.
These folks don't know a thing about keeping their heads cool in a crisis.
- Should we try to get a cab? - Lf we get one it's gonna take forever.
Let's find a phone booth and try to call the Planet again.
- Martha, where you going? - We'll walk to Clark's.
It'll only take a couple hours.
- Are you serious? - Jonathan...
our boy is missing. Do I look serious?
Keep your shirt on.
All right, let's be logical about this.
Perry and Jimmy found a piece of Superman's uniform...
which means he made it back to Earth.
And they didn't find a body, which means he's not dead.
But he hasn't tried to contact anybody, which means...
Why are you looking at me like that?
I was just wondering how we met.
You were in here peddling some article from the Borneo Gazette...
trying to get Perry to hire you.
Did we like each other right away? Me and you?
Well, we didn't not like each other.
Hey, I'm remembering something.
You don't drink real coffee with real milk and real sugar.
I do today.
- Lois, here you go. - Oh, thanks.
Clark, Lex Luthor wants to meet with me.
He's the most connected man in Metropolis. This could be something.
I'll see you later.
Clark.
Batteries, flashlight...
food, water, survival supplies.
- Shall I put this on ice for us? - Can I think about it?
I don't wanna be alone.
If this is, you know, whatever it is.
But we don't really have a relationship, do we?
We're friends. That's a relationship.
I need to find my own memories. I can't fake them with somebody else.
I'm sorry.
C.K., grab your stuff.
Perry says since my first long shot paid off I can have another try.
You're coming with me.
We believe this was Superman's. We've had it analyzed.
It's emitting very weak cosmic rays, which means it's been in space.
I have been feeling Superman's presence strongly.
- So he's alive? - I don't know.
I feel his confusion.
Often the recently dead are quite rattled by the experience.
We need to find Superman.
Do you have any ideas where we might start looking?
He's here.
We know he's here, that's why we're here.
His life force is very powerful.
I think she's confused.
Look, hey. I know what I'm feeling here, okay?
My senses tell me that he's definitely alive.
I feel the vibration and his life force here.
Have one of you just talked to him?
I think that you might be tuned into the wrong channel.
Honey, I know what I'm feeling, okay? Now this is unmistakable.
Now we're standing precisely 500 meters below Metropolis street level.
Surrounded by 16-inch reinforced concrete walls...
originally designed to withstand a nuclear attack.
A bunker?
Well, I prefer to think of it as an ark.
We've got room for 200 people, supplies to last three years...
tools and implements for farming and manufacture for when we reemerge.
So if the world dies, you live?
The survival of the species doesn't depend on the survival of all of its members.
In fact...
were the dinosaurs possessed of a somewhat larger brain...
they too might've survived their fate.
Fortunately for us, they didn't.
But now, the chance is ours.
- Did you want me to write about this? - No.
I seek no publicity.
In fact, considering the circumstances...
I think advertising the existence of a place like this might be somewhat cruel.
So why am I here?
This is my apartment.
At least a reasonable facsimile thereof.
I hope you like it.
Of course I like it, I decorated it. But I'm a little confused.
I'm offering you a chance, Lois, to become a passenger on this ark.
To be my special guest on mankind's next great adventure.
Lex, why me?
Because I care.
And because I must admit that three years will be a long time without...
companionship.
Well, I don't know.
Think about it. I'll await your decision.
Lex?
May I send someone to pack your personal belongings?
I can't stay here.
Lois, mob rule is not a pretty sight. You don't have to see it.
I do.
If what that asteroid does is destroy the world as we know it...
then I have to be there to see what takes its place.
This could be the best comeback in history.
Yes. Or the fastest knockout.
Either way, I have to see it for myself.
- I struck out, Chief. I'm sorry. - Yeah, me, too. Fries?
Wait a second, do they let people with high blood pressure eat this?
- Jimmy. - Yeah, who cares, right?
I mean, it's gonna take a miracle to get us out of this one.
Ted Williams, batted. 406, 1941.
Miracles do happen.
You want me to write up my notes now?
Heck, son. You might as well go ahead and write the story.
The story? The Superman-is-alive- and-we-have-proof story?
Why not? It's yours, isn't it?
Perry, I don't know if I'm ready for that.
Well, I don't, either. But it sure seems like a good time to find out.
- I won't let you down. - Just do your best, son.
You...
- You might wanna use this. - What is that?
- I mean, I know it's a typewriter. - It's not just any typewriter.
Cleet Johnson carried this all over the world writing for this newspaper.
Gave it to me when I was still a copy boy. I wrote my very first story on it.
- I can't. - Sure you can.
It's good luck...
and that's something we can use a little bit of right about now.
For good luck.
Clark, it's Lois.
I was wondering if you could stand a little company.
Your parents?
Well, how great for you.
Oh, no...
I wouldn't wanna intrude at a...
you know, family time.
Oh, no, I have a lot to do.
I'll see you tomorrow morning.
Bye.
- Who was that? - Lois Lane.
I don't know if she's more upset about the asteroid hitting Earth...
or the fact that Superman's missing.
- Superman is not missing. - Sure he is, and nobody can find him.
Jonathan, I don't think he knows.
Knows what?
I sewed them for you.
- Why would I want Superman costumes? - Because you're Superman.
What?
That's crazy.
I may not remember much, but everything I've read about this guy so far, he's unreal.
They say he's not even from this planet.
Then what are all these costumes doing in there?
I don't know.
Maybe you're not even my parents.
Maybe this is some kind of weird game I don't know the rules to.
But this certainly does not prove that I am Superman. No.
- What are you doing? - He needs proof.
This is gonna hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you, believe me.
According to Eprad Mission Control...
the Asguard rocket with the nuclear payload...
should detonate against the Nightfall asteroid any second now.
Let's go to Eprad.
Impact in five, four, three, two...
The Asguard rocket has missed its target.
Repeat, the Asguard rocket has missed its target.
The world needs you now, Son. More than it ever has, I expect.
Flying into space to stop an asteroid doesn't exactly come natural.
- Does it? - You're the only one that can do it, Son.
Even if what you're telling me about being Superman is true...
I still don't remember how to be him.
Jimmy, I'm gonna need that copy.
You guys make this look so easy.
It's pretty lame.
It could use a polish.
- Jimmy... - I know you gotta give it to a real reporter.
No, I'm just thinking maybe I'll partner you with somebody on this.
Partner me?
Come on, who's gonna wanna partner with me?
Bless me, Father, for I've sinned and sinned.
Perhaps you should simply limit your confession...
to your most recent transgressions.
I told a man who has no memory...
that he desires me.
Does he?
Well, he ought to.
You are confessing to the sin of lust...
by taking advantage of a vulnerable man.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's kind of a pattern I see emerging in my behavior.
I guess I've always found meaning...
in meaningless relationships.
I called everyone I know.
They all have someone to be with.
And what you want now is reassurance.
Reassurance that you're not alone.
You wanna know that you're loved for your soul. Is that right?
Exactly.
Thank you.
Aren't there some things...
that you passionately wanna experience...
just once before you die?
Father?
Lois, I wanna thank you for sharing that byline with Jimmy. He's a good kid.
Well, he deserves a lot of credit.
As long as I know Superman made it back to Earth, I still have hope.
So does everybody.
You don't have to be here now. You know that, don't you?
Look, Perry, I'm a reporter. That's what I do.
If this is the last great story to cover...
for the last edition of the Daily Planet, then that's what it is.
Where else would I go?
What about your family?
We managed to get everybody together on an open phone line.
Mom and Dad even acted like they cared about each other. It was nice.
You?
Alice was over visiting the boys when this all happened and...
she can't get a flight back from Des Moines.
- I'm sorry. - Oh, it's okay.
She knows how I feel about her. That's the important thing.
- Is Clark still at home? - I guess.
You know, maybe he's the lucky one in all of this.
I mean, if he can't remember how it was, how's he gonna miss it?
You know, I think I'm gonna go say good...
See how he is.
I'll see you, Perry.
I'll be back before...
You probably don't forget how to fly once you do it. Come on and just give it a try.
- Do I flap my arms or something? - No, it's like you go like...
It's just instinct I think.
You just will it to happen.
You said I didn't fly until I was 18. So I had to figure it out.
Right now I can't remember.
Clark, just step over to the ledge.
Step up on the ledge. Okay. Now, just do it.
I don't know...
No, honey. It'll all come back to you once you get going. Come on. Just go.
- Want me to help you? - Could you just give me a count?
Okay, on three. One, two...
Clark, what are you doing here?
- I live here. - No, you don't. Not in the alley.
- Did you hear something? - Yeah, that was me.
- I was looking for clues. - Here?
- You feeling okay? - Sure, fine.
- Any news about Superman? - No, not yet.
What if he's confused like me...
and he wants to help but he can't?
Superman wants to help and he will.
- How can you be so sure? - I know Superman.
I'd like to know him, too, so I could believe that.
Could you tell me about him?
Superman is the type of man that makes things happen.
I mean, he's good-looking and he's good.
But the thing you notice most about him is how much you can count on him.
I remember the first time...
- Clark? Are you remembering something? - Yeah, I think so.
Let's get back to the Planet. There's a story to write.
- Everybody's meeting there for impact. - Can I meet you there?
- I have something to do first. - Sure. Don't be long.
Lois, thank you.
For what?
For whatever it is that you've done for me...
that makes me feel so good about you.
Clark...
whether or not that memory of yours comes back...
I want you to know I think you're terrific.
- Likewise. - I mean I love you.
Like a brother.
That part is definitely coming back to me.
This is Eprad Ground Control.
We are 14 minutes and counting from the impact of the Nightfall asteroid.
Mission tracker is reporting an anomaly.
Switching to backup computers for corroboration.
Roger. Confirmation asteroid velocity is decreasing.
The asteroid appears to be reversing course.
We are stopping the countdown clock at this time.
- Did I miss something? - Only Superman saving the world.
Yes, a day to remember, if you'll pardon the expression.
I knew a little bump on the head wouldn't slow you down long.
- For old times' sake. - There were no old times, Cat.
Can't blame a girl for trying.
So, what's the first thing you remembered?
Superman.
Everything you told me about him made me feel like I knew him.
Superman, what he must've gone through.
You know, Lois, the asteroid wasn't exactly a picnic for me, either.
Clark, Superman put it all on the line twice.
You fell into a bunch of garbage cans in the dark.
I hardly think you can put yourself in the same league as him.
Whatever you say, Lois. Whatever you say.