A screenplay by Fred Walker

September, 2000

Based on a novel by Roger Stern

"You'll Believe a Man has Died!"

(Author's note: The basic concept here is to do a "Death and Life" storyline within the continuity of the previous Superman movies. The title is a Latin pun. It can be read either as "Superman 5: Doomsday!" or "Superman versus Doomsday.")

Continued from Superman V Doomsday Part 1 and Part 2

INT. A METROPOLIS NIGHTCLUB -- NIGHT.

Romantic music as Lois, disguised, dances with Luthor, disguised.

LUTHOR

Admit it Lois, I'm not a bad dancer for a middle-

aged criminal genius.

LOIS

If these people had any idea who we were,

my reputation would be shot. It's kinda fun!

Music changes to slower tune; ideally, "Can You Read My Mind?" by John Williams, sung by a live CHANTEUSE. (Could the Chanteuse be Terri Hatcher?) They go cheek to cheek. 2 SHOT.

LUTHOR

Listen -- they're playing your song.

LOIS

At least she isn't rapping it like Margot Kidder.

LUTHOR

(lousy at small talk)

The food here was pretty good, I would say.

That steak really hit the spot. And the burgundy

was certainly robust.

LOIS

I ate here with Superman one time. He used to

swear by the chicken -- especially the bones!

He could eat anything with invulnerable teeth.

She starts to break down. Without missing a step, he hands her his LL LOGO HANDKERCHIEF, and nods that she should keep it.

LUTHOR

Don't let it get around, but I always liked blueboy.

Oh sure, I tried to kill him a few times,

and he kept foiling my evil plans,

but that was just business. I never held a grudge.

I'm really going to miss our duels of wits.

LOIS

We've lost both of them, Lex. Both of them.

Don't you see? Doomsday killed him in Midvale.

Midvale. And she didn't show up to save him.

Until yesterday, I still wanted to believe

she was still alive, somehow, somewhere ...

but Doomsday killed her cousin in her own town,

and she didn't show herself. She's not coming back.

She's really dead. Oh God Lex, how I loved her!

That dear, sweet angel! She used to keep me in line,

and make sure I treated her cousin right.

"Let's get this straight, lady. You break his heart,

I break your arm!" I think I'd give the whole world

if I could hear her tell me off just one more time.

Luthor borrows the handkerchief back. He's the one who needs it.

MUSIC ENDS. Dancers applaud. With lumps in their throats, they return to their table, where Mercy patiently waits.

MERCY

While you were dancing, I picked up the tab.

We can go, if you like.

They nod.

LUTHOR

You and Lois head for the car. I have to

"spend a penny," as the British would say.

Of course, it's been a while since it cost

a penny, but I still like the expression.

Luthor EXITS for washroom. Lois and Mercy EXIT front door.

HAND-HELD TO:

EXT. THE PARKING LOT -- NIGHT.

Lois and Mercy find the LEXMOBILE, and lean on the hood. It is a beautiful, moonless night, with a canopy of stars.

MERCY

(screwing up her courage)

There's something I want to say to you, Lois.

LOIS

Don't be shy. I've admired you for a long time now,

and we've never had a chance to talk.

MERCY

(her expression softens,

becomes more feminine)

It's just that ... I think you're wonderful!

I don't think you understand how important

you are to us. You're our Superman.

And we need you. Desperately. I know its hard.

But you'll get through this. You have to.

You're ... you're Lois Lane.

Lois waves her over, and the ladies embrace.

Luthor EXITS the nightclub.

LUTHOR

I always ask my girls not to start without me,

but they just can't resist.

They laugh, and Mercy opens the car doors.

2 SHOT of Luthor and Lois on her side of the Lexmobile.

LOIS

You've been wonderful, Lex. Thank you.

LUTHOR

Being an evil seducer of women, I'm tempted

to take advantage and kiss you. But Mercy

would do rude things to me with that billy club.

LOIS

Good thing you have a chaperon.

LUTHOR

We'd better be going.

He glances at his WATCH.

LUTHOR

Did we say 9:00 at your penthouse? They may be

there already. Do they have a key?

(beat)

Silly question! When did the bat ever need a key?

He's probably climbing up the side of the building

as we speak, to let the others in!

LOIS

No doubt celebrities are sticking their heads

out of windows, making smart-ass remarks. I always

hated that gimmick. I'm glad we're missing it.

Pregnant pause. Their lips gets closer, closer ... Lois would let him do it, but Luthor won't take advantage of her pain. He quietly shakes his head, and they get in the car.

CRANE SHOT as it drives away.

CUT TO:

INT. LOIS LANE'S PENTHOUSE APARTMENT -- NIGHT.

Jimmy in kitchen.

CLOSE-UP as he brews COFFEE, pours into JLA LOGO MUGS and sets the mugs on a TRAY. VOICES OFF are recognizable as Team Superman.

HAND-HELD follows Jimmy as he EXITS the kitchen.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE PENTHOUSE TERRACE - NIGHT.

Jimmy brings coffee to Team Superman, seated on PATIO FURNITURE. As it is a chilly Fall evening, they act grateful, smiling at him before blowing steam from their mugs. When they talk, we can SEE THEIR BREATH.

JIMMY

Hey, how did this become my job?

LOIS

Because (grunt) Lois Lane doesn't serve coffee.

Lois is arm-wrestling with Mercy. Jimmy's distraction was enough. Mercy wins.

LOIS

(to Mercy)

What are you, anyway? Robotics? Genetic engineering?

Some sort of droid?

MERCY

I'm something even more remarkable than that.

(beat)

I'm a woman.

LOIS

(to Luthor)

No way she's real.

LUTHOR

(shrugs)

The prayers, the training ...

MERCY

... and the steroids.

They keep avoiding the subject for a moment, with idle chitchat.

JIMMY

So, Batman, tell me about the famous Bativac

computer. What kind of operating system do you use?

BATMAN

Oracle, naturally. Batgirl swears by it, for some reason.

LOIS

Hey Bats, what ever happened to the little guy

-- you know, green slippers, holy this and holy that?

BATMAN

Stryker's Island on porn charges.

Pregnant pause. Then they roll up their sleeves and get to work.

LOIS

It's time to consider suspects. I have 3.

There's Kryptonian technology involved here.

If Jor-El were alive, and if Doomsday hadn't

killed his own son, I'd almost suspect him.

JIMMY

Well that's out, unless Jor-El had an evil twin brother!

LOIS

He did, Jimmy, he did.

JIMMY

But Zor-El is dead!

OMINOUS MUSIC. PAN their thoughtful faces.

Then BACK TO Lois.

LOIS

Is he? Did you see a body? I didn't see a body.

Hell, I have seen Kal-El's body and I don't believe

he's dead. If Zor-El's alive he may blame Kal

for the loss of his daughter. That's motive.

"Kill Kara" might be a phoney response Doomsday

was programmed to give to divert suspicion.

Jimmy, you and I will go after Zor-El.

LUTHOR

Who's suspect #2?

LOIS

You are. Put your financial affairs under the

microscope of any forensic accountant Batman chooses.

BATMAN

I choose Bruce Wayne. He's the best.

LOIS

If Wayne finds $5,000 unaccounted for,Lex,

I'm going to assume it was spent making Doomsday,

and I'll kill you myself.

LUTHOR

He won't find five cents unaccounted for.

Mercy will open the books.

JIMMY

Who's your 3rd suspect?

LOIS

It's a possibility so horrible I don't dare say it.

Let's rock and roll. We have 3 days.

BATMAN

What happens in 3 days?

LOIS

Kal has a sense of the dramatic,

not to mention a messianic complex.

On the 3rd day, he will rise again.

CUT TO:

MONTAGE of Bruce Wayne, Mercy and Luthor endlessly going over FINANCIAL RECORDS at Stately Wayne Manor, as ALFRED serves HORS D'OUEVRES.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE HIGH ARCTIC -- DAY.

AERIAL PAN of snowscape with FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE and GIANT KEY in the background. A SNOWMOBILE pulls up, carrying Lois and Jimmy, bundled up in parkas and snowboots and other winter gear.

JIMMY

Where are we going from here?

LOIS

Krypton.

JIMMY

But Krypton was destroyed.

LOIS

Not all of it. The bottled city of Kandor

was shrunken and preserved by Brainiac.

If Zor-El is still alive, that's where he'll be.

JIMMY

So where is it?

LOIS

Behind that door.

JIMMY

With Superman, um, missing, who's going to open it?

LOIS

I am.

Lois takes a VIAL out of her pocket, pops the cork and drinks it. Then she takes off her parka to reveal the costume of Superwoman. She flies over to the Giant Key, lifts it easily and opens the giant doors.

Jimmy turns to camera and shrugs.

JIMMY

Who knew?

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE -- DAY.

CLOSE-UP of BOTTLED CITY OF KANDOR.

ZOOM IN and DISSOLVE THROUGH the top of the bottle to an AERIAL PAN of the City.

MONTAGE of Superwoman and Jimmy in Kandor. She shows him it's many marvels, including a huge STATUE of herself in the public square.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. and EXT. -- a CARTOON SHORT (60s style "limited animation.")

LOIS (V.O.)

I acquired super-powers after the Kandorian

villainess Cor-Lar tricked me into drinking

a serum years ago. I almost never use the serum

because it's highly addictive -- Cor-Lar's plan

had been to enslave me by making me literally

"drunk with power." Since defeating Cor-Lar,

I occasionally do good deeds in Kandor,

where my powers work, since I'm not from

Krypton. Superman is normal in Kandor and super

on Earth, so in Kandor, I'm considered the hero

and Superman is my sidekick!

CARTOON ENDS.

CUT TO:

EXT. KANDOR SQUARE BEFORE THE STATUE -- DAY.

They meet with ZOR-EL and ALLURA, Kara's parents, still living in Kandorian retirement. They converse in Kryptonese, with SUBTITLES.

ZOR-EL

I am shocked to hear this story. Doomsday?

What a horrible creature! I hope I've

convinced you we had nothing to do with it.

LOIS

Could he have been a failed experiment to create

a superhero?

ALLURA

(taking her hand and kissing it)

The people of Kandor have you, Lois ...

we need no other heroes.

CUT TO:

INT. THE BATCAVE -- DAY.

BATMOBILE pulls up, Batman unblindfolds Lois, Jimmy and Luthor.

BATMAN

I'm sorry about insisting on the blindfolds.

It's a precaution to safeguard my secret identity.

They make dismissive gestures and grunt approval. All EXIT the Batmobile.

PAN the famous Batcave, showing all its famous features.

JIMMY POV.

JIMMY

The Batcave. Cool!

They find places to sit. Then they have their meeting.

BATMAN

My financial expert, Bruce Wayne, is satisfied

that Lex Luthor had no criminal expenditures

that might have been a Doomsday Project.

LUTHOR

I told you you wouldn't find five cents missing.

BATMAN

(gruffly)

You are now officially off the suspect list.

JIMMY

Lois and me cleared Zor-El and Allura.

LUTHOR

That leaves Lois' unnamed 3rd suspect.

LOIS

The priority is the tomb. It's the 3rd day.

If my theory is correct, then Superman has

already escaped and is pursuing some

secret mission under cover of being "dead."

But if he's still there, then he really is

dead and this is a murder case.

(beat)

I have to know.

BATMAN

To the Batphone!

Batman goes to the BATPHONE and rings up Commissioner Gordon.

SPLIT-SCREEN. Interior, Batman and JAMES GORDON on the phone.

GORDON

Gordon here. Batman, I presume?

There is something odd, almost angry, in his voice.

BATMAN

Yes, Batman. Who else uses this line?

I need you to use your political stroke

with your opposite number in Metropolis.

We need his permission to exhume Superman.

GORDON

You mean you haven't heard? You haven't seen the

Batsignal? Don't you ever look out the window?

BATMAN

Like there'd be windows in a cave! Duh!

WIPE TO:

GOTHAM CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE -- DAY.

Gordon's side of the conversation now fills the screen.

GORDON

Henderson's been on the phone since morning!

All Hell's broken loose in Metropolis.

Superman was worshipped by his fans,

almost like a god. This is the third day!

Rioters are outside the tomb demanding

that it be opened. They're saying the government

is covering up the fact that he isn't there!

Power Girl showed up to help with crowd control.

Unfortunately, The Matrix had the same idea.

You know how well those 2 get along!

And I don't have to tell you what form

The Matrix had morphed into.

SPLIT-SCREEN RESUMES

BATMAN

Supergirl, I presume.

GORDON

With hot pants! And a sweatshirt saying,

Property of Van Dyne U!

BATMAN

Gods of Krypton! Is she suicidal?

GORDON

Half the Metropolis force is trying to pry them apart.

The fight could last all day, because every time

The Matrix is winning, her "unreliable powers" cut out!

SPLIT-SCREEN ENDS.

Batman hangs up, turns to the others.

BATMAN

Metropolis, quickly! There's no time to lose!

CUT TO:

EXT. THE BATCAVE -- DAY.

SEGUE of spinning BATMAN LOGO. Famous sequence of Batcave opening, sign folding down, Batmobile racing away from Batcave.

CLOSE-UP ON ROADSIGN: Metropolis 50 miles.

CUT TO:

EXT. SUPERMAN'S TOMB -- DAY.

INSPECTOR HENDERSON with a MEGAPHONE behind a police line, calming the CROWD.

HENDERSON

An independent team of crimefighters

will soon go in to check on Superman's whereabouts.

Please remain calm!

Crowd parts, as Team Superman arrives. Crowd is stunned to see Luthor in the same company as the others.

2 SHOT of Henderson and Luthor.

HENDERSON

Young lady, your disguise is brilliant.

LUTHOR

Young lady? I beg your pardon?

HENDERSON

It is well known that Lex would want Superman

alive, so he can kill him himself.

If "Lex Luthor" confirms that Superman

is still dead, the world will believe it.

Good work, Mae. You're always thinking.

By the way, how'd you beat Power Girl?

Luthor grumbles something inaudible, and Team Superman ENTERS the tomb.

CUT TO:

INT. SUPERMAN'S TOMB -- DAY.

Team Superman, in hushed anticipation, enter the "holy of holies." The casket is gone, and there's a TUNNEL dug in the floor! They peer in, with various 4-letter exclamations. Lois starts kicking off her shoes. Jimmy pulls her aside and tries to reason with her. She furtively shows him a VIAL.

2 SHOT of Lois and Jimmy.

JIMMY

(whispers)

I thought you said that stuff was addictive?

LOIS

(whispers)

It is. But I have no choice. I have to go down.

Jimmy grabs the vial and smashes it on the floor, spilling it. Batman and Luthor, not really understanding this, pull them apart.

BACK TO SCENE

BATMAN

This bickering is absurd. It's a cave.

I think this meets the classic definition of

"This looks like a job for Batman!"

LOIS

Okay, but I'm going with you.

LUTHOR

(restraining her)

Oh no you're not! We've already lost one of you.

The world needs Lois Lane.

LOIS

Yeah? Well Batman needs backup!

JIMMY

Don't look at me! I'm not going down there, I'm too scared!

FEMALE VOICE

I'll go with Batman.

SWISH-PAN as they turn to see BATGIRL standing behind them. She wears the traditional costume, and cascades of red hair spill out from under her cowl. We recognize her as Barbara Gordon.

BATMAN

How does she do that? Every time I need her,

I just turn around and she's there. Who tips her off?

(to Batgirl)

Do you have a friend in the Commissioner's office?

BATGIRL

Oh, the Commish is a pal of mine. Why,

he's almost like a father to me!

Batman and Batgirl take their BATSPELUNKING GEAR out of their utility belts, turn on their BATLIGHTS, and lower into the tunnel with their BATROPES. Jimmy softly hums, "nananananana..." and they tell him to quit it.

CUT TO:

INT. THE TUNNEL -- DAY.

POV BATCAM as Batman and Batgirl explore with Batlights casting spooky shadows. BATMAN THEME MUSIC by Nelson Riddle.

BATMAN

This passage could have been cut with a laser cannon.

BATGIRL

Or heat-ray vision?

BATMAN

Yes, or heat-ray vision. But why would he bring his casket?

BATGIRL

He'd have to. It doesn't matter what your religion is,

the 3rd day is part of popular culture. He knew

someone would check, and if the casket were just empty,

they'd start worshipping him as a god. So he'd take

the casket too, to make it look like grave-robbing.

CUT TO:

INT. A DARK SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER -- DAY.

Batman and Batgirl ENTER through the tunnel opening.

They cast their Batlights around them. BATCAM POV as they survey the scene. The FURNITURE is in 60s op-art style, and everything is covered with DUST. This place is CREEPY!

BATMAN

Hey, look over here.

He shines his light on a long wall of STATUES, obviously some sort of psycho shrine to great criminals of the past.

PAN statues of Al Capone, Robin Hood, Bonnie and Clyde, Catwoman, The Joker, Jesse James, Professor Moriarty...

BATGIRL

Hey. One of them's bald!

BATMAN

It's not who you think.

He blows dust off the inscription.

INSERT SHOT: it reads ‘The Ultra-Humanite.’

Batgirl is in awe.

BATGIRL

There are crooks here I've never even heard of!

Who's The Thinker? Hah! Look at this Black Flame

babe! As if those are real! Where are we?

BATMAN

Luthor's Lair.

BATGIRL

Don't be silly. Nobody's used this for a hideout

for years.

BATMAN

Not our Luthor. The real Luthor.

Not the dishonest but reasonably nice guy

wearing a wig at the end of that tunnel.

This was Baldy's hideout. I'm betting

we're directly under the Metropolis Museum.

BATGIRL

(dusting off a chair and sitting)

So ... what are we saying here?

Are we saying that Baldy survived the Crisis?

That he created Doomsday to kill Supe?

BATMAN

(pacing and pondering the problem)

No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure Baldy

is really dead. And as you say, this place

hasn't been used in ages. But somebody knew

it was here, and used it as a tunnelling point

to loot Superman's tomb.

BATGIRL

So ... where are the casket and body now?

EERIE MUSIC.

POV as they pan the room with their lights. No luck.

BATMAN

(sudden inspiration)

Shine your light on the floor!

BATGIRL

What?

BATMAN

(enthusiastically)

The dust is everywhere! There must be footprints!

They do so.

INSERT SHOT. PRINTS of a man's bare feet.

BATMAN

He's alive! They only open a casket halfway.

Undertakers are notorious for stealing the

shoes of corpses -- the loved ones can't tell.

A graverobber would have worn workboots.

He was here! SUPERMAN LIVES!

They hug and kiss. Freeze. They realize they're kissing then break up shyly. Batman takes a TEST TUBE out of his utility belt and starts scooping up dust.

CLOSE-UP as he works.

OVER-THE-SHOULDER SHOT as Batgirl snoops.

BATGIRL

What are you doing?

BATMAN

This dust is a funny colour. I'm going to

test it in the Batcave. I'm The World's

Greatest Detective. I do stuff like this ...

CUT TO:

INT. THE TOMB -- DAY.

Batman has brought them up to date, and they all high-five.

BATMAN

I now have a theory as to who created Doomsday,

and it's so horrible it must be the same as Lois.'

They walk off to confer in hushed tones. They turn back to the group and nod.

LOIS

It's true. We have the same suspect.

JIMMY

(excited)

So who is it? Brainiac? Darkseid? General Zod?

Batman and Lois shake their heads and refuse to say.

LOIS

We could be wrong. I hope we're wrong.

But with all due blushing modesty,

Bats and I have such worldwide reputations

as crimefighters that if we tell you we agree

on a suspect, you'll assume we must be right,

and we may overlook evidence that points

in other directions. We want you guys

to keep open minds. This is too important

for us to rush to judgement.

LUTHOR

(impatient)

What are we going to do about that crowd?

LOIS

Superman wants everyone to think he's dead

for a reason. We don't know what that reason is,

but we have to trust his judgement.

BATMAN

Let's go face the music. Come along, Batgirl.

Oh Batgirl? Hey, where's Batgirl? She was here

just a minute ago!

(stamps his foot)

How does she do that?

They EXIT.

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