Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20
Title: “Individual Responsibility”
Medium: television series episode
Original airdate: 16 Apr. 1995
Publisher:
6 characters in this story:
Character (Click links for info about character and his/her religious practice, affiliation, etc.) |
Religious Affiliation |
Team(s) [Notes] |
Pub. | # app. |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Kryptonians; Super Friends... ![]() |
![]() |
13,409 | ||||||
|
|
Raleigh College [Superman's girlfriend, then wife] |
![]() |
3,859 | ||||||
|
|
The Legion of Super-Heroes [Superman's pal] |
![]() |
1,896 | ||||||
|
|
[Superman's (Clark Kent's) boss; Daily Planet editor] | ![]() |
1,574 | ||||||
|
|
[Superman's adoptive father] | ![]() |
816 | ||||||
|
|
[Superman's adoptive mother] | ![]() |
827 |
Timecode: 0 minutes, 0 seconds:
The episode begins with a group of men hunting for meteor rocks at night. The group is led by geologist Gene Newtrich, one of this episode's two principle villains. (He is also identified in the episode as a "soil engineer.") A later episode (Season 3, episode 7: "Ultra Woman") reveals that Gene Newtrich has two sisters who are Buddhists (although not particularly devout). There is no indication in this episode that Gene Newtrich himself is a Buddhist.
The name "Gene Newtrich" was probably based on the name of real-life Republican politician Newt Gingrich (a Baptist), who was the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. Gene Newtrich was created for this episode, which first aired when Newt Gingrich was one of the most prominent figures in the news, having just ascended to one of the highest-elected offices in the country with a sweeping program of conservative reforms. Other than their names and perhaps some similarity in their stout build, there does not appear to be any similarity between the fictional geologist in this episode and the real-life politician.
[In the opening scene, Gene Newtrich is present when his team uses electronic detecting equipment he designed to find and then dig up a kryptonite rock. Interestingly enough, this is red kryptonite, the first appearance of any non-green kryptonite in this TV series. Most of this episode's story revolves around the peculiar effect this kryptonite has on Superman: Instead of affecting him physically, it has the odd psychological/mental effect of making him deeply apathetic.]
The "individual responsibility" alluded to in this episode's title actually refers to a philosophy Clark Kent/Superman espouses while apathetic due to the red kryptonite. Superman stops preventing crimes and helping people. Instead, he states that people should take individual responsibility for their safety and well-being, rather, than call on Superman for help. In some ways, apathetic Superman's philosophy might seem reminiscent of the Objectivist teachings of Ayn Rand, although it is not clear whether this episode was intended by its writers as commentary on Objectivism.
[As the opening scene ends (timecode: 1 minute, 19 seconds), we see Gene Newtrich picking up the large glowing red kryptonite rock and holding it to his face while chuckling. His evil-sounding laugh and the red glow of the rock in the surrounding darkness clearly foretell nefarious motives.]
BELOW: This episode's main villain - soil engineer Gene Newtrich - discovers red kryptonite:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Timecode: 1 minute, 23 seconds: Bill Church Jr., the son of Intergang chief Bill Church, is introduced for the first time. He is a Harvard-educated Yuppie who is currently running the world's largest and most wealthy criminal organization. He is a well-spoken, educated, well-spoken young man who seems oblivious to the fact that his organization is an evil criminal enterprise. He acts as if he might be the CEO of any law-abiding large, multinational corporation. He talks to his father, who is on vacation, as the scene opens. Then there is a knock on the door. It is the geologist from the previous scene: Gene Newtrich.
BELOW: Gene Newtrich enters the office of this episode's other main villain: Bill Church Jr., the head of Intergang:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Gene Newtrich: Uh, Mr. Church. As you know, over a year ago your father commissioned my team to try to find some kryptonite.
Bill Church Jr.: Uh huh. Yeah.
Gene Newtrich: Now, using the data we recovered from Bureau 39, we knew approximately where Superman's spaceship crashed. And last night, we found this.
[Gene Newtrich opens the metal box he carried in with him. In it sits the glowing red kryptonite rock.]
Gene Newtrich: Twelve point seven kilometers from the ship's estimated point of impact.
[Gene Newtrich and Bill Church Jr. discuss the fact that the rock is red, not green. They wonder what effect it will have on Superman. Bill Church decides to have Gene field test the rock on Superman, specifically pointing out that Gene is expendable - somebody Intergang won't miss if he is caught and winds up in jail. Despite hearing Bill Church Jr. say this, Gene obediently responds, "My pleasure, sir." This may seem like a strange thing to say after being told you are expendible, but Gene Newtrich is probably well aware of the harsh, often deadly manner that Intergang deals with disobedient or rebellious members of the organization.]
Timecode: 3 minutes, 44 seconds: Clark Kent and Lois Lane are walking to the Daily Planet building when they see marked gunmen robbing the armored car that delivers paychecks to the newspaper's employees. Clark makes an excuse to rush away and returns as Superman. (Lois Lane does not know his secret identity.) Superman rushes to the crime scene and confronts the gunmen.
BELOW: Evil soil engineer Gene Newtrich uses red kryptonite on Superman, causing the hero to become apathetic:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Superman: I'm afraid you'll have to take a rain check on those checks, boys.
Gene Newtrich: [wearing a black ski mask] Oh, really? Well, uh . . . what if we don't want to?
[Out of Superman's direct line of sight, an accomplice in the vehicle opens the lead box that contains the red kryptonite. The radiation from the rock thus effects Superman.]
Superman: Well, maybe nothing. I mean, they'll just have to reissue the checks. So, what do I care?
Gene Newtrich: Uh, right. [To his henchmen] Come on!
[Newtrich and the other gunmen put two boxes of checks in their their getaway van, get in the vehicle, and speed away. Lois Lane, watching this, is shocked. She rushes up to Superman.]
Lois Lane: Superman, you let them get away!
Superman: It's no big deal, Lois. Most criminals are repeat offenders. I'll probably just catch them again later.
Lois Lane: What?!
Superman: And, if I don't . . . [shrugs his shoulders] well . . . See ya.
[Superman says nothing further as he slowly floats into the sky and flies away.]
Lois Lane: Hey, come back here!
[Roll opening credits.]
Timecode: 5 minutes, 39 seconds: Lois Lane gets off the elevator at the offices of the Daily Planet, talking to Clark Kent about what she just witnessed Superman do (or not do):
BELOW: Having become apathetic after exposure to red kryptonite, Clark Kent talks to Lois Lane, pointing out the importance of individual responsibility:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Lois Lane: I mean, I kept thinking I was gonna wake up and it was all gonna be some terrible nightmare. You know, he just stood there and let them drive right off.
Clark Kent: [still apathetic due to the red kryptonite] Well, you know, Lois, there is such a thing as individual responsibility.
Lois Lane: What does that mean?
Clark Kent: Well, the payroll company was responsible for the safety of the checks. Now Superman. Let them deal with it.
BELOW: Lois Lane believes in an individual's responsibility to society as a whole:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Lois Lane: Well, what about the individual's responsibility to society as a whole? The social contract that obligates one person to help another for the benefit of everyone.
Clark Kent: Well, if that's the way you feel about it, great. Otherwise I'd say kick back, enjoy, do your own thing.
Female staffer: Clark, doughnut?
[Clark takes two doughnuts from the box.]
Lois Lane: [following up on what Clark said about letting people kick back and do their own thing.] Are you serious?
Clark Kent: [holding up the doughnuts] As a bear claw. Or would you prefer chocolate-covered? [laughs]
[Clark walks to his desk, leaving Lois standing with her mouth open, shocked at his words.]
Timecode: 6 minutes, 23 seconds: Gene Newtrich shows Bill Church Jr. video footage of his robbery, showing how Superman approached them but became apathetic after being exposed to red kryptonite.
Gene Newtrich: Right here. That's where Superman comes in. Now, I talked to him and then, bam! We opened the box and look at him. He gets within ten feet of that thing, it's like his whole mood changes. He doesn't even care.
Bill Church Jr.: [laughs] Ho ho ho! Well, this is better than killing him! He just doesn't care. That was the problem with that green kryptonite. It always ticked him off. But, no, no. This is perfect. For Operation Nirvana to succeed, it's essential we control the media. And that means the Daily Planet. And if Franklin Stern won't sell the Planet to me, then we'll just have to do things the old-fashioned way. And Perry White's pal Superman won't be able to do a thing about it. [laughs]
BELOW: The Buddhist religious concept of Nirvana is used as the name of Intergang's latest scheme for conquest:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
[Ominous music plays, indicating that Bill Church Jr. is planning something nefarious.]
Timecode: 7 minutes, 18 seconds: Clark Kent sits pondering at his desk. The effects of the red kryptonite have worn off and Clark Kent wonders why he acted like he did earlier.
Clark Kent: I was just wondering about why Superman let those crooks go today.
Jimmy Olsen: Yeah, that was wild. I mean, what was he thinking?
Clark Kent: I don't know. I-- He just-- He didn't seem to care.
Jimmy Olsen: Well, those are the luckiest crooks in Metropolis, huh?
[Lois Lane receives a large bouquet of flowers from Agent Scardino, who she has been dating. Clark is quite jealous. Clark tries joking about Scardino but Lois makes it clear that she thinks his joke is lame. Clark tries another tact: speaking seriously to her. Timecode: 8 minutes, 52 seconds]
BELOW: Lois Lane chides Clark Kent when his analysis of their situation sounds like Freudian psychoanalysis:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Clark Kent: Look, seriously, Lois. [sighs] Maybe you and I are just both afraid of the same thing. Of being completely intimate with each other.
Lois Lane: Well, thank you for your analysis, Dr. Freud. Now maybe you could turn that power of analysis to the robbery.
[By "intimate", Clark means "emotionally intimate." Lois seems like she is still tired of Clark's frequent disappearing acts and the difficulty she has had in the past in trying to go out with him. She also doesn't like the way he seems jealous of Agent Scardino. She doesn't like his talk of being "intimate" and thinks he is spouting psycho-babble, which is something she can't stand. She regards all psychologists and their philosophies with deep suspicion and animosity. Hearing her dismissive words, Clark looks utterly shot down. Lois notices his hurt look and back off, turning to a professional tone of voice to ask a question about the story they are working on.]
Lois Lane: Did you find anything out from the cops yet?
Clark Kent: No, nothing.
Timecode: 9 minutes, 30 seconds: In his office, Perry White is on the phone with the newspaper's owner, Franklin Stern, trying to convince him not to sell the Daily Planet to a company that Perry suspects is controlled by Intergang. In this scene, notice how a framed photo of Perry White's idol Elvis Presley is clearly visible behind him. This photo has been visible in most scenes involving Perry in his office since this series began. In this scene we see a new piece of Elvis memorabilia that we haven't seen before: an Elsiv Presley mailbox, sitting right next to Perry's computer monitor.
BELOW: Elvis worshipper Perry White has an Elvis Presley mailbox in his office:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Perry White: [on phone] No, no, no, Franklin. I disagree. The Planet is more hard-hitting than ever. We're the lead man in the fight for justice, the last bastion of truth in Metropolis. The lighthouse of-- Oh? . . . All right, uh, call me when you get to Paris . . . Yeah, you too . . . All right. My best to Muriel.
[Perry hangs up the phone. Lois and Cark walked in during the end of his conversation with Frankline Stern.]
Perry White: [to Lois and Clark] Am I losing my edge?
Lois Lane: No. Why do you ask?
Perry White: No reason.
[Perry explains that Mr. Stern has an offer on the table and is considering selling the Planet to Multi-World Communications. Lois Lane protests, saying that everybody on the street knows that Multi-World is run by Intergang. Perry points out there is no proof of that, and that Multi-World is now run by Bill Church Jr. Even though Perry knows that Bill Church Sr. runs Intergang, he refuses to believe that Bill Church Jr., a person he has known since his friend's son was an infant, has anything to do with Intergang.
BELOW: Perry White can't believe that Bill Church Jr. (one of the world's most generous philanthropists, and a man he has known since infancy) leads the evil criminal organization Intergang:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Lois Lane: Everybody on the street knows it. Bill Church ran Intergang and when he retired his son took over.
Perry White: All right, let's just put a brake on that wagon right here and now. Now, I know you've been working on this story since November. But now you're talking about Bill Church Jr. And I've known him ever since he was old enough to spit up on me.
Lois Lane: Oh, and that makes him innocent?
Perry White: Billy used to caddie for me and his dad. And the only thing he took over from Bill Sr. was Costmart Stores. And he's doubled the stock and become one of the biggest philanthropists in the whole world.
Lois Lane: And one of the biggest fakes.
[Perry explains that Mr. Stern is very close to accepting the offer, but Perry talked him out of it. Mr. Stern will wait another 72 hours, and then he will sell to Mult-World unless Lois and Clark can convince Perry and Mr. Stern that Bill Church Jr. runs Intergang. Much of this episode's remaining plot revolves around Lois and Clark investigating Bill Church Jr., while Bill Church Jr. actually kidnaps Perry White to pressure him to join Intergang and lend the voice of his newspaper to Intergang's cause. When Intergang operatives (led by Gene Newtrich) kidnap Perry, Superman arrives on the scene. But Newtrich's henchman opens the metal box to expose Superman to red kryptonite, who then allows the kidnappers to get away with Perry.]
Timecode: 14 minutes, 20 seconds: Gene Newtrich delivers Perry White to a beautiful secret lair where Bill Church Jr. is waiting to meet him. Perry is very disappointed when he realizes that Bill Church isn't a fellow captive, but is instead the head of Intergang.
Bill Church Jr.: Intergang. I run it. Now do the pieces fit?
Perry White: Yeah, like horns on a June bug. So you were behind Multi-World Communications' offer to buy the Planet, huh?
Bill Church Jr.: Of course. You see, I not only took over Dad's legit businesses, I also took over Intergang as well. Kind of a two-for-one deal. Unfortunately, you made Mr. Stern hesitate on our bid. So I thought this might tip the scales a bit. Perry, I brought you here because I wanna make you an offer. I want you to be part of the Intergang family. Why, you and Alice will be taken care of for life. We've got a great medical program and a terrific retirement plan.
[Perry starts to turn away. He looks disgusted, which Bill Church Jr. notices.]
Bill Church Jr.: Anyway, I know this is a lot to absorb. Think about it. We'll talk again and then, uh, we'll see.
[Bill Church Jr. leaves the room. Perry starts looking for a way out. When he opens a curtain, he sees he is in a cave.]
Timecode: 16 minutes, 37 seconds: Superman is at the Daily Planet, still apathetic. He has been talking to Lois Lane about why he let kidnappers take Perry White. Superman doesn't really understand why he did it. He said it was like he just didn't care. Lois asks Superman some questions that sound like she is thinking he might be depressed.
Lois Lane: Superman, have you ever had these moods before?
Superman: Never.
BELOW: Made apathetic by red kryptonite, Superman seeks counsel from Lois Lane, who surprises him by recommending he see a psychotherapist:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Lois Lane: And now all the sudden, for no particular reason, you're feeling kind of down? Kind of like, "What's the point of everything?"
Superman: Exactly.
Lois Lane: Hm. Well, I think you should call this number. She did wonders for my sister Lucy.
[Lois Lane writes down a number and hands it to Superman. He looks at it.]
Superman: Dr. Friskin?
Lois Lane: She's a psychotherapist.
Superman: A shrink?
Timecode: 17 minutes, 16 seconds: Cut to the office of psychotherapist Dr. Friskin. Superman fills out the patient information form. This begins the first in a series of scenes in which Superman talks to Dr. Friskin. These scenes illuminate aspects of Superman's character. At the same time, these scenes serve to satirize the field of psychotherapy generally.
BELOW: Freudian psychotherapist Dr. Friskin is introduced:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Timecode: 17 minutes, 39 seconds: Superman lies on a couch while Dr. Friskin sits nearby listening to him.
Superman: I haven't been myself lately. I've been feeling apathetic toward everything.
Dr. Friskin: And this worries you?
Superman: Dr. Friskin, every day I make choices that affect the lives of millions of people. Life and death. Good and evil. Sometimes the fate of the whole world depends on the things that I do or the choices that I make. So yes, this worries me.
Dr. Friskin: So . . . you're feeling stressed?
BELOW: Every day Superman makes choices about good and evil:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Timecode: 18 minutes, 15 seconds: Perry White is still captive in Bill Church Jr.'s well-appointed underground lair.
Bill Church Jr.: So, have you thought any more about my offer?
Perry White: Your offer. Hm. Let's see. Uh . . . All I have to do to take you up on your offer is, what? Give up my pride . . . my integrity . . . Throw away the public trust that I've earned through thirty-five years of hard work. Just to back off my responsibility to the American people to give them the truth?
Bill Church Jr.: Basically.
Perry White: Yeah, well I won't do it!
Timecode: 18 minutes, 45 seconds: More of the psychotherapy scene with Superman and Dr. Friskin.
Timecode: 19 minutes, 22 seconds: Bill Church Jr., still trying to convince Perry White to join Intergang, tells Perry that he talked to his wife and mother earlier today. Bill Church Jr. makes it clear that he will harm Perry's wife and mother (possibly kill them) if Perry does not join Intergang. Bill Church Jr. is charming and debonaire while speaking, but the threat is still clear.
Timecode: 22 minutes, 45 seconds: Disguised as a janitor, Gene Newtrich plants red kryptonite under the couch in Dr. Friskin's office so that as Superman continues his psychotherapy sessions, he will become increasingly exposed to the rock's apathy-inducing effects.
Timecode: 23 minutes, 57 seconds: Perry White bravely tells Bill Church Jr. that he will never join Intergang in this scene, which begins as Bill Church Jr. once again enters the room.
Perry White: Hey, Billy. You run a first class prison, here.
Bill Church Jr.: Oh, Perry, don't think of it as a prison. I'd like you to think of this place as your future corporate headquarters.
BELOW: Non-religious Intergang head Bill Church Jr. tells Perry White to abandon his 'misguided morality' and join Intergang, or die:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Perry White: Huh. I'll never join Intergang.
Bill Church Jr.: Heh. Perhaps you don't fully understand the situation. You see, if you work for me, you get rich beyond your wildest dreams. If, on the other hand, you continue to cling to your misguided morality . . . you die. Now, at Harvard Business School, we call that a no-brainer.
[Gene Newtrich enters the room and motions for Bill Church Jr. to come out of the room so they can talk privately.]
BELOW: Intergang head Bill Church Jr. insincerely jokes that if Perry White doesn't join Intergang, he will be killed and join the angels in Heaven:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Bill Church Jr.: It's all right. Whatever you have to say you can say in front of Perry. Because he's either going to be part of our team, or he'll soon be playing for the angels.
Gene Newtrich: I put the red kryptonite in Dr. Friskin's office.
Perry White: Red kryptonite? What in the sam hill is that?
Bill Church Jr.: Well, we discovered it by accident. But, uh, we're very pleased with its effects on Superman. See, evidently it makes him very apathetic about his work.
Perry White: So that's why he didn't try and save me, huh?
Gene Newtrich: But he thinks he's having some kind of nervous breakdown. [laughs]
Bill Church Jr.: See, it's perfect. Superman is going to a shrink to get well, but all he'll get is more exposure to the red kryptonite. My scientists tell me that his condition could become, uh, permanent.
Perry White: Permanent?
Bill Church Jr.: [to Gene Newtrich] Oh, by the way, send a nice little gift off to Friskin's receptionist for tipping us off. Something along the lines of a Mercedes.
Gene Newtrich: Already handled, Mr. Church. [Exits]
Perry White: You know, I'm ashamed I ever let you spit up on me.
Timecode: 25 minutes, 49 seconds: Superman is lying on the couch in Dr. Friskin's office, in the middle of another psychotherapy session the next day.
Superman: Do I really want to continue being Superman? Of course.
Dr. Friskin: Why?
Superman: Because . . . people need me.
Dr. Friskin: So, you see being Superman as your job? Well, everybody needs a break from their job. To gain some perspective and avoid burn out. When was the last time you a vacation?
Timecode: 28 minutes, 56 seconds: Lois Lane is talking to Dr. Friskin, trying to explain that she wants Superman to get back to his old self, not take a vacation. In their conversation, Dr. Friskin learns that both Clark Kent and Superman are acting similarly apathetic.
Dr. Friskin: So, two of the men in your life are suffering from the same malaise?
Lois Lane: Well, yes. Wait a minute. You don't think that's because of me, do you?
Dr. Friskin: What do you think?
Lois Lane: Well, no offense, but I-- I haven't had the greatest luck with psychiatrists.
Dr. Friskin: Oh? You've spent some time in therapy?
Lois Lane: Oh, no. Just that the last psychiatrist that I saw, well, had an exact double of me made and tried to kill me.
Dr. Friskin: And how did that make you feel?
[Lois Lane says nothing but looks at Dr. Friskin, thinking that the woman is an idiot. End of scene.]
Timecode: 30 minutes, 19 seconds: Perry White is still missing, having been kidnapped by Intergang. Lois Lane, Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen are the only ones that know this. They haven't told anybody else because they don't want the owner of the Daily Planet to panic and sell the newspaper to Multi-World Communications (which is run by Intergang). A newspaper reporter comes into Perry's office and tells Jimmy that he really needs to see Perry, to ask whether he should publish a big story before a witness can corroborate. Jimmy tries to take the place of Perry, but he doesn't know what to do. He looks at a newspaper on Perry's desk and sees an ad for a psychic hotline. He circles the ad. It reads: "Need advice? Call ZINA for Psychic Counselling of All Kinds at 1-800-555-0100." Jimmy calls the number.
BELOW: Finding himself having to answer important questions in his boss Perry White's absense, Jimmy Olsen turns to psychic counsellor Zina:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Zina: [heard on phone] Psychic counselors.
Jimmy Olsen: Uh, yeah, hello, is this Zina?
Zina: Yes, of course.
Jimmy Olsen: You gotta help me.
Timecode: 34 minutes, 3 seconds: Superman is lying down in another session with Dr. Friskin. The red kryptonite is still under the couch.
BELOW: Fighting crime and helping people are what Superman lives for:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Superman: I love being Superman. Fighting crime. Helping people. It's what I live for. [Now speaking about how he feels since the red kryptonite started affecting him:] Or, it's what I used to live for. Now, I don't know. It's just all so frustrating.
[Superman gets so frustrated that he kicks over the couch and discovers the red kryptonite. He finally figures out that it was this red kryptonite that has been affecting him mentally, similar to the way that green kryptonite affects him physically. Using his super strength, he throws the red kryptonite far away.]
Timecode: 36 minutes, 45 seconds: Using his own ingenuity, Perry White escapes from the room Intergang was holding him in. He then sneaks into Bill Church Jr.'s office and starts looking through papers on the Intergang leader's desk. Meanwhile, Lois Lane and Clark Kent begin to figure out what Intergang is up to. From Bill Church Jr.'s office, Perry White calls Lois and Clark. But before Perry can say much, Bill Church Jr. walks in and holds Perry White at Intergang. Clark and Lois head to the sub-basement of the Costmart store where they have figured out that the Intergang headquarters is located.
Timecode: 40 minutes, 8 seconds: Bill Church Jr., with Gene Newtrich at his side, start to take Perry White to a landfill site outside the city so they can murder Perry and bury his body there. They run into Lois as they start leaving the underground Intergang headquarters room. They capture Lois and decide to murder her, too. Then Superman arrives on the scene. Before he can do anything, Gene Newtrich opens his red kryptonite box and exposes Superman. The rock starts to make Superman apathetic again.
Bill Church Jr.: Ah, Superman. How nice to see you. This little situation is really no concern of yours.
Perry White: Fight it, Superman. Don't give in!
Lois Lane: Don't give in? What's going on?
Bill Church Jr.: All right, now, Superman. Time to be on your way.
Superman: Maybe you're right.
[Superman turns as if he is about to leave. Then he turns back to face Bill Church Jr. and Gene Newtrich.]
Superman: Then again, maybe it's not.
[Superman picks up Gene Newtrich's red kryptonite rock and tosses it through the stone wall. Perry White slugs the Intergang operative holding him at gunpoint, then uses a karate chop on him to knock him down to the ground. Lois Lane uses her martial arts skills to knock down a fleeing Gene Newtrich. Bill Church Jr. grabs Lois and holds a handgun on her, holding her in front of himself as a shield. With his super speed, Superman disarms Bill Church Jr. Superman tells Lois to go call the police. The scene ends as Superman says, "It's good to be back."]
Timecode: 42 minutes, 5 seconds: Perry White's office.
Perry White: Ha, ha, ha! Lois, Clark. Come in here. Ha ha! Well, I was just telling Jimmy how I stopped one of Church's henchmen with a karate chop. You know, Elvis was into karate.
BELOW: Elvis-worshipper Perry White recalls that Elvis Presley was into karate:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Lois Lane: It was impressive.
Clark Kent: Almost as impressive as your story, Chief.
[Clark Kent looks at the latest newspaper front page. The headline reads: "Billionaire Church Revealed as Head of Intergang." The story is accompanied by a photo of Bill Church Jr.]
BELOW: Newspaper headline announces head of billionaire Bill Church Jr., head of Intergang:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Perry White: Well, you know, I haven't had a byline in 17 years. Nice to know I've still got the juice.
Lois Lane: Nice to know Mr.Stern's not selling the paper.
Perry White: Oh, I think we're safe for a while. Jimmy, I heard you were running the show while I was gone.
Jimmy Olsen: Not exactly. You see, um . . .
Perry White: Now, now, now, son. You did a good job. Now, Wally's eyewitness turned out to be a world-class liar. If we'd gone with that story, the mayor would've sued our butts off.
Jimmy Olsen: Well, I just did what you always taught me, Chief. Went with my gut.
BELOW: Perry White and Lois Lane gently tease Jimmy Olsen about his belief in psychic counselling:
Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 20 (16 Apr. 1995). Written by Chris Ruppenthal. Directed by Alan J. Levi.
Perry White: Uh huh. I, yeah . . . I only have one question. What's this "Call Zina"?
Lois Lane: Isn't that that number you call for personal psychic guidance?
Jimmy Olsen: [looking embarrassed.] I can explain that.
[Perry White laughs heartily.]
Clark Kent: [sighs] I better go now.
Jimmy Olsen: I can. Really.
[At the end of the episode, in a scene still in the newspaper office, Clark finally verbalizes his feelings and tells Lois that her going out with Dan does upset him. He asks her firmly to go out with him on Saturday night and promises he won't disappear during their date. Lois is impressed with Clark's sincerity and his promise. She really does want to go out with Clark, but she was simply very frustrated with the way he would run off whenever they were together in a heartfelt moment. He didn't want to do this, but cries for help have always prompted him to leave so he can act as Superman. Lois smiles brightly and puts her arms around Clark's neck as she accepts his invitation to go on another date. She puts her face close to his and tells him to promise he'll be there on time to pick her up at 7:00 p.m. She says he also needs to promise that he'll be there at 7:01 and 7:02 and 7:03, etc. This episode ends on a romantic note, as things are looking up for their budding relationship.]