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Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994): “Madame Ex”
by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson, Randall Zisk

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1

Title: “Madame Ex”

Medium: television series episode

Original airdate: 18 Sep. 1994

Publisher: ABC
Written by: Tony Blake, Paul Jackson
Directed by: Randall Zisk


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.
Superman Superman (Clark Kent) hero
CBR Scale: S Methodist / Kryptonian religion
Kryptonians; Super Friends...  DC 13,409
Lois Lane Lois Lane supporting character
CBR Scale: I Catholic
Raleigh College
[Superman's girlfriend, then wife]
DC 3,859
Jimmy Olsen Jimmy Olsen supporting character hero
CBR Scale: I Lutheran
The Legion of Super-Heroes
[Superman's pal]
DC 1,896
Perry White Perry White supporting character clergy/religious leader
CBR Scale: S Baptist; Elvis worship (ordained)
[Superman's (Clark Kent's) boss; Daily Planet editor] DC 1,574
Jonathan Kent Jonathan Kent supporting character
CBR Scale: S Methodist
[Superman's adoptive father] DC 816
Martha Kent Martha Kent supporting character
CBR Scale: S Methodist
[Superman's adoptive mother] DC 827

Timecode: 2 minutes, 26 seconds:

As the first scene of this episode reveals, Arianna Carlin (played by actress Emma Samms) is the ex-wife of Lex Luthor. She was divorced from Lex ten years ago. Now she is apparently hatching some sort of nefarious plot. She has hired a plastic surgeon, Dr. Heller, to transform a woman's face into an exact duplicate of Lois Lane. After seeing that Dr. Heller has done what she wanted him to. Arianna Carlin pulls out a gun and murders the man. Arianna Carlin is apparently as evil as her ex-husband was. The woman who now looks like Lois Lane is apparently a co-conspirator with Arianna Carlin. It is clear that she was aware that Arianna Carlin was planning to murder Dr. Heller. The Lois Lane lookalike is not at all surprised at the murder.

Arianna Carlin: Dr. Heller, you're brilliant. The world will truly miss you.

[Arianna Carlin shoots Dr. Heller.]

BELOW: Arianna Carlin, the ex-wife of Lex Luthor, murders a plastic surgeon:

Arianna Carlin, the ex-wife of Lex Luthor, murders a plastic surgeon

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Timecode: 3 minutes, 34 seconds: A construction site in Metropolis where a high-rise building is being built is shown. A radio program can be heard. Cut to close-up of a radio being carried by a construction worker who is working at the site.

BELOW: A radio talk show debates merits of Superman after Superman let Lex Luthor die:

A radio talk show debates merits of Superman after Superman let Lex Luthor die larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Radio show host: Okay, we're back, and we're talking to Harold about this growing controversy regarding Superman's presence in Metropolis. What do you think, Harold?

Harold (caller to radio show): Lex Luthor, a great man, would be alive today if Superman had done his job.

[Atop the under-construction high rise, one construction worker accidentally knocks another worker off the top of the building with a long beam he was carrying. The hapless victim of this accident screams as he falls. He was so high up it seems certain that the fall will kill him. But Superman swoops in and catches the man, saving his life. A crowd at the base of the building excitedly recognizes Superman as he sets the construction worker on his feet on the ground.

BELOW: After saving a construction worker, Superman is heckled by an anti-Superman detractor who questions why he let Lex Luthor die:

After saving a construction worker, Superman is heckled by an anti-Superman detractor who questions why he let Lex Luthor die larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Superman: You okay?

construction worker: Yeah.

Bystander in teal polo shirt: Welll, isn't this just dandy. Superman saves the day again.

Superman: Is there a problem?

Bystander in teal polo shirt: Yeah, you.

Construction worker (who was saved by Superman): What are you, nuts? Superman's the greatest.

Bystander in teal polo shirt: Oh, yeah? If he's so great, why didn't he save Lex Luthor?

Superman: I wanted to.

Bystander in teal polo shirt: Wanted to? Wanted to is not good enough. Lex Luthor did a lot of good for this city, and you let him die.

Superman: There's more to it than you know. Believe me, I didn't want him to die.

BELOW: A Metropolis citizen criticizes Superman for acting like 'Supergod':

A Metropolis citizen criticizes Superman for acting like 'Supergod' larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Bystander in teal polo shirt: Why should I believe you? You're nothing but a freak in a blue suit.

[Superman says nothing. There is a long pause.]

Superman may be trying to think of something to say. But what can he say to this man? In a very real way, is there not some truth to this man's words?

Bystander in teal polo shirt: You know what I think? You save who you wanna save. You call yourself Superman. I think you think you're Supergod.

[Superman says nothing. He turns around and flies away.]

Timecode: 5 minutes, 11 seconds: Offices of the Daily Planet. Two newspaper employees are arguing about the merits of Superman:

BELOW: Daily Planet staffers debate merits of Superman, particularly in reference to his failure to save Lex Luthor's life:

Daily Planet staffers debate merits of Superman, particularly in reference to his failure to save Lex Luthor's life larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Overweight male staffer in scarlet shirt: If you ask me, Superman just isn't the hero he used to be. I mean, Lex Luthor may have had his faults, but Supeman should have saved him.

Female staffer: Are you nuts? Luthor was a lowlife, scum-sucking criminal. How could anybody like . . . that guy?

The female newspaper staffer realizes, too late, that she is walking past Lois Lane while she wonders aloud how anybody could like Lex Luthor. Seeing Lois Lane, she remembers how Lane was only recently engaged to the late Lex Luthor. She is embarrassed, but can't do anything about it. The female staffer smiles, slighly chagrinned, and half-heartedly apologizes to Lois.

Female staffer: Sorry, Lois.

[Lois Lane simply turns and continues walking with her coffee back to her desk as the female staffer and the man she was talking to continue walking in the other direction. Jimmy Olsen (now played by Justin Whalin, replacing the actor who performed the role throughout Season 1) walks up to Lois Lane, showing her a newspaper frontpage.]

BELOW: Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen discuss polls showing increased anti-Superman sentiment:

Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen discuss polls showing increased anti-Superman sentiment larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Jimmy Olsen: Morning, Lois. Hey, have you seen this poll in the Star today?

Lois Lane: What are you reading this rag for?

Jimmy Olsen: No, look at it. It says twenty percent of Metropolis is anti-Superman.

Lois Lane: What is wrong with people?

Jimmy Olsen: You know what's really weird? It's when they asked these people why they didn't like Superman, half of them couldn't give a specific reason.

Lois Lane: I swear, we are witnessing the dumbing down of America. People with opinions who have no idea why they even have opinions.

[Jimmy Olsen chuckles in agreement. A few moments later, Clark Kent approaches.]

Clark Kent: Morning.

Jimmy Olsen: Hey, CK, have you seen this?

[Jimmy shows the Star newspaper to Clark. The front page has a sidebar article headlined "Superman: Hero or Not" The article has text copy explaining the recent poll, as well as a pie chart. Roughly 47% of the pie chart is "Pro Superman", 20% is "Anti Superman", about one-third is "undecided."]

BELOW: Pie chart shows anti-Superman versus pro-Superman sentiment in Metropolis:

Pie chart shows anti-Superman versus pro-Superman sentiment in Metropolis larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: Hostility toward Superman seems to be a growing trend.

Perry White: [approaching] What are you two still doing here? I thought you were going out to cover the murder of that plastic surgeon from Lex Lab.

Clark Kent: Sorry, chief, I was a little late getting in this morning. I had a p-- [Clark stops himself. He knows he can't explain that as Superman he saved a person from falling off a building.] A problem dropped on me.

Perry White: Oh. well, as long as you're here, you might as well listen to this too. Okay, everybody. Let's gather around and listen up here. I have an announcement to make. As you know, we've been through some pretty difficult times recently, and the new owner feels that some of you might be suffering from stress. You know, anxiety, short fuses, et cetera. So as of today, the Daily Planet now has its very own staff psychiatrist.

Lois Lane: What?! He can't be serious.

Clark Kent: That doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

Lois Lane: Well, if you wanna sit on a couch listening to psychobabble, fine with me, but I've got stories to work--

BELOW: Lois Lane considers the work of psychiatrists and psychologists to be 'psychobabble':

Lois Lane considers the work of psychiatrists and psychologists to be 'psychobabble' larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Perry White: Ah, excuse me. Am I interrupting something here?

[Lois Lane and Clark Kent look chagrinned. They realize they were being rude by talking during Perry White's announcement and they speak no further.]

BELOW: Perry White explains that the psychiatrist who authors the column 'Healing the Inner Self on the Couch' will be the new staff psychiatrist for the Daily Planet:

Perry White explains that the psychiatrist who authors the column 'Healing the Inner Self on the Couch' will be the new staff psychiatrist for the Daily Planet larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Perry White: Now, many of you might be familiar with this woman from her syndicated column that we've been running called: "Healing the Innter Self on the Couch."

Jimmy Olsen: They yanked the jumbo puzzle for that. I was just getting good at that.

Perry White: Yeah, I was getting pretty good at it myself. I mean, I'm not so hot on this touchy-feely stuff, so that's why I never read the column. But it's helping to sell newspapers and the good doctor has convinced our publisher that, uh, well, she could be of some help here.

Lois Lane: How do we even know she's a real doctor? Half these media shrinks are frauds.

[Arianna Carlin enters the room. We recognize her as the woman who, in the first scene of this episode, identified herself as Lex Luthor's ex-wife and proceeded to murder plastic surgeon Dr. Heller. The staff of the Daily Planet, of course, does not know all of that.]

Arianna Carlin: Oh, I'm a real doctor, Miss Lane.

Lois Lane: Uh, of course, I was talking about the other half.

Perry White: Dr. Carlin, I was just explaining about you to the, uh, staff.

Arianna Carlin: I'm looking forward to meeting all of you over the next several days. Please feel free to stop by my office any time.

Perry White: Okay, folks. Let's get to it. We've got some blank pages to fill in. [The staff goes back to work. Perry speaks directly to Arianna Carlin.] They're all yours.

[Arianna walks over to Lois Lane.]

BELOW: Psychiatrist Arianna Carlin wants to counsel Lois Lane, who is not interested. Lois has not been 'on the couch' with anybody in a long time and isn't planning to start now:

Psychiatrist Arianna Carlin wants to counsel Lois Lane, who is not interested. Lois has not been 'on the couch' with anybody in a long time and isn't planning to start now larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Arianna Carlin: Miss Lane. I'm especially looking forward to meeting with you.

Lois Lane: Ah. Dr. Carlin, a lot of people have tried to get me on a couch . . . and after all this time, I don't think I'm gonna start with a psychiatrist.

Arianna Carlin: In my experience, it's the people who say they're fine that need help the most.

Lois Lane: Excuse me. Have work to do.

This exchange between Lois Lane and Arianna Carlin is suggestive of two facts: First, Lois indicates that it has been a long time since she has been sexually intimate with anybody. This conclusion is backed up by all of the episodes we saw in Season 1 as well as comments made by series weriter/producer Deborah Joy Levine on the documentary featurette about the "making of" the Lois & Clark TV series that was included on disk 6 of the Season 1 DVD box set.

Secondly, Lois Lane clearly does not hold much regard for the psychiatry and psychology. Lois Lane's positions on this matter reflect an awareness of the large amount of pseudo-science and outright fraud present in the psychiatric profession. In many ways, Lois Lane's beliefs about psychiatry are identical to the beliefs taught by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology would later be the subject of an entire episode of Lois & Clark (the last episode of the series: Season 4, Episode 22).

Timecode: 9 minutes, 1 second: Later, Lois Lane and Clark Kent talk while walking to the office of the late Dr. Heller.

BELOW: Lois Lane does NOT want to see a psychiatrist: Nobody knows me better than me. And believe me, I'm fine.

Lois Lane does NOT want to see a psychiatrist: Nobody knows me better than me. And believe me, I'm fine. larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: That Carlin woman. I can't believer her gall. "In my experience, it's the people who say they're fine who need help the most."

Clark Kent: Lois, she is a professional. Maybe she knows a bit more about this than we do.

Lois Lane: Nobody knows me better than me. And believe me, I'm fine.

Clark Kent: Oh, is that why you have all those candy bars in your desk.

Lois Lane: Those are for emergency. In case I have some . . . [lying] drastic drop in blood-sugar level. And what were doing in my drawers, anyway?

Timecode: 11 minutes, 6 seconds: A bright yellow banner with red lettering adorns the front of City Hall. The banner proclaims: "CITY COUNCIL HONORS SUPERMAN." However, a large crowd of protesters has gathered in front of City Hall - people who disagree. The crowd shouts "Superman must go!" and the people in this group hold up anti-Superman signs and placards. One sign simply has the word "Superman" in a circle with a line through it, like a "no smoking" sign. Other signs read:

BELOW: Protesters hold up anti-Superman signs at City Hall:

Protesters hold up anti-Superman signs at City Hall larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

NO ALIENS ALLOWED
WE'RE STEAMED. GET OUT.
DOWN WITH SUPERMAN
TAKE A FLYING LEAP
SUPERMAN GO HOME!

The bystander from the construction site in the earlier scene - the man who wore a teal shirt and who strongly criticized Superman - now leads the anti-Superman chanting through a bullhorn. As his name is not identified, we'll call him "Chief anti-Superman protester"

BELOW: Anti-Superman protesters explain their complaints about Superman to a TV news reporter:

Anti-Superman protesters explain their complaints about Superman to a TV news reporter larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Reporter: [holding a microphone] Excuse me, can you tell me, what is the purpose of this demonstration?

Chief anti-Superman protester: We don't think the city should be honoring Superman. Especially after he let Lex Luthor die.

Reporter: But what do you have to gain?

Female protester: I've always been concerned about Superman. Why is he so secretive? What's he got to hide?

[Lois Lane walks up to the reporter holding the microphone. At least it looks just like Lois Lane. Actually, as we learn a few moments later, it is the imposter whose face has been surgically altered by Dr. Heller so that she looks just like Lois Lane.]

BELOW: Lois Lane imposter: I prayed Superman would save Lex Luthor.

Lois Lane imposter: I prayed Superman would save Lex Luthor. larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane imposter: I was there when Lex Luthor died. I prayed Superman would save him. But for some reason, he decided not to. I think the citizens of Metropolis have a right to ask: Isn't Lex Luthor's blood on Superman's hands?

This seems like a very sincere statement on the part of Lois Lane. The way she delivers this line, it sounds like she sincerely prayed for Superman to save Lex Luthor. She doesn't mention prayer in an off-the-cuff way. One might think that this is an example of Lois Lane speaking sincerely about prayer. As we see a few moments later, however, this isn't the real Lois Lane. Rather, it is merely the imposter. The imposter is complicit in murder and in a plot to turn the city against Superman. She is sincerely religious but is, in fact, merely saying what her boss, Arianna Carlin, told her to say.

This interview is seen on television. Later, Lois Lane's co-workers at the Daily Planet are shocked by what Lois apparently said. They are not surprised by her expression of religious belief. Lois Lane is apparently not a particularly devout churchgoer, but she has expressed sincere religious belief before. Lois Lane's co-workers are shocked that she would express anti-Superman sentiment. She has always seemed to be one of Superman's biggest supporters.

The scene cuts away from the protest in front of City Hall to show the imposter Lois Lane meeting with Arianna Carlin. The imposter asks how she did. Arianna Carlin criticizes the imposter for using her left hand to push her hair back on camera, explaining that Lois Lane is right-handed.

Arianna Carlin: How many times do I have to tell you? Lois Lane is right-handed.

Lois Lane imposter: Sorry.

Arianna Carlin: For what I'm paying you, "sorry" is not acceptable.

Lois Lane imposter: It won't happen again.

Arianna Carlin: Hopefully not, for your own sake. [Looking over at the protest.] People are so easily manipulated. And this is just the beginning. By the time I'm finished, Metropolis will be torn apart. Lois Lane and Superman will wish they had never betrayed Lex Luthor.

BELOW: Arianna Carlin: People are so easily manipulated:

Arianna Carlin: People are so easily manipulated larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

When Lois Lane arrives at the Daily Planet offices the next day, people treat her strangely. They saw "her" interview on TV. Some people applaud her, but most are angry or perplexed by her behavior. Perry White shows her the tape of her denouncing Superman. Lois of course says it wasn't her. But Perry White and Clark Kent are not convinced. Arianna Carlin is on hand. She convinces Perry and Clark that Lois Lane is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, that she is having psychological problems in the aftermath of the death of her fiance, Lex Luthor. Arianna Carlin convinces Perry White to strongly suggest that Lois have a counseling session with her.

Timecode: 16 minutes, 5 seconds: Superman is flying through the air while reading. He is reading a book titled Psychology. A picture of Sigmund Freud, the founder of Freudian psychoanalysis, is on the cover. Superman is reading this book in an effort to try to understand Arianna Carlin's work and Lois Lane's current problems. Superman is so absorbed in his reading that he flies into a radio station antenna. This momentarily disrupts radio transmission for a young woman listening to a boom box. Superman bends the antenna back into place before continuing on his way. He flies to Smallville to talk things over with his parents.

BELOW: Superman reads Sigmund Freud book about psychology:

Superman reads Sigmund Freud book about psychology

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Timecode: 16 minutes, 41 seconds: Lois Lane sits in Arianna Carlin's office at the Daily Planet, reluctantly beginning a counseling session.

Lois Lane: So when do we start blaming my parents for everything?

Arianna Carlin: [Smiles, recognizing that Lois is joking.] Maybe later. Right now, it might help if we talked about what's been happening in your life for the past few months. You must admit, you have been under--

[The scene with Arianna Carlin interviewing Lois Lane is interspersed with a scene in which Clark Kent counsels with his parents. There is much commonality between their conversations, but there are also many differences.]

Clark Kent: [to his father] --heavy emotional stress. And after what she did on television last night, I . . .

Jonathan Kent: I'm not a doctor, son, but can a person be under so much stress that--

Lois Lane: [to Arianna Carlin] --I'd forget I was on television? I don't think so.

Arianna Carlin: Lois, you can't ignore what took place on your wedding day. The events surrounding Lex Luthor--

Clark Kent: [to his father] --really affected her. But she's too stubborn to admit it.

[Clark's mother, Martha Kent, walks up with a tray of sandwiches and lemonade for her husband and son, who are working on painting the barn together.]

Martha Kent: You just keep on being patient and understanding. She'll come through it.

Clark Kent: Yeah, but when?

Arianna Carlin: [To Lois Lane] Behavior like yours could, if left untreated, turn violent. Tell me, have you had the desire to strike out at anybody recently?

[Lois gives Arianna Carlin a look that indicates that she (Lois) would like to strike the psychiatrist she is now being forced to counsel with.]

Lois Lane: The only desire I have had lately is for, um, Double Fudge Crunch Bars.

[Lois pulls a Double Fudge Crunch Bar out of her purse and shows it to Arianna Carlin.]

Clark Kent: [to his mother] I'm not hungry. I've been so worried about Lois, I haven't had much of an appetite.

Martha Kent: Well, at least she's working with this Dr. Carlin, now. That's a start.

Lois Lane: [to Dr. Carlin] See, I guess it all started with Lex's proposal. It was the last thing I expected. And the Planet was destroyed. I wasn't sleeping much. And then Clark decided to tell me he loved me.

Clark Kent: [to his parents] I was desperate to stop her from marrying Lex. But it didn't work.

Lois Lane: [to Dr. Carlin] And then, when he suddenly changed his mind and told me he didn't love me! Well, that, combined with everything else . . .

Arianna Carlin: What's your relationship with Clark now?

Lois Lane: Well, for a second I thought there might be something between us--

BELOW: Clark Kent explains to his mother that he lied to Lois about his feelings for her, but he crossed his fingers while lying:

Clark Kent explains to his mother that he lied to Lois about his feelings for her, but he crossed his fingers while lying larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: I guess . . . We're best friends. And I would never to anything to jeopardize that.

Martha Kent: But you lied to her about your true feelings.

Clark Kent: Well, I-- I crossed my fingers when I did it.

Here Clark Kent justifies his lying to Lois in the previous episode (Season 1, episode 22) by explaining that he was crossing his fingers. Clark's mother gives him a look of amusement mixed with disapproval. Of course, Clark's using "crossed fingers" as a "loophole" that allows him to tell a lie without moral consequences seems a bit juvenile. That he did this reflects his strong moral discomfort at lying. Of course, Clark lies all the time about not being Superman, but he apparently places that type of lying in a separate category. When he lied to Lois Lane about his feelings for her, telling her he doesn't really love her, he wasn't telling a lie to protect his superhero identity. He was telling a lie as Clark Kent about his feelings as Clark Kent. He must believe that it is wrong to lie in that manner, which is why he crossed his fingers: so he could allow himself to tell such a lie, a lie he would not tell under normal circumstances.

BELOW: Clark Kent's father Jonathan asks Clark why he lied to Lois:

Clark Kent's father Jonathan asks Clark why he lied to Lois larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Jonathan Kent: Why did you lie to her at all?

Clark Kent: Because I know the only person she's in love with--

BELOW: Lois Lane explains why she was attracted to Lex Luthor - his power, and she thought he was a great humanitarian:

Lois Lane explains why she was attracted to Lex Luthor - his power, and she thought he was a great humanitarian larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: [to Dr. Carlin] --is Superman.

Arianna Carlin: So you never loved Lex?

Lois Lane: I was attracted to his power. And to what I thought was a great humanitarian, but, uh . . . No. I never loved Lex.

From the look on Arianna Carlin's face we can see that Lois Lane's words strike her hard. Arianna Carlin truly loved Lex Luthor, and still does. It is hard for her to hear that the woman that Lex gave his heart to didn't even love him.

Lois Lane: Have you ever loved someone and knew you'd love them your entire life, whether or not they ever loved you in return?

Arianna Carlin: Once. I loved him as much as any woman can love a man, and even though he divorced me, I still love him to this day.

Lois Lane: So you understand my feelings for Superman?

Arianna Carlin: Oh, yes. Very much so.

Arianna Carlin struggles to maintain her composure. Lois Lane's words have triggered memories of her beloved Lex Luthor, and her emotions are running wild beneath her mostly calm and collected exterior.

Timecode: 19 minutes, 54 seconds: Exterior shot: LexCorp high rise skyscraper. Cut to interior shot, where a number of lawyers and other people are gathered for the reading of Lex Luthor's will. Lois Lane and Clark Kent are in attendance, as reporters.

BELOW: Lex Luthor's will is read. He left large amounts of money to many charitable causes:

Lex Luthor's will is read. He left large amounts of money to many charitable causes larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lawyer reading Lex Luthor's will: And to the Metropolis Arts Council, Mr. Luthor bequeaths the sum of $50,000. To the Metropolis Children's Summer Camp, Mr. Luthor has left the sum of $25,000, to be distributed as seen fit by the camp's board of directors. In addition, the will instructs that the Metropolis Summer Music Fair receive the sum of $25,000. As for Mr. Luthor's controlling shares in LexCorp, they will be assigned to a special trust administered by my law firm . . . All of Mr. Luthor's personal property, including his art work and jewelry, will be auctioned off. The proceeds will go to the A.C.L. Corporation, which administers a special annuity for his ex-wife, Mrs. A.C. Luthor. A scholarship in Mr. Luthor's name will be established to reward those who uphold the high ideals that he stood for. Mr. Luthor has also said aside funds for the creation of a state-of-the-art theater where a film documenting his extraordinary life will be shown free to the public on the hour every hour, 365 days a year.

Timecode: 21 minutes, 24 seconds: Arianna Carlin visits the a lab. Gretchen, a female LexCorp scientist (played by actress Denise Crosby), opens the door to the lab and lets her in.

Arianna Carlin: I'd like to see him.

Gretchen: Of course.

[We hear the sounds of a life support system. Machins are providing breathing for a comatose body. A glass coffin-like enclosure contains the body of Lex Luthor. Arianna Carlin and the Gretchen are working to revive Lex Luthor. From this scene, it seems that Lex Luthor might not be completely dead.]

Arianna Carlin is still very much in love with her ex-husband.

Arianna Carlin: How is he, Gretchen?

Gretchen: Better. The brain waves have stabilized. Tomorrow, I'll begin a mild stimulation to initiate regeneration.

Arianna Carlin: He always said you were the best physician he ever had. I can't tell you how comforting it is to have you caring for him.

Gretchen: Well, it's a labor of love. He's very special to me.

It is clear here that Gretchen loves Lex Luthor. She walks away, leaving Arianna Carlin to commune with the comatose body of her ex-husband. Arianna Carlin caresses the transparent coffin.

Arianna Carlin: Hello, Lex. It's Ari. We got into your penthouse. I have the Kryptonite. It won't be long now.

[Arianna Carlin kisses the transparent coffin.]

BELOW: Arianna Carlin kisses the coffin-like container in which rests the deceased (or nearly deceased) body of the ex-husband she stil loves - Lex Luthor:

Arianna Carlin kisses the coffin-like container in which rests the deceased (or nearly deceased) body of the ex-husband she stil loves - Lex Luthor

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Arianna Carlin: Be well, darling.

Timecode: 22 minutes, 54 seconds: Lois Lane and Clark Kent are in the offices of the Daily Planet. Lois Lane says she spent a lot of time at the Bureau of Vital Statistics and failed to find any record of Lex Luthor's wedding to Arianna Carlin in this state or any other.

BELOW: Jimmy Olsen informs Lois and Clark that Lex Luthor was married on a ship:

Jimmy Olsen informs Lois and Clark that Lex Luthor was married on a ship larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: Jimmy, you find anything on Luthor's marriage?

Jimmy Olsen: You bet I did. It turns out he was married on a ship in the Caribbean. I found this wedding announcement that ran in the Planet 10 years ago.

Lois Lane: No picture. No maiden name.

Jimmy Olsen: Yeah, I know. But I'm gonna try and track down that ship's captain.

Detective Rider: Lois Lane?

Lois Lane: Yeah.

BELOW: Lois Lane explains that she sleeps alone:

Lois Lane explains that she sleeps alone larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Detective Rider: Detective Rider, Metropolis P.D. You wanna tell me where you were last night around one o'clock?

Lois Lane: I was home asleep. Why?

Detective Rider: Can anyone verify that?

Lois Lane: Of course not. I sleep alone.

[Lois looks at Clark. She suddenly feels embarrassed about quickly she pointed out that she sleeps alone. She seems self-conscious.]

Lois Lane: By choice.

Timecode: 24 minutes, 7 seconds: Perry White and Clark Kent have come to the police station to post bail for Lois Lane, who is accused of an assault committed by the imposter who is masquerading as her. Police escort an anti-Superman protester into the police station to be booked. The protester is wearing a T-shirt with Superman's picture on it covered by a circle with a slash through it, as in a "no Superman" symbol.

BELOW: Anti-Superman T-shirt worn by an anti-Superman protester:

Anti-Superman T-shirt worn by an anti-Superman protester

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Protester: Down with Superman! Superman must go!

Perry White: Now, this resentment of Superman is getting out of hand. What these people need is a good swift kick in the rear.

Lois Lane: Thanks for bailing me out.

Timecode: 27 minutes, 9 seconds: Lois Lane and Clark Kent are walking on a city sidewalk.

Clark Kent: Do we even know where Dr. Heller's office is?

Lois Lane: No. Maybe it's in the phone book.

Clark Kent: Okay.

BELOW: Clark Kent questions why Lois Lane checks for loose change in pay phone coin slot. He thinks this is irrational:

Clark Kent questions why Lois Lane checks for loose change in pay phone coin slot. He thinks this is irrational larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

[Lois Lane checks for change in the pay phone's coin return slot.]

Clark Kent: Why did you just do that?

Lois Lane: What?

Clark Kent: You stuck your finger in the coin return.

Lois Lane: What's the big deal? It's just a habit. Everybody does it.

Clark Kent: Do you always do it?

Lois Lane: I don't know. Maybe. Why?

Clark Kent: I just think it's interesting. You're a well paid professional. Why do you feel like you have to look for loose change?

BELOW: Lois Lane says her habit has no special meaning: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Lois Lane says her habit has no special meaning: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: Not everything a person does has some hidden meaning. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[While Clark Kent continues looking in a phone book, Lois Lane happens to look down at the ground. She sees a penny on the sidewalk. She reflexively leans over to pick it up, as is her habit, but she stops herself, afraid that Clark will see her and tease her for doing so.]

BELOW: Lois Lane reflexively stoops to pick up a penny, but stops herself after considering Clark's questioning of her habitual behaviors:

Lois Lane reflexively stoops to pick up a penny, but stops herself after considering Clark's questioning of her habitual behaviors larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: Great. The page with Dr. Heller's address is torn out of the phone book.

Lois Lane: Maybe it's in the white pages.

Clark Kent: You know, I don't think people realize just how inconsiderate it is to, like, rip pages out of a public phone book.

Lois Lane: Here it is.

[Lois rips the page she found out of the phone book at the public pay phone.]

Lois Lane: Come on.

[Clark Kent stares at Lois with his mouth wide open. Clark stammers. He has been rendered speechless after seeing Lois doing something that he thinks is so "inconsiderate." She seems not to notice. She may have not even been listening to him. She walks to the street to hail a taxi.]

BELOW: Clark Kent is dismayed to see Lois Lane inconsiderately ripping a page from a public phone book:

Clark Kent is dismayed to see Lois Lane inconsiderately ripping a page from a public phone book larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Timecode: 30 minutes, 58 seconds: Lois Lane and Clark Kent go a retirement home to talk to Captain Keen, the now-retired ship's captain who performed the wedding the ship-board wedding of Lex Luthor and Arianna Carlin. The captain kept photos of all the weddings he performed. He shows Lois and Clark a photo from the Luthor wedding.

BELOW: Captain Keen performed the wedding of a young Lex Luthor before Luthor was wealthy and famous:

Captain Keen performed the wedding of a young Lex Luthor before Luthor was wealthy and famous larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: Captain, it was our understanding that you performed the marriage of Lex Luthor.

Captain Keen: Oh, yeah, I married them. Some kid called and said you would be coming by. Of course, Luthor wasn't anybody then, but I could tell he was a comer. And that bride of his, she was--

Lois Lane: Something like me?

Captain Keen: No, much prettier. And really built. Now, what do you suppose would make a fellow like that jump off a building? You'd think with all of his money he'd a come up with a better escape plan.

Clark Kent: Captain, do you remember the name of the bride?

Captain Keen: Sure! Mrs. Luthor. [laughs] Hey, that's a joke. I'm retired, I ain't senile. Oh, the kid said you might wanna see a wedding picture. I got pictures of everybody I ever married. [Opens a photo album. Finds the right page.] Here you go. [Shows the photo to Lois and Clark.] Lex Luthor and Ari Carlin. Married, October 8, 1984.

BELOW: The wedding photo from when Lex Luthor married Arianna Carlin:

The wedding photo from when Lex Luthor married Arianna Carlin

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: Arianna Carlin is Mrs. Luthor.

Up until this moment, Lois and Clark had not realized that Lex Luthor's ex-wife, a woman they had heretofore known only as "Mrs. Luthor", was actually Arianna Carlin, the psychiatrist who is working at the Daily Planet.

While Lois Lane and Clark Kent are out investigating, the woman masquerading as Lois Lane enters the offices of the Daily Planet and tosses a tear gas canister. Superman saves everybody from the gas. Clark enters the office after the danger has passed. Timecode: 35 minutes, 7 seconds.

Perry White: Hey, Clark, Lois' suspicions were right. There is a double.

Clark Kent: I know. Where's Arianna?

Jimmy Olsen: She left before it happened. Why?

Clark Kent: Arianna Carlin was married to Lex Luthor.

Perry White: I don't believe it.

Clark Kent: Not only that, she had Dr. Heller create the double, then she killed him. Now she's trying to destroy Lois.

Perry White: Great shades of Elvis . . . I can't believe that woman pulled the wool over my eyes like that.

BELOW: Perry White: Great Shades of Elvis!

Perry White: Great Shades of Elvis! larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Jimmy Olsen: Don't feel so bad, Chief. She wrote the book on it.

[Jimmy holds up the psychology book about subliminal advertising that Arianna Carlin wrote.]

BELOW: Clark Kent realizes that Arianna Carlin has been influencing Metropolis using subliminal messages:

Clark Kent realizes that Arianna Carlin has been influencing Metropolis using subliminal messages larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Clark Kent: That's it.

[Clark has figured something out. Cut to a scene that takes place a short time later. Clark Kent has printed out copies of all of Arianna Carlin's columns that were printed in the Daily Planet. Timecode: 35 minutes, 35 seconds.

Clark Kent: These are all of Arianna's latest columns.

Perry White: Exactly what is it you're looking for?

Clark Kent: Subliminal messages.

BELOW: Clark Kent and Perry White decipher the acrostic subliminal messages that Arianna Carlin has used to foment anti-Superman sentiment:

Clark Kent and Perry White decipher the acrostic subliminal messages that Arianna Carlin has used to foment anti-Superman sentiment larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger larger

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

[Clark Kent stares at a column until he notices the acrostic message revealed by reading only the first letter of each paragraph: "Superman is evil."]

Clark Kent: I got it. When you link together the first letter of each one of these paragraphs, it spells the message, "Superman is evil."

Perry White: Well, I'll be.

[Clark looks at the acrostic message from a second column: "Man of Steel wicked."]

Clark Kent: "Man of Steel wicked."

[Clark looks at a third column.]

Clark Kent: "Superman must die." It's no wonder that twenty percent of Metropolis is suddenly anti-Superman.

Perry White: Yeah, well, the doctor's got a loyal following. Hey, let's see what she's got planned for tomorrow.

[Clark Kent and Perry White look at the galley for tomorrow's column.]

Clark Kent: "Lane murder of Superman good."

Perry White: That lunatic's planning on having Lois' double kill Superman?

Clark Kent: And tear the city apart over her trial.

Perry White: Well, you know, she's one brick shy of a fulll load. Nobody can kill Superman.

Arianna Carlin lures Superman and Lois Lane into a trap and almost kills them both and gets away. Arianna shoots Superman with a Kryptonite bullet, which probably would have killed him had he not been able to revive Lois Lane so that she could dig that bullet out of his shoulder. Although weakened, Superman manages to apprehend Arianna Carlin and the Lois Lane imposter.

Timecode: 43 minutes, 6 seconds: At her desk at the Daily Planet, Lois Lane is putting the finishing touches on the news story she is writing about this episode's events.

BELOW: Lois Lane finishes writing her news story about the evil ex-wife of Lex Luthor:

Lois Lane finishes writing her news story about the evil ex-wife of Lex Luthor

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: What do you think about this tagline? "And so in the end, Arianna Carlin Luthor proved to be no less evil than her ex-husband. And thanks to Superman, Metropolis can now bring to a close the final chapter of the House of Luthor."

[Lois looks pensive after she reads the final line of her news story to Clark.]

Clark Kent: What's the matter?

Lois Lane: Well, I found out something about Superman that I didn't put in the story. I don't know if I should.

Clark Kent: Is it newsworthy?

Lois Lane: Very. It's just, it's . . . kind of a personal thing.

[Lois is apparently referring to the effect the Kryptonite bullet had on him.]

Clark Kent: Lois, you've got great reporter's instincts. Trust them.

[Lois Lane taps the key on her keyboard that finalizes and saves the story as it is, without the additional details about Superman. She smiles at Clark, and he smiles back at her.]

Perry White: Lois, look . . . now that Dr. Carlin and your double are enjoying deluxe accomodations with a fabulous view of the exercise yard [meaning: they are in prison], I would strongly suggest that you take a little time off. Now don't argue with--

Lois Lane: You know, I think I will.

Perry White is shocked to hear Lois agree to take time off, because Lois almost never takes time off.

Perry White: You will? [joking] Clark, are you sure we're talking to the real Lois Lane?

[Clark Kent chuckles at Perry's joke.]

Clark Kent: Lois, what are you gonna do with all your free time?

BELOW: Lois Lane considers going to the Bermuda Triangle to dispose of Kryptonite that could harm Superman:

Lois Lane considers going to the Bermuda Triangle to dispose of Kryptonite that could harm Superman

Source: Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 2, Episode 1 (18 Sep. 1994). Written by Tony Blake, Paul Jackson. Directed by Randall Zisk.

Lois Lane: I don't know. Maybe I'll take a cruise through the Bermuda Triangle.

[Lois turns and leaves. Clark smiles.]

The reason Lois Lane's parting line is significant is that after she dug the Kryptonite bullet out of Superman's shoulder, thus saving the super-hero's life, Lois asked him what she should do with the bullet. Superman told her to get rid of it, preferably in the Bermuda Triangle. This meant that he knows the bullet is dangerous and he wants it put some place that nobody will ever find it and be able to use it against him again.

This scene shows that Lois Lane is putting the safety and secrets of Superman above her desire to publish something in a news story that is a scoop, something that nobody else knows. Lois could have revealed a significant amount about Kryptonite's effects on Superman, his subsequent weakness, etc. But she chose not to, even though doing so could have boosted her career or her fame as a reporter.

Timecode: 45 minutes, 2 seconds: Lex Luthor's doctor, Gretchen, looks tenderly at the transparent coffin/life support system that currently houses his body.

Gretchen: I've got some bad news, Lex. Arianna failed. But don't worry. You'll always have me.

[Getchen puts her finger to her lips and then touches her finger lovingly to the transparent coffin above where Lex Luthor's head lies.]

[End of scene. End of episode. Ominous music plays.]

Viewers of this episode are left to wonder: Is Lex Luthor really alive? Will Lex Luthor be brought back to consciousness?