Issue 2 – No One Can
Page 1: this page contains four panels, each wide and thin and one on top of the other. They are zooming in toward clark's face.
Panel 1: An image of the Earth on the left and the surface of the expanded sun on the right, close to touching the surface of the earth. The earth is no longer green and blue, but a mixture of yellow and red.
Thought: The sun has expanded, and the Earth has burned.
Panel 2: Zoomed in. We can see some details of the surface and can just make out the surface of the sun on the right.
Thought: I've waited a long time for this.
Thought: I fought so long for this planet… and now it's over. I couldn't save it. I never could.
Panel 3: Zoomed in even more. We can see a figure standing on top a barren cliff, staring upward.
Panel 4: Zoomed in even further so that we can only see the top half of his face – his eyes and nose, and the top of his head. He is still staring up at the sun.
Page 2: this has two panels, one wide and thin one at the top and another larger one underneath it.
Panel 1: Exactly the same as panel 4 from the previous page.
Clark: Wow.
Panel 2: A shot from behind Clark, who is now in metropolis. He is staring up at the skyscrapers in front of him, while people and cars go past him on either side. The sky is clear and blue and the sun is shining.
Box: Metropolis, 2001
Page 3: This has many panels, with a larger one down at the bottom.
Panel 1: From relatively far away, we see clark entering a building. About half way up the building, the words 'Daily Planet' are lit up in yellow on the wall.
Thought: It's just like I always imagined it would be… only bigger.
Thought: I've never seen buildings so high.
Thought: Except in dreams…
Panel 2: Clark walks into an elevator. The floor that he is on is brightly lit and full of people in suits.
Thought: If you asked, I couldn't explain why I chose journalism.
Thought: I could do anything… be anyone…
Panel3: Clark is stood on his own in the elevator as it rises. He is smiling distantly and reaching into his jacket.
Thought: I guess it has something to do with searching for the truth…
Thought: Trying to make sense of the world…
Panel 4: View from above his head. He has a glasses case in his hands and has opened them. his right hand is about to pick the glasses up.
Thought: For some reason that appeals to me…
Panel 5: From slightly below eye level, looking up at clark's face as he puts the glasses on. He us smiling.
Thought: The struggle to see things with clarity.
Panel 6: From outside the elevator looking in as the doors slide open.
Voice (from the right side of the panel): Jimmy? Anyone seen Jimmy?
Voice: Why is that kid never around when I want him?
Panel 7: Looking out over a busy office floor of the daily planet as clark exits the elevator. There are many people either sat at computers or walking around busy.
Jimmy: Um… right behind you, Mr White.
Perry: Get in here.
Page 4:
Panel 1: From inside Perry's office. He is sat down in his chair and jimmy is stood in front of his desk. Perry is shouting at jimmy. Clark is peeking around the door, unnoticed.
Perry: where the hell are those photos of the Baxter building fire I asked for last week?
Jimmy: Um… I was just making sure they were ready, chief…
Perry: We've got deadlines to meet, Jimmy.
Perry: No one wants to read a story that's seven days out of date.
Panel 2: Similar to the last panel, except viewed from over clark's shoulder. Perry and jimmy have both turned to look at him.
Clark: Ah… hello?
Perry: Who the hell are you?
Perry: Oh, Kent, it's you. Get out Jimmy.
Panel 3: From the side as jimmy walks past clark on his way out. They smile at each other.
Clark: Hi, Jimmy.
Jimmy: Nice to see you, Mr Kent.
Perry (from right side of screen): And get me those damn pictures!
Panel 4: Clark has moved into the office and Perry has stood and is shaking his hand.
Perry: That boy… damn good photographer, lousy timekeeper. I oughta fire him.
Clark: Well, I –
Perry: Good to see you Kent. How was your flight in? You ready to start working at the Planet?
Clark: Yes, Mr White. I –
Perry: Great. I'm starting you on the city beat. it's Lane's beat at the minute, but she's too good for it.
Panel 5: A view of Perry's face. He is smiling.
Perry: Hey, you met Lane yet?
Clark (from the right side of the screen): Um… No, Mr White. I haven't had the pleasure.
Panel 6: Similar to the last one, except he is looking surprised.
Perry: Pleasure? You definitely haven't met her then.
Panel 7: Similar to the last two except perry is looking to the side and shouting.
Perry: Lois! Get in here!
Panel 8: A slightly wider panel, showing Perry stood in a similar position to the last few panels, and clark looking sideways toward the door.
Lois (from the left side of the panel): I'm busy, chief. What d'you want?
Page 5:
Panel 1: A larger panel, from the side. Clark and perry are closest to the reader, and they are both looking toward the door. Lois lane has entered, and is stood looking at clark. She is wearing a suit with trousers and high heels, and her hair is tied back.
Lois: Oh! Well hello, stranger.
Perry: Lois, Clark. Clark, Lois.
Thought: And all of a sudden, my life is changed.
Panel 2: A view of clark's face. His mouth is hanging open.
Clark: Uh… nice to meet -.
Perry (form left side of panel): I'm giving him the city beat. Show him the ropes will you?
Panel 3: A view of Lois's face. She is angry, and is looking off to the right side of the panel.
Lois: What? That's my beat, chief!
Perry: Not for much longer, Lane. You're movin' on up.
Thought: I can smell the sweat that she tries to cover with perfume…
Panel 4: Similar to the last panel, only zoomed in a little.
Lois: So… what? Until then I'm on babysitting duty for your new friend here?
Perry: Yeah, that's exactly right.
Thought: I can see the wrinkles… and all of the imperfections in her skin that she covers with make-up.
Panel 5: Similar to the last two, but zoomed in so that the eyes are visible.
Lois: Well, you can go to hell, Perry. I'm not gonna spend my time showing someone how to do my job.
Thought: But her eyes… and her voice…
Thought: There's nothing hidden beneath those. Nothing held back… nothing fake.
Page 6:
Panel 1: They are now outside in the main office area. They are sat at opposite sides of the desk. Lois is avoiding looking at him, and still has an angry look on her face. Seen from the side.
Panel 2: The same as the last panel.
Clark: Um… I'm sorry about that, Lois.
Clark: I didn't know Mr White was going to put me on your beat.
Panel 3: The same as the other panels.
Clark: So… uh… tell me about yourself, Lois.
Clark: How long have you worked here?
Thought: I'm fumbling, and I know it.
Panel 4: The same, except Lois has lifted her head and is looking at clark.
Lois: …
Lois: Too long.
Clark: I'm sure you don't mean that, Lois. It seems like a nice place.
Panel 5: The same, except Lois has stood up and is moving away.
Lois: …yeah.
Panel 6: The same, except Lois is now gone and Clark is following after her.
Clark: Uh… Lois?
Thought: Love at first sight…
Page 7:
Panel 1: They are walking along outside, towards the left side of the panel. The path is busy. Lois has put a jacket on.
Clark: …so my parents helped me with getting my first apartment, and I'm gonna send some of my wage back to them every month.
Lois: That's interesting, Clark. How about we do some work now?
Panel 2: From the front. Lois still has an annoyed look on her face, and clark looks a little sheepish.
Clark: Oh… no problem, Lois.
Clark: Uh… where are we?
Panel 3: they are walking through the door of a bank. It is mostly empty, and there are police around.
Lois: Central bank. Last night it was broken into by a bunch of armed thugs. They made off with a couple hundred grand.
Lois: One of the people working here got shot as they left.
Panel 4: Similar to the last panel, except Lois has moved forward and is talking to the police.
Lois: 'Scuse me. Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Can I get a word with someone?
Thought: Someone was murdered here.
Panel 5: From some way in front of Clark, looking at him. He is still stood in the doorway, looking at the chalk outline on the floor. A forensics person is kneeling next to it. There is a blood stain on the floor.
Thought: the stench of the blood soaked floor fills my nostrils.
Thought: Every single part of me wants to leave.
Page 8:
Panel 1: Lois is trying to talk to the police, but they keep blanking her.
Lois: Anyone? Just a few words.
Police man: No comment.
Panel 2: Similar to the last panel, except the cop has moved away.
Lois: Well, thanks a bunch.
Lois: Looks like we've got ourselves a wall of silence, Clark.
Panel 3: wider shot, from behind Lois. She has turned her head to look around for Clark.
Lois: Clark?
Panel 4: Clark is sat with a woman who is in a bank uniform. She is crying while clark listens.
Woman: …and then Anna just… jumped at them. I don't know what she was thinking.
Woman: Trying to be a hero. Just like her.
Clark: And what happened then?
Panel 5: A close up of Clark's face. He has a sombre expression and is frowning.
Woman (from the right side of the screen): One of them turned around and shot her in the stomach.
Woman: I held her hand when she died.
Thought: One day earlier…
Panel 6: Clark watches as the woman walks away, crying her eyes out.
Thought: If I'd gotten here one day earlier I could have stopped this.
Lois (from right side of panel): I'm impressed, country boy.
Page 9:
Panel 1: Quite large. Lois stand with her arms folded as Clark turns to face her. We see from over Cark's shoulder.
Lois: Playing the kind and caring shoulder to cry on. Never been my strong suit.
Lois: One small problem though. I don't think I saw you taking any notes.
Panel 2: Clark looks away, distantly.
Clark: I have a good memory.
Clark: And I wasn't playing.
Panel 3: Lois's top half. She is smiling, as though she doesn't believe him.
Lois: Riiight.
Lois: Listen, Clark… in this business you need to be ruthless. The story is what matters.
Thought: the story…
Panel 4: The pair leave the bank together, along the same street as before.
Clark: But… why are we telling the story, if not because we want people to care?
Panel 5: Lois turns again to face him.
Lois: The bastards that did this will not get caught. We tell the story because if we didn't then no one would even know that this happened. We're… keeping notes.
Page 10:
Panel 1: Clark's face again.
Thought: Keeping notes.
Clark: I don't believe that, Lois.
Clark: I think we do what we do to make people care about the horrible things that happen in the world.
Panel 2: Wider shot of lois and clark, from an angle slightly tilted towards clark on the left. Lois looks at clark with a smile.
Lois: …
Lois: You seem like a nice guy, Clark, but you've only been in Metropolis for a day.
Lois: In a city this big… horrible things happen here every day.
Panel 3: Similar to the last panel, except Lois is now walking away.
Lois: We can't save everyone, Clark.
Lois: No one can.
Panel 4: Another close up of Clark's face.
Thought: We can't save everyone…
Thought: No. I can save everyone. And I will.
Panel 5: Wider shot again, from the side this time. Clark walks after Lois.
Clark: Lois? Do you have any plans for dinner?
Lois: Yes, Clark. I do.
Panel 6: Shot of Clark standing alone, looking at Lois walking away (who isn't in the shot).
Page 11:
Panel 1: Clark walks into his apartment, which is small.
Thought: The people in this city are… not what I'm used to.
Thought: They live in apathy.
Panel 2: He moves into his bedroom and takes off his tie.
Thought: They see and hear so much horror that they have become… used to it.
Thought: Desensitised.
Panel 3: He throws his tie down on his bed and stands looking at it.
Thought: …
Thought: Maybe all they need is an example.
Panel 4: He kneels down and pulls something out from under his bed. It is a box.
Thought: Someone to show them that they don't have to stand for it.
Thought: That no matter how hard they're pushed down the wrong path…
Panel 5: He has the box on his bed and has removed the lid. He is looking down at it and smiling. The reader can't see what's in there.
Thought: …they can always push back.
Panel 6: A shot from outside his bedroom window. we can just make out him lifting the superman costume out of the box.
Page 12:
Panel 1: Lois Lane is sat in her apartment, looking in a mirror. She is doing her make-up. In the first panel we see her from behind slightly.
Panel 2: We see her from where the mirror is. She is now putting fancy earrings on. Her roommate is standing just by her bedroom door.
Roommate: He's got the hots for you, y'know.
Panel 3: Similar to above, but Lois is rolling her eyes.
Lois: I know, Lucy…
Lois: Like I could miss all those god-awful passes he's made at me. God, he makes me nauseous.
Panel 4: A view from the side of the room. Her roommate has moved further in and Lois is now getting her dress ready.
Roommate: He's rich, though.
Roommate: I mean… he's very rich.
Lois: He's also an ass.
Panel 5: Lois is climbing into her dress.
Lois: If you're that interested, I'd be happy to introduce you…
Roommate: Ha! No thanks…
Panel 6: View of roommate's face. She looks a little sad.
Roommate: But you really need a guy, Lois. I mean… what's your type? What kind of guy are you waiting for?
Panel 7: Lois stares at herself in the mirror with her dress on. She looks gorgeous, but also a little sad.
Lois: …
Lois: A nice guy…
Panel 8: Lois has spun around to face her roommate and is now smiling.
Lois: So, how do I look?
Roommate: You look gorgeous, Lois.
Roommate: Like you always do. Seriously, would it kill you to have one bad hair day? Y'know, just to make me feel better?
Page 13:
Panel 1: This is a full page panel. Superman is hovering high above the city, looking down at it.
Thought: It looks so… beautiful from up here.
Thought: A giant sculpture built on a canvas of mud and concrete…
Thought: …that only I can see.
Thought: I'm actually nervous… I've been looking forward to this moment for months.
Thought: I'm going to save this city. I'm going to shake these people out of the daze that they've been living in for so long.
Thought: And I'm going to start tonight.
Page 14: Three panels, each similar to the last. Each views of clark with his eyes closed, except the last panel when he opens his eyes. They zoom in progressively. Each contains various samples of people talking throughout the city.
Panel 1:
Thought: I open my ears… and I hear everything.
Thought: Mothers comforting children…
Panel 2:
Thought: Friends enjoying each other's company…
Thought: Lovers praying the night doesn't end…
Panel 3: Clark opens his eyes.
Thought: And I know that I won't feel alone any more…
Speech: Help!
Speech: Everybody down on the ground right now!
Page 15: A large panel at the top followed by a couple of smaller panels.
Panel 1: Large, across the top. Viewed from slightly below, looking up. A group of armed and masked thugs have broken into a building. They are shouting at the employees are pushing some of them to the ground.
Thug 1: I said everybody down on the ground now. If any one of you fuckers is still standing in five seconds I swear to god I will kill every last one of you!
Panel 2: Smaller. One of the thugs looks at another and points upwards. The other acknowledges him. Neither of them speak.
Panel 3: From the side. One of the thugs is hitting a man in the head with the butt of a rifle. In the background, the thug who was in the last panel is entering the elevator. He is carrying a large back pack.
Page 16
Panel 1: Again from slightly below. the main thug is stood in the centre of the room talking to the people there.
Thug 1: Now, we're just gonna sit down here all friendly while my friend… negotiates with your boss upstairs…
Panel 2: Similar to the last panel, except one of the thugs that was behind him has been swooped away, leaving nothing but a streak of wind.
Thug 1: …and if you're lucky, you might just make it out of here alive.
Panel 3: similar to the last panel except now thug 1 is looking around at where his colleague was standing.
Thug 1: Everything OK over there?
Thug 1: …
Thug 1: …Pete?
Panel 4: Slightly larger. From above the thug. He has swung around with his gun waving around and is looking upwards. Behind him, hostages kneel down with surprised looks on their faces.
Thug 1: Who's there!?
Thug 1: Come out here!
Panel 5: From the side of the thug. He has a furious face and is screaming.
Thug 1: I swear I will kill all these people if you don't come out here right now.
Panel 6: same as 5, except now he has a shocked expression.
Superman (from behind him): I won't allow you to do that, sir.
Page 17
Panel 1: The thug swings round to see superman standing behind him with his arms folded across his chest and a stern expression on his face.
Thug 1: What-?
Panel 2: Small panel. The thug and the rest of his colleagues stand there with confused expressions on their faces.
Panel 3: Similar to the last panel, except the thugs are all laughing.
Thug 1: (Laughs) Kill this joker.
Panel 4: From above. The thugs spread out and circle around superman, who simply stands still. They are all still smiling.
Thug 2: You picked the wrong party to crash, man.
Thug 3: You're gonna die.
Panel 5: They all open fire, laughing and smiling as they do. This is similar to the last panel. The bullets impact superman but he does not react.
Thought: They think their toys make them invincible…
Panel 6: looking directly at thug1. He is still laughing (hasn't noticed that bullets having no effect) and firing.
Thought: …but I will educate them.
Panel 7: similar to last panel except he isn't laughing any more. He has a shocked expression.
Page 18: two large panels.
Panel 1: looking directly at superman. We can see the top half of his body. He has his arms folded across his chest still and his face lowered slightly.
Panel 2: Similar to last panel, but zoomed in. superman has raised his head slightly and is smiling.
Page 19:
Panel 1: Up on the top floor, the thug with the bomb is holding a gun at two unseen people. He is also holding a radio to his mouth. There is a large window next to him through which we can see the city.
Thug 4: What the hell is going on down there?
Thug 4: …
Panel 2: A close up of the thug. He has a nervous expression and still holds the radio to his mouth.
Thug 4: Hello?
Panel 3: Superman bursts through the floor. The thug falls to the ground closest to the reader. Behind superman we can see lois lane and lex luthor with shocked expressions.
Panel 4: Close up of the thug on the floor. He is still wearing a shocked expression. in his hand is a detonator, and he presses it with a click.
Thug 4: Aaah
Panel 5: Lex luthor is sat down closest to the reader. Lois lane is standing beside him. They have frightened expressions. Lois lane is shouting something.
Lois: Bomb!
Panel 6: Superman looks on with narrowed eyes.
Page 20:
Panel 1: Superman has darted forwards and shot through the window, smashing it. He grabbed the bomb from a cowering thug on his way out.
Thought: Stupid.
Panel 2: From in front. Superman flies away as fast as he can with the bomb. He is flying toward the reader.
Thought: I could hear the bomb before I smashed through the floor.
Thought: So why didn't I stop and think?
Panel 3: from far away and slightly below. the bomb explodes in a massive fireball.
Thought: My first mistake.
Panel 4: as the smoke clears we can see superman hovering there, unharmed.
Thought: It will not be my last.
Panel 5: superman looks back at the reader over his shoulder with a shocked expression. there is a 'bang' sound.
Panel 6: Larger, covering the bottom of the page. Back in the top floor of the building, the thug lies dead on the floor with a bullet through his head. Lex luthor stands over him with a gun in his hand. lois lane stands behind him shocked.
Page 21
Panel 1: Lex luthor's face. He is smiling.
Superman (from the left side of the panel): you murdered him.
Superman: You gunned him down in cold blood.
Panel 2: Same as last panel, except luthor's eyes are closed.
Luthor: It was self-defence, my interesting friend.
Panel 3: Wider shot. Luthor has turned to face superman, who looks at him with a stern expression.
Luthor: I don't know what you are or where you came from, but you have my thanks.
Superman: Save it, Luthor. That man was unarmed. you should take his place in prison.
Panel 4: Superman has turned to leave, but luthor stops him by putting a hand on his shoulder.
Luthor: Wait. I have a proposition for you.
Luthor: How would you like to work for me?
Thought: Luthor…
Panel 5: Superman carries on walking without looking back.
Thought: If I'd known then…
Thought: Known what a monster he'd become…
Panel 6: Lois lane moves to follow superman. Luthor calls after her with his arm outstretched but she doesn't stop.
Luthor: Lois?
Panel 7: close up of luthor's face. He is frowning.
Thought: …would I have had the guts to end it there?
Page 22:
Panel 1: Superman is almost out of the window, before Lois calls out to him.
Lois: Hey!
Lois: Hey, wait a minute!
Panel 2: Superman looks back over his shoulder. He does not turn.
Lois: There were over a hundred people in this building tonight.
Lois: you saved them all. You're a hero, and people are gonna want to hear about it.
Panel 3: Close up of lois's face.
Lois: How about an interview?
Panel 4: Clark looks down, saddened.
Panel 5: clark floats away out of the window while lois watches him go.
Superman: I didn't save them all…
Thought: …no one can.