INT. KENT FARM – CLARK'S LOFT
Chloe drops a large, heavy, cardboard box, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt. Coughing a bit, she and Pete open it up and scurry through the contents, some old clothes, like two little kids opening their gifts at Christmas time. Clark, meanwhile, sits at the desk with a pencil in his hand, hovering over the pad of paper. He looks up long enough to yell at them.
CLARK
Hey, be careful with that. You're gonna break something.
CHLOE
Chill, Clark, they're just clothes.
CLARK
Yeah, well, I thought you were going to help me with my speech.
CHLOE
I am, I can listen and scavenge at the same time.
Pete pulls out an old sweater, missing a sleeve.
PETE
Ouch. Someone got a little too close to the animals during feeding time.
Chloe looks at the sweater and shrivels up her nose.
CHLOE
Ew. No big loss.
She pulls out a green and pink checkered short sleeve shirt.
CHLOE
And, for that matter, what decade was this from?
PETE
Don't you mean what century?
Clark starts getting impatient.
CLARK
Are you going to listen or take pot shots at my parent's fashion sense?
CHLOE
I'm listening. I'm listening. Go ahead.
Clark picks up the pad and clears his throat.
CLARK
Okay... Ehem... Ladies and gentlemen, I...
CHLOE
Wrong.
CLARK
Wrong?
CHLOE
This isn't a speech for the debate team, Clark. You can't afford to let a formulaic preamble disengage your audience. When the President of the United States makes a speech to the public, he starts out with, "My fellow Americans". You need something along those lines to really grab the people's attention.
Pete pulls out a pair of plaid jeans from the box.
PETE
Ugh... He could wear these while he's sayin' it. That'll grab some attention.
CHLOE
You don't want that kind of attention.
Chloe checks the side of the box.
CHLOE
Are these your parents' old clothes or Halloween costumes.
CLARK
What about, "People of Earth"?
Chloe rolls her eyes.
CHLOE "Show me to your leader." Come on, Clark. You can do better than that. Try being just a little creative.
CLARK
Okay, you do better.
She thinks for half a second.
CHLOE
Ok... "Citizens of Earth, my friends..."
PETE
That's good.
She smiles proudly.
CHLOE
Thank you.
Clark looks down at the pad and shakes his head. He erases what he has, and pencils it in.
CLARK
::under breath:: Show off...
CHLOE
What was that, dear?
CLARK Nothing, I didn't say anything.
CHLOE
Okay, so what else ya got?
CLARK
"My name is Kal-El, from the planet Krypton."
CHLOE
Uh, freak everybody out, why don't you?
CLARK
What now?
CHLOE
Why don't you just call yourself Mendar from Mars?
CLARK
Kal-El is my real name.
CHLOE
You don't have to tell them that.
CLARK
Isn't that the whole point?
CHLOE
Never give the people more information than they need to know.
PETE
As a reporter, I thought it was your job to give the people all the information possible?
CHLOE
As a reporter, your job is to report the news, but if you report all the news today, you'll have nothing to write about tomorrow. All the people really want to know is as much as they need to get through the day. Tell me what I need to know right now and tell me the rest tomorrow.
CLARK Well, if I'm not going to tell them anything, what does that make me?
CHLOE
The Man of Tomorrow?
PETE
Hey, I like that.
Pete looks over at Clark.
PETE
You should call yourself that.
CLARK
I have a name!
CHLOE
Kal-El? It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
CLARK
Hey, I was given the name, okay? It's not like I had a choice.
CHLOE
Yeah, well, just the same, I'd 'give' myself another one if I were you.
Chloe moves on to another box, fed up with the contents of the first one.
CHLOE
Geez, Clark, there's like nothing usable in any of these.
CLARK
Usable for what? I don't even know why you had me bring them up here. I already picked something out.
She digs deep into the second box and pulls out a yellow belt.
CHLOE
Yes, very cool. What kind of superhero doesn't accessorize?
CLARK
I'm not a superhero.
CHLOE
You gonna save the world?
CLARK
I hope too.
CHLOE
You have super powers?
CLARK
Yeah.
CHLOE
::nods:: Superhero.
She gasps.
CHLOE You're going to need a cape!
Pete looks up, throwing his hands into the air.
PETE
Thank you!
CLARK I'm not wearing a cape.
CHLOE Uh, you said you're not wearing a mask. You only get one veto.
CLARK
Since when?
CHLOE
Since you told Pete your secret before you told me.
Clark sighs.
CHLOE
So, what kind of color scheme are you going for anyway?
She sizes him up.
CHLOE
I'm guessing primary colors by what you've got going here, red and blue, am I right?
Clark shakes his head and goes back to his pad. Frustrated, he turns it over to the back piece of cardboard and doodles while he brainstorms.
PETE
::nods:: Right.
She throws the yellow belt at Clark, who nearly falls out of his chair trying to catch it.
CHLOE
Typical. Well, the yellow will add a little flair to it, anyway. Seriously, though, men shouldn't be allowed to be superheroes. Whenever you see a guy designing a superhero costume, it's the same thing every time. You get your basic tights, mask, and iron on patch on the chest. What's up with that?
PETE
Hey, that's right, you're gonna need one of those!
CHLOE
Oh, great, here we go. I'm sorry I even mentioned it.
PETE
It needs to be something good, though, something people can instantly recognize and rally behind... like the logo for a sports team... or the American Flag.
Clark looks up at Pete, then back down at his pad.
CLARK
You mean like a symbol?
PETE
Yeah, like a mark, your mark. It's got to be something so inherently you, that whenever somebody sees it, it's like, "Bam! That's him".
Clark picks up the pad.
CLARK
You mean something like this?
He turns it over and shows them his doodles on the back. There are several drawings scattered on the piece of cardboard, and one large one in the center. They are all drawings of the same symbol...
Pete and Chloe each stand up and walk over to Clark. Chloe takes the pad from him and the two of them stare at the symbol.
CHLOE
What is it?
CLARK
It's a Kryptonian symbol. It's my family's shield.
Pete scrutinizes the symbol carefully. He doesn't seem convinced.
PETE
Well... it's okay...
CLARK But?
PETE
It's Kryptonian. No one's gonna know what it means. It just looks like a big eight.
Clark takes the pad from Chloe and puts it back down in front of him.
CLARK
Fine.
Chloe returns to her box.
CHLOE
It's nothing against you, Clark. It's just, there aren't many Kryptonians running around down here, that's all.
Clark seems genuinely insulted. Shrugging it off, something hanging on the wall of the barn catches his eye; the metal "S" he designed in shop class. Looking up at the "S", then back down at the pad, Clark puts his eraser to use.
PETE
Yeah, man, total props to your hometown folks. I mean, without them there's no you, right?
Pete moves on to inspect the contents of a third box.
PETE
It's just, you need something a little less "beam me up" and a little more "go humans!"
Clark brushes the eraser shavings away with his hand and puts some finishing touches on the back of the pad with the pencil. Proudly, he picks it up and shows them the revised shield.
CLARK
What about this?
Pete and Chloe each turn their attention to the new drawing. Passing each other a quick glance, it doesn't take them long to come to an agreement.
PETE
Now, that could work.
Clark smiles.
Chloe drops a large, heavy, cardboard box, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt. Coughing a bit, she and Pete open it up and scurry through the contents, some old clothes, like two little kids opening their gifts at Christmas time. Clark, meanwhile, sits at the desk with a pencil in his hand, hovering over the pad of paper. He looks up long enough to yell at them.
CLARK
Hey, be careful with that. You're gonna break something.
CHLOE
Chill, Clark, they're just clothes.
CLARK
Yeah, well, I thought you were going to help me with my speech.
CHLOE
I am, I can listen and scavenge at the same time.
Pete pulls out an old sweater, missing a sleeve.
PETE
Ouch. Someone got a little too close to the animals during feeding time.
Chloe looks at the sweater and shrivels up her nose.
CHLOE
Ew. No big loss.
She pulls out a green and pink checkered short sleeve shirt.
CHLOE
And, for that matter, what decade was this from?
PETE
Don't you mean what century?
Clark starts getting impatient.
CLARK
Are you going to listen or take pot shots at my parent's fashion sense?
CHLOE
I'm listening. I'm listening. Go ahead.
Clark picks up the pad and clears his throat.
CLARK
Okay... Ehem... Ladies and gentlemen, I...
CHLOE
Wrong.
CLARK
Wrong?
CHLOE
This isn't a speech for the debate team, Clark. You can't afford to let a formulaic preamble disengage your audience. When the President of the United States makes a speech to the public, he starts out with, "My fellow Americans". You need something along those lines to really grab the people's attention.
Pete pulls out a pair of plaid jeans from the box.
PETE
Ugh... He could wear these while he's sayin' it. That'll grab some attention.
CHLOE
You don't want that kind of attention.
Chloe checks the side of the box.
CHLOE
Are these your parents' old clothes or Halloween costumes.
CLARK
What about, "People of Earth"?
Chloe rolls her eyes.
CHLOE "Show me to your leader." Come on, Clark. You can do better than that. Try being just a little creative.
CLARK
Okay, you do better.
She thinks for half a second.
CHLOE
Ok... "Citizens of Earth, my friends..."
PETE
That's good.
She smiles proudly.
CHLOE
Thank you.
Clark looks down at the pad and shakes his head. He erases what he has, and pencils it in.
CLARK
::under breath:: Show off...
CHLOE
What was that, dear?
CLARK Nothing, I didn't say anything.
CHLOE
Okay, so what else ya got?
CLARK
"My name is Kal-El, from the planet Krypton."
CHLOE
Uh, freak everybody out, why don't you?
CLARK
What now?
CHLOE
Why don't you just call yourself Mendar from Mars?
CLARK
Kal-El is my real name.
CHLOE
You don't have to tell them that.
CLARK
Isn't that the whole point?
CHLOE
Never give the people more information than they need to know.
PETE
As a reporter, I thought it was your job to give the people all the information possible?
CHLOE
As a reporter, your job is to report the news, but if you report all the news today, you'll have nothing to write about tomorrow. All the people really want to know is as much as they need to get through the day. Tell me what I need to know right now and tell me the rest tomorrow.
CLARK Well, if I'm not going to tell them anything, what does that make me?
CHLOE
The Man of Tomorrow?
PETE
Hey, I like that.
Pete looks over at Clark.
PETE
You should call yourself that.
CLARK
I have a name!
CHLOE
Kal-El? It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
CLARK
Hey, I was given the name, okay? It's not like I had a choice.
CHLOE
Yeah, well, just the same, I'd 'give' myself another one if I were you.
Chloe moves on to another box, fed up with the contents of the first one.
CHLOE
Geez, Clark, there's like nothing usable in any of these.
CLARK
Usable for what? I don't even know why you had me bring them up here. I already picked something out.
She digs deep into the second box and pulls out a yellow belt.
CHLOE
Yes, very cool. What kind of superhero doesn't accessorize?
CLARK
I'm not a superhero.
CHLOE
You gonna save the world?
CLARK
I hope too.
CHLOE
You have super powers?
CLARK
Yeah.
CHLOE
::nods:: Superhero.
She gasps.
CHLOE You're going to need a cape!
Pete looks up, throwing his hands into the air.
PETE
Thank you!
CLARK I'm not wearing a cape.
CHLOE Uh, you said you're not wearing a mask. You only get one veto.
CLARK
Since when?
CHLOE
Since you told Pete your secret before you told me.
Clark sighs.
CHLOE
So, what kind of color scheme are you going for anyway?
She sizes him up.
CHLOE
I'm guessing primary colors by what you've got going here, red and blue, am I right?
Clark shakes his head and goes back to his pad. Frustrated, he turns it over to the back piece of cardboard and doodles while he brainstorms.
PETE
::nods:: Right.
She throws the yellow belt at Clark, who nearly falls out of his chair trying to catch it.
CHLOE
Typical. Well, the yellow will add a little flair to it, anyway. Seriously, though, men shouldn't be allowed to be superheroes. Whenever you see a guy designing a superhero costume, it's the same thing every time. You get your basic tights, mask, and iron on patch on the chest. What's up with that?
PETE
Hey, that's right, you're gonna need one of those!
CHLOE
Oh, great, here we go. I'm sorry I even mentioned it.
PETE
It needs to be something good, though, something people can instantly recognize and rally behind... like the logo for a sports team... or the American Flag.
Clark looks up at Pete, then back down at his pad.
CLARK
You mean like a symbol?
PETE
Yeah, like a mark, your mark. It's got to be something so inherently you, that whenever somebody sees it, it's like, "Bam! That's him".
Clark picks up the pad.
CLARK
You mean something like this?
He turns it over and shows them his doodles on the back. There are several drawings scattered on the piece of cardboard, and one large one in the center. They are all drawings of the same symbol...
Pete and Chloe each stand up and walk over to Clark. Chloe takes the pad from him and the two of them stare at the symbol.
CHLOE
What is it?
CLARK
It's a Kryptonian symbol. It's my family's shield.
Pete scrutinizes the symbol carefully. He doesn't seem convinced.
PETE
Well... it's okay...
CLARK But?
PETE
It's Kryptonian. No one's gonna know what it means. It just looks like a big eight.
Clark takes the pad from Chloe and puts it back down in front of him.
CLARK
Fine.
Chloe returns to her box.
CHLOE
It's nothing against you, Clark. It's just, there aren't many Kryptonians running around down here, that's all.
Clark seems genuinely insulted. Shrugging it off, something hanging on the wall of the barn catches his eye; the metal "S" he designed in shop class. Looking up at the "S", then back down at the pad, Clark puts his eraser to use.
PETE
Yeah, man, total props to your hometown folks. I mean, without them there's no you, right?
Pete moves on to inspect the contents of a third box.
PETE
It's just, you need something a little less "beam me up" and a little more "go humans!"
Clark brushes the eraser shavings away with his hand and puts some finishing touches on the back of the pad with the pencil. Proudly, he picks it up and shows them the revised shield.
CLARK
What about this?
Pete and Chloe each turn their attention to the new drawing. Passing each other a quick glance, it doesn't take them long to come to an agreement.
PETE
Now, that could work.
Clark smiles.