The Adventures of Superboy (1988) s01e04 Episode Script

The Russian Exchange Student

[car honking]
Okay, Professor.
We're all set for the
demonstration at Fort Henderson.
I've personally
confirmed everything
with the state department
and the military personnel.
Good boy, Jeff.
I can always
depend on you.
[crackling]
What happened?
Professor Gordon,
are you okay?
Yes. Yes, yes, yes.
I'm alright, I'm alright!
What are we gonna do,
Professor?
All the information
on your formula
was stored in that computer.
Now it's been destroyed.
Well, don't worry.
I've got a duplicate disk of the
formula stored away in a place
that only I know about.
I didn't know you had a backup
disk, Professor. What a break.
Professor Gordon.
What happened?
Somebody sabotaged
the computer.
Was anybody in here
while Jeff and I were out?
She was.
[theme music]
[music continues]
- Who is it?
- It's just us, Natasha.
Come in.
[sniffles]
Natasha, what are you doing?
Going back to
the Soviet Union.
I'm will not stay
where I'm not wanted.
Come on, what do you mean
not wanted? I want you.
I-I, I-I mean..
Thanks, TJ.
But the professor does not.
The computer in the lab
blew up yesterday.
He thinks I did it.
Come on, Natasha.
You know that can't be true.
Yes, it is.
He doesn't like me nor trust me
because I'm a Russian.
[knocking]
I'm Elena Borchek.
Soviet Council.
Give me five minutes, please.
Oh, Natashok, Natashok.
Everyone is so upset.
You must reconsider.
I thought you were
my friend.
I thought you cared
about my feelings.
I am, but you can't just
think about yourself.
The Soviet and U.S. governments
have gone through lot of trouble
putting together
this exchange program.
'Besides, I hand-picked
you for this project.'
I don't care.
I want to go home.
The professor does
not want me here.
Don't worry about
the professor.
The U.S. State Department
has contacted him already
and he has apologized.
I don't want
to be forced on him.
He'll only hate me more.
I'm sorry, Natasha.
You have no choice.
Were you, uh, were you gonna
leave without saying goodbye?
I would've written
from Moscow.
Well, I wouldn't
have answered.
Liar.
How do you say,
"I love you" in Russian?
[speaking in Russian]
Do we have to go
to the concert tonight?
It's music from the Balkans.
I thought you were dying to go.
I know, but..
I'd rather be with
you alone tonight.
If this project didn't
mean so much to me
I'd tell 'em to stuff it.
She's too nice
a person, Professor.
I don't believe
she'd do anthing--
They've no right
to make me keep her.
Don't let her
out of your sight.
Yes, sir.
Good morning, Professor.
Good morning, Jeff.
Hi, Natasha.
We have to get ready
for the test demonstration.
Jeff will tell you
what to do.
I don't know what to tell you.
He's just in one of those moods.
Oh, yeah, TJ.
What happened?
You make me buy tickets
to the Bulgarian music festival
then you never show up.
I got tied up.
Lana, tell him
how long we waited.
What do you mean tied up?
Cool it, Clark. Can't you see
TJ's blushing?
Blushing? I'm not blushing.
This is, this is a sunburn.
You know it's really
weird about Natasha.
I mean, like,
you know the Professor
blaming her for
that computer glitch.
Well, they don't call him
"Uptight Gordon" for nothing.
But you know,
anything's possible.
What, you saying she did it?
She's no criminal.
TJ, we are covering a story
on the professor's formula.
It is our job to think
and to-to question things.
Why only question
things about Natasha?
How about the hundred others
going in and out
of that building?
Only three people
had access to the lab.
Only one's not
an American, right?
Whatever it is
you have for Natasha
has made you
lose your objectivity.
Yeah? I think your prejudice
has made you lose yours.
Guys, guys, um,
let's lighten up here.
I'm just furious.
Oh, that's real good.
That's good.
- I don't believe him.
- Clark, Clark.
Just be a little bit
more understanding.
It's the first time TJ's ever
had a girl he's really liked.
I know that.
[indistinct chattering]
Professor, can you tell me
a little about your project?
Well, uh, I've come close
to developing a formula
that improves
the efficiency of gasoline
and, uh, this is the first
in a series of tests.
Well, um, what would that do
for the price of gas?
Uh, cut it by ninety percent.
But the important thing is this.
'It would help solve
our energy needs'
reduce the pollutions
in our oceans and forests.
That's quite
impressive, Professor.
About the explosion
in the lab yesterday
do, do you have any idea
what caused it?
Yes, it was an
electrical short.
Electrical short, huh?
You think there will be
anymore student exchanges
between the Unites States
and The Soviet?
Let's just say that I didn't
hand-pick the participants.
'Uh, this is a very sensitive
project, you have to be careful'
and I don't know this or any
other Soviet student very well.
Will you excuse me, please?
Hope I get a shot with his
beady little eyes closed
just like his mind
and his heart.
Like mine, TJ?
Ready.
[engine revving]
[dramatic music]
[explosion]
[all clamoring]
Did you see that, Clark?
- Clark?
- What about Natasha? Natasha!
[siren wailing]
Professor.
Are you alright?
Yes. Yes, I think
I'm alright.
Thanks to you, Superboy.
I'm glad I could help, sir.
Wait, wait a minute.
- Professor, what went wrong?
- I don't know.
'But you can be sure
that I'm going to find out.'
Is there anything
I can do, Professor?
No! Not a thing.
Natasha.
He hates me.
I didn't do
anything to him.
This is the container from
which you poured your formula?
Yes. And I tested
the contents.
Somebody mixed ether
into the formula.
Result, explosion.
Lieutenant Harris.
Oh, you again, kid.
That's alright.
They're from the college paper.
You're sure only you three
had access to the formula?
Positive.
Lieutenant, I found this
in one of the lockers.
Any idea what this
might be, Professor?
Ether.
Where'd you find this?
I found it in one
of the lockers right over here.
Whose locker is that?
Mine.
[phone ringing]
- Oh, come to see your friend?
- Yes, sir.
- Too late.
- Why?
She left with
the Soviet Council.
I knew they'd have
to let her go.
No. We let her go on
condition that she'd be out
of the country in three days.
- Three days.
- I'm sorry, TJ.
The only way we can
get them to let her stay
is if we can prove
she's innocent.
Thought you were ninety percent
sure she was guilty.
You've had a lot of wrong
thoughts these last few days.
I'm sorry. I was really outta
line. That's history, huh?
So we all agree
that only three people
had access to the lab, right?
We're in sync that
Natasha's innocent, right?
You and I are TJ,
but what switched you?
I never said
she was guilty.
So that leaves
two possibilities.
That's Jeff
and the professor.
The professor won't
sabotage his own project.
You don't know
what his problems are
or where they might lead him.
Okay, Clark you take
the professor, I'll take Jeff.
- Okay'
- Oh, wait. What about me?
You be the
message coordinator.
Uh, we'll call in about
every thirty minutes.
- Uh-huh.
- Whoopee!
I can't talk now.
I'll come over
as soon as I can.
Yes, don't worry.
Everything's all set up.
[dramatic music]
[knock on door]
Yeah.
Excuse me, Professor.
I don't have time
to talk to you now.
Especially about
that girl.
I'm not so sure
she's guilty.
[chuckling]
How dense can you be?
The janitor saw her in the lab
after Jeff and I left.
And the ether was found
in her locker.
Bear with me for one moment.
Let's, let's-let's say
she really is innocent.
No, no, no, no, no.
I trust Jeff unequivocally.
I wasn't thinking of Jeff.
Your subtlety astounds me.
Why would I discredit
my own formula?
I'm just covering
all the bases.
If Superboy hadn't saved me
I would have been killed
in that explosion.
I'm a physicist.
I know the power of explosives.
Will I be stupid enough to cause
an explosion that might kill me?
I have work to do.
- Thank you, Professor.
- Mm-hmm.
Lana? Yeah, I-I'm outside the
Atwater Oil Company building.
I'm going in after Jeff.
[dramatic music]
The Atwater Oil Company.
When did he call?
Um, just a few minutes ago.
Alright, bye.
The Atwater Oil Company.
Professor Gordon's formula..
it's for gasoline.
We're almost home free,
Mr. Drake.
I've got the professor thinking
Natasha's worse
than Stalin himself.
Well, I don't give a damn
what the professor thinks.
All I care about is
destroying that formula.
Because if we don't,
it's going to ruin my company
and probably every other
oil company in the world.
Well, don't worry.
He's only got one backup disk.
[door opens]
[camera shutter clicks]
I'm sorry. Am I in your way?
I don't care about the shirt,
but this camera. Really, guys..
What the--
He was taking
pictures of the door.
- His name's TJ
- Hey, Jeff. What a coincidence.
He's from the school newspaper.
Always sticking his nose
where it doesn't belong.
Look, I was just
taking a few pictures.
Yeah, of our door.
Sorry, fellas. Didn't realize
the door is off-limits.
Argh. You can take the film out
of this and I'll be on my way.
You're not going anywhere.
Listen, I gotta
get back at the lab.
So it was you
all the time, huh?
You set Natasha up!
Get out of here.
Take care of your problem.
And he's mine.
Okay.
Send him home to mama.
No, no. Via the shortcut.
You're not getting
away with this.
The state and the Russians
won't be too happy about this--
(Drake)
Now!
Please, don't do this, guys.
Just a minute, please.
Wait, save the camera.
Oh, no. Wait. Would it mean
anything if I said sorry?
No, no, you can't..
[screaming]
If I don't thank you
before, before I faint
I-I want you to know you
restored my faith in you.
Take a few deep breaths
and you'll feel better.
Come on.
And you can show
that I'm innocent?
The professor's the guilty one.
The proof's in the lab.
Yeah. Jeff's the one.
He's going back to the lab.
Superboy's after him
and I'm going there also.
Jeff?
Professor.
I'm sorry, Natasha.
My own stupid
prejudice blinded me.
Aw, very touching speech,
professor. Come here.
No. What are you doing?
Let her go!
Soon as you stop
playing hardball.
How about I blow away
this pretty face?
Why are you doing this?
A million dollars,
give or take a few thousand.
And do I get the disk,
Professor? Or..
Alright, alright.
In the lower drawer.
There's a false bottom.
Press the knob on the right.
[grunts]
I'm afraid you two have
outlived your usefulness.
Natasha.
In case you're
wondering, Professor.
I'm setting the fire
Natasha started.
The poor thing dropped the
formula while trying to escape.
As usual the communist are inept
at their task. Right, Professor?
So long, Professor.
Thanks for everything.
[glass shattering]
[gunshots]
TJ.
My formula. In his pocket.
I'm sure he'll be more than
happy to incriminate his friends
at Atwater Oil in exchange
for a lighter sentence.
- If the deal's right.
- Just get him out of here.
But why do you have to go?
I mean you were
proven innocent.
The professor has been asked to
continue his studies in Russia
and he asked me
to assist him.
- That is really great.
- Congratulations.
We're gonna miss you.
- Goodbye, Natasha.
- Bye.
See you, guys.
Well, I'm not
gonna miss you.
Liar.
I got a billion
pictures of you.
I guess I'll be surrounded
by you forever.
TJ.
I'll never forget you.
Never.
Never, never, never.
[speaking in Russian]
(TJ)
I'll be seeing you.
[theme music]
Captioned by Grant Brown
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