The Adventures of Superboy (1988) s03e05 Episode Script
Roads Not Taken: Part 1
Rocketed
from a distant planet,
to a bold new destiny
on Earth,
found by a Kansas family
and raised as Clark Kent,
he learned he possessed
the strength of steel,
the speed of light
and the desire
to help all mankind.
He is Superboy!
[music playing]
Hello.
Anyone home?
Yoo-hoo, Mr. Wizard.
[gasps]
It's true.
He did it.
Lex, what is it?
What is it?
This is the most
amazing invention
in the history
of the human species.
Yeah, but what does it do?
This, my mumble-headed
sweetheart,
is an inter-dimensional
portal.
Oh.
- Whoa.
- Lex, be careful.
[laughing maniacally]
Lex!
Lex.
Those aren't alien bones.
They're from a cow.
So? They don't have cows
on other planets?
None I've ever been to.
Clark, you seen Lana?
She's got a report due.
Not today.
I'll take care of the report.
I couldn't interest you
in a couple of sides
of beef, could I?
Real cheap.
Thanks anyway.
Is this the Bureau
of Extra-Normal Matters?
What else could this place be?
Great. This is for
whoever's in charge.
What's that?
A hair, a red hair.
Oh, man, eww!
Are you gonna sign
for this or what?
Thanks.
[rock music playing]
[music stops]
- Where's Lana?
- Lana? Who's Lana?
"Anyone wants to see Lana Lang
again, send Superboy
to Dr. Winger's lab
at Shuster University.
No police."
I'm sorry.
I'll do what I can to help,
but I didn't write this.
- Then who did?
- I did.
Darla.
You and Lex took Lana?
Nope, just me.
And you're never gonna see her
again unless you save Lex.
Save him?
He fell into that thing.
I didn't know what to do.
So I did what Lex does
when he has a problem
that he can't solve.
I kidnapped Lana.
Look, Darla,
I'll do what I can.
But you gotta let Lana go.
No, not until I get Lex back.
And it better be
within 24 hours, too.
Because after that,
it's too late.
Don't try anything,
Superboy.
She dies whether
I'm there or not.
And you'll never find her
without me.
If Luthor fell into the portal,
there's no telling where he is.
What does this thing do?
Twelve years of my life
and you want me to explain
it in two seconds?
Will you just give him
the Cliffs Notes?
All right.
Ever hear of the alternate
worlds theory?
Well, some people think
there's trillions of 'em,
all in different
dimensional planes.
Every time there's
an accident,
or someone makes a decision
or doesn't make a decision,
a whole new world is created
just like here.
So it's like a time machine?
No, no, no, no.
Not like a time machine.
That's been done before.
There's no movement
along the temporal continuum.
It's about worlds diverging
at the crucial points.
Roads not taken.
Worlds where wars are
won by the other side.
Where history is
totally different.
Can this thing get me
to one of those other worlds?
I haven't really tested
it yet.
Well, I think you've got
your guinea pig.
Yeah, but I don't know
where it will take you.
I don't know if
I can get you back.
Superboy, you find him
or Lana dies.
Well, I guess I don't have
any other choice, do I?
[coughs]
[shivers]
Lex.
[spits]
Die, Superboy, die.
Die, Superboy, die.
Die, Superboy, die!
- Die, Superboy, die.
- Die, Superboy.
Die, Superboy.
Die, Superboy, die!
Spare any change?
Just a couple of cents.
Lana.
I didn't think I'd ever
see you again.
What happened to you?
I didn't deserve this.
Deserve what?
I was there for you.
I was the only one left
and you couldn't even
look me in the eye.
I believed in you,
everything you stood for.
What is it
that you think I did?
Think? I know you did it.
I saw you. I saw you.
We all hated him,
but he didn't deserve
what you did to him.
Whatever it is,
I didn't do it.
Shut up.
Go to Eastlake Cemetery,
section 6,
row D.
Then tell me you
didn't do it.
[chanting]
Lex! Lex! Lex! Lex!
[man] Luthor!
[chanting continuing]
Rejoice,
for I am resurrected.
- Yes! Yes!
- [cheering]
I am resurrected.
But why did I wait so long?
That must be what
you're asking.
Immediately after the murder,
I could have come forth
and shown the world
that Superboy had only
murdered an impostor.
Why did I wait?
Because I was waiting for you.
I was waiting for each
and every one of you
to open your eyes
and see what I saw
from the very beginning.
That our noble virtuous
Superboy was really
a spineless, murderous
vicious hypocrite!
[cheering]
You see,
you see,
everyone needs heroes.
You do. You do.
I know you do.
And I do, too.
That's right.
I'm just like you.
I worshipped him, too.
He was my hero, too.
I trusted him.
I believed in him.
I loved him.
My God!
I would have named
my children after him.
But then I saw
one pure shining truth.
I saw
and it was as looking
into a mirror.
I saw
and now you see, too.
And though we are few,
soon we will be many.
Soon one truth will be
in the eyes and on the lips
of all our brothers
and sisters.
And the multitudes
shall rise up
and one vision,
one voice, one truth
will echo
from the mountaintops,
and the heavens will answer.
Lex! Lex! Lex! Lex!
[chanting continuing]
Why don't you just send
Air Force One for me?
I'm not proud.
Oh, that'll be perfect.
Tell me, how's Barb?
That's beautiful.
Be sure to give those grandkids,
my love, all right?
OK, ciao, babe.
Lex Luthor.
No, wait, no, please,
don't kill me.
I'm not who you
think I am.
Take it easy.
I'm only here
to take you home.
- Home?
- Where you came from.
Oh, it's only you.
You're the other Superboy.
My, my, my.
What a fascinating
turn of events.
Tell me,
how'd you get here?
Same way you did.
I had to make a deal
with Darla. She wants you back.
You know, I'm gonna
miss that woman.
But on the other hand,
there's probably a Darla
in this world, too.
Maybe one day
I'll run into her.
I don't think so.
I'm not going anywhere.
In this world,
I'm practically a God.
[groans]
Do you think I'm so stupid
as to go into the public
in a world where my killer
is still at-large?
Not without insurance!
[clamoring]
It's him!
It's Superboy. Kill him!
[cheering]
Matt.
- Don't hurt me.
- Wait. What happened?
We're closed. That's all.
Nobody cares about this
stuff anymore.
Nobody.
I saw you flying here.
Who the hell are you?
I'm a version of you
from another world.
It's in a different dimension.
Tell me something.
Would you believe that?
And would you believe
that I know that we're
both Clark Kent?
Did you kill Luthor?
- Did you?
- He was gonna get away again.
He always got away.
Do you remember the time
he kidnapped those children
who later died?
- I remember.
- Do you remember
how angry you were?
So angry you could
almost do anything?
What did you do
about it?
I fought it.
I had to. I almost
I did.
I used my heat vision.
Cut him right in two.
Don't look at me like that.
What's in me
is inside you, too.
I gave in.
Except this is what would happen
if I did kill him.
So?
All that hero stuff
is outdated anyway.
Is that what Lana believed?
Is that why you don't wear
the suit anymore?
Or is it because
you're ashamed?
It's all hopeless.
No, it isn't.
You still have a chance.
I used to be that naive.
Remember you said you know
what's inside of me?
Well, I know what's
in your heart, too.
[rock music playing]
[pounding on door]
All right, all right!
Why don't you just
use dynamite?
Whoa. Whoa! Just kidding.
Dr. Winger.
You look just like him.
I need a favor.
Darla, I'm freezing.
So freeze.
I mean, I wasn't sure
if I should have called you.
I mean, you're busy
with that whole
resurrection thing.
No, no, no, no.
There's always
time to appreciate
a fellow scientist.
Tell me, just what is it
this thing does?
You know exactly
what it does, Luthor.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
It's how you got here,
same as me.
And it's how
you're going back.
Come on, let's go home.
[grunting]
You know, you keep
underestimating me, Superboy.
[laughing]
[music playing]
from a distant planet,
to a bold new destiny
on Earth,
found by a Kansas family
and raised as Clark Kent,
he learned he possessed
the strength of steel,
the speed of light
and the desire
to help all mankind.
He is Superboy!
[music playing]
Hello.
Anyone home?
Yoo-hoo, Mr. Wizard.
[gasps]
It's true.
He did it.
Lex, what is it?
What is it?
This is the most
amazing invention
in the history
of the human species.
Yeah, but what does it do?
This, my mumble-headed
sweetheart,
is an inter-dimensional
portal.
Oh.
- Whoa.
- Lex, be careful.
[laughing maniacally]
Lex!
Lex.
Those aren't alien bones.
They're from a cow.
So? They don't have cows
on other planets?
None I've ever been to.
Clark, you seen Lana?
She's got a report due.
Not today.
I'll take care of the report.
I couldn't interest you
in a couple of sides
of beef, could I?
Real cheap.
Thanks anyway.
Is this the Bureau
of Extra-Normal Matters?
What else could this place be?
Great. This is for
whoever's in charge.
What's that?
A hair, a red hair.
Oh, man, eww!
Are you gonna sign
for this or what?
Thanks.
[rock music playing]
[music stops]
- Where's Lana?
- Lana? Who's Lana?
"Anyone wants to see Lana Lang
again, send Superboy
to Dr. Winger's lab
at Shuster University.
No police."
I'm sorry.
I'll do what I can to help,
but I didn't write this.
- Then who did?
- I did.
Darla.
You and Lex took Lana?
Nope, just me.
And you're never gonna see her
again unless you save Lex.
Save him?
He fell into that thing.
I didn't know what to do.
So I did what Lex does
when he has a problem
that he can't solve.
I kidnapped Lana.
Look, Darla,
I'll do what I can.
But you gotta let Lana go.
No, not until I get Lex back.
And it better be
within 24 hours, too.
Because after that,
it's too late.
Don't try anything,
Superboy.
She dies whether
I'm there or not.
And you'll never find her
without me.
If Luthor fell into the portal,
there's no telling where he is.
What does this thing do?
Twelve years of my life
and you want me to explain
it in two seconds?
Will you just give him
the Cliffs Notes?
All right.
Ever hear of the alternate
worlds theory?
Well, some people think
there's trillions of 'em,
all in different
dimensional planes.
Every time there's
an accident,
or someone makes a decision
or doesn't make a decision,
a whole new world is created
just like here.
So it's like a time machine?
No, no, no, no.
Not like a time machine.
That's been done before.
There's no movement
along the temporal continuum.
It's about worlds diverging
at the crucial points.
Roads not taken.
Worlds where wars are
won by the other side.
Where history is
totally different.
Can this thing get me
to one of those other worlds?
I haven't really tested
it yet.
Well, I think you've got
your guinea pig.
Yeah, but I don't know
where it will take you.
I don't know if
I can get you back.
Superboy, you find him
or Lana dies.
Well, I guess I don't have
any other choice, do I?
[coughs]
[shivers]
Lex.
[spits]
Die, Superboy, die.
Die, Superboy, die.
Die, Superboy, die!
- Die, Superboy, die.
- Die, Superboy.
Die, Superboy.
Die, Superboy, die!
Spare any change?
Just a couple of cents.
Lana.
I didn't think I'd ever
see you again.
What happened to you?
I didn't deserve this.
Deserve what?
I was there for you.
I was the only one left
and you couldn't even
look me in the eye.
I believed in you,
everything you stood for.
What is it
that you think I did?
Think? I know you did it.
I saw you. I saw you.
We all hated him,
but he didn't deserve
what you did to him.
Whatever it is,
I didn't do it.
Shut up.
Go to Eastlake Cemetery,
section 6,
row D.
Then tell me you
didn't do it.
[chanting]
Lex! Lex! Lex! Lex!
[man] Luthor!
[chanting continuing]
Rejoice,
for I am resurrected.
- Yes! Yes!
- [cheering]
I am resurrected.
But why did I wait so long?
That must be what
you're asking.
Immediately after the murder,
I could have come forth
and shown the world
that Superboy had only
murdered an impostor.
Why did I wait?
Because I was waiting for you.
I was waiting for each
and every one of you
to open your eyes
and see what I saw
from the very beginning.
That our noble virtuous
Superboy was really
a spineless, murderous
vicious hypocrite!
[cheering]
You see,
you see,
everyone needs heroes.
You do. You do.
I know you do.
And I do, too.
That's right.
I'm just like you.
I worshipped him, too.
He was my hero, too.
I trusted him.
I believed in him.
I loved him.
My God!
I would have named
my children after him.
But then I saw
one pure shining truth.
I saw
and it was as looking
into a mirror.
I saw
and now you see, too.
And though we are few,
soon we will be many.
Soon one truth will be
in the eyes and on the lips
of all our brothers
and sisters.
And the multitudes
shall rise up
and one vision,
one voice, one truth
will echo
from the mountaintops,
and the heavens will answer.
Lex! Lex! Lex! Lex!
[chanting continuing]
Why don't you just send
Air Force One for me?
I'm not proud.
Oh, that'll be perfect.
Tell me, how's Barb?
That's beautiful.
Be sure to give those grandkids,
my love, all right?
OK, ciao, babe.
Lex Luthor.
No, wait, no, please,
don't kill me.
I'm not who you
think I am.
Take it easy.
I'm only here
to take you home.
- Home?
- Where you came from.
Oh, it's only you.
You're the other Superboy.
My, my, my.
What a fascinating
turn of events.
Tell me,
how'd you get here?
Same way you did.
I had to make a deal
with Darla. She wants you back.
You know, I'm gonna
miss that woman.
But on the other hand,
there's probably a Darla
in this world, too.
Maybe one day
I'll run into her.
I don't think so.
I'm not going anywhere.
In this world,
I'm practically a God.
[groans]
Do you think I'm so stupid
as to go into the public
in a world where my killer
is still at-large?
Not without insurance!
[clamoring]
It's him!
It's Superboy. Kill him!
[cheering]
Matt.
- Don't hurt me.
- Wait. What happened?
We're closed. That's all.
Nobody cares about this
stuff anymore.
Nobody.
I saw you flying here.
Who the hell are you?
I'm a version of you
from another world.
It's in a different dimension.
Tell me something.
Would you believe that?
And would you believe
that I know that we're
both Clark Kent?
Did you kill Luthor?
- Did you?
- He was gonna get away again.
He always got away.
Do you remember the time
he kidnapped those children
who later died?
- I remember.
- Do you remember
how angry you were?
So angry you could
almost do anything?
What did you do
about it?
I fought it.
I had to. I almost
I did.
I used my heat vision.
Cut him right in two.
Don't look at me like that.
What's in me
is inside you, too.
I gave in.
Except this is what would happen
if I did kill him.
So?
All that hero stuff
is outdated anyway.
Is that what Lana believed?
Is that why you don't wear
the suit anymore?
Or is it because
you're ashamed?
It's all hopeless.
No, it isn't.
You still have a chance.
I used to be that naive.
Remember you said you know
what's inside of me?
Well, I know what's
in your heart, too.
[rock music playing]
[pounding on door]
All right, all right!
Why don't you just
use dynamite?
Whoa. Whoa! Just kidding.
Dr. Winger.
You look just like him.
I need a favor.
Darla, I'm freezing.
So freeze.
I mean, I wasn't sure
if I should have called you.
I mean, you're busy
with that whole
resurrection thing.
No, no, no, no.
There's always
time to appreciate
a fellow scientist.
Tell me, just what is it
this thing does?
You know exactly
what it does, Luthor.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
It's how you got here,
same as me.
And it's how
you're going back.
Come on, let's go home.
[grunting]
You know, you keep
underestimating me, Superboy.
[laughing]
[music playing]