The Adventures of Superboy (1988) s04e04 Episode Script
The Basement
(male narrator) 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.
[theme music]
[intense music]
Anybody down here?
[music continues]
Anybody home?
[music continues]
Hello.
[light switches on]
What're you
doing down here?
What's your name?
Are you okay?
Are youokay?
Oh, I'm fine.
I was just worried about you.
Worriedabout you.
Look..
Look.
You're doing everything
I'm doing, aren't you?
Everything.
Stupid question.
Stupid.
Why don't we go find out
who you belong to, okay?
[intense music]
Ah, aah!
[music continues]
[buzzing]
[intense music]
Let me give you
a hand there, Clark.
Thanks, Matt.
Wanna go
to lunch in a bit?
I can't.
I gotta read these files.
What about Lana?
Can't she help?
Jackson asked her
to but..
she got a message about
ghosts in somebody's house.
Ghosts?
Yeah, it's a house
on Water Crest.
They think they have
a ghost in the basement.
They're so scared
they went to a hotel.
Probably been seeing
too many Stephen King films.
Kent, aren't you
done yet?
- Where's Ms. Lang?
- Well, I--
Out in the field again,
when I asked her to help you?
- Well--
- Well, what?
Dennis, I asked Lana
to run an errand for me.
She'll be back soon.
She'd better be.
So, I lied. We're not
in Kansas anymore, Clark.
Who are you?
How did you do that?
[intense music]
What are you
gonna do?
[ghostly tone]
I am going to be you, totally.
You don't wanna
be me.
I have a horrible job,
and I'm always risking my life.
And I'm in love with a man
who doesn't even call.
[ghostly tone]
I need an identity.
What about your own?
The little girl?
[ghostly tone]
That wasn't me.
That was the first person
I encountered
when I got
to this planet.
So, you're an alien?
Yes.
See, we have
no identities of our own.
We need them to exist.
Lots of them.
What happensafter
you take them?
What's happening
to you now.
Death.
No.
[phone ringing]
(Dennis) I'm sick
of this, I really am.
She should be back
in a minute, Dennis.
There're a lot of students
who'd die for this internship.
Lana almost has.
If she's not back
in half an hour
you can throw out
the word, "almost".
You don't have
to do this.
I'll tell you everything
you wanna know.
Thiswill be easier.
For me, anyway.
[phone ringing]
What's that?
You don't know
what a telephone is?
Tell me.
It's a warning system.
If I don't answer, my friends
will know I'm in trouble.
Oh, it will be answered.
But not by you.
After all..
[Lana's voice]
we have the same voice.
Gotcha.
Got you, honey.
Jackson's going crazy.
We gotta get Lana back here.
I'm trying her now
but there's no answer.
Did you dial it right?
Maybe she's on her way back.
She said she'd be gone an hour.
- And it's not up yet.
- Let's hope she's on time.
Lana?
She's always on time.
[intense music]
Whoo! Ha!
Your friends weren't
very patient.
All I heard was
some sort of musical note.
That was
the emergency tone.
They'll be here
in a few minutes.
Are you telling
the truth?
Or are you lying?
Let's find out,
shall we?
[intense music]
(male #1) She's a
redhead, just like you.
(female #1) I wanna name
her Lana, after grandmum.
How many times do I tell you?
Don't touch the stove.
(Dennis) Lana Lang, A . Welcome
to the Bureau, Ms. Lang.
Now, get me some coffee.
[music continues]
Broken!
We have a temper,
don't we?
Sometimes.
I need to ask you
about someone.
I saw him.
He's strong
and powerful.
And we love him.
He'll know you're
not me in a minute.
- Oh, that's all I need.
- For what?
I want his strength.
His invulnerability.
I need them
to make myself complete.
Oh, I don't want him.
I wanna be him.
But you're me,
it's too late.
Is it?
Now, tell me everything
I want to know about him.
Temper.
(Dennis)
Ahem ahem.
About that little errand that
your friend Ms. Lang went on?
- Yes, sir.
- Why isn't she back yet?
Well, you see,
sir. Um..
- Hi, everybody.
- Lana.
Right on time.
One of my best qualities.
[pleasant music]
(male #2)
Is it ever gonna slow down?
(Dennis)
Kent, Kent.
(Lana)
Where is he?
Where is who?
You have good hearing,
don't you?
Well, yeah.
I was looking
for Superboy.
Why? What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Then, why're you
looking for Superboy?
[intense music]
[Newton's pendulum clicking]
Does he only come
when something's wrong?
- Who?
- Superboy.
You'd know better
than I would.
I would?
Come on, Lana.
It's almost like the two of you
have some kind of psychic thing.
He always seems to know
when you're in trouble.
- Who does?
- Who do you think?
Superboy. He does, doesn't he?
Now that I think about it.
I have to go back
to the basement.
- More ghosts?
- Wasn't anything there.
I left my flashlight,
that's all.
I'll be back by 7:00 and you
know how prompt I always am.
[intense music]
[footsteps approaching]
[music continues]
Ah!
I should have known
you were going to do that.
But you didn't.
My education was incomplete.
But that is going
to change, isn't it?
Now, tell me everything
you know about Superboy.
Lana's not back yet?
She's late.
First time
for everything, I guess.
Not for Lana.
Where did he come from?
Tell me!
Where did he come from?
I don't know.
Please,
I need a doctor.
"I need a doctor."
Is he an alien,
like me?
I don't know.
[phone ringing]
Warning system, huh?
You lied, then,
I think you're lying now.
You didn't learn anything
from me, did you?
Oh, I learnt enough.
He'll never believe
you're me.
We'll see about that.
Nine O' clock.
[intense music]
Is there anything else?
I told you everything
I know about him.
Don't you have
some identity of your own?
We found it easier
to survive without one.
We're infinitely adaptable.
And infinitely empty.
What are you doin'?
If he sees two of us,
he'll know something's wrong.
[wind gushing]
It's him,
isn't it?
Superboy.
Lana.
No, I'm Lana.
She's this thing,
this alien.
No,
she's the alien.
It wants your identity,
it'll kill you.
- No.
- Don't come any closer.
I have to.
A-ask it a question, something
you and I will only know.
It's got my memories.
It'll know the answer.
Do you remember when..
I can't see.
No, she'll kill you.
She's dying.
No, not yet.
I've gotta get you
to a hospital.
- But what about her?
- I'll come back for her.
- No, do it now.
- Do what?
Kill her,
like you always do.
Like I always do?
I lied.
[intense music]
No!
No!
What happened?
It could duplicate whatever
was on the other end.
But there wasn't
anything there.
There never was.
[intense music]
[theme music]
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.
[theme music]
[intense music]
Anybody down here?
[music continues]
Anybody home?
[music continues]
Hello.
[light switches on]
What're you
doing down here?
What's your name?
Are you okay?
Are youokay?
Oh, I'm fine.
I was just worried about you.
Worriedabout you.
Look..
Look.
You're doing everything
I'm doing, aren't you?
Everything.
Stupid question.
Stupid.
Why don't we go find out
who you belong to, okay?
[intense music]
Ah, aah!
[music continues]
[buzzing]
[intense music]
Let me give you
a hand there, Clark.
Thanks, Matt.
Wanna go
to lunch in a bit?
I can't.
I gotta read these files.
What about Lana?
Can't she help?
Jackson asked her
to but..
she got a message about
ghosts in somebody's house.
Ghosts?
Yeah, it's a house
on Water Crest.
They think they have
a ghost in the basement.
They're so scared
they went to a hotel.
Probably been seeing
too many Stephen King films.
Kent, aren't you
done yet?
- Where's Ms. Lang?
- Well, I--
Out in the field again,
when I asked her to help you?
- Well--
- Well, what?
Dennis, I asked Lana
to run an errand for me.
She'll be back soon.
She'd better be.
So, I lied. We're not
in Kansas anymore, Clark.
Who are you?
How did you do that?
[intense music]
What are you
gonna do?
[ghostly tone]
I am going to be you, totally.
You don't wanna
be me.
I have a horrible job,
and I'm always risking my life.
And I'm in love with a man
who doesn't even call.
[ghostly tone]
I need an identity.
What about your own?
The little girl?
[ghostly tone]
That wasn't me.
That was the first person
I encountered
when I got
to this planet.
So, you're an alien?
Yes.
See, we have
no identities of our own.
We need them to exist.
Lots of them.
What happensafter
you take them?
What's happening
to you now.
Death.
No.
[phone ringing]
(Dennis) I'm sick
of this, I really am.
She should be back
in a minute, Dennis.
There're a lot of students
who'd die for this internship.
Lana almost has.
If she's not back
in half an hour
you can throw out
the word, "almost".
You don't have
to do this.
I'll tell you everything
you wanna know.
Thiswill be easier.
For me, anyway.
[phone ringing]
What's that?
You don't know
what a telephone is?
Tell me.
It's a warning system.
If I don't answer, my friends
will know I'm in trouble.
Oh, it will be answered.
But not by you.
After all..
[Lana's voice]
we have the same voice.
Gotcha.
Got you, honey.
Jackson's going crazy.
We gotta get Lana back here.
I'm trying her now
but there's no answer.
Did you dial it right?
Maybe she's on her way back.
She said she'd be gone an hour.
- And it's not up yet.
- Let's hope she's on time.
Lana?
She's always on time.
[intense music]
Whoo! Ha!
Your friends weren't
very patient.
All I heard was
some sort of musical note.
That was
the emergency tone.
They'll be here
in a few minutes.
Are you telling
the truth?
Or are you lying?
Let's find out,
shall we?
[intense music]
(male #1) She's a
redhead, just like you.
(female #1) I wanna name
her Lana, after grandmum.
How many times do I tell you?
Don't touch the stove.
(Dennis) Lana Lang, A . Welcome
to the Bureau, Ms. Lang.
Now, get me some coffee.
[music continues]
Broken!
We have a temper,
don't we?
Sometimes.
I need to ask you
about someone.
I saw him.
He's strong
and powerful.
And we love him.
He'll know you're
not me in a minute.
- Oh, that's all I need.
- For what?
I want his strength.
His invulnerability.
I need them
to make myself complete.
Oh, I don't want him.
I wanna be him.
But you're me,
it's too late.
Is it?
Now, tell me everything
I want to know about him.
Temper.
(Dennis)
Ahem ahem.
About that little errand that
your friend Ms. Lang went on?
- Yes, sir.
- Why isn't she back yet?
Well, you see,
sir. Um..
- Hi, everybody.
- Lana.
Right on time.
One of my best qualities.
[pleasant music]
(male #2)
Is it ever gonna slow down?
(Dennis)
Kent, Kent.
(Lana)
Where is he?
Where is who?
You have good hearing,
don't you?
Well, yeah.
I was looking
for Superboy.
Why? What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
Then, why're you
looking for Superboy?
[intense music]
[Newton's pendulum clicking]
Does he only come
when something's wrong?
- Who?
- Superboy.
You'd know better
than I would.
I would?
Come on, Lana.
It's almost like the two of you
have some kind of psychic thing.
He always seems to know
when you're in trouble.
- Who does?
- Who do you think?
Superboy. He does, doesn't he?
Now that I think about it.
I have to go back
to the basement.
- More ghosts?
- Wasn't anything there.
I left my flashlight,
that's all.
I'll be back by 7:00 and you
know how prompt I always am.
[intense music]
[footsteps approaching]
[music continues]
Ah!
I should have known
you were going to do that.
But you didn't.
My education was incomplete.
But that is going
to change, isn't it?
Now, tell me everything
you know about Superboy.
Lana's not back yet?
She's late.
First time
for everything, I guess.
Not for Lana.
Where did he come from?
Tell me!
Where did he come from?
I don't know.
Please,
I need a doctor.
"I need a doctor."
Is he an alien,
like me?
I don't know.
[phone ringing]
Warning system, huh?
You lied, then,
I think you're lying now.
You didn't learn anything
from me, did you?
Oh, I learnt enough.
He'll never believe
you're me.
We'll see about that.
Nine O' clock.
[intense music]
Is there anything else?
I told you everything
I know about him.
Don't you have
some identity of your own?
We found it easier
to survive without one.
We're infinitely adaptable.
And infinitely empty.
What are you doin'?
If he sees two of us,
he'll know something's wrong.
[wind gushing]
It's him,
isn't it?
Superboy.
Lana.
No, I'm Lana.
She's this thing,
this alien.
No,
she's the alien.
It wants your identity,
it'll kill you.
- No.
- Don't come any closer.
I have to.
A-ask it a question, something
you and I will only know.
It's got my memories.
It'll know the answer.
Do you remember when..
I can't see.
No, she'll kill you.
She's dying.
No, not yet.
I've gotta get you
to a hospital.
- But what about her?
- I'll come back for her.
- No, do it now.
- Do what?
Kill her,
like you always do.
Like I always do?
I lied.
[intense music]
No!
No!
What happened?
It could duplicate whatever
was on the other end.
But there wasn't
anything there.
There never was.
[intense music]
[theme music]