Original subtitles

Who's your silent partner?

I'm the rat.

Lois Lane, Clark Kent.

Nice bit of reporting you did. A little underhanded, of course, but still nice.

Well, I'm sorry, but my getting a job depended on it. Oh, by the way, what

about that job? You've been on the payroll for hours.

Now, perhaps we could have some teamwork around here.

We will.

Fix him up at the desk.

you

And here's the latest about the most glamorous figure that's ever flashed

across the news horizon.

Yes, you guessed it, Superman.

A confidential source has passed on the rumor that he's been summoned to

Washington for a super secret assignment.

It's only a rumor, remember.

Now for other important news of the day.

The Spider Lady.

Did you hear that broadcast?

Yes.

The government's calling in Superman. There can be only one reason.

They perfected the ray machine and want him to guard it.

It'll make it tougher for us to get a hold of it.

Not even Superman will keep me from getting that machine.

I must have it and I will have it. How about the test on the machine that was

reported to us?

Get me Crandall in New Mexico.

Crandall. Stand by. The spider lady wants to talk to you.

Do you know whether they're testing the relativity reducer ray soon?

Well, if they're not, they've certainly wasted a lot of time and money building

a target.

I don't want that test held until I get a scientist out there to observe it.

How do you figure on stopping it? You have apparatus to create negative rays.

I'll expect you to delay it until it suits my convenience.

That's a big order.

You will obey it.

We're all friends here. Take off my mask.

I think that Superman has taken on a job even he won't be able to accomplish.

Word reached me that you wanted to see me, Mr. Secretary. I came at once.

Superman.

Your remarkable achievements have convinced us that you're just the person

for a most difficult assignment.

Gentlemen, Superman.

You've heard of Dr. Graham, our distinguished nuclear scientist?

Superman, I'm very happy to know you. How do you do?

The world knows that Dr. Graham is working on the mysterious Reducer Ray.

We hope it does not know he has now perfected it. I see.

Will you step over here, Superman?

Reduce arrays are constantly bombarding the Earth in large quantities without

any serious effect.

But when concentrated in this machine, it becomes the most deadly weapon the

world has ever seen.

How does it work? That is, if you're free to say.

Why, I think it's safe to tell you.

Dr. Graham, will you explain, please?

Certainly.

Once the exact location of the target is known, its latitude and longitude are

fed into the apparatus by means of a perforated tape which is concealed

inside.

The machine from then on makes its own calculations.

And so by merely pressing a button, the operator can destroy the target, even

though it's thousands of miles away.

Now you're beginning to understand the terrific force we're dealing with. A

force more powerful even than the atomic bomb.

Have all arrangements for the test been completed, Doctor?

Yes, Mr. Secretary. A concrete blockhouse has been built in the western

desert, miles from any habitation.

I'd like you to see that test, Superman.

Location is here.

Hmm.

That's about 2,000 miles away.

I can be there in 30 seconds.

It'll take me about that much time to make the necessary adjustments.

In that case, I'd better be leaving.

Oh, that's the window. The door is over here.

Yes, I know.

Up.

I'd like to test the negative rays this gun gives out before I turn them against

the reducer ray.

Here comes a train.

Why don't you try and stop it?

That's a good idea.

I'll experiment on that.

It worked perfectly.

I'll bet that engineer will never figure out what stopped his train.

Now we're ready for the reducer ray.

The beam isn't carrying.

Something's blocking it.

Are you ready, Doctor?

All ready.

Randall calling Spider-Lady.

We... Now that you've seen the destructive force of the Reducer Ray,

I'll tell you why we asked you to come here.

We want you to guard it.

You can understand the danger which would threaten the world if it fell into

the wrong hands.

I appreciate your confidence in me. All I can say is I accept the trust and its

responsibilities.

Thank you, sir.

Our New Mexico men were wiped out.

The reducer ray is the greatest force the world has ever known.

I intend to capture it. How about Superman?

If he interferes, I'll find a way to destroy him.

Meteor headed toward Earth.

What about it?

May hit near Metropolis.

Thanks, Professor Leeds. That's a story.

Press room.

Yes. Hold page one for possible replay.

City desk.

Professor, this is a full report on the asteroid that's heading to the Earth.

We completed it a few minutes ago.

What does it all add up to, Morgan?

The asteroid is steadily disintegrating. By the time it reaches the Earth, it'll

probably be no larger than an ordinary meteor.

Ordinary? I doubt that.

This behavior has been very strange.

And what is its present location?

Approximately 30,000 miles away.

As near as we can calculate, it should strike our atmosphere in about 10 hours.

Oh.

There'll be about eight tonight.

You'd better inform the press, but avoid anything sensational.

We don't want any panic.

All right, sir.

What is it, Morgan?

Well, I was wondering if you'd heard anything about my raise.

Yes, I have.

I meant to tell you. The board turned down your request for a raise.

I can't get along on what they pay me. I need money. I know. I'm sorry.

I'll bring it up again at the very first opportunity.

Well, it's 8 o'clock and no meteor in sight.

Those observatory wizards must have miscalculated.

According to my watch, it's only 7.59 and a half.

Hey, I think I see it. Where?

That's the biggest meteor I've ever seen.

I wonder where it landed.

There may not be anything left. It seems to have disappeared before it reached

the horizon.

Well, we still know. I have a network of spotters waiting to report.

Meteors are so strange and mysterious.

They come from somewhere out of the universe.

Nobody knows where.

Yes?

Okay.

Yes, I have it.

A small meteorite landed on the farm of Adam Jones seven miles north of town on

State Highway 3.

Yes, sir? Jimmy, stay here. We'll let Lois and Kent cover this.

They might as well start learning how to work together.

Oh, heck.

I have a hunch we'll do all right.

Don't you think so, Lois? Oh, yes.

In fact, yes, indeed.

What was that?

It must be a blowout.

That's funny.

It steers all right.

Just the same. You better go out and see.

All right.

I think it's the right rear.

Professor Leeds, how did you find the meteor?

Yes, it's probably at the observatory by now.

Morgan, my assistant, started back with it a half hour ago.

You know, this meteorite has some very peculiar qualities.

Come along and have a look at it if you like.

Thanks, I will.

Isn't your assistant here? He probably stepped out to get something to eat.

He missed his supper because of the meteor hunt.

Well, here it is.

I told Morgan to put it in the lead box until we had a chance to test it for

radioactivity.

You know, Kent, from its characteristics, this meteorite may be a

fragment of the planet Krypton, which exploded many years ago.

Morgan's already made a test.

The meteorite contains nothing dangerous to us.

Is there anything wrong, Mr. Kent?

I don't know.

I don't think so. Please go on.

I'll turn off the lights.

Now you see what I mean when I say this meteorite is different.

Be sure to see Man of Steel, the fourth action chapter of Superman, at this

theater next week.