Original subtitles

Quiet, please. Genius at work.

In what word, may I ask?

I was learning to type with my eyes closed.

The quick brine fox jumbled the lazy dig.

Oh, that's pretty good, Clark.

What language are you trying for?

The chief's lovely to come up with a few new words himself if we don't get in

there. Oh, that's right. He wanted to see us right away.

Oh, what about?

I don't know, but it's one of his mysterious days.

Come on. I see.

Now, which one of you knows anything about the secret cult of Zaharan?

Whatever it is, I didn't do it.

Modern education.

Don't they teach you anything but finger painting?

But, Chief, the secret cult of Zaharan?

It's a new one on me, too, sir.

Well, for your information, it's an ancient Near East culture.

That book covers it completely.

It says here the tribe goes back 10,000 years.

Even to this day, survivors of the race believe firmly in their ancient

superstitions. But what's this got to do with the Daily Planet, sir?

In exactly one hour, Abdou Ben Bey and Ali Zing arrive in Metropolis, the last

stop on their world tour.

Rumor says that they belong to this cult.

Oh, yes. I remember reading a dispatch about them several months ago.

Seems nobody knows what they're up to.

Refuse to grant any sort of an interview, and they wear enough jewels

to sink a battleship.

Exactly. And you want us to get the interview?

Exactly. And if we don't?

Exactly. We'll do our best, sir.

Miss Lane, it might help if you'd wear this.

What is it? I borrowed it from Professor Walter's collection.

It's supposed to be an ancient Zaharan relic.

If you wear it, it might attract their attention, get them talking.

Jeepers, what if it has something to do with all this superstition stuff?

Oh, come off it, Jim. We're in the 20th century.

I know that.

But do Mr. Abdu and Mr. Zane?

You will have to think faster, my friend.

Up to Nzing will be here shortly. Yes, yes, I know. We followed them around the

world waiting for the chance and still it hasn't come.

The jewels which they wear on their turbans would make us rich men if we

could get them.

There's only one way. We must strike boldly. But I am not a very bold man.

In fact, sometimes I wonder how I ever became a thief.

Ah, but now is our chance to become great thieves.

You have a plan? Yes.

Listen well.

We will be at the airport when they arrive.

They will have their guards with them as usual.

Their guards?

If we could only get rid of them.

But that is your job.

You'll create a disturbance.

Steal something.

Pick somebody's pocket, but make sure the victim knows it.

That would ruin my professional standing.

It is our only chance.

You will try to escape.

And the guards will chase me?

Yes. Then you will leave the rest to me.

I will take them boldly and quietly by surprise.

And they will take me boldly and quietly to jail. They will merely deport you. It

doesn't matter.

A stain on my character.

But, as you say, it is our only chance.

Come, we must hurry.

We're right on time. The flight's in.

Looks like somebody else is here to meet them, too.

They don't look very friendly, do they?

I'd sure hate to meet them in a dark bazaar.

They are a little sinister at that, aren't they?

After all, Clark, you don't have to stare at them.

Oh, I'm sorry, Lois, but I remember reading about Abdu and Zing.

They're supposed to both be wearing a fortune in jewels.

Stop worrying, Clark. Nothing's going to happen here in broad daylight.

Well, I guess you're right, but I'll go just check with the security officer

anyway. Might be interesting. Excuse me.

This had better get us an interview or the chief will blow a fuse.

Here they come, Miss Lane.

Jimmy, the pendant! Don't! Steve, help!

After him!

Look at him, Miss Blanche.

The jewels, gentlemen. Quickly and quietly.

No. No, they are sacred.

The jewels or I shoot.

We must do as he says.

Take care of him.

We have heard of you, even in our own country. A thousand thanks be heaped

upon you. We are your humble servants.

If there is anything we can do.

Well, gentlemen, there's nothing you can do for me.

But I have two young friends here from the Daily Planet, and they'd be very

grateful indeed if you'd give them an interview.

Of course, it is the least we can do.

Well, thank you very much.

Let's find a room. A place to talk?

Certainly. Oh, by the way, where's Superman?

Oh, he must have left.

Is it true this is really nothing more than a pleasure trip? I wish it were

more exciting, Miss Lane. For the sake of your story.

What I want to know is, what about this Zaharan business?

It is the tribe of our ancestors.

Hi. Hi, Clark.

Oh, this is Mr. Abdu and Mr. Zing. This is Mr. Kent. Mr. Kent, gentlemen.

You're a little late, Clark.

Superman got the interview exclusively for Jimmy and me.

Well, this isn't the first time you two have scooped me.

What I don't understand, Mr. Kent, is how did Superman happen to be here?

Well, Jimmy, I told you.

I read about the jewels in the paper, and I assumed Superman did the same

thing and sort of came around to keep an eye on things.

Well, that's fine. Now, goodbye, Mr. Kent. Oh, not until I return your

pendant. They caught the thief.

Oh, thank you.

What's the matter? That scarab, it is extraordinary.

Is that the one you were wedding?

Well, I was until the thief came along.

May we see it, please?

Why, certainly.

Oh, did I mention this is our story?

Yes, lots of our thoughts are here. We can manage. Thank you.

Very well.

The chief was right. They sure seem interested.

It is indeed very beautiful.

Yes, it is.

You have been most gracious, Miss Lane.

Tonight we leave for Beldad, the capital of our country.

And from there we move on to supervise a secret excavation. We'd be glad if you

came. And covered the story as our guests.

A secret excavation?

Oh, golly, this is a chance I've always dreamed of.

You will come with us?

Why, yes, of course.

Oh, that is if Mr.

Olsen can come too.

I'm sure our boss will be happy to let us go.

Naturally, you will want photographs.

The plane leaves at 7.30.

We will meet you here. There's just one small request.

That you wear the pendant.

I'd wear the Rock of Gibraltar for this.

7.30 then.

Aren't you excited, Tim? You bet I am.

Clark, you're just jealous because you weren't invited.

Lois, I think you know better than that.

Now, what do we know about these two characters after all?

And what about this secret excavation business? What's that all about?

If we knew, it wouldn't be secret.

I don't see anything wrong with it, Clark, and it could be a great feature.

Well, you're the boss, Chief, and I just don't like it.

Jeepers, Mr. Kent, if there's any trouble, don't forget, I'll be there.

You'll not only be there, the chances are ten to one you will have started it.

Sometimes the faith you have in me is frightening.

Well, you just remember to bring back some good pictures.

You can count on me, Chief.

Sir? Then we can go?

Yes, yes, so we can have a little peace and quiet around here for a week or two.

Now, listen to me, you two. I want you to promise me something.

I want you to watch your step and not take any chances.

For your peace of mind, Clark, I promise we'll file a dispatch the minute we

arrive in Beldab. You do that. Okay. Ready, Jim? Ready, Miss Lane.

Uh, Mr. Olsen.

Yes, sir.

If you intend to bring back some pictures, it might be a good idea to

take your equipment with you.

Yes, sir.

Uh, thank you, sir.

Have a nice trip, sir. You're the one who's going away!

I know.

You know, those two could drive you crazy.

Oh, well, maybe they'll form the river and get eaten by crocodiles or get lost

in the desert or something, but... But, Clark, you don't really think there'll

be any trouble, do you?

Well, you can call the hunts, Chief, but I really do.

Well, we can't do anything about it now.

They'll be in Beldad in 36 hours.

Uh, Chief, I, uh, haven't wanted to mention this, but I've been feeling very

well lately, and I wonder if I could have a few days off now from my

vacation, of course.

My boy, you and I are going to be very busy all night and probably all day

tomorrow getting out that dummy for the anniversary number.

There'll be plenty of time to talk about vacations later on.

Yes, sir.

I had to think we'd almost given up.

Fate has indeed been kind to us.

But are you sure?

That they will come with us?

Yes. I see them now.

What of the boy?

He will be a problem, but no sacrifice. He's too great.

Even his.

Ah, you have arrived.

Great adventure is about to begin.

I still can hardly believe it. You will when you smell the incense.

What incense?

He speaks of the exciting air of the Far East.

Yes, of course.

I wonder how we'll feel a couple of weeks from now when we're back here

getting off the plane. I wouldn't worry about that, Miss Lane.

Shall we go?

And over there is the Mosque of Muhammad Ali.

Jeepers, it looks like they copied everything right out of those pictures

in my old geography book.

Is it really as mysterious as they say, Mr. Zing? I shall have to leave that to

your judgment, Miss Layton.

Hey, the sign says Beldad's that way.

We are not going to Beldad.

But our dispatch.

I told you we promised to send one as soon as we got there.

We have instructed one of our messengers to send a dispatch in your name.

But you can't do that.

We demand the opportunity to send our own dispatch.

And when we demand something, we very seldom get it.

This is ridiculous.

I don't know what you're doing, but you'll never get away with it. We mean

you no harm. You must believe that.

It'd be easier to believe if you'd put that gun away.

I hate to admit it, Jim, but it looks like Clark was right.

I think we've done it again.

But golly, Miss Lane, what would they want with us?

Unless the chief hired them to get rid of us.

It is not for money we do this thing, rather... For the sake of Zaharan.

Zaharan. I never did like the sound of that word.

I bet this necklace has something to do with it. That, Miss Lane, is the sacred

scarab of the Queen of Zaharan.

She can gladly have it back.

She already has, Miss Lane.

You mean, you think I'm... Exactly.

You are the Queen of Zaharan.

How do you do, Your Majesty?

This is no joking matter, Jim.

I will explain briefly.

Our queen's name was, excuse me, is Nephrodias.

5,026 years ago, she fell into a deep sleep in the tomb of Zaharan. She was

wearing that scarab, and it was prophesied that she would awaken 5,000

years later and would be identified by that scarab. Then she should have

awakened 26 years ago.

And that's exactly how old you are, Miss Lane. The prophecy of Zaharan works in

strange ways.

A thousand years later, thieves broke into the tomb and stole our queen.

That was the reason for our trip, to find the woman wearing the sacred

scarab. Who is our queen.

But it can't be.

You've made an awful mistake.

Chippers, Miss Lane, you don't look a day over 3,000 years old.

Someday, Miss Lane, Your Majesty will thank us for bringing you home.

Chief, take a look at this dispatch from Beldad.

Good trip. Stop.

Safe arrival. Stop.

Proceeding to destination. Stop.

End dispatch.

Stop. Olsen and Lane.

Well, now, do you believe everything's all right? Just the opposite.

Take another look.

Lois and Jimmy didn't write that dispatch.

You're a little groggy.

You haven't had enough sleep.

No, look. Look at this, where it says end dispatch. You know they wouldn't

write like that.

You've got a point there, Kent.

They'd have used a newspaper term, 30.

Right, which means someone else sent it for them.

Someone may have abducted them. I'll bet that scarab had something to do with

this. Let's call the police. Put it in their laps.

Now, wait a minute. I've got a few angles I want to try myself.

No, you don't. You stay right here.

Now, you wait a minute, Chief.

Lois and Jimmy mean a lot more to me than any anniversary edition.

Well, nothing left for me to do but to fire myself.

There it is, Your Majesty.

Your home for who knows how many thousands of years.

I hope you like it, Miss Lane. I'll drop by to see you occasionally.

You will come too, Mr. Olsen.

Perhaps you were one of her slaves.

We shall soon find out.

We'd better do as they say, Jim.

Please, into the car.

You're both in enough trouble as it is. But if you help me out, things may be a

little easier for you.

We know nothing.

Well, you know about the visitors from Zaharan.

What were they really up to?

We know nothing.

Well, what about the scarab?

It's green.

Naturally, it's a beetle. It has a large eye in the middle of its forehead.

The scarab of Nefrideus, our queen, has returned.

Nefrideus, your queen? Who is she?

She has come back to rule from the tomb of Zaharan.

The tomb of Zaharan? Where's that?

It is. Say no more.

Nothing must prevent the return of our queen.

Now, look, you two.

This is just a lot of ancient superstition.

There may be lies at stake.

We know nothing.

Jim! Jimmy, we've got to think of something.

What I'm thinking now wouldn't be of any help. Never fear, Your Highness.

No one will steal you from the tomb.

Right now, I welcome a burglar with open arms.

We shall enter.

I still remember my manners, Lady Burke.

Does it look familiar, Your Majesty?

How could it? I'm not Your Majesty.

My editor just borrowed this silly thing for the day.

But you were wearing it. That is enough. It is fate.

Never fear. The incense will return your former life and your memory. Then you

will be happy.

I'd be happier if I were back home sitting down to dinner with my dear old

mother. That will pass.

Fortunately, you are not human like we poor mortals. You can live without food,

without air.

Without food and air?

Of course.

Now you will be made ready.

I'm not your queen.

I'm not. I'm mine.

No, let me go.

Do either one of you speak English?

I'm not your queen. This is ridiculous.

If you think I'm going to put these on, you're crazy.

And that's all I know. So I've come to you. I must find this tomb of Zaharan.

I have heard of the tomb.

But I do not know where it is. Well, can't you find out? There's no time to

lose.

I will try.

But we are a civilized people, Mr. Kent.

I frankly cannot believe all you have told me. And I can't believe it either.

Hello? Give me the director of the museum.

Jimmy. Miss Lane.

Mr. Abdo and Mr. Singh.

I know you don't mean to hurt us, and this is for the good of your people and

your country, and I do want to help you, but I'm not your queen.

You will be soon, Your Highness.

It's too late, Miss Lane.

You were destined for nobility.

That is the sacred incense.

You need only breathe it for a little while.

And your former life and memory will be restored.

And I promised my mother I wouldn't smoke.

The only thing your incense is going to do is smother us. Why, we won't last an

hour. You will last forever, good queen. And now we poor mortals must leave

before we choke to death.

What are we going to do?

All we can do is hope they're right, Miss Lane.

Yes. Yes, I thank you.

That was the director of the museum.

He told me where to locate the tomb.

Good. Can you show me?

It is here.

Now, can you get some police there in a hurry?

This little adventure intrigues me.

I personally will fly there in a police plane. Good. I'll meet you there. But

how will you get there? I've arranged my own transportation.

Jimmy the Great.

Are you beginning to feel like a queen, Miss Lane? Oh, no, I'm not, Jimmy.

I still feel like Lois Lane.

She feels awful.

It's no use, Miss Lane.

We've only got a few minutes left.

It's been nice working with you.

Same here, Jim.

Superman, it's good to see you. And it's good to see you, too. How is the little

queen? Feeling better?

Please, don't ever say that word again.

Golly, Superman.

Hello, Jenny. You back with us?

We'll have you back in Metropolis in no time.

Jeepers, it'll be good to see the chief's scalling face again.

But, Superman, how did you know and how did you find him? Well, it seems as

though Clark Kent did a little detective work. Oh, you'll see him in Belldad. In

Belldad? Mm-hmm. He flew in with me.

Well, looks like you'll be riding back with the police captain.

I'm sorry it's not as romantic as Camelback. Thank you. I've had enough

Near East atmosphere for a long time.

Look, the tomb of Zaharan has been opened.

Our queen must be gone.

Do not worry. The incense worked.

She became the queen again.

Only she could move such a stone.

And whatever she does now is for the good of Zaharan.

The scarab.

A sure sign she will return one of these centuries.

Yes. Our work is done.

Incredible, Kent. I don't believe it.

Now do you believe it?

Oh, no. What have I done to deserve this?

Well, I think I look pretty snappy, Chief, considering I'm 5,026 years old.

Sure good to see you again, Chief. Don't call me Chief. Go get dressed, both of

you. Yes, sir.

Shalom, Chief.

Oh, go on. Get out. Get out.

Just out of curiosity, what is that that Olsen left here?

Oh, I think it was very considerate of him.

What is it?

Well, it's a copy of a bell-dead newspaper.

Of course, it's in Arabic. Naturally, you speak Arabic, don't you, Chief? Yes,

I speak Arabic.

Ibbidi-dibbidi-abbidi-magaloo.

Which means you get out of here, too. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Miss the next real packed episode in the amazing adventures of Superman.

Superman is based on the original character appearing in Superman

magazine.