Original subtitles

Nothing, sir.

I'm sorry, sir, but it was an accident.

That accident has ruined a pair of $60 pants.

I got a feeling we're going to have another accident right now.

No, Superman, let him go.

I ruined his pants and it was all my fault.

All right, Jimmy, anything you say.

Clark Kent told me that you'd been fooling around with some chemicals.

I just dropped in to see how much trouble you were really getting into.

Well, I was developing a new soft drink.

It acted more like a flamethrower right out that window.

But I'm working on some great new discoveries.

What's this?

What's that?

It's synthetic rubber.

Jimmy. I hope you only used the chemicals that came in your set.

No, I bought some extra stuff down at the chemical store.

You did? What did you use?

Some of that stuff on the shelf over there.

Jeepers, Superman, what happened?

Well, Jimmy, that so-called synthetic rubber ball of yours was a dangerous

explosive. Now, in the future, will you pick a safer hobby like collecting

butterflies, for example?

Oh, but Superman, I've got a couple of other pretty important projects in the

work. Here, let me show... Jimmy, butterflies?

Were you looking for me, Olsen? No, no, I was... I just brought in the pictures

of the beauty contest finalists.

I see that.

Now, what were you doing in my drawer?

Drawer?

What drawer?

You know what drawer. I mean my desk drawer.

You slammed it shut just as I came in. I did?

No, I didn't. I mean, if I did, I didn't know I did.

All right, Olson.

What kind of unfunny practical joke is this?

Practical joke? I don't know what you're talking about, Chief. You know perfectly

well what I'm talking about. This floating paperweight.

Olsen, you are fired.

Not only from this paper, but I'll see to it you never work in the newspaper

business again. I'm going to see to it that you never work anywhere again.

I may sue you for assault and battery.

Does it really hurt, sir?

Olsen, you are amazing.

Chief, you're absolutely right.

Sometimes I amaze myself.

All right.

I give up.

What is the gimmick?

Well, there's no gimmick. Look.

There's no wires.

I bought a chemistry set last week. A chemistry set? Aren't you a little old

for that sort of thing?

Well, look what I did last night.

Well, yeah, watch out. You might drop it. And with your scientific abilities,

I wouldn't want to be around when you drop it. Drop it? You can't drop it.

That's the beauty of it.

Watch this.

It must be a trick.

Oh, it's no trick.

It's a secret formula I developed.

Your aim is getting worse, Olsen.

You missed me that time.

Well, that's the part I can't control.

It's like your temper.

My temper? Why, you insolent junk. See what I mean? I have no temper.

See?

Wait a minute.

Do you mean to tell me you've discovered something that will counteract gravity?

Well, that's just what I've been trying to show you.

Why, this is the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel.

No, it's not that great. It only lasts a few seconds. That's the part I haven't

licked yet. But the thing you have licked is the greatest scientific

advance in our time.

It is?

Olsen, this thing is something that you can't keep to yourself.

The government has got to be told about this at once.

It has.

Golly.

Our department gets calls like this by the thousands, to the point where we

have neither the men nor the money to investigate them all.

Well, now, Major, you know I wouldn't call Washington on a wild goose chase.

Well, frankly, Mr. White, anti-gravity.

Major, if I hadn't seen this with my own eyes, I, uh... I'm also a man who

believes what he sees, Mr. White.

I wouldn't be here at all except that my superiors have faith in your word. And

you'll have faith too, Major, after you've seen what I've seen. I have no

doubt.

Now, if I could meet this Professor Olson that you spoke of.

Certainly, he's just outside.

Send Jimmy Olson in, please.

Major, I'm afraid someone has left you with the wrong impression.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Olson is not exactly a professor. He's more of a...

Did you call me, Chief? Yes.

Someone here I want you to meet.

Major Osborne, this is Jimmy Olson.

How do you do, sir?

This is Olson?

Now, see here, Mr. White, what kind of a... Major, let's not jump to any hasty

conclusions. But this boy... Einstein was only 12 when he published his theory

of relativity.

He was 26.

But I still don't see what that has to do with this.

That's entirely beside the point.

The fact remains that Mr. Olsen has discovered an anti-gravity fluid.

His age is purely irrelevant.

Well, all right. I've come this far and spent this much time. I might as well go

all the way.

Do you have it, Jimmy?

Yes, sir.

May I borrow your pen, please, Major?

Well, Mr. White, when do we see the demonstration?

Any moment now.

Well, what do you think of our little demonstration, Major?

What demonstration?

Mr. White, is this some kind of trick?

It's your pen, Major.

Of course, it's not perfected yet.

We have to find a way to make it more persistent.

Professor, may I see that substance?

Let him see it, Jimmy.

Now, Major, are you convinced?

Well, unless this is some fantastic practical joke.

Now, Major, why would I do a... I apologize, Mr. White.

You can't blame me for being a little skeptical.

After all, every scientist in the world has said there can be no such thing as

anti-gravity. Well, the way I look at it, gravity is a magnetic force.

Now, we all know that opposite magnetic forces attract.

Light poles repel.

And it's my idea, that Oatson has discovered a like force to gravity.

That sounds very logical.

What do you think, Professor?

Sure.

Well, now, I suppose we'll have to set up well-equipped laboratories, provide

expert assistance, and ample funds to carry on the research.

No, I have my own laboratory. I don't need a thing.

Perhaps you're right.

The fewer people that know about this, the better. Why, if word of this ever

got out, every unscrupulous individual and every world government would be

scheming to get their hands on it. And, of course, I'll give Olson leave of

absence from his duties here so he can carry on his great work for the

government. At full salary, of course. Of course.

Of course.

Now, may I send that bottle back to our laboratories for analysis?

Sure. I've got a big bottle of the stuff back at my lab. And you have the

formula?

Well, you see, I was working on so many experiments at one time that, well,

I don't quite know which one that one was.

But I'll recheck my papers. Good.

And I'll stay on in town in case there's anything you need.

The bottle!

I can't understand it. It's simply not in this room. But there's been no one

else in this office and it was here just a minute ago.

That bottle should fall into the hands of the wrong person.

Superman!

Did anyone here lose this? I found it floating around outside.

Oh, hello, Major. Nice to see you again, sir. Hello, Superman.

Well, that's mine. Thank you very much. Well,

I have to send in my report.

I'll see you later in the day, though I may spend a little while with the

psychiatrist in the meantime.

Goodbye, sir.

How's it coming, Professor?

Slowly, Major.

Slowly.

You don't accomplish these miracles overnight.

You can't rush the atom, you know.

I sent the sample to Washington for analysis.

We should have a preliminary report any day now.

Good. I'd sure like to know what's in it.

What?

I mean, I'd sure like to know what they think of it.

Well, I'd better be going now.

Be sure to notify me immediately of any further results.

Yes, sir.

Hi, Jimmy.

Hi, Miss Lane.

Get some air in here.

the experiment coming?

What do you know about it?

Well, the chief told Clark and me he swore us to secrecy. One of us is to

come here every day and get a progress report.

That way we'll have a story ready when the government releases it.

There isn't going to be any story.

Are you kidding?

But, Jimmy, we're all proud of you. This will be the biggest story of the

century.

Miss Lane, I have to tell somebody or I'll go crazy.

I haven't the faintest idea what I'm doing.

What do you mean?

Well, I was fooling around with my chemistry set one day, trying to make a

new kind of chocolate cake.

I mixed together some chemicals, some eggs, and some sugar.

But you do know what you put in.

No.

A few bottles of some stuff fell off the shelf.

The mixing bowl broke and got mixed up with the rest of the stuff, and suddenly

the bowl began to float.

Probably the world's lightest cake.

But you must have some idea of what went into the mixture.

The whole thing was a series of accidents.

I don't think I could repeat them.

We are going to have to try.

Do you have any of the mixture left?

Yeah.

I keep it trapped in here.

It sort of has a tendency to float.

Maybe you better start working on that cake again.

Why don't you put all the bottles back the way you had them that day and then

try to duplicate your movements?

No, it's no use, Miss Lane.

I don't have any idea what I had around here that day.

Well, why don't you tell the Major that and just forget the whole thing?

I'm afraid to.

Mr. White's gone way out on a limb convincing the government that I knew

what I was doing.

If they ever found out what really happened, it'd make him seem like an

idiot.

And that's one thing he doesn't enjoy seeming like.

That's for sure.

Well, is there anything I can do to help?

Well, maybe we could both work on it. That way we'd have twice as good a

chance of stumbling onto the formula again.

Here's a small sample of the stuff.

Come in.

Professor Olson.

Don't wait a minute. Don't get excited.

I'll pay for your pants.

Oh, think nothing of it, Professor. A misunderstanding.

I didn't know who you were.

I'm Frank Gannis from the Department of Government Research.

May I speak freely?

Well, sure. This is Miss Lane, my assistant.

How do you do?

Word has reached us, Professor, that you have been conducting rather successful

experiments in anti-gravity.

Yes, but Major Osborne has already contacted me.

Major Osborne?

My word, sir. I know of no such officer in our service.

I'm afraid you've been put upon by an imposter.

Really? How terrible.

What? We better contact Washington immediately.

Very cute, Miss Lane. Hold it right there. All right, Olsen.

I'll take the stuff, whatever it is, in the formula.

But I don't have a formula. I only wish I did.

It must be here someplace.

All right, step back. Both of you.

Honestly, I don't have any anti-gravity fluid.

Never heard of anti-gravity. What do you call that?

What is that?

Pull the gun on him, Jimmy. I'll get the police.

Hold it, Miss Lane.

All right, Olsen.

I'll take the formula and whatever stuff you've already made. Come on. All right.

I'll give it to you. Come on.

Stop right there.

Just let go of it and step back.

Lucky for you, you didn't try anything smart.

Get it back.

How? It really doesn't matter. You can make plenty more, can't you, Olson?

That's what I've been trying to tell you. I can't.

Step back.

I think you're telling the truth.

So I have another idea.

Come along with me to my laboratory.

You can finish your experiments there.

You expecting someone?

Don't worry about him, Superman. Just get the jar of anti-grav. It floated out

the window.

No, I quit.

That's all there is to it. I quit.

Now, now, calm down, Olsen. This is a very important decision you're making. I

know it's an important decision.

That's why I can't calm down.

Maybe the boy's right, Chief. You can see the state he's in.

You keep out of this, Kent.

Do you fully realize the importance of your work to the government?

Do you fully realize the importance of my life to me? You're exaggerating.

Just because one man tried to steal your formula.

It only takes one man to kill me.

Superman frightened him away. He won't be back.

Jimmy, why don't you give the government everything you discovered up till now?

Let them carry on from there.

That's the first sensible thing I've heard all morning.

All right. If that's the way you feel about it, Major Osborne is due here any

minute.

Yes. Yes, of course. Send him in.

Well, now you can tell Major Osborne.

And I'm sure he'll be quite disappointed in you.

Ah, Major, nice to see you again. I'll be in my office if you want me, sir. All

right, Clark.

Well, Professor, I was just over at your laboratory looking for you. I was just

going to look for you.

Sir?

I give up. I quit.

Olsen, won't you please reconsider?

Mr. White, let me talk to the boy a moment.

Now, son, you just can't quit. We need you.

Don't you realize how important your work is?

Major, I feel that the government scientists are much more qualified to

carry on my work than I am. But they're not.

That's what I wanted to see you about.

We've just completed our analysis of your anti-gravity liquid.

Good. Then you have the formula.

Well, that's just it.

Well, we can break it down to most of its component parts, but the professor

here seems to have accomplished some rearrangement of the atoms.

We've been unable to duplicate the exact mixture.

So you see, Olsen, you have to carry on. No, I won't.

Of course, we can't force you to.

But I just want you to know that your country will be eternally grateful.

Major, if I thought I could be of any use... But think of what you'll

accomplish.

Why, we could build spaceships to the stars using your antigrav fluid. Not

only that, but people will be able to fly without a ship.

Anyone, even you, will be able to fly like Superman.

Yeah.

I would be able to fly like Superman, wouldn't I?

Major?

Chief?

I've never been one to shun my duty to my country.

I'll do it.

Well, Chief, any word from Jimmy?

Sure. He's invented rubber that melts at room temperature, synthetic wood that

crumbles at the slightest pressure, but up to now he's not been able to

duplicate his anti-gravity fluid.

Chief, you've got to let him stop those experiments.

Oh, don't start that again.

Well, look, I've been nosing all around town, and the whole underworld's just

buzzing with the news. In fact, they're practically drawing straws as he knocks

Jimmy off to steal his formula.

Yeah, I've heard about that.

And you intend to let him continue?

I've just had a phone call from Major Osborne.

Washington is sending 20 men out here to guard the house.

Cream and sugar, Miss Lane? No, thanks. Just black.

Well, I will say, you make the greatest coffee.

Looks like that's all I can make.

You better get out of here. In a few minutes, this place is going to be

swarming with federal men.

I just beat them in.

They're starting to surround the building.

Lieutenant Craley just called me. The entire building is surrounded. No one

will be able to get in without being seen.

Yes?

Yes, he's here.

For you, Washington calling. Oh, thank you.

Major Osborne here.

What?

Will you repeat that, please?

Why, that's terrible.

Yes, I'll get the information to him immediately.

What happened?

That was a laboratory in Washington.

While running some experiments on the sample of Olsen's antigraph, they mixed

a small portion of it with water.

A few minutes later, it exploded.

Of course, it's highly unstable.

That's why it disintegrates on exposure to the moisture in the air.

Well, we knew it was unstable, but we hardly expected it to be that unstable.

We'll have to notify Professor Olsen at once.

May I use your phone?

Certainly. Thank you.

Let's have it, Olsen.

What good will it do you?

You'll never be able to get out of here now.

Why don't you give up?

That stuff's my only hope.

The only way I can get out of here is to fly.

That's strange.

He doesn't seem to answer.

I can't understand it.

I'd better get over there right away. Would you care to... Where did Mr. Kent

go? I don't know. He was here a moment ago.

But I told you, I don't have a formula.

Look, I haven't got time to argue.

Just give me the big jar of the stuff you have.

Come on, now, get it for me.

All right.

What do you want this stuff for? It's no good. It only lasts a few seconds.

It'll last long enough to get me out of here.

That's all you have left?

That's the last of it.

Oh, no, that's just... All right, you win.

That is the rest of the anti-gravity fluid. We were holding out on you. We

were. Okay, don't get smart.

Now pour the rest of that stuff into this jar.

Cream and sugar?

What? Nothing.

I'm going to take this stuff and pour it all over myself and float out that

window. For your sake, it better work.

You're not floating anywhere.

I have a message for you from the government.

I'm glad I got here in time.

This is one time, Superman. We really didn't need you. He wasn't going

anywhere. Well, sure, there's enough stuff here to have floated him out that

window and passed the government, man. Not with that stuff. It's diluted.

Not with water, I hope.

Water? Of course not.

Thank goodness for that. You see, the government scientists have discovered

when you mix this stuff with water, it explodes in a matter of minutes.

Explodes? Why, we put coffee in there. Coffee?

Here, Gannis, you wanted this.

Oh, no.

This time it's the whole suit.

Don't worry. Where you're going, they'll furnish your clothes.

Look at my lab.

It's ruined.

Well, maybe it's just as well. Now you can leave science to the scientists.

Does anyone know where I can get a good secondhand butterfly net?

Don't miss the next real tactic. episode in the amazing adventures of Superman.

Superman is based on the original character appearing in Superman

magazine.