Original subtitles

No use, sir.

I've been three days trying to burn through this thing.

I won't even bless her.

Why don't you give up, Henderson?

First, you bulldozed it with a tractor.

When that didn't work, you tried to blow it up with TNT.

Then you got an army tank destroyer to fire point blank with armored piercing

shells. And they bounced off without making a dent.

And now this.

Don't you ever know when you're licked? I know this much, Mr. Steve Barton.

If I can get inside this cube, I'll find your brother Paul.

No, you won't.

Because you won't get inside.

Nobody will. Your brother did.

He's hiding in there and you know it. All I can tell you is that Paul built it

here seven years ago.

Just before he disappeared.

Isn't that right, Jody?

Well, yeah. If he's inside it, you sure couldn't prove it by me.

You might as well load your stuff up.

Yes, sir.

Well, Kent, I suppose you'd be writing another front page story for the Daily

Planet. Read all about it.

Police again fail to break into the mysterious cube.

Oh, now, Bill, you know very well that Perry White publishes the planet.

I just write the news.

Yeah, I'm going to have a little talk with him. I don't want to have him make

a monkey out of me with all those headlines.

You don't need headlines to do that, Henderson.

Let's get out of here.

Get the stethophone.

Sure, boys.

You know...

I ain't never been able to dope out how this gadget works.

Well, it works on the order of a doctor's stethoscope.

Oh. That's why they call it a stethophone.

It can pick up sound through any thickness of metal and amplify it

electronically. Oh, so that's it.

But it also can transmit sound the same way.

Oh.

I still don't get it.

No, I don't suppose you ever will.

Paul, this is Steve.

Can you hear me?

Paul.

I've got to talk to you.

What's the matter, Steve? Anything wrong out there?

Well, the police were here again today.

This time they tried to cut through with a settling torch.

Fat chance.

Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?

I thought maybe it was something important.

I wanted to make sure that you were okay.

After all, you've only got one more day to go.

I'd hate anything to happen to you when you're so near the end of your stretch.

I'm fine. Nothing's going to happen to me. Now, quit worrying.

Almost noon.

24 hours and 5 minutes from now, I'll be as free as a bird.

A dead bird.

And won't that make headlines on the Daily Planet?

This isn't for publication, Mr. White, but that cube's got me running in

circles. You can't get in or out.

And yet I'll stake my reputation that Paul Barton's been hiding in that thing

ever since he disappeared seven years ago.

Oh, but golly, Inspector, that's like saying that he put himself in solitary

confinement. Exactly.

The trouble with you, Olsen, is that you don't think like a criminal.

Do you? Yes, of course I... Well, I mean to say I understand criminal psychology.

Now, this fellow Barton's been guilty of every crime in the book, including

murder, right? You can say that again.

Well... If he's arrested and tried, he'll be condemned to die.

Now, to a man on that spot, seven years in solitary is a cheap price to pay for

life and freedom.

Freedom? Yes, Lois. When a person's missing for seven years, the law has no

choice. And Barton's brother, Steve, told us quite frankly, at noon tomorrow,

he's going to have Paul declared legally dead.

And we can't arrest a dead man, no matter what he did while he was alive.

I see.

But how could he stay sealed up in a cube for seven years? What could he eat?

How could he breathe?

Oh, I'm sure he must have had some kind of a scientific apparatus that would

purify and recirculate the air.

And I'm also sure he had a very good supply of concentrated food tablets and

some vitamin pills. Well, now, come to think of it, just how would a man who's

been locked up for seven years keep his sanity?

Willpower, Chief.

Don't forget this is a master criminal with his whole future at stake.

Why, just the mere fact of getting off scot-free would keep him sane.

And you mean to tell me if this Paul Barton stays in that thing one more day,

the law can't touch him? Unless we can get him out by noon tomorrow, he'll be

legally free.

And how can we get him out when we can't get in?

Well, Inspector, are you sure you've tried everything on that steel cube?

Everything, Mr. White.

And we're not even sure it is steel. If it is, it's a tougher alloy than the

world has ever known before.

Why, it's so tough that I don't think even Superman could smash through it.

Superman. Yeah, Chief, Superman's the guy for this job. Don't you think so?

Mr. Ken, we're... He's gone.

Gone where?

Who knows?

He's the most annoying, unpredictable man. All right, all right, never mind.

Never mind.

The thing for us to do is to figure out some way to get in contact with

Superman.

That's right, Mr. Barton. What's wrong with your friend there?

I told you, boss. I'm getting out of here. Oh, shut up and sit down.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

I wouldn't be too sure of that.

You can't bluff me, Superman.

What do you want?

I want your brother, Paul.

Paul? Haven't you heard?

He disappeared seven years ago and hasn't been seen since.

I know, because he's sealed inside that cube.

Oh, is he really?

Don't tell me you can see him with your X-ray vision.

Maybe you need glasses, Superman.

Can't you see through?

No, I can't understand it either.

What's that cube made of? Why don't you find out for yourself?

I understand those X-ray eyes of yours can burn through anything.

Blipping old boy.

It's not even hot.

I ask you a direct question, Barton.

What's that cube made of?

Well, unfortunately, I never knew the formula.

It was perfected by a scientist who isn't with us anymore.

Oh, what a pity. He had a splendid mind.

Imagine, inventing a metal that can even resist Superman.

Well, we'll just see about that.

A new experience, eh, Superman?

Well, I don't mind telling you those walls are over three feet thick.

In fact, I don't mind telling you something else.

Paul is inside the cube.

Oh, so you admit it, huh?

Ixnay, boss, Ixnay!

You're spelling too much!

Why, not at all, Jody.

Do you realize we're the first criminals in history who've ever got the best of

Superman?

And by this time tomorrow, Paul will be out of there with a clean slate.

And there's not one thing you can do about it.

All I can say is, if your brother can get out of that cube, I'll certainly

find a way to get in, and it'll be before noon tomorrow.

Well, that's the last we'll see of him.

Jody, bring me the stuffer phone.

Boss, will you explain to me just once more how this works?

Well, it's on the order of a doc... No, we've been through that. Never mind.

Paul, can you hear me?

I want to ask you something.

Go ahead. What is it? Are you sure you can get out of there by tomorrow noon?

Is the acid still okay?

Sure, I'm sure.

Just as good as it was when I brought it in seven years ago.

That's all I wanted to hear.

Be seeing you, Paul.

Everything all right, boss?

Everything's fine.

And yet, I keep thinking what Superman said.

You mean about him busting into the cube and getting Mr. Paul before noon

tomorrow? He can't do it.

You just seen what happened to him when he tried.

Yeah, I know.

But I still think we need a little insurance against it.

Sure.

You mean there's companies that sell policies against Superman?

This will be a different kind of insurance, Jody.

Go get the car. We're going downtown to the Daily Planet building.

Professor. Superman.

How are you, sir? It's been a long time.

Too long, my friend, too long.

I've missed our little talks.

What brings you here now?

Well, Professor, I need your help.

I have a very serious problem.

You need my help?

You're joking.

No, I wish I were.

I've just encountered a secret metal alloy, and I can't break through it, I

can't burn through it, I can't even see through it.

That's impossible.

No, I wish it were. I'm depending on you for help to try and penetrate it.

Well, Miss Lane, Mr. Olsen, I hope you forgive my boldness, but aren't you both

good friends of Superman?

Well, we have contact with him from time to time. Contact? That's why the three

of us are like that.

Well, that's what I was hoping you'd say.

May I ask you where you're going now?

We're on our three o'clock coffee break. And we just have 15 minutes, so if you

don't mind.

Well, have coffee with me.

Be my guest.

Well, that's very nice of you, but we don't even know you.

Oh, that's right. So you don't.

My friend here will introduce us.

His name is Gunn.

38 caliber Gunn.

I simply insist that you have coffee with me.

I take cream and sugar and wine.

If you had the ability...

To rearrange the molecules of your own body, merge and mesh them with alloys

molecules.

Well, you know how water soaks through blood and paper, no matter how thick it

is. Yes, yes. Now, just a minute, Professor. Let me try to understand

this.

You mean that I might be able to just pass through a wall?

Have you ever tried it? No.

No, I can't say as I have.

Crashed through a lot of walls, but I never just passed through one.

Try it.

Of course, if it is at all possible, it will require an extraordinary degree of

concentration and will.

Yes, I know.

A challenge truly worthy of Superman.

By George, you did it.

Can you hear me?

Yes. I'm on the outside.

I'll try coming through again.

Here you are, Professor. You were right.

Theoretically, it was possible.

For a person of your remarkable abilities.

But I... Oh, now come, Professor.

You didn't think I was going to make it, did you? Well, for a moment, neither did

I.

I'm completely flabbergasted.

But, of course, as a scientist...

Completely delighted.

Tell me, what was it like?

Well, sir, it's difficult to describe.

At first, it seemed as though I ceased to exist. And then I became part of the

wall, but always with a conscious effort of will to get through.

Amazing. Truly amazing.

And was it difficult?

Well, it wasn't easy.

However, we do know one thing now for sure.

I can get into that steel cube.

But don't forget one thing.

This wall is concrete.

Comparatively porous.

In other words, sir, you mean that once I got into the steel wall, I might not

be able to reassemble my molecular structure?

I should say that was a definite possibility.

Ah.

You might remain forever in that mysterious metal.

Well, now, Professor, there's just a chance I'm going to have to take. Thank

you so much for your kindness and help.

Good luck, Superman.

This is just for practice.

There's really nothing to be afraid of.

If your friend Superman is a good boy, nothing's going to happen to you.

But if he puts his nose where it doesn't belong, well... You see this basin of

acid?

And this pellet.

If the pellet should drop in the basin of acid, it will fill the room with

lethal gas that works in seconds.

Let me show you.

Now, as I was saying, you're both perfectly safe.

Unless Superman does something I don't like.

If he does, we'll pull this string from outside the house.

And this time, nobody will catch the little pellet.

All right, Jody.

Let's go.

Look who's here again.

I told you I'd be back. And now I'm going after your brother inside that

cube. You want to bet?

I wouldn't advise either one of you to try and stop me. Why should we try to

stop you? The cube will take care of that.

Let's sit down, Jody. This ought to be very entertaining.

Boss, he done it.

He just oozed through.

Get over by the string.

Paul! Paul!

Superman's coming on in there.

Superman?

Ah, you must be out of your mind.

I don't see any sign of him. He's coming after you, Paul.

He mellowed in the wall as if it soaked him up.

If he shows up in there... Tell him we've got Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

If anything happens to you, something will happen to them.

I think maybe he's stopped already.

Hey, wouldn't it be funny if he got stuck in the wall and never could get

out?

Now scram and don't come back.

Otherwise, Jody will pull that string and it'll be all up for Olsen and Miss

Lane.

All right.

I guess you win this one.

We win, period.

If you come back here before tomorrow noon, it'll be just too bad for them.

Well, if I agree to do as you ask, will you let them go?

The minute my brother Paul is legally clear, we'll turn them loose unharmed.

Is it a deal?

I guess it has to be.

Oh, and by the way, when I say noon, I mean noon.

Paul's got a clock that runs on naval observatory time by radio from

Arlington.

So don't try any tricks.

Boss, look.

Look, he's walking.

He's too shook up to fly.

Believe me, Admiral, this is an emergency, or I wouldn't dream of asking

you to do such a thing.

This Paul Barton is not only a master criminal, he's an enemy of our country.

He's even guilty of espionage.

I understand, but even my authority has its limits.

That's why I relayed your request to the White House.

Maybe that's our answer now.

Hello?

Yes, sir. Oh, yes, Mr. President.

Yes, sir.

I see.

Very good, sir. I'll tell him.

Thank you, Mr. President.

He says if Superman wants something done, we'll do it.

Paul, this is Steve.

Can you hear me?

Today's the big day.

It's time for me to go down to the court and have you declared legally dead.

Everything's all set for 12 o'clock sharp.

That's when the judge will be forced to sign the papers.

Okay.

Have you seen any more Superman?

No, and I don't expect to.

He's licked and he knows it. Okay, Steve.

Just a minute.

This acid takes a half hour to work.

I'll start using it at 11.35.

And at five minutes past noon, I'll walk out of here a free man.

That's well.

I'll be seeing you, Paul.

Throw this away now, Jody.

We won't be needing it anymore.

We won't? No. Next time we talk to my brother, it'll be face to face.

Oh, and Jody, the minute Paul comes out of the cube, you pull that string on

Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane.

Paul! Paul, it's good to see you.

Jody, Jody, it's good to be free.

Paul Barton, you're under arrest.

Oh, I'm afraid you're mistaken, Inspector.

You've got the wrong man.

I'm not Paul Barton.

Ever since 12 o'clock noon, Paul Barton has been legally dead.

And it's now five minutes past noon.

And the law says you can't touch me. That's where you're wrong.

It's exactly five minutes before noon, and you're going to jail.

Five minutes before noon?

That's impossible.

My clock couldn't be running that slow.

It runs on naval observatory time by radio from Arlington.

Superman found that out.

Superman? He had Arlington speed up his time signals. Since yesterday, your

clock has been gaining a fraction of a second every minute.

It's now ten minutes fast.

You mean... I mean you walked out of that cube ten minutes too soon.

Instead of being legally dead, you're still legally alive.

And you'll pay for your crimes.

But my brother, Steve, we picked him up on his way to court. He's going to

prison, too.

And so is Jody Malone.

No, no, no. Please don't. I can't stand being cooped up.

To think I spent seven long years in this cube so I could be free.

And the whole scheme was ruined in a short ten minutes.

At least I have one satisfaction.

Superman may have beaten me, but he couldn't save Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen.

Wrong again, Barton.

I had them out of that house over an hour ago.

On your way.

Golly, Superman, you did it. Even if you had to use the timetable trick instead

of your super strength.

Jimmy, sometimes brains are better than brawn.

Yes, but when you tried to go through that steel wall and got stuck... Stuck?

Why, Miss Lane, I was just fooling.

But it was the only way I could think of to save you both.

You mean you could have gone on through if you wanted to?

Jimmy.

And to think we doubted you.

Wait till Clark Kent hears about this. Boy, will he be sorry he didn't see it

happen. Kent, we've got to get back to the planet with this story so we can

scoop him. Come on. Go.

Take a look at that, Miss Lane.

I'm afraid you're too late to scoop Kent on this story.

He phoned it in through Inspector Henderson hours before it happened.

We had an extra on the street at the very moment Barton was being arrested.

But golly, Mr. Kent, how did you find out about it in advance?

I don't understand it.

I think I do.

Superman's the answer.

What do you mean?

Well, you have a private pipeline to him is what I mean, haven't you?

Now, Miss Lane, you know very well a good reporter never reveals his sorcery.

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

Superman is based on the original character appearing in Superman

magazine.