Original subtitles

Okay, so far I'm up by a watch, a belt

and a pair of pants.

If you lose this hand, you can just kiss that shirt goodbye.

Ha, are you sure you don't moonlight

as a dealer in Vegas?

Some people just have a better card sense than others.

Okay. Ahem.

I will see your shirt, and I will raise you..

...everything else you have on.

I'll call. What do you got?

Full house. Read 'em and weep.

Ah, two pair.

Yes!

Well, that was amazing how you pulled that off.

You didn't happen to use any of your, uh..

...buzz buzz?

Lois, I would never use a little "buzz buzz" to cheat at cards.

Alright. Better shuffle 'em up while you're hot.

Get ready to taste the agony of..

Oh, no.

It sounds like a bank alarm.

I better check it out.

I know.

Besides, it'll give you a chance to hone up

on that card sense of yours.

Gettin' slower in your old age.

I would have been back sooner

but the strangest thing happened.

I flew over to the bank

and just as I was coming in to land

I couldn't stop.

- Couldn't stop what? - Myself.

I hit the ground, and next thing I knew

I'd burrowed 50 feet underneath the pavement.

Are you alright?

Yeah, but it was like I momentarily

lost control of my powers.

And then it turns out that no one actually robbed the bank.

The door was just jimmied open enough to set off the alarm.

- How do you feel now? - Fine.

Good enough to show you that my last poker win

was not a fluke.

Okay.

Huh?

Oh, don't look back, son.

The future's what counts for us.

It's funny.

Most kids hang out with their dads

when they're little. They lose track of 'em later on.

I never saw you when I was a kid.

Well, I'm sorry. I was only starring

in the biggest kiddie show of all time.

Being Mr. Gadget was time-consuming.

No, dad. Hijacking ocean liners

breakin' into Fort Knox, that's time-consuming.

Well, you can't say your old man wasn't colorful.

By the way, thanks for letting me hang my hat here

until I get myself back on my feet.

It's the least I could do.

Even my prison cell was better than this dump.

Ah, not that I blame you for your failures.

It's your mother's influence.

No wonder you're boring, scared, and emasculated.

But when I started visiting you in prison

I saw... you weren't a monster like ma said.

- You're brilliant. - Exactly.

It was me. I mean, I was the fool.

Stuck in a nowhere job

passed up over and over again for promotion

you know, living a life of honesty.

Did you get my machine out of the crime warehouse?

Yes, sir. Yes. I dusted it off myself.

It's right over here.

- Oh, I missed this little baby. - What is it?

This is an amped-up, souped-up, turbo-charged

low-frequency generator.

A picture's worth a thousand words.

You did that with sound waves?

I think we finally have a father-son activity

we can enjoy together.

I don't guess you mean remodeling my apartment.

Levelling Metropolis was more what I had in mind.

How'd the interview go?

Did you see Dr. Klein?

I realize that you can't go running to him

for every little thing

but you were 50 feet under the pavement.

Ah, alright.

Perry, are you alright?

I just got a call from Jerry.

Uh... he's in town.

He's coming by to... visit.

Your son? That's great. I've never met him.

Well, he hasn't been around much, uh, lately.

Spent the, uh, last couple years upstate.

Oh, I love it upstate. What city was he in?

Glenfield Springs.

Glenfield Springs? There's nothing there but the prison.

Oh, I'm gonna..

...go check the paper in the fax machine.

I guess I shouldn't be so embarrassed.

I mean, people... pass bad checks every day.

Jerry passed them every day for a month.

He did his time, Perry. You should be open-minded.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right.

It's just that, you know, we've never

gotten along very well.

'I mean, when he was growing up'

I spent all my waking hours here

clawing out a living

and... the only time I did see him was

well, when he wanted something

or I had to bail him out of trouble.

Well, like it says, I guess, uh..

...you sow what you shall reap.

'Dad?'

Jerry.

Have you been working out?

You look like you lost some weight.

Aw. Hey, kid.

I brought you something.

- Huh? Oh, Jerry... - No, no big deal, I..

Paperweight from the prison gift shop.

Ah..

Ah!

It's a beautiful tie.

Miss Lane.

Oh, it's been a long time.

Your hair looks great!

Oh. Thanks.

New hair, new house.

You should come by sometime.

Great! We can celebrate my new job.

Oh. How about, uh, tomorrow?

'Okay.'

Bye.

A... job?

Who are you working for?

It's a big sales firm out of Cincinnati.

Uh, deals in high-tech stuff.

Well, son, uh, how long are you in town for?

I'm not sure.

'I've got some, uh, regional sales meetings'

and a bunch of, uh, seminars.

I was hoping while I was in town

we could spend some time together.

Oh, absolutely. I'd-I'd like that.

Oh, uh, Jimmy.

Jerry, uh, son, I want you to meet Jimmy Olsen.

'You've heard me talk of him.'

Yeah. A lot.

It's nice to finally meet you.

Well, uh, I can't be late for my seminar.

I'll give you a buzz later.

Oh, boy.

If I, uh..

If I hadn't seen this with my own eyes.

I-I... I wouldn't have believed it.

You sure you can handle Superman?

I told you, don't worry.

You better be right.

Alright.

I got it. Let's go!

Alright, gentlemen.

Hold it right there.

Come on, guys. I got better things to do.

Sayonara, Suped.

Flying, check.

Super hearing, check.

Super strength..

...check.

Now, let's have a listen to your heart and lungs.

Now, take a deep breath

and blow out.

Oops.

Superman, your powers have kicked

into overdrive.

I knew that before I came in here, Doc.

Uh-oh. A little crabby today?

- I understand. - I'm sorry.

I-I guess the question is, what is causing this?

It could be partial complex seizures

brought on by random synaptic firing

in your temporal lobe.

Oh, gee, that sounds terrible.

Look, I'm gonna run every test I can.

Then I want you to go home and relax

soak in a tub, and do nothing.

But I'm Superman.

So? You can't play a little golf?

Superman, you have a medical condition

that is potentially dangerous.

Maybe not to you, but to everyone around you.

Well, you're expensive, but are you worth it.

Heh, one minute I think me and Lou are dead meat

and then zoom, Superman ends up in another zip code.

How'd you do it?

Hey, how does David Copperfield

make a 747 appear in Times Square?

With applied physics..

...and the distracted attention of his audience.

Mr. Gadget.

Huh. I watched you on TV when I was a kid.

You were my idol.

Great.

Thank you.

Take a hike.

Hey, I'm talking to the kid here.

Mr. Gadget has a death ray

that will make all your internal organs explode.

Huh.

Call me.

So, kid..

...word on the street is

you're willing to go up against Superman.

You're either crazy

or the bravest person I ever met.

Well, I'm not crazy.

I spent some time in the joint.

Became friends with a guy who discovered

a very special rock.

A rock?

A rock... that makes Superman go haywire.

He told me where to find it and how to use it.

And why would he give you somethin' so valuable?

Because he's going to be locked away

for another 15 years

and he needed a partner on the outside

that can maximize the current market demands.

And, uh, Superman can't just scan for this thing

when he shows up with his X-ray eyes?

I keep it in a lead box.

I covered all the angles.

Oh, you're quite the lad.

You expect me to buy this, you half-wit?

I'm not knockin' over a liquor store.

I'm talking millions of dollars

and the only thing that can get in the way is Superman!

I need to know I can count on this.

Wait a minute.

How about a demonstration?

Yeah.

Hi. How was your check-up?

Inconclusive.

What do we do now?

Is there anybody else you can see

for a second opinion?

What am I saying.

Honey, it's gonna be okay.

- I promise. - Yeah.

Uh.

Dad?

Hey.

Made my first sale yesterday

'so I brought you these to celebrate.'

Oh, Jerry, you don't have to keep bringing me gifts.

Oh, Clark, listen, I want you to meet

'my son here, Jerry.'

Uh, Jerry, this is...

Clark Kent. Hello, sir.

I consider you to be the dean

of contemporary American reportage.

Ah. Cubans.

I had to pull some strings to get 'em

but, uh, nothing's too good for my old man.

Aren't these... illegal?

Well, it's nice to... bend the rules once in a while.

Well, thank you. Cubans.

Wow! These things are like 20 bucks a pop.

I guess I'm in the wrong business, huh?

Where'd you say you're working again?

- Ah, Ampro Specialties. - Ampro?

I gotta get back to work.

Miss Lane.

That dress just really brings out the highlights

in your eyes.

Perry, I don't remember Jerry being such a charmer.

Me neither, but, uh..

...I'm not knockin' it.

Is there something a little fishy

about Jerry to you?

Jimmy, don't go there.

Consider me far away from there.

Ugh.

What's the matter? Is everything alright?

Honey, just relax.

It's cold coffee.

Keeping the streets safe?

For the time being.

To celebrate our upcoming adventure.

Cuban?

- It's illegal! - Right.

You have definitely turned a corner, boy.

Well... you know, you get older

family gets important.

Now..

The frequency generator

has a highly directional beam

that fires audio waves with almost laser precision.

I will put the city on notice

that we're levelling the whole damn place

unless we're paid one billion dollars.

A billion?

A billion? I mean..

I mean, I never imagined.

Well, I'm goin' out with a bang, kiddo

and so are you

and, the city that did us in is gonna pay.

And we'll spend the rest of our days

hidden away, rich.

Yeah, fishing together and stuff.

Or playing baccarat.. Somethin'.

Anyway, I spoke to that kid who claims

he can neutralize Superman.

If he ain't blowin' smoke..

...we can start counting our money.

Countin' our money.

All I'm saying is that it may be very manly

not to show concern, even super-manly

but I'm your wife, and we share concerns

and... how concerned are you?

Okay, I'm concerned but I do have a theory.

Good.

I'm sure you remember the time

that-that I lost my powers

because they were temporarily transferred to you.

Yeah. The Newtrich sisters.

Oh, what a nightmare.

Right, and then there was that time

that I had my powers

'but I was completely apathetic.'

Gene Newtrich. He told his sisters how to use...

Red Kryptonite.

Okay, Gene Newtrich had the only known stash

of red Kryptonite, and it's possible

that it wasn't completely exhausted.

And he or his sisters could've told somebody else

how to use it.

Well, we've got to make a list of all the people

that they came in contact with in the last few years.

Everyone at the Metropolis Federal Penitentiary

the lawyers, the friends, the relatives...

Honey, honey, honey, you-you're doing that manic thing.

Oh, that's just how I deal with anxiety...

I know, but it's making mine worse.

Oh, it's Perry.

Perry? Oh, God, I totally forgot!

I don't even have crackers and Cheez Whiz.

- Oh! - Perry! Jerry!

Oh, I'm glad you came.

It was really nice of you to invite us.

I hope you didn't go to a lot of trouble.

Nope. Actually, no trouble at all.

Hmm.

Oh, this is fabulous. Two bottles of water

a couple of lemons, and a half a tuna sandwich.

And this... is frozen solid.

Guess I could beat myself to death with it.

Maybe I can do something else with it.

Are you sure you want to try that, considering..

Ah..

Come on, honey, just a little zap.

I mean, we don't have anything else to feed the boss.

Well, give it the equivalent of two hours at 400 degrees

and we should be in business.

No problem.

That's it! Hold it right there.

- Uh! - Ding!

'Uh-oh.'

Time's up!

We're moving into seriously well-done.

I can't turn it off!

- Clark! - Duck!

Aah!

What in Sam Hill was that?

I don't know.

'Look out!'

'Lois!'

Is everything okay in there?

Uh, everything's just fine, ha-ha.

Good. Yeah.

'Turn on the water.'

Huh?

Lois, get down!

Are you alright?

I think so.

Oh!

So..

...sausage or pepperoni?

Uh.

First thing in the morning

we're getting to the bottom of this red Kryptonite thing.

Man, just when I start feeling

like a normal, everyday guy

something like this happens.

You know, Lois, for the first time

in my entire life, I feel like

I could actually hurt innocent people.

Well, you'd never knowingly hurt anyone.

'You're a careful and caring person.'

Like I said

we're going to get to the bottom of this.

Uh, ow..

Lois, honey..

Honey, what's the matter with your arm?

Uh!

Where did you get that bruise?

Oh, that bruise? Um, I just, uh, bumped into

a cabinet or something.

You know me, always running into things.

No, you're not.

Wait a minute.

Don't tell me I gave you that bruise

when I hugged you this morning.

- Look, it's nothing. - Honey, I'm so sorry...

I can't even feel it!

Clark, it was an accident.

- Where are you going? - Downstairs.

What? No, you don't have to do that.

I'm like a loaded gun.

It's not safe for you to be around me.

I'm compiling a list of Newtrich's business associates

his cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces

nephews, you name it.

I've got Jimmy working on a list

of recently released convicts

who might've been inside with him.

So..

...I'll tell Perry you aren't feeling 100%?

The problem is I'm feeling about seven hundred percent.

Well, I should get going.

- Yeah. - Love you.

Ah!

'All cars in the vicinity of main and third'

'two-eleven in progress at Valente's jewelers.'

Oop.. No.

No, no, no, no.

'Look out.'

You okay, Superman?

Uh, heh!

Sorry about that, guys.

Ugh.

Thank you all for coming on such short notice.

I'll be brief.

Uh, there has been growing concern

over the recent damage to the downtown area

caused by Superman.

I have been assured by Superman

'that he will personally take care of it'

and that it happened accidentally

while testing a new crime-stopping procedure.

Everyone in Metropolis can rest easy

that things are fine and back to normal.

Oh!

Oh. Whew!

Superman, what are you doing here?

I try to be everywhere, Your Honor.

Ladies and gentlemen, the mayor may not be fully briefed

on my situation, so I'd like to add a few words.

- Uh, but... - Uh!

As you know, there have been

a lot of rumors concerning my condition.

Rumors are far more dangerous than the truth

and I never hide from the truth.

I have a small health problem.

My doctors are treating me

and they expect a full and complete recovery.

That is all.

- Thank you. - Uh, y-yes.

Uh... I was going to get to that part, Superman.

'Uh-uh, no questions!'

Thank you for coming.

- Thank you very much. - Superman, a word.

I appreciate your situation

but you must appreciate mine.

Panic would ensue if the community felt

that a being as powerful as yourself

were out of control!

Mayor, I am not out of control.

Be that as it may..

...I must request, that for the time being

you allow the city

to handle its own emergencies.

Your Honor, with all due respect...

I don't want to have to order you, Superman.

Metropolis is off-limits to you.

I'm sorry.

Lois... here's the list you wanted.

Every inmate in the federal pen

at the same time as this Newtrich guy.

- Thanks. - I came across something else...

Lois.

Thanks again for dinner last night.

- You order up a mean pizza. - Oh.

Uh, Jimmy, I need those Superman destruction photos.

- Sure, chief. - Superman destruction photos?

He just trashed part of downtown.

What?

Came by to see if my old man

had time for a cup of java.

Oh, I'd like that, son, but as you can see

I'm up to my armpits here in a breaking news story.

Uh..

Oh, well, it's, uh, just like old times, huh?

Well, it's okay.

I guess I'll... just have to give you this now.

- Oh, Jerry... - No.

I didn't get you a birthday present last year

or one for the past 20 years.

Yeah, I need those pictures.

I thought it was about time.

'Oh, son, I..'

I don't know what to say, I..

The expression on your face says it all.

- I'll let you get back to... - No, no, no, hold it, hold it.

I, uh..

I'll walk you to the elevator.

Oh, son, this is, uh, this is just beautiful.

I.. Thanks.

Yeah. Thanks, Eddie.

As I was saying before the boy wonder blew in...

I'm sorry, Jimmy, I got to go.

Yesterday he said he worked at Ampro, right?

Something rang a bell, so I did some checking.

They went out of business two months ago.

Well, maybe he got a little confused with the name.

What about the clothes? The cigars?

He just gave Perry a gold Rolex watch.

Now, yo-you don't make that kind of money

working as a sales trainee.

I-I pulled up a list of what was stolen

from the jewelry store robbery.

Yeah, a gold Rolex watch.

All very good points.

All very circumstantial.

What's really important..

...is this is Perry's son. Understand?

Yeah, I hear you.

Gentlemen.

- Extraordinary. - Extraordinary!

I think you boys have a little something for me.

Anytime, gentlemen. Spread the word.

My protection service is 100% guaranteed.

- There you go. - Thanks a lot.

Let me tell you something else.

When that Superman guy came flying..

So what did you boys have in mind?

We were thinking of destroying

every building in this city

unless we get a billion dollars.

That's hilarious.

You're kidding, right?

He's kidding?

Uh..

...let me get back to you.

As of now, we're partners.

If you tell anyone or try to back out

we'll make sure you go to jail

for a very long time.

And... for a little added incentive

we'll kill your father.

Got a minute?

Just the person I wanted to see.

Dad, there's something I really need to talk to you about.

Son..

...me, too.

And since it's something I should have said

from the very start, maybe I should go first

so... Jerry, these gifts are..

Oh, they're so impressive..

...but they're unnecessary.

You've already given me the greatest gift

by turning your life around so completely.

- Dad, I... - And you've done it without me.

Like you've lived most of your life without me.

Jerry..

...well, those days are over.

Dad..

Oh, Dad, what?-what are you doing?

Son, I know what a young man in your position makes.

I also know you're under a mountain of debt

from that... bad check business.

Well, I want to help you out from under.

My God, heh..

What-what did you...

You cashed out your retirement.

'Now, let me tell you something.'

You don't have to work so hard

at impressing me, son.

I'm already impressed.

Now..

...what were you going to tell me?

Clark?

What happened?

I hiccupped.

What?

I hiccupped..

...and our house turned into "The Poseidon Adventure".

Oh... then what?

I swallowed a teaspoonful full of sugar

and held my breath..

...just like my mom taught me when I was a kid.

This is unbelievable.

The one thing I could always count on my entire life

my strength, it's become my biggest weakness.

Okay, okay, just... calm down

and just sit here..

...and let me tell you the good news.

Okay, good.

I think Perry's son is behind all of this.

- What? - Shh.

He's been flashing around a lot of money

and the place where he works is out of business.

The same day that jewelry store was robbed

he gave Perry a new watch.

The exact kind that was stolen.

So I followed him to this little bar

and I saw him talking to a couple of guys

one of whom we helped bust for a series of robberies

a couple of years ago.

The guy gave him some money.

A lot of it.

Did they say anything about red Kryptonite?

I couldn't hear everything

but the word "protection" came up.

Since my powers have gone out of whack

the last few times I've tried to stop these robberies

you're thinking that Jerry's getting paid

to mess me up with red Kryptonite.

So all we have to do is find out

where he's stashing it and get rid of it.

Great! Let's do it!

Lois..

...honey, I..

I can't go out there like this.

It's not safe.

Do you think you could..

...go solo for a while?

Yeah.

It's okay.

Superman, teams of scientists are trying to lick this

red Kryptonite thing as we speak.

Please be patient. And stop pacing.

You're wearing a trench in the floor.

I'm not used to being patient, Doc.

There has to be some solution.

Perhaps you might consider exploring

an alternative approach.

Anything, I just can't stand the frustration

of doing... nothing. What do I do?

Lie down.

Lie down?

Well, your approach has always been to act

to move forward.

This time, try turning inward.

Find that deep mental focus

that will enable you to control your powers.

Game?

Uh, okay.

Picture in your mind's eye..

...a white beach..

'...gentle surf..'

'...clear blue skies'

'caressed by graceful clouds'

the songs of chimps afire with the mating urge.

Dr. Klein?

Oh. Sorry.

Often we find that true power

comes to those who first agree

'to be powerless.'

Hmm.

You know..

...I do feel...relaxed

calmer than I've felt in days.

Excellent.

I feel... good.

Stable. Focused.

Ah-choo!

'Darn.'

- I found it. - What?

The connection between Jerry and Gene Newtrich.

It seems Jerry was held at Metropolis Fed

en route to Glenfield Springs.

But not long enough to be logged in as a resident?

But long enough to meet up

with a certain Superman-obsessed inmate.

But, Jimmy, I don't want to break Perry's heart

unless we've got hard facts, okay?

Yeah.

'Hey, what's with the monitors?'

- 'It's on every station.' - Look at this.

'Hey guys, take a look at this.'

'Hi, ladies and gentleman'

'this is Mr. Gadget speaking.'

Gadget? Wasn't he paroled on good behavior?

I think he switched back to naughty.

'What you are seeing is the Kerr building'

'on the outskirts of town.'

'Luckily, it's been abandoned for months.'

'I say luckily because..'

'Oh, boy! Look at that.'

'Look at that.'

'The same thing'

'will start happening'

'to the buildings downtown'

'unless I get one billion dollars.'

Now, the mayor has details on where to wire the money.

If it's not in my account by 5 o'clock this afternoon

the city will be reduced to rubble

'starting with the Hall of Justice'

and you know I can do it.

I'm Mr. Gadget!

Dr. Klein, where's Superman?

In a soundproof room, finding his center.

Well, don't you know what's going on?

No, we just got back our electricity.

Hi, Lois.

I'm feeling... very calm.

Uh... well, that's good.

And... I don't want you to get excited

but... Mr. Gadget is threatening to disintegrate the city

unless he gets a billion dollars.

- What? - Calm yourself.

Turn inward. Mmm..

'Dr. Klein, line two. Dr. Klein.'

Mm-m-m..

Bernard, isn't S.T.A.R. Labs going to do anything

to stop this madman?

- Mm-mm. - Argh!

Nowhere in my annual budget

is there a billion dollars for extortion.

If this guy's for real, he's gonna start vaporizing buildings

and killing thousands of people.

Superman, what do you think we should do?

Well, certainly not cave in to extortion.

I think you should request

that Superman get back in action.

My colleagues at the university

say that the building that collapsed on TV

is consistent with bombardment

by high-intensity, low frequency sound waves.

Then we need to be looking for a device

that could generate those waves.

Which could take months.

Unless..

Oh, for God's sake. Alright.

You realize I can't guarantee

that you're at 100% combat status.

That's okay, doc.

Just as long as I'm not at 700%.

Could I see you for a minute, Bernard.

- Hmm? - Mm-hmm.

'Look, I'm going to tell you this once..'

'Once and for all..'

I think next time anything like this happens.

'I am leaving very clear instructions.'

Yes, Yes. This is the way it has to be.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Uh.. Mm-hmm.

What was that all about?

They're a bit concerned

that Superman may still go berserk

and I am absolutely forbidden

under any circumstances to tell you

that Kryptonite is being removed from our vault

and formed into bullets, and that a marksman

will be on Superman's tail to take him out

if anything goes wrong.

What?

Whatever you do

don't... tell... Superman.

The money has not been deposited, dad.

It's time to show 'em we mean business.

Well, this will be one memorable father-son outing.

Alright, kid, he's coming right at you.

'Here we go.'

'Remember your orders'

'hold until I say go.'

Yes, sir.

Alright, everyone stand back!

Now.

Come on.

Now!

Hey, remember your father, kid.

Dad, he's not doin' it.

Now here he goes.

'Jerry!'

- What're you doin'? - Dad.

'Jerry, whatever trouble you're in'

we can work it out together.

'That's it. That's it, kid.'

Keep it comin'.

Take his old man out.

Superman! He's the one behind all of this!

Behind what? He's crazy.

Son, he's a policeman.

'Not much of what I say is true, but this is!'

He's behind this!

'Easy.'

'Take the shot.'

Superman, duck!

Aah!

Oh!

Superman, it was a Kryptonite bullet.

That's alright. It just grazed me.

- Thanks to your... - Big mouth?

I don't believe this.

Excuse me, there's a gadget that needs fixing.

Next time I start over, I really am starting over.

We'll be here.

Yeah, I'm sure Superman will put in a good word for you

for doing the right thing at the end.

Thank you, dad.

I really wanted to believe he'd changed.

I guess I was just, uh, blind to the obvious.

Maybe I'm crazy, but, uh..

...I really do believe the kid started to love me.

I do, too.

Yeah, well, goodnight, you two.

Goodnight.

Oh, uh, honey, can, uh..

Can you see this gets back to..

...where it belongs?

So how are you feeling?

You got a little of that Kryptonite

in your bloodstream.

Yeah, but just a little.

And ever since then, the effects of the red Kryptonite

seem to be completely gone.

Maybe a little green counteracts the red.

So... you want to go back home

and finish our little poker game?

Oh. Okay.

You don't stand a chance.

Heh, you're probably right.

Mm.

Excuse me, what did you just do?

Well, you are such a good poker player

I figured that might be as close to a win as I get tonight.

Well, you should let me know when you're going to do that.

I'll put on my good lingerie.