Original subtitles

[music continues]

[music continues]

There's something about this poetry crowd

that just makes my intellectual juices flow.

Well, don't forget to take the lens cap off the camera.

Ahh!

(male cop #1) Let me understand this, young man.

If this kidnappers were unarmed--

He didn't say that.

He said they weren't carrying guns.

You insist on sticking with this

strange business about the jewelry.

- Yeah, they were rings. - Rings, right.

Rings that zapped you with ray beams?

They left me stunned..

I looked up, and the kidnappers, they were all gone.

I'm doing a drug test on him.

- I don't do drugs. - I can vouch for that.

I'll vouch for both of them.

Look these are journalism students.

They're trained to be objective observers.

Oh, I'll make a note.

If these creatures are so strange

why didn't you take photographs?

That's what you're studying, Photojournalism.

I wasn't with Clark.

I mean, I was covering uh, poetry recital.

I never made it to the poetry recital. I..

There were just too many photo opportunities

standing around outside the door.

(male cop #1) Objective observation, Harris.

This is hardly what I'd call a credible witness.

It's just a personality defect, I have.

When I try to come across sincere, it doesn't work.

That's why I don't do presents.

In my comedy act, I mean.

Look kid, why don't you quit while your ahead?

Now, Kent. You say, you saw

the professor put into a spaceship.

Not sure about the ship, but yes.

Suppose I tell you there'd been no aircraft sightings

of any kind on any radar screen in the immediate vicinity.

I believe you.

And yet, you saw this spaceship land on the roof.

He told you he didn't see it land.

It was already sitting there.

Make a note.

Now, when you went to help the professor

this woman that you described, pointed her rings at you

you became disoriented and then when you could see straight

this vehicle went bye-bye.

I don't know where it went.

Without a single radar bleep?

I wish I could explain, I'm sorry.

You'll have plenty of time. Hold them for questioning.

(male cop #2) I said I'd vouch for them.

I'm releasing them, under their own recognizance.

He's reviving.

Professor Lipcott.

We've gone to a great deal of trouble to bring you here.

You..

You attacked me, you and these mutants.

Uh, she is the mutant.

Who are you? Where are you from?

- What do you want of me? - Plutonium.

- What? - We need Plutonium.

And since you're the leading expert

in that field in this era, you have access to it.

Plutonium is not a thing people keep

or give away like a Christmas present.

It's absurd.

[ray beam buzzing]

Ahh!

You know it'd kill him.

There's no necessity for pain yet.

Always with a reasonable approach for..

Yes. But I get results.

We don't have time to be too reasonable.

I don't know what planet you are from.

But here, we consider what you're doing to be torture.

We are from this planet.

From the 24th century.

You will get us what we need.

It won't affect you in this time.

But your technology is so advanced.

Why did you come back here for plutonium?

There is none left on earth at our time

nor the materials to make it.

Plutonium is the main component of nuclear weapons.

Exactly. And we need it to defend ourselves

against our enemies who wish to destroy us.

I'm sorry.

I refuse to participate in that obscene process again.

You will take us to where the plutonium is stored.

You will get us through the alarm system.

Absolutely not.

[ray beam buzzing]

[groaning]

Hey, listen to this, guys.

"Professor Craig Lipcott

"one of the pioneers in super conductor research

got a Nobel Prize for his work."

Why Lipcott? We've gotta do better than that.

There were hundreds of scientists at the convention.

[fax machine clunking]

This could be something.

"Professor Craig Lipcott.

Crescent County Radio Chemical Refinery."

Well, come on, Clark, give.

He established the plutonium process there

and set up the security system.

That's what they wanted him for.

So, we can pin point the place.

We just can't waltz into a plutonium plant and say

"Hey, guys, there's these weirdos from outer space

and they wanna hijack your product?"

We're not waltzing in anywhere, okay?

I think, you believe my story, about as much as the FBI agent.

The more reason to need me, to certify your sanity.

T.J., look, I feel like this is my problem, okay?

Nobody in this group has monopoly on problems.

Share and share alike, remember?

And T.J.'s right.

We can't just get in to maximum security without authorization.

You guys go to the front desk and ask for two passes

in Dr. Baxter's name.

He's a consultant at the plant.

He gave me an "A" on my physics seminar last quarter

and a standing invitation to tour the chemical plant.

Alright!

What are we waiting for?

The phone number is at my dorm.

Well, come on, Clark!

Bring the van around back.

I'm gonna leave a note for Superboy.

Sorry, the van's in the shop, I forgot.

But Lana's lending us her Jeep. So let's go, huh?

With any luck, Superboy will be here soon.

Hope he finds the note I left for him.

Who says this is a job for Superboy?

You don't know what we're into.

We could be way over our heads.

Clark, one of these days,

you just got to develop some self reliance.

Learn to be your own man, you know?

Listen, take it from me.

A guy can't go through his life waiting for a Superboy

to get him out of every tough spot he finds himself in.

When you're right, you're right, man.

Yeah.

Tell you what? Let's circle around..

You head up that way.

Remember, if you see anything even remotely suspicious

please communicate through these.

Okay.

[ominous music]

[ray beam buzzing]

Ah!

Sister One to T.J. Come in, T.J.

T.J.

Clark..

[distorted voice] Clark!

[dramatic music]

I must say, it's been great pleasure for me

to interrelate with you.

I've always been a great fan of aliens. I mean that.

Because when you come down to it

an alien is just a friend you haven't met yet.

Am I right, or am I right?

Right.

He speaks much, but says nothing.

Live and let live.

That's my motto, huh?

You know, I can see you folks

as a really great photo essay for National Geo.

He amuses.

Oh, thanks for saying that. That's-that's really nice

'cause I plan to getting into comedies..

Comedy is my life, actually.

Right now, for instance, I'm working on my impression

of the Presidents.

[electric buzzing]

Oh!

Vora finds him amusing.

Perhaps we should take him back as her pet.

No-no, I...no, um, I have no pedigree.

See, m-my father was a male, my mother from the opposite sex.

It was a really bad combination. Really bad.

You noticed, the mouth never stops moving.

Perhaps, young man, you can convince the professor

to help us. If he does, no harm will come to him.

Professor, I don't, I'm not sure what they want.

But if it's at all reasonable, we should consider it

because harm can be very painful.

They want us to start an atomic war.

Look at them.

Living proof of what radiation does to the genes.

They wanna go back to that stupidity.

Perhaps, the proper inducement has not been used.

Now, professor. You will get us through

the security system or I will implode

the young man's cranium.

Wo-ho! Let's-let's, let's talk about this, guys.

It's better to sacrifice one life

than the lives of millions.

Why waste time? A little more pain.

[screaming]

What does this accomplish?

- Is he dead? - He's still breathing.

L-look, Hol, before you do anything crazy..

Can I call you "Hol?"

You just better think this through a bit.

Y-you mess with me, and you get on the wrong side

of a really tough dude.

His name is Superboy, and he eats aliens for breakfast.

And he's looking for me right now.

You and Superboy. You are acquainted?

Yeah, we're as close as time and space.

It's him, me and Clark.

And Clark sent him a message, loud and clear.

Perhaps, change in strategy is in order.

That's what I like about you, Hol.

You're always thinkin'.

If Superboy is as formidable as our records suggest

he should be able to get us past the security.

(Hol) Go, Vora, and bring him to us.

Hello.

We met briefly.

On the roof of the hotel.

I haven't forgotten you. I had this blinding headache.

I am sorry.

That will not happen again.

We have come as friends.

That's why you kidnapped Professor Lipcott

and T.J. White?

(Vora) An unforgiveable breach. We had no choice.

We're fighting for survival.

And I suppose your survival depends on endangering

the lives of others.

(Vora) Unfortunately, yes.

It's the pressure I must use to force you to help us.

So to this point, my friend and the professor are okay?

Yes, Professor Lipcott has had some pain

and he is in a semi-conscious state, but he will recover

with no ill effect..

Oh, now please don't be angry.

Look, there was a nuclear war.

Though some other species

did survive the radiation, but the survivors

destroyed most technology, including all weapons of war.

Then, over the years..

...population of the earth, it increased slowly.

Progress was made..

Progress?

To the point where nuclear weapons are needed again.

We don't want war. Our enemies do.

Don't you understand?

It's the same talk before every war.

Don't fall into that trap. You must tell your people that--

I can't tell them.

You don't know how hard I had to work to be accepted.

I'm a mutant.

Yes, a genetic throwback to the time before the great war.

I know what it's like to be different from everyone else.

There are no others like you in this era?

None that I know of.

At least, you know where you come from.

And you don't.

If there's going to be help

it won't come from a nuclear bomb.

It's got to come from people like you.

They, uh, want me to bring you into the time machine.

Let's go.

Superboy.

Not again!

Hol, what are you doing?

Neutralizing his ability to rescue his friend.

You may be fast enough to stop me.

But if not, my imploder will compress his skull

to the size of a walnut.

Dare you take that risk.

[ominous music]

I'll do what you want.

Wait outside.

Hol, don't you think we should try--

Prepare for departure.

If he gives you any trouble, don't hesitate. He's expendable.

Why am I always the one to get his head imploded?

It's not fair.

[dramatic music]

(Hol) Well, what are you waiting for?

(Adio) Amazing. Let's move.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[device beeping]

[music continues]

- I'll take that. - No, you won't.

[groaning]

(Superboy) Are you okay?

Superboy, be careful. Don't trust her.

T-they're taking Lipcott back with them to build their bombs.

You're all alone now, Vora.

Your future depends entirely upon you.

You brought the plutonium? Leave it.

And you can take the boy.

[intense music]

I can't do that, Vora.

(Vora) Don't push me, Superboy.

I'm still one of them.

You're more than that.

Give the plutonium or I'll kill him.

[music continues]

[sighing]

How'd you know I wouldn't shoot?

You and I have far too much in common.

Well, you could have fooled me.

The return trip will deplete most of our energy grid.

We'll never have enough power to travel through time again.

You don't have to go, do you?

I belong with my people. Maybe they'll listen.

I'm going to miss you.

Hol and Adio will be furious when they discover

we left without the plutonium.

I couldn't let you have it. It had to be returned.

Goodbye, Superboy. I'll never forget you.

[mellow music]

(Lipcott) At least the people of Vora's era

have a fighting chance of survival.

Thanks to you, Superboy..

Where is he? I wanted to thank him.

I'll tell him. You know something, professor?

I don't think any of us are gonna forget her.

(Clark on radio) - T.J., where are you? - Where are you, Clark?

I'll tell you where I was.

I was in a time machine where I met Lipcott

and three of the strangest people.

And you know something, Clark?

It's a good thing your message got through to Superboy.

[theme music]

Captioned by Grant Brown