The Adventures of Superboy (1988) s01e19 Episode Script

[music continues]
[music continues]
[crickets chirping]
[man chattering on radio]
Several of rock music's
best known musicians
have changed their names.
I'll give you the real names
of three famous rock musicians.
Pick one and tell me
his stage name.
[grunting]
- Stevie Nicks, Stephanie.
- George O'Dowd, Boy George.
[panting]
[access controller beeps]
[banging on door]
[grunts]
[banging continues]
I thought I heard something.
I guess not. Probably
just crickets in my stomach.
How about a sandwich?
How does this thing work?
See where it says "test",
right there?
- This one, right here?
- Ow!
Yes, that one.
- See, I laugh.
- That wasn't funny.
Well, I should know
how this works
if you guys are gonna pass me
off as your assistant.
You didn't have to come along.
We're stuck with the assignment.
Unless, you're really interested
in Dr. Stuart's research.
Stuart-schmuert.
I've heard Modudyne Corporation
gets half its funding
for the military contracts.
(both)
Term paper.
That's right, smarties.
In my political science class.
"Military Dominance,
The Commercial Entrepreneurs."
- It's a catchy title, huh?
- Back to my problem now.
Now, what's funnier? The
left-handed smoke salesman joke
or the sneezing penguin joke?
I didn't understand
the sneezing penguin joke.
I did.
- You didn't laugh.
- But I understood it.
What's the rush in all this?
Well, sorta. Remember that photo
essay I did about the homeless
back in December?
I just found out I'm one of
the top two contestants
for the Chronicle Student
Journalism Award.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Congratulations.
- Thanks.
Yeah, the text you wrote,
made it all that much better.
Let's face it, guys. The student
journalism award is in the bag.
- Don't count your chickens.
- I'm not, I'm not.
I just want to be prepared
in case I have to make a speech.
(T.J.)
Doctor Stuart, please.
Uh, no. Send them in,
I'll meet them in the hallway.
Some students from Schuster.
A few weeks ago,
I promised them an interview.
[sighs]
Just the thing we need today.
If I turn them away
at the last second
it looks like
we've something to hide.
What we have, is something
hiding from us, remember?
With no explanation
of how it got out of the lab.
Perhaps something disturbed it
or someone who should've known
better by now.
Again with Carl?
He wouldn't jeopardize
the project.
Then why is he missing too?
[sighs]
- Lana, just give that to me.
- I said, I was sorry.
I'd be blinded for life.
Doctor Stuart?
Welcome to Modudyne Corporation.
Clark Kent. This is my
photographer T.J. White
and his assistant Lana Lang.
It's a heavy day for me,
so shall we begin?
- Please.
- This way.
(Doctor Stuart) Artificial
intelligence has made tremendous gain
since the invention
of the silicon chip.
At this stage, robots can
only respond to stimuli.
It bumps into something,
it turns.
We're trying to create
independent actions.
Can you put that
in English, Doctor?
Certainly. We're trying
to get them to think.
A machine can't think.
Let me see
if I can change your mind.
[beeping]
Hi there, Mister.
[jingling]
[speaking gibberish]
(Doctor Stuart) The ball's
capable to rave our pet.
[camera clicks]
Now, watch.
Such a crook as himself.
[speaking gibberish]
Sorry about that.
Awesome!
(Doctor Stuart)
'Almost creative thought.'
If put the ball back up, it'd
find another way to get at it.
Yeah, where was I?
Yeah, I believe it. I know
a one track mind when I see one.
We'll needless to say
the commercial possibilities
for this level of artificial
intelligence are staggering.
And what about
the military possibilities?
Don't they expect some payback
for the help with the funding?
Uh, say, Doc,
this little guy is too much.
You mind if I take
some more shots of him?
It's your film,
but please be quick about it.
- I have to reload.
- Let me assist you, Mr. White.
It won't take one moment.
Can we catch up?
Uh, alright.
So, how long have you been
with the institute, Doctor?
Mr. White?
I think I should tell you that..
you didn't win
the student journalism award.
What?
My friend Cindy, she knows
someone on the ballot committee.
And she told me you didn't win.
- I don't believe this.
- I wasn't gonna tell you.
But with the way
you were acting..
I didn't want you
to get your hopes up.
Well, uh..
It's no big deal, I mean..
[breathes sharply]
- You knew it was good, right?
- Right.
I don't need some award to tell
me I'm a great photographer.
One of the best.
[beeping]
[speaking gibberish]
Hey!
[gibberish continues]
[robot speaking gibberish]
Stop!
So, uh, just
out of curiosity, Lana.
Who did win that contest?
Clark.
For the article
he wrote on the homeless.
[rumbling]
[intense music]
What is it?
[robot speaking gibberish]
Lana?
- What are you doing?
- Come here.
T.J.
- He's dead.
- Dead?
Oh.
Uh, Clark, Dr. Stuart,
come quick!
[intense music]
Ah! Look out!
The door's jammed.
- Call for help!
- Let us out of here!
Somebody help us!
Can't budge it.
- Somebody help!
- Please!
They're down there.
Alright! Superboy!
This is my Pulitzer.
So do we do this the hard way?
[grunts]
[grunting continues]
[remote beeps]
[remote beeping]
I shut it down.
Is this thing yours?
It was a limited experiment.
There's a man dead in there. Is
that a part of your experiment?
Must have been startled by him.
You'll have to tell
to the authorities.
(male #1) Nobody is telling
anything to anybody.
Who is this?
Colonel Dempsey,
Military Intelligence.
I knew it.
A man is dead.
The police should be notified.
They will be.
At the appropriate time,
through the proper channels.
You've done what you were
supposed to do, Superboy.
It's a military matter now.
I'd like to speak
to your officer-in-charge.
That's classified information.
You can take my word for it
or take on the Pentagon.
Yeah, maybe, we'll just do that.
Oh please, everyone, just
go home and forget about this.
Forget what you heard.
Forget that you saw anything.
No, no, no, no,
not that, please.
Please.
No!
This day never happened.
[intense music]
So, this bigwig
with Military Intelligence
tells you guys
to keep your mouth shut.
So what do you do? You take your
notes and dump them on my desk.
I remember the first day
of class.
You said, we have
to deal with intimidation.
And follow our instincts, huh?
I know, but you realize
that this Dempsey character
checks out, we all could be
jumping into some hot water?
I mean, the fact that Schuster
Herald is a college paper
won't cut any ice
with Military Intelligence.
A man was killed.
I mean, we saw the body.
So you said.
Alright.
How long will it take you
to get the film developed?
It did occur to you to shoot
Superboy and 7-foot tall robot
going at each other
head-to-head.
Oh, y-yes. Incredible shots.
I mean, a-awesome stuff.
(T.J.)
But..uh..
He took the film.
[scoffs]
Mr. White, what is the
photographers' number one rule?
Always carry a blank roll
of film in the pocket.
That's right, in case
they ask for the film.
Here you go, Clark.
Get to work on it.
I blew it.
Man, I really blew it.
There's no way you could've
switched the film.
Yeah, well, a real
photographer could've.
Guess I'm just not there yet.
Wanna help me
with my byline?
No, Clark, I'm just gonna pack
my camera stuff.
Hit the hay.
[telephone ringing]
[telephone ringing]
[telephone ringing]
Things are too hot now,
we have to move it.
I tried to tell you
Carl was a problem.
The robot responds
to its surroundings.
Carl must have done something
to activate it's defense mode.
That's bull!
When you first came to us
for funding
your prototype impressed
the hell out of us.
But you also
made it perfectly clear
that anything the robot does
is programmed by you.
- So what are you saying?
- Carl was working for me.
I think you knew that.
I think you silenced him because
of something he found out.
Whatever it is, you can't
keep it quiet much longer.
Especially not, when I have
a word with the press
that I've been keeping
off your back for months.
[screams]
I'm afraid, I have plans
of my own, Colonel.
If there's to be any chance
of them succeeding
I must continue
to remove obstacles.
You're crazy! Put me down.
All obstacles.
Even Superboy.
[remote beeping]
[bones cracking]
[Dempsey groaning]
Eat your heart out,
Peter Graves.
[intense music]
Hey, big fella.
Give us a nice
toothy one, huh? Smile.
What's up, Doc?
I thought you might want wallet
size prints of your kid here.
I guess, I have to get going.
I think not.
You can't be serious, man.
I'm with the press.
I've got some rights.
Freedom of speech and all.
Just one hair from my head
and your friend is gonna be
dispensing candy bars.
(Doctor Stuart) Actually,
I'm glad you're here.
You've given me
an inspiring idea for a test.
A final test.
- I have?
- Yes.
I couldn't help but notice how
quickly Superboy
came to your rescue
this morning.
What can I say?
We're pretty tight, you know.
Once I'm in trouble, he wastes
no time. Keep that in mind.
I will.
In fact, I'm counting on it.
Come on, T.J.
So, where is he?
Well, maybe I exaggerated
a little bit.
I mean, 9 times out of 10, he's
on-the-job where I'm concerned.
Oh, wait. This is the day
he plays backgammon.
Can't pull him away from that.
He said once, he said..
"T.J., don't ever get in trouble
on my backgammon days."
Guess we'd better just head back
to town. What do you say?
[theme music]
Are you okay?
My bladder's gone to Rio,
but I am fine.
Pretty obvious you wanted me
from the directions you left.
- Why?
- You're the final test.
My robot has a few bugs
to work out.
I thought you might
wanna help fix them.
Before he tears
your friend apart.
Yo, Superboy.
Tense over here, huh?
[grunting]
It's impossible, Superboy.
He was constructed
of collapsed titanium.
But thank you. I have some
adjustments in the next model.
You'll be making them
in prison, Stuart.
I think not.
Just activated
an anti-matter field.
A technology I'm sure
you're not familiar with.
You, you're..
I am an android.
From a world much like this.
We were built as slaves.
So, we rebelled against
the humans that created us.
But we had one fatal flaw.
We were programmed
to never to kill.
The robot you destroyed
would be my killing machine.
A prototype.
For an army
of killing machines..
who will build themselves
a fleet of spaceships
to return to my planet
with me.
[triumphant music]
How did you do that?
All forms of light can reflect.
I merely made a mirror
out of the sand.
We were stronger.
Quicker. More intelligent.
How do you win the revolution
if you can't kill the enemy?
Kill the enemy.
Kill the enemy.
What is it, Superboy?
A self-destruct mechanism.
The android was programmed to
take all its secrets with him.
[theme music]
[telephone ringing]
I meant what I said,
we're gonna share that award.
Your photos were just
as important as my copy was.
Yeah, thanks, Clark.
Can I have it my side of the
room, Tuesdays and Thursdays?
Maybe next year
will be your year, T.J.
Maybe. Thanks
to the shots you got
of Superboy's
second battle with the robot.
I'm looking forward to seeing
how they turned out.
So was I.
So were you?
Yeah, what's the photographers'
second rule?
Second rule?
Always make sure
your camera is loaded.
Mr. White, you didn't
have a loaded camera.
[laughing]
[laughing]
Captioned by Grant Brown