Scene: Luthor’s Penthouse.

Luthor sits at his desk typing on his computer as he talks to someone via a phone headset.

Luthor: I don’t care if he’s the President of the United States. He owes me money and if he doesn’t pay up his term in office could be shortened dramatically.

Luthor listens to the person on the other end for a moment.

Luthor: You do that. And tell him from me if he doesn’t make good on his finances soon his family will suffer the consequences. He has a daughter in high school correct?

Luthor listens again.

Luthor: I’m glad we understand each other. I’ll be expecting receipt of payment by noon tomorrow. Otherwise – well it’s best not to dwell on such things.

Luthor ends the call and looks up startled as Superman comes crashing through the wall of his penthouse. In a streak or red and blue Superman crosses the room and tosses Luthor’s desk aside hurling it across the room to smash into splinters on the far wall. His eyes blaze red and pent-up energy crackles within as he steps forward and lifts Luthor from his chair.

Superman: Luthor, you’re a dead man..

Luthor: Superman. What can I do for you?

Superman: You know damn well why I’m here Luthor and I’m going to make you pay for what you’ve done. You diseased maniac, how many people have died because of you? How many deaths have you caused over the years just to advance your own agenda? You have taken the lives of strangers but worse still you sacrificed your own daughter, your flesh and blood, to that monster Brainiac all so you could have control of the B-13 technology in Metropolis. Was it worth it Luthor? Was it?

Luthor: Was it worth it Superman? Of course it was. No-one on this planet has more power than me and all it cost me was one little girl. I can always make another one.

At that moment Luthor’s security team bursts into the room somewhat belatedly and takes stock of the situation. Superman looks over at them eyes blazing.

Superman: Get out!

Luthor glances towards his guards.

Luthor: Do it!

The guards hesitate and Luthor glares at them and snaps.

Luthor: Now, and don’t come back until I call for you.

The guards depart and Superman looks at Luthor in puzzlement.

Superman: I see you realize that nothing can save you now. If you believe in god I suggest you make your peace with him.

We see Luthor reach down and surreptitiously draw a lead box from his pocket.

Luthor: I think not Superman or should I say Clark?

Luthor opens the box. Superman gasps and dropping Luthor staggers backwards. Luthor stands and straightens his jacket then holds the open box in front of him from which a green glow emerges. He reaches into the box and draws out the kryptonite dropping the box to the floor and brandishing the kryptonite in front of him a smile of triumph upon his face as Superman collapses to the floor.

Superman: Kryptonite. How? Where?

Luthor: After years of research my scientists finally managed to synthesise kryptonite. Unfortunately they were all killed in an accidental explosion at the research lab. Their families were adequately compensated of course.

Superman: You monster - those scientists, your daughter and now, my father.

Luthor: Yes, your father. Did you think I was stupid? That I didn’t know? We were friends Clark and you couldn’t trust me with your secret even after all I did for you and your family. All those years we spent together in Smallville and you never trusted me enough to tell me the truth. You lied to me!

Luthor roars and lunges towards Superman who rolls away trying to get away from the deadly glow of the kryptonite. Superman gasps in pain and shock.

Superman: You knew?!?

Luthor: Of course I knew. I always suspected ever since you pulled me out of that car but you always managed to fool me into believing that you were just an ordinary farm boy. When Superman and Clark Kent both showed up in Metropolis at the same time it was too much of a coincidence. I’ve had you tracked electronically since day one. I know everything. Everything.

Superman gasps as the radiation from the kryptonite washes over him.

Superman: Why now?

Luthor laughs hysterically.

Luthor: Why now, you ask. Don’t you get it yet? I don’t want you dead not until you’ve suffered as I’ve suffered. Not until you’ve gone through the pain and humiliation I’ve had to endure because of you. I want you to suffer the way you’ve made me suffer all these years. I want you to pay for your treachery. Then when your suffering is complete I’ll put you out of your misery once and for all.

Superman: You’re deluded Lex. I never betrayed you. You betrayed yourself. I always knew that there was a dark side within you but it was you who let that darkness out not me. I tried to help you but you wouldn’t be helped.

Luthor turns red and his face contorts in rage.

Luthor: LIAR!

Superman: Is that how you’ve justified everything you’ve done over the years? That I made you do it?

Luthor: I don’t need any justification.

Superman coughs as another wave of pain wracks his body.

Superman: I think you do. That’s what this is all about isn’t it? This is what it’s always been about. You don’t hate me, you hate yourself and you blame me for the person you’ve become. You’re pathetic Luthor.

Luthor, face contorted into a mask of pure rage draws a gun from his belt and points it at Superman.

Luthor: Lies. All lies.

Superman: You’re the liar Lex. You’ve been lying to yourself all this time.

Luthor: Pathetic? I think not. You’ve had your day Clark but it stood to reason that when it came time to cash in your chips this ‘diseased maniac’ would be your banker. Now witness my triumph and the depth of your failure.

Luthor kicks Superman in the chest and Superman groans in agony as we hear the cracking sound of breaking ribs. Superman coughs up blood as Luthor presses a button on his wristwatch and a giant television screen that covers one wall of Luthor’s penthouse lights up showing a female LexCom broadcaster.

Reporter: In a LexCom exclusive business magnate Lex Luthor revealed today in a press conference that he would be running for president in the upcoming federal elections. President Clinton was in attendance had this to say on Luthor’s candidacy.

The image on the screen changes to one of the President of the United States as Superman watches transfixed with horror.

President: I believe that if anyone has the ability to make this country great once more it will be Lex Luthor. He has always been a keen supporter, both financially and vocally of my campaigns for the presidency and now my two terms in office are up I cannot think of a better successor and I wish him the best of luck.

The image switches back to that of the reporter.

Reporter: This shocking revelation has caused a flurry of activity worldwide as the world’s news organizations rush to be the first to provide in depth information on this exclusive. Early polls indicate that Luthor is popular in many quarters particularly the business sector and political analysts are already calling him a shoe-in for the position. More on this after these messages.

As the news broadcast changes to commercials Luthor presses another button on his watch and the screen flicks off.

Luthor: You see Clark. Already I am one of the world’s leading businessmen and have control over a large portion of the world economy. Soon I will be President of the United States and there is nothing you can do to stop me. Nothing. You couldn’t even stop me from killing your father.

At this Superman roars and in a last desperate burst of strength charges Lex but Lex nimbly steps aside and brains Superman with the pistol. Superman collapses to the floor barely conscious as Luthor dances away. Luthor hold up the gun.

Luthor: You see this pistol Clark? It’s loaded with kryptonite bullets and after I’ve killed you with it I’m going to kill everyone you care about, Lana, Pete Ross, your mother oh and let’s not forget Lois. You hear me Clark?

Superman groans and stirs on the floor but is too weak to get up. Luthor face now a mask of pure hatred begins kicking Superman in the face and chest until Superman’s face and skin is a bloody pulp. The kicking has pushed Superman up to the hole in the wall he made when he flew in. The hole is already repairing itself – a benefit of the B-13 technology. Luthor grins in satisfaction.

Luthor: Don’t worry Superman. You’ll be seeing Lois soon – as soon as I’m finished with her.

Luthor laughs in triumph as with a roar of rage Superman charges him once more. Lex lifts the gun and fires and Superman falls back and hangs for a moment before falling out the hole in the wall with a bullet hole in his chest. We watch as Superman plummets to the ground below smashing a newsstand and lying unconscious. Towering above him are the Lex-Corp towers and our view rushes up the tower out of which he had just fallen to a view of Lex standing at the hole in the wall the wind causing his clothes to flap as he laughs maniacally before the view fades to black.