[theme music]
[music continues]
[instrumental music]
Ready for your dinner, Mr. Corben?
(Corben) 'Bring it in, Ralph.'
[sniffs] Mmm. Perfect.
- Yes? - Uh, Mr. Corben.
I hope you don't mind me asking
but after all these months, I just gotta know.
How do you rate all this?
[laughs] Ralph, the trick is to never underestimate
the value of a good friend.
And always keep your mouth shut.
- Ohh! - You having those pains again?
It'll pass. Always does.
You can go.
Maybe it's all that rich food.
crash
Mr. Corben!
You're out of your mind, I'm too young.
I-I-I exercise, I-I take supplements, I--
It's a virus, Mr. Corben. None of that matters.
But there's got to be some medicine.
It's a very rare disease, we don't..
[choking] There might be an alternative treatment.
What kind of treatment?
For now, you'll just have to trust me
and a certain good friend.
Wait a minute, you know my fr--
Relax, Mr. Corben. And conserve your strength.
You'll be needing it.
[instrumental music]
On your right.
Slowpoke.
[intense music]
boom
[all screaming]
What's going on?
[indistinct chatter]
whoosh
- Did you know about this? - No, but who cares?
Let's get off this rock.
Unh!
boom
Some kind of parole, huh?
[laughing]
I can't steer.
[both scream]
They're all yours.
[dramatic music]
Mind if I borrow something?
Don't quit. We're almost there.
[all screaming]
[men grunting]
thud
We did it, doc.
[sniffs] Mmm. The smell of freedom.
Never thought I'd see the day.
Come on, we have to hurry.
(Luthor) 'No one's been more loyal to me than you, John.'
You could have implicated me in the Lexo suit affair
but you didn't. And for that, I'm going to reward you.
This sure doesn't feel like a reward, Luthor.
It's the only way to save your life.
You have to do it.
Don't worry, you'll look exactly as you do now.
But I'll be metal on the inside.
Better than metal. Metallo.
A virtually indestructible alloy.
- That the kryptonite? - The source of your power.
And Superman's destruction. You want that, don't you?
- After what he did to you? - What do I have to lose?
[chuckles] Indeed.
[inhaling]
[intense music]
And thanks to Superman all but one
of the inmates were back in their cells
within an hour of the attack.
'As yet unaccounted for is John Corben'
'a mercenary, who police describe'
'as extremely dangerous.'
'Several months ago, Corben stole'
'a high-tech Lexo suit and battled Superman'
'to a virtual standstill.'
'Police are investigating connections'
'between the missile attack and Corben's escape..'
What I'd like to know is who has access
to air-to-surface missiles?
These days, just about anyone.
Well, one way or another Corben won't be free for long.
- How's that? - Corben's medical records.
I have a friend at Stryker's.
- Orozco's retrovirus? - 'Uh-huh.'
One hundred percent fatal.
But the only place it's native to
is some little island off South America.
Kent, Corben was a mercenary
and a fugitive from at least five countries.
That's a recipe for a frequent flyer
if I ever heard one.
Well, how do you feel?
Great, better than I have in weeks.
Shall we test out that theory?
click
Hit that, please.
thud
clang
Impressive.
Wasn't even trying.
thud
Satisfied?
Now, if you'll please stand still.
Hey, wait a minute!
boom
Your skin is also made from metallo.
But I...I can't feel anything.
It's like I'm controlling my hands from outside my body.
Well, some adjustments need to be made, that's all.
But first, you have a job to do.
- Superman? - Yes.
I have a luncheon to attend
but I expect to hear the tragic news about him
just before dessert.
Dessert?
I haven't had anything to eat or drink
since the operation. I haven't wanted anything.
The only hunger you should have is for power, my friend.
The only thirst, for revenge.
[indistinct chattering]
Roses.
Would you like a rose?
No, thanks.
They smell wonderful, see?
[sniffs] I don't smell anything.
But they're very fragrant.
Get away.
- He's on the tracks. - Get off of there, you jerk.
[all clamoring]
[intense music]
screech
crash
[laughing] Last stop, everyone.
Last stop!
[all screaming]
crash
Whoever he is, he appears to have strength like Superman's.
'And bullets have no effect on him.'
'Do we have another alien in our midst?'
'The attack began minutes ago'
when the man single-handedly derailed
an eastbound El train.
'Police are still trying to identify him.'
Corben?
[instrumental music]
boom
[laughing]
[instrumental music]
Uhh!
thud
Uh-ah!
[grunts]
screech
thud
boom
How did you do it, Corben?
A drug? Some kind of operation?
Elective surgery.
- Jealous? - Not likely.
You're going back to prison.
[grunts]
I'm as strong as you are now.
- Almost. - No. Stronger.
zap
Uhh.
What's the matter, guy?
You're looking a little green at the gills.
[laughing]
[grunts]
I think you are jealous of me
because now I'm the real man of steel.
[groaning]
Uhh!
Ohh.
clang
Agh!
'Unh.'
That was rather desperate.
[grunting]
Uhh!
You humiliated me, Superman.
Took me in by the scruff of my neck like I was a kid.
Now, it's payback time.
screech
Get in, hurry.
Ugh!
He's not going anywhere, Ms. Lane.
Corben.
You remember me. Good.
I've been thinking about you a lot.
Especially these last few months in prison.
Corben, if you so much as..
[gasps]
[grunting]
Oh, I..
I-I-I didn't feel anything.
See if you feel this.
Ow!
(Corben) I...I can't even feel a kiss.
What did they do to me?
vroom
screech
Uhh!
thud
[sighs] Are you alright?
Getting there. Sorry about your car.
Yeah, the insurance company will love this.
- At least you got him. - For now.
thud
I want those adjustments now!
Wh-what adjustments?
The ones Luthor told me about
when I said I couldn't feel my hands.
Those adjustments.
Well, the adjustments were yours to make.
Mine?
You're telling me..
There'll always be a certain numbness.
A lack of feeling, but you'll get used to it.
I don't want to get used to it. Arrgh!
Mr. Corben, the operation gave you almost infinite strength.
You can never get sick. You're invulnerable to injury.
You'll never feel pain again.
And what about pleasure? Hmm?
That-that was never part of the equation.
Find me a body. Change me back.
I have to feel.
No, we-we can't.
The transplant is permanent.
Argh!
Uhh!
It's all fake.
A fraud. There's the reality.
'The metal behind the man.'
It's all I am now.
It's who I am.
Metallo!
I'm sorry. Dr. Vale resigned.
Lucky stiff came into some money.
He couldn't get out of here fast enough.
And I'll bet he didn't say where he was going.
Hmm. How'd you guess?
This was his office. You're welcome to look around.
Thanks. We shouldn't be long.
There's got to be a link to Corben somewhere.
And then what? It's not going to stop his next rampage.
I don't care how tough he is
he's got to have a weakness, Lois.
You talk as if it's our job to stop him, Kent.
After what I saw, I don't even think it's Superman's.
- What're these? - They call them sharp boxes.
They're for used needles, razors.
Hmm. Lovely.
[instrumental music]
Well, what do you know?
A parking validation.
Now, there's a page one headline.
Kent, it's from LexCorp.
(female #1) 'It's so big, Mr. Luthor.'
I've never seen a yacht this size.
(Luthor) I've given the crew the day off, my dear.
But the ship is fully automated.
Shall we go for a short cruise?
(Corben) How's the caviar, Luthor?
Rich and delicate?
Just melts in your mouth, doesn't it?
[gasps]
You like my new look? I hope you do.
Because it's the last thing you'll ever see.
Is there a problem, John?
I can't taste anymore.
I can't smell.
Can't...can't..
[screaming]
splash
Now, it's your turn.
You didn't think I'd leave you like this, did you?
- I told you it was temporary. - Liar.
The doctor can't do anything for me.
Maybe not now, but someday.
I've got people all over the world working on this.
It'll take time, but what do you care?
You're practically immortal.
So go ahead, kill me if you want to.
But what then?
You don't know how this feels.
It's driving me crazy.
Get below.
I've got to get you out of here.
(Luthor) 'I've got a lab off the coast where we can repair your skin'
but don't forget, you still owe me Superman.
Patience, Luthor.
It's something we're both going to need.
Maybe not.
[instrumental music]
Where's Corben, Luthor?
- Who? - I know about Dr. Vale.
It's just a matter of time before the police find him.
And what makes you think there's any of him left to find?
Unh!
[grunts]
thud
Allow me to introduce my recreation director.
I'm ready for that rematch.
Argh.
We have to talk, Corben.
Come closer. I can't hear you.
Arrgh.
crash
boom
Listen to me, Corben.
You're being duped.
Luthor's the one who set you up.
You didn't know I could focus it like that, did you?
[groaning]
Ah!
Finish him. Now!
Aah-h!
[grunts]
crash
thud
[grunting]
Some enemy.
Luthor's your enemy.
He did this to you.
Yes, he saved me from that virus.
Otherwise, I'd be dead by now.
- Here's your virus. - What's this?
The doctor..
...put it in your food.
How else do you think you got
such a rare disease?
But...why would he..
Luthor..
...told him to.
The kryptonite's gotten to him. He's delirious.
I'm not so sure of that.
- I'll be right back. - Uhh.
Don't be a fool, Corben.
Don't you see he's trying to turn us
against each other to save his own skin.
Who knows what's in that vial?
Then, why don't we test it?
Corben, no.
[Luthor grunting] 'No.'
Come on, Luthor. Drink up.
It did wonders for me.
boom
[explosion]
boom
Aah!
[gasping]
boom
Help! Help!
I can't swim.
Bon voyage.
Help. Help.
[gurgling]
Help. Help.
[intense music]
boom
[panting]
You'll excuse me if I don't see you home.
You'll never pin this on me.
The virus is destroyed and Corben's lost at sea.
And even if you found him, there'd still be that
kryptonite to worry about.
I don't think I'm the one who should be worrying.
[instrumental music]
[theme music]