FADE IN
EXT. HALL OF THE COUNCIL - DAY
People are seen walking into this glistening tower to witness what will be, unbeknownst to them, the most important decision their leaders will ever make. It also will be their last.
INT.
The High Council of the planet Krypton is meeting to hear the startling theories of a young scientist named Jor-El. Jor-El wears a black, skin tight suit under a red cloak with a large silver band across the front, with a circle on each end. A thin silver headband runs between his brow and his hairline. The eight council members, dressed in green cloaks, ornamented in gold, sit in a row looming high above Jor-El and the other citizens that came to the public meeting. On the wall behind the Council is a massive, curved computer screen that has only a single image; three bright green circles connected by two moving wavy lines.
COUNCILMAN #1: Jor-El, we grow tired of your apocalyptic fantasies!
JOR-EL: They are not fantasies! Look at the data! I have given you the evidence you need, why do you still deny it?
COUNCILMAN #7: Have you submitted your data into Braniac?
Jor-El pauses for a moment. He sighs.
JOR-EL: Yes, I have, but you must–
COUNCILMAN #7: Then let us hear what Braniac says of it! Brainiac, is Jor-El’s theory true?
The wavy lines of what is considered Brainiac’s face begin to move faster as Brainiac speaks.
BRAINIAC: His findings are most intriguing, although his conclusion is incorrect.
The image on the screen shrinks and moves to the top right corner. Replacing it’s position in the center is an image of the planet Krypton.
BRAINIAC: As I have told the council before, the recent tremors are caused by a simple polar shift. It will pass in time, and life shall return to normal. You will, however, need to alter your compasses.
The image of the planet fades, and Brainiac’s face return to the center of the screen.
COUNCILMAN #2: Well then, Jor-El, it seems Brainiac has spoken. Your theory has been disproven.
JOR-EL: Brainiac is wrong!
COUNCILMAN #5: Impossible!
JOR-EL: Surely there is a mistake! A glitch, or–
COUNCILMAN #8: You simply have not given us enough evidence to base your outlandish theory upon, El.
COUNCILMAN #1: It is the council’s decision that your proposed mass evacuation of the planet will not occur. It is so ordered!
Jor-El looks down, defeated.
EXT. EL HOUSE - NIGHT
The a flat, round building that rests upon a ridge. Night is approaching, the sky is a rich shade of purple. Two moons are visible, one significantly nearer to the planet than the other.
JOR-EL: They are fools, Lara, all of them!
INT.
Lara Lor-Van sits on a couch, gazing out the large bow window as her husband paces around the room, yelling. Lara is a tall woman with long black hair and bright blue eyes. A small white dog rests in the corner.
JOR-EL: How can they so easily trust a… a heartless machine!
LARA: Can you really blame them, Jor? Brainiac has never been wrong before.
JOR-EL: Neither have I.
LARA: What if you are now? What if the whole planet was evacuated and nothing happened? What then, Jor?
JOR-EL: Then we have lost nothing. If I am right and we still do nothing, we have all lost everything!
The couple is quiet for a moment, as they watch the sun finally set through the window. Suddenly, the ground begins to shake. Jor-El rushes to the couch and holds Lara tightly until the tremor subsides.
JOR-EL: I’m going to Brainiac.
LARA: Now? You need to rest.
JOR-EL: I can have no rest until I know with absolute certainty that I have nothing to be worried about.
Jor-El kisses his wife and leaves the room.
EXT. CITY OF KANDOR – PAN WITH JOR-EL
Jor-El races through the city on a sleek grey vehicle. He stops at a tall, black tower bedecked with several green lights and purple lights.
INT. BRAINIAC HUB
Jor-El walks to a keyboard at the end of a long platform.
JOR-EL: Brainiac, this is Jor-El seeking information on the recent tremors.
The face of Brainiac appears on a great screen before Jor-El
BRAINIAC: Welcome, Jor-El. I’m afraid I cannot give you information on the tremors at this time.
JOR-EL: Why not? You exist to give information.
BRAINIAC: Your statement is true. However, I am currently restructuring my security protocols. If you return tomorrow, perhaps I–
Jor-El begins to type furiously on the keyboard. Suddenly the keyboard flashes red and disappears, leaving only a flat table at his fingertips.
JOR-EL: How did you do that?
BRAINIAC: I am afraid I cannot give you any information at this time.
JOR-EL: You’re a machine, you can’t be afraid of anything. Tell me now, what in Rao’s name are you doing?
BRAINIAC: Rao is the ancient mythological deity of–
JOR-EL: You’re stalling, what for?
BRAINIAC: Upload complete
JOR-EL: What upload? What have you done?
BRAINIAC: Krypton is soon to be destroyed, I have uploaded myself and all Kryptonian knowledge to a satillite to preserve for the education of other worlds
JOR-EL: I was right! Krypton is doomed! Why did you lie?
BRAINIAC: By the time you submitted your data, it would have been to late to begin evacuation. Krypton has but hours left.
A look of horror falls upon Jor-El’s face.
INT. EL HOUSE
Jor-El works frantically to prepare the escape rocket for his wife and child. Lara walks in from another room.
LARA: Jor, what are you doing?
JOR-EL: I was right. Brainiac lied because it was too late for mass evacuation. It ends tonight. I prepared this craft for the worst-case scenario. You and Kal should be able to escape in time.
Lara stands quietly. She does not know how to feel.
LARA: Where will we go? I could not adapt to the culture of another world, you must send Kal alone. He is a baby, he would grow up among them, become one of them.
Jor-El stops his frantic calculations and calibrations. He lets out a sob as he tries to speak again.
JOR-EL: Bring Kal here. It’s time.
Lara runs into the child’s bedroom and returns with him in her arms. She places him in the blue rocket and lays a hand on his forehead as he wakes up and begins to cry.
LARA: Kal-El, my son, be a light to your new world. Give them hope.
She wraps him in a blanket, her piercing blue eyes shed tears as she does.
JOR-EL: Do not be afraid, Kal. You will be safe on a world far from here. If they do not accept you, you will be strong enough to protect yourself.
LARA: I love you.
Jor-El closes the rocket. He and Lara back away from it. They embrace and the ship flies away. At the same time, the final tremor begins.
EXT. KRYPTON
The small blue craft flies away from the planet as it explodes.
TITLE (REVEALED AS ROCKET PASSES THROUGH SPACE): THE MAN OF TOMORROW