END OPENING CREDITS
FADE IN
On the grounds of a farm on a cold, overcast winter day.
Complete with a quaint, medium-sized house, a large barn, a silo, fields, and wide open pastures, the farm is nothing short of impressive.
SUPERIMPOSE: SMALLVILLE, KANSAS — FEBRUARY 1916
CUT TO
The front door of the house as it swings open, allowing a man out into the cold, brisk air.
JONATHAN KENT is a tall, ruggedly handsome 35-year-old man with dirty blond hair. Though clad in a heavy winter coat, a pair of thick black wool gloves, and a winter cap, Jonathan still feels the sharp winter chill stab into his bones. Wasting as little time as possible, he closes the door, then with hand crank in hand, leaves the porch for his blue pickup truck, a year-old Ford Model T.
As he gets to the vehicle and inserts the crank to prime the engine, the front door opens yet again, allowing his wife MARTHA out onto the porch. A lovely 28-year-old woman with long auburn hair, crystal blue eyes, and fair skin, she hugs her arms close to her as the winter breeze sweeps over her.
JONATHAN
(surprised) Martha! (beat) I thought you were asleep, honey.
MARTHA
I woke up. Now you mind telling me where on Earth you’re going in this ungodly weather?
JONATHAN
Into town to get some supplies. I’ll be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.
Nodding silently, Martha then looks to the sky. The gray clouds, thick and dark, are heavy with the promise of snow.
MARTHA
I think a storm’s about to hit. We really should bring the cattle in before nightfall.
JONATHAN
We’ll do it after I get back.
MARTHA
I think I’ll come along with you. Let me get my coat.
JONATHAN
(frowns) What are you saying?
MARTHA
I’m coming along, silly. (frowns) Is there a reason you don’t want me to?
JONATHAN
No … no reason.
MARTHA
(cocks eyebrow) I’ll be just a second.
As Martha slips back inside, Jonathan remains standing by the side of his truck. Staring at his feet, he lazily kicks at the snow on the ground.
JONATHAN
Dammit….
EXT. SMALLVILLE — STREET — DAY
Entering the urban centre of Smallville, the Kents’ truck cuts through the snow and slush on the roads.
INT. TRUCK/CAB — DAY
Sitting in the cold cab on the passenger’s side, Martha vigorously rubs her mittened hands together for warmth. Turning to her husband, she regards him with a suspicious gaze. Noticing her stare, Jonathan tries ignoring it, keeping his eyes focused on the road ahead.
EXT. SMALLVILLE — TOWN SQUARE — HEL’S BOUQUET — DAY
Nearing his destination, Jonathan slows down. Coming to a stop, he parks the truck and shuts the engine off.
INT. TRUCK/CAB — DAY
Martha looks out her window. Standing there, identified by the large sign set above the front door, is Hel’s Bouquet, a flower shop.
MARTHA
This isn’t the general store. (faces Jonathan)
JONATHAN
(averts gaze) There’s … Hel placed an order. I figured I’d stop here before going to Phineas’.
MARTHA
(perplexed) Placed an order…? (beat) Jonathan —
Not waiting for her to complete her thought, Jonathan opens his door and climbs out, shutting it quickly to keep what little heat he can inside.
INT. HEL’S BOUQUET — DAY
Jonathan enters the flower shop, taking care to knock the snow off his boots before walking to the front counter. There, reading a fashion magazine by lamplight, is HELEN POTTER. An attractive brunette, she’s closer in age to Jonathan than Martha.
JONATHAN
Afternoon, Hel.
HELEN
(looks up from magazine; smiles) Jonathan! What a surprise! (beat) What brings the reclusive Mr. Kent into town in this weather?
JONATHAN
Tulips. Red ones, if you have them. (beat) Martha’s always had her heart set on tulips.
HELEN
(drops smile) Yes, well, they’re a very uncomplicated flower.
An uncomfortable silence develops between them. Saying no more, Helen goes to get Jonathan his tulips.
INT. TRUCK/CAB — DAY
Reading a magazine, Martha doesn’t notice Jonathan return. Opening his door, he slips inside and then, with perhaps too much haste, presents her a bouquet of beautiful red tulips.
JONATHAN
Happy anniversary, sweetheart.
MARTHA
(eyes widen) Jonathan! (takes flowers) This is why you wanted to go into town alone.
JONATHAN
(smiles thinly) I was also going to pick up a bottle of wine. (beat) It was going to be a surprise.
MARTHA
Oh, darling, I’m sorry. (kisses Jonathan) Thank you.
EXT. SPACE — MARS
After decades traversing the void between worlds, the Codex and nine matrices have finally arrived in the solar system. Having spent the last few hours passing through the outer planets, they are now making their way past the red planet and its twin moons.
EXT. KENT FARM — PASTURE — DAY
Having returned from town and traded the truck in for a pair of horses, the Kents now ride through the pasture, rounding up their cattle and herding them back towards the barn. The sky is now a deep, dark gray and snowfall has begun.
EXT. SPACE — EARTH
The starcraft enter the atmosphere. Buffeted by air and friction, they are pushed apart, entering trajectories which direct them to different areas of the globe.
EXT. ANTARCTICA — DAY
Thousands of miles from Smallville, Kansas, USA, we find ourselves deep in the heart of the Antarctic continent itself. Long into its summer, the sky is a clear blue, though the yellow sun brings no warmth to this frozen wasteland.
With a burst of brilliant energy, the Codex strikes, punching straight through the snow, through the ice, and disappears.
Within minutes the ground begins trembling — slightly but palpably — and that trembling quickly evolves to rumbling. A great fissure opens in the ice with a tremendous crack, letting air into the underground depths for the first time in 15 million years.
EXT. KENT FARM — PASTURE — DAY
Just as the Kents finish directing the remaining wayward cows and steers into joining the rest of the herd, a large fireball comes streaking down from the sky above. Their jaws dropping, Jonathan and Martha watch as the spaceborne object passes overhead like a fallen angel, crashing with a resounding boom at the far end of an adjacent field.
MARTHA
(shocked) What in —‽
Overcoming her initial shock, Martha digs her heels in her horse’s sides; with a burst of speed, she begins galloping towards the crash site.
JONATHAN
(alarmed) Martha, what are you doing‽ Martha!
Kicking his own horse into gear, Jonathan takes off after his wife.
EXT. KENT FARM — FIELD — DAY
Minutes later, the Kents arrive at the site. There before them, smoking and stinking of scorched earth, is a large crater. Climbing off their horses, they approach it and the object nestled inside.
JONATHAN
Oh my God….
MARTHA
Jonathan, what is it?
Standing inside the crater, its surface unmarked and unscathed by either the entry or crash, is one of the starcraft.
JONATHAN
It looks like a … an artillery shell.
MARTHA
(incredulous) Artillery shell?
Stepping into the crater, Martha makes her way to the strange craft.
JONATHAN
Martha! Stay clear!
MARTHA
(peers into pod) But look, Jonathan! There’s something inside! Something alive!
Climbing down into the crater, Jonathan joins his wife by the vessel. Looking into the murky crystal pod, he, too, can just barely make out something alive and moving within.
JONATHAN
(touches pod) That’s funny — it’s cool. With how it came in all afire, you’d think —
Before Jonathan can finish his thought, the crystal under his touch liquefies, drawing away from him. Alarmed, he jumps back. A perfectly round hole opened in the pod’s side, one can now see clearly the nature of the creature inside. Curled up in a ball is a naked infant boy with swarthy skin and vibrant azure eyes.
MARTHA
(surprised) Oh, Jonathan — it’s a baby!
Reaching into the pod, Martha takes hold of the child and lifts him out. Almost immediately, he starts crying. Holding the baby to her, Martha begins rubbing his back. In moments, the child’s wailing begins to subside. Very soon he is calm and peaceful, asleep with his face nestled in her bosom.
JONATHAN
I — I’ll ride back and bring the truck around.
INT. TRUCK/CAB — DAY
Martha and Jonathan are now seated inside the truck, riding back to the homestead. With the baby asleep inside her arms, she smiles.
EXT. KENT FARM — KENT HOME — DAY
Pulling up beside the house, Jonathan and Martha climb out. The snow falling heavy now, the wind blowing fierce, it’s all but apparent that a fierce blizzard’s hit Smallville.
JONATHAN
Get inside the house, Martha. I’m going to make sure the animals are okay, then I’ll join you inside.
Bracing her and the child against the biting wind, Martha runs to the house while Jonathan shields his face and sprints over to the barn.
INT. KENT HOME/LIVING ROOM — DAY
Tossing a log into the blazing fireplace, Jonathan rubs his hands together for warmth before crossing over to his armchair. Sitting down, he looks across at Martha — who sits on the couch, the foundling child held close to her breast — a thousand thoughts all coursing through his mind.