Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Season 1, Episode 10 (21 Nov. 1993): “The Man of Steel Bars”
by Paris Qualles, Robert Butler

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 10

Title: “The Man of Steel Bars”

Medium: television series episode

Original airdate: 21 Nov. 1993

Publisher:
Written by: Paris Qualles
Directed by: Robert Butler

8 characters in this story:

Character (Click links for info about character and his/her religious practice, affiliation, etc.)	Religious Affiliation	Team(s) [Notes]	Pub.	# app.
Superman (Clark Kent)	Methodist / Kryptonian religion	Kryptonians; Super Friends...  The Justice League		13,409
Lois Lane	Catholic	Raleigh College [Superman's girlfriend, then wife]		3,859
Jimmy Olsen	Lutheran	The Legion of Super-Heroes [Superman's pal]		1,896
Perry White	Baptist; Elvis worship (ordained)	[Superman's (Clark Kent's) boss; Daily Planet editor]		1,574
Jonathan Kent	Methodist	[Superman's adoptive father]		816
Martha Kent	Methodist	[Superman's adoptive mother]		827
Lex Luthor	Episcopalian (lapsed); Nietzschean atheist	Injustice League; Secret Six...  Secret Society of Super Villains; The Injustice Gang; The Legion of Doom		1,508
Cat Grant	Catholic (lapsed); promiscuous hedonist	[Daily Planet gossip columnist; co-worker of Clark Kent]		140

Timecode: 5 minutes, 28 seconds: There is a heat wave in Metropolis. Temperatures have reached 96 degrees Fahrenheit, and the citizens are complaining. (Although, frankly, this is a fairly reasonable, comfortable temperature for many American cities.) Regardless of how hot things are outside, there is no way that what Cat Grant wears to work can be regarded as appropriate. She shows up in the offices of The Daily Planet wearing a bikini.

Cat Grant: The gossip business has heat stroke. My suntan, however, has neve rbeen healthier.

In the background, a male worker's appreciative wolf whistle can be heard. Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane stare at Cat Grant, shocked by her attire. Jimmy decides it's not such a bad thing.

Jimmy Olsen: On the other hand, the heat wave does have its upside.

Lois Lane: Chill, Jimmy.

Jimmy Olsen: Cold shower ought to do it.

A scientist working for the city proposed a theory that Superman's presence in Metropolis has induced this winter-time heat wave. The Daily Planet staff discuss this theory.

Timecode: 6 minutes, 1 seconds:

Male newspaper staffer: Most physicists do think that his [Superman's] power is solar-induced.

Jimmy Olsen: So, lots of things are solar-powered. Why blame Superman?

Clark Kent: Nobody knows how strong his powers are or how much energy it takes to recharge him. Superman could be drawing the sun's rays down on Metropolis like a giant heat funnel and not even know it.

Perry White: Yeah, but he's been here for months. Now, why would Metropolis start heating up now?

Jimmy Olsen: Well, it was summer and it was hot. Now it's winter and it's still hot.

Lois Lane: Whose side are you on?

Cat Grant: Well, Lois, you have to admit, it could be possible.

Lois Lane: You joining the Sisters of Metropolis Convent is more likely.

Interestingly enough, this is one of the rare scenes in this TV series in which Cat Grant is not holding a phallic symbol, trying to seduce somebody, or speaking lines dripping with sexual innuendo. Based on her behavior and dialog, she could actually be a normal person working at a newspaper - if not for the fact that she is wearing a bikini to the office.

Superman is subpenoed by the city to attend a hearing to discuss whether there should be an injunction enjoining him from using his powers pending further scientific study on the cause of the unseasonal heat wave. Superman, a man who strives always to submit to the rule of civil law as well as his own strict moral code, attends the hearing. He agrees to try to refrain from all use of his super powers until scientists can put to rest the theory that his powers are somehow causing the heat wave. Perry White and Lois Lane were in attendance at the hearing and are impressed by how Superman comports himself during the proceedings. Perry gives Superman the highest praise possible by comparing him to his (Perry's) idol: Elvis Presley. Timecode: 11 minutes, 48 seconds.

Perry White: Just like when Elvis played the Sullivan Show.

Less than a minute after Superman agreed to the court injunction against him using his powers, he witnesses an escaped criminal take a policeman hostage by grabbing his gun and holding him at gunpoint. Superman uses his heat vision to heat up the gun, forcing the escapee to drop it, thus saving the hostage. Everybody in the court building, including a group of schoolchildren on a field trip, cheer for Superman - everybody except the judge (Judge Angela Diggs, a self-avowed Superman fan) and and the city attorney asking for the injunction. Timecode: 12 minutes, 38 seconds.

City Attorney: Did you see that? He violated the injunction. It didn't even take him a minute.

Lois Lane: Are you crazy? He saved everybody.

Judge Angela Diggs: The law's the law. You break it, you go to jail. Superman, you're under arrest.

Superman says nothing. But he obviously feels bad about all this. He nods his head yes and allows police officers to take him by the shoulder and lead him away to arrest him. As Superman walks away, with a policeman holding each of his arms, we hear them reciting the Miranda rights warning to him.

Timecode: 16 minutes, 42 seconds:

Judge Angela Diggs: Superman?

Superman: Your Honor.

Judge Angela Diggs: Charge here is contempt of court. How do you plead?

Superman: Court is not something I am contemptuous of, Your Honor. I have vowed to fight for truth and justice.

Judge Angela Diggs: All I'm looking for is a guilty or not guilty.

Superman: Not guilty.

Judge Angela Diggs: So recorded. I'm entertaining bail requests.

Superman: I'd like to be released on my own recognizance.

City Attorney: Objection.

The city attorney spills a cup of coffee, sending it toward Superman. It seems like an accident. Superman instinctively reacts by floating into the air away from where the coffee spilled. This is the set up for a joke (a pun), although the line is delivered straight.

City Attorney: He's an obvious flight risk.

Judge Angela Diggs: What on earth am I supposed to do with him?

Perry White: Uh, Your Honor. Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet. Uh, we've been covering Superman ever since he arrived in Metropolis. And he's always conducted himself with absolute integrity, decency and honesty.

Judge Angela Diggs: So you're willing to vouch for him, is that it?

Perry White: Oh, heh, absolutely.

Judge Angela Diggs: Sold. [Bangs her gavel.]

Perry White: What?

Judge Angela Diggs: He's yours. The Daily Planet is now responsible for the whereabouts of Superman. You try it for a while. [Looking at Superman.] And no super powers. Period. Is that clear?

Superman: Completely.

Timecode: 18 minutes, 11 seconds: Scene: Offices of the Daily Planet.

Lois Lane: Jimmy, what about that map?

Jimmy Olsen: I'm working on it, Lois. Superman has been very busy since he came to Metropolis.

In a previous scene, Lois asked Jimmy Olsen to make a map of where Superman has used his super powers in known activities. Lois is intent on clearing Superman's name and proving that he is not responsible for the heat wave.

Lois Lane: How's he doing?

Jimmy Olsen: He's, uh . . . getting the treatment.

Lois is here asking about how Superman is doing now that he is subjected to the constant company of Daily Planet editor Perry White. By "getting the treatment" Jimmy Olsen means that Superman is the latest "victim" to be subjected to Perry White's ceaseless preaching of the gospel of Elvis Presley.

Perry White: You see, son, Elvis was a law-abiding citizen himself. Oh, well, now,sure, he had a brush or two on the wrong side in his later years, but for the most part, his heart was in the right place, just like yours. The problem was that he was famous. And famous people are targets, this day and age. But, well, I don't need to tell you that, do I?

Superman: No, you don't need to tell me.

Perry White: And, of course, you know, President Nixon considered making Elvis an honorary FBI agent. [Perry breaks into a very bad Richard Nixon impression.] "Ah, ah, am I making myself perfectly clear?"

Lois Lane enters Perry White's office, interrupting his seemingly-endless prattle about Elvis. Lois asks Perry White to read the "copy" (new story) she wrote about the recent hearing and related events.

Timecode: 19 minutes, 19 seconds: Cat enters the office. As hard as it can be to imagine, she is now wearing an even skimpier bikini than the one she wore the previous day.

Cat Grant: [Speaking seductively to Superman] Well, hello.

Superman: Hello.

Perry White thinks that Lois Lane's write-up of recent events shows that she is too close to the story. He tells her it is not objective. While Lois Lane and Perry White argue about her story, Cat Grant stands next to Superman and audibly sniffs his shoulder.

Perry White: Hold that thought while I square Superman away. Now, you got a place to stay tonight, son?

Cat Grant and Lois Lane, hearing Perry's question about where Superman will spend the night, instantly each grab one of Superman's shoulders an speak in unison, volunteering for the "duty" of putting Superman up for the night.

Cat Grant and Lois Lane: [In unison] He's staying with me.

Lois Lane: Don't you think all the mirrors above the bed would keep him awake?

Cat Grant: Count on it.

Superman: Uh, why don't I stay with Clark. I don't think he'd mind.

Perry White: That's perfect. Uh, where is Clark, anyway?

In the next scene it becomes very clear that what we have already suspected is true: Lex Luthor is responsible for the heat wave. He actually has a control machine that he is able to use to set the temperature in Metropolis to whatever he wants it to be. He is purposely using this technology to create a correlation between Superman's super activities and heat spikes.

Lex Luthor arranges for a train carrying 325 passengers to go out of control, set on a collision coarse for the Metropolis terminal. He does this to force Superman to use his powers once again. Lex Luthor is quite willing to kill everybody on that train just to make Superman look bad.

Clark Kent hears about the out-of-control train on television. He simply must help those people, even though it means he must break his word about using his powers. Clark does indeed save the train and its passengers, but then Lex Luthor sets the temperature of Metropolis to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and everybody seems certain that Superman is at fault. Superman agrees to leave the city for good by noon the next day. When Clark Kent returns to his apartment, he finds his parents have come to comfort him and help him in this time of need.

Timecode: 30 minutes, 10 seconds:

Martha Kent: Don't be mad. We had to come.

Clark Kent: I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life.

Martha Kent: [Hugging Clark.] Honey, sweetheart.

Jonathan Kent: You don't have to do this.

Clark Kent: What choice do I have?

Jonathan Kent: I don't get it, Clark. I just don't get it. You used your powers in Smallville and it never got hot.

Clark Kent: But that was just everyday stuff, Dad. Since I've been in Metropolis I've been doing some pretty big things.

Martha Kent: But do you believe it? Do you honestly think you're causing this heat wave?

Clark Kent: I don't know, Mom. Everybody else seems to think so.

Jonathan Kent: Well, who cares what everyone else thinks? This was your dream, Clark. A good job, a real life for yourself here in Metropolis. Why should you lose that? It's only Superman who has to leave.

Clark Kent: I can't just turn it off, Dad. I can't look past people who are hurting, people in trouble, knowing that I could help them and having to stop myself. I just . . . I can't do that.

Martha Kent: But you're such a special person, Clark. It's not fair that you're being punished for it.

Clark Kent: Mom, please. I've made up my mind.

Jonathan Kent: All right, then. We'll take you home, son.

Clark Kent: No. I can't go back to Smallville.

Martha Kent: Well . . . I know it's not the big city, but it's home.

Clark Kent: It's not that, mom. What if I am a solar conductor? I can't take the chance of hurting you and Dad.

Jonathan Kent: Well, then where are you gonna go?

Clark Kent: I don't know yet. Just away from the people that I love the most.

Timecode: 36 minutes, 18 seconds: Superman has left Metropolis and Clark Kent (who is secretly Superman) has resigned from the Daily Planet, telling Lois that he is taking a position as managing editor of the Smallville Daily Post. Lois Lane is in the offices of the Daily Planet, somewhat despondent. Cat Grant, wearing yet another bikini, walks up from behind Lois.

Cat Grant: Hi, Lois.

Lois Lane: Okay, stop it.

Cat Grant: Stop what?

Lois Lane: Stop trying to be so nice.

Cat Grant: All I said was hello.

Lois Lane: Exactly. No little dig, no rude remark. It's not normal. Everybody around here is treating me like I just lost my best friend or something.

Cat Grant compassionately puts her hand on Lois Lane's shoulder.

Cat Grant: You and I should talk.

Lois Lane: Why would I want to do that?

Cat Grant: Because I know more about losing men than you might think.

Lois Lane: First Superman and now Clark. I don't know who I'll miss more.

Cat Grant: I know what'll cheer you up.

Lois Lane: Cat, please.

Lois thinks that Cat is about to suggest some sort of sordid sexual escapade. But Cat surprises her suggesting something entirely different.

Cat Grant: Double-double chocolate fudge.

Timecode: 40 minutes, 52 seconds: Mayor Berkowitz (played by Sonny Bono) announces that the Lex Corp Nuclear Plant will now go completely online. (By the way, Lex Luthor used a strategic heat leak from the nuclear plant to heat up underground aquifers and cause the heat wave.) Interestingly enough, the mayor is flanked by an eclectic mix of people, including one man in traditional African tribal clothing and two Arab Muslims wearing head scarves. Lex Luthor is present as well, of course.

The process of listing characters who appeared in this source is not yet complete. Webpage for Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - Season 1, Episode 10 (21 Nov. 1993) created 30 December 2007. Last modified 11 June 2014.

All characters, images, comics and source material © by their respective copyright holders. This page (including original commentary, organization, lists, markup, page layout, etc.) © 2024 by ComicBookReligion.com. All rights reserved. Website built by Database-Genius.com, Database-Design.org. Login...