Lex Luthor - All Fall Down - Brian Manton

WARNING: This script contains MAJOR SPOILERS for House of Cards Season 2.

1.

Wide. The White House

2.

Wide.

Inside the oval office, Lex Luthor stands before the desk of President Frank Underwood.

President Underwood sits relaxed, legs crossed. One hand at his chin, he looks bemused as he watches an iPad.

3.

OTS view on the iPad. On the screen we see security camera footage that clearly shows the moment when Underwood pushed Zoe Barnes under a subway car.

4.

OTS of Underwood, on Luthor.

Luthor:  

I, of course, run my own personal CCTV networks in all major cities.

5.

Underwood, looking at Luthor (OP). He smiles, not at all disturbed by this development.

Underwood:  

Why Mr. Luthor, I do believe you must have a little bit of kryptonite for everyone.

6.

Same shot as 5 but Frank has turned toward the camera and speaks to the viewer/reader. He looks more serious now. Determined.

Underwood:  

There are times when it behooves you to let the other players think they have the upper hand.

Lex Luthor – Spotless - Shaun Richens

PAGE TWENTY – 8 PANELS.

Layout:

1111

2345

6677

8888

20.1

Page wide panel. Int. A highly advanced Lexcorp research lab. The lab is vast and full of all manner of strange of impressive looking equipment and test stations. The lab is empty apart from Lex. He sits at the far end of the lab, his back to us.

CAPTION LEX:

To close the whole time. How could I not have seen it.

20.2

We pull in tight on the back of Lex. He is slumped over a workstation. His hands rest on the back of his head as Lex racks his mind.

CAPTION LEX:

How he must have laughed at me? Fooling me for all these years.

20.3

Still tight on Lex from behind. He now places a sleek silver helmet on to his head. A range of different coloured wires of various shapes and sizes spill from input and output inlets on the helmet.

CAPTION LEX:

I can't live with this. Not now. Not now I know.

20.4

Looking through Lex's eyes. Down at his hands that rest over the keyboard at the workstation. We can see the same types of wires coming out of the computer. The whole scene is bathed in the artificial blue glow of a monitor.

NO COPY.

20.5

FlASHBACK PANEL. All in sepia tones. Lex is on his knees facing us, but not looking at us. His head hangs low facing the floor. One of his hands strokes a tear from his cheek. Clark Kent stands behind Lex, he wears his work suit, no glasses, his shirt half unbuttoned, we see the superman 'S'. Clark reaches out towards Lex, about to place his hand on his shoulder as a sign of comfort. Clark's face full of concern.

LEX:

This can't be true. Not you Clark.

CLARK:

We're friends Lex. Superman... me, Clark. I've never been your enemy.

20.6

Back to lex in the lab. We on tight on Lex's finger, it hoovers over the enter key on the keyboard.

CAPTION LEX:

Now I see the truth. Kal-El and Kent, one and the same.

20.7

Close up on the computer screen. A text window is displayed on screen with a 100% full progress bar.

The text window reads:

All references to Clark Kent being Superman erased.

This terminal will hard reboot in ...15 seconds.

CAPTION LEX:

I'd rather be blind again.

20.8

Lex is unconscious slumped in the chair at the workstation. Superman stands at his side. A hand resting on his shoulder.

SUPERMAN:

It's just you and me old friend.

SUPERMAN:

I'll take you home.

 

Lex Luthor - Epilogue - R.A. Wonsowski

Layout:
123
444
567

TITLE/ CAPTION across the top of the page: Ten years from now...

Panel 1 - Interior, a white hospital hallway.  CLARK KENT is being led down the corridor by DR. WOLPER (the psychiatrist from Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns).  CLARK is wearing a simple light blue Oxford shirt and khakis, and he's shyly pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he listens intently to DR. WOLPER.  WOLPER is flipping through patient charts as he walks and talks.

DR. WOLPER:  ...keeping in mind, Mr. Kent, the years spent in near-catatonia, what that does physically and psychologically to a human being...

DR. WOLPER:  ...to be frank, we were doubtful of any progress whatsoever.

Panel 2 - Same POV in the hallway, DR. WOLPER pushes open a swinging panel door.  CLARK looks about to follow him.

DR. WOLPER:  But thanks to recent advances in psychopharmacology, as well as new research in creative media therapy, I would venture that Dr. Luthor's new schedule and program has been more successful than anticipated.

Panel 3 - Mid-shot, DR. WOLPER stands in the open door, gesturing CLARK to come in the room with his clipboard. CLARK looks apprehensive.

DR. WOLPER:  As you can see, the patient is responsive to stimuli, and can feed himself with the smallest of difficulty.

Panel 4 - Background, CLARK and DR. WOLPER entering the hospital rec room.  It is empty except for, midground, LEX LUTHOR.  He is sitting on a couch, dressed in bathrobe and pajamas.  His expression should be mildly vacant as he watches the cabinet TV in the foreground.  He is feeding himself a pudding cup with a spoon with a thick masking-taped handle, gripped overhand tightly like a child would.  On his forehead are two scarred burn points, side by side, a souvenir from his last encounter with his most hated enemy, a drop of drool at the corner of his mouth.

DR. WOLPER:  A far cry from his previous vegetative state, you'd agree?

SoundFX (TV):  KICK! SMACK! NARF! DEFENESTRATE!

Panel 5-7 are from the same POV: behind the couch with TV in view. CLARK and LEX should be silhouetted by the TV.

Panel 5:  CLARK sits down next to LEX.  On TV, Pinky and the Brain are facedown on the White House lawn, stars around their heads.

NO COPY

Panel 6:  CLARK and LEX watch as Pinky and the Brain dust themselves off.

NO COPY

Panel 7:  LEX seats his head on CLARK'S shoulder.  CLARK lowers his head, unable to reciprocate.  Pinky has put his arm around the Brain as they walk toward the Washington Monument at sunset.

LEX: (small text) poit.

Lex Luthor – Elseworlds: The Super-Man – MK Stangeland Jr.

In this alternate version of the DC Universe, KAL-EL was instead adopted by a childless JULES and ARLENE LUTHOR, who named him ALEXANDER – or LEX, for short.

(7 Panels)

Panel 1: LEX LUTHOR is in the sky over METROPOLIS - here he looks like SUPERMAN but with a somewhat ‘edgier’ and more technical look to his costume, as well as a different color scheme. The costume has much more of a red, white, and blue look as part of an attempt to play up a patriotic and American theme for publicity purposes, though there’s also a touch of yellow in the costume as well that should take on some kind of gold-colored tint.

In front of LUTHOR, being held out in front of him by the throat at arms length, is GENERAL ZOD. Both LUTHOR and ZOD look like they’ve taken a major beating, but ZOD looks far worse the wear.

LUTHOR: But above all else, Zod, you’ve exposed your greatest flaw to be a failure to think intellectually beyond destruction.

Panel 2: LUTHOR flies up into the sky, pulling ZOD alongside him – he’s secretly doing this so that he can continue to speak freely with him without worry of anyone accidentally overhearing him.

LUTHOR: If only your feeble mind had thought beyond that of conquest, you might have discovered there was a way to rule these people without lording over them. The way I do.

Panel 3: LUTHOR hovers in the sky about at the fringe of Earth’s atmosphere, where he’s as far away from the surface as possible without entering the actual vacuum of outer space. He hasn’t yet brought ZOD up from dragging him along behind.

LUTHOR (1): Without having to do anything, this planet welcomed me with open arms.

LUTHOR (2): And then I built a virtual empire through Luthor Innovations.

Panel 4: LUTHOR holds ZOD in front of him so that he can look ZOD in the face.

LUTHOR (1): If that wasn’t enough, these people practically worship me for ‘selflessly’ protecting them from dangers they could never withstand on their own.

LUTHOR (2): I could ask them for nearly anything and not only would they gladly give it to me, but they would thank me for giving them the opportunity to do it.

Panel 5: LUTHOR gives ZOD a piercing look in the face.

LUTHOR (1): I rule them, Zod, by making them want me.

LUTHOR (2): By making them need me.

LUTHOR (3): And you know what the best part is?

Panel 6: LUTHOR brings up ZOD in a backswing over his head as he prepares to throw ZOD back down towards Earth.

LUTHOR: Idiots like you only help to remind them just how much they need me in their frail, feeble little lives.

Panel 7: LUTHOR throws ZOD back down towards Earth’s surface with all his might.

LUTHOR: Thank you for that, by the way.

SFX: SUPER-THROW!

(END PAGE)

Lex Luthor - The Great Equalizer - Grant McLaughlin

Background: Lex Luthor has been up to all sorts of weirdness of late, investing into seemingly random projects, making strange public statements, and generally being unlike his regular self.  Superman, being the boy scout he is, has come to LexCorp Tower (which I assume is a thing) to see what's up.  Lex looks haggard - as if he hasn't slept, shaved, or done really anything to take care of himself.  Though the two are conversing, Lex has been talking past Superman for the better part of their interaction.

Also, because I can, this verison of LexCorp Tower is filled with Greek and Roman antiquities (and imitation antiquities) - figures of mythology grace every corner and aspect of its interior.

1 - Lex and Superman walk up a large staircase flanked with roman columns.  They are at the bottom of the stairs, the panel framed so they are walking away from the reader.

LEX LUTHOR: The moment you revealed yourself to the world, man became obsolete.

2 - Similar to panel 1.  Lex is attaining the top of the stairs, with Superman just behind him.

LEX LUTHOR: No one can soar to the greatest heights when a god literally flies above their heads.

3 - Lex and Superman continue to walk.  They pass by Bernini's David (of "and Goliath" fame), which casts a partial shadow on Lex.  There can be other art, but this is the one that is important to the panel.

LEX LUTHOR: I spent years trying to find the chink in your armor that would allow me to destroy you.  To rid the world of your impossible shadow.

4 - A large door that leads to a balcony lies ahead.  Curtains obscure any view of the outside world.  Superman finally takes some action, putting a hand on Lex's shoulder and forcing him to make eye contact.  Superman looks worried.  Lex looks tired.

SUPERMAN: Lex, what are you talking about?

LEX LUTHOR: You were right.  You've always been right.  I had set myself an impossible task.

5 - Lex pulls free and continues towards the balcony.  Superman pauses for a moment, looking after him.

LEX LUTHOR: You will never be brought down to man's level.

6 - They are onto the balcony.  We are outside.  Lex looks out to the world around them (and towards the reader), smiling an evil, satisfied grin.  He could even be partially obscured by shadow if you'd like.  Superman, in the background, does likewise, finally realizing what Lex has been talking about.  Superman is shocked and perhaps a little horrified by what he sees before him.

LEX LUTHOR: Fortunately...

7 - Pull back a good ways.  Lex and Supes can still be visible on that balcony, but they are not the focus of this panel.  No, the focus is the dozens and dozens of people who are flying about through the air.  Regular citizens, they are demonstrating pretty much all the powers of Superman - flight, super strength (maybe breaking parts of buildings off), lazer vision, ice breath, and whatever else you can fit in.  It's intense, it's everywhere, and it doesn't look to be going well thus far.

CAPTION (LEX LUTHOR): I've discovered how to raise him up to yours.

Lex Luthor - Envy - Ben Rosenthal

I've decided to do something a little different this week.  A few years ago Superman was a character.  My script also starred Lex Luthor.  My writing has improved since the beginning days of the site, and as such I thought I would revisit this script to try and improve it.  It always struck me as far too much for one page. You can find the original page here.  

1.  A wide panel.  We are at street level looking up at the buildings.  A small boy looks up in amazement as people rush past him.  He is looking at a giant robot (one that you may see in the old 1950’s sci-fi movies) smashing its arms into buildings, sending debris to the ground.  What the boy cannot see is one of the robots arms has smashed the building directly above the boy, and debris is rapidly descending towards him.

2. The debris almost is hitting the ground.  However, the boy is not in the panel, and a blur of red and blue streaks from one side of the panel to the other, as if something very fast has just dashed by, and we are unable to see it.

3. On top of a building, far from the robot's destruction which we can see in the distance.  Superman is hovering in the air, speaking to the boy whom he has just dropped off on the rooftop.  

SUPERMAN

Are you ok?

4.  Superman now has his back to us as he flies in the direction of the Robot.  We see his cape, the ‘S’ symbol clearly visible.

SUPERMAN

Stay here.  I'll be back for you.

5.  We are in a darkened room, illuminated only by the thousands of television screens which plaster the only wall we can see.    From behind we can see the full body of a man, standing watching the largest of the screens.  The smaller screen show news channels from around the world.  The large screen shows the panel we were just looking at.  However, the image is coloured green and slightly pixelated.  On Superman’s left shoulder, near the “S logo”, is a bright, shining green mark.  The words “OBJECTIVE COMPLETE” are written across the top of the screen.

6.  We have a tight short of the man’s face.  It is Lex Luthor.  He has a smirk on his face.

LEX

All too easy.

Lex Luthor - Powerless - J.D. Coughlan

Lex and Superman have both been transported to a deserted alien planet. Superman's powers do not work on this world. The two grudgingly work together. Several days have passed...

Panel 1: Wide panel. Superman and Lex sit around a campfire, tiny figures in the vast, barren landscape.

SUPERMAN: Dammit, Luthor, look around you!

SUPERMAN: There's no audience here. No one for you to pander to. No one to use or manipulate. No one to sweet talk or lie to.

Panel 2: Close on Lex. He stares casually into the fire, aloof, as if not even listening.

SUPERMAN (O.P.): So why don't you just come out and admit it?

Panel 3: Close on Superman. He is angrier than we've ever seen him, at the end of his reason after the past few days, close to losing it altogether.

SUPERMAN: Because here I am, no powers, vulnerable as anyone else, and you haven't tried to kill me once! And we both know why!

Panel 4: Two-shot of both men, either side of the fire. Superman leans forward, Luthor remains nonchalant.

SUPERMAN: You need me.

SUPERMAN: Without me -- without a perceived "enemy" to defeat -- you have no inspiration.

Panel 5: Close on Luthor. He changes expression to mild annoyance.

LUTHOR: (small) The arrogance...

LUTHOR: It is not enough to kill you.

Panel 6: Closer on Superman. He is in shock at Luthor's hubris, even now. He is almost depressed by it.

LUTHOR (O.P.): You must be defeated, in every sense of the word. Your followers disillusioned, your allies broken, your enemies jubilant, your every "good deed" undone and laid bare as the deceptions they were, and your true nature exposed...

Panel 7: Very close on Luthor. There is now much anger in his face, almost like Superman's before. But a tiny, tiny hint of sadness too.

LUTHOR: Only then will you know what it is to be powerless, not as you are now...

LUTHOR: ...but as I am every day.

END OF PAGE

Why Lex Luthor?

You know how, sometimes, no matter how hard you work at something -- be it your appearance, your job, your hobby, etc. -- there's always that one guy who does it 100 times better with seemingly no effort? And while you want to be a decent human being and tell yourself that their success does not affect yours, that you can both be happy, there's a tiny part of you that hates them with the fiery passion of a thousand suns because how dare they be better than me!?

That's what it's like to be Lex Luthor, except that, for him, the tiny part is all-encompassing. As he sees it, he worked hard his whole life, building himself up from nothing with just his intellect, to bestow his greatness and benevolence on the rest of humanity, whereas Superman fell out of the sky with the powers of a god only to lord it over the world.

You see, Luthor might use his wealth, power and intelligence to benefit mankind, but he does not do so altruistically. He's like the kid who comes to school with the cool new toy and expects everyone to be his friend because of it. Luthor may see Superman as a god, but he's the one who demands worship. To Luthor, kindness without applause is meaningless. And that, more than anything else, is what makes him the opposite of Superman.

Scientist, businessman, politician -- Lex Luthor has been interpreted in many ways over the years, but truly these have merely been different weapons in the arsenal of one man with a twisted goal. A man who cannot admit, even to himself, that he may be wrong. A man who would rather be seen as a villain than share the title of hero. A man who would commit any atrocity just to gain the slightest advantage over his adversary.

And that's terrible.

ZOD – Kneel Off – MK Stangeland Jr.

(3 Panels)

Panel 1: Large panel – not splash page size, but should occupy the majority of the page.

ZOD is facing off against LOKI – a large number of LOKIs. These are illusions being created by the real one, and as such are mostly just standing around, looking intimidating, and shouting at ZOD.

ZOD, on the other hand, is attacking the illusions in an effort to get LOKI to kneel by force.

ZOD (1): KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!

LOKI ILLUSION 1: You first, you contemptuous brute.

ZOD (2): You will kneel before me!

LOKI ILLUSION 2: I’ll remember that once I have you on your knees.

Panel 2: A long-distance view of the events from PANEL 1 as being viewed through a pair of opera glasses.

ZOD: KNEEL!

SFX: *munch*munch*

LEX LUTHOR: (Off-panel) I must admit, Loki…

Panel 3: LOKI and LEX LUTHOR are in an office building, looking through the window at the scene from PANEL 1. They are sitting in high-class executive chairs and LOKI is viewing the scene through opera glasses while LEX LUTHOR is using some standard binoculars.

LOKI is busy chewing on some popcorn, but holds the bowl he’s been eating out of to the side as he offers some to LUTHOR.

LEX LUTHOR (1): …you certainly know how to entertain.

LOKI: *munch*Popcorn?*munch*

LEX LUTHOR (2): No, I’ll pass.

(END PAGE)

Krypto the Superdog – “Lex Luthor’s Vat Tuesday!” – MK Stangeland Jr.

(For the best effect, imagine this page as if it was done in a classic Silver Age art style.)

(9 Panels)

Panel 1: SUPERMAN is in the bottom of an empty chemical vat. He looks weakened from the effects of an unseen source of Kryptonite. LEX LUTHOR stands on a walkway overhead, looking as sinister as possible as he laughs in an evil fashion over the expected demise of his arch-nemesis.

TEXT BOX: Meanwhile, SUPERMAN has found himself trapped by Lex Luthor’s latest scheme!

LEX LUTHOR: Muah ha ha, Superman! This vat used to hold liquid Kryptonite! Soon, it shall also hold your dead body!

Panel 2: Panel of a weakened SUPERMAN inside the vat. He looks like he’s struggling. A music note comes from his mouth.

SUPERMAN: (Thought Balloon) He’s right! Power…failing…only hope…my super-whistling power…to call for help!

Panel 3: KRYPTO, flying through the sky, has a turned head as he reacts to the sound of SUPERMAN’s SUPER-WHISTLE.

TEXT BOX: Meanwhile, over the skies of Metropolis...

KRYPTO: ?

Panel 4: KRYPTO is seen flying towards the DAILY PLANET.

TEXT BOX: Hearing his master’s plea for help, KRYPTO the SUPERDOG flies to get assistance!

Panel 5: KRYPTO lands in front of LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSON. KRYPTO barks to let them know that SUPERMAN is in trouble.

JIMMY OLSON: It’s Superman’s dog, Krypto!

KRYPTO: Woof woof! Arf arf!

LOIS LANE: What’s that boy? Superman’s in trouble?

JIMMY OLSON: And he needs our help! Let’s go!

Panel 6: Back inside the location with LEX LUTHOR and SUPERMAN. KRYPTO bursts through the ceiling.

SFX: Bam!

KRYPTO: BARK!

LEX LUTHOR (1): Krypto!

LEX LUTHOR (2): You mangy mutt! Soon you’ll suffer the same fate of your owner!

Panel 7: LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSON are at a control panel.

TEXT BOX: While Krypto keeps Lex Luthor busy, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson free Superman!

JIMMY OLSON: We need to get Superman out of that chemical vat!

LOIS LANE: I think this should do it!

Panel 8: The chemical vat holding SUPERMAN flips on its side, allowing SUPERMAN to roll out.

SFX: Thunk!

LOIS LANE & JIMMY OLSON: SUPERMAN!

Panel 9: LOIS LANE is kneeling on the ground next to SUPERMAN, while JIMMY OLSON stands next to both of them.

SUPERMAN (1): Thank you, Lois and Jimmy! I can feel my strength returning already!

SUPERMAN (2): Now I need to help Krypto and stop Lex Luthor!

(END PAGE)

Aztek – Means, Motive, and Opportunity – MK Stangeland Jr.

(5 Panels)

AZTEK has just discovered that LEX LUTHOR is the primary means of funding behind the Q Society, isn’t too happy about it, and decides to go visit LEX himself.

PANEL 1: LEX LUTHOR is standing near a waiting Limo, and he looks particularly annoyed. UNO, AZTEK’s alter-ego, is currently standing between LEX and his limo. LEX’s aids, including the chauffeur and a bodyguard, stand nearby with their weapons drawn but not pointed at UNO, as LEX is waving for them to stand down.

LEX: Can we make this quick please, Uno? I’m a very busy man.

UNO: You know who I am?

LEX: Of course I do. But if you’re here, you already know that, don’t you?

PANEL 2: UNO stands face to face with LEX LUTHOR. LEX is completely calm and has his arms crossed in front of him.

LEX: So what’s so urgent that you had to come all the way down here without your magnificent costume or even so much as the courtesy to call ahead?

PANEL 3: UNO is pointing at LEX. LEX looks down at UNO’s finger rather than looking back at UNO, as his body language says he’s heavily disappointed in what he interprets to be UNO’s ‘childish’ behavior.

UNO: I want to know what your motivation is.

LEX: For what?

UNO: For funding the Q Society and making me who I am.

PANEL 4: LEX gently moves UNO’s finger to the side. He uses his free hand to lightly ‘dust off’ the portion of his suit that UNO was pointing at.

LEX (1): My “motivation”, as you put it, is to save the world.

LEX (2): In case you weren’t aware, we are on the same team.

PANEL 5: LEX begins to circle around UNO as he tried to get to his LIMO.

UNO: Forgive me if I don’t believe you.

LEX (1): That’s your problem, Uno.

LEX (2): Question my methods if you like, but please don’t insult me by questioning my motives.

(END PAGE)