MAN OF STEEL II: BRAINIAC

Written By

John-Patrick Gillespie

Reddit: u/Littleyellowfish1
THE COMPANY LOGOS – DEEP SPACE

A black screen. After a few seconds, slow but suspenseful

music plays as the screen fades, revealing a sea of stars
in deep space. The WB, LEGENDARY and DC logos float past
the screen one by one, all of them cast in steel.
DEEP SPACE PROLOGUE

The eerie score continues to play as the camera pans

upwards through the stars, revealing a white planet in the
centre of the frame. The music swells as familiar
silhouette of BRAINIAC’S SHIP slowly floats into center-
frame in front of the planet, creating a visual like that
of an eclipse. As the ship floats in, the score slowly
grows louder and swells into a dramatic, Michael Giacchino-
type melody that is played on a full synth orchestra. It
swells louder as the ship begins to emerge into the light
and the slowly pans towards the interior of the ship.
BRAINIAC’S SHIP - INT
The camera goes into the main deck of the ship, where a
shadowed figure, identifiably by the glowing implants in
his head as BRAINIAC, sits on a throne, observing the
planet through the large screen in front of him.
BRAINIAC
Processing intel… 95% complete… 100%
complete… life forms present… 0 life forms
detected… collection and neutralization in
progress...
The circular pods on the exterior of the ship slowly
rotate, firing hundreds of BRAINIAC DRONES that fly towards
the planet. They penetrate the white landscape and shoot
straight through the ground to the planet’s core. The
camera cuts to BRANIAC watching straight-faced as the rocky
exterior of the planet begins to crack before it completely
implodes, the sounds of the planet’s destruction being
faintly heard through the glass. BRAINIAC moves his face
into the light, revealing it to the camera as he opens his
eyes, which are glowing a bright blue.
BRAINIAC
All Intel collected… planet neutralized…
set a course for Earth, immediately…

2
BRAINIAC’S SHIP - EXT

The camera cuts to the outside of the ship floating away

from the scene, while the rubble of the white planet
remains floating in space. As BRAINIAC activates the ship’s
hyperdrive, it rapidly shoots off into space and the screen
cuts to black, revealing the title:
MAN OF STEEL: BRAINIAC
THE APARTMENT – BATHROOM

The black screen is cut away from with the sound of a light
switch, showing CLARK looking at himself in the bathroom
mirror as he shaves, with his Piano Theme playing in the
background. He is shirtless and only wearing lounge pants
with a small towel over his shoulder. The window in the
corner shows that it is only first light, and the sun is
not fully risen yet. After patting his face with the towel,
he checks in the mirror and moves his hand across his face
to make sure he didn’t miss any stubble.
THE APARTMENT – BEDROOM

CLARK is shown standing next to the bed where LOIS is

sleeping, looking in the mirror as he fastens his tie and
puts on his glasses. He glances to the corner of the
mirror, seeing the reflection of the bed where LOIS is
still asleep. He walks over to the bed, bends down and
kisses her. She chuckles with her eyes still closed.
LOIS
Hmm… morning…
CLARK
To you too… so, Lois, I uh… I called Perry
and said you weren’t feeling good today.
I’m gonna cover your shift for you.
LOIS
Oh, come on, Clark. You don’t have to d…
CLARK
There is no way I’m letting you go into
work today. You tired yourself out with
this Wayne thing… I’m not letting you kill
yourself over this, Lois…

3
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM

CLARK grabs his suitcase and coat as he goes to the front

door. He waves to LOIS as she gets herself some coffee.
CLARK
I’ll see you tonight… love you…
LOIS
Love you more!
CLARK closes the door and leaves as LOIS sits on the couch
and turns the TV on. The reporter’s voice can be heard.
REPORTER (OFFSCREEN)
…and join us at nine, where I’ll be
talking to the new Lexcorp CEO, Eve
Teschmacher. She’ll be talking about
Lexcorp’s latest advancements in
prosthetic limbs and the new clean energy
reactor that will be unveiled shortly.
DAILY PLANET
CLARK sits at his desk, typing up a report on the computer.
The screen is shown to the camera, showing a photograph of
BRUCE WAYNE on a podium under the headline:
Pulitzer Prize Winning Reporter Foils
Billionaire Conspiracy
PERRY walks over with a handful of papers.
PERRY
Clark, are you nearly finished with that
Wayne report?
CLARK
Yeah. I’m just adding the final touches.
PERRY
Great. I got another urgent news flash for
you to work on. Those two British
terrorists broke out of Blackgate today…
you know, the Black siblings?

4
DAILY PLANET (CONT’D)

CLARK groans as he leans back on his chair.

CLARK
Ah, man…
PERRY
Had a feeling you’d react that way. It
probably won’t be long until they put some
crap on all the TVs a…
BAM! All the electricity goes out in the building as
everyone looks up with a jolt. PERRY flicks the light
switch besides him up and down, but nothing happens.
PERRY
See? What’d I tell you guys?
The computer and television screens then all switch on, all
of them showing MANCHESTER sitting in front of a white
screen. CLARK looks to his computer without much of a
reaction.
MANCHESTER
Hello again, people of Metropolis. I
understand this has been quite a frequent
occurrence over the last couple of years.
And you know of course that I would be
Manchester Black…
CLARK sighs, picking up his jacket and leaving. PERRY
notices him leave but ignores him. The camera cuts to the
screen, which has a close-up of MANCHESTER’s face.
MANCHESTER (CONT’D)
My demands are very simple, and very
familiar, especially to you, Superman.
Meet Vera and me on the top of the
Metropolis 1 building, so we can have a
little chat. Seeing that you're obviously
listening, you've got about two minutes to
get 'ere before our mates start shooting
our hostages. Tick tock, Man of Steel…
The screen cuts off as PERRY groans in annoyance.

5
DAILY PLANET (CONT’D)

The camera then cuts to CLARK running down an empty

hallway, centre-shot. The DCEU Superman Theme plays on an
electric guitar as he runs towards the camera, which zooms
in as he opens his shirt to reveal the House of El
insignia. The music stops as the camera cuts away.
METROPOLIS 1 BUILDING - ROOF

VERA and MANCHESTER are sitting on the roof of the

building, waiting for CLARK to arrive. MANCHESTER is shown
eating a round, red apple while VERA is playing Candy Crush
on her phone.
VERA
Are you sure he’ll even show up this time?
Surely, he’s figured out by now that
you’ll never take actual hostages…
MANCHESTER
Argh! Shut up, Moaning Minnie!
He throws the half-eaten apple at VERA, only for her to
duck quickly as it flies over her head and off the
building. He pulls out a cigarette as VERA turns back to
her phone. A booming version of the DCEU Superman theme
begins to play as the sound of a flapping cape is heard.
CLARK (OFFSCREEN)
You know, it'd be a lot easier for the
garbage collectors of this city if you
didn't litter so much.
The booming version of the theme reaches its climax with a
subtle hint of the John Williams Superman Fanfare as the
camera pans behind MANCHESTER to reveal CLARK, as Superman,
floating just above the building with the apple in his
hand. The music fades as MANCHESTER grins.
MANCHESTER
Well… ‘Ello, Superman!
VERA
You’re looking well, for…

6
METROPOLIS 1 BUILDING – ROOF (CONT’D)

CLARK
…“for someone who died four years ago”…
yeah, you’ve said that one before... so…
how did you guys get out this time?
MANCHESTER
There’s not a prison on Earth that we
can’t break out of… surely, you’d know
that by now, Supes…
VERA runs through the door into the building as CLARK and
MANCHESTER continue to talk.
MANCHESTER (CONT’D)
That’s why we’re stuck in this little war…
you and us…
CLARK
Right… here's what's gonna happen...
You're gonna release the hostages that I
know you don’t have… then you’ll hand
yourself over to the police… Just like it
always goes.
MANCHESTER grins.
MANCHESTER
I don’t think so… see, Superman. Before we
got here, we had to make a quick pit stop
down at Star Labs…
METROPOLIS 1 BUILDING – LOADING GARAGE

The garage door suddenly opens with the ear-piercing sound

of screeching tyres as a large, black armored truck drives
out of the garage and into the streets.
METROPOLIS 1 BUILDING - ROOF

CLARK looks down to see the truck ploughing down the

street, before turning to scowl at MANCHESTER.
MANCHESTER
Better get moving, Super-snail…

7
ARMOURED VAN – DRIVER’S CAB

VERA cackles insanely as she puts her foot on the gas and
continues to accelerate, pressing a button on the front
desk.
ARMOURED VAN – LEAD TRAILER - INT
The button VERA pressed causes a large case in the trailer
to automatically open up, revealing several vials of
liquid. A robotic voice speaks on loop.
AI (LOOPED)
Caution… Plutonium is a pyrophoric
substance…
THE NEARBY STREET

A young GIRL sits on the front step of her house, holding

her pet cat. The loud sound of the truck’s tires screeching
is heard as the truck turns onto the street. The noise
prompts the cat to scurry up the tree next to the door.
GIRL
Britney? Britney, come down from there!
As the truck turns, its trailer swerves to the side,
heading straight down the pavement towards the GIRL.
Williams Superman March plays suddenly as CLARK jumps down
in front of her, whisking her off the ground and kicking
the edge of the trailer, allowing it to straighten with the
truck again. He leaves the girl on her windowsill as her
FATHER opens the window.
CLARK
You guys stay inside… I’ll be back in a
minute…
CLARK flies after the truck as the FATHER waves.
FATHER
God’s speed, Superman!
THE BRIDGE

VERA’S truck heads onto the bridge, ramming several cars

and knocking into the back of a school bus. The children
all panic.

8
THE BRIDGE (CONT’D)

KID
Oh my God!
The BUS DRIVER struggles to keep the vehicle straight as it
rams into the edge of the bridge, allowing the screaming
children inside to see the long drop waiting below them.
BUS DRIVER
Somebody get these kids out of here!
VERA weakly climbs out of the truck as the police arrive.
VERA
Oh, bugger…
VERA puts her hands up as the police surround her. One of
the officers goes to the back door of the truck and opens
it. The contact with air causes one of the plutonium vials
to explode, destroying a section of the bridge as everyone
stands back. The truck falls off of the bridge and the
school bus begins to fall with it as the children and the
driver all cry out for help.
SCHOOL BUS - INT

The truck can be seen out the window, landing in the water
as the bus falls off the edge. The bus swivels as it
plummets down with everyone on it screaming. The bus
suddenly stops before it hits the water. The children are
confused at first, but one of them turns towards the back
window as the DCEU Superman Theme begins to play. The other
children look and turn as well.
KIDS
Superman!
SCHOOL BUS - EXT
The music swells as CLARK is shown beneath the bus, holding
it up out of the water. He smiles at the children inside,
while the civilians on the bridge cheer loudly as he brings
the bus back and puts it down on its tires.
THE BRIDGE
CLARK stands outside the bus as the children get off.

9
THE BRIDGE (CONT’D)

CLARK
I hope this doesn’t put you kids off
public transportation. Can be a real… life
saver, if you don’t mind the pun…
The BUS DRIVER gets off after the children.
BUS DRIVER
Thanks, Superman… you probably hear this a
lot, but… it’s great to have you around…
CLARK nods humbly as his Piano Theme plays briefly.
CLARK
It’s great to be around…
MANCHESTER and VERA are shown being forced into a police
car with CLARK standing next to it, talking to OFFICER 1
and OFFICER 2.
OFFICER 1
Thanks for taking care of these guys
again, Superman…
CLARK
My pleasure… you can take it from here?
OFFICER 2
Sure thing. We’ve contacted Blackgate to
let them know these two are being rehoused
again.
CLARK
Excellent. I’ll see you guys the next time
there’s trouble to fix, then…
The John Williams Fanfare plays in a triumphant tone as
CLARK takes off into the sky, with the civilians on the
bridge cheering.
THE NEARBY STREET
The GIRL and her FATHER are still calling to their cat.

10
THE NEARBY STREET (CONT’D)

GIRL
Come on, Britney… come here… Britney…
CLARK’s Piano Theme begins to play as the GIRL groans,
before her eyes widen with joy as she sees CLARK levitating
down to the tree.
CLARK
I told you I’d be back…
He goes to where the cat in, holding his hands out to her.
CLARK
It’s okay, Britney… come on… nothing to be
afraid of…
After a brief moment of hesitation, the cat jumps off the
branch and into CLARK’s arms. He brings the cat up to the
girl’s windowsill and she puts the cat inside, before
throwing her arms around Superman’s neck in a tight
embrace. He smiles at her, before flying away full speed.
GIRL
Thank you, Superman!
The DCEU Superman Theme plays in full as CLARK flies into
the sky, with a hint of Williams’ Fanfare near the end as
he goes out of frame.
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM
LOIS is watching the news as the REPORTER checks their
earpiece. She drinks from a cup of coffee as she watches.
REPORTER (OFFSCREEN)
….and we've just received a report that
Superman has detained Manchester and Vera
Black, and we are able to continue this
morning’s scheduled broadcast. I'm here
today speaking to Eve Teschmacher, current
CEO of Lexcorp Industries. Hello Eve, how
are you this morning?
LOIS audibly scoffs at the mention of EVE’s name.

11
TV – BREAKFAST NEWS

The camera pans to EVE, who is sitting on the couch

opposite the REPORTER. She’s British, has dark blonde hair
and is stylishly dressed in contemporary yet expensive
white clothes. Her left arm is a green and silver
mechanical prosthetic, with the Lexcorp logo being visibly
emblazoned on the bicep.
EVE
I'm doing very good, thank you. Well, as
good as you can be when you have only one
arm…
The offscreen audience laugh uncomfortably as she says
this. The REPORTER is also a bit uneasy.
REPORTER
So… Eve, why don't you tell us about
yourself? When you were announced as
Lexcorp's CEO this January, the same
question was on everyone's mind: who is
the woman in charge of the new and
improved Lexcorp?
EVE
Well, it all started in London back in
2010 when I joined the Armed Forces… you
see, I was the head of my unit's
Explosives Diffusion team, and I was
discharged with a Victoria Cross in 2013
for my work in Afghanistan.
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM
LOIS rolls her eyes as a picture of a two-armed EVE in a
Royal Marines uniform is shown on the TV.
LOIS
Oh, for God’s sake…
EVE (OFFSCREEN)
About two months after that, I was
employed by Lex Luthor as the Head of
Lexcorp's detection and experimentation
division.

12
TV – BREAKFAST NEWS

REPORTER
Forgive my asking, Miss Teschmacher, but
were you already, uh... you know...
injured... by this point?
EVE stays silent for a moment, before glancing to her
prosthetic.
EVE
Oh! The arm, you mean? Um… no, I wasn’t…
in late 2015, a few months before he went
to prison, I was sent to investigate a
reported UFO that had landed in Alaska.
When my team and I went to see what it
was, it went off and the whole cavern
nearly collapsed.
REPORTER
My God…
EVE
Yes… see, my arm was cut to the bone with
an unusual shrapnel and had to be
amputated… but I suppose, with the rest of
my team being killed, I was the lucky one,
eh?
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM
EVE and the REPORTER continue to talk offscreen. LOIS looks
up as CLARK knocks on the door.
CLARK
Lois? You home?
LOIS
Yeah, just a second…
She doesn’t take her eye off the screen and lets CLARK in.
He is partway through changing out of his outfit, holding
the Kryptonian suit in one arm and his vest and shoes in
the other, wearing only a shirt and trousers as he walks
in. He turns to see the TV as the interview continues.

13
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM (CONT’D)

LOIS
I’m getting changed now, Clark. You want
some coffee?
CLARK
Uh, no thanks, I’ll be okay…
TV – BREAKFAST NEWS

EVE stands up as the stage lights go down, casting the

screen in darkness and shining a green spotlight on her.
REPORTER
So, Miss Teschmacher, what exactly is this
special project that Lexcorp is unveiling?
Whimsical yet exhilarating music plays as the screen behind
EVE shows a dramatic slideshow of the Lexcorp logo.
EVE
Lexcorp has made it their eternal goal to
continue pushing the boundaries of science
for the betterment of society. And what
we've been working on since my promotion
to CEO will revolutionize the world of
energy and biofuels.
The screen shows a large, green sphere, the music swelling
as the Lexcorp logo is shown emblazoned on the sphere. EVE
grins smugly as the audience gasp in excitement.
EVE
this is the Lexcorp BR-1 Generator… This
extremely powerful device utilizes
synthetic resources to create self-
sustaining, clean energy that will provide
power to Lexcorp Tower… the city of
Metropolis… and, perhaps one day, the
entire Western Hemisphere! …our research
has proven that the renewable power
generated by the BR-1 will last longer
than any average human born in the next
150 years!

14
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM

CLARK and LOIS are both changed into their regular clothes,
watching the screen with mild interest as EVE continues
speaking.
EVE (OFFSCREEN)
…it will become to electricity what the
telephone was to communication. The BR-1
has taken the past three years to develop
and build, and we will be officially
unveiling it to the public in a week’s
time.
TV – BREAKFAST NEWS

EVE stands in front of the Lexcorp logo with her arms out.
EVE
Yesterday, the topic of energy usage was
destined to wage on forever, but today at
Lexcorp, we firmly stand by the belief
that going green is the way of the future!
The lights come back on and the music stops.
REPORTER
Miss Eve Teschmacher, everybody!
The crowd erupts into applause as LOIS switches off the TV.
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM

CLARK’s Piano Theme plays as he smiles at LOIS.

CLARK
You ready to go?
LOIS
Uh… yeah. Yeah, I’m ready… let’s go…
CLARK puts the Superman suit on a hanger and hangs it in
the closet. He turns to LOIS.
CLARK
I doubt Black’s gonna break out again…

15
THE APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM (CONT’D)

LOIS
Yeah… I don’t think so, Clark…
CLARK opens the door for LOIS with a grin on his face. He
speaks with a British accent to mimic EVE.
CLARK
This way to the future, Miss Lane…
LOIS laughs as she walks out the door with CLARK following.
LOIS
I’m liking the British accent… you should
use it more often…
LEXCORP PRIVATE ASYLUM

The sudden intrusion of LEX’s sinister Piano Motif makes

the scene transition to a long hallway, lit by a line of
dim, green lights that hang from the ceiling. The GUARD is
walking down the hallway with JONES walking behind him.
JONES is dressed in a fine black suit with a white shirt, a
black tie with a black fedora. The GUARD speaks as they
walk down the hallway to LEX’s cell.
GUARD
Miss Teschmacher decided that Arkham
Asylum was providing inadequate care for
Mr Luthor. She had him moved here for his
own mental stability.
JONES
And I suppose the most legal action was a
prison break, then...
GUARD
Miss Teschmacher prefers the term
confidential transfer… We’re here…
The music fades as they stop in front of the door at the
end of the hallway. He calmly unlocks the door as JONES
removes his fedora and checks his watch. The GUARD turns
back to face JONES.

16
LEXCORP PRIVATE ASYLUM

GUARD
This interrogation will last five minutes…
JONES
This won’t take too long…
LEX’S CELL - INT

LEX’s Piano Motif returns in a faster tone as the GUARD

opens the door, revealing LEX sitting in front of a glass
table with a finely sculpted mahogany chess set assembled
on it. He is on the black-colored side and there is a chair
on the opposite end of the table in front of the white-
colored side, where JONES walks over and sits silently. LEX
looks down at the chessboard in silence for five seconds,
only to suddenly look up as the music is abruptly cut off
with a scare chord. He has a smug, disturbing grin on his
face. JONES is unnerved but clears his throat as the GUARD
closes the door.
JONES
I trust you’re enjoying your game, Mr.
Luthor…
LEX chuckles. He speaks in a more stoic and intimidating
tone, not like the jittery, unstable maniac he was before.
LEX
Well, it’s pretty good… but, as you can
see, my… opponent… is yet to make his
move.
A single A-Note is played on the piano as JONES looks down
to see the positions of the black pieces on LEX's side of
the board. The pawn diagonal to his queen has been moved
forward two spaces and the knight on the king's side has
been moved forward to become aligned with its rook.
JONES
Reluctant as I am to distract you from
your amusement, I'm afraid that I need ask
you a few questions… please, allow me to
introduce myself. My name is John Jones,
and I am an independent Private Detective.

17
LEX’S CELL – INT (CONT’D)

LEX grins and leans back in his chair.

LEX
By all means, then… ask away…
JONES
Through my investigations of your company,
I have heard rumors that you have been
secretly ordering the detection and
capture of young metahumans and keeping
them in inadequate living conditions.
Specifically, animal-testing laboratories.
LEX speaks in a sarcastic tone that implies that he is
obviously lying.
LEX
I've no idea what you're talking about...
My good friend, Eve Teschmacher has been
the CEO of Lexcorp since my detainment…
but... in my honest opinion, the
conditions you're describing only sound
inadequate... for real humans.
JONES
Well, everyone is entitled to their own
opinion... but the question is… how am I
to know for certain that Miss
Teschmacher's leadership of your company
is not merely a public facade used to
cover up your inhumane actions? The ones
committed both on and off this world…
LEX holds his King in his hand and scoffs.
LEX
Well... I'm guessing you're a little more
familiar with some of my off-world
workings, aren't you, Mr. Jones… but I
suppose it's all for naught, seeing that
Eve has swiftly taken my father's company
into the age of clean energy now. As she
said, going green is the way of the
future, no?

18
LEX’S CELL – INT (CONT’D)

JONES
I wouldn’t be too sure of that. I think
the color’s been in my family for much
longer than it has yours…
JONES eyes briefly flash red, which prompts LEX to suddenly
jolt in pain as his mind is read in mere seconds. JONES’
eyes then return to their “natural” colour as LEX puts his
hand to his own forehead.
LEX
Ugh… Jesus…
JONES
It appears I have what I need. Thank you
for your time, Mr. Luthor…
LEX
Don’t mention it… now, if you don’t mind,
I’d like to get back to my game…
JONES puts on his fedora and stands up.
JONES
Of course… but I must warn you, sir…
you’re not as many steps ahead as you
think you are…
JONES chuckles, picking up the pawn in front of the queen
and moving it forward two spaces. Luthor glares at him
silently, keeping eye contact as JONES walks to the cell
door and leaves, the GUARD closing it behind him. LEX looks
at the chessboard.
LEX
That wasn’t a good move…
A single A-Note plays as he grabs his queen, moving it
diagonally across the board until it reaches the side,
putting the white king in check. He grins as he reaches
into his pocket, taking out a phone and dialing it as he
awaits an answer. After a few seconds, EVE’s voice can be
hard on the other end of the phone.

19
LEX’S CELL – INT (CONT’D)

EVE (OFFSCREEN)
Yes, Lex. What is it, dear?
LEX
He's just left, Eve… and he's taking the
bait. Bring the boat around, will you?
EVE hangs up, and LEX grins at the chessboard.
LEX
Your move, Mr. Kent…
LEX gets up and follows the GUARD out of the cell. The
camera focuses on the chessboard for a few seconds before
the A-Note strikes again as a transition to the next scene.

20