- The Parasite: You want me to go into this guy's mind and try to find out where the bomb is. No skin off my nose. But I want something in return.
- Superman: What's that?
- The Parasite: Something to help the time go faster in this dump... And not a bunch of boring books either. I want cable *and* the premium channels.
- Superman: Twenty minutes left.
- Maggie Sawyer: He'll call.
- [her landline rings]
- Maggie Sawyer: Yes?
- Dr. Earl Garver: This isn't a game of chicken anymore, Ms. Sawyer. I still want the money. 50 million in unsigned bearer bonds, understand?
- Maggie Sawyer: So far.
- Dr. Earl Garver: There's just one modification. I want Superman to bring it to me, and I want him to come alone. Agreed?
- Superman: Agreed.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Very good, Superman. Go to the old subway extension. Enter by way of the northside station. I'll be waiting.
- Superman: Where's the bomb, Garver?
- Dr. Earl Garver: Wherever it is, it's already ticking and concealed in lead. So the real question is, where's my money?
- Superman: I don't play those games.
- Professor Emile Hamilton: I think I understand how you feel, Superman. If it had happened to me, I'd be leery, too.
- Superman: That's not it. What you want to do could be more dangerous than a dozen bombs.
- Maggie Sawyer: We'll take every possible precaution.
- [they look into Parasite's cell]
- Maggie Sawyer: But right now, he's our only hope.
- Rudy Jones: You're just wasting your time with that. I mean our time.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Perhaps if we worked together, Rudy. You know, double the will, double the strength. A partnership.
- Rudy Jones: Wouldn't work, Professor. In a couple hours, you'll be gone like a bad headache. That's the way it is with the Parasite. I can't keep what I take.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Don't be so short-sighted. Suppose I could find a way for the Parasite to retain the power it takes forever?
- Rudy Jones: Yeah, and what if pigs could fly?
- Dr. Earl Garver: I'm serious. I can help you, but you have to help me, too. Come on. This could be your last chance for freedom and power. But maybe you'd prefer your cable television.
- Superman: Inspector Sawyer, Professor Hamilton.
- Maggie Sawyer: Perfect timing. The man inside's Earl Garver. Used to work at S.T.A.R. Labs.
- Professor Emile Hamilton: Until he stole a radioactive isotope from us.
- Maggie Sawyer: [showing Superman the ransom note] He sent this to the mayor today. He says used the isotope to make a bomb, and he'll detonate it if we don't pay by tonight.
- Professor Emile Hamilton: It could take out a square mile of the city.
- Superman: Let me see if I can change his mind.
- Superman: The longer this goes on, the weaker you'll get.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Then perhaps we should call an end to the stalemate.
- Rudy Jones: [he re-arms the bomb timer] What are you doing?
- Dr. Earl Garver: Two minutes. That's all you've got. Now come over here and hold out your hand like a good boy.
- Superman: Shut it off. You'll be killed, too.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Will I? My real body's miles north of here resting peacefully in an ambulance.
- Superman: Hear that, Rudy? He's willing to sacrifice you.
- Dr. Earl Garver: It'll never come to that.
- Superman: He's already taken control of your body, Rudy. What do you think he's going to do with your mind?
- Rudy Jones: You gonna crowd me out, Garver? Is that where this is going?
- Dr. Earl Garver: Rudy, you're a loser without me. It's this or the cell.
- Rudy Jones: Some choice.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Rudy, what are you...
- Superman: [Parasite shouts in pain and holds his head] Fight him, Rudy.
- [going to disarm the bomb]
- Superman: He's changed the code. Rudy?
- Dr. Earl Garver: Cat's got his tongue.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Welcome, Superman. If you're trying to use your x-ray vision, you'll find the rock impossibly marbled with lead. Now go up the tracks and follow the "Y" to the right.
- [Superman follows his instructions]
- Dr. Earl Garver: You'll find a pit. It's the reason they stopped construction. It's so deep, I doubt whether even you could see the bottom. Now if you look to your left... you'll see an exit sign. Deposit the bonds there and proceed to the center of the chamber, where you'll find my little toy.
- [Superman finds a bomb counting down]
- Dr. Earl Garver: Hit the following keys: 3-5-9-1, then "enter."
- [Superman does so and the bomb disarms; after a moment, Parasite's arm bursts up through the dirt and grabs his wrist]
- Dr. Earl Garver: Did you really think I'd settle for money when I could have your power, too?
- [blocking a steel-beam blow]
- Dr. Earl Garver: You see? I've already gotten some of it; but only a first course.
- [after a brief exchange and getting the upper hand]
- Dr. Earl Garver: [straining] Time... for the entree.
- Maggie Sawyer: Did he say anything, Doctor?
- Doctor: It's a severe concussion. He'll be unconscious for the next day or two.
- Maggie Sawyer: The bomb goes off in four hours.
- Superman: Even I couldn't search the city in that time.
- Professor Emile Hamilton: If I might make a suggestion, there's someone who might be able to tell us exactly where that bomb is.
- The Parasite: Why should I help you? You're the one who put me here.
- Superman: Rudy, the whole city's in trouble.
- The Parasite: Tell somebody who cares.
- Maggie Sawyer: The bomb could blow up a huge area of Metropolis. What if that includes Stryker's Island?
- The Parasite: What if it does? Think I'd miss this life of mine? These four stinking walls?
- Maggie Sawyer: Rudy, can you hear me? Did you find out where the bomb is?
- Dr. Earl Garver: I know where it is, all right, but you still have to pay.
- Maggie Sawyer: [taken aback] Sounds like Garver.
- Professor Emile Hamilton: Rudy?
- Dr. Earl Garver: Sorry, Emil, I've put Rudy on the back burner. You're cooking with Earl now.
- Maggie Sawyer: What's happening?
- Professor Emile Hamilton: The Parasite has somehow taken Garver's consciousness, not just his memories.
- Maggie Sawyer: How?
- Professor Emile Hamilton: Garver's intellect, his ego, his force of personality; it all must have combined to overwhelm...
- Dr. Earl Garver: What's it going to be?
- Superman: You're still stuck here, Garver, and you don't even know what hospital you're in. If that bomb goes off there's a good chance you'll go with it.
- [indicating Garver's physical body]
- Superman: Both of you.
- Rudy Jones: Come on, man, what are you waiting for? They got you. Cooperate, and they'll treat you real good.
- Superman: You'll never get away, Garver.
- Dr. Earl Garver: Ah, the best-laid plans...
- Maggie Sawyer: Guess he thought nobody'd stumble across his bomb down here.
- Superman: There's the wreck.
- Maggie Sawyer: Once you find the sucker, I can disarm it.
- [he uses his x-ray vision to look inside]
- Maggie Sawyer: See anything?
- Superman: No, there's too much debris. We'll have to go in.
- Maggie Sawyer: [as he pulls a door off, the debris rumbles] Let's make this a short visit.
- Maggie Sawyer: [searching for Garver's bomb in a submerged shipwreck] It's not here. He's playing games with us.
- Superman: No, he's buying time. We'd better get back.