04
[Daily Bugle , Manhattan , USA 23/04/2002]
Clark stepped through the entrance with determination, ready to face his first day at the Daily Bugle and start his career in journalism.
As he entered, he was met with the frantic hustle and bustle of the newsroom, journalists running back and forth, phones ringing, and the constant sound of computer keys clicking. The smell of fresh coffee and printer ink filled the air—in short, pure chaos.
Clark was initially stunned by all the activity. He awkwardly tried to ask for information on where he could find the person in charge of interns, but was mostly ignored.
"Excuse me, where can I... find the person in charge of interns?" he asked timidly to a journalist rushing by.
"I don't know, kid, I'm busy!" the journalist replied, not even bothering to look at Clark.
Clark tried again, approaching a woman who seemed to be an editor. "Excuse me, do you know where... where I can find the person in charge of interns?"
The woman just waved impatiently, not stopping to help. "Ask someone else, I'm in the middle of a deadline!"
After several minutes of frustrating attempts, Clark finally found the right door. He stood in front of an office with a sign that read "J.J. Jameson, Editor-in-Chief." Clark took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
'Calm down, Clark, you can do this. Just take a deep breath and go in. This is just the first step. You've been through tougher things.'
Clark put his hand on the doorknob, hesitated for a second, but then opened the door. He was immediately greeted by two people in the middle of a heated discussion.
Inside the office, a middle-aged man with a mustache, thinning gray hair, and a rumpled suit was gesticulating wildly while yelling at a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, with well-kept dark hair and a confident posture.
"I already told you, drop this Lex Luthor case! No one cares about these 'supposed' accusations of a missing employee! I want a story on the new Stark Industries exhibit!" the man shouted, his voice echoing through the office.
The woman didn't seem intimidated at all. "Boss, I'm getting close to something big. Luthor is up to his neck in this. The truth needs to come out," she replied seriously.
With a touch of sarcasm, she continued, "Or do you think the city needs to know more about Stark's new toys?"
The man huffed, turning to Clark without lowering his volume. "And who the hell are you?! What are you doing just standing there? Get in or get out, but don't stand in the way!!"
Clark, intimidated but trying not to make a bad first impression, introduced himself awkwardly. "I-I'm Clark Kent. The new intern."
The woman let out a laugh. "Really? Where did you get that outfit, from the 50s?"
Clark blushed and nervously adjusted his glasses. "I... just thought it would be appropriate for the first day."
"Betty!!!" Jameson yelled, still irritated. A young woman with a good-natured smile appeared at the door. "Where's Robbie? Wasn't he supposed to be looking after the new kid?"
Betty calmly replied, "Robbie had a family emergency, sir. He'll be out for the rest of the day."
Jameson huffed again. "Dammit! Alright, you can go, Betty." She waved cheerfully and left.
Jameson suddenly stopped and thought, a wicked smile forming on his face. Lois, suspicious, asked, "What is it now, boss?"
Jameson turned to Clark. "Lois, this is Clark Kent. He's your problem now."
"Wait, what?!" Lois tried to protest, but Jameson didn't give her a chance.
"You're going to take care of the kid until Robbie gets back. And to start, take him to cover the Stark Industries exhibit on their new missile system."
Lois looked at Clark, clearly frustrated. "Alright, come on, rookie. Looks like I'm going to be your babysitter for now."
Clark just nodded, still trying to process everything. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."
Jameson yelled back, "You'd better not, kid! Now get out of my office and bring me a good story!"
Clark and Lois left the office, with Lois still huffing in frustration and Clark trying not to feel completely intimidated. He gave one last look back before following Lois.
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Lois guided Clark through the building, her tone impatient and irritable. "So, listen up, rookie. I'm going to explain how things work around here. And pay attention, because I'm not going to repeat myself."
As they walked, Lois pointed out different areas. "Over there is where the political editors are. They're always arguing about something. And those desks over there, that's the sports section. Don't mess with them if you don't know the difference between a touchdown and a home run."
She continued. "The reporters' offices are divided by topics. Technology, economy, entertainment, and so on. The most important stories are in the conference room, and that's where Jameson decides what goes on the front page."
Clark tried to keep up, absorbing every detail. "And the coffee... the coffee is terrible. But it's what we've got, so get used to it. You're going to need a lot of coffee to get through the days here."
They kept walking, passing through a busy hallway. Lois opened a door leading to the parking lot. She took Clark to a car, a red Mercedes-Benz SLK. "This is my car. Not too shabby, right?"
Clark admired the car. "It's impressive."
Lois smiled but kept her sarcastic tone. "So, Kent, think you can handle the pressure? Because if not, you'd better go back to Kansas or wherever you're from."
Clark smiled, a bit flushed, and took a good look at Lois.
She was an attractive woman, with long, shiny black hair falling smoothly over her shoulders. Her clear blue eyes contrasted with her dark hair, giving her a sharp and confident look.
She wore an immaculate white blouse and a black pencil skirt that highlighted her slender figure.
Her high heels, paired with an elegant black leather handbag, completed her look. Her natural beauty was undeniable, but it was her determined and assertive attitude that really caught his attention.
Clark tried to keep his composure and said, "I'm from Smallville."
Lois laughed, a clear and somewhat mocking laugh. "Haha! Smallville? Really? I can't believe they had the nerve to name a town that. Come on, get in the car."
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They got into Lois's red Mercedes-Benz SLK, and she quickly accelerated through the streets of Manhattan. However, it didn't take long for them to get stuck in the typical city traffic.
"Ah, damn! This traffic kills me," complains Lois, hitting the steering wheel. "Jameson is a nightmare. He yells all the time, never satisfied... But despite all that, the guy is good at his job. He has a journalistic history that few can match. I just wish he'd stop sending me to cover pointless exhibitions."
"You seem to admire him," Clark comments, noticing how Lois talks about him.
Lois laughs and shakes her head. "Admire? Not exactly. Jameson is the kind of guy who works best under pressure, but he needs new blood around to kick his ass on a hot story."
She sighs before continuing. "The journalists I really admire are the ones who made a difference. Like Ben Urich. He had the guts to expose corruption and crimes that no one else would touch. And Robbie Robertson, the guy has an integrity and work ethic that's hard to find. They covered incredible events, but always kept it grounded. Serious, straightforward journalism."
Clark listens intently. Lois didn't seem like just any reporter; it increasingly seemed like she really cared about and respected her work.
"So, Smallville boy," says Lois, looking at Clark with a slight smile. "Think you can handle the pressure of working at the Daily Bugle? This is the real battleground."
Clark looks at her for a moment.
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Cast:
Rachel Brosnahan: Betty Brant
J.K. Simmons: J.J Jameson
Emma Mackey: Lois Lane
The reception was positive, so I'll keep her for now. Leave your comments on whether I should include the Mutants and the Fantastic Four.