The camera circles the room slowly, passing over dolls, sculptures, and wall posters. The camera then shows that Linda is examining her possessions with an expression of wonder. She is wearing her pajamas.

Linda reaches out and touches some of the dolls and sculptures. The camera focuses on one sculpture in particular, one of Supergirl. Linda reaches behind that sculpture and picks up a different one. This sculpture is of an angel, and it has a ribbon with the number #1 written on it. Linda smiles at this winning sculpture and replaces it in the spot the Supergirl sculpture had.

Linda stretches and takes one last look out of her bedroom window before bed. She sees a small figure climbing out of her neighbor's window and onto a ledge.

The child, a girl about eight years old, is slowly making her way to a tree branch right in back of her house. A cat is sitting on the branch.

“Binky.” the little girl whispers to the cat. “C'mere, Binky.”

The child reaches for the branch, only to slip and fall off of the ledge.

A pair of arms catches her, and she looks up to see that Supergirl is holding her.

“Supergirl!”

Supergirl puts the child on the ground. “And what do you think your doing out so far past your bed-time?” she asks semi-sternly.

The girl points at the tree. “I left my window open and Binky climbed out.”

Supergirl looks up. “Binky?”

“My kitty.”

Supergirl spots the cat and floats up to the branch. “Here, Binky.” she says softly. Gently, she scoops the cat into her arm.

Supergirl floats down, and the girl is thrilled to have her cat back. “Binky!” She hugs the cat, which meows at her.

Supergirl flies them up to the window and puts them in the girl's room.

“Thanks, Supergirl.” the girl says while still holding Binky. “You won't tell my parents about this, will you?”

“Fine. But only if you promise not to go climbing out of any more windows at night.”

“I promise.” the girl says.

Supergirl holds out her hand. “Pinky swear?”

The girl excitedly interlocks her pinky finger with Supergirl's. “Pinky swear.”

Supergirl nods and beings to float away. “Very good. Pleasant dreams, Stacy, and you too, Binky.”

Stacey stares in awe as Supergirl flies into the sky. “She knows my name!”

Fade into the opening credits.

CS

Two men, a larger man in his forties and a skinnier man in his thirties, are sharing a dingy apartment. The larger man sits at the couch and watches the morning news while the skinnier man goes to the door and picks up the newspaper.

The camera moves around their walls, showing plaques of scientific awards and framed newspaper articles, one of which is titled 'Wizard Brothers Do It Again.'

The skinnier brother looks through the classifieds and calls out “what do you think of going into software design, like making videogames or something?”

The larger brother doesn't answer. He is focused on the television.

As a commercial break ends, the anchorwoman states “And now back to our top story. After months of astounding feats across the country, the mysterious heroine known as Supergirl has apparently decided to make her home in the Virginian town of Leesburg.”

The skinnier brother comes up behind his older brother looking a little worried. “Paul?”

Paul leans forward. “Finally.” he says.

CS

Cutter Sharpe is lying in his hospital bed, playing a game on his phone. “Oh, come on!” he moans as his character dies.

A nurse enters the room. “Mr. Sharpe? You have a visitor.”

Cutter doesn't take his eyes off of his phone. “Male or female?”

“Male.”

“Darn it.” Cutter mutters. “Ok. Send him in.”

Cutter starts his game again as a handsome man in his late thirties with a brown goatee, a nice suit, and an expensive briefcase enters the room.

“Hello, Wendell.”

Cutter drops his phone and looks at the man in a combination of shock and nervousness.

“Mr. Thornton! W-what brings you all the way here from the big city?”

“I was in Washington.” Colin Thornton replies. “So not that far away. As for what brings me here...” He holds up a copy of that day's Newstime and throws it onto Cutter's bed. The top story is Cutter's article about Supergirl. “Only the biggest story of the year.”

Cutter grins sheepishly. “Yeah. I guess it is.”

“And you got the scoop.”

Cutter rubs his bald head. “Well, yeah.”

Thornton continues. “This town is average in every respect. One person moves here, and suddenly everyone in the country knows the name Leesburg. And I want to know why.”

Cutter nods.

“Other cities wanted her. The mayor of Chicago offered Supergirl lifetime free tickets to Wrigley Field if she would agree to stay there and become the Windy City's official superhero. She didn't stop to consider it. It was the same in half the cities she's appeared in. Now she just declares that she's making her home in Leesburg? What does this town, this town, offer her that Chicago and the rest of the country doesn't?”

“That's the big question, sir.”

“Now, Wendell, with a single line, you got more personal information out of Supergirl than any reporter has managed since she first appeared. I am personally assigning you to get more. Get me the full story of Supergirl. I want her name associated with Newstime.”

Cutter takes a deep breath. “That's the sort of story most reporters would kill for.”

“'Most reporters' didn't get Supergirl to give them an interview. Either you have amazing luck, or she's more comfortable with you than with the media in general. Either way

“If that's the case then I won't let you down sir.” Cutter promises.

“Good.” Thornton turns to leave. “You're medical expenses have been paid for in full, and when you get home you'll find a gift basket waiting for you.”

Cutter looks at the newspaper and laughs weakly.

CS

Sylvia is happily washing dishes from the morning breakfast.

Linda comes into the kitchen. “Um, Mom?” she asks hesitatingly.

“Yes. What is it dear?”

“Can I...help you, y'know, with the dishes?”

“Oh.” Sylvia says in surprise. “Of course.” She shifts to the side to make room for Linda. “Here. Your father's plate is particularly messy.”

Linda holds the plate up. “How much dish soap do you think this needs.”

“There should be plenty of soap in the sponges. Just scrub it till it's clean.”

Fred is adjusting his police uniform by the front door when he hears the sound of glass shattering. He rushes into the kitchen.

“What happened? Is everyone all right?”

Fred sees Linda and Sylvia standing on either side of a broken plate on the floor.

“We're fine.” Sylvia assures Fred. “Linda was just helping me with the dishes.”

“'Helping' seems to be the wrong word.” Linda says sheepishly. “Be right back!” She runs out of the kitchen.

Fred points after Linda and mouths 'dishes?' to Sylvia, who throws up her hands and smiles.

Linda comes back with a broom and dustpan. She says “sorry. sorry.” as she sweeps the pieces of glass up.

Fred is grinning now and rubbing his chin. “You know, with the way your sculptures come out I never figured you were the clumsy type.”

“Har har.” Linda laughs sarcastically. She dumps the glass into the garbage.

“That reminds me.” Sylvia says. “Fred, can you take the garbage on your way out?”

“I'll take it!” Linda declares, picking up the garbage bag. “Less likely to break something taking out the trash, right? Hehe....” she laughs nervously.

Fred and Sylvia stare at each other in bemusement as Linda runs out with the garbage.

CS

The brothers are driving down a highway at high speeds.

“Couldn't we have flown?” the skinnier brother asks.

“You want to explain to airport security what we're doing with a sonic gun, be my guest.” Paul responds.

“And you're sure it's Supergirl.”

“No doubt.” Paul assures him. “Hey, don't worry. When this is over we'll have our own private jet back. If things go well enough you can get your own jet.”

The skinnier brother nods, but looks sullenly out of the passenger window.

CS

Linda blows her nose.

“Thanks for helping me with the dusting.” Sylvia says. “We've kind of let the place go these past few days.”

“S-sure.” Linda replies through her clogged nose. “N-no problem. ACHOO!”

Sylvia picks up her purse and heads towards the door. “You sure you don't want to come with me to the church?”

“No. I thought I'd start a new project.” Linda answers as she throws away her tissue.

“Do you want me to stay home and keep you company?” Sylvia asks.

“No.” Linda says again. “I need quiet to work.”

“I'm not comfortable leaving you alone.” Sylvia insists.

“Mom,” Linda smiles at Sylvia, “don't worry. I won't leave the house. Don't let me keep you from what you like to do.”

Sylvia hugs Linda and looks like she is about to cry.

“Hey,” Linda continues to smile, “if this is how you act when when I'm just staying home, what are you going to do when I start school again?”

Sylvia wipes her eyes, “I don't know.”

“Go on.” Linda insists. “Put in a good word for us.”

Sylvia smiles. “I will.”

After her mother leaves, Linda takes a deep breath and heads to the basement. The basement has been converted into a small studio for sculpting. Linda takes several sketches out of a cabinet and a slab of sculpting clay from another cabinet.

Linda sets the items down on a table and opens the wrapping on the clay. She looks at the sketches, trying to decide which one to start.

Linda puts her hand on the clay, then takes it off again. She takes a different sketch and puts it on top of the others. She puts both hands on the clay and begins to squeeze it, then takes her hands off again.

Linda looks at the sketches in frustration and sighs.

She pulls her shirt over her head, revealing the Supergirl costume.

CS

Supergirl flies through the residential area with a serious expression on her face. She sees smoke rising in the distance and goes to investigate.

Supergirl lands in front of a house that is on fire. Two fire trucks are already at the scene. The firemen quickly get their hoses ready. “I guess I'm not needed.” she says to herself.

“Supergirl!”

A man and a woman in partially burnt clothing run over to her. “You've got to help us!” the man yells.

“Our son is still in there!” the woman continues. “There wasn't time to get him out!”

Supergirl immediately shoots towards the house, crashing through the front window.

The parents huddle together, staring at their burning house.

Less than thirty seconds later, Supergirl bursts from the front door carrying a small figure. She lays the five year old child on the ground. The parents and two of the fire fighters run over to her.

“Mickey!” the mother screams.

“He's not breathing.” one of the firefighters observes. He bends down to perform CPR.

Supergirl stops him. “Let me.” She leans over the child, takes a deep breath, and exhales into his mouth.

Mickey coughs, and his breathing returns to normal.

Supergirl rises, breathing a sigh of relief. The parents stay by Mickey's side. And the firefighter is impressed.

“Those are some mighty strong lungs you got there.”

CS

Cutter is still sitting in his hospital bed. He drops his phone in boredom.

The nurse comes in again. “Mr. Sharpe?”

“Yes?” he asks irritably.

“You have two visitors.”

“Two?” Cutter asks, surprised.

“They say they have a story for you. Should I send them in?”

“Sure.” Cutter says in a deadpan tone. “Why not.”

Cutter makes a funny face as the brothers enter. “Well I'll be. Samuel and Paul Westfield. What brings the two of you all the way to Leesburg?”

“Supergirl.” Paul answers.

Cutter is skeptical. “And why are two former industrialists from another state so interested in our new resident superhero?”

“We know where she comes from.” Paul says.

Cutter starts taking the conversation seriously. “I'm listening.”

“Supergirl is not a real person.” Paul explains. “It's an artificial life form made of an unstable protomatter matrix.”

Sam shifts uncomfortably behind Paul. He looks uncomfortable for the rest of the scene.

“She sure looks like a real person.” Cutter says, his skepticism returning.

“It isn't.” Paul insists. “It pretends to be, but that's all it is, an act. It's a dangerous menace to society.”

“What makes you call her a menace?”

“It ruined us.”

The scene shifts to a flashback. A fire has broken out in a research laboratory. Scientists and workers are running for the exits.

Paul is running against the crowd. He runs into Sam.

“Sam! What the hell's going on?”

“It's the Matrix!” Sam yells. “It's gotten loose!”

“My god...” Paul says, horrified. He continues to run against the crowd.

“Wait!” Sam yells after him.

Paul runs down a flight of stairs and opens a door marked 'restricted' with a key from his belt. He stares in terror at the sight before him.

Silhouetted against the flames is a humanoid figure with a body like a classic alien. It looks at Paul then turns towards a nearby wall. It extends its hand towards the wall and blows a hole through the concrete without touching it.

The scene shifts back to the hospital.

“Your main research facility was destroyed in a fire.” Cutter recalls. No one was killed, but you lost millions in research and contracts. You claimed it was sabotage at the time, but the courts ruled that there was criminal negligence and that safety standards were ignored. You lost everything, and now no one wants to deal with you.”
“It was sabotage.” Paul insists. “Just not corporate sabotage.”

“It was the Matrix.” Sam says softly.

“Even if what you say is true,” Cutter goes on, “what connection is there to Supergirl?”

“Supergirl first appeared one month after our facility burned down, in a city not thirty miles away.” Paul explains.

“And that's your evidence?”

“It made me suspicious.” Paul says seriously. The camera focuses on his face. “It was when Supergirl demonstrated telekinetic powers that I became sure. Our Matrix had those same abilities.”

“All right.” Cutter says. “Why are you only coming out with this now? And why come to me?”

“We couldn't do anything when Supergirl was moving from town to town. By the time we'd get there it would have moved on. But when we saw your report that she is staying in this town, we knew that this was our chance.”

Cutter's eyes narrow. “Your chance for what?”

“To clear our names. If it admits to what it did the publicity will get us back into the business. Can you imagine how 'the men who created Supergirl' would go over as a tagline?”

“You want me to arrange a meeting between you and Supergirl.” Cutter concludes.

“That's what we want.”

“I'll have to think about that.” Cutter says.

“We understand. Thank you for your time.” Paul hands Cutter his business card before leaving with Sam.

Cutter hurriedly dials a number on his cell phone.

“Hi, Mr. Thornton? It's Cutter Sharpe....Wendell, from the hospital. Yeah, do you think you can pull some strings and get me discharged early? I've got a story. Either 'Disgraced Industrialists go Crazy' or The Real Origin of Supergirl.'”

CS

The doorbell to the Danvers house rings. Fred answers it.

“Mattie.” Fred says happily as he sees who it is.

“Hi, Mr. Danvers.” Mattie says, holding up several notebooks. “I'm here to drop off Linda's homework.”

“Thank you.” Fred turns and calls out “Linda!”

Linda runs to the door. “Hey, Mattie?”

“Sorry, kid.” Mattie jokes. “Looks like vacation is about to end.” She hands Linda the notebooks.

Linda opens the top notebook and looks at it. “D'you think you can stay and help me with some of this? I'm pretty far behind.”

“Sure.” Mattie agrees.

Fred looks surprised. “I guess you're staying for dinner then.”

“Sounds great, Mr. D.”

The girls go into the back room. Fred and Sylvia stick their heads out slightly from beyond the wall. Both of them look very surprised as they watch Linda ask Mattie to explain a mathematical formula to her.

Fred and Sylvia move away from the door. “First helping around the house, and now actually putting effort into her school work?” Sylvia asks.

Fred chuckles and shakes his head a little. “Don't look a gift-horse in the mouth.”

CS

The Danvers and Mattie are finishing up dinner.

“This was amazing, Mrs. Danvers!” Mattie exclaims.

“You really went all out.” Linda agrees.

Sylvia does a dismissive hand gesture. “You two.”

“It was very good, Syl.” Fred says. He gets up. “I'm gonna check the sports scores.”

Linda gets up as well and starts collecting the plates. “Maybe this time I should just dry the dishes.”

“Good idea.” Sylvia agrees.

Fred turns on the tv, and the news anchorwoman says “This just in. Colin Thornton of Newstime is attempting to contact Supergirl.”

Linda drops a plate but manages to catch it.

Mattie is impressed with Linda's reflexes. “You got moves like lightning.”

Linda puts the plates down on the table. “Excuse me.” she tells her mother. She goes to watch the television herself.

“Mr. Thornton released this statement.” the anchorwoman goes on. “'We at Newstime would like to meet with Supergirl. We have come into possession of information she may find useful. This information relates to Matrix.”

Linda's face goes pale.

“What, like the movie?” Fred asks in disgust. “These media vultures are all the same. I feel bad for Supergirl, having to put up with this.”

“I-I gotta go to the bathroom.” Linda says weakly. She quickly heads into the bathroom and locks the door.

Shaking, Linda turns on the sink and splashes her face. She looks at her reflection and sinks into a flashback.

Sam is standing on one side of a plane of glass. On the other side is a purplish blob of goo.

As Sam watches, the blob of goo starts moving. It slowly rises towards the glass.

“Paul, come here!” Sam yells excitedly, putting both hands on the glass.

The goo touches the glass on the other side of one of Sam's hands. The part where it touches the glass turns into a hand-like shape.

Sam stares in amazement. “Matrix” he asks. “Are you alive?”

“Holy hell.” Paul says in the background. “That's it. I'm activating the sonic waves.”

“Wait!” Sam yells. But Paul turns the switch anyway.

The blob of goo starts rippling as the sonic waves hit it. The hand loses its shape and the rest of the goo slowly collapses back into its original shape as Sam watches in horror.

CS

The next day, Cutter, Paul, and Sam are all standing in Colin Thornton's office. Thornton is the only one sitting.

Sam is pacing, causing Cutter to remark to Paul that “Your brother looks nervous.”

“He should be.” Thornton says. If this turns out to be a waste of our time you two are tomorrow's front page. 'Inventors Gone Mad.'”

“It'll be here.” Paul assures them.

“There you go with that 'it' again.” Cutter observes dryly.

Sam stops pacing and looks out of the window. The others turn to look out of the window as well.

Paul smiles. “Speak of the devil.”

Thornton raises an eyebrow at Paul's remark.

Cutter opens the window, and Supergirl floats in. “What's this about?” she asks Cutter. “Do you have anything new on the cult?”

“Afraid not.” Cutter says. He gestures at the Westefield brothers. “These men say that they know where you come from. They used to be famous industrialists.”

Supergirl narrows her eyes at Cutter, but addresses the brothers. “All right. Enlighten me.”

Paul is grinning from ear to ear. “It's been a long time, Matrix.”

Supergirl just stares at him.

“That's what we called you when you were just a mass of protomatter.” Paul goes on. He rubs his chin. “Though I am curious why you chose this form.”

“And what is wrong with my 'form?'” Supergirl asks angrily.

“Nothing.” Paul answers. “Except that it's not real. Like you.”

Supergirl gives Cutter another dirty look before responding. “Get to the point.”

“Fair enough.” Paul begins to walk around her. “I want you to admit that you destroyed our facility in Montana. I want you to publicly take responsibility for ruining our careers and and our reputations.”

Supergirl folds her arms across her chest. “And if I don't?”

Paul stops moving. He has positioned himself so that only Supergirl is in front of him. “You'll regret it.” he threatens.

“Watch yourself, Dr. Westfield.” Thornton warns. “Don't make me call security.”

“You know what I think?” Supergirl says angrily. “I think you just want this 'Matrix' back so it can be your slave.”

“So you won't admit to what you did?” Paul asks.

“No.” Supergirl responds.

“Then you leave me no choice.” Paul reaches into his coat and pulls out a device that looks like an extended camera.

Supergirl, Cutter, and Thornton look confused. “What is taking her picture going to prove?” Cutter asks.

“This isn't a camera.” Paul says. He nods his head at Sam, who reluctantly goes and locks the door. “It's a sonic weapon.”

“Wait!” Supergirl screams, but Paul activates the weapon. The waves are shown as pulsing circles of light in order to show that they are not filling the room but are only hitting Supergirl. She screams in pain and puts her hands over her ears.

“No!” Cutter roars. Thornton pushes a button on his desk and yells “Security!”

Cutter grabs Paul's arm and yells at him to “Stop!” But Paul elbows him in his already injured stomach and Cutter falls down. Thornton rushes over to him.

Sam has pushed some furniture in front of the door so that the security guards now banging on it will take longer to get through. He can't bear to look at what is happening.

Supergirl is on the ground now. “Now everyone will see you for the freak you are.” Paul gloats.

Sam finally looks at Supergirl, who is still holding her hands over her ears as she writhes in pain. He sees blood starting to trickle between her fingers.

“Stop!” Sam screams. He grabs Paul's arm,and this time Paul is too shocked to hit him.

“What do you think you're doing?” he demands.

“Look!” Sam yells at him. “She's not reverting to protomatter! You're just killing her!”

Paul looks at Supergirl in surprise. He turns the device off. Supergirl stops writhing, but remains crunched on the floor.

“It must have greatly improved its stability.” Paul reasons.

“Open your eyes!” Sam yells at him. “That's real blood she's bleeding!”

“But...I...” Paul stammers.

“Face it.” Paul says,calming down. “We were wrong. You were wrong. Supergirl and Matrix aren't the same.”

“But it all fit!” Paul complains.

While the brothers are talking, Cutter and Thornton help Supergirl to her feet and into Thornton's chair. Cutter hands her several tissues from the desk so she can wipe the blood from her ears.

The security guards finally break through the door. Thornton immediately instructs them to “Take those men into custody. We'll turn them over to the police.”

The brothers offer no resistance. Thornton approaches Paul. “Now you're really finished, Westfield. I'm going to enjoy covering your trial.”

“Are you ok?” Cutter asks Supergirl.

“I will be.” Supergirl says.

“I'm so sorry.” Cutter apologizes. “We had no idea they were planning to do that.”

“I know.”

“You must hate us.” Cutter says sadly.

“You were just doing your jobs.” Supergirl says. “But yeah, I'm furious.”

“Is there any way we can make this up to you?” Thornton asks as he comes back into the room.

“For starters you can promise not to try to contact me unless it's an emergency. I'm not just story fodder.”

“Done.” Thornton promises. “I'll also write an editorial encouraging other news organizations to treat you as a person and not just as a story.”

Supergirl nods and rises to leave. But first she addresses Cutter. “Thanks for trying to come to my rescue. No one's ever done that for me before.”

“No problem.” Cutter replies. “Of course it doesn't make us even.”

“I'm sorry,” Thornton says, “but I have to ask one more question. The Westfields were wrong about your origins, but we still don't know anything about you. How did you get these powers? What exactly are are you?”

Supergirl looks down. “I don't know.” she says sadly.

CS

Fred arrives home in good spirits. As he puts his coat and his gun away he sees Sylvia reading a Church newsletter in the living room.

“Hi, hon.” he says, kissing her on the cheek. “Where's Linda.”

“She's in her studio.” Sylvia answers.

Fred heads down the stairs to the basement. He smiles when he sees that Linda has fallen asleep in front of a partially made sculpture.

Fred puts his hand on Linda's shoulder and says “Hey.”

Linda stirs and groggily looks at her father. “Huh...daddy?”

“Good afternoon, sleepyhead.” Fred teases.

“Oh,” Linda yawns, “it's not dinnertime yet? I told mom I'd help her with the cooking.”

Fred nods and says “I wanted to talk to you.”

“Ok.” Linda says.

“I'm really proud of you.” Fred tells her. “Since you came back to us, you've been so much more responsible. You've been a big help to your mother.”

“I guess.” Linda says, rubbing her eye.

“Not everyone uses a traumatic experience as an opportunity to engage in self-improvement. Your mother and I couldn't be happier that you did.”

“I'm glad I'm making you happy.”

Fred bends down so that their faces are at the same height. “But I don't want you to burn yourself out trying to be the perfect daughter. You're still a kid, and it's ok to act like one every now and then.”

Linda is surprised. “After all those times you yelled at me to grow up, now you're telling me to be more like a kid?”

“Hey, families fight all the time. It doesn't mean they don't love each other.” Fred puts his hands on her shoulders. “Your mother and I are proud of you, but we don't want a perfect daughter. The real one we have is just fine. Do you understand what I'm saying?”

“I think I do.” Linda responds.

“Good.” He hugs her. “Remember, dinner is at seven.”

As Fred leaves up the stairs, Linda slumps in her chair. A single tear falls down her cheek.

“You want a real daughter.” she says softly.

Fade into the credits.

The end