6.02 Revelation

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Orignal TwoP air date 6.26.06 Lois discovers the downside to power when a new acquaintance begins asking for favors. Lex uncovers the possibility of an ancient but advanced weapon based on Kryptonian technology which he believes may be mankind’s only means of protecting itself from future invasion.

We open with Lex in an examining room. The doctor is shining that annoying little light in his eyes.

"Everything seems to check out, Mr. Luthor. You're perfectly healthy."

"And perfectly normal" Lex responds with a hint of bitterness.

As if that's a bad thing.

His cell rings and Lex answers

"Did you find something?"

Cut to anonymous LuthorCorp thug in an undisclosed location. He explains they've found something big. Behind him is a stone carving showing a man holding a object which appears to be spraying fire at another man who is floating in the sky.

Lex tells him to keep digging. He'll be there as soon as humanly possible.

We want a touch of bitterness to come through with the word "Humanly"

In other words, Lex is pissed off he's lost his powers.

Cut to the state capitol building. Martha and Lois are walking down the hallway. Lois lists the appointments for the rest of the day and hands Martha a brief for her upcoming meeting. Martha heads into the meeting and a young man approaches Lois.

He introduces himself as Hank, Senator Stafford's chief aid.

The gist is that Hank believes Senator Kent and Senator Stafford have some of the same goals. He wants Lois to meet for coffee.

Lois eagerly agrees and suggests meeting in half an hour. She has to drop off a few proposals first.

As Lois walks off "Hank" pulls out a phone and tells the person on the other line that Lois fell for the bait.

Cut to a plush office. An executive chair is facing away from the camera. "Excellent" says a rather familiar voice.

The chair turns to reveal Lionel returning his phone to his coat pocket. He's contemplative, but obviously pleased with himself.

End teaser

[Rubbing his hands together] Excellent!

You know this is two teasers in a row without Clark!

Poor baby. That's two teasers in a row without Lana either!

And two in a row for Martha and Lois!

We rock! [High fives AoT] Anyway when we return from commercials Lex has already made it to Nepal, we're at the same temple we saw last week so we could probably use the same film stock with the Luther jet.

He's studying the stone carvings when anonymous guy comes up.

He want's Lex to see the "inner sanctum"

Hee! I love that line! You you think we can get Clark and Lex in the "inner sanctum" together sometime this season?

[Ignoring MR] Lex is lead into the room we saw last week but all of the crystals are gone.

So did Good!Brainiac hide them or has the place been looted?

We haven't decided yet. It could go either way. Depends on whether Brainiac thought disabling the other Brainiacs was more important than hiding "the weapon".

Obviously he should definitely have hid the weapon.

But if it fits the plot later on we can claim it was looted before he could get to it. Looting is probably the only realistic way Lex could eventually track it down.

As everybody knows we're setting up here a legend converse to the one from the caves in Smallville. Hundreds of years ago in this location on Earth a Zod like Kryptonian ended up ruling with an iron fist and the Earthman who opposed him turns out to be the hero.

Grand Daddy Zod leads a small band of Kryptonians. He needed these weapons to keep the others in line because they were basically the only thing available to hurt another Kryptonian permanently. Eventually a single Earth man was able to steal one and used it against them.

Lex really likes this story because that's the way he feels alien invaders would actually behave.

He asks anonymous guy to do a full report on the site and try to figure out where the artifacts are now. Then he heads back to Smallville.

Cut to Lois and Hank. They're sharing old stories in Martha's office. Clark walks in looking for his mom and Lois introduces Hank.

Clark doesn't like him.

He thinks he's evil.

More like Clark thinks he's straight. [TW looks annoyed]

Lois is surprised Clark would take the time to drive all the way to the capitol. Isn't there a ton of work to do at the farm?

Clark gives one of his half-ass excuses and exits.

Is there any chance now that we are writing these ourselves that Clark doesn't have to be a DBA?

Hmm. That's a novel thought.

But the answer is no for our episode. Make him a genius in your own episode, Tom.

If you give Clark half a brain I'll make sure Lex has half a brain in my episodes. Deal?

[studies TW for a second] Deal.

So the half-ass excuse is more due to the fact he's startled to see Lois with this handsome young man he doesn't like than being a BDA.

Agreed.

Arggh!

I want to hear about the Chloe and Clark scene. If we have to break them up next episode they have should at least get a few sweet moments first.

Don't make me barf, Allison. Those two get sweet moments all the time! Clark and Lana did the mating dance for almost four years and what did they have to show for it? A grand total of what, two episodes worth of sweet interaction?

I understand your pain, Kristen. But we're going to stick in some nice Chloe and Clark interaction.

[pumps her fist] Yes!

If only to make it more poignant next week when they call it quits.

Since Tom and I are writing that episode. I already know how I want it to start.

It better not be with the two of them waking up together in the loft, 'cause that would be a rip-off of "Hidden".

I was thinking perhaps Clark could carry Chloe off for a weekend at Niagara falls. It has iconic significance. [winks at Tom]

Let's not get carried away, Allison.

Anyway, this is Erica's and my episode. You two lovebirds can negotiate the Niagara Falls thing on your own time.

I want to make it clear for the audience we're only lovebirds on TV.

Sure, sure. Moving on Martha bumps into Lionel as he exits Senator Stafford's office. They exchange pleasantries and Lionel explains he was trying to get Stafford behind Martha's education proposal. Clark hovers in the background until the conversation is over and then comes up to his mom.

Clark asks her why she's still talking to Lionel.

Martha insists their relationship is completely professional but she's a bit defensive about it. She asks Clark why he's there.

Clark explains that Chloe has been assigned to look into some of Senator Stafford's activities. There are rumors that he might be taking kickbacks for preferential legislation.

Martha asks what this has to do with her.

Apparently Stafford and Lionel go way back. Clark is afraid an association with Lionel could turn into trouble for Martha if Chloe uncovers anything.

Martha gets even more defensive. She thanks Clark for his concern, but tells him she can handle herself.

Damn that magnificent bastard.

You're not kidding!

Luthor Mansion. Papa stops by to rub the fact Lex was possessed by a mean old alien in his face.

Can he ask if Lex's ass is sore?

[Smacks TW in the back of the head]

Ow!

He warns that power for power's sake is a fool's errand. Power with a purpose has justification. Anyone have a mythological allegory for that one? [looks around expectantly]

We're not going to do you're homework for you, Eria. Look up your own damn myth.

[to MR] You're the Luthor expert. I'll leave that to you.

Lex retorts that he now has a purpose, and that ironically enough it's all thanks to Zod.

Lionel is curious. What possible good could come of an alien abduction? Has Lex gone mad?

The aliens are dangerous and must be stopped at all costs. Lex has found evidence of an ancient weapon humans used to rid the planet of these aliens once before. He's going to find it.

Lionel is conflicted. Perhaps not all the aliens intend us harm.

Lex says Lionel is deluding himself. The Earth doesn't have the luxury of waiting to find out if the next wave of invaders are benevolent.

Lionel exits with a warning. Lex is playing with fire -- be careful he doesn't get in over his head yet again.

That's a bit of a mixed metaphor there.

Oh, we'll clean it up a bit. It will tie into some mythological character.

Two myths in one Luthor exchange?

Is that overkill? [no one answers]

Fine, we'll go with just one.

Lana gets nearly knocked over by Lionel as they pass in the doorway. She comments on how Lex and his father seem to be back to their old selves.

Lex insists he's changed. He realizes the aliens are a bigger threat that they ever imagined.

Lana agrees. She wants to make sure no one like Zod can ever hope to come to power again.

Lex shows her a confidential report. He believes other weapons similar to the one Lionel used to expel Zod exist. If they find one LuthorCorp could use the technology to produce weapons capable of protecting the entire Earth from future invasion.

Lana wants to be a full partner.

It will be dangerous work.

Lana doesn't care. The future of Earth depends on the project's success.

[rolls eyes] And the two of them are the most important people in the word. They have a power kiss, right?

We hadn't planned that, but it fits. Jot that down Erica.

What am I, your secretary? Write it down yourself. Cut to the DP. Clark brings Chloe some Chinese take-out.

Chloe is thrilled to see him, they awkwardly hug and kiss. She deflates just as she's about to dig into the Chinese.

Clark asks what's the matter.

Moo Goo Gai Pan is Lana's favorite.

Moo Goo Gai Pan? Why is that Lana's favorite?

It's bland and it's funny. Unlike Lana who's just bland.

[Sticks her tongue out at MR]

Clark apologies profusely.

Chloe say it's OK. She needed a break from General Tso anyway. She wonders if General Zod ever had a Kryptonian dish named after him.

Clark quips that if he did it probably was less sweet than sour.

Boo! That's the best joke you two can come up with?

Well, I'm sure we could do better, but Clark's just not that funny.

But at least he's trying. And considering some of the lines they've forced on Erica you should count yourself lucky.

He gets Chloe to smile and that's what's important. He asks how her article is coming and Chloe can't stop talking about all her leads. Most haven't panned out but there are a few which are quite promising.

Stafford has an impeccable public image but she can sense that he's hiding something. Chloe's phone rings. It's another potential lead who she asks to hold on for just a second. She tells Clark she has to take the call and thanks him for the food. He again somewhat awkwardly pecks her on the lips and leaves as Chloe writes an address on her notepad.

A brief shot of her writing. That's important later.

The contact wants to meet in person. After hanging up she looks around for Clark before chucking the Moo Goo Gai Pan into the trash and heading out the door.

Cut to a swanky restaurant. Hank and Lois are discussing the "McCoy" bill. Lois doesn't think that Martha will support it. Hank wonders if it'd be worth changing her mind for Stafford's vote on Martha's bill.

Lois thinks Hark drives a hard bargain. She likes that. The bill for dinner comes and he grabs it.

"I'll expense it".

Lois is starting to like political life.

Hank quips that in that case perhaps he needn't have splurged for tickets to the Symphony.

Lois tells him he can splurge all his wants.

In the Symphony Hank gets paged. He excuses himself and returns worried. Some disgruntled special interest group is trying to discredit Stafford with trumped up charges.

Lois doesn't understand. If Stafford hasn't done anything wrong won't he be exonerated?

Hank laughs. Lois hasn't been in politics very long has she? Perception is everything and some overzealous cub reporter at the planet is swallowing these lies hook line and sinker. If it gets into the newspapers Stafford could be finished whether it's true or not.

Lois mentions her cousin works at the Planet. She'll see if there's anything she can do.

Hank acts surprised. "Really, you'd do that for me?"

"Sure. I've got a good feeling about you."

Cut to Chloe and Lana's dorm room. Chloe is researching Senator Stafford's voting record. There's a knock on the door.

"Come in"

"Uh, it's me." comes Clark's voice from behind the door.

"She's not here."

Clark walks in. He has flowers.

Chloe significantly brightens up. "Tulips!"

They're my Mom's favorite.

"She has good taste" says Chloe. Clark glances at Chloe's computer.

"Do you ever stop working?"

"How long have we known each other now Clark?" she teases

"Could spare an hour or two for a movie?"

"You're in luck. By some odd twist of fate it doesn't look like I'm needed to help save the world this weekend."

Here's where we let Tom do his goofy smile. They're about to get all kissy faced when Chloe's phone rings.

Chloe answers. It's Lois. Clark is annoyed. The conversation is obviously about Chloe's article. She tells Lois the source seems legit, but she'll check it out if it will make Lois feel better.

She hangs up and looks longingly at her computer.

"Oh, screw it, this will still be here when we get back. Let's go see that movie."

Clark hesitates. "Chloe, if something important has come up we can do this another time."

Chloe scrunches up her face. "Do you mind?"

"I, uh, I bailed out on you plenty of times."

"You're the greatest Clark!" she attaches herself to the computer. Clark ambles out.

[Accusatory] I see what you're doing here.

What?

You're trying to break us up before we even get together.

You mean break Chloe and Clark up, right?

Yeah, I was speaking in character. I don't think Chloe would blow off Clark like that.

You mean skip a lousy movie for a career making story?

[A little less sure of herself] Yeah.

A show of hands to see who agrees with Ms. Mack on this. [No one raises their hand]

[Eye contact with AM. Shrugs shoulders and mouths "Sorry"]

I believe you've been out voted.

Fine. But this will just add fuel to the fire for Chloe haters who claim she doesn't have a boyfriend because no one would ever want to go out with her. I mean if she turns down Superman after pining after him for five years she might as well plan on becoming a hermit.

Or a lesbian.

Don't be bitter.

After all, not every character is destined to be magnificent.

Well let's not dwell on it! Just get on with the story, OK?

[Amused] Sure thing, Ms. Grumpy-pants.

Cut to Lois' Talon apartment. She's doing Tae-Bo or some other BS when the phone rings.

It's Chloe.

She wants Lois to meet the source face to face and decide for herself if the story is real. Lois will meet Chloe there. She packs her taser in her purse.

Cut to Luthor Mansion. Lana is studying anonymous guy's final report.

She's shocked. "The aliens from the past were just like the ones who came out of the ship looking for Kal-El. They just killed anyone in their way."

Could you make my dialogue any clunkier?

Bring your edit to the shoot, Kristen. We'll work with you. Lex speculates that Jor-El wants his own son to rule Earth rather than Zod. I wanted Lex to quote The Who -- "Meet the new Boss, same as the old Boss" but I suppose we'll have to come up an appropriate literary reference instead.

Micheal, your constant need to have 80's music as background is bad enough. But for God's sake let's keep it out of the dialog.

The Who is not the 80s.

It doesn't matter. We're not putting lyrics into dialogue! Sometimes you are so lame.

Geez. I thought writing my own episode would be more fun.

[Shaking her head] Back to the story, Lana agrees. This Kal-El, where ever and who ever he is must never get the chance to rule Earth.

Lex says he's glad he has Lana as an ally. They the get all kissy faced without any phone interruptions.

Cut to the mean streets of Metropolis.

Lois seems to have gotten there a little early. Chloe shows up and they head for the meeting location.

There's a very nervous man who has a packet of documents. He asks Chloe for complete anonymity. Chloe tells him she probably can't do that without at least one more corroborating source.

There's a gun shot and the source falls to the ground. Chloe grabs the packet of documents and together she and Lois head for cover.

We have a thrilling little chase. Chloe tries to call Clark but he's off doing chores at super speed and doesn't hear the phone.

He's got super hearing.

Then he's got super selective hearing and chooses not to answer. Eventually the girls get cornered in a dead end ally.

"If you're smart you'll hand over those documents, ladies".

Lois reaches for her taser.

The second thug yells "Hands in the air! I don't like to kill girls, but I'll do it if I have to."

So is this guy's IQ 5 or what?

Former LuthorCorp security.

[Nodding] Oh.

Chloe's phone rings. Thug #1 grabs her purse and answers. "What do you want?" he bellows into the receiver.

It's Clark calling Chloe back. Since Chloe has a special ringtone for Clark she yells help.

I think it would be cool if the ring tone were the Williams Superman horns.

Yeah, can we do that?

I don't know. TPTB are pretty hung up about when we can use that score.

It's worth a shot. I'll add it to the script.

Now should we make this a cliff hanger and throw in another scene before Clark saves them?

If Lana and Lex kiss one more time this episode I'm going to barf.

So would the viewers. We haven't seen the MB is a while. And since this is all his doing it might be nice to show him all nonchalant while Chloe and Lois are in peril.

I like it. He hasn't talked to Martha yet this episode.

Maybe he could walk in on her while she's practicing a speech or something.

She's embarrassed.

But he butters her up a little bit.

He should probably say something about Lois.

What? Why?

Well, if he's going to hire her later this season why not plant the seed now?

[enthusiastic] Yeah. He tells Martha at first he thought choosing Lois for Chief of Staff was a mistake.

Seeing as how inexperienced she is.

But he's impressed with her performance.

Martha concurs. She sees a lot of potential in Lois. Potential Lois herself doesn't even recognize.

Lionel says he felt the same way about Martha. A lot of unrecognized potential. That's why he was thrilled the Governor decided to take a chance on her and she accepted.

Which brings back the painful memory of Johnathon. And how he died. Martha suddenly gets distant.

Lionel realizes he's touched a nerve and excuses himself.

Great, did you get all that Durance? Cut back to the barn. Clark closes his phone and thinks for a a second. Then we see him zip to the DP where he locates Chloe's notepad. With the flat end of a pencil lead he rubs the top sheet of her notebook to reveal the meeting address.

Back to our damsels in distress. One of the thugs addresses Chloe, "You've just made the biggest mistake of your life, Lady." He slaps Chloe and she falls to the ground. Lois makes a move for her taser.

Hold on.

What?

This is were we need to switch to Lionel and Martha. After Chloe gets slapped around.

Ya think?

It's more dramatic.

I disagree. The other thug shoots his gun and that's when we cut to Martha and Lionel.

Why don't you hash out scene placement in the editing room, OK?

We do a slow motion shot of Clark rushing the bullet. He grabs it and with his heat vision he welds the strike hammer to the body of the gun. Finally he kicks thug #2's feet out from under him.

He doesn't throw him 30 feet?

Normally that's what he'd do, but he doesn't want Lois to get suspicious.

[To TW] I told you we'd give him half a brain.

[Approving smile]

Back in real time Lois is able to taser Thug #1 because his gun is out of commission. Chloe grabs her purse and they both run.

Clark hangs back to make sure the thugs aren't able to make pursuit but he hears someone talking on a phone.

It's Hank. He's on the roof of a nearby building. "Boss, we have a problem."

A siren goes off in next street between them so Clark can't hear who's on the other end and he can't figure out where Hank was standing. The man on the other end is Lionel.

He answers, "No, son. You have a problem." Hank hangs up the phone. He swallows nervously.

Wasn't Lionel just in Martha's office?

Yeah, maybe he can be standing right outside her door. That would kind of make it creepier, how he's operating his scheme practically out in the open.

OK, final scene everyone. Cut to the DP, Clark walks in. Chloe...

[interrupting] I'm parched. Anyone else want to take a break?

What? Wait, no I want to hear the last scene!

I'd like a break.

Take 5 everybody.

[Whispering to MR] Hey, let me see the script!

[Winks] Sorry, you're going to have to wait, just like everybody else.

---

Clark walks in. Chloe and Lois are pouring over the documentation. Chloe says it seems legit, but with the source dead it might not be of much use.

Lois agrees, but insists that there must be something to it if somebody was willing to kill over it.

Chloe greets Clark, pulling him by the hand into the copy room. "So, you didn't happen to save anybody's life today, did you?"

Clark gives her a guilty smile.

Chloe smiles back. She's proud she figured it out.

Finally somebody on the show is able to figure out.

[sarcastic] And it's Chloe. Go figure.

"I thought as much! I saw my notebook. That was some pretty quick thinking."

Embarrassed, Clark can only utter "thanks". He doesn't get complimented on his brains very often.

She puts her arms around his neck. "But in the future I was hoping a certian hero might be able to make an exit without speading my research all over the floor."

"He might be able to do that, given enough incentive."

"I wonder if a kiss from a certain up and coming reporter would do the trick?"

"That would probably cover it."

They have their first non-awkward kiss since the S5 finale and we go to black. [Everyone turns to AM who's sitting with an embarrassed smile on her face]

Come on and say it. We did right by Chloe, didn't we? Admit it.

I admit it. That's a cute scene. You did good. Rosembaun, I didn't know you had it in you.

Aw, baby. Despite my rugged exterior I'm a romantic at heart.

And what am I, chopped liver? Micheal wanted them to do the nasty on the copier!

[Throws a crumpled piece of paper at MR] Micheal!

Durance! You broke the cardnal rule, what goes on in the writer's room stays in the writers room.

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