6.06 Distrust

by &

Original TwoP air date 7.27.2006

When Chloe's expose on covert LuthorCorp experiments hits the front page Lex suspects Lana was her source. Under the weight of public scrutiny Martha decides to distance herself from Lionel.

LuthorCorp. A young woman answers questions from a group of reporters. She's impatient and stressed.

They shout questions about Senators Kent and Stafford and Lionel.

"LuthorCorp has no further comment on the Senator Stafford situation."

"Are Lionel Luthor and Senator Kent in an intimate relationship?"

"No comment."

"Has Lex asked Lionel to step down?"

"No comment."

"About Senator Stafford..."

"No more questions. That will be all." The woman leaves the podium, exits the briefing room, and leans back against the door. We can hear the reporters continue yelling questions. She pulls out a flask and takes a swig.

Lionel appears, "Ms. Hathaway." She hides the flask. Lionel grins, "Tough day?" He walks off.

"Smug bastard."

MetU. Clark enters a dorm. Pan to a nearby bench. Lori gets up and follows.

Clark unlocks his door and goes in. A manila envelope lies on the floor. He picks it up and closes his door.

Outside Lori approaches and prepares to knock. She hesitates and takes a deep breath first.

Inside Clark stuffs the contents of the envelope back in. He opens his door and looks suspiciously at Lori. "Where are the paparazzi hiding?"

Lori looks down. "Clark I came to apologize for what I did to you. If just some of the rumors floating around are true you deserve your own special place in hell. But I can't separate truth from lies anymore. Either way what I did wasn't right and I'm sorry."

Clark turns away and sits at his desk, his back to her.

She hesitates for a moment, "I guess that's all I wanted to say." She starts to leave.

Still with his back to her, "Why did you do it?"

She didn't hear, "What?"

Turning, "Chloe thinks there's got to be some reason you did it, no matter how sick or twisted."

Lori looks up at the ceiling. "I don't know why I did it, Clark. Truth is I'd rather not think about it because I'm afraid to face the real reasons."

Clark is silent. He turns back away.

"Revenge, I suppose."

Clark looks at her again, "Revenge? What did I ever do to you?"

Lori's eyes are moist. She looks back at the ceiling, shakes her head, "Nothing. Look, I'm not proud of what I did. Nick convinced me you were getting away with things no man... nobody... should get away with."

"Like what?"

"Does matter? You were just somebody under the microscope who'd actually have to pay for your misdeeds. You couldn't turn it into a "he said she said" stalemate because you had something to lose from suspicion alone."

"You have no idea what I have to lose."

"Maybe not. But I do know what it's like to lose things, Clark, things I care deeply about. I saw the hurt in Chloe's eyes when she looked at you the other day and something inside me snapped. I could tell that wasn't the first time you've ever hurt her. I bet she's not the only one you've ever hurt either. And you did it so carelessly, like your feelings are the only ones that matter. I convinced myself Nick was right about you."

Clark turns back away.

"But I also saw you save those people, even Nick. I'm not sure which is the real Clark Kent, the one who saves a perfect stranger without a second thought or the one who carelessly hurts those closest to him. Maybe they both are."

"I wouldn't carelessly hurt anyone."

"I see things differently. Chloe obviously trusted you with everything. What was the problem? Do you just not care about her or are you just too scared to trust her back?"

"It's more complicated that that."

Frowns, "I'm sure it is. Look Clark, whether the rumors about you are true or not Nick Madison isn't going to cause you any more trouble. I contacted his editor at the Inquisitor. Even a rag like that can't afford to let paying someone to fake a news story become public knowledge." Lori walks away.

Clark sighs. He turns his attention back to the envelope's contents. It's the level 33.1 briefing. End teaser.

So why exactly are we making Lori FUBAR?

And why do we have to make Clark out to be such a BDA?

Because he is?

She's the "anti-Lana". She starts whacked out, Clark can't stand her, and we slowly build her up.

Because that's worked so well with Lois.

Shut up!

I'd prefer we come up with an alternate term.

The "inverse" Lana?

[glares]

The idea is we set her up as someone who has her own secrets, is distrustful of people in general, and won't let anybody get close to her. Clark may finally get a taste of his own medicine!

I like that.

Me too.

Me three.

I think it's stupid.

DP, Clark enters with the manila envelope and Chinese take out.

Chloe isn't thrilled to see him. She's polite but businesslike.

I thought they made up. Didn't he cry on her shoulder at the end of last episode?

That was a one time deal. Her shoulder is back to being cold again.

"A peace offering."

"General Tso? An interesting peace offering."

Handing her the envelope, "Actually here's something I think you'll find even more to your taste."

"A word to the wise, us Earth girls generally prefer a bouquet of flowers." She opens it and can barely believe her eyes. "On second thought, screw flowers. Where did you get this?"

"You'll have to consider it a confidential source."

Flipping through the paper, "This could blow the top off a story I've been trying to nail for years!"

Clark smiles.

"Don't think for a second you're completely off the hook with me yet." Chloe gets to the part in the document with Clark and her in it. "Clark, this is pretty serious."

"I know."

"How long do you think Lex has suspected us?"

"It's hard to know. At least since he retrieved you from the Yukon."

"Wow. But this is great. Of course I need to get some hard evidence before it can be published. This is a major find."

"You're not going to publish the stuff about us, are you?"

"I think we can conveniently redact our names. But it will tip Lex off that we know."

"Too late for that. After Emily attacked Lana the cat was pretty much out of the bag."

"You mean clone from hell, Emily?"

"That's her."

"Have I been on Mars or something? Lana didn't tell me anything about that."

"I doubt she'll be telling you much of anything from now on. She's seen the report too, and what's more she and Lex know 'Kal-El' put all the stones together."

"My God, Clark, what are you going to do?"

"I'm not sure yet. Exposing Level 33.1 is a start."

Teasing, "You're being pro-active? What happened to the real Clark Kent?"

[Announcer voice] We've taken over this fine series and replaced mopey Smallville Clark with pro-active Castville Clark. Let's see if viewers can tell the difference.

[Pops MR in the shoulder.]

Of course it's not like he's being all that pro-active considering someone threw the report in his lap.

[Pops MR again.]

"I just thought if we did this together..."

Excited, "You're going to help?" Clark nods. "I knew I wouldn't be able to stay mad at you for long!" She hugs him. "Let's get going."

Lionel's office. Lex storms in and throws the paper on his desk.

"And they keep coming!"

Lionel laughs. This will all blow over in a few days. Lex can thank his PR person for letting it drag out.

"Same story as a week ago, Dad? Good try, blame somebody else for your mistakes. Do you ever take responsibility for anything?"

"I'm perfectly willing to own up to my mistakes, son. I put my faith in someone who didn't deserve it. The difference between us is that I've made the appropriate adjustments. That person isn't going to fail me again. You seem content to surround yourself with incompetents."

"Have you considered firing your failures rather than having them gunned down in dark alleys?"

"Lex, I admire your imagination. Of course I suppose I should expect as much from a man who thinks little green men are planning a hostile takeover of the planet."

"Your little barbs are getting repetitive, old man." Lex starts walking away.

"Do us all a favor and get rid of that PR woman. She's atrocious!"

"She's doing just fine, Dad. The problem is you can't seem to be able to keep your hand out of the cookie jar."

Is that supposed to be some sort of double entendre?

Take it how you like.

That's how I like it! [Slaps TW on the back] Go Momma Kent!

"It's you who should be worried about your job."

Lionel smiles. "I thought we'd been down this path once before son. It seems I'm not the only one getting repetitive."

Lex has called an emergency board meeting. They are going to remove all the barriers put in place when Lex was running for senate. Now that vacating his position as CEO won't be required he's going to restore all the power the position deserves. And Lionel is the first item he plans to clean up.

"How does it feel to be shackled by the same hand-cuffs you custom designed for your own father?"

"What makes you think I was going to trust you as CEO even with those restrictions?"

"Son, when is this irrational distrust of me going to end?"

"When you stop stabbing me in the back." Lex exits.

Luthor study. Lex on the phone. Lana sits irritated on a couch. Lex is obviously impatient. He's trying to explain LuthorCorp's position on Lionel and Senator Stafford.

"Why don't you just fire him?"

Lex asks his caller to hold. "What?"

"Just fire your father."

"I wish I could."

Lana doesn't understand.

Lex will explain it later. He gets back on the phone.

Lana announces she'll be at Lois' place. Lex barely hears her on the way out.

Lex goes on to tell the caller that Lionel will be removed by the board in less than a week. As he hangs up the phone one of his guards brings in a box.

"This just arrived for you, sir".

Lex opens the box to reveal a Kryptonite ring. Lex takes it out and smiles, inspecting the workmanship for a moment before slipping it on. As he does he sees a flashback to his dreams with the gloved hand. He hears his mother claim he's going to kill millions of people. He takes the ring back off and carefully places it back in the box.

So now that he has that ring we're not going to have any Clark and Lex scenes for the rest of the season?

That's not our problem. We needed the ring.

You're hamstringing us here!

Do I look concerned? What are Clark and Lex going to talk about anyway? Lex thinks he's in bed with the enemy.

[Chuckles]

People want to see Lex and Clark together.

[Chuckles again] TW &

What's so funny?

I'm sure you'll figure something out.

Talon. Lana heads for Lois' apartment and Martha calls out her name. Lana gives a fake smile. It's clear she's not really interested in talking to the ex's mom.

Martha is really sincere and talks about missing seeing Lana.

Lana cracks a little. You can tell she almost brings up Kal-El but stops herself.

Martha says to say hi to Chloe. Lana says of course she will but when she turns to go up the stairs her expression is more "whatever!" than "how sweet!"

Martha goes back to her table and sits down. She looks at the headline titled "LuthorGate: Just the tip of the iceberg? Deep trouble at LuthorCorp." She sighs deeply.

Metropolis. Chloe and Clark are parked outside of Luthor tower. Clark uses his x-ray vision to check out each floor.

Clark doesn't think it's here. There's definitely no hidden 33rd floor. He postulates that if Level three was a fake third floor in Smallville it would make sense it was a fake 33rd floor of Luthor Tower.

Chloe goes into exposition mode. "But LuthorCorp doesn't own any other buildings with more than 30 stories. So what if 33.1 is not a floor but an address?"

"A street address of 33.1?"

"Yes, like on the Internet?"

She's lost Clark.

"Numbers separated by periods make up a Internet addresses."

"But this has to be a physical address."

"Like co-ordinates on a map."

"Or a grid."

"Yes! Is there a LuthorCorp building at the corner of 33rd street and 1st Avenue?"

Clark jumps out of the car. He zips away and back. "I think we may be on to something."

Chloe smiles. "A girl could get used to this."

Capital building. Lionel strolls into Martha's office. She wanted to see him? "Yes." Martha doesn't know how to say this. Her education bill has already taken a beating. There's no way it will pass now. The papers are calling for Stafford's head. She's going to have to distance herself from Lionel.

Lionel agrees. He launched the counter offensive but he's not sure it will be in time to save Martha's bill. But even more important than that the last thing he wants to do is continue to damage Martha's reputation.

"Stop. You warned me this might happen up front. It's my responsibility. I just didn't realize how cut-throat politics are." She chuckles at her naiveté. "I used to think a few of us were here to make things better for the people we represent but.."

"It all comes down to personal power."

"Maybe I'm not cut out for this sort of thing."

"Nonsense, Martha. Kansas needs you precisely because you're so different from the run of the mill politician. Distancing myself from you will be a huge personal blow. But it's something I'm more than willing to do because of how much is at stake. Unfortunately it's all too true, sometimes personal sacrifice is needed for the greater good."

"Thank you for your understanding."

"However, mere words aren't going to convince the media, much less the public. They need a demonstration of good faith."

"What more can we do?"

"I have an idea. It involves a bit of slight of hand but in the end it will benefit everyone involved."

Now why can't you write Lex more like that?

Sacrilege, Michael. No one touches Lionel.

He's just a secondary character!

And that just makes it all the more painful for you, doesn't it?

Michael? Stop while you're behind.

A Nondescript building on the outskirts of down town. Chloe observes the building isn't nearly 33 stories tall.

Despite the low tech outside inside it looks like spy vs spy.

Chloe warns Clark to take it easy on his powers. There's bound to be surveillance. They don't need Lex being more suspicious than he already is. She asks if Clark can use his X-ray vision to find the easiest entry point.

There's an emergency exit around back. Clark fusses the alarm wire with his heat vision and they sneak in.

It's completely dark. Clark asks Chloe if she has a flashlight. She hands him infra red goggles. "What? Is a flashlight too low tech for you?"

"The darker it is the less the surveillance cameras will pick up." Clark tries the goggles. They're too small and he has hold them up with his hand.

Lex's study. One of the artifacts traders is talking with him. Lex is studying some photos of ancient weapons. None of them are right. He almost flips past a photo of a crystal and has to come back to it.

"See something you like?".

"This is supposed to be a weapon? Doesn't look like one."

"Ah, that." Hint of a smile, "It's more mythological artifact than weapon. Legend is it supposedly allowed an ancient tribe of people to destroy the gods of a rival tribe."

Lex jokes "A weapon that can slay gods? Sounds pretty dangerous."

"Like I said it's mythological."

"Can you get it?"

A big smile, "For the right price I can get you anything."

"I want it."

"A pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Luthor." They shake hands. Lex notices his ring is glowing and quickly pulls his hand away and places it behind his back. "Is everything alright?"

Slightly distracted. "Yes. How long do you think it will take to acquire the artifact?"

"Hard to say. It's last known confirmed sighting was over fifty years ago."

"I have every confidence you're up to the job." The man exits. As soon as he's out the door Lex calls security. "Have the valet get a GPS on his car before he leaves."

Cut to the security desk. A heat vision camera shows Clark an Chloe walking up to an elevator door. "They're in, sir." Says the guard.

We hear Lionel on the other end say, "Don't do anything until they find it. Once they're in I want you to turn off all surveillance recording and then hit the panic button."

"But sir."

"Just do it. I don't want any record of what happens floating around."

"Yes sir."

Wow. Just, wow. I'm back, baby!

Cut to the man driving away from the Luthor property. He morphs into Professor Fine, uses X-ray vision to locate the GPS, and heat vision to fry it.

So is this good Brainiac or bad Brainiac?

Oh yeah, I forgot we had good Brainiacs out there.

So bad then?

Yep.

Cut an elevator shaft. Chloe is hanging onto Clark's neck as he scales down. "There doesn't seem to be anybody here. I think we could have taken the elevator."

"We need to draw as little attention to ourselves as possible, Clark."

Clark slips and Chloe grabs him tightly. Her mouth brushes against his his ear. "Sorry"

"I'm OK. It's just that if we fall unlike you I'll probably break a few bones."

"You're starting to rethink that elevator decision aren't you?" They descend another few feet. "This is it." Clark opens the elevator door.

Chloe hops off him and takes out her camera. "Jackpot." They've found Level 33.1.

"What are we looking for?"

"ID badges, pay stubs, any kind of documentation that links a person to the place. The only thing we're lacking now is a first hand witness."

"Don't you think Lex would have bought everyone off? Or at least threatened them within an inch of their lives?"

"We're not going to find anybody willing to testify in court but you might be surprised at how much more willing people are to talk if they can remain anonymous."

Clark shows her a directory.

"Perfect. Now as long as they didn't use code names I can probably cross reference this with the Luthorcorp payroll. Let me get a few pictures and we can get out of here."

Machines start up. Lights go on. Sirens start blaring. Chloe: "Oh Crap." A green mist shoots from the ceiling and Clark is out cold immediately.

Chloe grabs a chair and places between the closing doors. As the chair gets crushed she searches for something else but she's starting to choke. She pulls out her cell phone but no service is available. Pained look, "I loved this shirt," she rips off one of her sleeves and puts it over her mouth.

What, she can't rip a sleeve off Clark's nasty red jacket? No one would morn that.

There's a conference room about ten feet away. She tries to drag Clark but he's too heavy. Her breathing gets more labored and she starts dry heaving before collapsing next to Clark.

Lex's study. A security guard comes in. "We lost the GPS signal. He must have found it."

Lex slams his fist on the desk. Lana comes in through the back entrance. "What's that all about?"

Lex crosses the room to kiss her. He glances at his ring as he grabs her hand. "I think I was being set up."

"By who?"

"That artifacts dealer. He's really Professor Fine."

"How do you know?"

"My ring glowed when we shook hands."

"Does he know you know?"

"Maybe. He claims he can get me the weapon."

"What's his game?"

"My guess is he doesn't want Kal-El running things anymore than we do."

"Your guess!?"

Angry, "Do you have a better one?!"

"No, Lex. I'm sorry."

[surprise] Did Lana just say she was sorry?

[exasperated] She doesn't have to 100% bitch 100% of the time you know.

Lex pours himself a drink. He offers one to Lana who declines. "The only one's we can trust are each other. You need to start wearing your necklace again because Fine could pose as anyone."

Level 33.1 A figure in green enters. He checks their pulses and hefts Chloe over his back. As he works his way back to the elevators it looks like the security doors have been opened with explosives. The elevators aren't working. He scales the cable to the next floor and gets off. Mouth to mouth resuscitation. Chloe wakes coughing violently.

"You may have to help me with your friend, he's a bit heavy."

"Who?" the man hands Chloe a rope and is gone. Chloe looks around for her stuff. It's not there and she frowns, "Dammit".

In a strained voice "Where is that help young lady?" Chloe goes to the elevator shaft. The man has Clark over his shoulder. The rope is tied under Clark's arms. Chloe wraps the rope around a column and starts pulling. The man dumps Clark on the floor. He throws Chloe's bag to her feet. "Some god awful stuff Luthor has concocted, isn't it?"

Chloe grabs her bag. "Who are you?"

"Someone you can trust. You two need to be thinking about how you're going to get out of here. The police will be here any minute."

"Wait!" but he's gone. Chloe goes to Clark who's starting to come to.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure, but we need to get out of here."

"Do you have the stuff?"

Chloe looks in her bag. Distracted, "Yeah. It's all here, and more."

Clark has trouble standing and Chloe notices he has scrapes all over his face and hands.

"Clark, you're bleeding!"

"Chloe, I don't feel so good. You're going to have to help me."

A look of horror, "There's no way I can carry you! I can barely drag you along the floor."

Trying to laugh, "Just help keep me steady."

Worried, "OK." She puts Clark's arm over her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"That gas, it must be laced with Kryptonite."

"Let's get you out of here." They start walking, Clark leaning on Chloe for support.

That's Green Arrow, right? I have an idea for casting.

I don't think we really have time for...

Sting!

Sting? Isn't he like, really old?

He's still got it. Plus we could use Police songs in all his scenes. Come on Allison, wouldn't a Chloe and Green Arrow love scene to "Wrapped around your Finger" be great?

Maybe when he punches Lex we could play "King of Pain".

I know you're just trying to bait me, but if we could get Sting I'd be happy for him to beat me up. It'd be an honor.

Can we have him meet Lana and play "Every little thing she does (is Magic)"?

[Groans] On second thought, scratch the Sting idea.

No, I love it.

Well you wouldn't be the one having to kiss a fifty year old.

Is he really that old?

I had to kiss Zod.

That was just Michael pretending to be Zod. I'd actually be kissing a 50 year old.

Bad enough.

Hey, I'd love to kiss Sting. Could we work Martha in?

Martha Kent and the Green Arrow?!

Let's work on casting issues another time, people.

Lionel's Office. The security guard from Level 33.1 enters handing over a spray can. "It works like a charm."

"How quickly?"

"Instantly."

"How long was he down?"

"Couple minutes."

Disappointed, "That's all?"

"He probably would have been out for hours but some dude dived in and pulled them both out of there. He came to pretty quickly after that."

"This rescuer, was it one of our former inmates?"

"I didn't get a good look at him."

Turning away and studying the can, "And the girl?"

"She's fine."

"Thank you. That will be all."

Lex's study. Lana enters. Lex shows her the paper and accuses her of blabbing to Chloe. Level 33.1 is on the front page!

Furious, Lana wonders how Lex could think such a thing.

"Maybe because the first thing you did after finding out about Kal-El and the stones was run off to Clark. I'm starting to see why Clark never trusted you! Covering up that incident at the Kent house was bad enough. Do you have any idea what kind of mess you've left me to clean up now?"

"I don't have to listen to this!" Lana storms out.

Lex yells after her, "That's it, run off and sulk like an impertinent child!" then more to himself "and come back when you're ready to act like a grown up."

And the revolving door starts.

Hold on. Somebody calls Lana on her crap and it's for something she didn't even do? This is a travesty!

I'm not sure what you expected Michael.

I expected... [stops] I don't know what the hell I expected.

Besides we don't know for sure who gave Clark the briefing.

You mean it might not have been the Magnificent Bastard? There is no way that little tart is going to upstage Lionel!

All I can say is that Lionel better watch himself.

[Angry glare at KK]

Lionel saunters in. "Trouble in paradise?"

Lex glares.

"A bit of a handful, isn't she? Hope she's worth it."

Lex grabs some bottled water. "Spare me the small talk. What are you here for, Dad."

"Ah, I'm here to ask you if you're intentionally trying to run the company into the ground."

Lex says that Lionel already beat him to it with the Stafford debacle.

Lionel laughs. Political graft is as old as the hills. It's almost expected. But releasing dangerous mutants in search of an ancient alien weapon? That is the kind of thing that scares shareholders.

They should be scared of the end of life as we know it.

Lionel tells him his one man crusade is insane. Throw in quip about Don Quixote.

Lionel has already referenced Quixote. Besides, Kristen, I'm sure you wouldn't want Lana compared to Pancho.

You're right. We'll have to come up with something else.

Chicken Little?

The boy who cried wolf.

I'm sorry. A magnificent bastard doesn't make a habit of retelling children's bedtime stories. We'll have to do better.

What about...

You know what? I'll bring something...

To the shoot. Thanks, John.

"I have it under control."

"I disagree. That Lang woman is a distraction. And by the way, it seems your esteemed PR guru has quit in disgrace. That Sullivan girl got her behind the eight ball on this Level 33.1 debacle and the press practically ate her alive."

"If you're so concerned about our company's image perhaps you should hire her replacement. I have bigger things on my mind."

Lionel agrees that Lex does. But not to worry, Lionel is sure whoever he chooses to replace Ms. Hathaway will make a big impression. Then finally to rub salt in the wound Lionel has heard that this little fiasco has spooked the board. Now that this is out he doubts they'll want to give Lex the free reign he seeks.

Lex slams his drink down. "Get out!"

Kent house. Martha in front of the fire holding a photo of Jonathon.

Enter Lois, "You wanted to see me, boss?" Looking at Martha, "This isn't going to be good news, is it?"

Putting the photo back, "Lois, this isn't easy for me."

Lois swallows.

"There's something I need you to do."

"Anything."

"You're not going to like it. I don't like either."

"Are you resigning?"

"No. That's why I need your help."

DP. Chloe admires her front page story. Clark enters, face back to normal. Chloe notes he must be feeling better.

After several hours the effect of the gas wore off.

Chloe wants to tell him thanks.

"I know it doesn't make up for some of the things I said..."

"Forget it."

"No. I need you to hear this. You've done everything humanly possible to earn my trust. I never wanted to hurt you, Chloe. When you've been holding on to something so tightly for so long sometimes you don't even know how to let go. I'm trying to learn, and I'm sorry."

She takes his hand. "I'm sorry too. Hiding my mom's secret from the people I love has been hard enough." She laughs. "I worry that people would look at me differently if they knew about my mom. But your secret must be a burden I can't even imagine. I can't expect you to completely open up overnight. But sometimes I can't help myself. I get impatient. It's like I know exactly where I want us to be but the journey..."

"Seems to take forever?"

Kind of like this series?

"I'm sorry if I pushed too hard, Clark." Smiling, "Help me celebrate another front page byline and let me get you dinner. What are you in the mood for?"

"Italian?"

"Sounds good. Where are you parked?"

Sly smile, "I wasn't planning on needing the truck." Chloe smiles back. Go to black.

So do they have makeup sex?

I thought you didn't want them to have sex?

Did I?

Yeah, because of Lois.

Lois?

Being Chloe's cousin?

Oh, yeah. I decided I don't care about that. They should have makeup sex.

I think that makes you and Tom the only hold outs, Allison.

Oh, they'll cave eventually.

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