6.18 Fallout

By &

Tempers flare when Lex suspects Clark of thwarting his attempts to acquire the Kryptonian weapon. Chloe enlists her cousin’s help to clear her name.

A newspaper thumps loudly against an apartment door. It falls to reveal the headline "LuthorCorp continues unauthorized experimentation with human mutation" the by line is Chloe Sullivan.

There's a stock photo of Lois in a side bar. Underneath it reads, "LuthorCorp spokesperson Lois Lane declined comment." At the top of the page a business section teaser reads "Omega-Tech: As its stock reaches an all time high a Queen Industries buyout seems eminent."

Cut to Lois' bedroom. Sunlight spills in and she shields her eyes. She groans as she slowly rises to sit and holds her head for a few seconds.

We already did hungover Lois once. Must we do it again?

Actually this is technically roofie Lois.

That makes me feel so much better.

The camera follows her as she takes some aspirin from her medicine cabinet and then downs it with some bottled water from her refrigerator.

She presses play on her answering machine. It announces she has eight messages. As she heads for her door, "Eight messages? I never have messages."

And now she has no social life?

Let's see. She has a full time job, she's going to school, and is writing a book. If Chloe's not allowed to have a social life than Lois sure as hell shouldn't have one.

Chloe is dating Oliver!

Oh. Yeah.

So can we cut the line about not ever having any messages?

No. It's funny.

Tom, you wouldn't know funny if it hit you across the side of the head.

And you would?

Michael, tell Tom it's not funny.

It's not funny, Tom.

So we're going to cut it.

The line stays.

What?!?

I like it that Lois has no social life. She opens her door and picks up the paper. We hear an impatient message from Chloe asking Lois to call her as Lois absorbs the headline. Her eyes go wide. "Oh, crap!"

End teaser.

She should say "Holy crap." It sounds better.

She should say "Holy shit," but we're not allowed to do that.

How about "Holy crap, Batman."

Not funny Annette.

You wouldn't know funny if it...

Look, settle down everyone. We don't want Rick coming down here with the tranquilizer gun again.

I say let him come!

Then you don't mind if I use you for a human shield?

[scoots her chair a few inches away from JG] You wouldn't dare.

Come on, focus, people.

We return with Chloe in a dorm hallway.

She's on her cell. "Just one more thing to wrap up and I'll meet you at the airport."

She wraps loudly on a door.

A bleary eyed Lori answers, "Chloe? What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk."

Close shot of a phone ringing. An anonymous arm reaches out of bed to pick it up.

So that's it?

What's it?

Chloe's first scene is just two lines?

We could cut it if you want. I didn't want the scene at all.

It doesn't seem to be very useful.

It will make sense later. Trust me.

Trust you?

Then trust me.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Pull back to reveal Lex. Agitated, "What?" he pauses, "Lois? What the hell are you calling me this early in the morning for?" another pause, "Slow down." Lex smiles but speaks as if he is concerned. "Calm down Lois." another pause, "I said calm down. We can handle this, OK? I don't want you saying anything to the press until we have a chance to form a strategy, and that includes your cousin."

Patronisingly, "Relax and take a few deep breathes. I'm be in the office in an hour. We'll get through this. Trust me."

Lex smiles as he hangs up the phone.

Pull back to reveal Lana laying in bed next to him. She's awake.

Tom I thought we weren't going to have Lana sleeping with Lex anymore.

She's not sleeping. She's awake.

You know what I mean.

You're right. The thing is Tom lost a bet.

Oh, God. Tom, you didn't.

I did.

Why, what does that mean?

It means Michael basically had free reign on the episode.

There better not be robots.

No. I couldn't fit the robots in.

Tom, I was counting on you to prevent the return of the fishnets.

Yeah. Well wait until you find out what Clark is wearing. You'll thank you're lucky stars Chloe's sporting fishnets.

Somehow I doubt it.

[Weakly] We'll see.

Lex lies back down and strokes her hair smiling. "And now the fun begins."

Lana turns away and sits up, pulling the sheets around her, "This is fun to you?"

Gosh. It only took one scene for Lana to get pissy this time.

What did you expect?

She's nice most of the rest of the episode.

She is?

Well, except for that other scene.

I can't wait.

Lex gets up and goes to his closet. "I thought you wanted to get back at Oliver Queen almost as much as I do."

"That's not who I'm talking about."

Lex puts his hand on her chin and turns her to face him, "Lana, I need you to have your game face on when we meet with Lois. Can I count on you?"

Lana turns away from his gaze and pulls the sheets around her tighter. She whispers, "Yes."

You know if Lex were a guest star he'd be dead, evil, or crazy by now. Possibly all three.

News flash. He has been all three.

The problem is that he keeps getting brought back to life.

Lex kisses her on the head, "Good." The he turns to walks off into the bathroom.

She looks up and gives his back the evil eye.

Lex's office. Lois enters wearing sunglasses. Lex, Lana, and Mercy are already there.

She sits slowly, careful not to move her head, "I can't believe that Kahn woman lied to you! I should have called Chloe. I know I could have convinced her not to print that story."

Hung over and naive. What a flattering combination.

Lana looks down. Mercy smiles knowingly. Lex puts his hand on Lois', "Don't blame yourself, Lois. What's done is done. The real issue is where do we go from here?"

Lois, "I was going to clear my schedule and set up a press conference."

Lex, "No."

Lois, "No?"

Lex, "Chloe has brought some very serious charges against us. We need to get to the bottom of these accusations before making any public statements."

Lana, "Are you saying there may be some validity to her claims?"

Lex, "Lana, LuthorCorp is a big company. I can't control everything. If any of it is true those responsible will be dealt with."

Lois, "I can't continue to work here if any of them are true."

Lex, "It's my sincerest hope none of them are true, Lois. Even so we must proceed carefully."

Mercy, "If we deny all the charges and even one turns out to be true..."

Lex, "We're stuck in a lie that in the long run will do more damage than admitting a mistake and making amends."

Lois, "Meanwhile the stock price goes right down the crapper. Lex, you hold the confidence of shareholders by the narrowest of margins. If the stock price falls... "

Lex, "Lois, If I'm going to do what's right that's a risk I have to take."

He's getting to be a tricky little bastard, isn't he?

Magnificent.

Not magnificent, just tricky.

Lana turns away. She's having a hard time participating in the charade.

Because she's a bad actor or because she likes Lois?

Don't you dare go there, John.

I didn't ask if you were a bad actor, Kristen. I asked if Lana was.

Well I can tell you if Kristen is a bad actor.

Do you want to die young?

Hmm. So you already know the answer.

[Sticks her tongue out at MR]

Lois, "So where do we go from here?"

Lex, "You announce we are opening our own internal investigation and will make no comment until the investigation if finished."

Lois, "That's as bad as saying we're guilty. The stock price will go through the floor."

Why exactly is Lois so concerned about the stock price?

I don't know.

Maybe she's getting options.

Who cares if she has options. Why is she associating with that den of snakes?

She still wants to hold onto her LuthorCorp contacts. They might be valuable later.

That's BS.

Maybe even though she despises LuthorCorp as the head public relations she has a perverse stake in the situation.

The stock going down would somehow reflect badly on her because it's her job to keep it up.

Even though she'd like the company to go out of business.

That is perverse.

And good enough for me.

Mercy, "I don't see what other choice we have." Lex adds, "And as a show of confidence I'm going to abandon my takeover bid for Omega-Tech and put that money back into Luthorcorp stock."

Lois, "I don't think that alone is going to be enough to convince shareholders..."

Lex, "Meanwhile I want everything else to go on as if everything is fine."

Lois, "But..."

Lex, "Trust me on this, Lois."

Now there is where she should start getting suspicious.

Yeah. But then Michael and I would have to re-write the rest of the episode.

Besides, Lois isn't smart enough to start suspecting Lex yet.

Says who?

Says me.

And most of fandom.

Stay out of this, John.

You're the one who wanted to be remembered as the sexiest Lois Lane.

I said sexiest not dumbest! Looks and brains aren't mutually exclusive.

Take Lex Luthor for example...

My, we're a bit delusional about our character's intelligence aren't we?

Not to mention looks.

That's enough, Allison. [To TW] I'm putting the catsuit back in.

Only if you change Clark's costume.

Damn, you, Tom! You know I'm not changing your costume.

Lois, "So we just sit here on our hands and hope everything works out?"

Lex, "On the contrary. We'll still attend the charity ball this evening. I want us to present a brave face to the world."

Lois, "It will be a media circus!"

Lex, "Let it. I'm not going to hide. If I do it will look like I have something to hide. Everyone has their marching orders. Let's go."

On the way out Lana stops Lois, "Did you have a chance to talk with Chloe yet?"

"No, why?"

"I just... I don't know." She looks down. "I guess we'll see her at the ball."

Sarcastic, "And that's going to be loads of fun."

Would you let Lana pick a side already?

You don't like wishy-washy Lana?

No!

That's too bad.

Clark is having breakfast at Martha's apartment.

In tribute to Lana she hands him a plate full of pancakes, "I hope you have fun this weekend."

You're so funny, Rosenbaum.

"I don't see how that's going to happen."

Martha gives Clark a disapproving look. "Lois is a nice girl, Clark."

"That's not what I'm talking about, Mom."

"What's going on?"

"Lex and Lana are going to be there. And Chloe."

Clark is still hung up on Lana?

Like I said, Tom lost a bet. Martha sits, "She's still mad at you?"

"Not that I blame her."

And Chloe is still mad at him?

Like I said...

[sighs] ...Tom lost a bet.

Oliver and Chloe trying on costumes. He wears Robin Hood leggings and boots on but no shirt. She wears a black bodysuit and fishnet stockings. "I can't believe I'm even trying this on!"

Yeah, me either.

Believe it, baby!

"I like it." His phone rings, "Sorry, I've got to take this. Hi, Mercy"

Chloe, who up until now seemed fairly happy, folds her arm and scowls.

It's not like Chloe to be jealous like that.

Mercy gives her bad vibes.

For good reason.

Oh. I thought it was jealousy.

It is. "Understood, and I agree."

Play it how you like, Allison. "What was that about?"

You lost, Tom. She has to play it jealous. "Oh, there's speculation that Lex will have to abandon his position in Omega-Tech to shore up the Luthorcorp share price. Thanks to your article."

I'll play how I like.

OK. Play it however you like. But no matter how you play it you'll be wearing fishnets.

I'm thinking she's going to play it angry.

Smiling, "So?"

"Mercy just wanted to confirm that I wanted to use the opportunity to make the final move on Omega-Tech. With Lex liquidating his stock I can purchase it directly from him at a bit of a discount."

"A discount? I thought the price had doubled since he had purchased his shares."

"True, he'll be making a healthy profit. But he's going to turn around and throw it all right back into a company that's on the verge of collapse. Your article couldn't have come out at a better time."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Queen."

"Then the speech I had planned for when you finally picked an outfit was a total waste of time?"

"You're welcome to give it a try anyway." She holds up several dresses choices, "So what do you think? The red, blue, or yellow?"

He pulls a black gown from the rack. "The black. Definitely the black."

"Black? Is Maid Marion going to a funeral?"

The way this episode is going we might be going to you two's funeral.

"I like black. It goes really well with the..."

"For the last time, I'm not wearing fishnets, Oliver."

You tell him, Chloe.

"If I'm going to be wearing tights the least you can do is indulge me with a pair of fishnet stockings."

"You will be wearing leggings, not tights."

"And who other than you is going to know the difference?"

"Oh, all right."

Give me a break!

Oliver smiles triumphantly. "And about the..."

She smiles and seductively rubs his chest, "The bodysuit? That was for a private showing only."

Oliver grins from ear to ear. He calls out to the saleswoman, "put the bodysuit on my tab!"

Martha's office. She's on the phone admiring a bouquet of flowers on her desk. "Thanks for the flowers, Lois."

She pauses and smiles, "I never would have guessed our education bill would have so much national appeal. The US senate barely changed any of the wording." She pauses again and laughs, "I'm sure there were a few senators read the whole thing." Another pauses, "I don't know if I'll even be invited to the signing." And one more pause, "Well if I am I'll see if I can finagle a spot for you too."

Cut to Lois and Clark in a limo at the airport. The LuthorCorp jet waits in the background.

"We're here. Was there anything you wanted to tell Clark?" Lois looks at Clark and smiles, "Sure thing, Mrs. Kent."

"Well?"

"She wants you to make sure you show your date a good time."

Clark sighs.

"Relax, Smallville. Lex isn't going to bite."

"When I agreed to do this I didn't know we'd be riding with them."

"You mean when Lori agreed? I doubt she'd be pleased to hear how hung up your are over your ex."

So is she referring to Lex or Lana?

Doesn't matter. She wouldn't be pleased either way.

I don't know. A three way with Lex might be right up her alley.

Michael, you're disgusting.

Besides, she might find Lex and Clark not as interested in her as each other.

See Allison, John is the disgusting one.

You're both disgusting.

"This has nothing to do with Lana."

So she was referring to Lex!

"Then I guess you don't have anything to complain about. Grab your bags, Smallville."

Cut to inside the corporate jet. Lana is showing Lex a map. "I have our men scouring the countryside surrounding the explosion site."

Lex is unimpressed. "It's a waste of manpower."

Lana is firm. "Lex, this is our only good lead. They're still finding debris from the temple. I think the weapon might have been thrown clear."

"Even if it was Kal-El must have already retrieved it."

"How can you be so...?"

Lois pokes her head through the door, "Knock, knock!"

Lana closes the map. Lois and Clark enter.

Lex, "Hello, Clark. It's good to see you again."

Clark looks at Lex's ring. Stiffly, "Hello, Lex. Lana."

So how exactly are Clark and Lex going to ride in the plane together with Lex wearing the ring.

The ring is a fake.

What?

Yeah. Clark switched the stones when he captured the first weapon. He's not a complete idiot.

So how come he didn't mention it?

Who's he going to mention it to?

Chloe.

What does Chloe care about whether Lex has a fake ring or not? She's not the one sickened by Kryptonite.

He could show her he's not a complete idiot.

Clark isn't a show-off.

Besides. Wouldn't Lex have tested the stone to make sure it's not fake? He's not a complete idiot.

Thank you, Kristen. The thing is a real ring doesn't really help him. His last encounter with Kal-El proved that ring or no ring Kal-El will could take him down.

So he's pretending he doesn't know the ring is a fake. That way later.

Maybe he can spring a surprise.

I must say he's pretty good. Not as good as Lionel, but pretty good.

Lois, "Clark, why don't you make yourself at home? I need to talk to these two about some corporate stuff."

Lex, "Actually, Lana, you mind entertaining Clark for a few minutes? We're not going to go over anything you don't already know."

"OK."

Lois and Lex head off toward the front of the plane. Clark and Lana exchange nervous smiles. "I guess you saw the paper."

"Yes."

"How can you condone that, what he's been doing?"

Defensive, "I don't see you turning down our corporate largess."

Clark turns away. "I'm doing this as a favor to Lois."

"Then maybe as a favor to Lois you can keep your mistrust of Lex to yourself for one night."

Icy silence, "We miss seeing you at school."

Agitated, "You know Lex and I are trying to make the world a safer place."

"Safer for who?"

"Everyone." Lana turns away and looks out the window. The plane is taking off.

"Everyone except the people who are dying in your boyfriend's experiments."

Lana turns and stares angrily at Clark. "You don't get it, do you, Clark?"

"Lana, what I get is that Lex will use any justification to get what he wants. He wants to make the world a safer place? There are other, more responsible ways to do that. We've both known Lex for a long time, Lana. It's always been about him. He's not above using others to get what he wants, you, me, Lois, Chloe. You don't want to be with someone who uses people like that, do you?"

Lana's face remains angry. "That's enough, Clark."

Lex and Lois come back into the cabin, "I hope we didn't leave you two alone too long, did we?"

Lana claims they were fine. Lex, "Good, good." He starts talking about how Lionel was injured. As he brings up small details he glances in Clark's direction searching for a hint of recognition.

Clark is silent but he's unable to contain his agitation, especially when Lois postulates she thinks Kal-El may have saved Lionel.

Lex sees this and smiles faintly. He teases Lois about her faith in Kal-El. How does she know he's so good?

Lois is hesitant being put on the spot. She looks over at Clark and then back to Lex, "I don't know. I just feel it in my gut, the way you just know about some people."

Lex leans towards her and smiles deviously, "And what does your gut tell you about me?"

Lois frowns, "That if I want to keep my job I need to keep my opinions to myself."

Lex smiles, "Smart girl." He pats Lois on the knee.

Which does not go unnoticed by Lana. Both she and Lois seem quite uncomfortable.

Lex turns toward the mini-bar apparently oblivious, "Anyone for a drink?"

Lois, "Actually, I hear from Martha that Lana's dress is fabulous. Do you mind?"

Lana smiles "Sure."

The girls get up and leave.

Clark asks about Lex's Dad and gives him the speech Tom wanted last episode.

But since they're in the plane Lex can't tell Clark to get out.

"All this time I thought my Dad was pushing me in a direction I didn't want to go. I thought he wanted me to realize my potential in a different way. But that wasn't it at all. He was actually holding me back the whole time. But enough talk about me. How is your old friend Kal-El?"

"Lex, I've told you..."

"That you don't know what I'm talking about? Do you not know about this?" He holds up his palm to show his wound.

Clark does his best not to turn away.

"Stay out of my way, Clark. Twice I've been on the verge of capturing the weapon, and twice Kal-El has foiled me. I would hate to find out you had anything to do with it."

"You're being paranoid, Lex."

Lex slams his fist on a table, "I know you're working with him, damn it!"

Clark is silent.

"Clark, I'm just going to tell you this one more time. I don't care who gets in my way, I'm going to defeat Kal-El. If you stay caught up in this you will get hurt."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's the truth, Clark. You should try it some time."

The ball. Lois is dressed like Zatanna. "Come on, Smallville. It's not that bad."

Who's Zatanna.

Comic magician.

Is that because magic is the only thing that's going to get Lois a gig at the Planet?

I think it's because of her magical personality.

Definitely the thing about the Planet.

From off screen, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you when you said you had my costume handled."

"What? He's one of my heroes!"

"It's just that when you said Armstrong I thought you meant...."

She pulls Clark on-screen. He wears a blue and read spandex biking outfit, "you'd be dressing like you came straight from outer space?"

Oh, Tom.

I know.

You poor thing.

He'll survive.

Michael, how could you do that to him?

Are you saying Tom in spandex is worse that you in fishnets?

Well, no, but I thought you two were friends.

You know I only put you in fishnets out of love, don't you?

Next time try sending a card.

"Buck up. You actually look OK in spandex."

"Lance doesn't go around with a big S on his chest."

"I thought I'd give it my own personal touch, Smallville. Besides, the S suits you better than some hawk."

"Eagle."

"Whatever."

I can't believe you'd make Lois so stupid.

All in the name of anvils.

Whatever. Stupid anvils.

Chloe off-screen, "You're showing a lot of leg there, Clark." She and Oliver enter the frame.

Oliver, "Nothing a matching set of tights and boots couldn't fix."

Matching tights and boots?

Stupid anvils.

"Clark, I'm supprised to see you cavorting with the likes of a LuthorCorp mouthpiece. The costume is appropriate, however. Magic is the only thing that can fix LuthorCorp's image now."

Lois stiffly, "Oliver."

"Miss Lane."

Chloe to Lois, "I thought you were going to call me last night."

Embarrassed, "Something, uh, came up."

"Like you trying to convince my boss to kill the story?"

"Lex..."

Condesending, "Yes. Let's talk about Lex. Do his hands still look so clean now?"

"We're conducting an internal investigation."

Oliver, "That's a laugh!"

Lois looks down.

Clark, "Could we bury the hatchet for one night?"

Oliver, "Fair enough. Clark, I wanted to introduce you to a few people. You two try to get along while we're gone."

Clark and Oliver exit. Lois spots Lana and waves her down.

Clark and Oliver weave through the crowd.

"Who exactly am I meeting?"

"Friends, powerful friends."

Not super friends?

That would be too corny.

Super friends is too corny? Are we reading the same script?

"Corporate titans or well connected politicians?"

"Both and neither. The kind of power I'm talking about doesn't flow from a wallet or a fancy public title."

They enter a door way and bump into a tall brunette sporting a red cape and tiara. "Wow."

Slapping Clark on the back, "I knew you'd take to the princess."

Lana, Lois and Chloe stand chatting. The various costumed characters pass by in the foreground.

Lois, "I don't get it. What's the attraction to Sherlock? Half the women in the room are falling all over him."

Chloe, "He's intellegent, hansom, and, rich. What more could you want?"

Lois, "Say want you want, I'll take bright eyed idealism over his brand of dark moodiness any day."

Lana, "Like a certain Kansas farm boy who will remained unnamed?"

Lois, "Please. You want to know who impresses me? Check out the marine."

Chloe, "Always drawn to a man in uniform, Lois?"

Lana, "He is pretty cute."

Chloe, "Odd taste in jewelry though."

Lois, "Oh, damn. Clark is sniffing around the Amazon again." She exits.

Chloe, "I honestely don't think she has much to worry about."

Lana, "No?"

"Even the Amazon has her eye on Sherlock."

"He isn't interested in anyone."

"She's the only one he's smiled at all night."

"He smiled?"

"Yep."

"And?"

Fans Self. "Gorgeous. Simply..." Pull back to show Lois and Clark attempting to dance. He steps on her foot and they both belly laugh. Chloe stops speaking.

"Is something wrong, Chloe?"

Yeah, something is wrong. This episode was written by a complete idiot.

As if coming out of a trance, "What? No. Everything is fine."

Can't you just let her be happy with Oliver?

Who am I to stand in the way of a good break up and a little more pining?

Lois semi-patiently shows Clark how to dance. He mentions that Lex is taking everything in stride.

Lois says a lot of Chloe's facts are wrong based on what the two of them uncovered in the LuthorCorp archives.

"Why didn't you tell Chloe?"

"I did." Pause, "Well I told her as much as I could. She thought I was just covering for Lex."

"Your documentation didn't convince her?"

Lois is silent. She gives Clark a guilty look and tells him that with all the effort she put into her book she just couldn't bear the thought of turning it all over to Chloe.

He asks Lois if she realizes how hard Chloe has worked all these years. "Her dream is at stake here."

"I know. Just for once I wanted to have a success I could call my own. By the time I came to my senses... I should have told her. I know that now." She pauses, "I know this sounds terrible but when Lex told me the Planet was going to kill her story I was actually happy about it. It meant I was off the hook and didn't have to show her anything. You'd think I would have learned the first time. Clark, I'm terrible person."

"No, Lois, you're not."

Oliver steps in. Lois makes a half hearted comment to Clark about finally having a parnter who knows how to dance. They dance awkwardly for a moment. "You're not half bad, Oliver. My cousin's taste in men might not be so off after all."

"Speaking of surprises, I had no idea Luthor's lap dog would be such a good dancer."

Cut to Clark and Chloe dancing. "Clark, where have you been?"

"I never left."

"Oliver took to into the back room. Who was he introducing you to?"

"Just... some of his friends."

"That's all I'm going to get out of you, isn't it?"

"Yes"

"So. You and Lois? I guess things didn't quite work out with Lori."

"Lois and I are here as friends."

Chloe hesitates, "In that case there's something you need to know. You're not the first person Lori switched from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jekle on."

Confused, "What do you mean?"

Back to Lois and Oliver, "Is that how you refer to your own employees, lap dogs?"

"I don't ask my employees to cover my ass with bold faced lies."

"It's not what it looks like, Oliver."

"It never is. Sometimes it's worse."

"Worse than being a lap dog?"

"You could be his guard dog."

"That would be Mercy."

Oliver's eye's narrow, "Mercy?"

Chloe, "A week before her little bait and switch on you and the Inquisitor she filed date rape charges against the Bull Dog's star wide reciever."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Two days later charges were dropped with no explaination."

Somewhat offended, "So?"

"Don't you think that's strange? First him and then you?"

"Strange or no, why should I care? She's sorry about what she did and that's all I care about."

"I did some checking into her college application. All the documentation was faked. Lori Lamars didn't exist until the day she set foot on campus."

Clark stops dancing, "You dug into her past?"

"I'm just looking out for you, Clark. Something's not right about her."

"You can't stand the fact I'm getting close to someone who doesn't care about my secret."

"It's not jealously, Clark. The more I find out the less things add up. My wierdar is completely off the charts! She's hiding something."

"I don't care."

"You don't care? Clark, you have no idea who she really is! She could be anybody... or anything."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. I thought maybe she was one of Lex's robots but..."

"But?"

"Kryptonite doesn't glow around her."

"You tested her with Kryptonite?!"

Lois and Oliver, "Chloe doesn't have the full story, Oliver."

Condescending, "You mean Luthor's version of the full story?"

"You're just as hard headed as she is, aren't you?"

"I'll take that as a compliment." Lex dressed as a pirate walks up. To Lois "It's time."

"OK." Lois exits.

"Finally feeling the heat, Lex?"

"I work best under fire, Oliver." He winks, "You'll see."

Chloe, "Don't you want to know who she is?"

"She has no idea who I am either Chloe. Fair's fair."

"Be careful, Clark. You could get hurt."

Lois moves into the frame. Avoiding eye contact with Chloe, "Quick public announcement. I'll be back in half an hour tops. You can take care of yourself, right?"

Looking at Chloe, "I think I can."

"Good." Lois exits just as Oliver arrives.

He takes Chloe's hand. "What exactly do you see in her, Clark?" Clark rolls his eyes and walks off without a word. "Was it something I said?" He notices Lex and Lana chatting with Mercy. His mood changes immediately.

Chloe, "What is it?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out." Mercy nods to Lex and walks off.

Chloe sees that he has his eye on Mercy, "Oliver,..."

"Something is up, Chloe." He heads for Mercy and Chloe follows.

Oliver passes Lex and Lana as Lex hands Lana an envelope.

As Lana walks off Lex steps in front of Chloe and grabs her by the arm, "Chloe, care to dance?"

Trying to pull away, "I really...."

"But I insist."

"How does it feel now that the world to knows you for what you are, a liar and a fraud?"

"Chloe, the last time we danced I asked you where you got your information on level 33.1."

"And just like last time you know I can't tell you."

"Last time you didn't know."

"I do this time."

Lex dips Chloe, their faces inches apart, ominously, "Do you?"

Lois, now in a business suit, stands behind a podium reviewing note cards.

Lana walks up and whispers in her ear.

Back to Chloe and Lex. "Who or what do you think your source is loyal to, Chloe? The truth?"

"Not loyal to you, if that's what you're getting at."

Lex whispers in Chloe's ear, "Loyalty is a funny thing Chloe. Our society holds it out as such an admirable trait. And yet to be completely loyal to one thing."

As Lex pauses for emphasis cut to Lois at the podium but keep Lex's audio.

"Whether it's to a goal,"

Pull back to show Lana hand Lois an envelope.

"A cause,"

Cut to show Martha sitting my Lionel's bedside.

"Or even just another person,"

Finally cut to show Clark looking through a window. Rotate the camera to reveal he is looking into Lori's dorm room. She's reading at her desk. Clark smiles.

"It often requires deception and deceit."

Back to Chloe's face. She's finally worried.

Lois looks at the envelope.

Lana shrugs and smiles, "A couple last minutes edits from Lex."

Lana joins Mercy on the side of the stage.

While opening the envelope Lois greets the crowd. "Good evening. As most of you already know the Daily Planet ran a piece this morning accusing LuthorCorp of various illegal activities. After an internal review we were only able to uncover one questionable program occurring in LuthorCorp facilities. This program was being run under the auspices of Omega-Tech, a Star city based corporation subletting our labs. Their activities were in breach of contractual obligations and their operations have been shut down. All other activity described in the article is perfectly legal. In order to prove this we have reluctantly requested, and the President of the United States has agreed, to partially declassify several top secret documents. These documents prove LuthorCorp's full compliance with all federal, state, and local laws."

The ball.

Christ, boys. This isn't MTV. What's with all these short shots? No wonder this generation has attention deficit. You can't finish one scene can you?

It's all inter-connected. Don't mess with my Opus. Lex whispers into Chloe's ear, "Often leading to unintended, sometimes devastating, consequences. But you and Clark wouldn't know anything about deception, would you?"

Chloe pulls back to look into Lex's eyes. Nervously, "No."

Cut to Clark. There's a snapping sound. He looks down to find he's stepped on a twig. When looks back up Lori is looking towards her window. "Hello? Who's there?"

Lois, "Furthermore, not only is LuthorCorp in full compliance with the law, the documentation shows that all activity was not only sanctioned by the federal government but that LuthorCorp is in fact performing this research at the behest of various government agencies. However, as all these projects remain vital to our national security no further details will be disclosed."

Lori's dorm room. She walks to her window and opens it. Looking out, "Is anyone there?" She pauses, "Clark?"

The ball.

How many more quick cuts do you have here?

I don't know? A dozen?

It's going to look like crap.

Stay out of it. You're not even in the episode.

I'm just trying to help.

Well don't. Lex, "You don't honestly believe Dr. O'Toole is the truth seeker you are, do you? Surely you aren't that naive. Tell me again, who do you think your source is loyal to?"

Lois. She's reached the part Lex added and depends more on her notes, "Because the accusations levied against LuthorCorp have severely damaged shareholder value we are exploring legal action against the Daily Planet and it's publisher including but not limited to libel, misrepresentation, and malicious negligence. LuthorCorp, however, is willing to consider dropping all charges."

The ball. Chloe stops dancing and takes a step back.

Shock and disbelief, "Not you."

Lex smiles broadly, "No."

Back to Lois. "in exchange for the resignation of..."

She looks off stage. Cut to Mercy who sternly nods that she should continue. Lana, who stands beside her, just looks confused.

[rolls her eyes]

Back to Chloe, "Then who?"

Amused, "You really don't know, do you?"

Back to Lois, "I'm sorry. In exchange for the resignation of... the resignation of... I'm sorry." Lois walks off stage as dozens of reporters shout questions after her. She shoves the papers into Mercy's hand, practically knocking her down on her way out, "Tell Lex he can shove this up his...."

Lana puts her hand on Lois' shoulder, "Lois! What's wrong?" But Lois shakes her off.

The ball, "It doesn't really matter who. What does matter is that everything you printed was a lie."

Cut to a local news cast, "LuthorCorp's spokesperson has just walked offstage turning this press conference into complete pandemonium."

Lex continues, "Lois tried to tell you didn't she? And you were so filled with hubris it never dawned on you that she just might be right, did it?"

The on location reporter, "This is quite unusual though perhaps not unexpected. In an unprecedented move LuthorCorp handed a few reporters a printed statement beforehand."

Lex, "When this is all over your precious Planet won't touch you with a ten foot pole. Your career is over."

Ouch. What a bastard.

Almost magnificent.

Just wait.

Reporter, "LuthorCorp is calling for the resignation of editor-in-chief Paula Kahn and the story author Chloe Sullivan. The Daily Planet plans an internal investigation of its own."

Lex to Chloe. "You are the liar and fraud."

She slaps him.

Unfazed, he smiles triumphantly, "It seems Dad was wrong. I am the one with the brains in the family after all."

Oliver amid the frenzied reporters. He stares in disbelief. Cut to Mercy. She winks evilly.

Back stage Mercy asks Lois, "What the hell was that?"

"How could Lex spring that on me? Chloe is my cousin!"

"Check your personal life at the door, Ms. Lane. You're here to do a job."

"Not anymore." Lois storms off. Mercy smirks.

The ball. Lois frantically searches through the crowd. Seeing Clark, "Where's Chloe?"

Clark, just back from Metropolis, is oblivious.

Surprise, surprise.

"She's not here. What's the matter, Lois?"

"Everything. We're going to have to find alternate transportation home."

Bus station. Lois hands Clark a ticket. "There's only one spot left on the next bus, Clark. You take it. The next one doesn't leave for another four hours." She pauses. "I'm sorry Clark. Pretty lousy end to a pretty lousy date, huh?"

"You take it Lois. I don't mind waiting."

"I couldn't."

"It's not up for discussion."

"Clark..."

"No."

"If your parents didn't teach you anything else at least they taught you to be a gentleman."

After a pause, "Lois, earlier you mentioned you should have learned something the first time. What were you talking about?"

Lois gives him a long "poor me" monologue about how every time she tries to do the right thing she ends up hurting the ones she loves. There's a lot of BS about some high school sweetheart she planned to marry. Long story short she wrote an article about Internet plagiarism which he asked her not to publish because it could end up "ruining people's lives". Ever sympathetic, Lois told him if they cheated they deserve what they get and low and behold he turned out to be one of the cheaters.

And?

So her fiancee who's the class valedictorian and a West Point acceptee ends up killing himself and all Lois gets is a major guilt complex.

You forgot to mention he was the son of her dad's superior officer.

I thought that was laying it on a little thick.

And the line about her thinking she knew someone when all that time he was hiding a deep dark secret.

Yeah, yeah. You and your irony.

Clark tells her she was right to expose the cheating. "We can only be held responsible for our own choices."

"The choices we make, right or wrong, they effect people in ways we can never imagine. Whatever good my article did can't make up for the pain and suffering his family and friends ended up going through." God, Tom, this shit you wrote is corny.

It's good. I like this back story. It gives Lois depth.

"It's not your fault."

"I've told myself that a million times, Clark. But it messed me up big time. I can't begin to explain what it's like to feel responsible for someone's death." Yada yada yada.

Translation-- Lois bailed out of the last month of school.

Something to the effect of her not feeling like she deserved a life after that. And then some crap about when she thought Chloe had been killed she had a chance for redemption. Tom, I still don't get that shit.

She saw bringing Chloe's killer to justice as a way of redeeming herself.

But Chloe wasn't killed.

So Lois stayed fucked up.

Clark tells her she helped.

"By taking a job from the man who tried and failed to kill her? By ruining her career? I finally have a chance to make a positive difference in the world and I screw it up all over again because I was so worried about who would get the credit."

Clark puts his arm around her. "Let's hope the DP internal investigation finds it was all a set up. Chloe's reputation can still be saved."

"Whether it was a set up or not I don't see how she'll ever forgive me, Clark."

"You never know, Lois. All you can do is ask. Besides, it's not like Chloe's been a perfect angel her whole life either."

Lois smiles despite herself and looks down. "She never screwed things up this bad."

"She can forgive a lot, Lois. I know from experience." He gets introspective, "And she cares about her friends, even the ones she's mad at."

The bus arrives and Lois stands. "Thanks, Clark. You sure you don't want to take the first bus?"

"I'll be fine."

She hugs him, "You really are a good friend. Thanks for listening."

She climbs up into the bus and sits before pulling out her cell phone. Clark watches the bus roll out before super speeding off.

Lois leaves Chloe a message, "Give me a call when you get this. There's something I have to show you." She sighs and sadly leans her head against the bus window.

Micheal, did you write any of that scene?

It's all about delegation. The only stipulation was no crying allowed.

So you write mean Lex and Tom writes sympathetic Clark.

I write tense drama and Tom writes fluffy melodramatic sap.

Clark drops by Lori's room.

This was Tom's scene too. You can tell by the sappy sweetness. He's woken her up, "I didn't expect you back this soon."

He tells her about how Lex hurt almost everyone Clark cares about and there was nothing he could do about it.

Actually, I did write that one line. She counters there are somethings you just can't stop not matter who you are, even Lex. And he's about the most powerful person on the planet. She tries to comfort him which leads to making out.

As he kisses her neck she smells his hair and opens her eyes, almost shocked. She smells of him deeply and pulls away. She examines his face critically.

"Is everything is OK?"

She Pulls his head toward her to smell once more before looking him in the eyes as if seeing him for the first time. "It's... It's the way you smell... so different. I can't believe I hadn't noticed it before."

Embarrassed. "Bad?"

"No."

"It's probably Lois' perfume." Getting up, "I'll take a shower."

Pushing him back down, "No. It's definitely you."

Clark looks more embarrassed.

Lori laughs, "Clark, you smell... nice. Really."

"I do?"

"It all makes sense now; your secretiveness, Chloe's protectiveness, the way you never seem completely comfortable around people."

"What are you talking about, Lori?"

She touches his face affectionately and kisses him tenderly. Between kisses, "It can wait for now."

Lois' apartment. Lois sits nervously. Pull back to reveal Chloe sifting through all her documentation. Chloe sounds disappointed, "You had this the whole time."

Lois can't meet her gaze, "Yes."

Heavy sigh, "I can forgive you."

That's BS. Chloe wants to tear her head off.

Chloe wouldn't do that.

Well at least taser her a couple times.

Lois looks up surprised.

Because she was expecting to get her head torn off.

"On one condition."

She eats shit and dies?

"Anything."

"The only way to clear my name is to prove I was set up. Help me figure out who did it." Go to black.

The Lane girls against Lionel? Good luck on that one.

They beat him once. They'll do it again.

Here's me not holding my breath.

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