6.19 Fallen

By &

When a split second decision results in dozens of deaths Clark retreats to his fortress. Lionel’s threat causes Lex to consider stepping down as LuthorCorp’s CEO.
Quick disclaimer: The CV episode you are reading is not happy. It is definitely not an episode I'd ever want to see. It is simply how I imagine CV!MR & CV!JG would write it.

Open with Lex and Lana in Lionel's room.

Lex tells Lana he just wishes Lionel were awake so he could tell him how all his associates' loans were called as LuthorCorp stock plummeted. They cut their losses and ran.

Lana, "and while the price was down you doubled your original stake in the company."

Lex laughs.

Is Lex allowed to Laugh?

Especially in the presence of Lana?

Shut up!

"Even when your father is in a comma you seek is approval."

"I suppose you're right."

"I'm sure he'd approve of the fact Oliver is going to have a hell of a time unloading his Omega-Tech stock now. Are you going to attempt a hostile take-over of Queen Industries?"

"No. His company's assets are of no interest to me. I just wanted to cause him pain. Show him that no one messes with Lex Luthor."

Lionel suddenly grabs his son by the hand. In a weak voice but with a faint smile, "Well played, Lex. Well played."

Lex smiles faintly.

"Enjoy your victory, son, for it will be brief. The game isn't over yet."

Lex leans down, "Oh but it is. And I've won."

Lionel chuckles and then winces in pain, "Lex, after all these years I'd think you would have learned one thing about your father."

He uses the best hair care products available to man?

"Always have a backup plan."

Doesn't he mean a plot device the writers pull out of their ass at the last minute?

A little respect for you elders, please Kristen. Lana gets squirrel faced.

Respect begets respect, John.

[Pushes down his glasses and looks menacingly at KK] Fear begets respect, Kristen.

[motions nervously to KK to cut it out]

[Looks to JG to MR and back again before gulping] Yes, sir.

"Now get the hell out so I can rest."

Lionel isn't really going to say that, is he?

Why not?

It's bastardly, but not really magnificent.

Agreed. It's more asshole bastard than magnificent bastard.

Well we can't have that. What should he say?

He should quote Shakespeare or something.

Jesus, Annette! Let's dispense with the literary references. They're too much fucking work.

The literary references are part of what makes him magnificent. Otherwise he's just a good looking Tony Soprano.

[Scribbling on the page.] Dammit! Fine, I'll come up with something. Lana and Lex exit.

Outside the room Lana stops Lex.

She's worried things could be traced back to the two of them.

Lex tells her he seriously doubts it.

Fade in an overlay of Dr. O'Toole's office. He lies dead at his desk, pistol in his hand. End teaser.

Another teaser with Lex and Lionel. What a surprise.

You're in it too. I think the episode should start with Lionel in bed with Martha by his side.

No. That's a terrible idea.

Besides, that's how the episode is going to end.

Please tell me I heard that wrong.

Sweet.

The bastard is back on top!

OK. Stop right there. That's an image that can't be unseen. My eyes, they are burning!

Lois' apartment. She's making breakfast for Chloe.

How sweet.

Chloe is reading Lois' book.

Lois complains about the bus ride and wonders if Clark is back. She asks Chloe if she'd like to go to the bus stop and wait for Clark with her.

Chloe postulates that Lois shouldn't bother. Lori is probably going to pick him up.

Lois informs Chloe that Lori can't drive. She doesn't have a car.

This leads to a crack about Lois' driving.

Lois means Lori doesn't even have a driver's license.

Chloe starts laying in on how strange Lori is.

And Lois asks her to give it a rest. "Lori is a sweet girl. Clark is lucky to have her."

Chloe decides not to argue and tells Lois her book isn't half bad.

Lois misinterprets it as a compliment on her cooking. Add a self deprecating joke about burnt bacon.

Of course.

Chloe points out she was talking about Lois' book.

This leads to Lois trying to give "Perry" all the credit.

The girls deduce that Lois' Perry is the same Perry whose occasionally freelances for the Planet and happens to be a hero of Chloe's.

Lois is surprised Perry is Chloe's hero and Chloe asks if Lois has ever heard about the Pulitzer.

Not completely understanding Lois mentions Perry thought her book had a shot at one... "If your article hadn't come out first."

Chloe is floored that Lois can be so nonchalant about a Pulitzer.

At least Lois knows what one is.

Actually Lois' exact response to having heard of the Pulitzer is "Sure. That's good right? He said my book might have had a shot at one if your article hadn't come out first."

You were supposed to make Lois look good, you bastard!

Just wait. It gets better.

Still "meh" about it Lois says she just wanted to write a book and do some good. She offers to take Chloe with her to Perry's office. Lois has to drop off the final draft and maybe Perry could show Chloe his Pulitzer. Dirty.

Chloe bows out because she has to bring her documentation in for the "internal review".

"Couldn't you just drop by on the way?"

"There's something else I have to do first. And just as an FYI, I wouldn't be surprised if Clark found alternate transportation home."

"Like what?"

"Just don't be surprised if he's not on that bus."

"Why? Have you heard from him?"

"No. I just know him."

"I paid for that ticket. He sure as hell better be on that bus."

Cut to a boat dock where this week's "Villain" and a few of his sycophants check out a yacht a rich MetU alum has loaned out for the MetU "Spring Fling".

Chloe shows up.

They flirt with her a bit assuming she's just another star stuck co-ed.

But she's there posing as a paralegal from the school's law office.

She wants to ask Rip a few questions about Lori.

Must you turn Chloe into such a busy body?

How is this different that all the other times she was investigating stuff?

She knows Clark wants her to mind her own business.

Yeah, but what if Lori is actually up to no good? Isn't checking her out the smart thing to do?

But...

You know Chloe wouldn't let this go until she's convinced Lori isn't a danger to Clark.

Yeah, but...

But what?

Dammit, stop taking advantage of my character's positive attributes!

At first Rip doesn't even remember who she is but one of his friends does. They laugh about Lori having "already run off with her tail between her legs."

Chloe claims she just needs him to answer a few questions in case Lori changes her mind again.

Someone knocks on Clark's dorm room door.

He stumbles out of bed to answer.

It's Lori, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. "Ready?"

So they didn't sleep together?

No. We decided they should share secrets first.

It's all about the secrets.

Always. And the lies. Don't forget the lies.

Clark, "Ready?"

Lori lets herself in. She's nervous, "The thing I needed to show you."

"Oh, right." Clark looks around for clean clothes. "Mind giving me a hint about what this is going to be?"

"Come on, Clark, before I chicken out! Wear your swimming trunks. We're going to the lake."

Confused, "What you have to show me is at the lake?"

Giggling, "Sort of. I'm not exactly who you think I am, Clark."

"Chloe told me that much."

"If you ask me she'll a little too nosey for her own good."

"I didn't but I'd have to agree. So why do we have to be at the lake for this?"

Pulling him along, "You'll see."

Lex's office. He's reading the paper and enjoying a scotch.

Isn't it early in the morning?

Functional alcoholic.

Extremely functional alcoholic.

Lana bursts in Clark style and lays down the gauntlet, "I hope you're happy!"

Lana is way too small to burst the doors Clark style. Can she even open both at the same time?

Of course she can!

They look pretty heavy.

[Rubbing his temples] Damn, people, you're putting too much thought into this. Who cares if Lana can open two doors at once?!?

Is she wearing a red jacket?

What?

You said Clark style...

You know what? Forget it! Lana bursts in angry squirrel style. Does that make you happy?

No! How about she just bursts in?

She should have nuts in her cheeks if it's angry squirrel style.

[Rubbing his temples] She just bursts in, "I hope you're happy!"

Lex smiles, "As a matter of fact I was. The happiest I've ever been but I'm guessing you'd prefer I tone down my elation for some so to be explained reason."

"They fired Chloe."

Bastards!

You knew it was going to happen.

It still hurts.

[Mocking] Would the poor baby like a band-aid?

Shut up.

"And Kahn?"

"Her too."

"That's unfortunate. But we knew that might happen going into this, Lana."

"You said they would ignore our threats. They'd never fire Chloe."

Now hold on. Even Lana isn't that stupid!

"I didn't say they'd never fire Chloe. But you're I figured at the worst they'd knock her down a rung or two but honestly I didn't think they would fire her."

"And maybe they would have if you hadn't insisted on rattling sabers."

"Rattling sabers was the best way to protect her job! How else were we to get them circling the wagons and protecting their own? If we hadn't said a thing it would have been just that much easier to cast her aside! Now they look like they don't stand behind their personnel."

They look like it because they don't. Lex Luthor: king of the obvious.

"And that's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?"

"No, Lana. Not at all. The fact is I wanted Chloe to stay. I wanted both of them to stay. That way if any bad press were to come out in the future all we would need to do is claim Kahn and her "pet" reporter were doing it all over again."

"That's not what you told Chloe. You told her she'd never work in Metropolis again!"

Lex is dismissive. "Chloe. I was just yanking her chain, Lana. You know that don't you?"

Lana huffs.

"Look, she tried to take my... take our company down. That's a fact. She tried to ruin everything me and my father worked years to build so the truth is I'm not shedding a tear that she's lost her job. But you've got to believe me Lana, I didn't want her fired."

"But only because it advanced your ends."

Lex hesitates. "Yes."

Lana is steamed. "Speaking of advancing you ends I you'll want to see this." She hands him a photo.

It's shows part of the box which held the weapon. "Where did you find this?"

"It was embedded in a hill not far from the explosion site."

"Double the size of the team!"

Lana icily spins and strides out. On her way, "I did it two hours ago when the photo first came in." The door slams behind her.

Damn, Lex's woman is getting out of control! He'd better put the breaks on that fast.

Really, he should to stick with Mercy.

You know very well, John, I didn't want that scene at all!

That scene? I don't think you liked any of these scenes, did you?

Well I kind of like the one where Martha and Lionel...

Shhh....

Martha and Lionel what?

There's a cut little scene between Lois and Perry.

Lois learns that Perry is taking the editor job at the Planet.

Which means he's not interested in her book anymore unless she can figure out who set up the Planet.

And that's exactly what Lois plans on doing with Chloe's help. Lois asks him to hire Chloe back.

Which he can't do since she's the only reason he's was hired in the first place.

But he offers Lois a job there.

What?!?

But she doesn't feel right about it being the reason Chloe was fired and all.

Thank god for small favors.

She keeps pushing Chloe but all he can promise is giving her another chance after she's re-proven herself somewhere else.

You guys suck!

And then he encourages her to finish up her book.

Lori and Clark at the dock. "OK. Here we are."

Nervous she takes off her sweat suit and dives into the water.

Clark gives her a skeptical look when she comes back up.

"That's what you wanted to show me? I've seen you swim plenty of times." Her bikini bottom lands on his chest. When he realizes what they are his eyes widen.

Lori treads water and makes sure they are alone. "OK Clark, keep an open mind."

She's a transvestite! [MR elbows ED but chuckles at the comment.]

"I'm not supposed to show this to anyone but for you I'm making an exception."

She goes back under water and seconds later she does a dolphin jump in mermaid form.

She resurfaces next to the dock at looks at Clark expectantly. She waits for him to break the silence.

"Wow. You're a..."

"A mermaid." She sticks her hand out to Clark. Thinking she want help getting out he grasps her hand. Smiling, "Suit first?"

Embarrassed, "Oh." Clark fumbles while handing it to her.

She climbs onto the dock and sits next to him. When Clark doesn't say anything, "You OK?"

Clark nods.

Too nervous to look at him she stares at her feet. "You're might be wondering why I've decided to trust you. Truth is I didn't want to lose you."

"Lose me? What are you talking about?"

"Chloe came by and asked all these questions I couldn't answer. I knew..." she pauses, "I know how close you two are and figured eventually you'd want the answers. I figured unless I answered them it was only a matter of time before we were over."

"She already talked to me. I don't care about any of that stuff."

Sarcastic, "Now you tell me."

Clark smiles.

"The thing is most guys would care. They'd have to know what secret could possibly be important enough to let a rapist get off Scott free." She pauses, "Well, now you know." She finally looks Clark in the eye. "Truth is up until yesterday I'd decided to keep my secret and part ways."

Surprised, "What changed your mind? About me?"

Flirty smile, "The way you smell."

"The way I smell?"

"I don't know what you are, Clark, but I do know that like me you aren't human."

Clark starts back peddling of "Lori, I..."

She pats him on the shoulder, "It's OK, Clark." Getting up, "I just thought you should know I know." She leans down so she can whisper in his ear. "By the way, if the idea of dating a fish squicks you out too much I understand. I just hope we can stay friends." She walks off; her long face revealing her chipper attitude is just a facade. Out of earshot...

Normal earshot.

Right. Bitterly disappointed, "That could have gone a whole lot better."

You've turned her into season two Chloe!

Chloe wasn't a fish!

No, the part where she pretends she doesn't want to date Clark.

Lori didn't say that. She just said she understood if it squicked him out.

Chloe was afraid she squicked Clark out?

Erica, for the love of Pete, would you please watch the season 1-3 DVDs?

Was that a pun? Because Pete is in those three...

Shut up, Tom.

Clark, "Wait."

Lori turns around.

"It could have gone a whole lot worse."

Amazed, "You heard that?"

Clark stands up. Like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar Tom flashes his trademark aw shucks grin, "I guess there's a few things I should show you too."

I suppose we should end the scene with a quick shot of Lori looking relieved and smiling.

You're so sentimental, Michael.

Just keep it between the two of us, OK Allison?

Daily planet.

Chloe solemnly packs her desk.

Lionel hobbles in with a cane. I take it my son was busy during my incapacitation."

Chloe doesn't look up, "Are you here to rub it in?"

"Heaven forbid! What Lex has done to you is tragic. I'm here to help."

"Thanks for the sentiment but I doubt even you could get me re-hired. Even Kahn was sacked."

"Re-hired?" Lionel chuckles, "Hardly. You shouldn't be setting your sights so low, my dear."

"Mr. Luthor...."

Lionel, tempted to tell her to call him dad, opens his mouth but stops himself.

"Working here has been my life long dream. For me nothing could be greater."

You tell him, Chloe!

"Ah, but why grovel to be let back into the basement when you could waltz right in on the top floor?"

Chloe finally looks at him. She studies his face for a second before responding, "First of all the Planet isn't for sale..."

Lionel interjects, "This paper faces a serious credibility crisis. The current owners would jump at the chance to cut their losses... if the right offer came along."

"From you? The last I heard you were just as unemployed as me."

"A temporary situation for the both of us, I assure you."

"And second of all, the day a Luthor controls the reigns of the Daily Planet is the day it becomes no different than the Inquisitor. I'm not interested." She starts packing again and doesn't look back at him for the rest of the scene.

Lionel feigns hurt feelings. "After all these years I should be used to petty barbs from my children yet they hurt as much today as ever..."

"I said I'm not interested."

Lionel pauses. "There's no need to rush your decision. Take as long as you like, daughter."

[pauses]

Go on Michael.

There are... [he stops]

[Sighs] Tears in Chloe's eyes.

[relieved] Thank you, John. Emphatically, "Don't call me that!"

"I'm sorry." Lionel looks at the floor. Chloe is no longer packing but she's not looking at him either. He allows her rejection to hang in the air a few seconds ratcheting up the awkwardness. "Good day then, Ms. Sullivan." He turns and hobbles off.

Aw, she hurt the poor bastard's feelings.

He's playing her.

Yeah, right!

He's totally playing her.

You can't fool me. She's breaking his little bastard heart.

Gahhh!

Martha's office. She's on the phone with Lois. She can take one person to the rose garden ceremony and wants Lois can join her.

Lois congratulates Martha but as much as she "would love to rub elbows with America's most powerful middle aged white men" something more important has come up.

Chloe! Yea.

Lionel hobbles in as the conversation ends. She hugs him enthusiastically. "It's great to see you on your feet again."

He congratulates her on her education bill.

She modestly says it would have never been successful without his help and asks him if he'd like to join her at the ceremony.

Lionel accepts, "Unfortunately I no longer have access to the corporate jet."

Martha flashes two plane tickets, "When was the last time you flew coach?"

War room. Lana talks with Dr. Durance, the team lead at the explosion site via video.

Aw. My own Luthor minion. How sweet.

There's bad weather but Durance explains they continue doing their best.

Lana orders her to contact her directly if they find anything. She wants to be the one to tell Lex about it.

Dr. Durance objects, something about Lex wanting to know the instant anything is found.

Lana informs the Dr. that if she wants to keep her job she needs to tell her and no one else.

Lex enters and Lana cuts the line.

He asks who she was talking to.

"Dr. Durance."

"How the search is going?"

"A storm is approaching. She wants to call off the search for a few days."

"You're not going to let them do that, are you?"

"I told her to break out her rain coat and boots and make sure her flashlight has fresh batteries."

"Good. I'm off to the capitol. You'll..."

"Hold down the fort?"

Lex smiles, "Yes."

They kiss. Lana starts unbuttoning Lex's shirt. Pouting, "You don't have to leave this minute do you?"

My God, I'm going to kill you Rosenbaum!

Lex drops his bag. Kisses her tenderly, "I suppose I have a few more minutes."

Let's hear it for a Lexana quickie!

Hear, hear!

[rolls her eyes] As long as there is no nudity.

Lana's blouse falls to the floor.

OK. Body double.

Tell me Kristen has to wear fishnets.

Are you kidding? I don't want Lex's girl friend looking like a cheap tramp!

But Chloe on the other hand?

Can look as trashy I she wants.

You mean as trashy as you want.

Chloe and Lois walk down a beach. Chloe is telling Lois she's had to start all over at the bottom once. She can do it again, even if it means she has to change her name.

Lois says she still thinks if they can prove Chloe was set up they can convince Perry to take her back.

Chloe argues that Perry won't re-hire her as Lois spots Clark, "There he is!"

Pan to Clark and Lori making out oblivious to everyone around them.

That really doesn't sound like Clark. No way would he be making out in public.

Especially with a fish.

Shut up, Erica.

Lois jogs over, "Hey Romeo, could you stop sucking face for a couple seconds?"

Clark is annoyed, "Lois."

Lori, however, is happy to see her, "Hey, Lois!"

"Hey, Lori. I assume Clark filled you in on our little misadventure. I trust he got back to you no worse for wear."

Chloe catches up. She's uncomfortable in Lori's presence.

Smiling at Clark, "He got back just fine."

Lois takes Clark to task, "So what'd you do Smallville, hitch a ride back?"

Clark, "Hitch?"

"I thought you'd appreciate a ride home from the bus stop and low and behold when your bus finally rolls in two hours late no Clark Kent."

"I, uh..."

"If you didn't plan on using the ticket you could have told me. It's too late to get a refund now!"

"Is that why you're here?"

Scoffs, "Because of you wasted a ticket? You've got to be kidding! I could fillet you over that anytime.

I could do without so many fish jokes.

I like them.

"Chloe wanted to talk to you." Clark looks at Chloe whose eyes shift back and forth between Clark and Lori nervously.

Lois, oblivious to the tension, "I can't believe you hitched your way home! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"

Cut to Rip and his friends carrying a large cooler through the crowd. "Clear the way! Serious party coming through folks!"

A gaggle of bikini clad co-eds follow in their wake.

Let me guess. Rosenbaum's idea.

I thought I'd help with casting too. Lori looks down. Chloe turns away.

One of them bumps Lois.

Lois, "Watch it, jerk!"

The entourage stops. Rip pauses to look Lois up and down. "Excuse me?"

Lois gulps but stands her ground. "I said, watch it. You don't own this beach."

Rip smiles. To his friends, "Hey boys, she's not dressed for the party but what do you think?"

One answers, "Not bad." Another whistles.

Rip, "Why don't you join our yacht party, little lady?"

Not interested, "I don't have a suit."

Leering "I wouldn't have anything against a pretty thing like you skinny dipping."

Clark moves to stand. Lori whispers, "Clark, don't."

Lois gives Rip a disgusted look and self consciously covers her chest.

Rip's entourage of co-eds giggle.

Lois bolsters up her courage, "Aren't you Rip Wellington, the world's most over-rated wide receiver?"

Just as Rip is about to reply Lori catches his eye.

She's looking down but Clark is challenging him with his eyes. "Who do we have here?"

Clark stands despite Lori's attempts keep him down. He gets in Rips face, "Why don't you get on to your little party?"

Rip ignores Clark. "Is that... Lori?"

She finally looks up, face flushed.

Smiling, "It is!" Turning his attention to Clark he finally notices Chloe. "And her little friend too!"

Chloe looks doubly embarrassed.

Rip pats Clark on the shoulder, "Hope you don't mind sloppy seconds, stud!" He leans in and whispers, "But to tell you the truth I wouldn't waste my time. She just kind of lays there like a dead fish."

Now that fish joke is completely uncalled for.

Beyond tasteless.

He's a real bastard. And not the magnificent variety. The audience really needs to hate him.

Mission accomplished.

He elbows Clark gently in the stomach and walks off. Winking at Lois, "Think about it, sweetheart."

Clark steps forward. Lori grabs his hand. "Please don't, Clark. He's not worth it."

Rip and gang laugh and high five each other as they walk away.

Clark, "He can't get away with that!"

"Please, Clark. Just let it go."

Lois, "The hell we will!" She takes a step forward.

Chloe grabs Lois' arm, "Lois, don't."

Lois, "He can't just get away with..." she sees Lori's face and trails off.

Clark finally breaks the awkward silence, "So Chloe, how do you know Rip Wellington?"

Nervous smile, "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about... privately."

Lori gives Chloe a hurt look and runs off.

Clark is exasperated, "You can never just give it a rest, can you?" He runs after Lori.

Chloe shouts after him, "Clark!" She mumbles to herself, "I just wanted to say maybe Lori is OK after all."

Lois, "What the hell is going on?"

Lionel flirts with Martha following the rose garden ceremony.

They bump into Principal Reynolds who observes, "Politics makes for strange bedfellows, indeed."

Martha blushes. She asks what he's doing there.

"Keeping on eye on things."

Lionel asks who he's working for and but Reynolds is cryptic. He's "free lancing." He asks about Clark and as an after thought Lex before congratulating Martha on her bill and bidding adieu.

Lois' apartment. Lana asks what favor Lois wanted.

Chloe steps out into the room and things really get uncomfortable.

Lana tries to explain that Lex never thought the Planet would fire her.

They want Lana's help to figure out who set her up.

Clark tracks down Lori in her dorm room.

She tells him that after she filled charges against Rip they started looking into her past.

She had no choice but to drop charges.

Clark empathizes.

"Nick showed up and claimed you were doing the same thing. I was still so full of shame, hurt, and anger I just wanted someone to pay for what Rip did to me. I didn't care who. The school would go to the ends of the earth to protect Rip but Nick claimed he had a way to bring someone else just as guilty down without putting my past under the microscope."

"Why would he claim I was a rapist?"

"I'm not sure Clark. I think he was looking for a way to ruin your mother's career."

"Thanks to you he wasn't able to."

Sarcastic, "Yeah. I was a real hero."

Clark wants to figure out a way to bring Rip to justice.

She asks him not to dwell on it. She'd rather put that part of her life behind her and focus on the good things in her life, like him. She wants to give him a necklace that was in her family for generations. It's made of tiny conch shells.

Clark doesn't feel right taking it.

She wants him to have it anyway. They talk about secrets and lies and make love.

What?

You heard me.

When does talk about secrets and lies ever wind up with sex?

Any time Lana's has it.

They should talk about something else.

[skeptical] Like feeling alien and not fitting in?

That's good!

It's terrible.

It's not bad, actually. [Scribbling on the script] I say we go for it.

I say we don't!

We're going for it.

John!

End of discussion, Michael.

[Looking at MR] Ha!

[Stops writing and pointing his pen at AM.] You stay out of this, young lady.

[Embarrassed AM looks down] Yes sir.

[Surprised whisper] Allison?!?

That goes for you too, Durance.

John, Don't you think you're being a little harsh?

[Sighs] Annette, must you insist on diminishing my authority?

I just think that...

Let's talk about it later. Privately.

[Irritated] Sure.

Thank you.

Rose garden.

Lionel is surprised to see Lex there. He makes a dig about the failed senate run.

"As the head of a multinational corporation I can't afford to ignore politics."

Asked why he's there Lionel explains it's to celebrate Martha's victory. "This law is based on her original bill."

"How charming."

Serious, "It's time for you to step down as CEO of LuthorCorp, Lex."

"Why don't I bring you up to date, Dad? While you were incapacitated not only did I foil you latest feeble grab for power, I consolidated my own by doubling my steak in LuthorCorp. The company is mine and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Tell me son, have you read the bill our President just signed?"

"An education bill? Who cares."

"There's a clause I find quite interesting. It prohibits certain companies from running secret government programs. Specifically companies with senior management ever hospitalized for mental illness. If your time at Belle Reeve ever... Well I can only imagine how devastating it would be for LuthorCorp's bottom line."

"You've spent as much time there as I have, Dad. You pull that trigger and we both go down. And LuthorCorp with us."

"Mutually assured destruction works as a defense only when both sides have something to lose. You have everything to lose with your little alien vendetta sitting at the top of the list. I on the other hand..."

"That's what it's come to, a scorched earth policy? You'd destroy your own company rather than see me run it?"

"You've left me with little alternative."

"What do you want?"

"You relinquish to LuthorCorp. In exchange I give you back LexCorp. Full ownership. I'll let you keep all your anti-alien projects and LuthorCorp retains full control of everything else."

"That's not an even deal!"

"It's the deal on the table."

"You're bluffing. You'd never destroy your own empire let alone allow the remains be run by anyone other than a Luthor."

"I never bluff, Lex. Remember you're not my only possible heir."

Lex takes a moment to compose himself, "She'd never work with you."

Lionel chuckles, "If I'm not mistaken her options were recently severely... limited."

Lex gulps.

"I'll be awaiting your decision, son." Lionel looks at his watch, "You have seventeen hours."

The lake, Rip and company drunk off their asses.

Rip is supposed to be driving but gets distracted by a girl. He throws a switch to anchor the boat but the chain catches leaving the boat adrift.

Throw in a few scenes of Rip and the co-ed making out "down below" intermixed with shots of the boat edging closer to another boat full of drunken revelers.

Surprise, surprise! The two boats collide. I bet no one saw that coming. A crowd gathers on the beach.

There's fire and an explosion. Clark moves to help.

Lori offers to work on the smaller boat while Clarks saves those on the yacht. Rip and his friend find themselves trapped inside the quickly sinking yacht.

A third boat arrives to fish people out of the water. Lori works to separate the boats while Clark clears off passengers.

As Clark helps drop the last one from the yacht off a girl yells "Where's Crissy?!"

Clark tells her he got everyone.

"She's not here! You have to find her!"

X-ray vision reveals two people trapped down below with only a small pocket of air to keep them alive.

Clark dives in and super swims to the yacht. He breaks open the jammed door and pulls out the girl. As Rip grabs for Clark's hand Clark recognizes him.

Meanwhile Lori has trouble with her boat. Most of the passengers are clear but there weren't enough life preservers on board and apparently many of them can't swim.

What idiots.

The third boat pulls aside and she helps transfer passengers.

"Save him!" shouts Crissy.

Clark stares at Rip, jaw clinched.

Rip reaches for Clark's hand but Clark pulls his arm back.

A canister of fuel falls over inside Lori's boat and spills over the engine.

Gee. I wonder where this is headed.

No need to get flippy. People can't turn away from a train wreck even though they know exactly what will happen. It's a ratings bonanza. Clark channels Papa Kent and gives Rip a sanctimonious lecture.

Rips begs forgiveness. He just wants to be saved and promises to change his ways. Clark pulls him out.

Immediately Rip gets jerky again, "You were going to let me die!"

Seems like the lecture worked about as well on Rip as they used to on Clark.

[Irritated look at KK]

Clark glares, fists clenched. His eyes glow red.

Rip, "Jerk off."

There's an explosion. Lori's boat has broken apart and sinks. The third boat is on fire.

Clark dives in and locates her sinking body. She's too hurt to human form and asks to be dropped off on a nearby sand bar so Clark can save the other passengers. "I saved as many as I could, Clark. I really tried."

Clark helps put the fire out on the third boat and pulls several bodies on board. He and others attempt CPR but most are dead. Inter-cut with Lori coughing up blood.

Clark returns to Lori. Her breathing is shallow, "Did you save them?"

"Lori, I..."

"But you did save everyone on the other boat."

Tearing up, "Yes, yes I did, but..."

"Shhh. I love you, Clark. Some day I hope you'll see in yourself the greatness I've seen in you since the day we met."

He takes her hand and she squeezes before letting go and closing her eyes.

He scoops up her body, "No!" Lori is dead and Clark is devastated because he could have easily prevented it.

You killed her?

You guys suck.

There's weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Don't forget inter-cutting images of Lori dying with images of Lionel and Martha.

Have you no shame?

[chuckle] No.

They booked two rooms but after a little Champaign...

Well, you can do the math.

I don't want to do the math! You guys really suck! [MR & JG chuckle]

I can't believe you're doing this!

It's his darkest hour.

This season is just one big thrill ride for him, isn't it?

You guys really, really suck!

He can't date Lori forever, Tom.

Shut up!

I can't believe you killed her! And made Clark indirectly responsible.

The only options are she turns evil, goes insane, or dies.

Or some combination.

It's for the best, really.

Shut up! [gets up]

Where are you going?

I'm leaving.

You can't leave. We're not done.

[Walking out] Oh, I'm done. You're done. We're all done.

Come on, Tom.

I'll be damned if Superman's going to let his girlfriend die while he's off spouting platitudes at her rapist.

It needs to be bad enough to drive Clark completely away from society!

It's. Too. Fucking. Dark!

Tom! [TW exits] Tom? [uncomforable silence]

Shall we move on?

Clark searches for his mom at her apartment. He's distraught she's not there.

Inter-cut with a Martha asking Lionel what she's going to tell Clark. He says that she's a grown woman and Clark is an adult. She doesn't need to seek his approval.

She informs him she never has but she's always tried to serve as a role model.

Lionel seems chagrined. [AM gets a text message "lets meet" from TW. She seripticiously replies, "k"]

Clark's room. Chloe apologizes for investigating Lori. He tells her he doesn't feel like he deserves his powers. He could have saved Lori and every single person on that boat. Instead all he could think about was pounding Rip into a thousand pieces. After all these years he still hasn't learned to use his powers wisely.

"None of us are born with wisdom, Clark. It only comes through experience. Besides, maybe Rip deserves to be pounded into a thousand pieces."

"More than those other people deserved to be saved?"

Chloe doesn't answer.

"I can't afford to learn things the hard way anymore, Chloe. I've done too much damage. It's past time I started my training with Jor-El." Go to black.

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