6.20 Bridges

By &

When Lex seems willing to risk everything to obtain the Kryptonian weapon Lana appeals to Chloe for a way to stop him. Clark’s “training” at the Fortress proves difficult as he and Jor-El have trouble finding common ground.

Open with Chloe swiping Lana's ID badge to gain entrance to a laboratory.

Same old, same old. Lots of green glowing liquids. Electronic equipment, etc strewn about.

She whispers, "Lana?" She winds her way through the equipment. A little louder, "Lana?"

A jolting sound effect, "Hello, Chloe." It's Lex.

Chloe backs up, "Lex."

Lex advances, "You were expecting someone else?" Chloe continues her retreat. He asks, "Tell me, how exactly did you get in here?"

As she turns to run Lex grabs her by the arm.

They struggle knocking over a piece of electric equipment in the process.

It just happens to have a beaker of Krypto-juice sitting on it.

And that juice just happens to splatter all over the two of them. The equipment lands on the floor and shorts out electrocuting both of them. They fall unconscious.

Cut to Lana shaking Chloe. They're in a different room. "Chloe are you OK?"

Chloe sits up, "Yeah, I think so."

She puts her hand to her head, "I'm just a little light headed."

Lex's voice, "You do realize what you were doing is highly illegal." Chloe turns to find Lex, crouching beside her in his crisp white suit. He's smiling.

Lana, "We need to get you out of here before Lex finds you."

Chloe looks from Lana to Lex in confusion, "But..."

Pulling Chloe to her feet, "Come on, hurry!"

"It's OK, Chloe. Lana will get you somewhere safe so you can continue your plot against the people of Earth!"

Chloe as she's pulled along by Lana, "I'm not part of any plot!"

Lana stops in front of a door, "What are you talking about?"

Chloe, "You don't see him? See Lex?"

Lana looks around frantically, "Where?" She pushes open the door, "Come on!"

Cut back to the lab. Lex lies on his back. He opens his eyes and moves his hand to his bleeding forehead.

Someone is already wiping it with a white washcloth.

Chloe's voice, "It's alright, brother. You're going to be fine."

Lex turns his head to see Chloe kneeling over him wearing a low cut red dress and fishnet stockings. "You?"

She takes his head in her hands and looks into his eyes, their lips inches apart. She whispers as she strokes his cheek,"Everything is going to be just fine, Alexander. Now that I'm here."

Chloe closes her eyes and softly kisses Lex on the lips. Lex's eyes go wide.

I think I'm going to be sick.

End teaser.

Come back from the break with Jor-El making Clark do some idiotic trick.

Clark is irritated because he thinks it's pointless.

Jor-El is his usual asshole self.

Back to Lois' apartment.

Wait. That's it?

What's it?

That's the entire description for my scene?

I thought it described it pretty well, don't you? Jor-El usually is an asshole, right?

Yeah, but...

And he's always asking Clark to do something that doesn't make in sense, right?

Yeah, but...

And Clark never does it for some reason or another. Usually because he disagrees, right?

Yeah, but... [Silence]

But what?

I don't know. I thought they'd get past that. You know?

I do.

You do?

Yeah. But it's not going to happen the first scene.

Lois' apartment. Chloe enters.

Lois, "Hey, roomie! All moved in?"

"Almost. So am I spending the summer here because of my charm or because you can't afford the rent anymore?"

"If I only wanted help with the rent I could have put out an add."

"At least you know I'm not going to single white female you."

"True. Did you and Lana find anything?"

"No. Lex was there."

"He's following her?"

Chloe's vision of Lex, "Of course. Just like you I know the only one you can really trust is yourself."

Chloe is flustered, "I don't know. Probably."

Lois, "Then we need to be doubly careful." She hands Lois some papers. "How's this?"

Chloe reads. "Lois, how may times do I have to tell you? Yacht is spelled y. a. c. h. t!"

Sex circles Chloe, "So this is what you do when you're not elbow deep helping Kal-El take over the world? A little charity case to ease your guilt?"

Sex? That's what you're going to call the Lex inside Chloe's head?

Yeah. Short for Sexy Lex.

Why not Slex?

Too hard to say.

How about Dex?

Dex?

Idiot Lex.

Wouldn't that be Idex?

It's my episode and I'm going with Sex and that's final.

I kind of like thinking that Chloe literally can't get Sex out of her head.

That's not funny.

Oh, yes it is.

Lois wrinkles her nose and takes the papers back. "Oh, yeah." She marks it with a pencil.

Sex, "Just look at her! You have more talent in you pinkie finger and she's the one chasing stories for the world's greatest newspaper."

Chloe, "Did you talk with Perry?"

Lois distracted because she's still proofing her story, "Yeah. He said he'd run it. Not front page or anything but even so it should shine some light on Rip and the MetU administration."

Sex, "Not to mention her! Why on Earth are you here spoon feeding her stories? So she can live your dream?"

Lois, "And that's what's important, right? I just need to turn it in."

Sex, "You know what's important, Chloe? Getting your job back."

"I meant about my job."

Lois frowns.

Sex, "Of course she didn't! Do you honestly believe she wants you around? Always showing her up? You know how much she hates living in her sister's shadow. She doesn't want to live in yours too."

Lois, "I'm sorry, Chlo. He won't budge. But once we figure out who set you up..."

Sex, "Lois will be in a perfect position to win a Pulitzer! Does she deserve it? It should be yours! And the day she strides down that red carpet to become a Pulitzer winner what are you going to be after all those years of hard work? Nothing but a black balled nobody watching from the sidelines!"

Lois, "I'm sure everything will sort itself out."

Chloe, "Easy for you to say! You're not the one whose career is ruined."

Lois moves to hug Chloe "I'll sorry." Chloe turns her body away so Lois can only put her hand on her shoulder, "I'm doing everything I can to help."

Sex, "That's rich. If it wasn't for her you'd still have your job! And so would Kahn. You know Kahn would never allow a slacker like Lois to even set foot in her newsroom! She wanted you and Kahn out. Can't you see? She told you just enough to make it look like her hands were clean. She didn't really want you to kill that story." Sex pauses and whispers in Chloe's ear. "Why do you think she never called you back that night?"

Chloe seems angry, "It's too little to late, Lois!" She moves to leave.

Lois, "Chloe! I...."

Chloe stops and turns around full of piss and vinegar, "You just wanted me out of the way, didn't you? Deep down you know you can't hold a candle to me! Face it Lois, you'll always be second best!" Chloe slams the door behind her.

Cut to show Lois' in shock then to her draft, focusing on the by line and back. Her eyes water. She blinks back a tear as she crumples up her story and throws it into a waste basket.

The war room. Lana is on the phone with Chloe. "We need to meet as soon as possible."

"You have a lead on who set me up?"

"No." Lana hesitates, "Something more important."

Chloe seems irritated, "Lana..."

"I can't tell you over the phone. Can you meet me in your dorm room?"

"I'm kind of busy..."

"It's about Lex."

"What about Lex?"

"I need your help, Chloe. You're the only one who can stop him." Lana hangs up.

Cut to show Lex and "Hoe" [rhymes with Chloe] in a doorway of the war room. Lex watches Lana. Hoe makes a trail on his chest with her finger.

Hoe?

That's what we're calling the Chloe in Lex's head.

[Incredulous] You're calling her Hoe?

It's less confusing if they have their own name.

But Hoe?!?!

You should see how she dresses. Not to mention trying to seduce her brother.

Michael, you're sick. And Kristen...

I told you you owe me.

Why don't you go ahead and take a pound of flesh while you're at it?

Don't be disgusting.

Hoe is funny.

It's insulting!

It's the best of both worlds! Now where were we? Oh yeah, Hoe was back stabbing Lana.

Hoe, "You know you can't trust her."

"I know."

"Then why do you put up with her?"

"I love her."

Hoe turns and looks at Lana. She smirks. "She'll be your downfall."

Lex begins walking towards Lana, "Perhaps." Calling out to Lana, "Any news?"

Lana is startled, "Lex." She smiles.

"About the weapon?"

Lana looks down, "No. Not yet."

Hoe hugs Lex from behind and nuzzles his shoulder. "I told you."

Lex, "Are you sure?"

Lana seems taken aback, "I said no. I'm handling it. Why are you so anxious?"

Hoe plays with Lex's face, "What if that silly Lois Lane is right and Kal-El really does have our best interests at heart? What makes you so sure he's so bad?"

Lex puts his hand to his face and takes Hoe's hand. With her pointer finger under hers he circles the wound on the palm of his other hand. "I have my reasons."

Lana gulps. Hoe smiles. She takes Lex's hand and caresses the wound. She looks up into his eyes. "Even the most gentle of beasts must protect themselves, Lex Luthor." She gently kisses his palm, never taking her eyes off his, "It's instinct." Almost startled Lex pulls his hand away from Hoe. She clicks her tongue and smiles devilishly.

Lana, "You'll be the first person to know when they find the weapon. I promise."

"Of course."

Lana, "Lex, are you feeling OK?"

Flatly, "I'm fine." He turns to go.

Hoe follows, "You're not going to tell her what you know?"

"No."

Whispering into her ear, "But I thought you loved her."

Lex tries to ignore her.

She smiles, "I get it.'We deceive the one's we love the most.' Is that it?"

"Something like that."

Hoe steps in front of him forcing him to stop. She caresses his chest. "Tell me Lex, do you love yourself?"

Lex tries to walk around her.

"There's an old saying, 'Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.'"

"Demosthenes. As I recall he ended up killing himself rather than be captured by Alexander the Great for treason."

"You can't kill this messenger, Alexander. No matter how great you wish you were."

Once Lex is in the hallway, "What are you?!?!"

Hoe touches his cheek, "Isn't it obvious? Daddy's chosen one."

Lex moves to smack her in the face but she easily catches his wrist first and smiles flirtatiously.

Teasing, "Didn't mommy tell you to never hit a lady?"

Lex attempts to free his wrist but Hoe twists his arm behind his back and slams him up against the wall.

Scolding "Alexander. Let's not fight."

Struggling, "Get the hell out of my head!!"

She tightens her grip. Lex gasps in pain and becomes still. "Because if you ever try that again you'll wish you were never born!"

She lets go and Lex slides to the ground.

Not convinced of his own words, "You're not real! You're just in my head!"

Hoe crouches down and smiles, "I may be just in your head, Alexander." She cradles his head in her hands and kisses him. Lex gets wide eyed and tries to pull away. She bites his lip and allows Lex to pull back. "But I am real." Lex stares at her in wonder as he puts his hand to his lip then glances at his blood stained fingers. He stares back at Hoe.

Fortress. Clark and Jor-El have an argument of whether Clark should rule the world.

Chloe's dorm room. Lana knocks and Chloe lets her in.

Chloe wants to know what this is all about.

It's Lex. He's become obsessed.

Chloe wants to know what else is new.

Lana clarifies that the weapon has become so important to Lex that he's agreed to hand over LuthorCorp to Lionel in exchange for the resources to continue searching for it.

Chloe isn't sure what she's supposed to do with this information.

Meanwhile Sex is telling Chloe that she can't trust Kal-El. The only reason he let her in on his secret was because he had no choice. "How many times has he confided in a stranger the same things it took you years to pry away from him? Face it, he doesn't trust you. And you can't trust him."

Lana continues that to risk his fortune and reputation for this single goal is unlike Lex.

Sex tries to convince Chloe that killing Kal-El is for the best. He reminds her of his summer in Metropolis. He tells her that's the real Kal-El. The Kal-El that will make himself known once there is no one is left to oppose him.

Lana tells Chloe they need to figure out a way to prevent Lex from getting a hold of the weapon.

Chloe points out she thought Lana wanted to get rid of Kal-El as much as Lex did.

Lana says it's become about more than just killing Kal-El.

"Once he has the weapon and Kal-El is out of the way there will be nothing to stop him."

"Stop him from what?"

Sex, "Making the world a better place."

Lana, "I don't know, Chloe. That's what I'm afraid of."

Sex, "Imagine, Chloe. No more war. Countries no longer fighting over food or water."

Chloe, "A benevolent dictatorship."

Sex, "Exactly."

Lana, "You think he wants to rule the world?"

Sex, "And the civilized world would welcome it, Chloe. Sure there will always be a few dissidents. But can you image a world without poverty, disease, or hunger... The weapon offers a means to wipe those things off the face of the Earth!"

Chloe, "What makes you so sure a weapon of such power even exists?"

"We've found it."

Sex, "So now you have to make a choice. Do you side with Kal-El, a man with as much if not more power than the weapon, a man who's done nothing to help those in the greater world around him. A man who can be barely bothered to clean up his own messes or me? Someone with a great vision of what the world should be. The way the world could be if the weapon winds up in the right hands. My hands."

Chloe, "We can't allow that kind of power to be abused."

Sex, "Not abused, Chloe, but used. Used wisely. Not squandered and hidden like Kal-El and his powers. Only venturing out to save those few he considers worthy but as a positive force in the world. Not used as a way to protect just a few but as a way to improve the lives of millions. Do you ever wonder why Kal-El has never lived up your expectations? Could it be because he's afraid? Afraid that if he tastes the sweetness of immense power he'd lose control? Someday he will. Someday someone will need to be there to stop him."

Chloe, "He can be stopped if that's what is needed."

Lana, "It is what's needed. We can't let Lex just take control... of everything."

Sex, "Don't fool yourself, Chloe. You know he doesn't trust you and you know too much. When Kal-El finally snaps or finally succumbs to his father's will you know who he'll come after first."

Chloe, "He'd never do that!" as if trying to convince herself, "He just wouldn't."

Lana, "How can you be so sure, Chloe?" She takes Chloe's hand, "It seems like the closer you get to him the more desperately he pushes away. Even when he's telling the truth he's always holding something back. Maybe we don't know him as well as we think we do. Maybe we don't know him at all."

Sex, "Think about it, Chloe. Maybe you don't."

Chloe looks at Lana wide eyed as if she's just lost her best friend.

Lois drops by Martha's office. She wants to know if she can get her old job back.

Martha says she'd love to have Lois back but she has a chief of staff who's doing just fine.

Lois says she understands.

Martha asked what happened with Lois' book.

"Yet another career down the toilet!"

Martha comments that Lois seemed so happy writing. She shouldn't give up so quickly.

Lois has a hard time putting it into words. Martha eventually gets the gist that Lois doesn't feel like she'll ever be as good as Chloe.

"So why even try. Right?"

Embarrassed, Lois nods.

Martha tells Lois she never expects to be Kansas' best senator. But that didn't stop her from taking the job. There are colleagues she feels she'll never equal. All she can do is give it her best everyday. That's all that can be asked of anyone. Martha says that watching senators who are better than her gives her inspiration and a chance to learn from their successes. And since none of us are perfect in some cases she can learn from their failures.

Lois tells Martha that the way she talks she may someday be the state's greatest senator.

Martha smiles, "Maybe. But even if I don't I plan to take satisfaction in having been the best I was capable of."

Lois feels a little better. She thanks Martha and leaves.

Lana and Lois in Lois' apartment.

Lois' is typing away at her computer while Lana stands behind watching, "I wouldn't take it personally, Lois. Chloe was acting really weird today. I think maybe she's finally accepting what happened."

"Or finally showing her true feelings."

"Lois,"

Disbelief, "Oh, my God." Quick cut of her screen which various shows LuthorCorp stock transactions. Large amounts of LuthorCorp stock were "shorted" for huge profits about two months apart.

"What is it?"

"A hunch. Do you remember when Chloe's first article on level 33.1 came out?"

Lana pulls out her PDA. "It was the day Lex and I met Oliver for dinner."

Lois points at the first set of transactions, "Anywhere close to this?"

"All those shares were shorted a week before Chloe's article?"

"So he's basically borrowing millions of dollars worth of shares on the assumption they were going to go down in value."

"So if the stock price goes down."

"He buys back the same number of shares he sold and returns them to the broker keeping the difference."

"It looks like somebody knew bad news was coming. Who?"

"That's the part that doesn't make sense, Lionel Luthor."

"So he took Lex down a notch and he earned a healthy profit to boot."

Pointing to the lower part of the screen, "Yeah, but he does the same thing again when the faked article comes out. Why would he screw over Chloe like that? He wanted her to help him beat Lex."

"Did she help him?"

"Of course not."

"Well there you go. Revenge."

Lois is comptemplative, "I don't think it's that simple."

A little more pointless Clark training.

And then...

Please tell me there's more to it than that!

Than a one sentence description of all your scenes?

Yes!

Sorry. They don't include Lana or Lex so we kind of glossed over them.

Well then why have Clark in the episode at all?

He's in the synopsis. We didn't have a choice.

But we'd be open to cutting him out entirely.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Is that what you want, Tom?

No! I want decent scenes for Clark.

Then you'll have to wait for another episode.

Right. Lois confronts Lionel. "So why did you do it?"

They have a little pissing match in which Lois details all of Lionel's moves from planting the 33.1 folder for Clark to convincing Martha to ask for Lois' resignation to putting Lois in position to lead Chloe towards finding out he was her father and then engineering the second story and bringing down Lex.

But she notes there was one fly in the ointment. Lex had already moved his money out of the LuthorCorp.

Lionel denies it all. He calls Lois creative, delusional, etc.

This scene doesn't have Lana or Lex. Why does it get so much attention?

It has Lionel.

And it's about Lex.

Lois asks if Lionel did it out of revenge, because Chloe refused to join him.

Lionel tells her not to be ridiculous. He's always had Chloe's best interests at heart.

Sounds like staple Luthor garbage. Isn't this going to bore the audience? They've already heard Lionel dump that drivel on Lex.

Yeah, but it works and he's never used it on Lois so we're going with it.

It's a rehash. I think Lionel should be more creative.

OK fancy pants. What do you think Lionel's explanation should be? Why did he ruin Chloe's career?

He didn't.

And how can Lois be so sure?

Because he's always... Dammit!

Not so easy, huh?

[Grudgingly] No!

So he tells her he's always had Chloe's best interests at heart.

"Like when you ruined her career the first time? When you tried to have her killed? When you ruined her career a second time? There's a difference between tough love and heartless abuse. And you've crossed it."

Lionel finally cracks a bit,

No he doesn't!

Yes he does.

No. The magnificent bastard does not crack under pressure, especially under the flimsy pressure as applied by Lois Lane.

Well he does in my story.

"The life of a newspaper reporter is beneath a Luthor! This unfortunate episode may finally open her eyes to that fact."

Lois is pissed, "You've ruined her life one too many times. I'm going to take you down. I don't care what it takes."

That's absolutely ridiculous!

Lionel thinks that is the funniest thing he's heard in a long time. He wishes her luck.

Now we're back in character!

Lois storms off.

Lex drops by to berate Martha for letting Lionel use her.

Hoe whispers in his ear about how ironic it is the Kents finally accept Lionel when Lionel's influence was what always kept them an arm's length from him.

She better not screw up Martha and Lionel's relationship!

I believe she does.

That little whore!

Thus Hoe!

Shut up!

The bottom line is that Lex vents some of his anger and Martha will reevaluate her relationship with Lionel.

And then Hoe has a great idea.

I don't even want to know.

Maybe Lex should get Chloe to join him. Together they can once again defeat Lionel.

So as he leaves Martha's office Lex calls her.

Chloe refuses but Sex continues to push that wedge between Chloe and Clark.

Hoe thinks telling Chloe that Lionel was the one who set her up might seal the deal.

So Lex tries it.

Sex tells Chloe she should join Lex. She obviously can't trust Lionel.

Chloe isn't convinced. She says she can't trust either of them and ends the conversation.

Sex berates her for condemning herself to a life of obscurity. Doesn't she want to make something of herself?

Chloe is infuriated. She's going to make something of her self "without the help of any Luthor."

Sex is sarcastic, "You're doing a great job so far."

Martha goes to confront Lionel.

Lionel enters is typical damage control mode but it's not enough to convince Martha.

The evidence is rock solid. The clause is in her bill. A clause the opposition insisted on in exchange for support. She never understood why it so important to them. Until now.

More damage control, in a last ditch effort Lionel gives a partial confession.

But it's not enough. Martha lets him know it's over between them.

Love 'em and leave 'em. That Martha is a man eater. Didn't that night together mean anything to her?

Don't even go there, John.

But Lionel does go there. He tries all her buttons. But to no avail. Martha's resolve is rock solid.

How much did you pay them, Welling?

I haven't payed them anything!

You've been against this relationship from the beginning. I know you're behind this!

Actually Tom has nothing to do with it.

It's all about Lex instituting that scorched earth policy Lionel initiated.

And you working with Allison to get Al and Miles back. The gloves? They are off.

That means Lionel gets to break up Lana and Lex.

I don't think so.

He's got to retaliate somehow!

No.

You castrate the magnificent bastard and I'll have your head, Rosenbaum!

Next Lois drops in on Chloe.

Sex immediately starts in on how Lois is trying to take everything Chloe ever coveted.

Chloe tries to ignore Sex but it's difficult.

[snort]

[rolls eyes]

She's short and impatient with Lois.

Lois tells Chloe her theory about Lionel being responsible for the Planet debacle.

This gives Sex the ammunition he needs to work on getting Chloe to team up with Lex.

Do you have to call the Lex in Chloe's head Sex?

No.

Thank God!

But we're going to anyway. Chloe decides to go see Lex.

So we cut to Chloe driving.

As she's crossing a suppension bridge the tires on a tractor trailer ahead blow out causing it to swerve.

Chloe swerves and ends up with her car dangling half way off the road and pinned in her car.

But what's worse, there's a school bus full of kids in the same boat.

She dials up the fortress.

Clark observes that Chloe wouldn't call unless it was a true emergency and super speeds away.

Somehow he's able to figure out exactly where she is. Don't ask how.

But...

I said don't ask how. He runs up to her car and pulls off the door.

Chloe is still pinned in but as he reachs to pull her out he notices the school bus tipping over. He runs over and tries to level it.

He just left Chloe there? Why didn't he pull her car back onto the road with his super speed first?

Don't interrupt. Since the bus is heavier than Clark it ends up pulling him off the ground.

He slides down underneath the axle and punches through the asphalt so he can grabs onto a piece of rebar.

Now he can hold the bus in place. Meanwhile Chloe screams as her car teeters on the edge.

He should have...

Shut up! With all his strength he pulls the bus onto the bridge and speeds to Chloe's car just as it falls.

Cut to Lex giving Lana her final test of loyalty.

How exactly is he going to do that?

My first choice was asking her to have sex in public. Kristen didn't go for that. My second choice was asking her to kill someone. She wouldn't go for that either.

So finally we decided on Lex faking the discovery of the weapon.

Would Lana tell him about it, try to get rid of the weapoin, or try to keep it for herself?

At the very least she's not going to tell Lex.

If she doesn't know the message is faked.

So what happens?

She's been listening to his voice mail. So she makes up this story about how she thinks they found the weapon and apologiezes that she didn't come to him earlier.

Lex asks for clarification.

Lana says her gut feeling was that something was wrong and she wanted to be sure before bringing it to Lex. She knows how devistated she would be to think they have found it only to have her hopes dashed yet again. Now that's she double checked everything she can tell him. They've found the weapon!

And Lex actually almost seems like he feels guilty for having deceived her.

Back to the bridge. Clark is able to grab Chloe's car by the bumper. He smiles to himself and starts pulling the car back up. A support cable snaps and the bridge wobbles. The bus slides towards the edge as the unsupported bridge warps under its own weight.

He hefts up Chloe's car with renewed vigor.

The car comes away from the bumper and plummets to the ravine below.

The bus falls as the unsupported bridge gives way under it.

Oh my God, Michael. You're going to kill a bunch of innocent people two episodes in a row?

Clark watches as the bus and car fall the ground.

No. Fracking. Way. What about super speed?

Didn't use it. Nice shot of Chloe dead in her car. I want it worse than anything Lana's been through. I want bent legs like in Shattered, a broken neck like in Thirst, and profuse bleeding like in Reckoning. I want it as graphic as we can make it and still show on network TV.

No. Freaking. Way.

Throw in a few shots of kids' baseball caps and book bags strewn outside the crushed bus. TW & AM: No. Freaking. Way.

You can't kill Chloe!

Or school children!

It's our episode. We can do anything we want.

It's too...

Dark? Get over it. We break to commercials so Chloe fans can sit in shock for a couple minutes.

And everyone else can go pee.

Clark stands on what's left of the bridge observing the wreckage below. The background fades to reveal Clark was in the fortress the whole time.

Terence Stamp is pissed, "You have failed again, my son."

I think I liked the one line descriptions of Clark's scenes better.

So now that we know Chloe didn't really die we get to see her drop in on Lex.

They pretend to want to work together to defeat Lionel while Sex and Hoe work to convince them they need to kill one another.

Hoe tells Lex that Chloe is interested in taking the weapon and getting rid of him so she can rule the world. She suggests Lex pursue such a course of action himself.

Meanwhile Sex is encouraging Chloe to embrace her Luthor heritage. LuthorCorp is rightfully hers. She should take this opportunity to get rid of Lex. It would impress Lionel. He'd welcome her with open arms and when the right time comes she can wack him as well.

Chloe resists because she's such a fracking saint. But Lex decides Hoe is on to something.

In the ensuing melee a completely implausible second kryptonite based accident restores the two of them to their normal selves.

But not before an intricate and nicely choreographed fight scene that strikes an amazing similarity to foreplay.

Bleck! Is that really necessary?

No. But it might be good for ratings.

All this while Sex and Hoe egg Lex and Chloe on.

Does Lex lose his shirt?

As a matter of fact he does. And Chloe...

Watch it, Rosembaum.

... loses her blouse.

I said watch it!

Don't worry. Her brazier remains in tact.

Little consolation.

Especially considering how skimpy it's going to be. Oh, and she losses part of her skirt too.

Kristen, really, I can't believe you let him get away with this!

What happened to 'taking one for the team'?

This? Is not taking one for the team!

You said some sacrifices were going to have to be made if we were going to get rid of those guys.

I saved Lana from participating in a hot tub threesome! In return you give me Chloe in as close to a foursome as this show is ever going to get?

With two copies of her brother and one of herself.

Don't rub it in.

I've got to say I find it a little disturbing.

I think we should vote! Time to put the super majority to the test! Who thinks this scene is too much?! [All hands but MR and JG's hands go up]

[To KK] Back stabber.

I told you it would never last.

[Marking through the script] Fine! We back it off a notch.

Back to the fortress. Jor-El spouts some platitude about how if Clark is willing to sacrifice the many for the few he will find himself losing both.

Clark is angry. He tells Jor-El he will always choose to save both.

Jor-El simply points out that option will not always be available. Kal-El must decide on which course of action is most vital and not switch between them.

In other words don't try to put three fires out at once. Get rid of the most dangerous one first and then move on.

Clark can't really do that.

And so there's a little bit of conflict thus the difficulty of them finding common ground in he synopsis.

Chloe catches up with Lois and apologizes for her harsh words.

Lois says she understands. If Lois had Lex in her head she'd probably do worse. And besides, Chloe was right, she'll never be the reporter Chloe is.

Chloe tells Lois not to sell herself short and then asks if Lois has anything to show her.

Lois doesn't know what she's talking about.

"Your story?"

"Oh. Yeah. I didn't want to bring up a sore point."

Chloe proudly pulls out a copy of the DP turned to Lois' article. "So I read in the Planet that Rip has been suspended from the football team and prosecutors are considering filing manslaughter charges against him. And all this under Lois Lane's by line." Teasing, "I never thought I'd see the day. Congratulations!"

Lois is cautious, "So you're not mad?"

"Mad? No. Jealous? Maybe."

Jealous?!?

"But mostly I'm anxious to get back on staff so I can start out scooping my favorite cousin."

They decide to burn the midnight oil together until Lois' book is finished now that they know Lionel orchestrated the fake news story.

Lois offers to share the by line with Chloe.

As much as Chloe is tempted to accept she tells Lois considering that she'll only be co-authoring one or two chapters Lois should keep the by line for herself.

It makes me sick they make up so easy.

Chloe admits to Lois that she somehow felt more complete with Lex as a devil's advocate whispering in her ear.

Say the exact quote. I want Allison to hear it.

Michael.

Say it!

You say it.

It won't sound right if I say it.

I'm not saying it.

Fine. "You know what the strange part is, Lois? With Lex inside me... I actually felt complete. More complete than I've ever felt."

I'm not saying that.

Oh, yes you are.

I am not! It's vile. It's disgusting. And considering her relationship with Lex it's perverse.

Which is why she's got to say it.

I tell you what, Michael. You drop that line and I'll not make Lex look like a total dufus next episode.

I don't want him to look like any kind of dufus. I want him to look competent and smart.

[Inhales deeply. Pauses in thought] OK.

[Marking out the line] Great.

Lex and Lana meet in the LuthorCorp Lobby after hours. Workers are moving Lex's stuff into a moving van.

He sits observing the statue of Atlas as Lana approaches.

She asks him why he would give up LuthorCorp when he already has the weapon.

Lex tells her the reports were wrong. The team is still looking.

Faking utter disappointment, "I see." Appreciating the symbolism of Atlas she asks how it feels to still bear the weight of the world but with so fewer resources. When Lex is silent she suggests they battle Martha's bill in court.

Lex says he's happy to let Lionel take LuthorCorp for the time being. In the short term it's nothing more than a distraction. Soon enough rather than bearing the weight of the world he and Lana will be sitting on top of it.

Lana says she doesn't see how.

Lex tells her that the only thing that matters is the weapon. "Everything else is inconsequential."

"How can you say that? You just gave up the multi billion dollar industrial empire you helped build."

"A mere trifle compared to the power we will command once we have the weapon."

Lana wants to know what he's talking about.

Lex explains that with the weapon in their hands and Kal-El out of the picture no one will be able to stand in their way, not Lionel, not the US government, not even the world. The two of them will rule together.

And Lana works hard not to look freaked out.

The jungle. Dr. Durance searches a hill side.

A stick she uses to explore the ground hits something solid in the brush. She kneels and pushes the foliage aside. She picks up a fragment of the box which contains the weapon and studies it.

The camera view descends to show the weapon laying in what's left of the box embedded in the hillside only feet away.

Go to black.

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