6.22 Switch Part II (AKA Lies)

By &

Clark returns from the fortress when he learns that Chloe and Lois are in danger. But Lex, now in possession of the Kryptonian weapon, is convinced Clark has turned Lana against him and lies in wait with plans to use the weapon against his former friend.

PART I

Start with the typical "Previously on Smallville" thing. A lot of great scenes for Lex! And some crap involving Chloe, Lois, and that guest star.

And nothing about Clark.

Almost nothing. In fact, Tom's entire appearance from last week is in the little snippet, poor guy.

What about Martha?

Yeah, we'll throw in something about Martha and Lionel.

The teaser starts with Chloe tied to a chair. The room is completely dark except for one hanging light shining down on her almost like a spotlight.

The clicking of footsteps. I'm bringing Sex back!

Lord help us.

Sex is in his trademark white suit as he whispers triumphantly into Chloe's ear. "He's going to kill you, you know."

Cut to Lois and Oliver being lead along by a couple of guards, hands tied behind their backs.

Lois, "They're going to kill us, you know."

Oliver, "They're going to try to kill us."

"Well unless you have some major tricks up your sleeve I think they're highly likely to succeed."

"With that sense of optimism it's no wonder you don't have suitors banging down your door."

"So what's your bright I idea, money bags?"

"I'm working on it."

"There's a small can on pepper spray in my front pocket. You might be able to get to it if we pretend to stumble and fall on top of each other."

"Pepper spray? I lot of good that's going to do us. In case you didn't notice they have guns."

"And here I thought you were supposed to be the optimist."

"Fine. On three. One, two..."

Cut to the mansion. Reynolds waits in the hallway. Clark walks into the study. Lana sits facing away from him.

Clark looks sick... with worry, "Where's Lex?"

Lana has been crying. "I was wondering when you would show up."

"I need to know where he is, Lana."

"He's going to kill Chloe, isn't he?"

"Not if I get there first."

She looks up. In despair, "What do you plan to do?"

Clark is silent.

She pauses sadly, "Stop him? How is a simple farm boy from Smallville going to stop the most powerful man on the planet?"

"Lana, I'm just trying to do what's right."

"He already has it, Clark, the weapon." Clark's expression turns to one of dread. Lana continues, "How in the world do you think you have what it takes to face him?"

Hesitation, "I'll... I'll talk to him."

Bitter chuckle, "I suppose I can't blame you for never telling me."

"Telling you what?"

Change the angle of the camera to show Lana wearing Lex's real Kryptonite ring. It's glowing ever so faintly, "You made the right choice, Clark, in trusting Chloe. She protected you, she earned your trust. And I... at the first sign of trouble I ran straight into the arms of Lex Luthor."

"Lana, I..."

"It's OK, Clark. I wish I were someone you could trust, but whatever your reasons you had, you were right, Kal-El."

Now Clark is completely speechless.

He looks like he's going to pee his pants.

How come Lana and Lori get to figure out the secret on their own? That's not fair!

You want him to tell Lana of his own volition?

Um. No. Lana should find out by accident, like Chloe did.

And Clark should have more than one line in Secrets.

Lana breaks the silence. "Lex's plane kept complete radio silence. I don't know where they were headed." She hands Clark a map. "Here's where they found the weapon. You might be able to find some clues there."

Awkwardly, "Thank you, Lana." He exits the study.

Reynolds reaches out, "I could...."

"No more mind wipes."

Wait. So Lois is going to remember meeting Kal-El this time?

Oh, yeah. She'll remember it.

[grins] Sweet!

[Gives MR a significant look]

[ED notices] What? Is Lois the one who betrays him?

They super-speed away. End teaser.

Come on!

Don't forget, Erica. Someone takes the secret to the grave too.

[Looks worried] Um, you know what, guys? Lois doesn't have to learn the secret quite yet. I'm fine with her being in the dark a while longer.

We come back to Chloe dreaming about Sex.

Hee!

[shakes head, rolls eyes, and sighs]

"I told you to make the first move."

But Chloe ignores Sex. She's very disciplined.

You mean frigid.

The first one was almost funny. But the second one is uncalled for.

I thought it was funny. "There's only one way to save yourself and you know it."

Chloe is incensed, "Never!"

Sex smiles, "What has Kal-El done for you? Shut you out of his life? Spurned every one of your advances? Completely ignored your affection while he follows that insipid Lana Lang around like a puppy dog?"

Hey!

Insipid sounded more intellectual that bitch.

Hey!

Sex is just trying to get under Chloe's skin. It doesn't mean she's actually insipid.

Or a bitch.

It doesn't mean she's not.

[sticks her tongue out at MR]

"He barely knows you exist."

Chloe looks away. "I know what you're trying to do. And it's not going to work."

"Test your loyalty? Is that what you think I'm doing?" Sex crouches before her and puts her head into his hands forcing her to look at him. "I'm trying to save your life." He gets up. "But the part that hurts the most is that you know I'm only telling you the truth, shattering all the little lies you've been telling yourself all these years. All so you could keep pretending that somehow deep down he loves you."

"They aren't lies."

"Don't tell me that deep down you don't still dream that one day he'll sweep you up in his big strong arms and tell you he loves you."

Chloe purses her lips.

"How likely do you think that is to happen... honestly?"

You two are really, really bad.

[immitating George Thorogoud] b-b-bad, b-b-bad, bad to the bone.

"And where is he now, in your greatest hour of need?"

"He'll come. He'll save me."

Cut to Lois and Oliver, "Three."

Lois stumbles and falls. Oliver falls on top of her. Lois, "Watch those hands, dammit!"

"This was your stupid idea."

A guard barks, "Get back up."

Oliver, "That'd be a lot easier if our hands weren't tied behind our backs."

Lois, "OK, seriously, enough with the hands."

Oliver smiles to the guard, "Would you lend me a hand?"

The guard bends over and gets a squirt of pepper spray in his eye. Oliver jumps to his feet, "This might actually make for a good trick arrow." as he aims for the second guard.

The second guard, vision impaired takes a swipe at Oliver's hand.

Sending the spray right into Lois' face, "Dammit, Oliver!"

"Shut up and roll out of the way."

Which Lois promptly does, "If we get out of this alive..."

"You're going to thank me?"

"Only after I've kicked your ass."

"When I give the word stick your foot out."

Lois kicks Oliver in the shin and he groans. "I said when I give the word!"

"Oh, sorry." Lois retracts her leg. Oliver faces down the blinded guards with his hands still tied behind his back.

Part II

We show a nicely choreographed fight scene. At the right moment Oliver shouts "Now.", Lois shoots her foot out and trips one of the guards sending him face first into Oliver's knee, knocking him out. Oliver is able to knock out the other guard with a swift kick and grabs a pocket knife from the unconscious man's belt.

Lois, hearing no more activity, "Did we win?"

Oliver he reaches to untie her hands, "We?" Chuckles.

"I did the kicking thing."

"True enough. We're not out of the woods yet." He helps her stand.

The sound of footsteps. Lois, "Oh, crap. Is that what I think it is?"

"I'm pretty sure it's not the welcome wagon, if that's what you mean."

Lois, "Are you always this much of a smart ass?"

"Are you?" He contemplates the drop tile ceiling. Besides, "Chloe finds it endearing."

"I'll find it endearing if you can get us out of here!"

Cut to show half a dozen guards round a corner. "Working on it." Oliver kneels and forms a step with his hands for Lois. "Here step up onto my hands."

Lois blindly puts her foot out. "I don't have a very good feeling about this!"

Hefting her up, "Me either. Now remove a tile and climb on up."

Back to Sex. Cruelly, "I when Kal-El does come Lex will kill him." Significant pause. "And then he'll kill you."

As if in great pain Chloe cries out, "No!" The scene washes out in white as she screams.

You know this whole character in the person's head was supposed to last only one episode, right?

That's what I thought until Hoe crushed Lex's head last episode.

You know what? I'll take that scene out if you get rid of the Lex in Chloe's head.

You want me to get Sex out of Chloe's head?

Don't be juvenile, Michael.

What do you think, Tom?

It's up to you.

Well?

Um. No.

Michael!

Whispering in her ear, "There's no reason for both of you to die. You should at least save yourself. Clark would."

At least tell me this is a dream. I had the decency to put Ka-loe into Lex's dream.

No. It's a hallucination.

You are a bastard.

It's sort of a dream. She's drifting from conscious to unconscious.

Oh, it's totally a hallucination.

Really? Because I thought...

Don't think. Read.

It's a hallucinatory dream.

Whatever.

Again with the pain and whiting out the screen, "NO!"

"Give into Lex and he'll spare your life."

Once more with the pain, "NOOOOO!"

And a blinding flash of light.

This time when the light dims the rest of the room is faintly visible. Chloe is slumped forward, unconscious. Someone comes up from behind and checks her pulse. "She's out but she'll survive."

Pull back to reveal Lex observing her, weapon in hand, bitterly disappointed. "She's not going to talk. Unstrap her."

The lackey does as ordered. Chloe's limp body falls onto the floor. Apparently unable to move she seems too drained to even completely open her eyes.

Lex, "Despite all appearances to the contrary, I'm not an evil person, Chloe. I wish it didn't have to come down to this but you leave me no choice."

Cut to Lois up inside the drop tile ceiling, "You realize I can't see a damn thing, right?"

"Just go forward and don't drop the through the panels!"

Feeling around, "That would be a lot easier if I could actually see them!"

"Now turn around and give me a hand."

"But..."

"Now, dammit!"

With Lois' help Oliver does some acrobatics to get up just as the guards round the corner. Oliver carefully replaces the tile.

"Now be quiet."

Whispering, "This your big plan?"

"I said be quiet!"

Reynolds and Clark arrive outside the facility

Reynolds, "I don't sense Chloe. She's not here."

"What about Lois or Oliver?"

"I'm not familiar with their minds."

Clark seems annoyed that Reynolds isn't more help. They walk up to the entrance and Clark doubles over in pain. He backs up and tries is x-ray vision. "Kryptonite."

"Can you scan the inside of the building?"

"There's kryptonite all over the place scattering the x-rays. I can't see more than a few feet."

"Then wait here." Reynolds turns transparent and walks right through the wall into the building.

Clark notices someone loading up a truck nearby. He sneaks into the cargo area and scans the contents. One is labeled, "???Ship control crystal???"

Cut to Lois and Oliver crawling through duct work. Oliver removes a ventilation panel and smiles broadly, "Bingo."

"Please tell me you've found us a way out of here."

"My lady, our chariot awaits."

Cut back to show Oliver looking out over a LexCorp helicopter sitting on a heli pad.

Cut to Reynolds calmly walking through the building. A guard spots him and orders him to halt. Reynolds stops and stares at the guard. He concentrates.

Cut to Clark opening the box in the truck. He hears Reynolds voice as he communicates to Clark telepathically, "Lois and Oliver were here but they escaped recently. They are probably still somewhere on the grounds." Clark frowns.

The guard repeats his warning but Reynolds just ignores him. The guard fires. Reynolds touches his chest in surprise. A small bullet made of a mix of gray and black alloy eats away at his flesh. To the guard's amazement Reynolds becomes transparent and floats up through the ceiling.

Cut to Clark. He has the crate open and holds a chuck of the ship with a shard of clear crystal embedded in it. When he hears gun fire in the distance he super speeds away.

Cut to the LexCorp helicopter taking off. Several guards are shooting at it.

Inside Oliver is piloting.

Lois, "Can't you go any faster?"

"I'm going as fast as I can!"

"They're shooting at us!"

"Tell me something I don't know!"

A bullet goes through the wind shield. "This was a terrible idea!"

"I said tell me something I don't know!"

Cut to show the helicopter clear the tree tops. The site is next to a deep river gorge and the helicopter begins to cross it. A bullet hits one of the stabilizer blades sending the helicopter spinning.

Clark super-speeds into the frame.

The helicopter crashes into a huge tree. Lois falls out the side but manages to grab hold of the landing gear. She screams for help.

Mercy points out Clark to her team of guards and they begin firing at him.

A bullet hits him in the arm and he winces in pain grabbing at the wound. Show the same kind of grey and black pellet embedded in his skin, eating away at his flesh. He pulls it out holds it between his fingers to inspect it. To his horror the pellet stars eating away at the skin on his fingers.

Panicked he drops the pellet. Another couple hit him -- one in the shoulder and one in the leg. He super speeds to behind a large three. He turns his head to look at his shoulder. There's another bullet eating away at the flesh of his shoulder.

Mercy smiles triumphantly.

So did he forget he had super-speed?

No. He didn't think he needed it because bullets always bounced off him in the past.

So when one doesn't he just stands there?

Well...

Pretty stupid if you ask me.

You're one to talk.

Part III

Lex's war room. Lana sneaks in. She fishes for her MP3 player only to find it gone. She hears someone unlock the door so she hides behind a couple of monitors. The head of security tries to get in touch with Lex "There's been a disturbance at the search site. Ms. Grey is requesting further instructions."

Apparently Lex is busy. The man on the other end tells him to let Mercy handle things as she sees fit.

At the search site Lois hangs from the helicopter. Cut to show her POV. It's still quite blurry thanks to the pepper spray but she can just make out the outline of the landing gear he hangs from. She yells for Oliver's help but gets no answer so she tries to hand walk her way back into the helicopter. After a couple of successful moves she loses her grip with one hand and screams.

Chloe comes to finding herself no longer bound. He rubs her wrists as she stands. Lex motions to his guards to leave them alone.

"Why this stubborn loyalty Chloe? Isn't the documented cruelty of this alien race enough to convince you that Kal-El is a threat?"

"You're the threat Lex. You might as well just kill me and get it over with. I'll never tell you anything."

"Like I said I was hoping you would help me locate him. But I'm a patient man. He'll come to save you like he always does and that is when I'll kill him." He studies her for a second. "You don't believe me, do you? You think I'm no match to his inhuman speed? Or is it his super human strength that impresses you? Perhaps it's one of his other abilities? Truth is Kal-El is as close to a god as Well I am scared Chloe. And you should be too. Such immense power should ever be left in the hands of one man."

"If that's how you feel should give up the weapon."

Lex chuckles, "Nice try. Even with it I'm no match for Kal-El. I'll admit it. He defeated me once. But defeat is a powerful teacher." He holds up his scarred palm. "I'll not repeat the same mistake again."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?"

Lex clicks on a display showing the layout of the building. "This should look familiar, I believe you published something like it a while back. I've been working with meteor rock for a while now Chloe. Did you know it glows when around the aliens?"

Chloe doesn't answer.

"So not only is it pretty easy to detect when one is around it also slows them down." The layout changes to show strategically placed installations of Kryptonite. "When Kal-El comes to save you the meteor rock will not only alert me to his presence but will slow him down." He inspects the weapon with appreciation. "And that's where this comes in. An amazing device, don't you think? It appears to work telepathically. I don't even have to see my quarry..."

Lex closes his eyes and concentrates. A light shoots from the weapon and flows right through the wall.

"... to destroy it. I only have to know where it is."

He nods to a guard who exits.

Lex walks up and looks into Chloe's eyes, "Last time I had the misfortune of Kal-El being in the same room with me." Again with the palm. "I nearly killed me. This time he will die before he gets close enough to try."

"You don't even have the guts to fight him face to face?"

"Why extend him a courtesy he never afforded me? The truth is Kal-El is a cunning and vile opponent. If I confront him face to face I'm sure he'll do more than cripple my hand this time. That's not going to happen. I'll take him by surprise and finish him off immediately."

The guard returns carrying a melted statue. Chloe stares at it with dread.

"I practiced a bit while you were unconscious. I've gotten pretty good at it, if I do say so myself."

Another guard arrives. He whispers into Lex's ear and Lex smiles.

"It seems your time will come sooner rather than later, Chloe. Kal-El has been at the search site. It's only a matter of time before he figures out where I've taken you."

Chloe scowls, "He won't fall for your trap."

Yeah, right.

Hey!

"I wouldn't be so sure, Chloe. I tell you what, as much as I'd like to I'm not going to kill you yet." He pauses for effect, "I'm going to let you live just long enough to witness the death of your beloved Kal-El. Take her away."

The guards reach to grab Chloe. She stares at the disfigured statue almost in shock, "Wait."

Tom, if this is going where I think it's going, you are so dead.

War room. The guard exits. Lana goes over to the video conference screen. She pulls up the call history. The last location "called" is Level 33.1.

Search Site. Clark is backed up against the tree trying to extract the pellet from his leg when he hears Lois scream again. We see her lose her grip and begin to fall. Clark jumps to catch her. Through gritted teeth because he's in pain from being shot, "I've got you."

"Ollie?" She stares at him. We see a really blurry shot of Clark to show that Lois can't tell who's caught her.

You bastards! So Lois doesn't figure out his secret?

No.

Bastards.

I thought you didn't want her to figure it out. So she can't betray him?

Or take the secret to the grave.

Oh, yeah.

It's not necessarily a bad deal, really.

Realizing she can't see Clark decided to keep his secret. He tries to disguise his voice. "No. A friend."

"Kal-El?"

They land "we need to get you out of here."

Lois hugs him tight making Clark look uncomfortable. "It is you! Thank God! You have to save Chloe! And Oliver. Have you seen Oliver? He was in the helicopter."

Now she's giving Kal-El orders?

Hey, it's Lois.

Hey, bite me!

Another bullet hits Clark so he super speeds a couple of miles away and lays Lois down. "I'll be back." He super speeds to the helicopter and pulls out Oliver who is unconscious and super speeds away to lay him down next to Lois. "Where's Chloe?"

"I don't know. Lex took her. He has the weapon!"

Oliver starts coming to.

He groans and then sees Clark, "Well, you're a sight for sore eyes! Glad you could finally make it Cl..."

"Kal-El." Clark nods his head slightly in Lois' direction.

Oliver catches on, "Kal-El"

Lois is immediate suspicious, "What's going on?"

Oliver holds his arm, "My guess is a few broken ribs and a broken arm."

Lois is incredulous, "You two know each other?"

Clark completely ignores her.

Great. Just freakin' great.

"We need to get you two to a medical facility."

Lois, "Have you two meet before?"

Oliver ignores her too, "Agreed."

I swear, you two!

Yeah, well at least she isn't about to betray Clark.

You don't know that.

So Chloe isn't going to betray Clark.

I didn't say that.

You implied it.

I just pointed out you don't know that she will.

And you don't know that I won't stab you with this pencil!

I'm pretty sure you won't.

And I'm pretty sure if I do you'll scream like a girl.

[Chuckles] He would. I've seen it.

Stay out of this John!

Part IV

[To AM] Michael does scream like a girl.

There's no need to insult girls. Behave, you two!

Thank you, Annette.

Don't think you're not on my list, Rosembaum. A Martha scene better be coming up pretty quickly or... or I'll let Allison stab you with her pencil.

No one is going to stab anyone with a pencil.

[Handing AM a pen] Use my pen.

You're not helping, Kristen.

You boneheads aren't helping either! You think we're just going to sit here and take this crap? Lois being ignored, Chloe betraying Clark, Lana doing who the hell knows what?

You don't know that Chloe is going to betray Clark.

So it's Lana?

It could be.

[To AM] Give me my pen back, I may need it.

It could be Lois!

How the hell could it be Lois? She's not even on the right continent!

Not yet.

It could be Lionel.

[Hopeful] Really?

Or even Martha? That would be interesting!

Don't tell me you want Martha to betray her own son!

It could be interesting.

It's not Martha, dammit!

Maybe everybody just needs to take five to cool down.

No way. I'm not leaving here without an armed guard.

Then keep reading.

Lois, "Oliver, if you've been holding out on me... I swear!"

Reynolds flies in and lands next to Clark, "The weapon is gone and I found nothing regarding its whereabouts."

Lois, "Is this another one of your friends, Kal-El?"

Reynolds looks surprised for a moment but Clark nods that it's OK.

He holds his hand out to Lois, "Yes, my name is J'onn J'onzz. I'm a Martian."

Lois is starting to get overwhelmed, "God, there's more than one of you?"

Oliver, "Bloody hell! That's all we need, another alien!"

Clark, "J'onn, make sure they get medical attention. I may have found a lead."

Oliver, "But..."

Clark super-speeds away before Oliver can finish his sentence.

Lois, "Wow. Oliver, I thought you were good but..."

Oliver winces as he tries to stand. "Really? Because you haven't stopped busting my chops since you got off the plane."

Lois gushes, "He's super-fast, super-strong, super-polite... an all around super guy."

Oliver, slightly irritated, "Not you too."

Lois, "Me too?"

Oliver to J'onn, "My Hummer is down by the..."

Lois, "Is he good looking too?"

Reynolds, "Got it." He disappears.

Lois, "I mean because if he is? Can you imagine?"

Oliver rolls his eyes, "Would you please just SHUT UP!"

Lionel's office. Clark super speeds in. "Clark, what a pleasant surprise."

"Dispense with the pleasantries. How long have you been working with Lex?"

Lionel denies working with Lex.

Clark tells him he found a crystal from his fortress at the search site and knows Lionel must have been the one who stole them.

Lionel tells Clark he doesn't know anything about Clark's precious "crystals"

Clark demands to know where Lex is. And he wants his crystals back.

Lionel claims not to know.

Clark tells him Chloe is in danger.

For a split second there's a hint of worry on Lionel's face but then he says that Chloe can handle herself. "Like my son, Chloe is a survivor. You know her as well as anyone. She'll do whatever it takes to survive, Clark."

Clark threatens to tear Lionel limb from limb if he doesn't give Clark Lex's location.

Lionel gives Clark a little speech about how Clark walks around throwing his weight around as if he were a god. He forgets just how vulnerable he really is. He presses a button and the kryptonite gas from Distrust fills the room. As Clark loses consciousness, "Don't ever threaten me again, Clark." When he releases the button fans pull the gas back out of the room. With a remote control he opens a drawer hidden in the wall. Inside are several crystals.

Short scene showing Reynolds picking up Lois and Oliver in the Hummer.

Lois bitches at them about going to save Chloe but Reynolds tells her Kal-El is taking care of it while he makes sure she and Oliver receive medical attention.

Do you need to make Lois such a bitch?

We're just following canon.

Canon? Then make her smart!

Eh, we don't want to follow canon too closely.

Next Lois complains about always being relegated to the side lines.

So now she's an ultra bitch?

Like I said...

You don't want to follow canon too closely.

Oliver asks her what part of being captured, shot at, and wrecking a helicopter she considers to be on the sidelines.

Clark wakes up in the streets behind the LuthorCorp building.

His phone is ringing. It's Lana. She's on her way to Metropolis.

She tells Clark that Lex has taken Chloe to the old level 33.1 building. She'll meet him there.

She warns him Lex is ready for him. Clark gets up and tries to run.

But he only makes it a few steps before he doubles over coughing. He winds up hailing a cab.

Back to Lex and Chloe.

Lex motions for the guards to back away. He's silent for a moment, "You finally have something to say?"

Chloe seems conflicted. "Don't do it Lex."

Lex chuckles, "That's it?"

Chloe, "What if I could guarantee Kal-El won't hurt you?"

Lex shoves his palm in front of her face, "It's a little to late for that. He's not getting another chance."

Chloe, "Lex, you don't know what you're doing. Kal-El would never hurt you on purpose!"

Lex, "She's just trying to buy time. Take her away!"

The guards grab her by the arm. She struggles and losses her balance. They start dragging her. Chloe, "NO! Please, Lex, please."

Lex, "Remember, I want her to see Kal-El die."

Chloe, "Lex, I know you don't want to kill Kal-El because..." she hesitates but sees Lex walking away, "because I know who he is!"

Lex indicates the guards should let her go. She tries to stand but one of the guards pushes her shoulder back down so she's on her knees. Lex turns around and looks at her skeptically, "You're trying my patience, Chloe. This is your last chance."

Chloe, "Promise you wont kill him."

Lex sighs in irritation. The guards reach for her again.

Chloe, "It's Clark! Kal-El is Clark!"

You fucking bastards.

Hey, just hear us out, OK?

Oh, yeah. I'll hear you two out. And then I'm going to tear the both of you a new one.

I thought this might not be a good idea.

Relax, Tom. It's all going to work out in the end.

Work out for who?

Everyone.

Keep telling yourself that, boys.

Most everyone.

[looking nervous] Tears are flowing down her face, "Please don't kill him, Lex. Please don't kill him. Do whatever you want with me, but please don't kill Clark!"

At least she's just doing it because she thinks it's the only way to save his life.

Shut up. It's a shameless plot contrivance to royally screw Chloe over for life!

I think it's noble that she was willing to die herself but when she found out Lex was going to kill Clark she tried to save him.

Yeah? Well you thought Martha shagging Lionel was a good idea.

It was a good idea!

It was a terrible idea.

And so is this!

I like it.

And we all know what you like...

& [In bored recitation] Naked exploding women robots.

Part V

Turning away Lex chuckles, "Clark is Kal-El. Of course." Short pause, "I should have known. Let her stand."

Chloe stands, hopeful Lex won't kill Clark after all.

"All this time deep down I had this nagging feeling that maybe Clark was right all along, maybe you were more deserving of his trust than I. Seems he was wrong."

Chloe looks ashamed.

[Heavy sigh]

Relishing the moment, "Tell me Chloe, how does it feel to have betrayed your best friend?"

[AM grimaces. The pencil in AM's hand snaps in two. KK gives her a wary glace and scoots her chair a couple inches away]

[To AM] You aren't going to go postal on us, are you?

I'm not going to go postal.

Because if you do...

I'm not going to go postal!

OK. [pause] You sure?

[glares]

[Nervous] Chloe, "I..."

"Did you think tugging at my heartstrings would be enough to save your precious Kal-El?"

Chloe looks surprised.

He spins back around and hits Chloe full on in the face sending her to the floor. Full of rage, "Do you take me for a fool!"

[The cast looks at each other in uncomfortable silence]

Wow. You sure you want to do that?

Do what?

Have Lex punch Chloe?

Why not?

Once he hits her there's no going back. Everyone will hate him.

She just betrayed Clark! What the hell are you talking about? Lex will be cheered!

Maybe everyone will hate both of them.

[scowling at MR and TW] I know who I hate.

A guard enters, "Sir, someone has arrived who claims to know you. He wants you to let her go."

Lex is bored. "Who is it?"

"Clark Kent."

Lex smiles, "Speak of the devil. Bring him down." To Chloe, "There's been a slight change of plan, Chloe. I trust you'll enjoy seeing the look on Clark's face we he learns how shamelessly you betrayed him."

As they drag Chloe away she appeals to whatever is left of his humanity, begging him not to kill Clark, that Lex knows whatever their differences that Clark is a good person."

When you guys screw the pooch, you really screw the pooch, don't you?

I wouldn't have it any other way.

The facility layout shows the kryptonite alien detectors go off as the men escort Clark through the building.

A guard asks if Lex wants to close the shielding doors. Lex answers that what they are seeing are just residuals of the alien based ammunition in the guards' rifles.

A call comes in. Lana has finally arrived.

Is she the one that dies?

We don't want to give who dies away yet, do we?

I'd like to know.

I think she's the one that dies.

I'd like that. Can Lana be the one that takes his secret to the grave?

Wouldn't that just be perfect? Chloe betrays him while Lana takes his secret to the grave. That is such bullshit!

We never said Lana is the one who takes his secret to the grave.

You never said she isn't.

Lionel could die. Please let Lionel die.

What the hell kind of freak show is this? Does everybody want their character to die?

Can we choose between our character dieing or betraying Clark?

Oh, that's a tough one.

I know which way I'm leaning.

They could always have Chloe betray Clark and then kill her.

That could definitely happen.

I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.

Lex has them delay Lana at the entrance but to let her in.

A guard shoves Chloe into a small cell. He turns on a video feed of the main hall where Lex awaits Clark.

So first you torture her physically. Then you have her betray Clark, something she swore she'd die before doing, and now you're going to torture her psychologically?

Pretty much sucks to be Chloe.

We're going to cut back and forth between Chloe watching and Lex telling Clark was a shitty friend she is.

Chloe is not a shitty friend!

Thanks to the combination of kryptonite vapor and walking by the Green K along the way Clark has to be drug in. The guards let go of him and he falls to his knees. He tells Lex to let Chloe go.

Lex starts a monologue about how he's done listening to Clark's demands and then accuses Clark of feeding Lana lies to fool her into to betraying him.

Clark counters that Lex's actions were what turned Lana away, not anything Clark did.

"No matter. I have some news almost as good to share with you. I was wondering when you would finally show up, Clark. Or should I say Kal-El?"

Clark looks up in surprise.

"Someone's been telling stories about you."

This is when we start cutting between showing the actual scene and Chloe's reaction as she watches. Allison, you know I'm not a big fan of on-screen crying but you need to turn on the water works here.

Great.

Lex tells Clark about how Chloe betrayed him. He likens the situation to Lex and Lana and how her betrayal must not have anything to do with what Lex has done or said but Clark's own actions.

Chloe cries and yells to Clark about how sorry she is but of course Clark can't hear her. It's really sad.

You know what's sad? You two.

Clark asks if Lex believes Chloe.

"Does it matter what I believe? She sold you up the river, Clark."

"You're lying! Chloe would die before she'd betray me!"

"Is that so? It happens she's alive and well. At least for now."

"What are you going to do to her?"

"The same thing I'm going to do to you, kill her."

"Lex.."

Lex looks up at the security camera triumphantly. "But first I wanted her to see the look on your face when you realized that the one person you trusted most betrayed you."

Clark follows Lex's gaze. Realizing that Chloe must be beating herself up over this his expression turns to anguish. "No!"

Or he's anguished because the fact she sold his sorry ass up the river finally sunk in. Whatever the reason Clark is upset. "It hurts, doesn't it? The moment you finally realize there's no one you can truly trust? When you feel a knife in your back and turn around to find you were stabbed by your closest friend and confidant?"

The guard outside of Chloe's cell falls and the video goes black. Lana enters and unties her. "I may despise you with every fiber of my being for what you've done to Clark but I'm not like Lex and I'm not going to let him kill you."

And I'm not going to stand for this sanctimonious crap! Chloe protects Clark's secret with her life for years and the day Lana figures it out see dresses Chloe down? It's insufferable!

It is pretty insufferable. Does Lana really have to do that?

If there's one consistent thing about Lana Lang it's that she's insufferable.

Chloe says Lana doesn't understand. She was trying to save Clark's life. Together they have to stop Lex.

"You've already done enough damage. Once I get you out of here I never want to see you again."

Lana, just shut up!

Did you just tell your own character to shut up?

What? Am I not entitled?

If there's one consistent thing about Lana Lang it's that she's entitled.

I thought you just said that it was she was insufferable.

Insufferable and entitled. Two things.

It is pretty much in character.

Unfortunately.

"Lana, I...".

Two guards appear, "Looks like you've been busy, Ms. Lang."

Go to black. The cue card reads, "To be continued."

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