SV: First cut is the deepest - ACT I (lex/diana, lex/clark, diana/bruce)
Author: Erika aka chinae
Artist: tallihensia
Title: First cut is the deepest
Pairing(s): Diana/Lex, Lex/Clark hinted at, Diana/Bruce discussed, Lena, mention of Mercy and Hope, as well as other JL characters.
Beta(s): sue_dreams, dossier, jlvsclrk
Summary: The heart knows when it's been given a second chance.
Rating: het, with hints of slash
Disclaimer: Owned by DC Comics
Warning(s): Written as a script – kind of.
Series compliant? Takes place in a combined Smallville/Justice League cartoon/comic universe
Word count: 157+
Written for smallvillebbang

Gift for enderwiggin24 for being the best SV fan.

~oo00oo~

SMALLVILLE

"FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST "

Set List

Interiors
Lex Luthor penthouse
/staircase
/bookshelves
/bedrooms
/elevator
/balcony
LexCorp
/lobby
/Lex's office
Wayne Industries
/Bruce's office
/lobby
Justice League Watchtower
/teleporter
/meeting room
/hangar
/medical facilities
Wayne Manor
/kitchen
/bedroom
/Batcave
/training room
Fortress of Solitude
Kent Farm
/kitchen
/barn
Luthor Mansion, Smallville
/office
/library
Daily Planet
/rooftop

Exteriors
New York
Metropolis
Gotham
Themyscira
Arctic
Smallville

TEASER

FADE IN.

NEW YORK CITY – MORNING

A young father carried his sleepy daughter into Starbucks. He was wearing a black knit beanie, a dark blue long sleeve shirt and slightly worn jeans. His daughter, age five-and-a-half, had on a sky-blue robe with high slit on both sides, dark-blue bloomers cut at mid-calf, with a white sash. She completed her outfit by wearing blue arm-warmers. He adjusted her sleepy weight as he reached for his back pocket to take out his wallet. He felt her breath along his neck. They had had a busy time this morning, and he knew she was looking forward to Avatar: Musical, if the Katara outfit she was wearing was anything to go by.

He's more of a Zuko man than an Aang fan, no matter what similarities he shared with the young Avatar.

As he put his wallet away and picked up his coffee getting ready to leave, a man entered the coffee shop and shouted –

GUNMAN:
This is a stickup! Everyone put your hands in the air.

While most of the customers were ducking for cover and screaming in fright, Lex took his coffee, had a sip. It needed a bit more sugar. He reminded himself not to leave a tip next time. He sat down on one of the unoccupied tables and waited to be rescued.

According to his calculations, it should be happening just about... now.

Except that the wait seem to go on longer than usual, and Lex wondered if Big Blue was handling another crisis or perhaps he'd been sent on an inter-galactic mission. Just his luck, the one time he actually needed Superman to interfere the man was elsewhere, probably saving an alien-kitten, Lex thought resentfully.

Normally, he wouldn't be too concerned. It was not the first time he'd been robbed, but his daughter was with him. A daughter who was at that moment rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

LENA:
[whispers] Daddy?

LEX:
[he kisses the top of her head] It will be fine.

He'd wanted to have a normal day with his daughter. Do the things most fathers would do and not be surrounded by bodyguards, who in today's techno age, tended to attract cell phone cameras. But no matter how much he craved for normalcy, it seemed it was thing he couldn't afford to have.

Lex hoped he wouldn't be recognized as the gunman collected people's wallets then came to stand before him. But as the gunman continued to flip through the wallets, and then abruptly stopped to look up at Lex, he realized that if he survived, Mercy may just never let him leave the penthouse on his own again.

GUNMAN:
You're Luthor?

Lex tightens his hold on Lena, and with his other hand brings the coffee to his lips. He stares nonchalantly at the gunman. Unimpressed.

GUNMAN:
I asked you a question.

LEX:
To which we both know the answer.

GUNMAN:
[looks smug] You're worth a lot of money. A lot of money.

Lena sniffs and burrows closer to her father. The gunman turns his gaze to her, and Lex's hand tightens on the cup. Greed he understood. Stupidity he could overcome. Moron with gun, he'd take his chances. But with Lena it was a calculated risk he was unwilling to take.

People could be bought, though.

Later, when his daughter was safe, he would allow himself the action of ensuring one less fool walked the Earth.

GUNMAN:
That your kid? [does not wait for the answer] How much is she worth to you?

LENA:
Daddy?

LEX:
It's all right sweetheart.

GUNMAN:
Get up!

LEX:
[slowly gets up and puts Lena down behind him] I think we all know how this is going to end.

GUNMAN:
Give me the kid.

LEX:
No.

GUNMAN:
I said, give me the kid!

The gunman steps forward to grab Lena, and Lex takes that opportunity to toss his still hot coffee at the man's face, scalding him. The man screams and Lex uses the momentum to punch the man in the face and push him over a table. The table break and the man loses his weapon.

He can hear people taking picture and calling the cops. As he reached down to grab Lena, the gunman on the floor launches himself at Lex, and then they both stumble.

LENA:
DADDY!

FADE OUT.

COMMERCIAL BREAK.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK – MID MORNING

A girl had saved him, and while other men would have problems with that, Lex could honestly say he has been saved by one everyday, so he wasn't that impressed, except that this one had once been a goddess. A Greek goddess and Lex had always been fond of Greeks.

A goddess who was holding his daughter, wiping her tears and listening as his daughter sniffled and hiccupped through her words.

The goddess had come in for her daily mocha and had stumble onto the robbery. She had grabbed the gunman by the scruff of his hood, tied him up with her lasso and apologized to Lex for accidentally bruising him when she had pushed him aside. If he hadn't been feeling dazed and worried about Lena, he'd have probably recognized Wonder Woman sooner, had she not been wearing jeans and a red sleeveless turtle neck.

Shouldn't there be a law against superheroes running about, dressed like regular folks?

After the police were called and everyone had been cleared, and Lex contemplated whether he should return home to Metropolis, he found that Lena refused to let go of their rescuer.

LEX:
Lena, I'm sure Miss –

DIANA:
Diana

LEX:
Miss Diana –

DIANA:
No, just Diana.

LEX:
[tries not to roll his eyes] I'm sure Diana has other things to do.

LENA:
[shakes head] No, daddy.

LEX:
Lena.

DIANA:
It's all right. I don't mind. Today is my day off anyway.

It was bad enough he had one spandex stalker, he really was not looking forward to getting another one. She noticed his hesitation and seemed about to get up when Lex –

LEX:
Sorry, um, would you like to join us? We were heading out to a children's musical.

DIANA:
A matinee?

LENA:
[squeals] Avatar! And, I'm Katara, see my outfit?

DIANA:
[smiles] I was wondering about that.

So Lex found himself buying an extra ticket and then inviting Diana to dinner. Somehow they ended up at Lex's penthouse in Manhattan, Lena between them, watching Toy Story and his world only seemed to right itself when Superman knocked on Lex's balcony door, except that instead of wishing to speak to Lex, he'd seemed more interested in Diana.

LEX:
All right munchkin, you need to get ready for bed.

LENA:
Must I, daddy?

LEX:
[touches her nose] Yes. [gives her a piggy back to her bedroom]

LENA:
Will Diana tell me a story?

LEX:
I think she's a bit busy right now.

With Lena now changed, teeth brushed and the daily 'one jump on the bed' quota complete, Lex tucked her into bed, kissed her forehead and wished her a good night sleep.

He thought he'd find both superheroes gone, but it seemed Wonder Woman had stayed behind.

DIANA:
I didn't think it was polite to leave.

LEX:
Oh.

DIANA:
You seem surprised.

LEX:
Sorry, your kind tend to destroy first, ask questions later. [shrug] What did Big Blue want?

DIANA:
He heard about the robbery.

LEX:
Surprised he didn't come sooner.

DIANA:
To check up on you?

LEX:
To blame me for it. [awkward silence]So, he was off saving the world, somewhere?

DIANA:
You could say that.

LEX:
Secret mission, got it.

DIANA:
[laughs] No. He thought you were in Metropolis.

LEX:
Not too happy I flew the coop, I gathered.

DIANA:
[smiles] You know him well.

LEX:
Probably just unhappy someone horned in on his quota of Lex saves.

DIANA:
Hm. You might be onto something.

[shared chuckle]

LEX:
Thanks for – staying behind. I'm sure you have better things to do than hang around with a clingy five-year-old.

DIANA:
She's sweet.

[childish giggle]

LEX:
[turns to the sound] I better be hearing little feet running back to bed.

[more giggles could be heard, then a door is closed]

DIANA:
I should go.

LEX:
Look – [rubs the back of his head] Just thanks for today. If Supes gives you any trouble, let me know. [grins] I'll make sure my bodyguards are a bit more vicious with the kryptonite.

So, at the end he may have tried to flirt a bit but could one really blame him, he was a guy after all. He probably would have forgotten all about this impromptu date-not-a-date had the newspapers and gossip columns not been splashed with pictures of them at the musical, looking all chummy and –

Normal.

Despite Lois Lane calling this a P.R. stunt, to getting calls from Barbara Walters for an interview, to his shareholders pleased the company stock had jumped ten percent, to his daughter who asked when she could see Diana again, things probably would have gone back to the way things were, but a visit from Superman and Batman, both of whom insisted they were just checking up on him, told him otherwise.

Batman had just breathed deeply and scowled in a poor imitation of Darth Vader. Superman had lectured him on his irresponsibility, because Lex had been stupid enough to step out off his penthouse without his bodyguards.

And next time Lex wanted to indulge his wanderlust, could he please do it closer to home.

Considering Metropolis and New York were practically next to each other, Lex felt a bit insulted at the notion he couldn't even leave his city.

He thought in a few weeks it would die down. He was wrong.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

INT. JUSTICE LEAGUE WATCHTOWER – TELEPORTER

On a typical day, most of those recruited into the Justice League talked about the ordinary things in their lives, as if to balance the extraordinary they experienced every day being surrounded by heroes. Except that today, the 'water cooler' discussion had little to do with what little Johnny ate for breakfast and more to do with the newspaper and gossip programs like TMZ that reported scandalous tales of Wonder Woman and Metropolis's favourite playboy.

Everyone knew the Lex Luthor story. How poor little rich boy went bad, took down daddy's company, created LexCorp out of the ashes of that battle, became Superman's most fierce opponent and was considered to be far more dangerous than the Italian Mafia, Columbian Drug Lords or the Triad in China combined.

What people didn't know? How he changed. Some assumed it was the birth of his daughter that stopped this bad boy's descent to hell, others that he was just biding his time, probably for Superman to die. The rest thought he never stopped being evil, he just got better at hiding it.

Still the pictures of him going after the gunman, sitting next to Wonder Woman on what looked to many like a date, had piqued the public's interest. Even John Stewart had commented on it in his opening monologue and Stephen Colbert had covered it as part of the Colbert Nation word segment.

WALLY:
[drinks a milkshake] I still think it was Photoshop.

JOHN:
I think it was the real deal.

WALLY:
You think? I'm surprised Supes let Luthor make a move on his girl.

JOHN:
Who said she was Superman's girlfriend. She's Batman's.

WALLY:
[tosses finished drink in trashcan] No way.

JOHN:
Way.

WALLY:
[smirks]

JOHN:
[hands now cover his face, shakes his head] Clearly, I am hanging out with you too much.

WALLY:
Oh, don't be like that.

JOHN:
You're a bad man, Wally.

FADE OUT.

INT. CHRYSLER BUILDING – CHARITY EVENT, NEW YORK – EVENING

The Crme de la crme of New York society had been invited to the charity event of the year. It helped that a week ago, its matron had been on the news and now all the socialites had at the last minute R.S.V.P.'d. They were not about to lose the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with royalty, even if it was the hero kind.

The socialites were social creatures, observing from a distance the rise of a non-member, eagerly anticipating her fall.

Like hyenas circling around a cornered animal while they let others, like the paparazzi, perform the kill, they just wanted a front row seat to it.

When the Princess first moved to Manhattan, she had not been welcomed with open arms. Her youth and beauty was seen as a threat to the ladies who repeatedly Botoxed, fixed, or enhanced their appearances. Her message of peace and womanhood fell on deaf ears.

Her honesty was scorned, her appeal envied; her true charity looked down upon.

Diana, Princess of Themyscira was a creature that those in New York high society did not understand, nor did many want to.

No, they certainly weren't here for Diana or her charity. So, what if it took a few thousand dollars to attend an event many initially had not thought of attending? It was tax deductible.

All this played in the background as the Princess mingled, thanking people for their donations, smiling for the camera, doing what needed to be done to make sure the event was a success so that the charity against child trafficking would get the most media exposure as possible.

The gala went on as planned.

One-by-one the guests entered, ate, mingled, and drank.

One-by-one they gossiped.

Whispered.

Some did not whispered at all.

They laughed and smirked, knowing that they were probably overheard but not caring. One had to have a heart to care, and this crowd had been heartless for a very long time.

Among themselves they criticized her shoes, dress, earrings and body.

She must have had a breast job.

Tummy tucked.

No one was that toned.

They swore they could see a wrinkle. That imperfection must exist.

Their circle tightened as they waited for her to slip.

Soon, they would start to leave, taking the paparazzi with them. They would talk to the reporters and laugh, politely of course, how much better the event could have been if they or one of their own had held it. How less boring, more entertaining.

Next day Page Six would declare it a failure.

Yes, in one minute they would begin to leave en masse, making sure their departure was caught on tape, waving to the cameras outside, blowing kisses to the public.

Had they stayed they might have witnessed the unthinkable.

The grand entrance of the heir to a vast kingdom.

How the Metropolis Prince danced with New York new royalty.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

INT. SET OF LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY – EARLY MORNING

Morning show hosts, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa. Jubilant crowd. Applause. Co-hosts entered show, took their seat, waved to the audience, sipped their coffee, moved a little to the background music as guest names were announced. Show began.

REGIS:
[plays with the newspaper] Last night, Joy and I were at the Chrysler Building –

KELLY:
I was there too.

REGIS: cont'd
– I must say, I didn't stay for the whole thing but I thought overall it was a good event. It was nice to see old friends.

KELLY:
The Donald was there.

REGIS: cont'd
It was for a good cause. [holds up the New York post – Page Six] I was surprised that it wasn't well received by our fellow New Yorkers. I thought the Princess – I mean Wonder Woman – did a good job. What do you think Kelly?

KELLY:
Well. [disinterested shrug] You know Regis, I'm not one to criticize but – as I have said before, 'I'd rather not have a moment when I'm known for my looks; being funny and interesting lasts longer.' [crowd boo] No, hear me out. I think she tried too hard.

REGIS:
[gives Kelly a look] You think?

KELLY:
She's royalty. She probably thought we'd all be star struck.

REGIS:
I see your point.

KELLY:
It's New York. We see Stars all the time.

REGIS:
We're a tough crowd.

KELLY:
[looks at the camera, raises hand to her face, making the universal call-me sign] Diana. Call me. We'll have lunch. I'll give you pointers. [wink]

FADE OUT

INT. THE SET OF THE VIEW – MID MORNING

Five women were sitting around a table discussing the day's hot topics. Last night's New York event comes up for discussion.

ELISABETH:
I don't get her appeal.

JOY:
What don't you get?

ELISABETH:
She comes to our world and lectures us about our behaviour – [disgruntled sigh] What about her behaviour? Have you looked at the way she dresses?

SHERRI:
[leans on table] Girl, if I looked like that, I would be wearing that same outfit.

ELISABETH:
[voice raised] It's a swim suit. With our flag on it. It's unpatriotic, that's all I'm saying.

WHOOPI:
I don't believe she's an American.

BARBARA:
She's not. [looks to the audience] I've interviewed her. She's such a sweet kid.

JOY:
[rolls eyes] You think everyone is sweet.

WHOOPI:
You know, I don't know much about her, but I find her interesting. She's a cross between Angelina Jolie and –

SHERRI:
Oprah.

WHOOPI: cont'd
– No, I was thinking more Jane Fonda.

ELISABETH:
[slight screech] Jane Fonda?

WHOOPI:
[cold smile] The sixty, oh seventy version.

ELISABETH:
This is what I'm talking about. [tells audience] What do we know about her? She could be an alien spy!

SHERRI:
[looks at her colleagues, confused] I thought she was an Amazon?

JOY:
Greek.

WHOOPI:
She's not the first alien to live among us.

SHERRI:
Greeks are aliens?

BARBARA:
[exasperated] She's human.

ELISABETH:
She worships false gods.

WHOOPI:
And?

JOY:
So?

ELISABETH:
Am I the only one who is concerned, that we have this so called role model in skimpy outfits, telling our kids to sacrifice themselves to the altar –

WHOOPI:
Do they sacrifice? I thought that was just a rumour?

JOY:
If Zeus looks as good as her, I wouldn't mind being sacrificed.

ELISABETH: cont'd
– and now she's prancing about with Lex Luthor –

WHOOPI:
Will you be interviewing him, Barbara?

BARBARA:
Well, I can't say I wouldn't – [looks to the audience]. As many of you are probably aware, there are quite a few organizations out there wanting to interview him. This is a fascinating story. This a multi-billionaire, doing what we all do. Getting a cup of coffee, gets held up, plays the hero, almost gets killed. She saves him. They go out. They're public figures. [looks back to her colleagues] We are all interested to know what they talked about.

JOY:
Talking, ha, I just want to know if they're doing it.

FADE OUT.

NEXT DAY
COMMERCIAL BREAK

It probably would have died down. Some gossip only lives one news cycle, but people were interested. What had happened to Lex Luthor? What had made a man change from bad boy to recluse?

CNN BREAKING NEWS:
Lex Luthor donates 300 million dollars to Wonder Woman's charity.

INT. NEW YORK CITY – CNN OFFICE.

ERICA HILL:
Moving now to 'What were they thinking segment?' I don't think anyone is upset about this one, just a little surprised. Speculations in the tabloids, the truth is out. Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman are dating.

ANDERSON COOPER:
What? I'm gobsmacked. Did he actually attend this thing?

ERICA HILL:
Who, Luthor?

ANDERSON COOPER:
It seems a bit much to concentrate on a possible not-date.

ERICA HILL:
[reads paper] He's donated 300 million dollars to her charity. That must have been a good date.

ANDERSON COOPER:
[sarcastic] Come on, for guys like him that's just change. I just think there are better things for us to talk about than whether or not they met afterwards.

ERICA HILL:
My sources tell me, after everyone left the party, he showed up.

ANDERSON COOPER:
And what? She's like 'Pretty Woman' now?

ERICA HILL:
[smiles] Hey, I'm keeping it real.

ANDERSON COOPER:
[not convinced] I think our time would be better spent talking about the Health Care bill.

FADE OUT.

Lex lowered the volume and leaned back on the couch.

The last six years, he had built what he thought was an impregnable wall between himself and the public. He had withdrawn from the things that had once defined him to concentrate on the one thing that would shape him. To be a father.

A good father.

He had amassed enough capital to do what he wanted with his life: to spend it idly or with his daughter.

He knew the outside world, people like Lois Lane and Superman, still saw him as a mirror image of Lionel Luthor but upon holding Lena in his arms, Lex had known he wanted a new direction.

He wanted the Luthor name to stand for something.

He wanted to make his daughter proud.

To earn the name, Daddy.

Stepping back into the spotlight was not a move he had contemplated. It had been an impromptu call with a shareholder that had convinced him that Wonder Woman, Diana, would be walking into a den of lions.

Even knowing that would not have been enough to move him, but she had saved his life. His daughter's life. And she had shown far more kindness to Lena that few superheroes had ever expressed.

Still, he could have just sent the cheque. There had been no reason to fly to New York, to give it to her personally. Once there, noticing the emptiness to what should have been a still populated event, he had asked her to dance.

One dance.

That became three.

That let to a glass of wine.

To them talking about their mothers, the women in their lives, who had shaped them. To the childhood friends he failed to save, to the times he wished he'd been saved.

A one million dollar cheque became three hundred million and a promise to ensure he'd use the connections he had in those poor corrupt regions to pass information along to her, if he heard of any trafficking.

God help him but he found her fascinating.

FADE OUT.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK – MANHATTAN

It was midnight.

Diana found herself naked kneeling on the wet grass, praying to her gods.

Her mind was in turmoil. She hoped through this, she would be able to ask her gods for guidance.

What was Lex Luthor?

He'd been an enemy.

A man of extraordinary means, who seemed to just step back one day to reassess his life.

Had it been the birth of his child?

The Justice League files failed to give her a complete picture. It seemed simple to write him off as a criminal. Except that he had a soul.

She lifted her hands up, and called to her goddess 'Athena'.

The call remained unanswered.

She waited a bit longer, then put on her robe and flew up hoping the late breeze would help her clear her mind.

He had listened to her. She had grown accustomed to men who were not superheroes not listening to her. To dismiss her, as though she was nothing but a Barbie doll.

She breathed in deeply.

It wasn't just the men who did not listen.

Even the women of this world turned a blind eye. She was not naive enough to believe that the socialites had come to the charity event because they cared. No, they had come to see her fail, and were probably kicking themselves for having left so early and missing the grand entrance of Metropolis's favourite son.

As she slowly descended and flew back to her penthouse, she wondered if – no, when – she would again see Lex Luthor.

COMMERCIAL BREAK.

NEXT DAY
INT. METROPOLIS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS – MORNING

Lex could have hired private tutors, but he had wanted Lena to have friends her own age. While Mercy accompanied Lex to the office, Hope took Lena to pre-school.

It was recess and Lena was playing near the monkey bars. She went to the sandpit and sat down at the edge of the sandbox. She took out a small plastic bag. Inside were Oreo cookies.

A little girl about her age approached.

JACKIE:
Hi. [girl sits beside Lena]

LENA:
Hi. [takes out cookie; shyly peeks at the other child] Would you like some?

JACKIE:
Thank you. [pause] Do you really know Wonder Woman?

LENA:
[nods head] Yeah.

JACKIE:
Is she pretty?

LENA:
Like a princess.

JACKIE:
Is – She's going to be your new mom?

LENA:
[bites lip] Don't know. I guess, I could ask Daddy. It would be nice to have a mom.

[companionably continues eating cookies]

When the children went back inside, Jackie held back and then unobserved, she shapeshifted into J'onn J'onzz and he phases into the ground. He could have used his psychic ability to read Lena's mind, but given her age and the fact her brain was still forming, it wasn't a risk he was willing to take.

FADE OUT.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER

INT. PRIVATE ISLAND, CARIBBEAN, LUTHOR MANSION – MORNING

Lex planned for a picnic on his private island. She would meet them there and he called in advance to let his security team know not to fire on her.

This was officially a date.

Lex rarely dated, for he didn't consider meetings about acquisitions or business proposals as dates. Now here he was, on a date with Wonder Woman.

What was he thinking?

She was a hero.

She was like Superman, but a woman.

He put his book down.

Maybe in the light of day, she would lose her appeal.

Maybe.

DIANA:
I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. [she carries a small bag]

LEX:
No. Come on in. [steps aside to let Diana through] I hope it wasn't a long flight?

DIANA:
[smiles] It was fine thank you.

[Both stand awkwardly next to each other]

LEX:
[embarrassed laugh] When I imagined this, I thought it'd be easier.

DIANA:
[intrigued] You thought about us?

LEX:
[takes a step back] In a theoretical kind of way.

[Both laugh. Glance back at each other, laugh again. Ice broken]

LEX:
It sounded cheesy, didn't it?

DIANA:
Yeah.

LEX:
My reputation is in ruins, tattered. You hold me in your mercy.

DIANA:
Do lines like that actually work?

LEX:
Well, they do when I'm saying them to my enemies.

DIANA:
[takes a long look at Lex] Am I one of those?

LEX:
No. I don't believe you are. [stares back] Come on, let's talk about what we should do with our fifteen minute of fame.

DIANA:
Only fifteen minutes?

LEX:
[chokes back a laugh] You are not what I expected.

DIANA:
I'll take that as a compliment. What did you expect?

LEX:
Uptight.

DIANA:
That's it?

LEX:
Well, if I say more our date might not even begin.

DIANA:
You don't scare me that easily Lu—Lex.

LEX:
[walks to the bar and pours them both wine] A female version of Superman. Judge first, ask questions later.

DIANA:
I think my outfit is – prettier.

LEX:
[intrigued] You will get no complaints from me.

DIANA:
[takes offer of wine] I think we both know that whatever this is – we are both outside our element. We have enough to overcome without inviting other parties.

LEX:
[sips the wine] You asked.

DIANA:
I did. I do appreciate your honesty.

LEX:
No reason to lie.

DIANA:
Good. [puts the bag down] So, what are your plans?

LEX:
Lena will join us later. She'd like to take you to the beach and show you some seashells. Be warned, she will want to bring them all back.

DIANA:
I'd like that. And, before she joins us?

LEX:
We'll talk. I would be happy to give you some pointers on how to deal with the gossip mongers.

DIANA:
Had a lot of experience with them?

LEX:
[unconsciously touches the back of his head] You can say I have an abundance of it.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

INT. PRIVATE ISLAND, CARIBBEAN, LUTHOR MANSION – LATE AFTERNOON

Diana had changed from her Wonder Woman outfit into a white sundress. Her hair fell down her back. Her skin glowed.

Lex watched from the patio as Diana and Lena walked down on the beach. Every so often they would run into the water, and then Diana would pick a laughing Lena up, as they ran back onshore.

His daughter was enjoying herself. Lex had to admit, he was too.

Lex had forgotten what it was like to court someone he respected. Not even Lena's mother had had that kind of hold on him. She had been a business acquaintance and Lena had been the transaction. From that point on, he had not bothered to enter into another relationship.

Did he dare do it now?

There were risks to this.

They were from two very different worlds.

Times like this, he wished he wasn't as alone. That he had someone to confide in. Someone who could talk him out of what he was about to do.

FADE OUT

END ACT I