Chapter 3: Working Man
The black limousine continues towards Metropolis, down a very baron, dusty Kansas road. Maxamillion Graves remains in the back, finishing up a conversation on his cell phone. "You know what to do, Charlie…yeah…don't let me down. It better, don't upset me…yeah, bye." He clicks it off and drops it on the seat. He looks out the window; much outside resembles the view on the train. Just then, he begins to breathe heavily; he sinks down in his chair and holds a hand to his head. He pushes the intercom button next to him and speaks into it, "uhh…driver…s-stop, stop the car…" He says very quietly, now in more pain.
"You want me to stop, Mr. Graves…here?" The driver replies, confused.
"Yes…stop, just stop." Maxamillion says, louder and more desperate.
"Yes…sir." The driver says, pulling into an old side-of-the-road gas station. Maxamillion Graves stumbles out of the back, ignoring the driver who tries to help him. "Mr. Graves! Are you alright?"
"Just…get back in the car…" He tells him, staggering to the side of the gas station where the rest rooms are located. He pushes open the door and practically falls into the small, cramped men's restroom. He grabs onto the small sink and pulls himself up, giving him a good look at himself. His face is pale; his eyes are bloodshot, still trembling in pain. He reaches into his overcoat and into the left inside pocket, pulling out a plastic bag. He opens the ziplock back as fast as he can, and takes out a…leaf. A rather strange leaf, a jet black one with green veins. He stares at it for a moment and then puts it into his mouth, chewing very quickly. He drops down to the corner of the room, he becomes overwhelmed with pure relief, and the pain vanishes. His heavy breathing begins to fade, as he realizes everything is fine, he gets to his feet slowly and grabs the plastic bag, putting it back into the inside pocket in his overcoat. He takes another good look at himself in the mirror, his face has returned to its regular color, and his eyes are no longer bloodshot. He combs his hair back with his hand and inspects himself for another second or two, then leaves the restroom. Maxamillion gets into the back of the limousine once again and instructs the driver to go. It pulls out of the gas station and heads back down the road to Metropolis.
The next day in Smallville, approximately four o'clock in the afternoon, kids happy a long day of school is finally over have gone about their usual after school routine. Some have gone home, some to other's homes; some have stayed after school…Clark Kent has started his first day working at the Talon. Inside, the place is swamped with kids and older folks as well. Waiters and waitresses take drinks to tables, light rock music plays throughout, and in the back a new band begins to set up in the theater area. Clark grabs a drum case and walks with the tech crew to the stage, where they start setting up. Lana is also there, she helps Clark lift another large case and bring it onto the stage. He pretends to need her help, and gladly accepts it. The two set it down slowly as the crew continues to set up. "This band's supposed to be pretty good, hopefully the customers will enjoy them." Lana says.
"Don't worry, Lana, you know how to pick em'." Clark says with a smile.
"Thanks…" Lana smiles, walking down the stairs off the stage ahead of Clark. "So how are you liking your first hour on the job?" Clark takes a case from one of the crewmembers and sets it down. He looks at Lana, who is instructing where to put a few things and speaks.
"…I can't complain." He says, keeping his eyes on her. A Talon employee comes into the area, holding a few drinks on a tray.
"We're going to need one of you two…Karen couldn't come in today and the place is packed. She says. Clark and Lana look at each other, then Lana breaks the brief silence.
"Clark you can stay back here and help them, I'll go work the register."
"Yeah, all right, Lana…" Clark says. Lana walks away, but looks back at him and smiles. He smiles back and then effortlessly lifts one of the large speakers onto the corner of the stage as if it were made of cardboard.
Meanwhile, at the Luthor Ancestral Home…Lex is shocked to hear news from his father that he has sold his shares to Maxamillion Graves. He paces around the large central room on the first floor on the phone with Lionel. "Explain to me…no, just explain to me how you could do this?!" He yells over the phone, still pacing around the room, feeling much confusion and anger. "This is our family, this is our life…I don't even know who you are right now, I don't even know if this is my father I'm speaking to! LuthorCorp belongs to us, dad…it is my future, and everything that I plan to become depends on it." Lex continues, hearing the complete opposite of the Lionel Luthor he used to know. "Maxamillion Graves is the enemy…dad…you can't do this to me." Lex says, trying to keep his strong self alive, even though inside he is crumbling. "No…this isn't over, I don't know what he said to you, but he won't win. It's all…part of the game." Lex starts, hearing Lionel's closing comments. Lex puts the phone down, he stands still, very silent, with a million things racing through his mind. He gets himself together and takes a deep breath, planning his counter-strike.
Back at the Talon, business is still good. People continue to come and go as the minutes pass. Pete and Chloe come in together to check up on how Clark is doing. They take a table and see Lana working the register and Clark bringing a few drinks to some kids sitting near the wall. They thank him as he turns around and walks away, just before he notices Pete and Chloe. Chloe smiles and waves at him, he smiles back and walks towards their table. "Look at him Pete, Clark Kent…the working man." Chloe says as Clark takes a seat.
"Yeah, I could hardly believe it when I heard Clark got a job here…but after a while it started to make more sense." Pete says, glancing in Lana Lang's direction. Chloe rolls her eyes.
"No Pete, it's not like that. I'm just trying to earn some money…and I happened to notice The Talon was hiring. That's all."
"Sure, Clark…and I just happened to notice Jennifer Marks got a job at Rudy's restaurant the other day, and I've always dreamed of working there." Pete says laughing.
"If you wanted to be closer to Lana there are more subtle ways of going about it…like kidnapping her and keeping her locked in your basement." Chloe says, somewhat bitter. Clark grins a bit and then looks around as a couple more customers come in. He turns his attention back to Pete and Chloe and speaks.
"I think I better get back to work…" Clark starts as he gets up from the table. "I'll talk to you guys later." He says, walking away to pick up another order.
"Your not jealous, are you Chloe?" Pete asks.
"What…no, I mean…jealous of what?" She replies, looking for the right thing to say.
"Clark will never give up Chloe…ever since we were little he's loved Lana Lang and you have to know that." Pete tells her. Chloe's eyes move towards the floor, after a moment of silence she looks back up at Pete.
"I do…Pete…I know…" Chloe starts.
"You're too good for him, Chloe…he will never know." Pete says, very seriously. Chloe is unsure how to feel, but a smile crosses her face as she begins to feel better.
"Thanks, Pete."
Later on, as the day begins to end and night sets in, everyone inside the Talon gathers near the stage to watch the band perform. Lana walks onto the stage to introduce them. "And now…for your musical entertainment, a band that will surely make it big soon…One Trick Pony!" She yells out as the people begin to cheer. Lana gets off the stage just before a burst of sound erupts from the band. People continue to cheer as they play. Lana walks to the back near the wall where Clark, Chloe and Pete are standing. She stops next to Clark; he looks down at her and they both smile. Chloe looks over at them sadly, but sucks it up and tries to enjoy the music like everyone else.
The black limousine continues towards Metropolis, down a very baron, dusty Kansas road. Maxamillion Graves remains in the back, finishing up a conversation on his cell phone. "You know what to do, Charlie…yeah…don't let me down. It better, don't upset me…yeah, bye." He clicks it off and drops it on the seat. He looks out the window; much outside resembles the view on the train. Just then, he begins to breathe heavily; he sinks down in his chair and holds a hand to his head. He pushes the intercom button next to him and speaks into it, "uhh…driver…s-stop, stop the car…" He says very quietly, now in more pain.
"You want me to stop, Mr. Graves…here?" The driver replies, confused.
"Yes…stop, just stop." Maxamillion says, louder and more desperate.
"Yes…sir." The driver says, pulling into an old side-of-the-road gas station. Maxamillion Graves stumbles out of the back, ignoring the driver who tries to help him. "Mr. Graves! Are you alright?"
"Just…get back in the car…" He tells him, staggering to the side of the gas station where the rest rooms are located. He pushes open the door and practically falls into the small, cramped men's restroom. He grabs onto the small sink and pulls himself up, giving him a good look at himself. His face is pale; his eyes are bloodshot, still trembling in pain. He reaches into his overcoat and into the left inside pocket, pulling out a plastic bag. He opens the ziplock back as fast as he can, and takes out a…leaf. A rather strange leaf, a jet black one with green veins. He stares at it for a moment and then puts it into his mouth, chewing very quickly. He drops down to the corner of the room, he becomes overwhelmed with pure relief, and the pain vanishes. His heavy breathing begins to fade, as he realizes everything is fine, he gets to his feet slowly and grabs the plastic bag, putting it back into the inside pocket in his overcoat. He takes another good look at himself in the mirror, his face has returned to its regular color, and his eyes are no longer bloodshot. He combs his hair back with his hand and inspects himself for another second or two, then leaves the restroom. Maxamillion gets into the back of the limousine once again and instructs the driver to go. It pulls out of the gas station and heads back down the road to Metropolis.
The next day in Smallville, approximately four o'clock in the afternoon, kids happy a long day of school is finally over have gone about their usual after school routine. Some have gone home, some to other's homes; some have stayed after school…Clark Kent has started his first day working at the Talon. Inside, the place is swamped with kids and older folks as well. Waiters and waitresses take drinks to tables, light rock music plays throughout, and in the back a new band begins to set up in the theater area. Clark grabs a drum case and walks with the tech crew to the stage, where they start setting up. Lana is also there, she helps Clark lift another large case and bring it onto the stage. He pretends to need her help, and gladly accepts it. The two set it down slowly as the crew continues to set up. "This band's supposed to be pretty good, hopefully the customers will enjoy them." Lana says.
"Don't worry, Lana, you know how to pick em'." Clark says with a smile.
"Thanks…" Lana smiles, walking down the stairs off the stage ahead of Clark. "So how are you liking your first hour on the job?" Clark takes a case from one of the crewmembers and sets it down. He looks at Lana, who is instructing where to put a few things and speaks.
"…I can't complain." He says, keeping his eyes on her. A Talon employee comes into the area, holding a few drinks on a tray.
"We're going to need one of you two…Karen couldn't come in today and the place is packed. She says. Clark and Lana look at each other, then Lana breaks the brief silence.
"Clark you can stay back here and help them, I'll go work the register."
"Yeah, all right, Lana…" Clark says. Lana walks away, but looks back at him and smiles. He smiles back and then effortlessly lifts one of the large speakers onto the corner of the stage as if it were made of cardboard.
Meanwhile, at the Luthor Ancestral Home…Lex is shocked to hear news from his father that he has sold his shares to Maxamillion Graves. He paces around the large central room on the first floor on the phone with Lionel. "Explain to me…no, just explain to me how you could do this?!" He yells over the phone, still pacing around the room, feeling much confusion and anger. "This is our family, this is our life…I don't even know who you are right now, I don't even know if this is my father I'm speaking to! LuthorCorp belongs to us, dad…it is my future, and everything that I plan to become depends on it." Lex continues, hearing the complete opposite of the Lionel Luthor he used to know. "Maxamillion Graves is the enemy…dad…you can't do this to me." Lex says, trying to keep his strong self alive, even though inside he is crumbling. "No…this isn't over, I don't know what he said to you, but he won't win. It's all…part of the game." Lex starts, hearing Lionel's closing comments. Lex puts the phone down, he stands still, very silent, with a million things racing through his mind. He gets himself together and takes a deep breath, planning his counter-strike.
Back at the Talon, business is still good. People continue to come and go as the minutes pass. Pete and Chloe come in together to check up on how Clark is doing. They take a table and see Lana working the register and Clark bringing a few drinks to some kids sitting near the wall. They thank him as he turns around and walks away, just before he notices Pete and Chloe. Chloe smiles and waves at him, he smiles back and walks towards their table. "Look at him Pete, Clark Kent…the working man." Chloe says as Clark takes a seat.
"Yeah, I could hardly believe it when I heard Clark got a job here…but after a while it started to make more sense." Pete says, glancing in Lana Lang's direction. Chloe rolls her eyes.
"No Pete, it's not like that. I'm just trying to earn some money…and I happened to notice The Talon was hiring. That's all."
"Sure, Clark…and I just happened to notice Jennifer Marks got a job at Rudy's restaurant the other day, and I've always dreamed of working there." Pete says laughing.
"If you wanted to be closer to Lana there are more subtle ways of going about it…like kidnapping her and keeping her locked in your basement." Chloe says, somewhat bitter. Clark grins a bit and then looks around as a couple more customers come in. He turns his attention back to Pete and Chloe and speaks.
"I think I better get back to work…" Clark starts as he gets up from the table. "I'll talk to you guys later." He says, walking away to pick up another order.
"Your not jealous, are you Chloe?" Pete asks.
"What…no, I mean…jealous of what?" She replies, looking for the right thing to say.
"Clark will never give up Chloe…ever since we were little he's loved Lana Lang and you have to know that." Pete tells her. Chloe's eyes move towards the floor, after a moment of silence she looks back up at Pete.
"I do…Pete…I know…" Chloe starts.
"You're too good for him, Chloe…he will never know." Pete says, very seriously. Chloe is unsure how to feel, but a smile crosses her face as she begins to feel better.
"Thanks, Pete."
Later on, as the day begins to end and night sets in, everyone inside the Talon gathers near the stage to watch the band perform. Lana walks onto the stage to introduce them. "And now…for your musical entertainment, a band that will surely make it big soon…One Trick Pony!" She yells out as the people begin to cheer. Lana gets off the stage just before a burst of sound erupts from the band. People continue to cheer as they play. Lana walks to the back near the wall where Clark, Chloe and Pete are standing. She stops next to Clark; he looks down at her and they both smile. Chloe looks over at them sadly, but sucks it up and tries to enjoy the music like everyone else.