EXT. LEX'S MANSION - MORNING
A hideous scream tears through the morning mist as a winged beast soars through the air, fangs and claws extended. Three men in hard hats lower a stone gargoyle into place with the assistance of a large crane parked in the otherwise neatly groomed front lawn of the Luthor mansion.
Fingering an old Christmas picture, Clark parks his truck behind a row of construction vehicles in the driveway outside the mansion. Sighing, taking a breath, he closes the picture inside the glove compartment and steps outside.
Mercy Graves turns, throwing off the pinstripes of her tailored Armani suit. All spark to her spirit has long since faded and she eyes Clark with a cold, deadpan, expression as he walks up to the mansion.
MERCY GRAVES Excuse me.
Taking a direct line, she intercepts Clark who jumps slightly, his attention snapped away from the massive crane.
MERCY GRAVES
Excuse me, where do you think you're going?
CLARK I'm here to.
He hesitates, taking a second look at her. Something about her seems familiar but, he can't quite put his finger on it...
CLARK
I'm here to see Lex.
MERCY GRAVES Do you have an appointment to see Mr. Luthor?
CLARK An appointment? No, I.
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry but no one sees Mr. Luthor without an appointment.
CLARK He called me. He told me he wanted to see me. My name is Clark Kent.
MERCY GRAVES
And that makes you.
She waits for him to fill in the blank. He stands tall and answers her with a surprisingly fresh warmth.
CLARK A friend.
MERCY GRAVES
Mr. Luthor has many friends, Mr. Kent, especially since the accident.
CLARK
I was 'in' the accident.
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm afraid that I'm still going to have to ask you to.
Lex takes great joy in interrupting her as he steps in from behind her.
LEX
Sheath the claws, Mercy. It's all right.
He walks around her and over to Clark stepping across the invisible line in the grass marking the sides.
LEX
Clark Kent is a close and personal friend. Oh, but that's right, you two have already met.
Mercy's eyes widen slightly as her body tenses. Clark seems confused.
CLARK
We have?
LEX
Haven't you?
Lex smiles, enjoying watching Mercy squirm.
CLARK
You know, now that I think about it, you do look familiar.
MERCY GRAVES I.
She chokes.
LEX
Oh, no, wait. You know what? I take that back.
He turns to Clark.
LEX
It was Madeline I introduced you to. Remember? I don't know what I was thinking. I've just hired Mercy recently. You two couldn't have met.
CLARK
Oh.
Clark shrugs, accepting Lex's explanation. Mercy finally exhales.
LEX
It's all right, Mercy. You can run along now. Why don't you go and check on the new security cameras. I was looking at the system yesterday and I think the ones in the guest bedrooms on the second floor are malfunctioning.
Mercy turns to him with an especially cold fire in her eyes. understandable considering where Mercy sleeps at night.
Clark looks a bit surprised by Lex's admission as well. Lex just laughs.
LEX
Don't get your panties in a knot, Clark, they're only on when no one's using them.
Clark nods, shrugging off the panties remark. Mercy doesn't look particularly amused either.
MERCY GRAVES
I'll look into it, Mr. Luthor.
She storms off.
Lex smiles and starts walking in the opposite direction, Clark in tow.
CLARK So, doing some redecorating?
LEX
::smirks:: I have Noah running a little errand for me in Gotham City. I hired Mercy to step in for him while he's gone. She's young, inexperienced, not nearly as efficient, but. she looks better in heels.
CLARK I was talking about the mansion.
Lex turns and looks up as another one of the gargoyles is lowered into place.
LEX Stone gargoyles, I had them imported from Scotland. Half-men, half- monster, during medieval times kings would have them perched atop their castles as a way of warding off evil spirits. Legend even has it that they would come alive at night to protect the castle from invaders, only to return to stone again by sunrise.
CLARK ::nods:: I've seen the cartoon.
LEX
After the break-in, I figured it prudent to boost security around the mansion. I doubt Howard's family will find much solace in it, but I'm hoping to sleep a little easier.
CLARK So, you bought a few statues? Come on, Lex, you don't actually believe in that stuff, do you?
LEX
Only when it's true.
Clark pauses a moment to test the sincerity in Lex's eyes. Not wanting to ask the question, though, he moves on.
CLARK So, what did you want to see me about?
LEX
I wanted to let you know that I spoke to Mr. Gale this morning, the private investigator I hired.
A glimmer of hope runs over Clark's face. Lex regrets having to shoot it down.
LEX I'm afraid he came up empty.
Hope. Gone.
CLARK Not surprising. The police haven't been able to make heads or tails of it either. It's like they all just fell off the face of the Earth.
LEX
He did make a request. He wanted me to ask if your mother would be willing to let him interview her again, see if there's anything else she can remember from that night; how she ended up in the mansion.
CLARK She already told him everything she knows.
LEX
Sometimes, a little time to reflect can prove an efficient way of organizing our thoughts, things we couldn't make sense of at first.
CLARK
He's already interviewed her three times, Lex. She doesn't remember.
LEX ::shrugs:: And I told him that, but he was insistent. I told him I'd ask, but no promises.
CLARK
I don't know what he expects to find. How many times can you ask the same questions? The cruiser flipped over, Dad went to get help, she pulled Sheriff Adams free and then.
LEX
.And then, somehow, she woke up in my house more than twenty miles away from where they crashed.
Clark nods, diverting his eyes toward nothing in particular. Lex picks up on it and smiles to himself.
LEX
You know, maybe you're right.
Lex folds his arms across his chest and looks back at the mansion as the construction workers finish bolting down one of the gargoyles.
LEX Maybe I am wasting my time with these statues. Maybe I should just get myself a guardian angel, like the one that seems so fond of your family.
CLARK
::frustrated:: What's that supposed to mean?
LEX
Well, you have to admit, Clark, there are some rather glaring similarities between the two stories. Both mother and son involved in a horrific crash, by all accounts they should be dead, but both miraculously end up miles away from the respective crash sites, without a scratch on them and absolutely no recollection of how they got there.
CLARK
Don't you think I'd tell you if I knew anything? I'm terribly sorry if my amnesia has inconvenienced your investigation, but I did fall out of a helicopter, your helicopter!
Clark turns, ready to storm back to his truck. Lex is quick to start after him, however, not letting him off that easily.
LEX It's not the inconvenience that I find so vexatious, Clark, more so the contrary. How long have we known each other now that we have to keep dancing around the same stockpiled obscurities? I saw you get into that helicopter and I saw it crash into that hangar.
Clark turns to face his accuser.
CLARK
Really, Lex? Well, let me ask you something. You saw so much, how did it feel? How did it feel when your skull slammed down against the hard concrete of that runway?
For a second, they are enemies. They stare into each other's eyes, one the friend accused of lying, the other so utterly convinced of the deception.
Now, it's Lex's turn to divert his eyes, sheepishly looking to the ground in embarrassment.
LEX
You're right. You're right, Clark, and I'm sorry. You're going through a lot right now and I'm not being much of a friend by accusing you of being a liar. I'm sorry.
CLARK
It's all right.
Over Lex's shoulder, Mercy can be seen answering a cell phone. She listens to the other end for a moment, nods, and folds it back up.
LEX
I'll let Mr. Gale know that Mrs. Kent is off limits from now on. He won't bother you or your mother again.
CLARK
Thank you, Lex. for everything.
Mercy steps up behind Lex.
LEX
What are friends.
MERCY GRAVES
::interrupting:: Excuse me, Mr. Luthor.
LEX
What is it Mercy?
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry to interrupt, sir.
Mercy flashes Clark a quick glance then moves closer to Lex to whisper something in his ear. Lex nods to her.
LEX
All right.
Mercy leaves.
LEX
I'm sorry, Clark. Something's come up at the plant that requires my attention.
CLARK ::nods:: Yeah, I'd better get going too. Gonna go out and. look.
Lex nods sympathetically and places his hand on Clark's shoulder.
LEX
I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything from Mr. Gale. We're going to find them Clark. I promise you that. And you know, when Lex Luthor makes a promise.
CLARK ::nods:: Yup.
Lex offers Clark a reassuring smile and retreats back up the driveway where Mercy awaits him outside a long black limousine.
A hideous scream tears through the morning mist as a winged beast soars through the air, fangs and claws extended. Three men in hard hats lower a stone gargoyle into place with the assistance of a large crane parked in the otherwise neatly groomed front lawn of the Luthor mansion.
Fingering an old Christmas picture, Clark parks his truck behind a row of construction vehicles in the driveway outside the mansion. Sighing, taking a breath, he closes the picture inside the glove compartment and steps outside.
Mercy Graves turns, throwing off the pinstripes of her tailored Armani suit. All spark to her spirit has long since faded and she eyes Clark with a cold, deadpan, expression as he walks up to the mansion.
MERCY GRAVES Excuse me.
Taking a direct line, she intercepts Clark who jumps slightly, his attention snapped away from the massive crane.
MERCY GRAVES
Excuse me, where do you think you're going?
CLARK I'm here to.
He hesitates, taking a second look at her. Something about her seems familiar but, he can't quite put his finger on it...
CLARK
I'm here to see Lex.
MERCY GRAVES Do you have an appointment to see Mr. Luthor?
CLARK An appointment? No, I.
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry but no one sees Mr. Luthor without an appointment.
CLARK He called me. He told me he wanted to see me. My name is Clark Kent.
MERCY GRAVES
And that makes you.
She waits for him to fill in the blank. He stands tall and answers her with a surprisingly fresh warmth.
CLARK A friend.
MERCY GRAVES
Mr. Luthor has many friends, Mr. Kent, especially since the accident.
CLARK
I was 'in' the accident.
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm afraid that I'm still going to have to ask you to.
Lex takes great joy in interrupting her as he steps in from behind her.
LEX
Sheath the claws, Mercy. It's all right.
He walks around her and over to Clark stepping across the invisible line in the grass marking the sides.
LEX
Clark Kent is a close and personal friend. Oh, but that's right, you two have already met.
Mercy's eyes widen slightly as her body tenses. Clark seems confused.
CLARK
We have?
LEX
Haven't you?
Lex smiles, enjoying watching Mercy squirm.
CLARK
You know, now that I think about it, you do look familiar.
MERCY GRAVES I.
She chokes.
LEX
Oh, no, wait. You know what? I take that back.
He turns to Clark.
LEX
It was Madeline I introduced you to. Remember? I don't know what I was thinking. I've just hired Mercy recently. You two couldn't have met.
CLARK
Oh.
Clark shrugs, accepting Lex's explanation. Mercy finally exhales.
LEX
It's all right, Mercy. You can run along now. Why don't you go and check on the new security cameras. I was looking at the system yesterday and I think the ones in the guest bedrooms on the second floor are malfunctioning.
Mercy turns to him with an especially cold fire in her eyes. understandable considering where Mercy sleeps at night.
Clark looks a bit surprised by Lex's admission as well. Lex just laughs.
LEX
Don't get your panties in a knot, Clark, they're only on when no one's using them.
Clark nods, shrugging off the panties remark. Mercy doesn't look particularly amused either.
MERCY GRAVES
I'll look into it, Mr. Luthor.
She storms off.
Lex smiles and starts walking in the opposite direction, Clark in tow.
CLARK So, doing some redecorating?
LEX
::smirks:: I have Noah running a little errand for me in Gotham City. I hired Mercy to step in for him while he's gone. She's young, inexperienced, not nearly as efficient, but. she looks better in heels.
CLARK I was talking about the mansion.
Lex turns and looks up as another one of the gargoyles is lowered into place.
LEX Stone gargoyles, I had them imported from Scotland. Half-men, half- monster, during medieval times kings would have them perched atop their castles as a way of warding off evil spirits. Legend even has it that they would come alive at night to protect the castle from invaders, only to return to stone again by sunrise.
CLARK ::nods:: I've seen the cartoon.
LEX
After the break-in, I figured it prudent to boost security around the mansion. I doubt Howard's family will find much solace in it, but I'm hoping to sleep a little easier.
CLARK So, you bought a few statues? Come on, Lex, you don't actually believe in that stuff, do you?
LEX
Only when it's true.
Clark pauses a moment to test the sincerity in Lex's eyes. Not wanting to ask the question, though, he moves on.
CLARK So, what did you want to see me about?
LEX
I wanted to let you know that I spoke to Mr. Gale this morning, the private investigator I hired.
A glimmer of hope runs over Clark's face. Lex regrets having to shoot it down.
LEX I'm afraid he came up empty.
Hope. Gone.
CLARK Not surprising. The police haven't been able to make heads or tails of it either. It's like they all just fell off the face of the Earth.
LEX
He did make a request. He wanted me to ask if your mother would be willing to let him interview her again, see if there's anything else she can remember from that night; how she ended up in the mansion.
CLARK She already told him everything she knows.
LEX
Sometimes, a little time to reflect can prove an efficient way of organizing our thoughts, things we couldn't make sense of at first.
CLARK
He's already interviewed her three times, Lex. She doesn't remember.
LEX ::shrugs:: And I told him that, but he was insistent. I told him I'd ask, but no promises.
CLARK
I don't know what he expects to find. How many times can you ask the same questions? The cruiser flipped over, Dad went to get help, she pulled Sheriff Adams free and then.
LEX
.And then, somehow, she woke up in my house more than twenty miles away from where they crashed.
Clark nods, diverting his eyes toward nothing in particular. Lex picks up on it and smiles to himself.
LEX
You know, maybe you're right.
Lex folds his arms across his chest and looks back at the mansion as the construction workers finish bolting down one of the gargoyles.
LEX Maybe I am wasting my time with these statues. Maybe I should just get myself a guardian angel, like the one that seems so fond of your family.
CLARK
::frustrated:: What's that supposed to mean?
LEX
Well, you have to admit, Clark, there are some rather glaring similarities between the two stories. Both mother and son involved in a horrific crash, by all accounts they should be dead, but both miraculously end up miles away from the respective crash sites, without a scratch on them and absolutely no recollection of how they got there.
CLARK
Don't you think I'd tell you if I knew anything? I'm terribly sorry if my amnesia has inconvenienced your investigation, but I did fall out of a helicopter, your helicopter!
Clark turns, ready to storm back to his truck. Lex is quick to start after him, however, not letting him off that easily.
LEX It's not the inconvenience that I find so vexatious, Clark, more so the contrary. How long have we known each other now that we have to keep dancing around the same stockpiled obscurities? I saw you get into that helicopter and I saw it crash into that hangar.
Clark turns to face his accuser.
CLARK
Really, Lex? Well, let me ask you something. You saw so much, how did it feel? How did it feel when your skull slammed down against the hard concrete of that runway?
For a second, they are enemies. They stare into each other's eyes, one the friend accused of lying, the other so utterly convinced of the deception.
Now, it's Lex's turn to divert his eyes, sheepishly looking to the ground in embarrassment.
LEX
You're right. You're right, Clark, and I'm sorry. You're going through a lot right now and I'm not being much of a friend by accusing you of being a liar. I'm sorry.
CLARK
It's all right.
Over Lex's shoulder, Mercy can be seen answering a cell phone. She listens to the other end for a moment, nods, and folds it back up.
LEX
I'll let Mr. Gale know that Mrs. Kent is off limits from now on. He won't bother you or your mother again.
CLARK
Thank you, Lex. for everything.
Mercy steps up behind Lex.
LEX
What are friends.
MERCY GRAVES
::interrupting:: Excuse me, Mr. Luthor.
LEX
What is it Mercy?
MERCY GRAVES
I'm sorry to interrupt, sir.
Mercy flashes Clark a quick glance then moves closer to Lex to whisper something in his ear. Lex nods to her.
LEX
All right.
Mercy leaves.
LEX
I'm sorry, Clark. Something's come up at the plant that requires my attention.
CLARK ::nods:: Yeah, I'd better get going too. Gonna go out and. look.
Lex nods sympathetically and places his hand on Clark's shoulder.
LEX
I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything from Mr. Gale. We're going to find them Clark. I promise you that. And you know, when Lex Luthor makes a promise.
CLARK ::nods:: Yup.
Lex offers Clark a reassuring smile and retreats back up the driveway where Mercy awaits him outside a long black limousine.