EXT. RESSURECTION CEMETARY – DAY
Outside a church that looks like it was ripped out of a painting a small group of mourners, all dressed in black, gather around a coffin adorned by a hundred multi-colored flowers. A few trees and bushes lay scattered about the cemetery to add scenery and probably privacy.
A priest stands in front of the coffin with his head bowed, leading the tearful group in prayer. Standing in front of him, surrounded by friends and family, are Martha and Clark Kent. He has his arm around her shoulder as she clutches to a soaked through handkerchief. Chloe and Gabe Sullivan sit to their right, along with Aunt Nell. Lana Lang is noticeably absent. To their right, Lex looks on stoically with his two "assistants", Noah and Mercy. On Martha and Clark's left is Pete Ross with his mother and father, as well as several other tearful townsfolk, and Lionel Luthor with an entourage of his own.
As the priest concludes the prayer, Clark stares blankly ahead at nothing in particular. His face holds about as much expression as that of a lakeshore pebble.
PRIEST
... and we thank you, Lord, for the victory of your son, Jesus Christ, over death and we commit this man's spirit to you in his holy name... Amen.
EVERYONE
Amen.
The service concludes and the small crowd slowly begins to disband. The priest steps up to Martha and Clark to give him his condolences, to which they both respond with a polite "thank you" and nod. Several other people also come and go, before discretely making their exits. Something of a line forms around them.
Lex makes a move toward Clark, but stops himself upon seeing Lionel do the same. Chloe makes it to Martha and Clark first, though. She didn't bother wearing any makeup. Judging by the streaks of dried tears on her face, it was a wise choice. She hugs Martha first.
CHLOE
Mrs. Kent...
They hug, each trying not to get their tears on the other.
CHLOE
If there's anything I can do... If there's anything you need...
GABE SULLIVAN
Anything at all, Martha...
Gabe Sullivan maneuvers his wheelchair in close from behind his daughter.
GABE SULLIVAN
I mean it. After everything your family's done for us...
Martha just nods. She bends down and lets Gabe hug her.
Chloe turns to Clark. As he does his best impression of the Rock of Gibraltar, she bursts into tears and falls into him.
CHLOE
Clark, I'm so sorry...
Clark doesn't say anything. He hugs her, remaining silent and inexpressive. He's practically catatonic.
She lets him go.
CHLOE
Maybe I'll come by later...?
He gives the shortest of nods in reply. Gabe offers Clark a quick nod and they leave. Lionel is next in line.
Lex carefully positions himself where he can hear what Lionel says while at the same time being as far away from the man as possible. Pete, to his credit, immediately recognizes this and takes notice.
LIONEL Martha, dear Martha...
She lets him hug her, albeit reluctantly.
LIONEL I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Jonathan Kent was a good man, a man of true honor, and exceptional character, both traits in men which have become somewhat sparse these days I'm afraid. He was a credit to all of humanity.
MARTHA
Thank you, Lionel.
He hands her a small business card from his pocket.
LIONEL
Now, I know things are going to be tough. I put in a call to have some people come and help around the farm.
Martha starts to object.
MARTHA
Oh... Lionel... That's really not...
LIONEL
Now, I insist. LuthorCorp will cover all the expenses. Use them for as long as you need. I know that running a farm is no small task and...
Mercy notices a smile curl its way onto Lex's face. She can almost see the light bulb turn on over his head.
LEX ::under breath:: No small task, indeed.
LIONEL ...but any small amount of burden I can take off your shoulders, I'd like to help.
She doesn't have any fight in her. She starts to nod in acceptance when Clark yanks the card out of her hand and gives it back to Lionel.
CLARK
Thank you, Mr. Luthor, but that won't be necessary.
Clark's rather sudden refusal catches Lionel by surprise.
LIONEL Well, of course, I understand. I commend your strength in this time of duress, but perhaps you should...
He starts to hand the card back to him, but Clark pushes it away.
CLARK
It's not necessary. Thank you anyway.
Lionel smiles and nods respectfully. He gets the hint and walks off in Lex's direction, hoping to get his son's attention. Lex pays him about as much attention as he does a nearby bush. Lionel seems genuinely hurt, but continues walking.
Lex is next.
LEX
Mrs. Kent...
He steps up to Martha and hugs her. Clark eyes him carefully, the memory of the events from the lab still fresh in his mind, though not necessarily suspiciously.
LEX
Clark...
Lex hugs Clark and the two of them share an odd encounter. They each seem to have to put a little too much effort into the embrace.
LEX
If there's anything I can do, I don't want either of you to hesitate.
Martha and Clark both nod in appreciation.
LEX
You know, when I was a child I was taught that there were two kinds of men in this world; men who have money and power, and men who don't. As I grew older, and started learning life's lessons on my own, it occurred to me that maybe that wasn't the case. Wealth, prestige, power, these are just things. They don't make the man.
Lex swallows, taking a quick peak up at the sun overhead before continuing.
LEX
When you get to be in my position, you begin to realize that the difference in men is as ambiguous as the line between good and evil. Most men end up getting caught in the middle, in that oh so opportune gray area. Then, there are those in this world who are so pure, so moral, so virtuous, that you simply can't speak of them in the same vane as other men. These are men of a different fabric, of a different cut than the rest of the world. There is no gray to them, there are no... shades. They are above all others, supermen if you will. I consider myself privileged to have had the honor of knowing Jonathan Kent, for he was one of these men.
Clark says nothing, but his hollow expression is betrayed by a single tear that escapes down his cheek. He wipes it away and simply nods to Lex, thankfully. Lex heads off, Mercy and Noah in tow.
From behind a far off tree, as Mr. and Mrs Ross and Aunt Nell give their regards to Martha and Clark, Lana Lang cries to herself. She sits behind the tree, curled up into a ball, and buries her head between her knees.
Aunt Nell and Mr. and Mrs. Ross move off and Pete pays his respects. He hugs Martha.
PETE
I'm sorry, Mrs. Kent. I sure am gonna miss the big guy. I always kind of considered him like a second father to me, ya know?
MARTHA
Oh, Pete...
She wipes away some tears with her handkerchief, trying to stay composed.
MARTHA
... He would have been truly touched to hear you say that.
PETE
Yeah.
Pete hugs Clark.
PETE
Hey, man...
Martha steps toward the coffin. Swallowing the knot in her throat, she runs her hands gently over the top of some roses adorning the top of the coffin, saying nothing. Clark and Pete silently observe her from behind. She mouths the words, "I Love You" and goes back to her handkerchief, sobbing.
CLARK
Pete, I need to ask you a favor.
PETE
Anything... Just name it.
CLARK
I need you to take my mother home and stay with her.
PETE ::confused:: You're not coming back to the house?
One look back at Clark gives him his answer.
PETE
What are you going to do?
CLARK
It's my fault, Pete. If it wasn't for me, he would be alive right now.
PETE
Clark, you can't blame yourself for...
CLARK
All these powers I have... everything I can do... and I couldn't save him.
Clark pauses, then, restarts.
CLARK
It was because of me. He wanted to hurt me. That's what he set out to do, and that's exactly what he did.
Pete steps in front of Clark, looking his friend in the eye, clearly concerned.
PETE
Clark... What are you going to do?
After a slight pause, Clark looks up at Pete with ice in his eyes.
CLARK I'm going to hurt him back.
Outside a church that looks like it was ripped out of a painting a small group of mourners, all dressed in black, gather around a coffin adorned by a hundred multi-colored flowers. A few trees and bushes lay scattered about the cemetery to add scenery and probably privacy.
A priest stands in front of the coffin with his head bowed, leading the tearful group in prayer. Standing in front of him, surrounded by friends and family, are Martha and Clark Kent. He has his arm around her shoulder as she clutches to a soaked through handkerchief. Chloe and Gabe Sullivan sit to their right, along with Aunt Nell. Lana Lang is noticeably absent. To their right, Lex looks on stoically with his two "assistants", Noah and Mercy. On Martha and Clark's left is Pete Ross with his mother and father, as well as several other tearful townsfolk, and Lionel Luthor with an entourage of his own.
As the priest concludes the prayer, Clark stares blankly ahead at nothing in particular. His face holds about as much expression as that of a lakeshore pebble.
PRIEST
... and we thank you, Lord, for the victory of your son, Jesus Christ, over death and we commit this man's spirit to you in his holy name... Amen.
EVERYONE
Amen.
The service concludes and the small crowd slowly begins to disband. The priest steps up to Martha and Clark to give him his condolences, to which they both respond with a polite "thank you" and nod. Several other people also come and go, before discretely making their exits. Something of a line forms around them.
Lex makes a move toward Clark, but stops himself upon seeing Lionel do the same. Chloe makes it to Martha and Clark first, though. She didn't bother wearing any makeup. Judging by the streaks of dried tears on her face, it was a wise choice. She hugs Martha first.
CHLOE
Mrs. Kent...
They hug, each trying not to get their tears on the other.
CHLOE
If there's anything I can do... If there's anything you need...
GABE SULLIVAN
Anything at all, Martha...
Gabe Sullivan maneuvers his wheelchair in close from behind his daughter.
GABE SULLIVAN
I mean it. After everything your family's done for us...
Martha just nods. She bends down and lets Gabe hug her.
Chloe turns to Clark. As he does his best impression of the Rock of Gibraltar, she bursts into tears and falls into him.
CHLOE
Clark, I'm so sorry...
Clark doesn't say anything. He hugs her, remaining silent and inexpressive. He's practically catatonic.
She lets him go.
CHLOE
Maybe I'll come by later...?
He gives the shortest of nods in reply. Gabe offers Clark a quick nod and they leave. Lionel is next in line.
Lex carefully positions himself where he can hear what Lionel says while at the same time being as far away from the man as possible. Pete, to his credit, immediately recognizes this and takes notice.
LIONEL Martha, dear Martha...
She lets him hug her, albeit reluctantly.
LIONEL I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Jonathan Kent was a good man, a man of true honor, and exceptional character, both traits in men which have become somewhat sparse these days I'm afraid. He was a credit to all of humanity.
MARTHA
Thank you, Lionel.
He hands her a small business card from his pocket.
LIONEL
Now, I know things are going to be tough. I put in a call to have some people come and help around the farm.
Martha starts to object.
MARTHA
Oh... Lionel... That's really not...
LIONEL
Now, I insist. LuthorCorp will cover all the expenses. Use them for as long as you need. I know that running a farm is no small task and...
Mercy notices a smile curl its way onto Lex's face. She can almost see the light bulb turn on over his head.
LEX ::under breath:: No small task, indeed.
LIONEL ...but any small amount of burden I can take off your shoulders, I'd like to help.
She doesn't have any fight in her. She starts to nod in acceptance when Clark yanks the card out of her hand and gives it back to Lionel.
CLARK
Thank you, Mr. Luthor, but that won't be necessary.
Clark's rather sudden refusal catches Lionel by surprise.
LIONEL Well, of course, I understand. I commend your strength in this time of duress, but perhaps you should...
He starts to hand the card back to him, but Clark pushes it away.
CLARK
It's not necessary. Thank you anyway.
Lionel smiles and nods respectfully. He gets the hint and walks off in Lex's direction, hoping to get his son's attention. Lex pays him about as much attention as he does a nearby bush. Lionel seems genuinely hurt, but continues walking.
Lex is next.
LEX
Mrs. Kent...
He steps up to Martha and hugs her. Clark eyes him carefully, the memory of the events from the lab still fresh in his mind, though not necessarily suspiciously.
LEX
Clark...
Lex hugs Clark and the two of them share an odd encounter. They each seem to have to put a little too much effort into the embrace.
LEX
If there's anything I can do, I don't want either of you to hesitate.
Martha and Clark both nod in appreciation.
LEX
You know, when I was a child I was taught that there were two kinds of men in this world; men who have money and power, and men who don't. As I grew older, and started learning life's lessons on my own, it occurred to me that maybe that wasn't the case. Wealth, prestige, power, these are just things. They don't make the man.
Lex swallows, taking a quick peak up at the sun overhead before continuing.
LEX
When you get to be in my position, you begin to realize that the difference in men is as ambiguous as the line between good and evil. Most men end up getting caught in the middle, in that oh so opportune gray area. Then, there are those in this world who are so pure, so moral, so virtuous, that you simply can't speak of them in the same vane as other men. These are men of a different fabric, of a different cut than the rest of the world. There is no gray to them, there are no... shades. They are above all others, supermen if you will. I consider myself privileged to have had the honor of knowing Jonathan Kent, for he was one of these men.
Clark says nothing, but his hollow expression is betrayed by a single tear that escapes down his cheek. He wipes it away and simply nods to Lex, thankfully. Lex heads off, Mercy and Noah in tow.
From behind a far off tree, as Mr. and Mrs Ross and Aunt Nell give their regards to Martha and Clark, Lana Lang cries to herself. She sits behind the tree, curled up into a ball, and buries her head between her knees.
Aunt Nell and Mr. and Mrs. Ross move off and Pete pays his respects. He hugs Martha.
PETE
I'm sorry, Mrs. Kent. I sure am gonna miss the big guy. I always kind of considered him like a second father to me, ya know?
MARTHA
Oh, Pete...
She wipes away some tears with her handkerchief, trying to stay composed.
MARTHA
... He would have been truly touched to hear you say that.
PETE
Yeah.
Pete hugs Clark.
PETE
Hey, man...
Martha steps toward the coffin. Swallowing the knot in her throat, she runs her hands gently over the top of some roses adorning the top of the coffin, saying nothing. Clark and Pete silently observe her from behind. She mouths the words, "I Love You" and goes back to her handkerchief, sobbing.
CLARK
Pete, I need to ask you a favor.
PETE
Anything... Just name it.
CLARK
I need you to take my mother home and stay with her.
PETE ::confused:: You're not coming back to the house?
One look back at Clark gives him his answer.
PETE
What are you going to do?
CLARK
It's my fault, Pete. If it wasn't for me, he would be alive right now.
PETE
Clark, you can't blame yourself for...
CLARK
All these powers I have... everything I can do... and I couldn't save him.
Clark pauses, then, restarts.
CLARK
It was because of me. He wanted to hurt me. That's what he set out to do, and that's exactly what he did.
Pete steps in front of Clark, looking his friend in the eye, clearly concerned.
PETE
Clark... What are you going to do?
After a slight pause, Clark looks up at Pete with ice in his eyes.
CLARK I'm going to hurt him back.