EXT. KENT FARM – NIGHT
The light to Martha's bedroom switches out.
Satisfied, Clark looks out at the driveway and starts running.
EXT. FIELD HILL – NIGHT
Clark defiantly marches up the short hill toward the crumbled remains of the mysterious Trenton house.
CLARK Fate!
In a rage, Clark trudges through the rubble, tossing aside rotted walls and stone as effortlessly as if they were made of foam.
CLARK I know you're here! I know you can hear me! You may be able to hide the portal, but I know it's still here.
Angrily, he one-handedly lifts up a large section of rooftop and tosses it away like a Frisbee.
CLARK
Fate! Show yourself! Don't be a coward! I know you can hear...
INT. SALEM TOWER
Clark stands in the very center of the celestial floor, surrounded by a large circle of burning blue candles. Directly in front of Clark is a semi- circular row of steps, at the top of which sits an elaborate golden throne shrouded in shadow. A cloaked figure sits in the throne.
Livid, Clark points up at the throne accusingly.
CLARK You knew! You knew what was going to happen to my father and you did nothing!
The mysterious figure says nothing.
CLARK You didn't tell me! You didn't warn me! You didn't try to help him, try to save him! Why?! Why did you do nothing?! Why did you let him die?!
Still, the mysterious cloaked figure remains silent.
Angrily, Clark waits no longer for a response, furiously marching up the marble stairs.
CLARK
Fate! Answer me!
Clark grabs the figure by the arms and pulls them into the light, but is surprised by the tearful eyes he finds staring back at him.
CLARK Lana?
LANA
I'm sorry, Clark. I'm so sorry. I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want him to die.
He looks at her with sorrow and pity, but turns away in equal disgust.
CLARK
If that's true, why didn't you try and stop it? Why didn't you tell me what Darkseid was planning?
LANA
I couldn't. I couldn't interfere with the prophecy.
He turns back around to face her.
CLARK
To hell with the prophecy! To hell with destiny if it means standing around and doing nothing while watching innocent people get murdered! You had a choice.
LANA
I wanted to tell you, Clark. You have to believe me.
CLARK
Why should I? Why should I believe someone who would place more importance on some occult omen than she does on a man's life?! You should have told me. I could have saved him.
LANA
No... No, I couldn't.
CLARK
Why not?!
LANA
Because he told me not too!
It takes several seconds of stunned silence for the revelation to sink in before Clark can manage any kind of response.
LANA
He told me not too.
CLARK
You mean he knew?
She nods.
CLARK
But... how can that...
LANA
I told him. I read to him from the Book of the New Gods.
CLARK
You can read from the book?
She shrugs sorrowfully.
CLARK
The scream...
LANA
::nods:: It left a piece of itself inside of me. I didn't understand it at first. I didn't know what was happening. I was having these dreams, about this place, about other worlds. It was like they were memories, but they weren't mine. That was how I came here. That was how I found Doctor Fate.
She moves passed him and walks down the steps. He turns and walks with her.
LANA
He helped me to get rid of what was left behind of the scream, but the memories were still there. Everything it knew, I knew. Then, I knew I couldn't go back. Knowing what I knew was going to happen, seeing the prophecies being fulfilled one after another, how could I just go back?
She stops in the center of the celestial floor.
LANA
I knew what was going to happen. I knew how the world was going to change, but it was all happening just so fast. That's why I pushed Pete. I thought if you saved him, the prophecy would be fulfilled. I didn't realize... I didn't know it was Chloe.
CLARK
Why did you kidnap him if you wanted the prophecy to be fulfilled?
LANA
There is an order to everything. You cannot have one without the other. I knew if Darkseid had killed your father before you saved the one from the sky, the prophecy would be broken.
CLARK
But that isn't saving him. That's just buying time!
LANA At first... but, then I realized I could never buy enough time. I tried to convince myself that I was just doing my part, that the prophecy had to be fulfilled. There was more at stake than just one man's life, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew... I couldn't just let him die, at least, not without him knowing. I didn't want him to think of me that way.
She talks through the tears, pleading with Clark for his understanding.
LANA
I loved Mr. Kent. I love Mrs. Kent. I love your whole family, Clark. I love you. You don't know how lucky you are to have had them, to have had a real family like that. When my parents died, I lost the chance to ever have that, to ever have parents that really loved me, unconditionally, and who cared me like they care about you.
CLARK
Nell...
LANA
Nell loved me like an Aunt, but I wasn't her child. Would she have just left me and ran off to Metropolis if she did? Would your parents have done that? Would they have left you behind?
Clark doesn't bother stating the obvious.
LANA
She took care of me, but I was never a daughter to her and she was never a mother to me. The truth is, over the years, your family has been more like family to me. How many times have they been there for me; your mother, your father, and you? That's why, I couldn't let him die, but more I couldn't let him think that I was some kind of monster. I had to make sure that he understood. I just wanted him to... I didn't want him to stop loving me.
She pauses a moment to allow herself to cry before recomposing herself.
LANA
So, I read it to him.
She turns away from Clark and takes a few steps, walking outside the circle of blue candles. Magically, the blue light follows her into the shadows, extending onto a small pedestal where an ancient book lies open. She reads from it.
LANA
So, the Evil One struck at where El's heart was most weak, where the pain would be at its greatest. The deliverer was entrusted to slaves and would set forth to free them. The Evil One would make each of them pay a price for that freedom. He would not be able to destroy the savior, but he could hurt him... by destroying the slave.
She turns back around, again crying, to face Clark.
LANA
He understood. I didn't think he would, but he did.
CLARK
He believed in the prophecy?
LANA
He believed in you. He knew that you were special. He knew you were bound, that you were destined to do great things. He believed that his son would be a great man... and he was willing to do anything for you... even if it meant giving up his own life.
Clark stands in front of her well short of the Man of Steel he will one day become, tears streaming down both sides of his face.
LANA He was a great man.
Clark nods, fighting back the tears.
CLARK
He was a super-man.
Clark wipes the tears from his eyes, when something out of the shadows catches his attention.
CLARK
Lana...
He tries to warn her, but she remains calm as several cat-like creatures step into the light from behind her; the Shadow-Els.
LANA
They call themselves the Shadow-Els, after you. They fled their planet when Darkseid attacked. They've been searching the galaxy for the "blue light" that will protect them.
CLARK
The candles...
Clark observes the timid creatures with scientific meticulousness. One of them looks up at Lana and speaks.
SHADOW-EL The creature is coming. We can feel him.
LANA
Shh... It's all right. The blue light will protect you.
She looks up at Clark as she soothingly pets the Shadow-El.
LANA
The blue light will protect us all.
CLARK What makes you so sure? I'm supposed to win. That's not a guarantee I'll be able to protect everyone, or anyone.
SHADOW-EL
The blue light will save us.
CLARK
The blue light couldn't even save his own father. You might be better off fighting for yourself.
Slowly, the lead Shadow-El walks, on all fours, further into the light. As it gets closer to Clark, it stands up on its hind legs as naturally as if it were a biped.
SHADOW-EL
I believe the El will save us.
Lana steps up next to the Shadow-El.
LANA
And so do I... and so did your father.
Not entirely convinced, Clark tries to paint the best air of confidence that he can. Reasonably satisfied, the Shadow-El returns to all fours and retreats back into the shadows with the rest of its pack. Following suit, Lana turns and walks after it, but Clark stops her.
CLARK
Lana...
LANA
Yes, Clark?
CLARK
Where will you go now?
She shrugs unknowingly, sadly.
LANA
I have nowhere to go. I have no home. I have no family.
She turns again to follow the Shadow-Els, but again Clark stops her.
CLARK
Lana... I think I have a better idea.
She looks back at him, wondering what it might be.
EXT. KENT HOUSE – KITCHEN
Clutching a picture of Jonathan in her left hand, Martha Kent reaches for the refrigerator, heavy bags under her eyes from crying and not sleeping. She pulls out the carton of milk and pours herself a glass.
The front door opens, startling her.
MARTHA
Clark?
Martha turns around to find Clark standing in the doorway, his arm wrapped around Lana.
The light to Martha's bedroom switches out.
Satisfied, Clark looks out at the driveway and starts running.
EXT. FIELD HILL – NIGHT
Clark defiantly marches up the short hill toward the crumbled remains of the mysterious Trenton house.
CLARK Fate!
In a rage, Clark trudges through the rubble, tossing aside rotted walls and stone as effortlessly as if they were made of foam.
CLARK I know you're here! I know you can hear me! You may be able to hide the portal, but I know it's still here.
Angrily, he one-handedly lifts up a large section of rooftop and tosses it away like a Frisbee.
CLARK
Fate! Show yourself! Don't be a coward! I know you can hear...
INT. SALEM TOWER
Clark stands in the very center of the celestial floor, surrounded by a large circle of burning blue candles. Directly in front of Clark is a semi- circular row of steps, at the top of which sits an elaborate golden throne shrouded in shadow. A cloaked figure sits in the throne.
Livid, Clark points up at the throne accusingly.
CLARK You knew! You knew what was going to happen to my father and you did nothing!
The mysterious figure says nothing.
CLARK You didn't tell me! You didn't warn me! You didn't try to help him, try to save him! Why?! Why did you do nothing?! Why did you let him die?!
Still, the mysterious cloaked figure remains silent.
Angrily, Clark waits no longer for a response, furiously marching up the marble stairs.
CLARK
Fate! Answer me!
Clark grabs the figure by the arms and pulls them into the light, but is surprised by the tearful eyes he finds staring back at him.
CLARK Lana?
LANA
I'm sorry, Clark. I'm so sorry. I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want him to die.
He looks at her with sorrow and pity, but turns away in equal disgust.
CLARK
If that's true, why didn't you try and stop it? Why didn't you tell me what Darkseid was planning?
LANA
I couldn't. I couldn't interfere with the prophecy.
He turns back around to face her.
CLARK
To hell with the prophecy! To hell with destiny if it means standing around and doing nothing while watching innocent people get murdered! You had a choice.
LANA
I wanted to tell you, Clark. You have to believe me.
CLARK
Why should I? Why should I believe someone who would place more importance on some occult omen than she does on a man's life?! You should have told me. I could have saved him.
LANA
No... No, I couldn't.
CLARK
Why not?!
LANA
Because he told me not too!
It takes several seconds of stunned silence for the revelation to sink in before Clark can manage any kind of response.
LANA
He told me not too.
CLARK
You mean he knew?
She nods.
CLARK
But... how can that...
LANA
I told him. I read to him from the Book of the New Gods.
CLARK
You can read from the book?
She shrugs sorrowfully.
CLARK
The scream...
LANA
::nods:: It left a piece of itself inside of me. I didn't understand it at first. I didn't know what was happening. I was having these dreams, about this place, about other worlds. It was like they were memories, but they weren't mine. That was how I came here. That was how I found Doctor Fate.
She moves passed him and walks down the steps. He turns and walks with her.
LANA
He helped me to get rid of what was left behind of the scream, but the memories were still there. Everything it knew, I knew. Then, I knew I couldn't go back. Knowing what I knew was going to happen, seeing the prophecies being fulfilled one after another, how could I just go back?
She stops in the center of the celestial floor.
LANA
I knew what was going to happen. I knew how the world was going to change, but it was all happening just so fast. That's why I pushed Pete. I thought if you saved him, the prophecy would be fulfilled. I didn't realize... I didn't know it was Chloe.
CLARK
Why did you kidnap him if you wanted the prophecy to be fulfilled?
LANA
There is an order to everything. You cannot have one without the other. I knew if Darkseid had killed your father before you saved the one from the sky, the prophecy would be broken.
CLARK
But that isn't saving him. That's just buying time!
LANA At first... but, then I realized I could never buy enough time. I tried to convince myself that I was just doing my part, that the prophecy had to be fulfilled. There was more at stake than just one man's life, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew... I couldn't just let him die, at least, not without him knowing. I didn't want him to think of me that way.
She talks through the tears, pleading with Clark for his understanding.
LANA
I loved Mr. Kent. I love Mrs. Kent. I love your whole family, Clark. I love you. You don't know how lucky you are to have had them, to have had a real family like that. When my parents died, I lost the chance to ever have that, to ever have parents that really loved me, unconditionally, and who cared me like they care about you.
CLARK
Nell...
LANA
Nell loved me like an Aunt, but I wasn't her child. Would she have just left me and ran off to Metropolis if she did? Would your parents have done that? Would they have left you behind?
Clark doesn't bother stating the obvious.
LANA
She took care of me, but I was never a daughter to her and she was never a mother to me. The truth is, over the years, your family has been more like family to me. How many times have they been there for me; your mother, your father, and you? That's why, I couldn't let him die, but more I couldn't let him think that I was some kind of monster. I had to make sure that he understood. I just wanted him to... I didn't want him to stop loving me.
She pauses a moment to allow herself to cry before recomposing herself.
LANA
So, I read it to him.
She turns away from Clark and takes a few steps, walking outside the circle of blue candles. Magically, the blue light follows her into the shadows, extending onto a small pedestal where an ancient book lies open. She reads from it.
LANA
So, the Evil One struck at where El's heart was most weak, where the pain would be at its greatest. The deliverer was entrusted to slaves and would set forth to free them. The Evil One would make each of them pay a price for that freedom. He would not be able to destroy the savior, but he could hurt him... by destroying the slave.
She turns back around, again crying, to face Clark.
LANA
He understood. I didn't think he would, but he did.
CLARK
He believed in the prophecy?
LANA
He believed in you. He knew that you were special. He knew you were bound, that you were destined to do great things. He believed that his son would be a great man... and he was willing to do anything for you... even if it meant giving up his own life.
Clark stands in front of her well short of the Man of Steel he will one day become, tears streaming down both sides of his face.
LANA He was a great man.
Clark nods, fighting back the tears.
CLARK
He was a super-man.
Clark wipes the tears from his eyes, when something out of the shadows catches his attention.
CLARK
Lana...
He tries to warn her, but she remains calm as several cat-like creatures step into the light from behind her; the Shadow-Els.
LANA
They call themselves the Shadow-Els, after you. They fled their planet when Darkseid attacked. They've been searching the galaxy for the "blue light" that will protect them.
CLARK
The candles...
Clark observes the timid creatures with scientific meticulousness. One of them looks up at Lana and speaks.
SHADOW-EL The creature is coming. We can feel him.
LANA
Shh... It's all right. The blue light will protect you.
She looks up at Clark as she soothingly pets the Shadow-El.
LANA
The blue light will protect us all.
CLARK What makes you so sure? I'm supposed to win. That's not a guarantee I'll be able to protect everyone, or anyone.
SHADOW-EL
The blue light will save us.
CLARK
The blue light couldn't even save his own father. You might be better off fighting for yourself.
Slowly, the lead Shadow-El walks, on all fours, further into the light. As it gets closer to Clark, it stands up on its hind legs as naturally as if it were a biped.
SHADOW-EL
I believe the El will save us.
Lana steps up next to the Shadow-El.
LANA
And so do I... and so did your father.
Not entirely convinced, Clark tries to paint the best air of confidence that he can. Reasonably satisfied, the Shadow-El returns to all fours and retreats back into the shadows with the rest of its pack. Following suit, Lana turns and walks after it, but Clark stops her.
CLARK
Lana...
LANA
Yes, Clark?
CLARK
Where will you go now?
She shrugs unknowingly, sadly.
LANA
I have nowhere to go. I have no home. I have no family.
She turns again to follow the Shadow-Els, but again Clark stops her.
CLARK
Lana... I think I have a better idea.
She looks back at him, wondering what it might be.
EXT. KENT HOUSE – KITCHEN
Clutching a picture of Jonathan in her left hand, Martha Kent reaches for the refrigerator, heavy bags under her eyes from crying and not sleeping. She pulls out the carton of milk and pours herself a glass.
The front door opens, startling her.
MARTHA
Clark?
Martha turns around to find Clark standing in the doorway, his arm wrapped around Lana.