EXT. KENT FARM – DAY
Pete hides a toothy grin, keeping his lips shut to avoid swallowing dirt from the dust cloud he kicked up by skidding to a halt in his car seconds earlier. He laughs, tapping the Blockbuster tape against his leg before running up the porch steps.
INT. KENT HOUSE – KITCHEN
Pete explodes through the front door, nearly knocking Martha over on her way to the coffee pot.
PETE
Yo, Clark, my man! Where you a-AAAAT!!!
Pete's legs slip out from under him at the sight of Lana Lang sitting with Clark at the kitchen table, enjoying breakfast. Clark quickly stands and rushes to help Pete up off the floor.
CLARK
Pete, it's okay!
Unconvinced, Pete very consciously backs his way back to the door.
PETE
What's she doing here!?
At the table, Lana sadly hangs her head. She doesn't look at him, opting instead to stare straight ahead.
CLARK
It's okay, Pete. Everything's all right.
PETE
All right? All right!? She shotput my ass out a window, Clark! That is not all right! That is leaps and bounds from all right!
CLARK
She was suffering from the affects of the scream. She isn't anymore. She's all right now. She's not going to hurt you.
Pete calms himself, peeking over at Lana from around Clark's shoulder.
PETE
Yeah? Well, maybe I'm gonna hurt her.
Clark catches Pete mid-lunge, holding him back.
PETE
Let me go, Clark. Don't make me lay the smack down on you too.
CLARK
Pete...
LANA
::softly:: I'm sorry.
Pete stops struggling and Clark tentatively releases him. They each look over at Lana.
PETE
You're sorry?!
LANA
::softly:: I didn't mean to hurt you.
She still doesn't look at him. She stares straight ahead.
Pete obviously wants to be angry at her, gritting his teeth to try and keep from caving. Clark offers him a dirty look, a not so subtle piece of advice to forgive and forget. Hesitantly, rolling his eyes, Pete steps passed Clark and sits down, dropping the video loudly on the table so as to startle her. She jumps a little in the chair.
He glares angrily at her from the side. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she steals a quick peak at him from the corner of her eye, gauging his glower. Finally, he huffs and leans back in the chair, arms folded across his chest.
LANA
I'm really sorry, Pete.
Gathering up the courage, she turns in her chair to face him.
LANA
If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, to prove how sorry I am...
He thinks for a while, letting her stew. Sitting up, now it's his turn to stare straight ahead.
PETE
::shrugs:: Pete likes the sugar.
A smile creeps its way onto Lana's face. Relieved, she leans over to him and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Clark and Martha smile, enjoying watching the two friends reconcile, and seeing Pete blush.
PETE
Actually, I was talking about your Pop-Tart... but that works too.
LANA
::laughs:: Then, you forgive me?
He hesitates, but looking at her he can't help but smile.
PETE ::shakes head:: Aaaah... I can't stay mad at that face.
Now, she blushes.
Seizing the opportunity, he swipes the Pop-Tart off her plate.
PETE
But I'm still taking your Pop-Tart.
He takes a bite, getting crumbs all over the table. She looks generally sad that he took it.
PETE
::mouth full:: And your milk.
He steals her milk and takes a large gulp, wiping away his milk mustache with his hand.
Martha shakes her head and sits down at the table with her coffee. She slides the napkin holder across the table to Pete.
MARTHA
Peter Ross, you use a napkin in my house.
PETE
Yes, Mrs. Kent. Sorry, Mrs. Kent.
Clark picks the tape up off the table, sitting down next to Lana, across from Pete.
CLARK
What's this?
He shows the tape to Pete.
PETE
That's our act for the talent show tonight. Study up, my boy, 'cause I don't want to have to carry you...
He elbows Lana.
PETE ...like always.
Clark and Lana each roll their eyes.
CLARK Pete... about the talent show...
Anticipating Clark's direction...
PETE
::shakes head:: No, nuh uh. Don't you back out on me.
CLARK
I'm not backing out. It's just...
PETE ::shakes head:: Don't say it. Don't even say it. I don't want to hear it.
CLARK It's just that with all that's been going on, do you really think this is the kind of thing we should be doing?
PETE
Yes! It's exactly the kind of thing we should be doing. We need this. I need this. You need this.
CLARK I just can't help but feel there are more important things I should be doing.
PETE
Like what?
CLARK
Like going after Darkseid.
LANA
No!
Everyone looks over at Lana after her very sudden, very fervent, objection. She sinks in her seat.
LANA
It isn't time yet.
Pete looks at Clark, who seems slightly less confused than he. Pete circles his hand in the air.
PETE
Fill me in.
Clark looks at Lana.
CLARK
The prophecy again?
She simply nods.
PETE
She knows about the prophecy? How much did you tell her?
CLARK
I didn't have to tell her anything.
PETE
Oh.
Ever the concerned mother, Martha speaks up.
MARTHA
Lana, what do you know?
Lana looks up at each of them, but settles her gaze upon Clark.
LANA
Just that, you're not ready yet. You're not ready to face him.
Clark shakes his head, frustrated.
PETE
You wanna be a little more specific, for those of us who aren't privy to the inner workings of the universe?
LANA You haven't reached the time of ascension yet. You can't face him until you do.
MARTHA
What exactly is the time of ascension?
CLARK
I'm not gonna fly, am I?
He said it only in passing, sarcastically. Lana's silence, though, makes him think twice.
CLARK
Am I?
LANA
::shakes head:: I don't know. I don't know what it means.
PETE
Then, how do you know it hasn't happened yet?
LANA
I just do. All things must be complete. "The old shall pass away. He sheds his skin and a new man will be born, the path ended, a new beginning. It is the time of ascension."
Pete raises an eyebrow, eyes wide. Looking down at the Pop-Tart in his hand, and the glass of milk, he leans back in the chair.
PETE
Okaaaay...
Pete pushes the Pop-Tart and glass of milk back across the table to Lana.
PETE
Well, that's pretty freaked out, right there. Don't be needin' any more of that.
He motions to Clark.
PETE See, but this is what I'm talking about. All this stuff about alien invaders, prophecies, Armageddon, it's bad vibes. We need to just get away from it for a night.
CLARK
I'm up for a vacation.
MARTHA
That makes two of us.
LANA
Three.
PETE
Ya see what I mean?
Pete gets serious.
PETE
Look, man, when was the last time we really did anything fun? I know I can't remember. Say what you want about Smallville, it hasn't been boring growing up here, a new freak born every week to terrorize and wreak havoc on the population. Between your powers, and everything else, I don't know about you, but I've kind of missed just having fun.
Clark nods, understanding perfectly, as does Lana.
PETE
Now, my guess is there's not gonna be much time for it coming up. So, what do you say? Let's just be kids for one last night.
Lana breathes in, and exhales soothingly.
LANA
I like the sound of that.
MARTHA
I think it'd be good for you, Clark.
Clark looks at the tape and then back at Pete. He smiles.
Pete hides a toothy grin, keeping his lips shut to avoid swallowing dirt from the dust cloud he kicked up by skidding to a halt in his car seconds earlier. He laughs, tapping the Blockbuster tape against his leg before running up the porch steps.
INT. KENT HOUSE – KITCHEN
Pete explodes through the front door, nearly knocking Martha over on her way to the coffee pot.
PETE
Yo, Clark, my man! Where you a-AAAAT!!!
Pete's legs slip out from under him at the sight of Lana Lang sitting with Clark at the kitchen table, enjoying breakfast. Clark quickly stands and rushes to help Pete up off the floor.
CLARK
Pete, it's okay!
Unconvinced, Pete very consciously backs his way back to the door.
PETE
What's she doing here!?
At the table, Lana sadly hangs her head. She doesn't look at him, opting instead to stare straight ahead.
CLARK
It's okay, Pete. Everything's all right.
PETE
All right? All right!? She shotput my ass out a window, Clark! That is not all right! That is leaps and bounds from all right!
CLARK
She was suffering from the affects of the scream. She isn't anymore. She's all right now. She's not going to hurt you.
Pete calms himself, peeking over at Lana from around Clark's shoulder.
PETE
Yeah? Well, maybe I'm gonna hurt her.
Clark catches Pete mid-lunge, holding him back.
PETE
Let me go, Clark. Don't make me lay the smack down on you too.
CLARK
Pete...
LANA
::softly:: I'm sorry.
Pete stops struggling and Clark tentatively releases him. They each look over at Lana.
PETE
You're sorry?!
LANA
::softly:: I didn't mean to hurt you.
She still doesn't look at him. She stares straight ahead.
Pete obviously wants to be angry at her, gritting his teeth to try and keep from caving. Clark offers him a dirty look, a not so subtle piece of advice to forgive and forget. Hesitantly, rolling his eyes, Pete steps passed Clark and sits down, dropping the video loudly on the table so as to startle her. She jumps a little in the chair.
He glares angrily at her from the side. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she steals a quick peak at him from the corner of her eye, gauging his glower. Finally, he huffs and leans back in the chair, arms folded across his chest.
LANA
I'm really sorry, Pete.
Gathering up the courage, she turns in her chair to face him.
LANA
If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, to prove how sorry I am...
He thinks for a while, letting her stew. Sitting up, now it's his turn to stare straight ahead.
PETE
::shrugs:: Pete likes the sugar.
A smile creeps its way onto Lana's face. Relieved, she leans over to him and gives him a quick peck on the cheek.
Clark and Martha smile, enjoying watching the two friends reconcile, and seeing Pete blush.
PETE
Actually, I was talking about your Pop-Tart... but that works too.
LANA
::laughs:: Then, you forgive me?
He hesitates, but looking at her he can't help but smile.
PETE ::shakes head:: Aaaah... I can't stay mad at that face.
Now, she blushes.
Seizing the opportunity, he swipes the Pop-Tart off her plate.
PETE
But I'm still taking your Pop-Tart.
He takes a bite, getting crumbs all over the table. She looks generally sad that he took it.
PETE
::mouth full:: And your milk.
He steals her milk and takes a large gulp, wiping away his milk mustache with his hand.
Martha shakes her head and sits down at the table with her coffee. She slides the napkin holder across the table to Pete.
MARTHA
Peter Ross, you use a napkin in my house.
PETE
Yes, Mrs. Kent. Sorry, Mrs. Kent.
Clark picks the tape up off the table, sitting down next to Lana, across from Pete.
CLARK
What's this?
He shows the tape to Pete.
PETE
That's our act for the talent show tonight. Study up, my boy, 'cause I don't want to have to carry you...
He elbows Lana.
PETE ...like always.
Clark and Lana each roll their eyes.
CLARK Pete... about the talent show...
Anticipating Clark's direction...
PETE
::shakes head:: No, nuh uh. Don't you back out on me.
CLARK
I'm not backing out. It's just...
PETE ::shakes head:: Don't say it. Don't even say it. I don't want to hear it.
CLARK It's just that with all that's been going on, do you really think this is the kind of thing we should be doing?
PETE
Yes! It's exactly the kind of thing we should be doing. We need this. I need this. You need this.
CLARK I just can't help but feel there are more important things I should be doing.
PETE
Like what?
CLARK
Like going after Darkseid.
LANA
No!
Everyone looks over at Lana after her very sudden, very fervent, objection. She sinks in her seat.
LANA
It isn't time yet.
Pete looks at Clark, who seems slightly less confused than he. Pete circles his hand in the air.
PETE
Fill me in.
Clark looks at Lana.
CLARK
The prophecy again?
She simply nods.
PETE
She knows about the prophecy? How much did you tell her?
CLARK
I didn't have to tell her anything.
PETE
Oh.
Ever the concerned mother, Martha speaks up.
MARTHA
Lana, what do you know?
Lana looks up at each of them, but settles her gaze upon Clark.
LANA
Just that, you're not ready yet. You're not ready to face him.
Clark shakes his head, frustrated.
PETE
You wanna be a little more specific, for those of us who aren't privy to the inner workings of the universe?
LANA You haven't reached the time of ascension yet. You can't face him until you do.
MARTHA
What exactly is the time of ascension?
CLARK
I'm not gonna fly, am I?
He said it only in passing, sarcastically. Lana's silence, though, makes him think twice.
CLARK
Am I?
LANA
::shakes head:: I don't know. I don't know what it means.
PETE
Then, how do you know it hasn't happened yet?
LANA
I just do. All things must be complete. "The old shall pass away. He sheds his skin and a new man will be born, the path ended, a new beginning. It is the time of ascension."
Pete raises an eyebrow, eyes wide. Looking down at the Pop-Tart in his hand, and the glass of milk, he leans back in the chair.
PETE
Okaaaay...
Pete pushes the Pop-Tart and glass of milk back across the table to Lana.
PETE
Well, that's pretty freaked out, right there. Don't be needin' any more of that.
He motions to Clark.
PETE See, but this is what I'm talking about. All this stuff about alien invaders, prophecies, Armageddon, it's bad vibes. We need to just get away from it for a night.
CLARK
I'm up for a vacation.
MARTHA
That makes two of us.
LANA
Three.
PETE
Ya see what I mean?
Pete gets serious.
PETE
Look, man, when was the last time we really did anything fun? I know I can't remember. Say what you want about Smallville, it hasn't been boring growing up here, a new freak born every week to terrorize and wreak havoc on the population. Between your powers, and everything else, I don't know about you, but I've kind of missed just having fun.
Clark nods, understanding perfectly, as does Lana.
PETE
Now, my guess is there's not gonna be much time for it coming up. So, what do you say? Let's just be kids for one last night.
Lana breathes in, and exhales soothingly.
LANA
I like the sound of that.
MARTHA
I think it'd be good for you, Clark.
Clark looks at the tape and then back at Pete. He smiles.