Chapter 19

(Clark and Lana are seen walking into the Beanery.  The restaurant is deserted except for the manager and one person sitting at the counter.  The manager throws Lana a dirty look; Lana pretends not to see it.  They make their way to the back and sit down at a table across from each other.)

Lana (Looking around): "I hate to think I did this to them."

Clark (Glancing over at the counter): "They did it to themselves, Lana."

Lana: "I guess so."

(The manager walks over to them with a pad of paper and pencil.)

Manager (Sounding uninterested, like she doesn't expect them to order): "Will you two be having anything, or will you just be making out today... like everyone else that still comes in here..."

Clark (Blushing slightly): "A cappuccino, please."

Lana (Her face turning a bright shade of red): "Same thing, please."

Manager (Looking a bit happier): "I'll be right back with your order."

(Clark and Lana wait until she is out of sight and then start openly laughing.  The man at the counter looks over disapprovingly then returns to his drink.)

Lana (Fighting back the laughter, she wipes a tear from the corner of her eye): "So, Clark.  When did you find out you were, well, you know."

Clark (Finally getting his laughter under control): "Freshman year."

(Another peal of laughter escapes, but Clark gets it under control.)

Clark: "Right before homecoming."

Lana (Squinting her eyes, trying to remember.): "Is that why you were in the graveyard?"

(Clark nods.)

Lana: "You were right; I wouldn't have believed you."

(The manager comes back and sets the two drinks on the table, then returns to the counter.  Lana picks hers up and takes a sip.  As she does, the camera slowly pans out and passes behind a column.  When the column is out of the way, it can clearly be seen that it is much later in the day, nearing night fall.  Clark and Lana are still at the table talking.  Several empty cups are on the table and they are preparing to leave.)

Lana (Laughing): "I almost forgot about that!"

Clark (Smiling): "You should have seen the look on your face."

Lana (Still laughing): "I must have looked pretty stupid."

Clark (Still smiling): "Na.  I didn't think you looked stupid at all."

(Clark begins to stand up, but Lana stops him, putting her hand on his.)

Lana: "Clark, today, last night, it's been like a dream, like you're finally... here, with me."

(A look of fear comes into her eyes.)

Lana: "Clark, if we walk out that door, I'm afraid it's going to be just that, a dream."

Clark (Sitting back down, looking straight into her eyes):  "Lana, I'm not going anywhere."

(She smiles, and Clark brushes a stray loch of hair out of her face.  Suddenly, Clark's eyes get intense.)

Clark: "NO!"

Lana (Frightened): "Clark, what is it?"

(An ear piercing shriek reverberates through the walls of the Beanery.  Clark throws his hands over his ears and begins swaying back and forth.  Across the table, Lana looks terrified as Clark nearly falls over.  He can see her mouthing his name but cannot hear her.  Angry tears form in Clark's eyes.)

Clark (A tear rolling down his cheek): "No!  Why?!"

Lana: "Clark, what is it?"

Clark (A tear again rolling down his cheek): "Lana, I have to go."

(Another ear piercing shriek knocks Clark out of his chair.  Lana is beside him in an instant.)

Lana (Screaming): "Clark!"

(There are tears in her eyes now.)

Lana: "Clark!"

Clark (Slowly standing to his feet as the shrieking stops):  "Lana,"

(Tears are filling his eyes now and his voice becomes choked up,)

Clark: "I have to go."

Lana (Holding his head between her hands): "No!  Clark, no!"

Manager (Stepping out from the back room at the sudden commotion): "What's going on here?" 

(Another shriek screams through Clark's ears, more intense and painful this time.  It settles.)

Clark (Looking directly into Lana's eyes): "Come with me."

Lana (Extremely startled at this abrupt change): "Clark, I, but-"

(Clark walks past her towards the door.  She grabs his hand and turns him around.  Her eyes are full of tears.)

Lana: "I'm coming."

(They rush out of the coffee shop, leaving the manager disgustedly shaking her head.  The roar of Clark's truck can be heard as they tear off down the street.)