Chapter 9

(Lex is sitting alone in his study, a large old book open in front of him.  He holds a wine glass between his pointer and middle fingers, idly swirling the drink round.  Lex pauses when he hears the sound of footsteps behind him.)

Lex (Setting the drink down): "I thought I told you to never come here again."

(A dark shape walks across the room and sits down.  Lex looks up.  Lionel sits across from him.)

Lionel: "I see you spared no expenses on my funeral."

(Lex smirks.)

Lionel: "And didn't attend?"

Lex (Taking a sip from his drink): "Why would I attend a coward's funeral?"

Lionel: "Because the coward is your father."

Lex (Speaking coldly): "'Suicide is not abominable because God prohibits it; God prohibits it because it is abominable.'"

Lionel: "I'm surprised you still are convinced that I killed myself, Lex."

Lex (Setting his glass down on the table): "And what do you propose, Lionel, actually happened."

Lionel: "I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Lex: "Tell me."

Lionel (Thinking for a moment, then answering): "No."

(Lex stands and walks to his desk.  He pulls a gun from it and aims it at Lionel's head.  Lionel openly laughs.)

Lex (Screaming): "SHUT UP!"

(Lex pulls the trigger again and again, unloading the entire clip.  When he is finished, Lionel remains standing there.)

Lionel (Still laughing): "You think you can kill me too, Lex?  A man can only die once."

Lex: "Get out, GET OUT!  YOU DID THIS TO ME, YOU DID THIS TO ME!"

(The door to Lex's study bursts open.  Lionel disappears as a guard enters.)

Guard (Looking around, gun drawn): "Mr. Luthor?  Is everything alright?"

(Lex looks around the room, his eyes probing every dark corner.)

Lex (Speaking under his breath): "Julian, where did you go?"

Guard: "What, sir?"

Lex (Speaking to the guard): "Leave."

Guard: "Yes, sir."

(The guard exists.  Lex watches him go, then rushes over to the corner of the room.  A small blanket lays bundled on the ground.  Lex picks it up, cradling it in his arms.)

Lex (Smiling, speaking softly): "Shh...  Everything's gonna be alright now; Big Brother isn't gonna let anything happen to you, Julian."

(Lionel steps behind Lex.)

Lionel: "Julian is gone, Lex."

Lex (Ignoring him, he begins singing):  "Hush little baby, don't say a word, Daddy's going to buy you a mocking bird."

Lionel (Putting a hand on Lex's shoulder): "It wasn't your fault."

Lex: "And if that mocking bird don't sing,"

Lionel: "Lex..."

Lex: "Daddy's going to buy you a diamond ring!"

(Lex snuggles his nose up close to the blanket, laughing softly as he does.)

Lex: "And if that diamond ring turns brass, Daddy's going to buy you a looking glass!"

(Lex lightly tickles one side of the blanket as he says 'you'.  The smile on Lex's face disappears, as does Lionel.  Lex looks down at the blanket in his hands, and then stands.  Setting the blanket back down in the corner, he walks over to his desk.  He rubs his eyes tiredly.  The blanket lies in the corner, daunting Lex.    He stares at it for several seconds, and then quickly leaves the room.)