It is raining hard. The sound of THUNDER can be heard and lightening flashes across the sky. PETE is driving and looking up at the sky cautiously. CLARK is sitting in the passenger's seat.
PETE: Clark, you picked the worst time to have a craving for a latte. It looks like this is going to be a bad storm.
CLARK: Lana called and said that she had something important to tell me.
PETE: And this information was so important that she couldn't tell you over the phone?
CLARK: I guess so. She told me that it couldn't wait and wanted me to hurry.
Pete thinks for a moment. Clark eyes him curiously.
PETE: Maybe this time she wants to ask you out.
CLARK: Couldn't she have just done that over the phone? And besides, I don't think Lana wants to go anywhere with me.
PETE: Why do you say that? You guys seem to be getting along great.
CLARK: I don't know, Pete. It's just that I haven't been so trustworthy and dependable in the past.
Pete starts to comment, but declines.
CLARK (cont'd): I wouldn't blame her for not wanting to date me. Anyway, let's just hurry up and get there. I want to know what's so important that it couldn't wait until after this storm.
PETE: You know, Clark, it would have been a lot faster if you had ran.
CLARK: (smiling) Yeah, and I would have a hard time explaining to Lana how I got there only seconds after she hung up the phone.
Thunder BOOMS in the distant. Pete jumps. Clark looks over at Pete and LAUGHS. Pete playfully shoves Clark. But his attention is immediately focused on the road and the sky.
CLARK: Don't worry, Pete. We won't be there that long. And besides, you know I have your back if anything happens.
PETE: And you know I'm going to hold you to that, right?
INT. THE TALON – DAY
LANA is standing in front of the counter, cleaning it off with a towel. The Talon is completely empty because of the storm. Thunder CRACKS. She jumps a little. Putting down the towel, she walks over to the window and looks out. She goes to one of the tables and sits down. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a crumbled, pink piece of paper. She holds on to it tightly. The door opens. She smiles.
LANA: Clark! That was fast.
She stands and quickly turns around. Her smile fades.
LANA (cont'd): Oh, Chloe…it's you.
She stuffs the paper into her back pocket before CHLOE notices.
CHLOE: Sorry to disappoint you, Lana.
She walks past Lana to the counter, setting her bag on it.
LANA: Um...no. You didn't disappoint me. I…I was just…what are you doing here?
CHLOE: I left something extremely important here the other night and I was wondering if you might have seen it.
Lana anxiously begins to rub her back pocket. She's looking as if she wishes Chloe wasn't there.
LANA: Uh...what was it? We can look for it together.
CHLOE: No! I see it.
Chloe rushes over to a table and grabs a folder.
CHLOE (cont'd): Thank God. Without this there wouldn't have been a new issue of the Torch tomorrow morning.
Lana watches Chloe nervously.
CHLOE (cont'd): (awkwardly) Well, I guess I'd better get going.
Chloe goes back to the counter, grabs her bag, and begins to walk towards the door.
LANA: Chloe. Wait!
Chloe looks back.
CHLOE: What is it?
LANA: Well, it's just that…the storm is getting worse. Why not just stay here until it dies down a little?
Lightening races across the sky. Chloe turns and looks out at the heavy rain coming down.
CHLOE: You're right. The storm is getting pretty bad. I'd hate to be the one to get stranded out there in that mess.
Lana throws Chloe a quick glance, then concentrates on what's happening outside. She looks worried.
LANA: (softly)Yeah.
INT. PETE'S CAR – DAY
The storm is worsening. Pete and Clark are out on the road surrounded by only fields. Pete is driving a little faster in order to reach the Talon. Suddenly, a BOLT OF LIGHTING SHOOTS FROM THE SKY, STRIKING the hood of Pete's car. It quickly catches on fire. Pete SCREAMS and SWERVES off of the road. They both jump out. Pete begins to run away from the car, but Clark just falls to the ground.
Green kryptonite lies a few feet away from him. It is half buried in the dirt about a foot away from Clark.
PETE: Clark, what's wrong?
CLARK: (gasping) The kryptonite. Get it away from me.
Pete looks around and eyes pieces of RED KRYPTONITE lying on the ground a few feet from Clark. As he runs to move them, his car EXPLODES, sending him flying backwards. The flames engulf Clark, along with the red and green kryptonite. Inside of the explosion, shards of both the red and the green kryptonite enters Clark's body.
A moment later Pete gets up and sees CLARK (GOOD) walking from the flames. Although his clothes are burnt, they are still intact.
CLARK: Pete? Are you okay?
PETE: I'm fine.(beat) Are you?
Clark nods. Pete looks at his car in disbelief.
PETE (cont'd): You think you can get us out of here?
CLARK: In a flash!
Clark grabs Pete and runs with SUPER SPEED down the road.
The flames begin to settle down. Another CLARK (BAD) get up and looks around. He is in the same condition as the first Clark. His clothes are burnt, but intact.
He is smirks as red FLASHES in his eyes.
END OF PROLOGUE