PART ONE
INT. THE KENT'S KITCHEN – DAY
Some time has passed since the explosion. Good Clark and JONATHAN are sitting at the kitchen table. They are discussing the explosion that took place. Jonathan seems worried, but Good Clark seems carefree about the situation.
GOOD CLARK: And after Pete and I got out of the car, it just exploded.
JONATHAN: You're positive you're okay?
GOOD CLARK: Yeah, dad, I'm fine.
JONATHAN: And Pete?
GOOD CLARK: He told me that he was fine. And he seemed okay after I'd gotten him home. Anyway, dad, what's the big deal? I've been in explosions before.
Jonathan gets up from the table and walks over to the entrance to the living room.
JONATHAN: I just worry about you, son. That's all!
GOOD CLARK: Something strange did happen though.
MARTHA (O.S.): What was that?
Both Good Clark and Jonathan turn to see MARTHA walking through the kitchen door. She is carrying two bags of groceries. Good Clark immediately runs to her side, grabbing both bags.
GOOD CLARK: Mom, you know you shouldn't be lifting anything heavy.
MARTHA: Clark, I don't consider grocery bags to be heavy. Since the storm passed, I wanted to go to the market and get a few things. We still have to eat.
JONATHAN: So, Clark...what happened?
GOOD CLARK: Well, when we got out of the car, there was green kryptonite. It made me weak. Pete tried to get it, but...
JONATHAN: But what, son?
GOOD CLARK: Well, when the car blew up, some pieces of the kryptonite went inside my body.
Good Clark lifts up his shirt. Shards of green kryptonite are embedded in his chest. Martha looks at Jonathan with a worried expression on her face. Martha sits down at the table. Good Clark puts his shirt down and looks at both of his parents with great concern.
MARTHA: (to Jonathan) What does this mean?
Jonathan looks from Good Clark to Martha, then walks over and gives her a small hug.
JONATHAN: I'm not sure. I don't see how green kryptonite entered his body and he's not weak at all.
GOOD CLARK: Like I said, dad. I feel fine. I still have my powers. I can't explain it.
MARTHA: (to Good Clark) Could this mean that your body is getting immune to the green kryptonite?
GOOD CLARK: I don't know, mom.
JONATHAN: I'm sure it means nothing. Clark says he's feeling good, and there seems to be nothing wrong with him. So I'm sure everything's fine.
He walks over to Good Clark and puts a hand on his shoulder.
JONATHAN (cont'd): But, son, be careful. Until we know what's going on maybe you shouldn't use your powers at all. I don't know what might happen.
GOOD CLARK: Okay, dad. After I go see what Lana wants, I'll stick around the house for a while.
MARTHA: Just hurry back. There are some chores that need to get done.
GOOD CLARK: All right, mom! It shouldn't take -
They all HEAR SOMETHING FALL from up above. Both Jonathan and Martha look over at GOOD CLARK, then the three of them head for the stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. CLARK'S ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
They enter Clark's room and look around. They all stand there in shock as they realize that they are the only ones in the room.
CUT TO:
EXT. IN FRONT OF KENT'S HOME – CONTINUOUS
We see Bad Clark walking away from the house. He has on some fresh clothing. When he reaches a certain point, he stops walking and RUNS AWAY WITH SUPER SPEED.
INT. LEX'S OFFICE – DAY
We see Lex walking into his office. He is surprised to see DR. HELEN BRYCE sitting in one of his chairs.
LEX: Good afternoon. Glad to see you let yourself in.
Lex smiles and walks over to his desk and sits down.
LEX (cont'd): I have to say, I'm surprised to see you here. Can I get you something to drink?
HELEN: Iced tea would be fine, if you have it.
Lex motions for Helen to follow him. They walk into the corridor.
CUT TO:
INT. THE LUTHOR KITCHEN – MOMENTS LATER
He opens the refrigerator and pulls out a pitcher of iced tea. He gets a glass and POURS her some, handing it to her. She sips the iced tea.
HELEN: I appreciate the offer, Lex.
Helen opens her purse and pulls out the box with the ribbon on it that Lex had presented her with a few days before.
HELEN (cont'd): But doing research is what my life's ambition is all about. If this had been a ring, I might have stayed, but...
She sits the box on the glass table.
LEX: (cool) I've been in a bad marriage before, Helen. I didn't want a repeat of that. Asking you to stay with me doesn't mean you can't continue your research. It just means you can do it closer to home.
HELEN: (forcing a smile) I don't need you to fund my research, Lex
LEX: That much is obvious. I never said you did. But I can offer you as much prestige as any research school. And not risk the chance of losing you for three years.
He moves closer to her, looking at her until their eyes meet. She is still wearing her smile.
LEX: (cont'd) (sincere) I've lost too many people I've cared about in my life. I don't intend to lose you.
His thumb runs over her chin, and across her lips, effectively wiping the smile away as she reflexively kisses the trailing digit.
LEX (cont'd): Stay with me, Helen. We complement each other.
She backs away from him.
HELEN: Lex, I really need to think about this. I'll give you a call later on.
She walks out of the kitchen, leaving the box sitting on the table. Lex looks upset.
INT. THE TALON – DAY
Chloe is looking out of the window and Lana is in the back of the Talon. Lana walks out.
CHLOE: Well, looks like the storm is finally over. I'd better get going. Looks like its gonna be another all-nighter at the Torch tonight.
LANA: You have a lot to do, huh?
Chloe nods. She notices Lana gazing past her and turns around. Bad Clark walks in. He is smiling brightly.
BAD CLARK: Hey, girls.
LANA: Clark, you made it.
BAD CLARK:(nonchalantly)Yeah, so what's the big news, Lana?
He looks Lana squarely in her eyes.
LANA: Well...I...I wanted to tell you…I mean give you something.
Lana glances over at Chloe.
LANA (cont'd): Could you excuse us please? I'm sorry but...
Chloe nods, revealing that she gets the hint.
CHLOE: No...no!
She fakes a smile, but it's obvious that she's uncomfortable. She walks towards the door.
CHLOE (cont'd): I'm going. I have tons of work to do anyway. Talk to you both later.
She walks out of the Talon.
LANA: I'm sorry I called you while it was storming. But I needed to talk to you. Would you like some coffee or something?
She begins to walk towards the back of the counter. Bad Clark grabs her.
BAD CLARK: It isn't coffee I'm yearning for.
Lana gives him a nervous look. Bad Clark just smiles and kisses her softly on the lips. Lana pulls away.
LANA: Clark, this isn't why I called you here.
BAD CLARK: Lana, don't fight it. We both know what you want.
LANA: (confused) Clark, we can't. What about Chloe?
Bad Clark puts his fingers to her lips.
BAD CLARK: Shh...no more talking.
He begins to kiss her again. This time she doesn't resist.
INT. THE TORCH – DAY
Chloe steps through the door to the Torch office and stops, caught off guard by what she finds. Across the office stands a well-dressed, young MAN, DR. JIACHIN CHANG, carefully examining one of the many articles pinned to the Wall of Weird.
CHLOE: Uh...can I help you?
He turns to face her, smiling warmly.
DR. CHANG: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just admiring your little collection here.
CHLOE: Oh...
Chloe takes a few steps towards him, secretly scanning over the wall to make sure he hasn't disturbed anything.
DR. CHANG: This is a very interesting compilation of works you've amassed.
Confused, and a little uncomfortable, Chloe opts not to reply. Taking the hint, the man extends his hand.
DR. CHANG: Forgive me. I'm Doctor Jiachin Chang. I'm a medical researcher from Wayland Bio-Medical Labs based out of Central City.
They shake hands.
CHLOE: Central City? That's quite a trek from here. What brings you all the way to Smallville?
DR. CHANG: Oh, Smallville tends to be the hot topic of discussion amongst my colleagues nowadays. Well, more precisely...
Dr. Chang motions toward the Wall of Weird.
DR. CHANG (cont'd): Your rather infamous meteorites.
Dr. Chang quickly scans over the mass collection of magazine and newspaper clippings Chloe's collected over the past few years.
DR. CHANG (cont'd): Do you really think there's a connection between the meteor rocks and these...oddities?
CHLOE: Well, I can't prove anything… if that's what you're asking. Hey, how did you find out about me anyway?
DR. CHANG: (laughing) Half of these articles are about students from Smallville High.
CHLOE: Oh, yeah...
DR. CHANG: I wanted a first hand account from someone who isn't influenced by ulterior motives or business prospects, like Lionel Luthor.
CHLOE: Oh, you know of the Luthors?
DR. CHANG: Who doesn't?
CHLOE: (smiling graciously) Well, what do you want to know?
DR. CHANG: Everything!
Dr. Chang smiles warmly and puts his hand on Chloe's shoulder. Almost immediately, TINY BLUE BOLTS SHOOT OUT FROM HIS HAND, SLOWLY CRAWLIING UP HER NECK. Her smile quickly fades to terror and fear as she, helplessly, stares back at Dr. Chang.
CHLOE: (whispering) Stop...
A single tear runs down her face as the TINY BOLTS WRAP THEMSELVES AROUND HER HEAD.
CHLOE (cont'd): (struggled whisper) Please, stop.
Dr. Chang releases her. All expression has been wiped from Chloe's face and the pink in her complexion is now a paper white. Dr. Chang takes her hand and helps her to sit down on the nearby couch.
DR. CHANG: Thank you, my dear. You've been of great help to me.
Chloe's body slumps against the back of the couch as Dr. Chang exits the office.
END OF PART ONE