We've all seen Perry multiple times so I only used some parts in my story. If it sucks I'm sorry, but I couldn't let this story sit idle any longer.
Lex's office
Lex walked around his study, looking at the various art pieces.
"My father went for historical accuracy when he had the mansion reconstructed, but I was thinking of taking some liberties with the decor. Move away from the artifacts and the period pieces and come up with something more modern... even abstract. Any thoughts, Doctor Foster?"
"Only that I hope today's session will be more productive."
"Mmm. I believe the psychological term for, uh, refusing to accept the inevitable is denial. And no amount of probing can uncover emotional issues that don't exist."
"Now who's in denial?"
"Trust me, I have nothing to hide."
"Then tell me about the island. The fisherman who found you said you were raving about some imaginary enemy."
"I was ill, suffering from malaria."
"I saw your blood work, Lex. There was no trace of disease. But even some fictitious illness would not explain your reluctance to discuss your conflicted feelings towards your father. Until we understand that—"
"I have a hightened immune system. What I understand, Doctor, is that LuthorCorp's insurance carrier insisted that I submit to five psychiatric therapy sessions. I've submitted. And, sadly, our final hour is up. I'll miss our sessions."
Claire just left with a defeated sigh.
The Talon
"Two meteor craters, that's it. You don't want to see anything else?" Clark asked Perry as they walked in.
"Well, blown-out buildings and sinkholes are background, Clark. Now I'm looking for substance, texture. The human dimension."
Lana walked out of the backroom. "Clark, is everything all right? Pete waited for you until after ten o'clock last night."
"Nope everything's great, just helping Mr. White here around town."
"Hi. Perry White. I'd like a triple cappuccino and a couple of those glazed crullers, and an interview with Smallville's very own cover girl." Perry said as he slapped the Time magazine with Lana's picture on the cover on the counter.
Lana looked confused and mad at the same time.
"What are you doing?" Clark asked.
"It's called getting the story. Nothing fancy, Miss Lang, just a simple Q & A. You know, uh, how is little Miss Meteor coping 14 years after the big bang?"
"Maybe this is a joke to you, but my parents died that day." Lana said near tears.
"And I'm sorry, but that makes you newsworthy." With no sincerity in his voice.
"That's it, you're leaving." Clark said grabbing Perry's arm.
"WhaYou know, either she talks to me now or she faces the cameras in the morning."
"Clark, I can't believe you're with this guy!"
"Lana…" Clark tried to explain.
"Maybe you should both leave." With that Lana walked away.
"You didn't tell me Lana was part of your agenda." Clark said angrily.
"And you didn't tell me you knew her. Hey, I'm sorry if I hurt your girlfriend's feelings, but she's a legitimate source."
"No, she's not anymore."
"It doesn't work that way, Clark. I still have to find faces to put on camera."
Paris walked into the Talon and saw Clark and Perry. "Hey Clark what's up?" Glaring at Perry.
"Um nothing." Clark said nervously.
"Well I didn't know you joined the pointy aluminum hat brigade."
"Oh no I'm just taking Mr. White here around, he's doing a piece on Smallville for his show and he needs a tour guide of sorts."
"I'm familiar with the concept. Lots of middle aged guys with beer guts and a telescope screaming that they saw a UFO, it makes Jerry Springer look like masterpiece theater. Oh how the mighty have fallen." Paris said with a satisfied smile.
"My, my Stratford how did you end up here? Another billionaire banish his bad seed to corn country?"
"No not at all."
"You don't actually expect me to believe that you came here willingly." Perry said with disbelief.
"I even packed my own bags."
"What has your father had you banned from New York, or are they just as sick of you as everyone else?"
"What do you want from these people?"
"I'm just getting the story I so richly deserve."
"I thought you got what you deserved 7 years ago when you fucked with Lex."
"No Stratford that was just a bump on the highway of life. If things here go as well as planned you will be begging me to interview you."
"I hardly think that even on my worst day I would lower myself to your standards of journalism."
"You know Paris for a girl who used to revel in winding up in the cover of the Star and page six of the New York Daily Herald you've gotten mighty cocky. I do still have your Time magazine cover and many other things you may be interested in, along with a certain mutual acquaintance of ours."
"Leave Lex out of whatever scheme you're concocting."
"You don't intimidate me."
"Then you are a very stupid man. Get your 'evidence' by tonight and get the hell out of this town and away from these people."
"When are you rich kids going to learn that money doesn't get you everything you want?"
"When someone shows me the solid proof."
"I will get my interview with you one way or another."
"If you think you're going to Barbara Walters me on national television and get me to spill the deepest darkest of secrets about myself and my family then you are sorely mistaken. Because there are none."
"That's what you think."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see, all in due time."
"Keep and eye on him Clark."
Act 1 Scene 5
Lex was sitting in his study with his eyes closed. The sound of waves in the ocean came out of the stereo. Lana put a hand on his shoulder and he grabbed it.
"Lex... I'm sorry. I'm interrupting."
"No, no. It's strange."
"When I was on the island I came to hate the roar of the ocean. Since coming back I find it's the only thing that relaxes me."
"You must think about what happened every day."
"And I'm sure you didn't come all this way to discuss that. (Lana doesn't reply.) What did you want to see me about?"
"This tabloid television reporter came by the Talon today, and he wanted to do an interview with me about the meteor shower."
"I suspect "no comment" didn't dissuade him?"
"Not really. He said he was gonna come back tomorrow, this time with a camera crew."
"And you don't want that."
"I've spent the last 14 years trying to put that day behind me, and in an instant he brought it all back. I know it's a lot to ask, but I was hoping that you might be able to do something."
"I'm surprised you didn't go to Clark with this."
"Clark's with him."
"So you want me to run him out of town?"
"I want him to stop."
"He must've been very persistent. What was his name?"
"Perry White."
"I'll make sure he never bothers you again."
After finding Perry drinking himself into a new liver at the Wild Coyote Lex deided ti was time for him to leave town.
"You know, this "get out of dodge" routine is pretty heavy-handed, even for a Luthor. Not that I'm surprised, your girlfriend tried to pull the same thing earlier today."
"When did you talk to Paris?"
"This afternoon, I ran into her in that little coffee shop. Don't you realize that I have a Constitutional right and it's entirely inappropriate for two of the most notorious of the spoiled and out of control to try and break it."
"So is ambushing a teenage girl for a sound bite. Of course, using people always came easy to you."
"You know, our one and only encounter was years ago."
"Even in boarding school, I was good at sniffing out reporters, but you played the "just a friendly conversation" card remarkably well. As I recall it was a full 10 minutes before I told you to go to hell."
"I was just doing my job, and you were a legitimate source."
"I was 16 and you were scrounging for dirt on my father."
"That's what this is really about, isn't it? Your father's secrets."
"If you really had anything on him, it would have come out then."
"If you actually believe that, I almost feel sorry for you."
"Just make sure you're on the four o'clock bus." Lex dropped Perry's bags on the ground and sped away.
"Well, so much for not drinking before five." Perry decided to not make his bus and g for a little walk, to Paris' house.
Perry walked up to Paris's door and Leaves something between the screen door and the front door. Then after ingesting more of his flask he decided to go pay his old friend Lex one last visit.
More of Lex's problems
Lex burst through the doors of his study where Claire was waiting for him.
"What the hell are you trying to do?" Lex yelled angrily.
"Lex, calm down."
"Why? You've already made up your mind about my so-called mental state." He picked up his file. "According to this you're refusing to sign off on my psychological release. In fact, you're recommending even more sessions to be continued on an indefinite basis?"
"I have an ethical obligation to report my conclusions honestly."
"Or maybe the nothing shrink from Metropolis wanted a little more face time with her celebrity patient. You must be loving this."
"I took no pleasure in my recommendation."
"Then how do you explain it?"
"I think you need help, Lex. Between the island, your failed marriage, and everything that's happened since you came to Smallville, you have experienced incredible emotional and physical trauma."
"And your prescription's more time on the couch? We just spent five sessions exploring my psyche."
"No, we spent five sessions discussing your art collection, your fascination with expensive cars, ancient swords, fossils, everything except the most traumatic moments of your life."
Lex walked over to the window staring out it.
"Lex, if you don't let your demons out, they could consume you."
"We've been over this, Doctor."
"We haven't even scratched the surface. This control freak thing might fool your father, but did you really think you could snow me? Lex, please…"
"Get out. Get out!" Claire stormed out of the study, leaving Lex unsettled.
Minutes later Perry entered the study where Lex was sitting at his desk. With a mask of composure on his face.
"When they told me you were at the gate, I could hardly believe it."
"Yeah, you and me both. I just thought we should talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Oh. Sorry to hear that. Now, I guess you'll never find out what I have on your father."
"If it's personal, I don't care. If it's legal, the statute of limitations must've passed long ago."
"That depends."
"If this information is so damning, why did my father stop at simply destroying your career?"
"Multiple copies, plus multiple attorneys all with, in the event of my death, instructions to disseminatewell, you do the math. It's all yours. I just want one thing in return."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Everything you know about Clark Kent."
"Clark?"
"Yeah. Two years ago, you drove your Porsche off a bridge. I went over the police photos, Lex. There's no way you could have walked away from that crash without the miracle that is Clark Kent. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that you'd actually cultivated a friendship with this kid."
"So now you're going after Clark. This is a new low, even for you."
"The Lex I knew wouldn't shake your hand without an ulterior motive. You must have something. Give it to me, and I'll deliver you a story that'll bring new meaning to the phrase "sins of the father.""
Suddenly, Lex grabbed Perry by the jacket and pushed him roughly against the wall. "You may have been able to neutralize my father, but not me!"
"Looks like the jungle living really took a toll…"
"I'm warning you. Stay away from me, and stay away from my friends. Trust me, there won't be any blood on my hands when they find what's left of you. And tell the rest of your worthless reporter friends to stay the hell away from the Kents and Smallville all together."
Lex was panting angrily. He slowly let Perry go and backed away. Perry straightened his jacket and left the room. Lex lifted up his hand and saw that it was shaking.
Paris walked in after Perry left and saw Lex. "Lex?"
No response.
"Lex?" She walked up to him cautiously. Sees him staring at his shaking hand she reached out gently and held it. "Lex what's wrong?" She put her other hand on his cheek and he finally looked at her.
"I don't know." He answered hoarsely.
"Okay. Let's go sit down."
"No."
"No?"
"I...I might hurt you."
"Lex you won't hurt me. Lana told me about what happened before, when she came in here. Lex I think you have some un-resolved issues to work."
"Stop trying to control things!" Getting angry he grabbed her arms and slamed Paris against the wall. "I'm not crazy!"
With pain in her back her back and head from being slammed into the wall and arms where Lex was gripping her she stared at him in fear and shock.
"This is your fault!"
"Lex what's going on? Lex you're hurting me!" She tried to squirm out of his grip but he just held her tighter.
"If you had told me the truth instead of lying to me I wouldn't have spent three months alone, on an island going insane! This is your fault Paris!"
"Lex I'm sorry. I was scared, you know I'd never let anyone hurt you!"
"Well you did. You lied to me and you hurt me and no one does either of those and doesn't pay!"
"Dammit Lex let me go!"
Lex snapped out of his haze. "Oh my god. Paris I'm sorry." He let her go and backed away slowly. "I..I couldn't stop."
"Lex you need help."
"Please don't leave me."
She just stares at him and stayed braced against the wall.
The next day
Paris didn't park her car in the garage she just left it in the driveway and jogged up the front steps to the door. When she opened the screen a large manila envelope with a white letter envelope attached to it fell out. "I see Albert never got the mail today." She picked it up as she walked inside. "C'mon Cicero you probably need to go outside." She called to the dog and let him into the backyard. After taking a shower and pouring herself a drink Paris walked into her office and studied the envelope, turning it over in her hands and shaking it a few times, then sat down. "Well I guess there's only one way to find out what's inside." She took the letter envelope and opened it first. She pulled out a handwritten note that said:
'Princess.
I know your boyfriend has no interest in this but I think you might. A good reporter doesn't lie.
Perry.'
"Great. What does the illustrious Mr. White have for me now?" She put the letter down and opened the manila envelope. Inside she saw pictures of her mother and Lionel, alone, the date stamps reading 1993, the pictures showed them laughing and talking and having dinner, a few even have them kissing and walking into the building where the Luthor's penthouse is. A few audio tapes were in the envelope as well. "No." She covered her mouth in shock and horror.
The Mansion
"I'm sure you understand the need for confidentiality. I would be revealing things that are deeply personal, even hurtful." Lex said to Dr. Foster as he sat down behind his desk.
"That's the point of therapy, Lex. To regain control, let the bad feelings go, and start recovering from the traumas of the past."
"Then tomorrow, 10 AM?"
They both stood and Lex shook Claire's hand. Then Claire left.
