Sitting behind Lena Luthor's desk at L-Corp, CFO Samantha Arias is on a phone call to her young daughter as she tries to sort through a minor business complication on her computer.
"Listen, Ruby, I don't know how many more times I have to tell you… we're not playing with knives!"
Several alerts are popping up on her screen. She types away and realizes she is going to need a legal document signed by her boss to continue.
"Honey, hold on a sec…"
Sam calls Lena on her phone but it goes directly to voicemail. She talks out loud.
"That's odd, Lena always answers because she knows I only call when it's important."
Still on the other line, Ruby overhears Sam and sighs.
"You know it's Sunday, mom, maybe she's sleeping?"
"Lena never sleeps."
"Just like you?"
"Exactly."
"Maybe she's out on a date having fun?"
Sam scoffs as she texts Lena with an urgent request to contact her immediately. No reply.
"Lena doesn't date, sweetie, she's too busy."
"Just like you?"
"Okay, you now have my permission to play with knives… kidding… sort of."
Sam summons her assistant to her office.
"Do you know where Ms. Luthor is?"
"One moment, Ms. Arias, let me check…"
The assistant scrolls through her tablet. Sam stands up and begins to pace.
"I need her legal signature before I can continue and this needs to happen before the Hang Seng opens."
"Of course, Ms. Arias… hmm, the last thing on Ms. Luthor's calendar was a brunch appointment with Ms. Danvers but that was earlier today."
"Heh, I should have known."
"Would you like me to call the restaurant and find out more information?"
"That's okay, thanks, I'll figure out where she is."
The assistant leaves and Sam flops back down in her chair.
"Brunch with Kara again, Lena, how many times is it now?"
Sam continues to forget that Ruby is on the other line.
"See, mom, she is on a fun date!"
"Oh, honey, no, she's just… she's, you know, having a cool aunts club meeting."
"With only one other aunt?"
Sam smirks at how perceptive her daughter is and fails to answer. At the same time, she hacks into the GPS in Lena's phone to find her location.
"Gotcha!"
"Mom…"
"Sorry, Ruby, I've go to go."
"When are you coming home?"
"Soon, I need Lena's approval on something and then I'll be on my way, promise."
"Tell her 'hi' for me… and Kara, too, she's super!"
Sam clicks off her phone and ponders for a moment.
"Yes, everyone seems to love Kara Danvers, except for me, there's something about her I… hate."
Inside Lena's penthouse apartment, her phone is dropped on the floor. Dr. Singh's concerned voice can be heard.
"Ms. Luthor… hello, Ms. Luthor, are you still there… Ms. Luthor?"
A drawer is opened and closed, followed by the sound of a single gunshot hitting its target. The phone is blown to bits. The drawer is opened and closed again. U2's Red Light begins to blare on the sound system.
I talk to you
You walk away
You're still on the down beat
You say you don't want my help
But you can't escape
If your running from yourself
I give you my love
I give you my love
Give you my love
Still you walk away
In her gray silk robe, a distraught Lena plods around her apartment until she reaches the countertop bar. She grabs the premium bottle of scotch that Cat Grant gave her for her birthday and sneers as she remembers her conversation from earlier.
"At least you were truthful about this, Kara!"
It's your own late show
As you jump to the street below
But where can you go
To leave yourself behind
Alone in the spotlight
Of this, your own tragedy
I give you my love, love, love
Love, love, love, love, love, love
Lena gulps from the bottle as she heads over to her walk-in closet. Inside, she finds a bag of golf clubs shoved way in a corner behind old coats and scarves.
"Well, mother, you thought you won today, but, after all of these years trying to get me to play golf because, 'that is what successful executives do,' no matter how much I hated it, I have finally found a use for these, and, I swear, I will ultimately get the last laugh on you!"
Lena pulls out a wedge and goes to town on anything and everything breakable in her apartment. Lamps, windows, walls. Plants, furniture, artwork. Nothing is spared.
In the heart in the heart
In the heart of the city
Heart in the heart in
The heart of the city
Oh, love
I pour my love out for you
And I'll bring you through
See your not alone
She spots a framed picture of her and Supergirl, arm in arm, at the National City 4th of July celebration, tees it up on the floor, and smashes into the next room.
I give you my love, give you my love
Give you my love, give you my love
Give you my love, give you my love
Give you my love, give you my love
Give you my love, love, love
Love, love, love, love, love
Sweating and sobbing, Lena tosses aside the club and collapses to the floor.
"LIARS… WHY… AM… I… ALWAYS… BETRAYED… BY…WOMEN… WHO… SUPPOSEDLY… LOVE… ME?"
She hears a knock at the door and panics.
"Oh, no, what if it's Kara?"
The knock is now louder and persistent.
"Lena, it's Sam, open the door!"
Lena breathes a sigh of relief, wipes her face, and heads for the door. Once again, she forgets about the ramifications of her tantrum.
"OW, DAMMIT, I should have learned from earlier not to break things without wearing boots."
She hops over to the door and opens it a crack.
"Sam, what are you doing here?"
The concerned CFO checks out her friend and then tries to peek inside.
"I need your legal signature for the property proposal… is everything all right?"
"Um, yes, fine."
Lena shoves her hand out the door to sign the document. Sam is even more worried now.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"I… I know you are probably in a rush to get home to Ruby, so, all signed, anything else?"
Sam glowers at her boss with suspicion.
"Do you have someone inside with you?"
"Oh, please, you know me better than that."
"I do… that's why I'm coming in!"
A determined Sam pushes past Lena and strides into the room. She is frozen by the destruction around her.
"OH… WHAT… THE… LENA?"
"As you can, see, it's a little messy."
Sam now panics and pulls the CEO into a hug.
"Were you attacked, are you hurt, are they still here?"
"I'm fine, Sam, honestly, no one is here… just playing a little golf."
"With your art collection?"
Lena sighs and shrugs.
"I might be a little miffed at my mother at the moment."
Sam shakes her head as she walks around the room and kicks a broken lamp to the side.
"What did Lillian do now?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Well, as far as I can tell, there is nothing left for you to smash."
"Except for Kara."
Lena realizes she spoke out loud as Sam whips around and stares at her.
"What did Kara do?"
"She ruined our brunch!"
The CFO is perplexed as the CEO studies her face.
"Sam… why that look when I mentioned Kara's name?"
A guilty Sam averts her eyes.
"Oh, you know, she sure is taking up a lot of your time… and attention."
Lena can't help but smile to herself as she recognizes a tinge of jealously in Sam's eyes.
"She was a good friend."
"Was?"
"Again, I don't want to get into a long conversation about Kara or my mother right now but, I promise, I will tell you everything when the time is right."
"Look, Lena, to be honest, I don't care if you're with a woman, a man, or an alien…"
Lena laughs out loud. She quickly covers her mouth and urges Sam to continue. The CFO takes a step toward the CEO and places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I just want you to be happy."
Lena folds Sam into a grateful embrace and tries not to cry.
"I'm not sure if that's even possible."
The dark-eyed woman pulls back and makes sure that green eyes meet hers.
"It is, I know so."
There is an awkward silence as both women tear up but they quickly regain their professional posture and take a step back. Sam looks to the kitchen.
"Where do you keep your broom?"
"Thank you, Sam, but I am entirely capable of cleaning up my own mess."
"I know that you are but it will go a lot quicker if I help."
"Actually, there is a better way you can help and get home to Ruby sooner."
"I'm all ears."
"I need your special expertise when it comes to computers, I only trust you to do this for me."
"Name it."
"There are three vital deliveries on their way to my apartment as we speak, I want them tracked to make sure nothing interferes with their arrival and they need be here ASAP."
"Consider it done, next?"
"I want you to locate my evil witch of a mother and find out exactly where she is hiding."
"Then what?"
"I'll take care of it."
"And, what about Kara?"
"I'll handle her in my own way."
"Anything else?"
"Go home to your daughter… thank you, Ms. Arias."
"Anything you need, Ms. Luthor, anytime."
Sam smiles warmly at Lena and then hurries out of her apartment. Once outside, she dials her daughter.
"Ruby, go over to Zoe's to play for a little bit, I'm bringing home some take-out but I need to make one more stop along the way."
Back inside her place, Lena attempts to clean up but stops when she see the bottle of scotch from Cat. The CEO reflects for a moment and then, with her phone literally shot, she decides to call Ms. Grant on the one electronic device she did not break.
"Hello, Cat, it's Lena…"
"Ms. Luthor, what an unexpected surprise, my company better not be burning down."
"No, everything is fine with CatCo."
"But, apparently not your face."
"I have a personal matter to discuss with you."
"Ooh, my favorite kind, go ahead and dish!"
"It's about Kara…"
"I see, is Ms. Danvers performing up to your expectations?"
"This has nothing to to do with her work."
"Like I said, is she performing up to your expectations?"
"I really do not wish to joke about this, Ms. Grant."
Cat recognizes the look in Lena's eyes and smiles.
"Ahhh… you finally figured out she's the Girl of Steel, congratulations!"
"So, you know about her, as well?"
"Hashtag Who Doesn't?"
"Unbelievable."
"It took you long enough, Lena, I was starting to think you were slow."
"Upon reflection, deep down, I knew all along… but, I must have been in denial."
"More like that person who ignores the rather large leak in the roof because they don't want to deal with it until the whole thing comes crashing down around them."
"Hmm."
"I assume Kara crashed all over you?"
"And, I am thoroughly wet."
"I don't need the details… until I am back from the president's overseas trip and I can curl up with a big bowl of popcorn."
"Kara being Supergirl is only part of the reason I called you."
"Spit it out, chop-chop!"
"She's under the influence of Red K again."
"Oh, dear, I thought Max Lord was still hiding out in his lizard pit."
"Max didn't give it to her… my mother did."
"Well, I'd like to say I am surprised by that, but, knowing Lillian, I am not."
"I shouldn't be, either."
"But, you are."
"I'm wondering if this woman will ever reach rock bottom, yet she somehow finds a new low, especially when it comes to me."
"Mm, yes, powerful women and our awful mothers, we need to start our own club… so, how bad is Kara?"
"It's not like the last time when I saw her on the news, it's almost imperceptible, unless you know her well."
"And, you do."
"Even more so after tonight, if… well, if I give in to her."
"So, I take it you are not being tossed off of a building?"
"No."
"Is she shooting lasers at you with her eyes?"
"No."
"Is she a violent threat to you, herself, others, or National City in any way?"
"No."
"May I ask what happened, exactly?"
"She made brunch highly uncomfortable."
"Did she fill her plate one or fourteen times too many?"
"She always does that."
"The girl can eat."
"She performed lewd acts on my crêpe."
"Excuse me, did I hear you correctly?"
"Yes, you did and now she wants to eat me… and almost did so right there in the restaurant."
"And, you are not attracted to her in that way?"
"Oh, no, I am, very much so!"
"Then, I fail to see your dilemma."
"I can't take advantage of her impairment."
"Aww, how very noble of you, Lena… now, let me tell you a little something about Red K and Kara."
"Please do, that's why I reached out."
"My experience is that Kara needs it as a sort of liquid courage to lose her inhibitions, lower her sentimental filters, and deliver the raw truth about you in a way that bashes your face into a mirror until you bleed… without the actual bleeding part."
"O… kay."
"It's ugly but she becomes honesty amplified."
"I picked up on that."
"What horrible fact did you have to deal with besides being desired by her?"
"That's basically it… although, she did make fun of my clothes."
"Ms. Luthor, I made fun of your uninspired attire in an op-ed piece last year, this is nothing new."
"Yes, I recall that."
"So, what you're telling me is that Kara's only infraction, so far, is serving up her oysters on the half shell to you with a side of Red K sauce?"
"That is an apt description."
"Two choices: grab your bib and start gobbling or get on your high horse and ride that instead of her face."
"Heh, I miss you, Cat."
"Everyone does… listen, I applaud your decision not to be a predator and take advantage of Kara in this state."
"Yet, she betrayed me about being Supergirl and there is a part of me that wants to betray her right back."
"I'm guessing that part of you is located in your lower half?"
"Precisely."
"One more thing for you to consider… when you were trapped on that dreary Daxamite vessel with rancid Rhea and her oafish offspring, Supergirl-slash-Kara was wrestling with a very difficult decision and she told me that the two people she loved were on that ship and I know you know how to do the math."
"I love her as much as she loves me."
"Then, act on it, with or without the Red K, life is too short, Ms. Luthor."
"Thank you, Ms. Grant."
"I hope I was of help."
"Always."
"Enjoy yourself."
"I plan on it."
"I'm disconnecting now."
"Goodbye, Cat, oh, one more thing before you go…"
"Yes?"
"Please don't be cheap like my mother, buy your own damn gifts with your own money!"
Lena clicks off the screen. She checks the time and realizes she has a few hours left to finish cleaning and to decide what to do about Kara.
Meanwhile, with her hair down and her glasses gone, Kara struts out of a boutique wearing a strapless red cocktail dress and matching stilettos. She is carrying multiple shopping bags and proudly checks herself out in the store window.
"You're welcome, Earth!"
She hears a buzzing in her ear and sighs.
"What do you want, J'onn?"
"I am making sure you are not a threat to anyone while you're still experiencing the effects of Red K."
"The only victim, so far, is my wallet."
"I thought you were paying bills?"
"Yeah, I thought about that and decided not to."
"That's not very responsible, Kara."
"Pfffttt, we never had bills on Krypton, they're stupid."
"You're not on Krypton anymore."
"Sadly, I am well aware of that, and my sister is the one that is always nagging, 'Kara we need electricity to watch TV and keep the beer cold, Kara we need water to flush the toilet, wah, wah, wah, big baby!'"
"Are you on your way to Ms. Luthor's?"
"Not yet, I need to eat first and load up on calories for tonight."
"You know, I have sensed a bond between you two since the moment you met."
"If we bit our bottom lips any harder, we would have chewed them right off… and you might want to dim your antennae later because it's about to get Adults Only between us."
"Things will definitely change between you afterwards."
"That's fine by me, unlike James, I have always adored Lena and trust her with my life."
"What about her being your employer?"
"Lena is poor boring Kara's boss, not Supergirl's… as Kryptonians, Clark and I are Lord & Master to these feeble humans and the lovely Ms. Luthor will be on her knees worshiping at my temple very soon."
"What about Clark?"
"Just because we're family doesn't make us friends... and I have more than enough of those."
"Sounds like you are determined to move forward with Ms. Luthor."
"Yep, and I am here at the sandwich shop, thanks again for the the talk, Space Dad, but I'm tuning you out now, whatever the Martian word is for byeee."
Kara enters the restaurant and cuts in line at the counter in front of a hefty bearded dude. He reacts accordingly.
"Hey, bitch, what makes you think you can go ahead of me?"
"I am exceptionally beautiful, therefore, I can."
"Fuck you!"
"You wish, besides, why don't you do yourself a huge favor and go for a long jog around the block instead of stuffing your face with another footlong?"
As the man starts to go for her, Kara's eyes glow a menacing red. Scared shitless, he halts and hightails it out of the restaurant.
"Glad to see someone is finally taking my advice."
Kara places her order, pays with Alex's credit card, and stands to the side. She absentmindedly sings along with the song playing over the sound system. It's Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down.
I watched the world float to the
Dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be something
To do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end
If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
There holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with
My superhuman might
Kryptonite
"Wait a minute, why does my cousin get his own fucking song, so not fair, I need to work on that!"
Kara's order is ready and she goes up to take the bag, still talking to herself.
"I know, after sex tonight, I'll ask Lena… 'honey, instead of buying me a company, could you please commission me a song, or better yet, a Broadway musical?'"
As Kara turns to leave, she notices an elderly woman smiling and waving at her.
"Excuse me, miss, I wanted to tell you what a magnificent voice you have!"
"Did I ask for your opinion, lucky to be above ground?"
As Kara heads for the door, she runs right into Sam.
"So, that's your thing, Ms. Danvers, being mean to an old lady while wearing the latest in hooker chic?"
"Ah, Ms. Arias, stalking the coolest of the cool aunts… can't say I blame you."
"I want to know what you did to Lena?"
"Nothing yet, but ask me again tomorrow and I will give you a play-by-play."
Kara attempts to walk away but Sam stops her.
"Explain to me why she is trashing her apartment with a golf club?"
"Hmm, interesting form of foreplay but I can hang with it."
"There is something off about you, Kara."
"I could say the same thing about you, Sam, as long as I have known Lena, she has complained about not having any real friends and then you show up out of the blue… where did you come from, central casting?"
Not intimidated, Sam steps closer to Kara.
"I knew there was something I didn't like about you."
"Oh, please enlighten me because everyone loves everything about me, including Lena."
"You might want to hold off on that opinion for a bit…"
Sam gets right in Kara's face.
"And, what I don't like about you… is you."
Kara smiles a sinister smile and then shrugs.
"Funny, you seem more concerned about Lena… than your own daughter."
Sam snarls and goes nose to nose with Kara.
"Don't you dare breathe my daughter's name!"
Kara takes a deep breath and blows it out in Sam's face.
"I would point to Ruby for dramatic purposes but, surprise, she's not with you."
Before Sam can react, Kara shoves the bag of food into her arms and knocks her down.
"Here, go home and feed your kid, I've suddenly lost my appetite, and it takes a lot for that to happen!"
"I'm not done with you, Danvers!"
"Yet, I'm done with you, Arias, adios!"
As Kara swaggers down the sidewalk, Sam gets up and calls on her phone.
"Yes, please reroute Ms. Luthor's special deliveries directly to me… I'll be giving them to her in person."