CHAPTER 8: FAMILY PROBLEMS
INT. - KENT FARM LIVING ROOM - DAY
Arriving home by himself, Clark sees his parents truck gone, but a silver Mercedes in the driveway. Behind the wheel is Lex Luthor; seeing him raises Clark's defenses. "Mr. Luthor...I mean, uh..."
"Lex, please", the young adult replies, smirking. "You can relax, Clark; I'm not my father." "How did you know where I live?" Clark asked. "This is Smallville, kid - population in the thousands. I gave your description to the hospital staff, and some of the shop owners on Main Street. They directed me to Nell's house, and she sent me here." Clark nods, understanding but still uneasy; Lex quickly picks up on this. "I'm sorry, Clark; have I interrupted something?" "Just some family business is all; it can wait I guess. Why did you stop by?" "I was hoping to speak with your father, and explain I don't come from the psycho side of the Luthor line; unfortunately, it seems they're not in." "They probably went back into town; I had a date but it got shortened." Lex grins again. "Nice; who's the lucky lady?" "Lana Lang; old friend from school." "And the onetime fairy princess of Kansas, if memory serves." "Yeah", Clark said. "She still hates that nickname. Her parents died that day." Lex nods. "I lost my Mom too, around the same age. My Dad was never the same afterward, so I guess you could say they both disappeared. I was actually in Smallville when the meteors hit; you may not be aware of that." Clark shook his head. "Yep, got knocked off my feet by one of those space rocks, in the middle of a cornfield. The radiation killed my hair follicles; I've been bald ever since. Not easy for a nine-year-old Metropolis kid, being practically orphaned and bald to boot." "I can imagine," Clark replies. "Well, my folks will probably return in the next hour or so. I have some chores to finish in the meantime, so..."
"No worries, Clark; I'll check back another day. Please tell your old man I honestly meant no harm...and again, thanks for saving me."
INT. - SULLIVAN LIVING ROOM - DAY
Chloe Sullivan sits behind her computer, typing away like usual. Her father walks in, a mild amount of fatherly concern on his face. "More mysteries, dear? I swear, I've no idea where you got your journalistic side from. It was never my dream, and your Mom never mentioned having it either. Her father was always telling reporters off, though; Sam Lane hates being grilled." Chloe smiled, in spite of herself. "And yet, he loves doing it to others. Must come with the camouflage." Gabe chuckles, clearly appreciating his daughter's sarcastic humor. "He's definitely one of a kind. Speaking of bold people, I encountered the younger Mr. Luthor at the plant yesterday."
Chloe immediately spins around in her chair, excited and determined. "Dad...spill." Gabe shakes his head, and Chloe protests. "Oh, come on; you don't drop a bomb like that and not fess up! Especially with your only daughter..." That last line is said with a twinkle in her eye. Gabe sighs, and nods. "First, you have to understand Chloe...Lionel and Lex Luthor are not to be trifled with. I don't want you poking your nose around, like back in Metropolis." "It was one small article in the rumor section of the Inquisitor; its not like I ran to the Daily Planet." "You accused Lionel Luthor of collaborating with organized crime; he had me demoted and the Feds suggested relocation." Chloe smirks. "At least we got to keep our names. I'm using a pseudonym when I become a writer, though. What you think of Alice Mackenzie?" "This is not a joke, Chloe; I already lost your mother to a mental ward. Don't make me go through losing you, too."
That remark sobers Chloe in a heartbeat. "Okay...I'll be good. Now, how did your visit with Lex go?" "All told, very well. I did get fairly overzealous, bringing up the loss of his hair." "And he let you live...amazing." "He was not pleased, and quickly reigned me in. It turns out he's staying here for a while, in the old mansion outside of town. Apparently, Lionel banished him after some incident at a nightclub. Lex lost a friend, and I guess Lionel figured he was too emotional to take the reigns."