LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL?
MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
STILL TRYING TO GET THE TASTE OF HOSPITAL JELL-O
OUT OF MY MOUTH.
BUT THE LEG'S FEELING BETTER.
I THOUGHT OF VISITING, BUT...
IT'S OKAY. I UNDERSTAND.
I GOTTA GO. BYE.
YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?
JUST FOLLOW THE PLAN, NATHAN.
NOBODY WILL EVEN KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
YOU SMASH, I GRAB... IT'S DONE.
DO YOUR THING, KID.
LAST TIME MARTHA WAS IN,
SHE MADE A POINT OF TRYING THESE ON.
DID SHE TRY ANYTHING ON
THAT DIDN'T HAVE FOUR NUMBERS IN THE PRICE?
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, I JUST GOT IN SOME NICE COSTUME PIECES
FROM A LOCAL DESIGNER.
QUITE UNIQUE... STRAIGHT FROM OUTER SPACE.
THANKS, BUT I'll KEEP LOOKING.
[ PIERCING NOISE ]
NOT ANOTHER STEP.
DON'T YOU MOVE. THE POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY.
CLARK, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
LANA?
LANA, IT'S MY EYES. I CAN'T SEE.
♫ SOMEBODY SAVE ME ♫
♫ LET YOUR WARM HANDS BREAK RIGHT THROUGH ♫
♫ SOMEBODY SAVE ME ♫
♫ I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT ♫
♫ JUST STAY ♫
♫ STAY WITH ME ♫
♫ STAY ♫
♫ COME ON ♫
♫ I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU ♫
♫ JUST STAY WITH ME ♫
♫ I'VE MADE THIS WHOLE WORLD SHINE FOR YOU ♫
♫ JUST STAY ♫
♫ STAY ♫
♫ COME ON ♫
HERE, HONEY.
SIT BACK. THERE YOU GO.
[ SIGHS ]
JONATHAN, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
YEAH, I KNOW, SWEETHEART, BUT WHAT?
CLARK'S RETINAS WERE SCARRED BY THAT HEAT BURST.
YOU SAW THE DOCTOR. HE WAS BAFFLED.
HE WASN'T BAFFLED, JONATHAN. YOU HANDCUFFED HIM.
THE LAST TIME WE TRUSTED A DOCTOR,
SHE SOLD HIS BLOOD TO LIONEL LUTHOR.
THEN WE'LL FIND SOMEONE WE CAN TRUST. WE CANNOT RISK THAT.
CLARK HAS LOST HIS SIGHT.
WE MAY HAVE TO RISK SOMEONE LEARNING HIS SECRET.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT CLARK'S SECRET.
HIS POWERS HAVE NOW DONE SOMETHING THAT HAVE HURT HIM.
AND I THINK BEFORE WE RUN OUT AND JUST DO SOMETHING,
WE OUGHT TO THINK THIS WHOLE THING THROUGH.
DON'T I GET A VOTE?
OF COURSE YOU DO, CLARK.
I THINK IT MAY JUST BE A QUESTION OF TIME
BEFORE I GET BETTER.
SWEETHEART, IT COULD BE PERMANENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO LEARN TO LIVE WITH DISABILITIES EVERY DAY.
WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN...
GO TO SCHOOL AND WALK THROUGH A WALL?
EVERYONE'S STARING, AREN'T THEY?
UH, THEY'RE JUST DIGGING YOUR SHADES.
HEY, MAN, LET ME GIVE YOU A HAND.
I'VE BEEN UP ON THIS COMBINATION SINCE THE THIRD GRADE.
HERE YOU GO.
IF IT HELPS, THE GUY WHO DID THIS
LANDED ON MY MOM'S COURT CALENDAR.
SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK JUDGE ROSS
IS GONNA BE GIVING THIS MASTERSON GUY ANY BREAKS.
CLARK.
YOU'RE ALREADY BACK.
NOTHING QUITE THAT HEROIC.
IT'S JUST A PIT STOP.
WELL, UM, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, I'M HERE FOR YOU.
CLASS NOTES, HELP WRITING YOUR PAPERS...
ONE THING I LEARNED FROM MY ACCIDENT
IS THAT YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS ALONE.
LANA, JUST BECAUSE I'M BLIND
DOESN'T MEAN THE ISSUES BETWEEN US HAVE DISAPPEARED.
THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
I WAS JUST OFFERING A HELPING HAND, CLARK.
BUT I WON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN.
[ SIGHS ]
WHOEVER SAID ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER
OBVIOUSLY HASN'T MET THE TWO OF YOU.
HERE YOU GO.
[ DOOR SLAMS LOUDLY, ECHOES ]
[ LOUD CLICKING ]
[ SLAM ] AAH!
[ LOUD POUNDING ]
[ LOUD CREAKING ]
CLARK, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
PETE, DID YOU HEAR THAT? HEAR WHAT?
Chloe: HELLO.
CHLOE?
SHE'S NOT HERE, CLARK.
PETE, I CAN HEAR HER RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO YOU WANT? I'M AT SCHOOL.
THIS ISN'T THE BEST PLACE TO TALK.
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
SOMEONE COULD HEAR ME.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE CALLING ME,
ESPECIALLY AFTER EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED.
I TOLD YOU BEFORE... MY RESEARCHING CLARK DAYS ARE OVER.
Lionel Luthor: REALLY?
I HAVE SUCH A VIVID MEMORY OF THAT YOUNG REPORTER
JUST EAGER TO WORK FOR THE "DAILY PLANET"
AS AN OPPORTUNITY I PROVIDED FOR
WITH ONLY ONE REQUIREMENT.
I GAVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION I HAD, MR. LUTHOR.
LOOK, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT CLARK KENT
AS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
TELL ME IT DIDN'T AROUSE YOUR INSTINCTS AS A JOURNALIST
WHEN YOU LEARNED ABOUT CLARK'S BLINDNESS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE SCENE
WERE TREATED WITH HEARING-RELATED TRAUMAS.
LOOK, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE
TO CONNECT THE DOTS, BECAUSE I'M DONE WITH THIS.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO THEN?
ARE YOU GONNA GO RUNNING BACK TO LEX?
OR WHAT'S LEFT OF HIM?
LEX HAS A SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS.
IT'S AS IF THERE'S A...
A CRACK IN HIS FOUNDATION, YOU UNDERSTAND?
THE STRUCTURE MAY LOOK PERFECTLY STABLE,
BUT IT CAN'T TAKE ANY PRESSURE.
SO WE WILL LET LEX SIT IN HIS OFFICE,
SHARPENING PENCILS.
BUT I EXPECT A FULL REPORT FROM YOU ON CLARK KENT,
MISS SULLIVAN... [ SCHOOL BELL RINGS ]
CLARK, WHAT HAPPENED?
PETE, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.
YOU HAVE TO GET ME HOME RIGHT AWAY.
SO, THESE SOUNDS, THEY JUST HIT YOU ALL AT ONCE?
IT'S LIKE SOMEONE TURNED ON A GIANT STEREO FULL-BLAST.
SUDDENLY ALL THE SOUNDS WERE MAGNIFIED.
THERE'S THE COUCH.
THEN THEY JUST WENT AWAY. IT WAS COMPLETELY RANDOM.
WELL, WITH YOUR X-RAY ABILITIES AND YOUR HEAT VISION,
I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW YOUR SENSES ARE SUPPOSED TO DEVELOP.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A ONE-TIME THING,
OR YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR LACK OF SIGHT.
I JUST HOPE IT GOES AWAY.
ALL THE SOUNDS... THEY WERE SO LOUD.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM
OR WHAT THEY WERE.
THEN THERE WAS CHLOE AND LIONEL.
WHAT ABOUT THEM?
THEY MUST'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ME.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME, EITHER.
HEY.
OH, LEX. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU? MR. KENT.
I HAVE TO GO FILL OUT SOME PAPERWORK FOR CLARK'S PRINCIPAL.
Jonathan: YEAH, THAT STUFF'S DUE TOMORROW.
CLARK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
HOW ABOUT "HELLO"?
COME ON, BEHIND THE RAY-BANS, I'M STILL THE SAME OLD CLARK.
YOU KNOW, WHEN MY FATHER LOST HIS SIGHT, I MADE CONTACT
WITH SOME OF THE WORLD'S TOP OPHTHALMOLOGISTS.
SAY THE WORD, AND I CAN MAKE ANY OF THEM AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT, LEX,
BUT THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED.
THIS IS SOMETHING I NEED TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH.
LOOK, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY CONDITION.
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE DON'T MENTION IT,
I CAN HEAR THE CONCERN IN THEIR VOICES.
TRUST ME... I KNOW THE FEELING.
I'VE DISCOVERED THERE'S AN ALMOST MEDIEVAL PREJUDICE
AGAINST THE SURVIVORS OF MENTAL ILLNESS.
I'VE DECIDED THE ONLY WAY I CAN PUT THE INSINUATIONS BEHIND ME
IS BY PROVING MY WORTH.
HOW ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT?
BY RETURNING TO LUTHORCORP.
MY FATHER'S OFFERED ME MY OLD POSITION BACK.
LEX, DO YOU THINK THAT JOB OFFER IS FOR REAL?
WHY, CLARK?
YOU KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T?
LOOK, I HEARD THAT THAT JOB OFFER IS A SHAM.
YOUR DAD DOESN'T REALLY THINK YOU'RE BETTER.
SO HE THINKS I'M JUST GOING TO, UH...
SIT IN MY OFFICE AND TWIDDLE MY THUMBS?
NO, HIS EXACT WORDS WERE "SHARPENING PENCILS."
CLARK, WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?
LOOK, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE I HEARD IT, LEX.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS... YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL.
HI, SWEETHEART.
HI.
YOU KNOW, JONATHAN, I WAS THINKING,
MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO HIRING SOME EXTRA HANDS.
YOU LOOK TIRED. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
NAH, MARTHA, WE'RE BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET AS IT IS.
AND IT WON'T HELP IF YOU WIND UP IN A HOSPITAL BED.
I'll BE ALL RIGHT. I JUST NEED TO CATCH MY BREATH.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
BOARD OF EDUCATION DISABILITY APPLICATION
TO GET CLARK A SPECIAL TEACHER.
HIS COUNSELOR SAID HE COULD TAKE ALL OF HIS REGULAR CLASSES.
UNTIL WHEN?
HIS LIFE HAS CHANGED.
AND SO HAS YOURS, BUT NEITHER ONE OF YOU WILL ADMIT IT.
MARTHA... YOU BOTH THINK YOU'RE SUPERMEN
WHO CAN DO EVERYTHING ALONE, BUT YOU CAN'T ANYMORE.
YOU NEED TO START RELYING ON PEOPLE.
AND SO DOES HE.
SO, I GOT A LETTER FROM THE INSURANCE CARRIER.
APPARENTLY, MY ENTIRE MEDICAL BILL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
WELL, WHO SAID ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE EVIL?
IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT, LANA. IT WAS MINE.
I PUSHED YOU INTO THE STALL. THAT SPOOKED THE HORSE.
LEX, YOU WERE... CRAZY?
NOT YOURSELF.
SEMANTICS ASIDE, YOU GOT CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE
TRYING TO HELP ME.
FOR THAT, I'M TRULY SORRY.
AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE THE GRAND GESTURES,
YOU COULD'VE JUST STOPPED BY THE TALON AND SAID HELLO.
YEAH, WELL, THE GRAND GESTURES HAVE ALWAYS COME EASIER.
I'M SORRY I COULDN'T BE THERE DURING YOUR REHABILITATION,
BUT I'M SURE CLARK WAS MORE THAN ABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK.
ACTUALLY, CLARK HASN'T BEEN AROUND.
WE KIND OF DECIDED THAT THE BEST WAY
TO STOP HURTING EACH OTHER
WAS TO STOP SEEING EACH OTHER ALTOGETHER.
GIVEN HIS NEW REALITY,
I'M SURE HE COULD USE YOUR SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
THE BRAVE FRONT'S JUST AN ACT. MY FATHER DID THE SAME THING.
LEX, I'VE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO HIM.
I DON'T THINK MY PRESENCE
IS GOING TO RAISE HIS SPIRITS.
BY THE WAY, WHO'S ADAM?
I NOTICED THE TALON BILL HAS INCLUDED
SOME GIFT BASKETS SENT TO HIM
AT THE SMALLVILLE MEDICAL CENTER.
I'M GOING TO REIMBURSE THE SHOP.
YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
HE'S A FRIEND I MADE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY.
OH.
MUST'VE MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION.
YEAH, HE DID.
DON'T BE A STRANGER.
CLARK?
CHLOE.
HI.
LOOK, AS MUCH AS I TRY AND AVOID UNBEARABLE CLICHéS,
IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO... JUST...
I'll MANAGE.
YOU DIDN'T COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE
TO CHECK OUT THE BLIND GUY.
ACTUALLY, I'M ON SOMETHING OF A MISSION.
HAVE YOU SEEN PETE?
SORRY.
IT'S, UM...
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET THIS MORNING
AND DOUBLE-TEAM ON MY "DAILY PLANET" COLUMN.
IS THAT THE COLUMN LIONEL LUTHOR HELPED YOU LAND?
WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?
I MAY HAVE LOST MY SIGHT,
BUT THINGS ARE BECOMING MUCH CLEARER NOW.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU AND LIONEL BEEN LOOKING INTO MY LIFE?
SINCE LAST SPRING.
THE DAY AFTER LEX'S WEDDING.
WHEN YOU SAW ME AND LANA TOGETHER.
IS THAT WHY YOU DID THIS?
YOUR SILENCE IS DEAFENING.
WHAT DID YOU GIVE HIM?
NOTHING. NOTHING THAT HE DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW.
WELL, THEN, WHAT IS HE SHARING WITH YOU?
NOTHING.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CLARK, I WAS TRYING TO HELP YOU.
BY SPYING ON ME?
NO, BY JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
WHY HE'S SO INTRIGUED WITH YOU.
AND IF THE "TORCH" GOT NEW COMPUTERS
OR YOU MADE A NAME FOR YOURSELF
AT THE "DAILY PLANET," THAT WAS OKAY, TOO.
FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU ACCUSED ME OF KEEPING SECRETS,
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?
I WAS...
HE JUST... HE CAUGHT ME AT AN ESPECIALLY BAD TIME,
AND I CAVED.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT EVER SINCE,
BUT WHEN PEOPLE LIKE LIONEL LUTHOR HAVE YOU,
THEY DON'T WANT TO LET GO.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT YOU OUT OF ALL PEOPLE
WOULD UNDERSTAND MAKING A STUPID DECISION
IN A MOMENT OF WEAKNESS.
BUT I GUESS I WAS WRONG.
CLARK!
YOUR PARENTS ARE READY TO START GLUING YOUR PICTURE
TO MILK CARTONS.
HOW'D YOU GET OUT HERE, ANYHOW?
I WALKED. TURNS OUT I DO KNOW EVERY INCH OF THIS FARM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I DIDN'T MEAN TO SCARE THEM. I COULDN'T TAKE ALL THE NOISE.
SO YOUR MEGA-HEARING THING'S BACK.
SUDDENLY, I'M THE ULTIMATE EAVESDROPPER.
[ CAR APPROACHING ]
PETE, DID SOMEONE FOLLOW YOU?
NO.
WHY?
[ METALLIC CLANGING ]
CLARK!
ROSS! GET IN THE TRUCK!
PETE, WHAT'S GOING ON?
[ PIERCING NOISE ]
AAH!
I SAID, GET IN THE TRUCK!
PETE, WHO IS THAT?
[ GROANING ]
PETE, WHAT'S GOING ON? TALK TO ME!
PETE!
[ STATIC ]
THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING BY PETE'S CAR?
NOTHING HELPFUL.
SHERIFF, WHOEVER TOOK PETE MADE THE SAME SOUND
CLARK HEARD AT THE JEWELRY STORE.
THERE HAS TO BE A CONNECTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, MRS. KENT, BUT FRANKLY,
YOUR SON'S "EAR" WITNESS TESTIMONY ISN'T MUCH HELP.
NO, IT IS, TOO, A HELP, SHERIFF.
IT MEANS THAT MASTERSON HAS AN ACCOMPLICE.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
IN A TOWN OF 45,000 PEOPLE, THAT DOESN'T NARROW THINGS DOWN.
I WOULD THINK IT WOULD GIVE YOU A PLACE TO START LOOK...
ABBY? JUDGE ROSS.
YOU SHOULD BE HOME IN CASE THERE'S A RANSOM DEMAND.
THEY JUST CALLED.
I ASKED YOUR DEPUTY TO BRING ME STRAIGHT HERE.
IS PETE ALL RIGHT?
SO FAR.
WHAT DO THEY WANT?
MASTERSON'S PRETRIAL HEARING IS TOMORROW.
APPARENTLY, HIS ATTORNEY IS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION
TO DISMISS ALL CHARGES.
IF I DON'T GRANT IT...
[ Voice breaking ] THEY'RE GONNA KILL MY SON.
OH, MY GOSH. ABBY.
[ MOTOR SCREECHING ]
[ ENGINE TURNING OVER ]
[ WOMAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY ON RADIO ]
[ STATIC CRACKLING ]
[ FARM MACHINE NOISES ]
CLARK, DO YOU MIND TELLING US WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?
I'M TRYING TO FOCUS MY HEARING.
I TAKE IT YOU'RE NOT HAVING LUCK!
IF I DON'T GET A HANDLE ON THIS, I CAN'T SAVE PETE.
[ NOISES STOP ]
CLARK... JUDGE ROSS WAS AT THE HOUSE.
I KNOW. DAD, I HEARD.
BUT PLAYING CHICKEN WITH THE KIDNAPPERS
IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
THEY'RE GONNA KILL PETE.
I'VE GOT TO FOCUS. HELP ME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO WORK, THEN.
[ ENGINE RUNNING ]
[ MACHINE NOISES BLARING ]
LISTEN FOR YOUR FATHER'S VOICE.
[ NOISES FADING ]
Clark, concentrate.
Concentrate on my voice, son.
DAD!
[ CLANG ]
AAH!
CLARK? CLARK!
DAD, IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
FOR A SECOND, I COULD HEAR YOU.
THAT'S GREAT. I WAS BARELY WHISPERING.
LET'S KEEP WORKING.
[ NOISES BLARING ]
Focus, Clark. Focus on my voice.
[ NOISES FADING ]
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
GOOD.
LEX?
I'M SORRY, SON. I'M AFRAID I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
I HAVE TO BE BACK IN METROPOLIS WITHIN THE HOUR.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT?
WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE INSTITUTION,
YOU WELCOMED ME BACK WITH OPEN ARMS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER
THAN TO TAKE YOUR PROMISES AT FACE VALUE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, SON. WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
HUMILIATION.
APPARENTLY, WORD'S OUT THAT MY NEW POSITION AT LUTHORCORP
WILL CONSIST OF A TITLE AND LITTLE ELSE.
OH, THAT'S FOOLISH, SON.
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED YOU TO WORK WITH ME. YOU KNOW THAT.
TO DO WHAT... SHARPEN PENCILS?
LEX, PLEASE.
LISTEN TO ME.
IF YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD THROW ME BEHIND A DESK
AND FORGET ABOUT ME,
YOU'RE MAKING A GRAVE MISTAKE.
UNLESS, OF COURSE, MY SOURCE IS WRONG.
IT'S TRUE, LEX.
I HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE PAST.
BUT THAT'S NOTHING I HAVEN'T SAID TO YOU.
AND, EVIDENTLY, TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN.
SO I HAVE TO KEEP PROVING MYSELF, IS THAT IT?
[ Chuckles ] WELL, UNFORTUNATELY,
WE HAVE TO PROVE OURSELVES EVERY DAY.
I'VE COME TO ACCEPT THAT.
AND IN TIME, SO WILL YOU... I HOPE.
LEX... LISTEN TO ME.
IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US...
SOMEONE WE BOTH KNOW...
THEN THAT'S TREACHERY, SON.
WHO IS THIS SOURCE OF YOURS?
WHO WERE YOU TALKING TO
WHEN YOU DECIDED TO TRASH ME BEHIND MY BACK?
Clark: DAD, I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT PETE.
WE'VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE.
WELL, WE'RE AT THE TALON, CLARK.
I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU AND I COULD GET AN UPDATE.
I'll BE RIGHT BACK, SON.
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
THAT WAS FAST.
YOUR DAD TOLD ME YOU WERE OUT HERE.
LANA.
I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT SOME COMPANY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T... NO, PLEASE STAY.
ABOUT THIS MORNING...
IT'S OKAY, CLARK. YOU WERE UPSET.
NO. IT'S NOT OKAY.
ALL I'VE MANAGED TO DO LATELY IS PUSH PEOPLE AWAY.
AND THE TRUTH IS, LANA, I MISS HAVING YOU IN MY LIFE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DON'T WANT ME AROUND.
NO, I-I WAS HURT AND SCARED.
CLARK, I OVERREACTED.
THE WAY I'VE BEEN TREATING YOU,
I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T BOLT SOONER.
I KNOW YOU HAD YOUR REASONS FOR PULLING AWAY.
MAYBE THOSE REASONS ARE GONE.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
WHAT I'M SAYING IS, MY LIFE IS DIFFERENT NOW.
AND ONE THING I'VE REALIZED IS I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE.
CLARK... YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
I SHOULD GET BACK INSIDE.
[ METALLIC CLANGING ]
LANA, W-WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT, THE TOW TRUCK?
IT'S THE SAME SOUND AS WHEN PETE...
PETE? CLARK, WHAT'S GOING ON?
LANA, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. GO GET MY DAD.
Pete: HELP!!
PETE?
CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?!
PETE!
CLARK!
CLARK, HELP!
SHUT UP!
PETE!
PETE, WHERE ARE YOU?
AAH!
HOW'S THAT, BLIND MAN?
COME ON!
PETE!
ANY MORE IMPROVEMENT?
THERE'S A LITTLE. BUT EVERYTHING'S STILL A BLUR.
AT LEAST I WON'T BE WALKING THROUGH ANY WALLS.
UH, WHAT ABOUT YOUR OTHER ABILITIES?
THE X-RAY VISION AND THE HEAT VISION...
THEY'RE STILL GONE.
THE HEAT FROM THE TORCH MUST'VE BROKEN UP THE SCAR TISSUE.
MAYBE THE REST WILL JUST TAKE TIME TO HEAL.
PETE'S STILL OUT THERE.
CLARK, PETE COULD BE ANYWHERE.
YOU ALREADY TOLD SHERIFF ADAMS EVERYTHING YOU KNOW.
WELL, I CAN'T JUST SIT HERE.
OKAY.
BUT BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE,
THERE'S ONE STOP WE HAVE TO MAKE.
CLARK, COME ON OUT.
SWEETIE, THEY LOOK FINE.
YEAH?
YES. YEAH.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? HOW ARE YOU GONNA FIND PETE?
THE MASTERSON HEARING IS IN AN HOUR.
WE KNOW HE'S TRYING TO SET UP AN EXCHANGE.
IF MRS. ROSS LETS HIM GO, I'll FOLLOW HIM.
SON, THAT IS SUCH A LONG SHOT.
IT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
IS THERE ANY RESULT WITH THE CHANGE?
HMM.
UH... ALL RIGHT, DO IT AGAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?
ALL RIGHT, CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
[ BEEP ]
I GUESS THIS IS THE PART
WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO COUGH SUGGESTIVELY?
YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY NEW INFORMATION ON CLARK.
AND EVEN IF I DID, I WOULD'VE HAPPILY E-MAILED IT TO YOU
SANS THE THREE-HOUR DRIVE.
WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN BEFORE OR AFTER YOU SPOKE TO LEX?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
YOU KNOW, THESE COY EVASIONS MAY WORK
WHEN YOU'RE WHEEDLING INFORMATION
OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN,
BUT UP HERE, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE.
MR. LUTHOR, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
WE HAD WHAT I ASSUMED WAS A PRIVATE CONVERSATION,
BUT IMAGINE MY SURPRISE TO HAVE LEX
THROW MY VERY OWN WORDS RIGHT BACK IN MY FACE.
YOU LED ME TO BELIEVE, MISS SULLIVAN,
THAT, UH, YOU WERE NO LONGER IN COMMUNICATION WITH LEX.
OH, I'M NOT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WILDLY OFFENSIVE INSINUATION.
NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I'M ON A DEADLINE.
NOT ANYMORE.
YOUR COLUMN AT THE "DAILY PLANET" HAS BEEN CANCELED.
WHAT?
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOU TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU FED TO LEX,
I'll LET THINGS STAND.
I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT LEX'S SOURCE.
AND WHILE I'M SURE YOU COULD KILL MY COLUMN,
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PIECE I'M WORKING ON
FOR THE "DAILY PLANET."
I KNOW I COULD INTEREST THEM IN A STORY
ABOUT AN ECCENTRIC BILLIONAIRE
WITH AN OBSESSIVE INTEREST IN A KANSAS FARM BOY.
ARE YOU THREATENING ME?
I'D BE CAREFUL, MISS SULLIVAN.
VERY CAREFUL.
I'll BE WHATEVER I WANT.
APPARENTLY, I DON'T WORK FOR YOU ANYMORE.
[ SIGHS ]
JUDGE, I'VE GOT PEOPLE FANNING OUT FROM THAT GARAGE
TRYING TO FIND YOUR SON, BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
I KNOW.
RELEASING MASTERSON GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT I BELIEVE IN,
BUT IF I DON'T...
IT COULD MEAN PETE'S LIFE.
LOOK AT HIM. HE KNOWS HE HAS US OVER A BARREL.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
UNTIL THE HEARING STARTS, PRAY.
[ SPEED-DIALING ]
[ Ringing ]
Nathan: HELLO?
NATHAN.
TALK TO ME.
EVERYTHING'S SET.
IF THIS JUDGE IS SMART, I'll BE OUT OF HERE IN 20 MINUTES.
COOL. THEN IT WORKED?
WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO NEXT?
AS SOON AS I'M OUT, GET RID OF THE ROSS KID.
THEN WE'LL MEET AS PLANNED IN METROPOLIS.
DONE. ROSS WILL BE A PILE OF JUNK IN A MINUTE.
[ MACHINERY CLANKING, SQUEALING ]
PETE!
HEY, YOU WORK HERE?
WHAT THE HELL? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, BLIND MAN?
WHERE'S PETE?
IN A MINUTE, NEITHER ONE OF YOU WILL CARE.
[ PIERCING NOISE ]
AAH!
HELP ME!!
CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?!
HELP ME!!
HELP!!
PETE! PETE, ARE YOU OKAY?
CLARK.
[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]
AND THAT'S THE WAY I PULLED MYSELF OUT OF THE COMPACTOR
AND GOT AWAY.
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S THE BRAVEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD.
WELL, YOU KNOW,
IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING FAST, I'D BE SPAM IN A CAN, SO...
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE OKAY.
CALL ME.
I WILL DO THAT.
I HAVE A FEELING I'll BE HEARING THIS STORY FOR A LONG TIME.
[ LAUGHS ] BUSTED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I SAY? CHICKS DIG A HERO.
UH-HUH.
HOPE YOU DON'T MIND I'M BENDING THE TRUTH A LITTLE BIT.
LOOK WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO... THE MASTER TRUTH-BENDER.
BESIDES, AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR ME,
IT'S THE LEAST I CAN DO.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
MY EYES ARE JUST ADJUSTING. I THINK I NEED A NEW PRESCRIPTION.
HEY.
HEY, CHLOE.
HEY, I'M READY FOR MY BIG "TORCH" INTERVIEW.
SORRY, PETE, I'M GONNA HAVE TO RESCHEDULE.
I'M REALLY GLAD YOU'RE FEELING BETTER.
CHLOE, WHAT'S THE MATTER?
[ SIGHS ]
I JUST LOST MY "DAILY PLANET" COLUMN.
WHAT?
WHY?
THEY DIDN'T EXACTLY SPELL IT OUT ON THE PINK SLIP,
AND IN THE "WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS" CATEGORY,
MY DAD JUST GOT LAID OFF FROM HIS JOB
AT LUTHORCORP THIS MORNING.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. YOUR FATHER'S WORKED THERE FOR YEARS.
IF YOU WANT ANSWERS, ASK LEX.
HE'S THE ONE THAT DROPPED THE AX.
CLARK.
I HEARD ABOUT YOUR MIRACULOUS RECOVERY.
I JUST FOUND OUT THAT YOU FIRED CHLOE'S FATHER TODAY.
YEAH, WELL, UH...
APPARENTLY, HIS PERFORMANCE WAS SERIOUSLY LACKING.
CHLOE'S FATHER HAS WORKED FOR THE COMPANY FOR YEARS.
THIS COULD RUIN HER FAMILY.
CLARK, MY FATHER SUSPECTS MR. SULLIVAN WAS THE ONE
SPREADING THE MALICIOUS RUMORS ABOUT ME.
I ASSUMED CHLOE OVERHEARD THE GOSSIP
AND PASSED IT ALONG TO YOU.
NO, THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING RIGHT. IT'S ABOUT POSITIONING.
MY FATHER WON A BATTLE TODAY.
AND CHLOE'S FATHER IS A CASUALTY.
TRUE.
BUT THE WAR'S JUST STARTING.
AND I HAVE THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE.
HE THINKS I'M WEAK.
FRANKLY, CLARK, I THOUGHT YOU'D BE RELIEVED.
WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT?
BECAUSE AT LEAST THIS WAY,
I WAS ABLE TO KEEP YOU OUT OF IT.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE BACK TO NORMAL.
HEY, LANA.
UM... I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN THE TRUCK.
RIGHT. I, UH, WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT, TOO.
I WAS WAY OUT OF LINE.
I WAS FEELING VULNERABLE, BUT I DON'T EXPECT...
CLARK, UM... THE REASON I PULLED AWAY...
IS THAT I...
I MET SOMEONE AT THE HOSPITAL.
OH.
AND I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT HIM.
WELL, I MEAN, THE FACT YOU'RE TELLING ME ABOUT HIM
MEANS YOU ALREADY KNOW.
MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUT IF YOU AND I ARE GOING TO BE FRIENDS,
I-I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO FIND OUT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
YEAH.
WELL, UH, I SHOULD GET BACK TO THE TALON.
HEY, LANA.
THANKS FOR BEING HONEST.
WELL, IT'S THE ONLY WAY OUR RELATIONSHIP CAN LAST, RIGHT?
[ LANA SOBBING ]
Captions by VITAC... www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY WARNER BROS. TELEVISION