Announcer: HERE'S THE KICKOFF!
THE WINNER OF TODAY'S GAME
WILL MOVE ON TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
ONE WEEK FROM TODAY.
PLAY YOUR GAME, BUDDY.
A VICTORY TODAY WILL SEND THE CROWS
TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
REMEMBER TO STOP BY THE TALON TONIGHT AFTER THE GAME.
SO... ARE YOU THE GUY?
[ Eastern European accent ] WELL, I GUESS THAT DEPENDS.
ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
UH... MIKHAIL... MXYZPT... MXYZPTLK.
LET ME GUESS... YOU WANT TO BUY A VOWEL.
NO, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO PUT $80 ON THE GAME.
THE GAME HAS STARTED ALREADY.
WELL, SORRY, I CAN'T TAKE BET AFTER KICKOFF.
OH.
ROOKIE, HUH?
WELL, MAYBE IN YOUR CASE, I'll MAKE AN EXCEPTION.
THANKS.
CAN YOU, UH, PUT ME DOWN FOR SMALLVILLE TO WIN?
YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
I HAVE A FUNNY FEELING ABOUT THE QUARTERBACK TODAY.
YEAH, WELL, AS MUCH AS I HATE TO ADMIT IT,
I NEVER BET AGAINST CLARK KENT.
HMM, WELL, SUIT YOURSELF.
DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.
RULE NUMBER ONE... A BET IS A BET.
Announcer: HERE WE GO.
10 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 4th QUARTER.
IT'S 4th AND 1.
IF THE CROWS DON'T SCORE HERE, THEIR SEASON IS OVER.
CLARK KENT BRINGS THE CROWS TO THE LINE.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, HERE WE GO!
Announcer: ALL-STATE LINEBACKER MARSHALL HORTON.
LEADS THE BLUES WITH 17 SOLO TACKLES.
BLUE 72! BLUE 72!
HUT!
FUMBLE.
AND A FUMBLE ON THE CROWS.
THE BALL'S PICKED UP BY CLARK KENT.
HE'S CHARGING.
TRIP.
TOUCHDOWN, CLARK KENT!
AND THE CROWS WIN THE GAME!
WHAT A VICTORY! UNBELIEVABLE!
SMALLVILLE NOW TAKES ON THE TOPEKA VALLEY HUSKIES
IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!
[ GROANING ]
♫ 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 ♫
IS HE OKAY?
HIS COLLARBONE'S BROKE IN TWO PLACES.
I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW YOU COULD PUMMEL A GUY
THAT OUTWEIGHS YOU BY 100 POUNDS
AND SHATTER HIS COLLARBONE.
I'M SORRY.
IT MUST'VE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
I MEAN, I GOT A SURGE OF ADRENALINE.
ADRENALINE DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE FACT
THAT YOU WENT FROM CHUCKING BALES OF HAY
TO CHUCKING 60-YARD PASSES OVERNIGHT.
I GUESS I'M A FAST LEARNER.
I MEAN, YOU SAID YOURSELF I WAS A NATURAL.
YEAH, A NATURAL WHO ADAMANTLY REFUSED
TO SEE A DOCTOR AFTER HE COLLAPSED
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
COACH QUIGLEY THINKS YOU'RE ON SOME KIND
OF PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUG.
WHAT, LIKE... LIKE STEROIDS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, I PUT MYSELF ON THE LINE
AND SAID THERE'S NO WAY
THAT CLARK KENT WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I'M NOT ON DRUGS.
I HOPE NOT.
BECAUSE IF IT COMES OUT THAT YOU'RE NOT
ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AS THESE GUYS...
LET'S JUST SAY IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY DISAPPOINTING
TO HAVE TO FORFEIT AN ENTIRE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON.
AND A COLLEGE CAREER.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST'VE BEEN LIKE
TO GROW UP IN A WAR-TORN COUNTRY.
OBVIOUSLY, I MEAN,
I GUESS THIS IS AS FAR AS YOU CAN GET
FROM SCAVENGING THE STREETS,
BUT GROWING UP HAND-TO-MOUTH, UH...
DOES TEND TO MAKE YOU RESOURCEFUL.
RESOURCEFUL ENOUGH TO GET THE ATTENTION
OF MY FATHER'S LUTHORCORP FOREIGN-EXCHANGE SCHOLARSHIP.
SO, HOW DO YOU LIKE SMALLVILLE HIGH?
I THINK IT IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ME
TO MAKE MY AMERICAN DREAM.
THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES,
AND THE GIRLS ARE PRETTY.
WELL, I HOPE THE CLASSES
AREN'T TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU.
I REVIEWED YOUR APPLICATION AND MUST SAY
I WAS SURPRISED BY YOUR POOR TEST SCORES AND GRADES.
LOOK, MIKHAIL, I'M JUST CURIOUS
WHY MY FATHER WOULD AWARD A SCHOLARSHIP,
HISTORICALLY EARMARKED FOR FUTURE NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS,
TO A PERENNIAL "C" STUDENT.
YOU WANT TO SEND ME BACK?
NO.
I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE REALLY DOING HERE.
WHAT POTENTIAL DID MY FATHER SEE IN YOU, MIKHAIL?
[ Whispers ] CUT.
AAH!
POTENTIAL YOU DO NOT SEE ON A REPORT CARD,
MR. LUTHOR.
OH, HEY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE BOOKIES MADE HOUSE CALLS,
ESPECIALLY AFTER HOURS.
WELL, I GUESS I JUST WALKED RIGHT INTO THE LION'S MOUTH,
HMM?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A FIRST-TIMER.
AND YOU SHOW UP AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
AND I DON'T THINK IT IS COINCIDENCE
THAT YOU ARE ALSO SMALLVILLE'S MOST NOTORIOUS WHISTLE-BLOWER.
NOTORIOUS, HUH?
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.
SO, UH, THIS BET WAS JUST RESEARCH
FOR THE ARTICLE?
FRONT PAGE, IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT.
WELL, I DON'T SUPPOSE THAT BEING A LOCAL CELEBRITY
IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
I THINK MAYBE YOU SHOULD, UH, CHANGE PROFESSIONS.
YOU JUST FOUND MY ACHILLES' HEEL.
WHAT, GREED?
NO, UH, PRETTY GIRLS WITH INFECTIOUS SMILES.
I'M STILL WRITING THE ARTICLE.
IF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN TO PLACE A BET,
I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE INSIDE SCOOP
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
PROMISE NOT TO MENTION MY NAME,
AND I'll LET YOU SHADOW ME.
I'll BE YOUR PERSONAL ESCORT.
THROUGH THE SEEDIER PARTS OF SMALLVILLE.
IF I CUT YOU A BREAK,
I EXPECT A FULL, BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR.
OF COURSE, AND THE FIRST STOP...
IS THE WINNER'S CIRCLE.
HUH.
SO... WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE MONEY?
UH, TEXTBOOKS.
OOH, DON'T GO TOO CRAZY, HUH?
WELL, MY DAD'S ON UNEMPLOYMENT,
SO MY COLLEGE FUND SORT OF TOOK A MASSIVE HIT THIS YEAR.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY
TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRE SEMESTER'S TUITION
BEFORE YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING?
I HAVE TO GO TO THE SHARKS GAME IN METROPOLIS TONIGHT.
SHARKS, 8 TO 1.
CHLOE, IF YOU WANT THE BIG ARTICLE,
YOU HAVE TO GET INSIDE THE MIND OF A GAMBLER.
YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO RAISE THE STAKES.
THAT IS, UH, IF YOU AREN'T SCARED.
COUNT ME IN.
THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, CLARK.
I BET IT'S EASIER TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU HAVE ONE.
DAD, WHEN I PUT ON THAT UNIFORM,
IT'S LIKE I FORGET WHO I AM,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'VE NEVER KNOWN MYSELF BETTER.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST A GAME.
CLARK, I ALLOWED YOU TO JOIN THE FOOTBALL TEAM
BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU UNDERSTOOD YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
NOT TO LET ANYBODY GET HURT OUT THERE.
AND I ACCEPTED THAT RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN CONTROL MY ABILITIES.
THEN WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THERE'S A KID
LYING IN A HOSPITAL BED RIGHT NOW?
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ME TRIP?
EVER?
SOMETHING HAPPENED OUT ON THAT FIELD.
IT WAS LIKE I COULDN'T CONTROL MY OWN LEGS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE STRONG DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN'T
GET RATTLED OUT THERE JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M SORRY, BUT THE LAST PLACE YOU NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW
IS OUT ON THAT FOOTBALL FIELD, AND YOU KNOW IT.
COACH QUIGLEY'S LIKELY TO BE AT THE VICTORY PARTY TONIGHT.
I'll GIVE HIM A CALL, AND I'll BE THE BAD GUY.
NO, DAD.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY.
♫ I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE BOUGHT IT ♫
♫ SHE GOT TOO CLOSE, AND SHE CAUGHT IT ♫
♫ HAD A POINT BUT SHE FORGOT IT ♫
HEY, COACH, CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND?
WHAT'S UP?
KENT, KENT! OH, HUGE SAVE TODAY!
OH, MAN, WHAT A PLAY! YOU PUT US IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!
NO, THE TEAM PUT US IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
I CAN SEE THE RING ON MY FINGER ALREADY.
I CAN SEE THE SCHOLARSHIPS ALREADY.
OH, YEAH! WHOO!
HEY, CLARK, YOU'RE HERE.
TA-DA!
WHOO! GO, CLARK!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! COACH!
Players: [ Chanting ] COACH! COACH! COACH!
ALL RIGHT, OKAY!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
TOPEKA WEST MAY HAVE THREE TITLES UNDER ITS BELT,
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A REAL SHOT AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND THIS YEAR, WE GOT IT ALL!
AN IMPENETRABLE DEFENSE, AN AGGRESSIVE OFFENSE,
AND A GOLDEN ARM!
LET'S GO TAKE THE TITLE HOME!
Players: [ Chanting ] CROWS! CROWS! CROWS!
I LIKE THE NEW TEXTBOOKS.
HI. DON'T WORRY. I JUST TOOK 10% OFF THE TOP FOR FUN.
THE REST OF MY WINNINGS ARE TUCKED SAFELY AWAY
FOR COLLEGE TUITION.
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT MY TIP PAID OFF FOR YOU.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THE GAME WAS AWESOME.
I HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH FUN ON A COUCH
SINCE JOHNNY ROSENBLATT IN FIFTH GRADE.
I MEAN, ALL OF THOSE PAINTED BEER BELLIES
AND FOAM HANDS SUDDENLY MAKE SENSE
WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING RIDING ON THE GAME!
WELL, SEE, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO AND SPOIL ALL THE FUN
BY WRITING THAT ARTICLE?
BECAUSE IT JUST KEEPS GETTING JUICIER BY THE MINUTE.
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
WHAT, ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE MY MIND?
NICE TRY. YOU'RE VERY CUTE,
BUT I ALREADY GAVE YOU ANONYMITY,
AND IT'S GOING TO PRESS TONIGHT.
BUT YOU'RE ONLY JUST STARTING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE,
AND I CAN GIVE YOU SO MUCH MORE DIRT.
YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO STALL THE ARTICLE, AREN'T YOU?
I DON'T THINK YOU UNDERSTAND ME, CHLOE.
I ALWAYS GET WHAT I WANT.
ON LOOKS, APPARENTLY,
BECAUSE YOUR CHARM JUST RAN OUT.
STOP.
KISS ME.
THIS IS ME ASKING YOU NICELY...
NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO DROP THAT ARTICLE,
WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU MISS BEFORE.
I'VE ALSO NEVER SEEN YOU SHRINK AWAY
FROM RESPONSIBILITY, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT.
YOU SAW THE LOOK ON THOSE GUYS' FACES.
I COULDN'T LET 'EM DOWN. I JUST THOUGHT
I COULD FIND A WAY TO PLAY LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
CLARK?
OPEN YOUR HAND.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS KRYPTONITE IS.
WELL, I ALWAYS GET BETTER AFTER IT'S GONE.
AND SO WHAT IF I'M PLAYING SICK?
OTHER GUYS PLAY INJURED.
AND IF DAD KNOWS I DON'T HAVE MY ABILITIES
AND I CAN'T HURT ANYONE...
YOU ARE NOT TAKING METEOR ROCKS OUT ON THAT FIELD.
I KNOW THIS IS HARD. YOU CAN'T MAKE YOURSELF SICK.
AND I CAN'T QUIT, EITHER.
CLARK, THE ANSWER IS NO.
YOU ASKED YOUR FATHER IF WE'D EVER SEEN YOU TRIP BEFORE.
NEVER. NOT WITHOUT KRYPTONITE.
I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU GET A CHANCE
TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
THAT I GUESS I FORGOT FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU AREN'T.
I-I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT WHEN YOU TRIPPED,
BUT YOU'VE NEVER HAD MISHAPS LIKE OTHER KIDS.
SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU OUT THERE,
AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO PLAY IN THE GAME ON SATURDAY,
YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, CLARK. YOU CAN STAY.
I THOUGHT YOU HAD
SOME SELF-IMPOSED RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST ME.
DOES THIS MEAN YOU'RE TALKING TO ME AGAIN?
NO, THIS JUST MEANS THAT I'M WILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE
ON GETTING YOUR DR. JEKYLL SIDE TODAY.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE SELF-FLOGGING?
I'M WATCHING THE SPORTS EDITOR'S TAPE OF THE GAME,
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED, BUT...
IT'S LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL,
LIKE MY MIND WAS SENDING ONE MESSAGE, BUT...
YOUR BODY WAS GETTING ANOTHER.
YEAH.
IT'S MIKHAIL.
THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE KID?
MX... UH... MXYZPTLK.
SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST.
HE'S OUR NEW RESIDENT PUPPET MASTER.
THIS IS KIND OF EMBARRASSING, BUT...
HE MADE ME KISS HIM.
MADE YOU.
YEAH. IT WAS JUST LIKE HOW YOU EXPLAINED YOUR TRIP.
IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE WAS CONTROLLING ME.
OKAY, BUT WHY WOULD HE WANT ME TO THROW THE GAME?
CLARK, HE IS THE BIGGEST BOOKIE IN THE SCHOOL.
THE POWER TO CONTROL THE ODDS...
LET ME DO A SEARCH ON HIS NAME.
WHA... I GUESS I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED
THAT "MXYZPTLK" DIDN'T BRING ANYTHING UP.
WHAT'S THAT?
IT'S MIKHAIL'S NAME BACKWARDS.
IT LOOKS LIKE A NURSERY RHYME GONE BAD.
YEAH, IT'S SOME LEGEND FROM THE PIATORE REGION
IN THE BALKANS.
THAT'S NEAR WHERE MIKHAIL'S FROM.
IT SAYS THE REGION HAS BEEN TERRORIZED FOR CENTURIES
BY A BLOODLINE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE...
WHO CAN CONTROL THE HAND OF LUCK.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY LUCK IF THEY'RE CONTROLLING PEOPLE.
WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE BACKWARDS NAME?
THE FAMILY CHANGED THEIR NAME A CENTURY AGO
AND FLED THE AREA TO ESCAPE THE STIGMA
AFTER A VILLAGE MYSTERIOUSLY BURNED TO THE GROUND.
LOOKS LIKE MIKHAIL'S STILL RUNNING FROM HIS HERITAGE.
IT DOESN'T EXACTLY SAY HOW TO STOP THE KISSING BANDIT,
DOES IT? OH, HERE.
ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND, THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THEM
WAS A PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS.
THERE MAY BE ONE OTHER FORCE THEY DIDN'T COUNT ON.
THINK ABOUT IT. WHO BROUGHT HIM HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
YOU WANT ME TO DEPORT A LUTHORCORP EXCHANGE STUDENT?
GAMBLING ON CROWS GAMES
ISN'T A SANCTIONED EXTRACURRICULAR.
I'M SURPRISED YOU CARE SO MUCH
ABOUT SOME HALF-RATE BOOKIE.
OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT MIKHAIL YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME?
LEX, YOU SPONSORED HIM.
I JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OF COURSE I'll LOOK INTO IT.
BUT I'M SURPRISED YOU DIDN'T GO TO THE PRINCIPAL FIRST
OR COACH TEAGUE, BUT THEN I CAN SEE
HOW THAT COULD BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SOUNDS.
WHY WOULD IT BE MORE COMPLICATED?
COME ON, I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO'S PICKED UP
ON LANA'S FONDNESS FOR QUARTERBACKS...
EVEN RETIRED ONES.
YEAH, TO BE HONEST,
IT HAS BEEN HARD TO SEE HER WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
DON'T WORRY.
PARIS CAN HAVE A MAGICAL EFFECT ON PEOPLE,
BUT THE ENCHANTMENT HAS A FUNNY WAY OF WANING
THE LONGER YOU'RE GONE.
I KNOW LANA.
AND SHE'S NEVER BEEN THIS SERIOUS ABOUT ANYONE.
YOU SOUND AWFULLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT...
FOR SOMEONE WHO LET HER WALK OUT OF HIS LIFE.
YEAH, I GUESS THE WHOLE "IF YOU LOVE THEM, SET THEM FREE" THING
KIND OF BACKFIRED.
IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVE, CLARK.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO FOR IT.
ON THAT FIELD, YOU'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN.
BUT IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO DO THE SAME FOR LANA,
MAYBE SHE DOESN'T MEAN AS MUCH TO YOU AS YOU THINK.
CLARK ON STEROIDS.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO PICTURE.
IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF GUYS.
YOU WANT SO BADLY TO OUTPERFORM EVERYONE.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS WINNING,
NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.
YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CLARK.
ACTUALLY, I AM.
COACH QUIGLEY ASKED ME TO GIVE HIM A DRUG TEST,
AND I NEVER MENTIONED IT TO CLARK.
SO I LIED AND SAID IT CAME BACK CLEAN.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
I DON'T KNOW. BECAUSE... I BELIEVE IN CLARK.
AND BECAUSE HE KNOWS ABOUT US.
I DIDN'T WANT TO STIR THE WATERS.
IF HE WANTED TO GET BACK AT ME,
ALL HE'S GOTTA DO IS TELL SOMEBODY AT THE SCHOOL
AND I LOSE MY JOB.
CLARK WOULDN'T MAKE IT PERSONAL.
WHY NOT? I MEAN, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD DO
IF SOMEONE TRIED TO TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME.
NOBODY TOOK ME AWAY FROM CLARK.
I LEFT.
RIGHT.
CLARK'S A BIG PART OF THE REASON
WHY I TOOK OFF FOR PARIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
OH. WELL, THAT MUST BE FROM THE BOOK OF THINGS
YOU NEVER WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S EX.
LOOK, JASON, I'M WITH YOU NOW,
AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER. AND I KNOW, I KNOW...
CLARK CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE, BUT HE KNOWS
THAT YOU NEED THIS JOB TO STAY IN COLLEGE.
I KNOW IT'S HARD BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SO CLOSE TO HIM.
BUT ARE YOU SURE YOU REALLY KNOW HIM?
DON'T GET ME WRONG, MIKHAIL.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL INGENUITY,
BUT IMPORTING BOOKIES TENDS TO REFLECT POORLY
ON A COMPANY.
THESE ARE JUST FUN GAMES.
THE I.N.S. ISN'T EXACTLY RENOWNED
FOR THEIR GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP.
THEY'RE REVOKING YOUR STUDENT VISA AND SENDING YOU BACK HOME.
BUT A MAN LIKE YOU CAN PULL STRINGS TO KEEP ME HERE, YES?
IF I WANTED TO.
BUT WHATEVER TALENTS MY FATHER SAW IN YOU,
THEY'RE NOT WORTH THE EMBARRASSMENT
YOU BRING TO ME AND MY COMPANY.
I'VE MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS.
YOU'LL BE HALFWAY OVER THE ATLANTIC BY MORNING.
YOU DON'T REALLY WANT THAT.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOUR DAD BROUGHT ME HERE.
NOT THAT BADLY.
WHAT IF WE MAKE A WAGER?
NOW, WHY WOULD I TAKE A BET
WHEN I CAN JUST HAVE YOU THROWN OUT OF HERE?
BECAUSE I KNOW GAMBLERS BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
YOU'RE THE CAVIAR KIND.
SEE, WHEN YOU HOLD EVERYTHING IN YOUR HAND,
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN GIVE YOU A THRILL
IS PUTTING YOUR CHIPS ON THE ONE THING
THAT CAN SLIP THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
AND, UH...
WHAT WOULD THAT ONE THING BE, MIKHAIL?
WELL, IN THIS CASE, ME.
HOW MUCH DO YOU BELIEVE
IN THIS QUARTERBACK FRIEND OF YOURS... CLARK KENT?
THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME?
WHAT'S THE WAGER?
IF THE CROWS LOSE,
YOU ARRANGE CITIZENSHIP FOR ME
AND $1 MILLION TO START NEW AGAIN.
AND IF THE CROWS WIN,
I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING YOU CAN COVER THAT BET.
I CAN'T.
BUT THE REASON YOUR FATHER BROUGHT ME HERE
WAS FAR MORE VALUABLE THAN JUST MONEY.
OH, LOOK,
A REAL, LIVE AMERICAN FOOTBALL SUPERHERO.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I CAME HERE TO THANK YOU FOR RATTING ME OUT TO LEX.
IT WASN'T HARD TO FIGURE OUT.
I KNEW CHLOE WOULD SQUEAL, JUST NOT TO HIM.
SHE'S TOO PROUD.
YOU SEEM TO BE THE COMMON DENOMINATOR,
SO YOU FORGET... GAMES ARE MY BUSINESS,
SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE PLAYERS,
YOU CANNOT GUESS THE OUTCOME.
I THOUGHT YOU'D BE HALFWAY BACK
TO THE VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED BY NOW.
I'M NOT CURSED, CLARK.
I AM LUCKY.
AND ON SATURDAY AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,
I'M GOING TO BE VERY LUCKY.
YOU THINK I'M GOING TO THROW THAT GAME FOR YOU?
IF... WHEN THERE IS "IF," THERE ARE ODDS.
AND I ALWAYS BEAT THE ODDS.
CHOKE.
[ COUGHING ]
FOR EXAMPLE,
THE ODDS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ARE BASED ON YOUR PLAYING.
IF YOU DON'T GO OUT ON THE FIELD,
THEN MY PROFIT MARGIN TAKES AN UNFORTUNATE TURN.
THAT IS WHY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TELL ANYONE ELSE ABOUT ME,
AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THAT FIELD...
UNLESS YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF YOUR BUDDIES
IN THE HOSPITAL.
BREATHE.
[ GASPS ]
CHLOE. HEY.
CLARK, WARM-UP IN 15 MINUTES.
I SURE HOPE YOU HAD BETTER LUCK
WITH THE LOCUSTS THAN I DID WITH LEX.
THE LAST TIME I CHECKED,
THEY WEREN'T SELLING BIBLICAL PLAGUES ON AMAZON,
BUT SINCE EVERY LEGEND IS BORN IN THE SEED OF TRUTH,
I DID LOOK UP OUR FAVORITE APOCALYPTIC CRITTERS.
BESIDES EATING CROPS IN A SINGLE BOUND,
WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO?
WELL, WHEN LOCUSTS SWARM, THEY EMIT AN ENERGY WAVE
TO AVOID CRASHING INTO EACH OTHER.
MAYBE MIKHAIL'S COMMANDS OPERATE ON A SIMILAR FREQUENCY,
YOU KNOW, LIKE A RADIO SIGNAL.
OR A DOG WHISTLE... THE SOUND TRAVELS,
BUT THE HUMAN EAR DOESN'T PICK IT UP.
YEAH, NOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT ONCE LOCUSTS' SIGNALS
ARE JAMMED, THEY CAN'T FLY ANYMORE
WITHOUT RUNNING INTO EACH OTHER. IT'S PERMANENT.
WELL, MAYBE ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS FIND SOMETHING
THAT WILL JAM MIKHAIL'S FREQUENCY FOR GOOD.
AND I THINK I KNOW JUST WHERE TO FIND THAT.
SO NOW WE JUST HAVE TO FIND HIM.
WELL, IN HIS QUEST FOR THE GREAT AMERICAN DREAM,
HE'S GOT A LOT OF BETS RIDING ON THIS GAME.
HE'LL BE HERE. I GOTTA GO.
GOOD LUCK. THANKS.
Announcer: GREETINGS, FOOTBALL FANS,
AND WELCOME TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
BETWEEN THE TOPEKA VALLEY HUSKIES
AND YOUR SMALLVILLE CROWS!
♫ I WALK A LONELY ROAD ♫
♫ THE ONLY ONE THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN ♫
♫ DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES ♫
♫ BUT IT'S ONLY ME, AND I WALK ALONE ♫
♫ I WALK THIS EMPTY STREET ♫
♫ ON THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS ♫
♫ WHERE THE CITY SLEEPS ♫
♫ AND I'M THE ONLY ONE, AND I WALK ALONE ♫
♫ I WALK ALONE, I WALK ALONE ♫
♫ I WALK ALONE, I WALK ♫
♫ MY SHADOW'S THE ONLY ONE ♫
♫ THAT WALKS BESIDE ME ♫
♫ MY SHADOW HEART'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEATING ♫
♫ SOMETIMES... ♫
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO!
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO, LET'S GO! COME ON! COME ON!
CLARK!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU KNOW WHAT MIKHAIL SAID.
HE'D HURT THOSE GUYS IF I WASN'T OUT THERE.
A BUNCH OF 250-POUND GUYS BANGING INTO EACH OTHER
ON A FOOTBALL FIELD IS ONE THING.
BUT GETTING HIT BY YOU
IS LIKE GETTING RUN OVER BY A FREIGHT TRAIN.
IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, SON. I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I THINK CHLOE AND I FOUND A WAY TO STOP MIKHAIL.
CHLOE AND YOU THINK YOU FOUND A WAY TO STOP HIM?
WELL, I'M SORRY, SON. THINKING IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
DAD, I KNOW YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ME.
BUT SOMETIMES, TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
MEANS HAVING FAITH IN YOURSELF TO MAKE THE HARD CHOICES.
AND IT ALSO MEANS BEING WILLING TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES.
EVERY HANDSHAKE, EVERY HUG,
EVERY TIME I'M OUT ON THAT FIELD,
I MAKE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO FALL WHEN THOSE GUYS HIT ME
SO THEY DON'T GET HURT.
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S MY DECISION, NOT YOURS.
YOU'RE STARTING TO SOUND MORE AND MORE LIKE YOUR FATHER.
I HOPE SO, DAD.
Announcer: NOW TAKING THE FIELD...
YOUR SMALLVILLE CROWS!
TODAY'S CROWS CAPTAINS
ARE SENIORS CAMERON JIFF, JAY CROZER,
AUSTIN POND, AND CLARK KENT!
THE CROWS ARE UNDEFEATED IN 13 CONTESTS THIS SEASON.
THEY ARE LED BY THIRD-YEAR COACH BLAINE QUIGLEY!
WE'D LIKE TO THANK TODAY'S SPONSORS...
THE SMALLVILLE LEDGER, LUTHORCORP,
P.B. DAVENPORT'S AUTO BODY SHOP, AND OLD SPICE RED ZONE.
Announcer: FIRST DOWN, SMALLVILLE!
[ LOW-FREQUENCY NOISE ]
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
IOWA 80! IOWA 80! SET! HUT! HUT!
TRIP.
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Man: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO! LET'S GO! COME ON, COME ON!
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IOWA 80! IOWA 80!
SET! HUT!
FUMBLE.
[ LOW-FREQUENCY NOISE ]
Announcer: TOUCHDOWN!
♫ WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I WAS INVINCIBLE ♫
♫ I FIND MYSELF NOW THINKING TWICE ♫
♫ I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT NO FUTURE ♫
♫ ITS JUST A ROLL OF THE DICE ♫
♫ BUT THE DAY MAY COME ♫
♫ WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO LOSE ♫
♫ AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE DONE PAYING DUES ♫
♫ AND YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, "DEAR GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?" ♫
♫ AND HOPE IT'S NOT TOO LATE ♫
♫ 'CAUSE TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME ♫
♫ REACH FOR THE SKY ♫
♫ 'CAUSE TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME ♫
♫ REACH FOR THE SKY ♫
♫ 'CAUSE TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME ♫
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FANCY TOY.
STOP.
LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE'S BEEN BROKEN.
KINDA SUCKS WHEN YOU HAVE TO PLAY FAIR, DOESN'T IT?
YES, WELL, IN MY COUNTRY, YOU DO NOT SURVIVE
IF YOU CANNOT ADAPT TO THE UNEXPECTED.
♫ TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME ♫
Announcer: JOE PISZARCHEK LINES UP BEHIND CENTER.
THERE'S THE SNAP. THERE'S A FUMBLE ON THE PLAY!
THE CROWS REGAIN POSSESSION!
THE CROWS IMMEDIATELY CALL THEIR LAST TIME-OUT.
CLARK.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
HERE'S HOW THE LAST PLAY IN MY GAME WORKS.
IF THE CROWS SCORE ANOTHER TOUCHDOWN,
CHLOE'S DEAD.
IF YOU DON'T GO BACK OUT ON THE FIELD
RIGHT NOW AND LOSE THE GAME,
CHLOE'S DEAD.
KENT, LET'S GO.
WE'RE GONNA DO AN ACE BACK, MONTANA POST.
THIS IS IT. THIS IS FOR THE TITLE.
Announcer: THE CROWS HAVE IT...
1st AND 10 ON THE 50-YARD LINE.
FIVE SECONDS REMAINING ON THE CLOCK.
SMALLVILLE WILL HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE PLAY.
THE SEASON ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS.
NOT THIS TIME, CROWS! NOT THIS TIME!
BLUE 32!
SET! HUT!
Announcer: TOUCHDOWN!
THE CROWS WIN! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT PASS?!
CLARK KENT MAKES ANOTHER UNBELIEVABLE PLAY!
COME ON, MAN! WE'RE MISSING THE PARTY!
OW! WHOO!
Announcer: IT'S BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE YEAR.
LOOK AT THE WELL-DESERVED CELEBRATION IN THE END ZONE!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CROWS ON AN UNDEFEATED SEASON!
OH. LOOKS LIKE CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERBACKS
NO LONGER HAVE A CURFEW, HUH?
I'M LATE.
SORRY.
CLARK...
YOUR MOTHER AND I KNOW THAT MIKHAIL WAS ARRESTED.
NOW, WHEN I WAS OUT ON THAT SAME FIELD,
ALL I HAD TO WORRY ABOUT WAS COMPLETING THE NEXT PASS
OR WHETHER OR NOT I WAS GONNA GET SACKED.
BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
FOR EVERYTHING.
HEY, YOU, COME ON.
GOOD NIGHT.
Jonathan: GOOD NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS WITH YOU,
BUT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES
I PUT YOU IN THE PENALTY BOX, IT NEVER STICKS.
I HEAR YOU'RE QUITE THE HERO TONIGHT, CLARK KENT.
YEAH, WELL, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU,
WE WOULDN'T HAVE WON THE GAME.
WELL, YOU CAN THANK UNCLE SAM FOR THAT... MY UNCLE SAM.
IT'S AMAZING THE ACCESS
A THREE-STAR GENERAL HAS TO COOL TOYS.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN A JAMMING DEVICE
FOR STEALTH FIGHTERS WILL COME IN HANDY AT A FOOTBALL GAME.
BECAUSE OF THAT JAMMING DEVICE,
MIKHAIL CAN'T CONTROL ANYONE ANYMORE.
AWESOME. BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
IS HOW I MIRACULOUSLY CAME UNTIED.
AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW YOU GET SUCKED
INTO ANYTHING BESIDES ANONYMOUS TIPS.
WELL, WE ALL HAVE OUR WEAKNESSES, I GUESS...
EXCEPT FOR YOU, OF COURSE.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND YOUR NEW ACCOMMODATIONS
A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN AT COUNTY LOCKUP.
AND, UH, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?
DON'T WORRY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF COMPANY.
I'M NOT WORRIED.
I HAVE THE FEELING I CAN LEARN A LOT FROM YOU,
BUT I'M JUST SORRY WE CAN'T MAKE GOOD ON OUR AGREEMENT.
YOU UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF MY WINNINGS.
I TOLD YOU, MR. LUTHOR, I'VE LOST MY TALENT.
MIKHAIL, IF THERE'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED,
IT'S THAT ANYTHING LOST CAN BE FOUND AGAIN.
IF YOU KNEW I HAD A SPECIAL TALENT,
THEN WHY DID YOU BET AGAINST ME?
I DIDN'T.
I BET ON CLARK KENT.
LIKE I SAID... YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
LANA, HEY, WHERE'S JASON? I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM.
I ACTUALLY LEFT HIM THREE MESSAGES.
YEAH, I KNOW.
WELL, I THOUGHT HE'D WANT TO KNOW
THAT METROPOLIS UNIVERSITY OFFERED ME A SCHOLARSHIP.
THAT'S GREAT, CLARK.
ONE OF THE SCOUTS HE CALLED SAW ME IN THE GAME.
I WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR TRUSTING ME.
WELL, IT'S TOO BAD THAT YOU COULDN'T RETURN THE FAVOR.
JASON WAS FIRED THIS MORNING.
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THE LOCAL FOOTBALL STAR
STILL HAS TIME FOR HIS FRIENDS.
I WOULDN'T PUT IT LIKE THAT.
WILD GUESS...
YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FOOTBALL STAR PART.
MAYBE I WASN'T CLEAR.
BUT WHAT YOU AND I TALK ABOUT IS SUPPOSED TO STAY BETWEEN US.
I SEE.
SO TODAY I'M TAKING THE ROLE
OF THE DESPICABLE, UNTRUSTWORTHY FRIEND,
AND AS USUAL, OUR HERO IS MAKING THE FATAL FLAW
OF JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS.
SO YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME YOU WEREN'T THE ONE
WHO GOT JASON FIRED?
A TEACHER-STUDENT LIAISON IS A TABOO
THAT'S PRETTY HARD TO COME BACK FROM.
OH, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE MORAL HIGH GROUND ON THIS.
CLARK, I'D HATE TO SEE LANA'S INFATUATION
EARN HER A SCARLET LETTER AROUND TOWN.
WELL, SHE HAS YOU TO THANK FOR THAT,
BECAUSE YOU AND I WERE THE ONLY TWO WHO KNEW ABOUT.
NOW EVERYBODY'S TALKING.
YOU DIDN'T DO THIS TO PROTECT HER.
YOU KNOW LANA ISN'T MEANT TO BE WITH JASON.
MAYBE A YEAR AGO,
I WOULD'VE BELIEVED THAT YOU GOT HIM FIRED
OUT OF SOME TWISTED LOYALTY FROM BEING MY FRIEND.
BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THIS FOR ME.
WHY DID YOU DO IT?
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