[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
OKAY, TAKE FIVE.
KENT, TURNER, YOU'RE IN THE FINAL.
DUDE, I'D DEFINITELY TAKE YOU IN A REMATCH.
MY FOOT SLIPPED ON THE DIVE, RUINED MY RHYTHM.
IT'S FUNNY. I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST SLOW.
HE'S A HOTTIE, ISN'T HE?
LOOK AT HIM.
WHO... CLARK?
[ Laughs ] OH, COME ON, LANA!
CHRISSY, CLARK AND I ARE JUST FRIENDS. RIGHT.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
AWESOME.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE NEW PRINCIPAL
IF WE CAN HANG IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAFETERIA.
YOU'VE REALLY THROWN YOURSELF INTO SPIRIT WEEK, CHRISSY.
I AM IMPRESSED.
WELL, THESE ARE THE BEST TIMES OF OUR LIVES.
ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY SAY?
TO BE HONEST, I HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW MUCH FUN THIS CAN BE.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
HEY, BABY.
HEY! TROY, YOU'RE DRIPPING ON MY SIGNS.
DON'T YOU HAVE ANOTHER RACE?
FINALS. I NEED A GOOD-LUCK KISS.
GO. I CAN FINISH UP HERE.
THANKS. FOLLOW ME.
Troy: NOT A PROBLEM.
[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
Coach: ALL RIGHT, BOYS, THIS ONE'S FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS.
THE FASTEST IN THE SCHOOL. OKAY, GUYS, ON THE BLOCKS.
COME ON, TURNER, HURRY UP.
Coach: SWIMMERS, TAKE YOUR MARKS.
3... 2... 1... [ WHISTLE BLOWS ]
HEY! HEY! TROY!
SOMEBODY HELP HIM!
♫ 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 ♫
OPEN YOUR MOUTH.
HEY, THAT'S PERFECT.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS COME UP WITH A SNAPPY NAME
LIKE FAMOUS AMOS, AND WE'LL MAKE A FORTUNE.
FORGET MRS. FIELDS, YOU CAN BE MRS. KENT'S.
I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT.
THIS IS TURNING INTO A BIG-TIME OPERATION.
YEAH.
THANKS. I'VE, UH, ADDED TWO CONVENIENCE STORES
AND THE CAFETERIA AT THE RETIREMENT CENTER
TO MY CLIENT LIST.
THAT'S GREAT.
WHAT?
I DON'T SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY THE FEED BILL THIS MONTH.
I CAN GO BY LANGHAM'S STORE,
AND MAYBE WE CAN GET AN EXTENSION ON OUR CREDIT.
WE'RE ALREADY THREE MONTHS BEHIND, SWEETHEART.
WELL, ANDY'S A FRIEND. I'M SURE HE'LL UNDERSTAND.
I'VE ALREADY ASKED HIM. HE'S ALREADY SAID NO.
WELL, MY SALARY FROM LIONEL ISN'T ENOUGH,
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?
I DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPTIONS HERE.
THERE IS ONE CALL WE CAN MAKE.
MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK TO MY FATHER.
WHY IS IT WHENEVER ANYONE MENTIONS GRANDDAD,
SUDDENLY EVERYONE BECOMES QUIET AND UNCOMFORTABLE?
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S WEIRD I'VE NEVER EVEN MET THE GUY?
LOOK, CLARK, I'M... I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GRANDPA. I REALLY AM.
THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH BAD BLOOD.
I'M SORRY, BUT I'VE GOT WORK TO DO.
LANA. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE THESE?
YOU CAN JUST PUT THEM ON THE COUNTER.
GETTING READY FOR THE BIG SPIRIT WEEK BASH?
TRYING TO. I THINK NELL'S USED THE PROJECTION BOOTH
AS HER PERSONAL MINI-STORAGE SINCE THE LATE '70s.
WHAT ARE THOSE?
CLARK, THESE PHOTOS ARE OF MY MOM AND SOME GUY.
MAYBE HE'S AN OLD BOYFRIEND.
THEY WERE TAKEN WHEN MY PARENTS WERE ALREADY MARRIED.
MAYBE HE WAS JUST A FRIEND.
I'M SURE YOU'RE RIGHT.
RIGHT ABOUT WHAT?
THE MYSTERY MAN WITH LANA'S MOTHER.
HEY. THEY MAKE AN ATTRACTIVE COUPLE.
AND THERE COULD BE A MILLION EXPLANATIONS.
WHO DO YOU THINK IT IS?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'll BET NELL DOES.
THEN MYSTERY SOLVED. I WISH THEY WERE ALL THIS EASY.
WELL, IT'S, UH, IT'S LATE.
WE SHOULD GET TO SCHOOL.
YOU KNOW, I'M HEADING THAT WAY. IF YOU NEED A LIFT...
OH, I'M OKAY. I'VE GOT THE FIRST TWO PERIODS OFF.
CLARK?
NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO... RUN.
WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN OUTRUN MY PORSCHE, CLARK.
EXCUSE ME.
WHAT'S GOING ON? I NEED TO GET IN THERE.
THEN YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE FOUR MINUTES AGO, MISTER...
KENT. CLARK KENT.
OF COURSE.
I'VE NOTICED IN YOUR RECORD
YOU HAVE A PENCHANT FOR TARDINESS.
WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU? I'M MR. REYNOLDS, YOUR NEW PRINCIPAL.
OH. UH, NICE TO MEET YOU.
JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, FROM NOW ON,
THIS GATE LOCKS WHEN THE FIRST BELL RINGS
AND DOESN'T OPEN AGAIN UNTIL SCHOOL IS OUT.
I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D GIVE CLARK A PASS THIS TIME.
HE WAS LATE BECAUSE OF ME.
LEX LUTHOR... THE PORSCHE, THE ATTITUDE...
SOMEHOW I'M NOT SURPRISED YOU'RE INVOLVED.
YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER.
MR. REYNOLDS WAS HEADMASTER AT EXCELSIOR PREP
DURING MY INFAMOUS STAY THERE.
YOU MIGHT FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, LEX,
BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
I'M KEEPING MY EYE ON YOU, MR. KENT.
NEXT TIME IT HAPPENS... AUTOMATIC DETENTION.
CATCH YOU LATER, CLARK.
SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE CHILD.
YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED A BIT. WHAT'S NEXT... SCHOOL UNIFORMS?
I'D APPRECIATE IT IF YOU'D STAY AWAY FROM MY SCHOOL
AND MY STUDENTS, LUTHOR.
LISTEN, MR. REYNOLDS, I KNOW WE HAD OUR SHARE OF RUN-INS
AT EXCELSIOR, BUT I WAS 14.
DON'T YOU THINK IT'S A BIT PETTY TO BE HOLDING A GRUDGE
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?
WELL, THAT'S AWFULLY NOBLE, COMING FROM A LUTHOR.
I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
EXACTLY WHAT DID I DO TO EARN SUCH ENMITY?
GOODBYE, LEX.
[ SIGHS ]
[ BELL RINGS ]
CHRISTINE PARKER?
I'M PRINCIPAL REYNOLDS.
HI. NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU.
DID YOU GET MY MEMO ABOUT THE NEW CHEERLEADING UNIFORMS?
I DID, AND THANK YOU, AND I'M LOOKING INTO IT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE THE VISIONARY
BEHIND OUR SPIRIT WEEK ACTIVITIES.
WELL, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER.
WELL, I ADMIRE YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
BY THE WAY, I WAS GOING THROUGH THE STUDENT FILES
TRYING TO GET TO KNOW EVERYONE BETTER,
AND I NOTICED WE DON'T HAVE THE TRANSCRIPTS
FROM YOUR LAST SCHOOL.
HUH. THAT'S WEIRD.
BUT IT FIGURES. MY GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WAS A TOTAL DITZ.
WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE A COPY ON FILE.
IF YOU COULD HAVE YOUR PARENTS FORWARD IT,
I'D APPRECIATE IT.
NO PROBLEM. I'll TELL THEM TONIGHT.
I SEE TROY'S DEATH HAS OFFICIAL JOINED THE RANKS
OF THE UNEXPLAINED AND BIZARRE.
BIG TIME. THE OFFICIAL REPORT SAID HE DIED
OF AN ACUTE ONSET OF THE RAPID AGING DISEASE PROGERIA.
I THOUGHT THAT MADE YOU AGE OVER THE COURSE OF 10 YEARS,
NOT 10 SECONDS.
EXACTLY. THE CORONER'S RUNNING A GENETIC TEST TO TELL
WHETHER TROY HAD PROGERIA OR IF IT WAS JUST...
SOMETHING UNEXPLAINED AND BIZARRE.
WELL, GOOD LUCK INVESTIGATING.
YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED A HALL PASS
FROM OUR NEW PRINCIPAL.
CLARK, A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAVE A CLOSED CAMPUS POLICY.
Pete: YEAH.
WHY ARE YOU SO WORKED UP?
I HAD A RUN-IN WITH HIM THIS MORNING.
HE BUSTED ME FOR BEING LATE,
THREATENED TO KEEP HIS EYE ON ME.
WOW. CLARK KENT'S ON THE PRINCIPAL'S BAD BOY LIST.
THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.
THE GUY'S A REAL HARD CASE. RIGHT. FIRST, THERE'S A LOCKDOWN,
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, HE'LL BE BURNING BOOKS
IN THE STUDENT PARKING LOT.
WELL, LAUGH NOW. WAIT TILL HE COMES AFTER THE "TORCH."
UNH-UNH. SEE, I DID SOME DIGGING
ON OUR PRINCIPAL REYNOLDS TO FIND OUT
WHAT HIS VIEWS WERE ON THE FOURTH ESTATE.
HARVARD B.A., Ph.D. AT COLUMBIA IN EDUCATION...
TAUGHT AT EXCLUSIVE PREP SCHOOLS ALL OVER EUROPE
AND THE EAST COAST. IT'S A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE RéSUMé.
YEAH, IT IS, AND HIS NAME WAS EVEN BEING MENTIONED
AS THE NEW HEAD OF THE METROPOLIS BOARD
OF EDUCATION UNTIL ONE DAY HE WAS SUMMARILY DISMISSED
FROM HIS POSITION AT EXCELSIOR PREP,
AND HE DOESN'T WORK AGAIN UNTIL HE RESURFACES HERE.
SO HOW DOES A GUY ON THE FAST TRACK
SUDDENLY END UP IN SMALLVILLE?
I DON'T THINK HE'S WALL OF WEIRD MATERIAL.
YEAH, CLARK, JUST BECAUSE THE GUY DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY
LOVE YOU LIKE EVERY OTHER TEACHER IN THIS SCHOOL,
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE'S HIDING SOME DARK PAST.
HEY, I CAME BY TO SEE IF YOU NEEDED A HAND.
JUST IN TIME.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE HELPING YOUR MOM THIS AFTERNOON.
SHE SAID SHE'S GOT IT COVERED.
IS SOMETHING WRONG?
MY MOM'S BEEN KIND OF SECRETIVE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
A KENT SECRETIVE... THAT'S SHOCKING.
I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY GRANDFATHER.
I'VE NEVER HEARD YOU MENTION HIM BEFORE.
I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY MET HIM BEFORE.
I'VE ONLY SEEN PICTURES,
AND THOSE ARE, LIKE, 20 YEARS OLD.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM?
JUST THAT HE WAS A BIG CORPORATE LAWYER IN METROPOLIS.
HE AND MY GRANDMOTHER RETIRED TO COAST CITY.
WHEN I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, I MADE UP MY MIND TO CALL HIM.
I LEFT A BUNCH OF MESSAGES, BUT HE NEVER CALLED BACK.
I GUESS HE JUST WASN'T INTERESTED.
ALL THESE YEARS, I'VE HAD THIS IMAGE OF THE KENTS
AS THE PERFECT FAMILY.
I GUESS WE'RE JUST AS DYSFUNCTIONAL AS EVERYONE ELSE.
I NEVER DID PRESSURE MY PARENTS FOR THE WHOLE STORY.
MAYBE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW.
MAYBE IT'S EASIER TO LIVE WITH THE IMAGE THAN THE TRUTH.
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BOTH DEALING WITH SECRETS OUT OF THE PAST.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO,
BUT THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET SOME ANSWERS.
I'll CATCH UP WITH YOU LATER?
LANA, THE PLACE LOOKS FANTASTIC.
YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB HERE.
THANKS.
UM, I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.
YEAH, WHAT IS IT?
THESE PICTURES.
DO YOU KNOW WHO HE IS?
HE MUST'VE BEEN ONE OF YOUR MOM'S OLD BOYFRIENDS.
THEY WERE TAKEN AFTER MOM AND DAD WERE ALREADY MARRIED,
JUST A YEAR BEFORE I WAS BORN.
LANA, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?
I'M NOT SURE.
LISTEN TO ME.
YOUR MOTHER...
SHE LOVED YOU AND YOUR FATHER
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD.
SHE NEVER WOULD'VE DONE ANYTHING TO HURT EITHER ONE OF YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU?
HI, DAD.
I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE TRIP.
I WAS SURPRISED TO GET YOUR MESSAGE.
IT MUST'VE TAKEN A LOT FOR JONATHAN TO ASK FOR MY HELP.
JONATHAN IS AT THE CO-OP IN GRANDVILLE.
HE DOESN'T KNOW I CALLED.
OH. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN.
WELL, I IMAGINED THIS PLACE DIFFERENTLY.
BUT IT'S NOT THE LIFE I WANTED FOR YOU, MARTHA.
I'M HAPPY, DAD. IT'S A GOOD LIFE.
FOR SOME PEOPLE, MAYBE.
BUT YOU HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL.
TOP 10 IN YOUR CLASS,
YOU COULD'VE GONE TO ANY LAW SCHOOL YOU WANTED.
I HAD HOPED THAT ONE DAY YOU WOULD TAKE OVER MY PRACTICE.
I NEVER WANTED TO BE A LAWYER.
THIS IS THE LIFE I CHOSE.
THIS IS A LIFE JONATHAN CHOSE FOR YOU.
YOU JUST WENT ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT JONATHAN.
YOU RAISED AN INDEPENDENT DAUGHTER,
AND YOU'RE ANGRY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT.
AND HERE YOU ARE, 20 YEARS LATER,
GOING BEHIND YOUR HUSBAND'S BACK
ASKING ME FOR MONEY.
MOM?
CLARK.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE AT THE TALON.
I FINISHED EARLY. WHAT'S UP?
CLARK, THIS IS YOUR GRANDFATHER.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU, SIR.
HELLO, CLARK.
I'll, UH, I'll BE AT THE MOTEL.
I'll HAVE A CASHIER'S CHECK DRAWN TOMORROW MORNING.
WHY DON'T YOU STAY WITH US?
WE HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM.
I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD IDEA, CLARK.
WELL, HOW ABOUT DINNER?
ONE MEAL AS A FAMILY.
I'M SORRY.
IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO YOUR FATHER, THAT'S FINE.
I JUST DON'T WANT HIM HAVING ANYTHING TO DO
WITH OUR FINANCES.
JONATHAN, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO,
WAIT UNTIL THE BANK FORECLOSED ON THE FARM?
I JUST WISH YOU HAD SAID SOMETHING TO ME ABOUT IT FIRST.
DAD, WHAT'S THE HARM IN JUST HEARING HIM OUT?
SON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE MEDIATOR HERE.
BELIEVE ME, I WISH THINGS COULD BE DIFFERENT.
WELL, WHY CAN'T THEY BE?
YOU ALWAYS TOLD ME TO LOOK FOR THE BEST IN PEOPLE.
MAYBE HE'S TRYING TO PUT THIS BEHIND HIM.
I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT, CLARK.
WHAT HAPPENED THAT WAS SO BAD?
I MEAN, IT CAN'T BE ANY WORSE THAN WHAT'S IN THE STORM CELLAR.
OR CAN IT?
WHEN YOUR MOTHER AND I DECIDED TO GET MARRIED,
I WENT DOWN TO HIS OFFICE TO ASK HIM FOR HER HAND.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
I REMEMBER HIS EXACT WORDS.
"I WILL NOT LET MY DAUGHTER THROW HER LIFE AWAY
"BY MARRYING SOME HICK FARMER
THAT COULDN'T POSSIBLY SUPPORT HER."
THAT'S HARSH.
HE WAS A CORPORATE LAWYER. THAT'S THE WAY
HE DEALT WITH PEOPLE.
WHEN HE REALIZED THAT WE WERE SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING MARRIED,
HE LOST IT. HE TRIED TO SHOVE ME OUT OF HIS OFFICE.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I HIT HIM.
I'M NOT PROUD OF THAT. I TRIED TO APOLOGIZE TO HIM,
BUT HE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
YOUR GRANDFATHER AND I HAVEN'T SAID A WORD
TO EACH OTHER SINCE.
BUT THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
HE WAS WILLING TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY OUT HERE.
MAYBE HE WANTS TO TRY AGAIN.
BELIEVE ME, CLARK, HE'S NOT HERE TO HELP.
HE'S HERE TO GLOAT.
[ CHEERING INDISTINCTLY ]
Lex: HEY.
I GOT A MESSAGE YOU WANTED TO SEE ME.
EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD DO ME A FAVOR.
I TAKE IT NELL COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE MYSTERY MAN?
IF SHE COULD, SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.
JUST... I WANT TO KNOW WHO IT IS.
WELL, THAT SHOULDN'T BE HARD TO FIND,
BUT COMING TO TERMS WITH IT
COULD PROVE TO BE MORE COMPLICATED.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
COME ON. YOU KNOW THE STORY OF PANDORA.
SHE WAS GIVEN A BOX BY ZEUS AND WARNED NEVER TO OPEN IT.
SHE COULDN'T RESIST THE TEMPTATION.
I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE TRUTH, LEX.
NEITHER WAS PANDORA.
BUT ONCE THE BOX WAS OPENED, IT COULD NEVER BE CLOSED,
AND ALL THE MISERY SHE RELEASED COULD NEVER BE PUT BACK.
I APPRECIATE THE WARNING...
AND ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL ME.
HEY, CHLOE.
HEY, CLARK. OH, CLARK, YOU MIGHT WANT
TO DISAPPEAR FOR THE NEXT HOUR OR SO.
WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO INTERVIEW
YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND, PRINCIPAL REYNOLDS.
OOH, THANKS FOR THE HEADS-UP.
WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE?
DO YOU REMEMBER MY BUDDY CHAD THAT WORKS AT THE M.E.'s OFFICE?
YEAH, THE GUY WITH THE BLACK FINGERNAIL POLISH AND LIPSTICK.
OH, IT'S HARD BEING SMALLVILLE'S ONLY GOTH.
ANYWAY, HE SENT ME THE AUTOPSY REPORT OF TROY.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT LENDING SOMEONE YOUR EYELINER
CAN GET YOU THESE DAYS.
SO TROY DIDN'T HAVE PROGERIA.
NO, BUT HIS PITUITARY GLAND, WHICH, BY THE WAY,
PRODUCES THE HORMONE THAT CONTROLS THE AGING PROCESS,
WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED. IT'S LIKE SOMEONE JUST SUCKED
THE YOUTH RIGHT OUT OF HIM.
WELL, THAT'S QUITE AN ASSUMPTION, MISS SULLIVAN.
UH, PRINCIPAL REYNOLDS,
I WAS JUST, UM, RUNNING THROUGH VARIOUS SCENARIOS...
YOU KNOW, WILD THEORIES AND STUFF.
I'M SHUTTING UP NOW.
WELL, DON'T. I LIKE MY STUDENTS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
I'VE BEEN READING SOME BACK ISSUES OF THE "TORCH."
I SEE A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND INSIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE KIDDING.
UNVERIFIED INSIGHT,
BUT MANY A PULITZER HAS SPRUNG FROM THE SEEDS
OF WILD THEORIES.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU CAN BACK THEM UP,
AND THAT'LL BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WRITING TRASH
FOR THE "INQUISITOR"
AND REPORTING FOR THE "DAILY PLANET."
WOW.
ARE YOU STILL UP FOR THAT INTERVIEW?
WELL, GIVE ME HALF AN HOUR.
MR. KENT, I WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR YOU.
I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU IN MY OFFICE.
YOU LOOK LIKE YOU FEEL A LITTLE OUT OF PLACE, MR. KENT.
I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE BEFORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
WELL, YOU CAN START BY SITTING,
AND I'll CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
I THINK YOU'RE A SLACKER.
QUIT THE FOOTBALL TEAM BEFORE YOU PLAYED THE FIRST GAME,
CHRONIC TARDINESS, ZERO EXTRACURRICULARS.
WELL, I GET VERY GOOD GRADES, AND I WRITE FOR THE "TORCH"...
OCCASIONALLY.
RETYPING THE CAFETERIA MENU ISN'T EXACTLY WRITING.
I SEE A LOT OF UNTAPPED POTENTIAL IN YOU, MR. KENT.
MR. REYNOLDS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE JUST MET. HOW COULD YOU JUDGE ME SO QUICKLY?
HOW DO YOU KNOW LEX LUTHOR?
WELL, HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE. WHY?
A PERSON IS JUDGED BY THE COMPANY THEY KEEP.
IN MY EXPERIENCE, LEX LUTHOR DOESN'T HAVE FRIENDS.
HE SEES PEOPLE AS A MEANS TOWARDS AN END.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S TRUE.
TIME WILL TELL, BUT FRANKLY,
I'M MORE INTERESTED IN YOUR WORLD.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
WELL, UH, I'D LIKE TO HELP PEOPLE.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HELPING PEOPLE IS A NOBLE ASPIRATION.
IT'S ALSO RATHER VAGUE.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
WELL, I'M GOING TO HELP YOU FOCUS.
I WANT YOU TO WRITE A 5-PAGE ESSAY
ON WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW,
AND I WANT IT ON MY DESK BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY
ON FRIDAY.
SIR, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?
THIS ISN'T PUNISHMENT, MR. KENT.
CONSIDER IT A CHALLENGE.
CLARK, HEY.
JUST IN TIME TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE DECORATIONS COMMITTEE.
OH, ACTUALLY, I GOT TO FINISH MY ESSAY FOR MR. REYNOLDS.
OH, THAT'S A BUMMER. WHAT'S IT ABOUT?
WELL, WHAT THE FUTURE THEORETICALLY HOLDS FOR ME.
WHO CARES ABOUT THE FUTURE?
WELL, I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE'S LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.
SURE. YEAH, AS IN A JOB, RESPONSIBILITIES,
GETTING OLD...
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
OF COURSE.
HEY, CHRISSY,
I THINK WE GOT THE LIGHTING THE WAY YOU WANT IT.
GREAT. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT.
LET ME GUESS...
REYNOLDS WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
HE MADE ME DO THE SAME ASSIGNMENT
WHEN I WAS AT EXCELSIOR.
HE'S NOTHING IF NOT CONSISTENT.
WELL, I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU, LEX,
BUT HE DOESN'T EXACTLY HAVE A HIGH OPINION OF YOU.
I WASN'T A MODEL STUDENT, BUT IMAGINE BEING
A BALD 14-YEAR-OLD IN AN ELITE PREP SCHOOL.
IT MUST'VE BEEN TOUGH.
I HAD A MAJOR CHIP ON MY SHOULDER,
BUT REYNOLDS SAW THROUGH IT.
HE CHALLENGED ME TO OWN UP TO MY OWN ACTIONS,
NOT JUST TO ASSUME THE MANTLE OF THE SPOILED RICH KID.
HE WAS TOUGH BUT FAIR, AND I LIKED HIM FOR THAT.
WELL, I WISH THE FEELING WAS MUTUAL.
WHATEVER HE HAS AGAINST YOU,
I THINK HE'S TAKING IT OUT ON ME.
I'M SORRY BEING FRIENDS WITH ME COMES WITH SUCH A HIGH PRICE.
SO, EXACTLY HOW LONG WERE YOU PLANNING
TO WORK ON THIS ESSAY?
I'M JUST NOT READY TO GO HOME YET.
IS SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, IT'S JUST FAMILY STUFF.
COME ON, CLARK, I'M THE KING OF FAMILY DYSFUNCTION.
MY FATHER AND MY GRANDFATHER HATE EACH OTHER,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
AND YOU'D LIKE TO PLAY PEACEMAKER.
THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO PUT THEM IN A ROOM AND LET THEM FIGHT IT OUT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING I SHOULD PLAY HARDBALL.
WELL, THAT'S UP TO YOU, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE
IT WILL TAKE THAT SORT OF DETERMINATION
TO BRING YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TOGETHER.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
PERFECT.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS, RUSSELL.
IT'S BEEN A WEIRD WEEK.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE DOING SOMETHING.
I KNOW YOU AND TROY WERE FRIENDS.
I REALLY MISS HIM.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I CAME TO SEE YOU, RUSSELL.
FOR TROY.
FOR THE OTHERS.
THE OTHERS? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
THE ONES WHO WILL LIVE INSIDE ME FOREVER.
HEY, DAD, YOU GOT A MINUTE?
YEAH, SON, YOU GOT TO TALK TO ME WHILE WE'RE WORKING.
WE GOT A LOT TO DO BEFORE IT GETS DARK.
THERE'S SOMEONE I WANT YOU TO SEE.
YOUR MOTHER PUT YOU UP TO THIS?
NO, THIS WAS ALL MY IDEA.
DON'T BLAME THE BOY.
WHATEVER PROBLEMS WE HAVE, THEY'RE BETWEEN US.
MARTHA SAYS YOU NEED HELP. I'M HERE TO GIVE IT.
SO I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR 20 YEARS,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS FAMILY.
I DON'T WANT ANYTHING FROM YOU.
I BROUGHT A CHECK BECAUSE I WON'T STAND BY
AND WATCH MY DAUGHTER SUFFER.
YOU JUST COULDN'T RESIST TURNING THAT OLD KNIFE,
COULD YOU?
DAD, GIVE HIM A CHANCE. YOU TWO CAN WORK THIS OUT.
I DON'T THINK SO, SON.
SEE, IT'S JUST LIKE 20 YEARS AGO.
THE SAME ARGUMENT, THE SAME ATTITUDE.
NOT QUITE, JONATHAN.
IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS, BUT EVERYTHING I'VE PREDICTED
HAS COME TRUE.
I KNEW MARTHA WAS MAKING THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
OF HER LIFE WHEN SHE MARRIED YOU.
THAT'S NOT TRUE, GRANDDAD.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE
IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE THIS FARM, JONATHAN.
I DON'T NEED A LECTURE FROM YOU ON HOW TO TAKE CARE
OF MY FAMILY, THANK YOU.
YOU'RE JUST AS STUBBORN AND PIGHEADED
AS YOU WERE THE DAY I MET YOU!
YOU GET OFF MY LAND.
GLADLY.
GRANDDAD, WAIT.
IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS.
JUST LET HIM GO, SON.
I KNOW YOU HAD GOOD INTENTIONS,
BUT SOME THINGS JUST CAN'T CHANGE.
LET'S UNLOAD THE TRUCK.
CLARK, WAIT UP.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF YOU.
I'M JUST DEALING WITH SOME FAMILY ISSUES.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?
ACTUALLY, THE MORE I TALK ABOUT IT,
THE WORSE THEY GET.
HEY, DID YOU GUYS HEAR ABOUT RUSSELL?
THEY FOUND HIS BODY BEHIND THE TALON.
I JUST SAW HIM YESTERDAY. WHAT HAPPENED?
HE AGED, LIKE, 100 YEARS.
THE POLICE THOUGHT IT WAS SOME OLD HOMELESS GUY
UNTIL THEY FOUND RUSSELL'S LICENSE IN HIS WALLET.
TWO PROGERIA DEATHS IN TWO DAYS. WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THAT?
I DON'T KNOW, BUT LANA WANTED TO CANCEL THE SPIRIT WEEK PARTY,
BUT PRINCIPAL REYNOLDS ASKED HER NOT TO.
HE SAID HE WANTED TO KEEP THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE.
HE OBVIOUSLY HASN'T HAD HIS NORMAL-METER
RESET FOR SMALLVILLE.
YEAH.
WHAT IS IT, CLARK?
I SAW RUSSELL WITH CHRISSY AT THE TALON.
AND TROY WAS WITH HER JUST BEFORE HE WENT GERIATRIC.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SMOKING GUN.
IT'S WORTH A LOOK.
MAYBE WE CAN CHECK OUT HER OLD SCHOOL RECORDS,
SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING STRANGE IN HER BACKGROUND.
OKAY, I'll GET STARTED, AND I'll TELL YOU WHAT I FIND.
INTERESTING CHOICE.
"THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO."
THE CLASSIC TALE OF A MAN WHOSE PAST COMES BACK
TO HAUNT HIM.
WHY ARE YOU HERE, LEX?
WE'RE UPGRADING OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM AT THE PLANT.
I THOUGHT WE MIGHT DONATE OUR OLD COMPUTERS
TO SMALLVILLE HIGH.
YOU ARE NOT AN ALUMNUS.
CALL IT A THANK YOU.
YOU PUSHED ME, AND IN HINDSIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
IN SOME WAYS, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAN I AM TODAY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A BURDEN I CARE TO TAKE ON.
BESIDES THE TAX DEDUCTION, WHAT'S THE QUID PRO QUO?
WELL, WHY DO YOU THINK I WANT ANYTHING IN RETURN?
BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED THERE'S ALWAYS A PRICE
WHEN DEALING WITH THE LUTHORS.
I WANT YOU TO STOP TURNING YOUR ANTAGONISM TOWARDS ME
AGAINST CLARK KENT.
HMM. LIONEL HAS TAUGHT YOU WELL.
MY FATHER?
YES. THIS MEETING... IT REMINDS ME OF THE INCIDENT
THAT ALMOST GOT YOU EXPELLED.
HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
NO. ONLY LATER.
AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF YOUR EXPULSION HEARING,
HE GENEROUSLY OFFERED THE SCHOOL'S TRUSTEES
A NEW LIBRARY WITH TWO CONDITIONS...
THAT YOU WERE ALLOWED TO STAY
AND I WAS ALLOWED TO GO.
HISTORY HAS AN INTERESTING WAY OF REPEATING ITSELF,
DOESN'T IT?
CLARK, I HOPE I'M NOT INTERRUPTING.
NO, UH, I COULD USE THE INSPIRATION.
I THOUGHT YOU'D BE SWAMPED WITH PARTY PREP BY NOW.
I WAS HEADING OVER TO THE TALON,
BUT THIS ARRIVED AT MY HOUSE.
I ASKED LEX TO LOOK INTO THOSE PHOTOS
OF MY MOTHER.
YOU THINK THAT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE?
I DON'T KNOW.
HE SENT ME THIS, I HAVEN'T OPENED IT YET.
AS BADLY AS I WANT THE TRUTH,
I'M AFRAID I WON'T LIKE WHAT I FIND.
WHY THE CHANGE OF HEART?
I GUESS THE IMAGE OF MY PARENTS
THE WAY I THOUGHT THEY WERE IS ALL I HAVE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT.
MAYBE JUST BY DOUBTING, I ALREADY HAVE.
HOW ARE THINGS WITH YOUR GRANDFATHER?
DISASTER IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
I TOOK HIM TO SEE MY FATHER,
AND IT WAS LIKE WATCHING HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
I HATE TO SEE IT END LIKE THIS.
I CAN'T CONTROL THE WAY THEY ACT AROUND EACH OTHER.
ARE YOU GOING TO TRY AGAIN?
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PAST,
BUT MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO ABOUT THE FUTURE.
CLARK.
I DON'T WANT OUR RELATIONSHIP TO END
BEFORE IT EVER HAD A CHANCE TO BEGIN.
WELL, YOU CAN COME IN IF YOU WANT.
BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.
I'M RUNNING A LITTLE LATE.
THERE'S SOMETHING I WANTED TO SHOW YOU.
IT'S OUR PHOTO ALBUM...
SCHOOL PLAYS, CAMPING TRIPS, BACKYARD ACTIVITIES.
STUFF THAT FAMILIES DO TOGETHER.
I WANTED YOU TO SEE OUR FAMILY THE WAY I DO.
WE'RE MORE THAN OLD ARGUMENTS AND OVERDUE BILLS.
I'D LIKE YOU TO GIVE THIS TO YOUR MOTHER.
IT'S A CASHIER'S CHECK.
SHE CAN USE IT NOW, A YEAR FROM NOW,
WHENEVER SHE NEEDS IT.
WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO HER YOURSELF?
I'M SORRY, CLARK.
WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A MAN WHO HASN'T
SEEN HIS FAMILY IN 20 YEARS CAN JUST WALK AWAY.
CHRISSY, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.
IS THERE A PROBLEM, MR. REYNOLDS?
I LEFT THREE MESSAGES FOR YOUR PARENTS.
STILL NO ANSWER.
THEY'VE BEEN REALLY BUSY.
IS THIS, UH, IS THIS STILL ABOUT MY TRANSCRIPTS?
AND YOU. I'VE BEEN MAKING AN EFFORT TO GET TO KNOW
THE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS.
MAYBE I CAN COME BY YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEKEND
WHEN THEY'RE AT HOME.
WELL, THEY'LL BE JOINING ME AT THE TALON
FOR THE SPIRIT WEEK RALLY.
YOU CAN MEET US THERE BEFORE THE PARTY.
THAT'LL BE FINE. SEE YOU THERE.
CLARK, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
I JUST LEFT YOU LIKE SIX MESSAGES.
SORRY, IT'S BEEN A VERY WEIRD DAY.
WELL, IT'S ABOUT TO GET WEIRDER. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
FLORIDA... 12 YEARS AGO, PIPER HIGH SCHOOL.
THREE STUDENTS DIED OF THE SAME MYSTERIOUS UBER-PROGERIA.
ALL WITHIN A 48-HOUR PERIOD.
LET ME GUESS... CHRISSY WAS INVOLVED.
TRY "MISSY."
CLASS OF '90... MISSY PARKER.
DIFFERENT NAME, SAME FACE.
YEAH, IT GETS BETTER.
LAKEWOOD HIGH, CLASS OF '81.
THERE SHE IS AGAIN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS, CLARK,
BUT I MATCHED CHRISSY TO TRIPLE PROGERIA CASES
GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO HAMMONDS SCHOOL FOR GIRLS,
CLASS OF 1921.
IT'S LIKE SHE'S FEEDING OFF THEIR YOUTH
TO STAY ETERNALLY YOUNG.
IT TAKES THE PETER PAN COMPLEX TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
TROY WAS KILLED ALMOST TWO DAYS AGO,
AND RUSSELL WAS KILLED YESTERDAY.
CHRISSY'S GOING TO NEED ANOTHER VICTIM.
I'll CALL THE POLICE.
CLARK?
[ DANCE MUSIC PLAYING ]
♫ BE AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E ♫
CHRISSY.
♫ BE AGGRESSIVE, WHOO ♫
♫ BE AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E ♫
♫ AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ BE AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E AGGRESSIVE ♫
CHRISSY?
MR. REYNOLDS.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK YOU'VE TAKEN SPIRIT WEEK TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
ARE YOUR PARENTS HERE YET?
ACTUALLY, MR. REYNOLDS,
THEY DIED OVER A CENTURY AGO.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
SEE, I'VE SEEN THE FUTURE, MR. REYNOLDS, AGAIN AND AGAIN,
AND I'VE LEARNED ONE THING.
♫ WHOO ♫
♫ BE AGGRESSIVE ♫
♫ B-E AGGRESSIVE ♫
THESE ARE THE BEST YEARS OF ANYONE'S LIFE.
[ THUD ]
CLARK. I THOUGHT YOU WERE THE BAND.
IF THEY DON'T SHOW, WE'RE STUCK WITH A HALF-DOZEN MP3s.
AND MY BOOM BOX.
HAVE YOU SEEN CHRISSY?
YEAH, SHE WAS... JUST HERE.
HEY, CLARK, WHAT'S GOING ON?
JUST GO LOCK THE DOOR. DON'T LET ANYONE IN.
CHRISSY, STOP. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
CHRISSY, YOU NEED HELP.
I NEED HIM.
I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU HURT ANYONE ELSE.
I AM SAVING THEM, CLARK,
FROM LIVES THAT WILL NEVER BE AS HAPPY AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN SPIRIT WEEK AND CHEERLEADING.
YOU'RE WRONG.
YOU WILL NEVER BE THIS YOUNG,
THIS BEAUTIFUL, OR THIS PERFECT AGAIN.
BUT I WILL.
CHRISSY!
MORE BILLS, HUH, DAD?
YEAH. IT SEEMS LIKE THESE DARN THINGS
KEEP RIGHT ON COMING.
CLARK, YOU'VE HAD QUITE A WEEK.
ANY MORE FALLOUT FROM SCHOOL?
SPIRIT WEEK IS OFFICIALLY KAPUT.
AW, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
THE PRINCIPAL'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
HE ACTUALLY WARNED ME ABOUT BEING LATE
WHEN THEY WERE LOADING HIM IN THE AMBULANCE.
CLARK, LISTEN, I KNOW THAT THE SITUATION WITH YOUR GRANDPA
IS BUGGING YOU, AND IT SHOULD, BUT...
I WENT TO GO SEE HIM.
HE ASKED ME TO GIVE THIS TO YOU.
HE SAID HE TRIED TO GET INVOLVED IN MY LIFE AFTER THE ADOPTION.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU LET HIM SEE ME?
WELL, IT'S COMPLICATED.
IT CAN'T BE THAT COMPLICATED. HE'S MY GRANDFATHER.
CLARK,
WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE BOY, YOU COULDN'T CONTROL
YOUR ABILITIES LIKE YOU CAN NOW.
AND IF HE HAD SPENT ANY TIME WITH US,
I THINK HE MIGHT'VE FOUND OUT YOUR SECRET.
BUT HE'S FAMILY.
WE HAD SUCH A HISTORY OF DISAGREEING ON THINGS.
WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW HE'D REACT.
WE COULDN'T BE SURE WE COULD TRUST HIM.
SO HE'S NOT A PART OF OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF ME?
SON, EVERY YOUNG MAN WANTS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH HIS GRANDPA,
BUT IN YOUR CASE, IT JUST MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE.
LANA.
WORKING ON SOMETHING IMPORTANT?
I JUST FINISHED MY ESSAY.
SO, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN FIVE YEARS?
IN COLLEGE, PROBABLY STUDYING JOURNALISM.
YOU'RE KIDDING.
DON'T TELL CHLOE, BUT I THINK IT'S GROWING ON ME.
I LIKE TO FIND THE TRUTH BEHIND THINGS.
I'M TIRED OF HAVING SECRETS IN MY LIFE.
AND PERSONALLY?
I'VE DECIDED I'M GOING TO FIND A WAY
TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GRANDFATHER.
HOW ABOUT YOU? IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
CLARK, I READ LEX'S FILE.
ACCORDING TO COURT PAPERS,
MY PARENTS FILED FOR DIVORCE IN 1985...
IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES.
BUT THEY WORKED IT OUT, RIGHT?
EVENTUALLY.
BUT THEY WERE LEGALLY SEPARATED FOR OVER A YEAR.
SO THE GUY IN THE PICTURE WITH YOUR MOTHER...
COULD BE MORE THAN A FRIEND.
I WAS BORN RIGHT AFTER MY PARENTS GOT BACK TOGETHER.
MY FATHER COULD STILL BE ALIVE.
♫ YOU'RE FALLING OUT OF REACH ♫
♫ DEFYING GRAVITY ♫
♫ I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE, SOMEWHERE OUT THERE ♫
♫ YOU'RE FALLING BACK TO ME ♫
♫ THE STAR THAT I CAN SEE ♫
♫ I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE, SOMEWHERE OUT THERE ♫
♫ YOU'RE FALLING OUT OF REACH ♫
♫ I KNOW ♫
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