Smallville
Season 5
Episode 7: Manipulation
Written by Trevor Melton
FADE IN:
INT. SMALLVILLE – THE TALON – APARTMENT – DAY
LANA LANG is sitting on her couch. She is looking at old pictures. All of them are either of her and WHITNEY FORDMAN or pictures of just Whitney by himself. A tear comes to her eyes as she continues to look.
LANA
It can’t be possible.
LOIS LANE and CHLOE SULLIVAN come out of the bedroom at the far end of the apartment. Lana turns to them and places the pictures on the table.
LOIS
I’m going to take Chloe for some
Air. You want to come?
LANA
No, that’s alright. You guys go
Ahead. I need to stay here. Clark
Has yet to call me since last night
And I would really like to know why
He ditched me.
CHLOE
We’ll be back soon.
LANA
You be safe, Chloe.
CHLOE
Don’t worry. Too much has already
Happened to me as is for things to
Really get much worse.
Lois opens the door for Chloe. Standing in the doorway with his hand up like he was getting ready to knock is Dr. Milton Fine.
MILTON FINE
Amazing timing you girls have. Is
Ms. Lana Lang in?
LOIS (Suspiciously.)
Yes... why?
MILTON FINE
I’m a representative from Central
Kansas. I would like to speak with
Her about her admission.
LOIS
Oh. Lana, someone from Central
Kansas for you.
Lana stands up and moves over toward the door as Lois and Chloe leave. Lana smiles to Fine and shuts the door after he walks in. Fine extends his hand for Lana to shake. She accepts.
MILTON FINE
I’m Professor Milton Fine of the
Astronomy Department. I noticed
That you were interested in taking
My classes.
LANA (Smiling.)
Yes, sir. I’ve always been
Intrigued by the stars. I want to
Learn all I can about them.
MILTON FINE (Smiling.)
And I assure you that you will, my
Dear.
LANA
You said your last name was Fine...
You wouldn’t be Abigail Fine’s
Father, would you?
MILTON FINE
Never heard of her. I actually
Recently moved here from Gotham
City. I transferred from the
University over there. Gotham has
Become a bit too much for me to
Handle these days.
LANA
And so you came all this way to
Just be assured that I wanted to
Take your Astronomy classes?
MILTON FINE
It’s a normal trait of mine. I’m
Sorry if I’ve frightened you. I do
Not mean to do that. I have always
Visited my students a few months
Before I have them in class to see
If they’re truly worthy enough for
The challenges that lie ahead for
Them, and believe me, my dear, you
Definitely look ready.
LANA
I seriously hope so, Professor
Fine.
Fine steps forward some and crosses behind Lana.
MILTON FINE (Whispering.)
I know so.
Lana can feel the chills from Fine’s whispering as he is so close to her.
MILTON FINE (Cont’d.)
You must understand that in this
World there are so many things that
People consider important, but you
Put your schooling at the top of
Your priorities list. However, your
Learning isn’t everything unless
You have a loved one to spend your
Time and knowledge on. It is time,
Lana. Your time has come to fulfill
Your destiny.
LANA (Entranced.)
What is my destiny?
Milton Fine smiles evilly.
MILTON FINE
Why, to marry Lex Luthor, of
Course. You thought you were in
Love with Clark Kent, but you never
Really loved him at all. You are
Meant to spend your life with Lex
Luthor. You have loved him for a
Very long time. It is time that he
Make you happy and do what you want
Him to do.
Fine smirks at his genius from behind Lana as he can tell that his manipulative ways are working their way through her brain. She suddenly nods as she begins to smile.
LANA
You’re right... Lex and I belong
Together...
MILTON FINE
Good girl. Make Brainiac proud.
Fine pecks Lana on the cheek and starts for the exit to the apartment.
INT. SMALLVILLE – THE TALON – STAIRWELL – DAY
Milton Fine shuts the door behind him and smiles evilly.
MILTON FINE (Cont’d.)
It is all coming together, Kal-
El... Soon everything will be set
And total chaos will reign over all
Of Smallville. You’re about to
Loose the love of your life.
Fine laughs evilly as his eyes seem to become a deep, bright red.
OPENING CREDITS, CUE “SAVE ME” BY REMY ZERO
SMALLVILLE TITLE SCREEN
TOM WELLING
KRISTIN KREUK
MICHAEL ROSENBAUM
ALLISON MACK
ERICA DURANCE
JOHN GLOVER
ANNETTE O’TOOLE
AND JOHN SCHNEIDER
AS JONATHAN KENT
EXT. SMALLVILLE – KENT FARM – DRIVEWAY - DAY
A basketball hits the goal and goes in. The ball falls and lands in CLARK KENT’S hands. He turns around to look at TALIA AL GHUL, whom is just standing there in confusion.
GUEST STARING
ALEXIS THROPE
TALIA
What is this game called?
CLARK
Basketball.
CAMILLE MITCHELL
TALIA
Basket... ball?
CLARK
No, it’s one whole word. Not two.
JAMES MARSTERS
AS BRAINIAC/DR. MILTON FINE
Clark tosses the ball to Talia, who just barely manages to catch it.
TALIA
But you said that this ball is
Called basketball... All you’re
Accomplishing here is that I can be
Easily confused.
JERI RYAN
AS MERCY GRAVES
Clark laughs and moves over to Talia.
CLARK
You’re holding a basketball and
You’re also playing basketball.
MICHAEL IRONSIDE
AS GENERAL SAM LANE
TALIA
Are all sports this complicated?
CLARK
Some... maybe you’d have better
Work with swimming. No balls
Involved.
TALIA
Sounds interesting.
PATRICK CASSIDY
AS HENRY SMALL
CLARK
I’ll take you by the community
Center later if you like.
TALIA
I would love that, Clark.
SARAH-JANE REDMOND
AS NELL POTTER
Talia looks at Clark with admiration. There is a twinkle in her eyes as she looks him over. Clark gets a little nervous and turns to walk away, but Talia grabs his arm. He looks at her very uncomfortable.
MICHAEL KOPSA
AS DEAN
TALIA (Cont’d.)
I know that you’re trying to help
Me, but at the same time, I wonder
If I have done something to hurt
You.
AND ERIC JOHNSON
AS WHITNEY FORDMAN
CLARK
No, it’s not that. I’m dating
Someone right now. I just get
Uncomfortable around other girls.
TALIA
Oh... You don’t want her to get...
What’s the word?
SPECIAL APPERANCE BY
JANE SEYMOUR
AS GENEVIEVE TEAGUE
CLARK
Jealous?
TALIA
Yes, that’s it. My vocabulary is
Still slowly coming back to me...
At least that’s coming back.
CLARK (Smiling.)
It’s a start.
INT. SMALLVILLE – KENT FARM – HOUSE – DAY
MARTHA KENT is washing the dishes as Jonathan looks out the window at Clark and Talia continuing to talk and play basketball.
JONATHAN
I don’t trust leaving Clark alone
With her.
MARTHA
It’s not like she could do much to
Him since she’s alone. That bald
Man is no where to be found. He
Probably figures that this is the
Last place she would be.
JONATHAN
For all we know, he’s already been
Checking throughout Smallville
Looking for her.
MARTHA
What are we going to do about the
Luthor’s? Lucas had to have told
Lex and Lionel by now.
JONATHAN
I’ve thought about several ideas,
But one thing is for sure, we
Cannot take her to Metropolis.
That’s the first place they would
Look for her.
MARTHA
But she can’t stay here. How about
Gotham?
JONATHAN
That’s even worse.
They both hear footsteps behind them and turn around. Shock comes to both of their faces as they see LIONEL LUTHOR standing behind them smiling.
LIONEL
I know exactly where she could go.
JONATHAN
How did you get in here?
LIONEL
The front door was open. I just
Thought...
JONATHAN
That you could let yourself in just
Because you know who Talia is. I
Guess Lucas went home crying to
Daddy last night.
LIONEL
Lucas didn’t say anything to me
About it. Nor would he have this
Morning because he left for
Metropolis with a photographer this
Morning. I saw Talia outside with
Clark.
JONATHAN
Which leaves the question of how
You got in this house without him
Seeing you?
LIONEL
Clark and I have an arrangement as
It were.
JONATHAN
I don’t think I like the sound of
That.
LIONEL
Trust me, Mr. Kent. It isn’t
Something that will end up with him
Strapped down on a lab table.
MARTHA (Worried.)
What are you talking about?
LIONEL
Clark is the one that should be
Discussing this with you, not me.
JONATHAN
Oh, I think you’re the perfect
Person to discuss this with. You
Will stay away from my son. You
Have no business here.
Clark and Talia step into the house seeing the tension. Talia looks to Lionel, but then looks back to Clark not knowing who he is.
LIONEL
Hello, Talia.
JONATHAN
Clark, please take Talia back
Outside.
TALIA
Do I know you?
Talia steps forward before Clark can grab her arm.
LIONEL
Yes, you do.
JONATHAN
Talia, please go outside.
TALIA
But this man knows me. He may be
Able to help me remember who I was.
LIONEL (Smiling.)
You’re right, dear. I can help you.
JONATHAN
She doesn’t need your help.
LIONEL
I think she does.
CLARK
Dad, just let him help her.
Jonathan turns to Clark in shock and sort of disgust as well.
JONATHAN
So he was telling the truth when he
Said that you two have some sort of
Arrangement now?
CLARK (Nods.)
Yes.
JONATHAN (Sarcastically.)
Perfect. Just perfect.
TALIA
What can you tell me?
LIONEL
Just the facts. Talia, you are a
Leading manager at one of Luthor
Corps main complexes in Metropolis.
Jonathan and Martha look to each other in confusion from the lie coming out of Lionel’s mouth, but even they aren’t sure because they don’t know Talia’s origins.
TALIA
Where’s that?
LIONEL
Three hours drive from here, but
Much quicker by helicopter,
Wouldn’t you say, Martha?
Martha smiles a little and nods. Jonathan raises an eyebrow to Lionel in a threatening way. Talia nods apparently understanding. Lionel turns his arm toward the living room.
LIONEL (Cont’d.)
Come. I think you would like to sit
For the rest of the story.
Lionel leads Talia forward into the living room.
JONATHAN (Sighing.)
I don’t trust this.
CLARK
Don’t worry, dad. He’s on our side.
JONATHAN
Somehow I never thought I’d hear
You say that, son.
INT. SMALLVILLE – LUTHOR MANSION – LEX’S OFFICE – DAY
LEX LUTHOR and MERCY GRAVES are poring over some documents near the window. They are talking very quietly amongst themselves as Lana Lang walks into the office. They both turn to see her.
LEX
We’ll finish up later, Mercy.
Please leave us.
MERCY
Of course.
Mercy walks to the exit and closes the door as she leaves. Lex smiles as he walks over to Lana.
LEX
It’s good to see you. I was very
Worried when the helicopter didn’t
Report back to me.
LANA (Entranced.)
That doesn’t matter now. What
Matters is that I’m here now.
Lex raises his eyebrow at the way Lana is acting and walks over to the wet bar.
LEX
Are you alright, Lana?
LANA (Smiling.)
I am now that I’m with you.
Lex tilts his head not expecting that response.
LEX
You’re definitely not acting
Yourself.
LANA
Well, you’ll come to realize that
This is my real self.
INT. SMALLVILLE – LUTHOR MANSION – HIDDEN PASSAGE – DAY
GENEVIEVE TEAGUE looks from a small peep hole inside what appears to be a hidden passage in the walls that has never been seen before. Genevieve has a look of anger on her face, most likely from seeing Lana.
GENEVIEVE
What are you up to, Lana?
MILTON FINE (O.S.)
She’s up to nothing.
Genevieve jumps from the sudden voice that she didn’t expect. She turns to see Milton Fine standing beside her, smiling.
GENEVIEVE
Who are you?
MILTON FINE
Does that really matter? What
Matters here is that we share a
Common interest.
GENEVIEVE
And that would be?
MILTON FINE
To understand our powers. To
Contemplate why we’re here and how
Is it that we came to be immortal,
Mrs. Teague.
GENEVIEVE
For someone that I’ve never met
Before, you certainly seem to know
Much about me.
MILTON FINE
More then you could ever dream of
Knowing, dear.
Fine reaches out, takes her hand, and kisses it before turning to look through the peep hole at Lex and Lana still talking.
MILTON FINE (Cont’d.)
Let’s enjoy the show.
INT. SMALLVILLE – LUTHOR MANSION – LEX’S OFFICE – DAY
Lex takes a drink from his glass and then turns back to Lana.
LEX
So I heard that you and Clark were
Finally together. I congratulate
You.
LANA (Scowling.)
Why? He isn’t worth my time.
Lana sits down on the couch. Lex narrows his eyes in confusion and walks over to join her. He sits down beside her.
LEX
Why would you say that for? You two
Are meant to be.
LANA
Why does everyone think that for?
LEX
Because it’s true.
LANA
Not anymore.
LEX
And why is that?
LANA
Because I’ve finally woke up and
Realized who I really belong with.
LEX
And just who would that be?
Lana looks up to Lex and smiles largely.
LANA
I think you already know the answer
To that.
LEX
Lana, what has come over you?
INT. SMALLVILLE – LUTHOR MANSION – HIDDEN PASSAGE – DAY
MILTON FINE
It’s time. Watch and learn, Mrs.
Teague.
GENEVIEVE
What are you going to...
Before Genevieve can finish, Fine goes right through the wall like it wasn’t even there. Genevieve’s eyes enlarge from the shock.