Smallville (2001–2011): Season 1, Episode 14 - Zero - full transcript

As Lex helps Lana prepare for the re-opening of the Smallville theater, The Talon, as a coffee shop, a man from Lex's past, named Jude Royce, arrives in town and begins stalking Lex wanting...

Let me go.

What do you want from me?

The truth.

- Can I see some ID?
- You must be new here.

Hey, it's okay, let him through.

- Thanks, Kasich.
- No problem.

- She's cute.
- She's engaged.

What do you think?

It's loud.

- How's the VIP room tonight?
- I think we can make some room for you.

I hope you didn't feel obligated
to entertain me.



Jude's only gone for a couple days.

I don't believe in obligations.
Besides, your fiancé did me a favor.

I wasn't looking forward to a night out
on my own.

Something tells me you wouldn't
have been alone for very long.

- Two apple martinis.
- Coming up.

"Zero consequences."

That's quite a promise.

Only if it's kept.

To my good friend Amanda
on her engagement.

- Cheers.
- Cheers.

What is it?

What are you doing?

- Amanda.
- You said you had to go away...

- on business.
- I can explain, okay? Just wait.



Amanda, wait a sec...

I can explain, Amanda. Just wait.
Amanda!

You son of a bitch.
You did this on purpose.

You did it to yourself.
Amanda deserves better.

Liar! That's what it said in the papers,
but that's not what really happened.

- It's the truth. Read the police reports!
- I know you covered it up.

I don't know how you did it,
but you're gonna pay.

Who are you?

Don't you remember?

You killed me.

Daddy can't save you this time, Lex.

♪ Smallville: "Zero" ♪
Season 01 Episode 14

There is nothing like 50 minutes
of Mr. Austin's English class...

- that works up an appetite.
- Nothing like a student biography...

- due Monday to help me lose mine.
- The biography part...

or the fact that our student subjects
were randomly assigned?

Pete's convinced that the drawing
was fixed.

There are a dozen ladies in our class,
each worthy of lengthy interrogation.

- I get stuck with Stan Gibson?
- The manager of the student store?

- I hear he's very...
- Efficient?

Funny. I'm about to learn more about
the art of selling "Go Crow" pennants...

than any human
should have to endure.

You haven't stopped smiling since
we left. Who's your victim?

The illustrious Mr. Kent himself.

- Me?
- I take it back.

Chloe's the one with the challenge.

- Excuse me?
- No offence, Clark...

but digging up six pages of interesting
on you...

- is gonna require serious excavation.
- I do stuff.

Yes, and I'm sure that once I deploy
my journalistic skills on you...

I'll unearth a skeleton or two.

You know, Chloe, this is a class project,
not a corruption scandal.

Relax. It's not like you
have anything to hide, right?

Come on, Clark, cough up.
Who'd you get?

Don't tell me. Lana Lang.

Just look at his face,
you don't even have to see it.

Like I said, definitely rigged.

- I assume you'll start your paper ASAP?
- It's all gonna work out.

I'm helping Lana at the Talon
getting ready for the opening.

Surrogate boyfriend
does the heavy lifting...

while Whitney
works at his dad's store.

- On that note...
- Wait.

When are you gonna sit down
to do my interview?

Right. I'll be around.

Did he just blow me off?

One step forward, two steps back.
Come on.

You promised everything would be ready
on time.

That was before the plumbing
started leaking.

- Hasn't been replaced in years.
- How long will that take?

I can't really give you a straight answer,
not until I crawl up there.

You resurrect the past,
you get the problems that come with it.

Lex Luthor's going to be by later.
He's going to need numbers...

and a timetable
and a better explanation than that.

Sorry, we're not open yet.

It's about the
assistant manager position.

I know I'm late, but if I can get
an application...

- Yeah, yeah, just give me a second.
- Great. Really appreciate this, Miss...?

- Lang.
- Lang.

Just to warn you, my aunt's not taking
any more interviews until next week.

Well, that's all right. I happen
to have all the time in the world.

- I'm Jude Royce.
- Hi.

So I understand that Lex Luthor
has a stake in this project.

Yeah, he's one of the owners.
Why? Do you know him?

- A lifetime ago in Metropolis.
- Must have been interesting.

Well, let's just say there's a reason
he's in Smallville.

You know my advice?
Stay away from him.

When Lex gets involved,
things usually turn out badly.

What are you doing here?
We had an understanding.

After that night,
we were never to have any contact.

- I saw him, Lex.
- Who?

Jude.

- We both know that's impossible.
- Listen to me! He's alive.

Everywhere I go, I see him.

- He's stalking me.
- Kasich. Calm down.

I'm not crazy.

- This man say what he wanted?
- Yeah. The truth.

Listen. I keep an apartment in the city.

It's very secure. You stay there
and wait for my call.

- Hey, Lex.
- Hey.

- Who was that?
- Nobody.

I hear we sprung a leak.

Is everything all right?

- Just a little weirded out.
- Relax, it's just a leak.

No, a friend of yours came by, applied
for the assistant manager position.

He told me to stay away from you.

What was his name?

Jude Royce.

- What is it, Lex?
- When did he leave?

Just before you came in.

Lex, who's Jude Royce?

Trust me, Clark,
I have no idea who Lana met today...

but it couldn't have been him.

Don't worry about it, Clark. I'm not.

What's going on?

I don't know!

Feel under the dash.

Looks like someone decided
to get creative while I was inside.

What were the screams?

I assume it's someone's twisted idea
of a joke.

And a successful one.
We've managed to draw a crowd.

- Lex.
- Clark, this really doesn't concern you.

Hello, anybody home?

Hey, pull up a microphone, son.

- Chloe, what's going on?
- Since I couldn't find you...

I decided to start my biographical
inquiry at the beginning.

Unlike a certain
so-called friend of mine...

your parents gracefully agreed
to be interviewed.

Chloe's been asking us
some very interesting questions, Clark.

Thank you. Now, we just
have a few more to go, so...

We were talking about the early days.

Now, what was involved
in adopting Clark?

Well, it was... It was just like
any normal adoption, I guess.

Can you take me through the process?
Did it takes weeks or months?

Did you guys use a lawyer,
or did you go through an agen...?

Shoot. I'm out of tape. That's okay,
I've got some extra C-90s in my car.

I'll be right back.

Chloe's researching your life
for a school project?

- When did that happen?
- We just got the assignment today.

I didn't know she was gonna
go Mike Wallace.

We don't mind talking about you...

but if she starts asking questions
about the adoption...

What about the adoption?

Is there something I should know?

Well, of course,
we had to make up a story...

but it's more complicated
than that.

Let's just say it's a subject we
would rather not have anyone explore.

Sorry. Am I interrupting?

Clark, now that you're finally spinning
in my orbit...

I have a couple
of pertinents for you too.

Actually, this is just a pit stop for me.

I'm on my way to meet Lana
to work on my paper.

You know, Clark, not to strike a
paranoid note, but are you avoiding me?

Tomorrow, I promise.

Okay, this isn't an official question...

and I don't want you guys to take it
the wrong way...

but has your son
always been this strange?

- How does it feel?
- Feel?

To single-handedly
bring the Talon back...

from the brink of becoming
a parking garage?

It's nice, you know, being counted on,
having responsibility.

- People treat you differently.
- Like you won't break.

Finally feel like I'm shedding
that fairy-princess costume.

- Lex, what are you doing here?
- Contractor called.

Said he had an estimate,
wanted me to meet him here.

What the hell?

Are you okay?

Yeah. I came in the back door
and some guy jumped me...

and forced me to let him in
and bashed me over the head.

Did you see his face?

No.

Look.

That wasn't there when I locked up.
I'll go call the police.

Lex, your name's on it.

Zero consequences.

How you holding up?

I was fine... until it showed up.

Yeah, stupid question.

What kind of a sick person
would do a thing like that?

I don't know.

But I've never seen Lex
so freaked out before.

Join the club.

That guy warned me. He said everything
Lex touches ends badly.

How much do we really know about him
and his past?

I want you both to know how truly sorry
I am about this.

I promise this won't affect
the grand opening.

We're going to be infamous
before we even open the doors.

Do you know who he is?
The guy in the... You know.

Max Kasich. And yes, I knew him
a long time ago in Metropolis.

Do you have any idea
who might have done this to him?

Not at all.

What about your old friend Jude Royce?

- I doubt it could have been him, Clark.
- Why?

Because he's been dead for three years.

The only information
I got from the Kents...

was the earth-shattering admission
that Clark hates peas.

A body part shows up at the Talon
and all you can talk about is Clark?

Where are your priorities?
Lex Luthor must be mixed up in this.

I know you've got issues
with the Luthors...

More than issues.
You know what they did to my family.

One piece of investigative information
at a time.

- Now, about Clark...
- Chloe, what do you want from me?

In a world of designer water,
Clark's from the tap.

But you've known him the longest.
All I need is just a little anecdote...

just a small piece of information
from Clark's deep, dark past.

Well, there was something
back in the first grade.

Thank you! That's more
than I've uncovered the past two days.

Now, please, let's continue.

There was a bully three grades ahead.

This dude was determined
to pound dents into every kid.

One day it was my turn.
He was just about to take my head off...

- when Clark jumped between us.
- So Clark ran interference?

Now, as kind as that sounds, Pete...

I don't think it falls into
the "something amazing" test.

- What test?
- I'm not finished.

Clark didn't just push Braindead,
he put him through a door...

as in splinters and broken hinges.
How he did it, I still have no idea.

- Guy was at least twice our size.
- Clark, any comments?

Well, we were, you know, 6 years old.
Twice our size was three feet tall.

If you need more ancient history,
ask the source.

I've got an appointment
at the student store.

Have fun.

And so the mystery
that isn't Clark Kent deepens.

- Mystery?
- Yeah.

Since you continue
to play obstructionist...

I've had to find information
through other means.

I found that your adoption was done
through Metropolis United Charities...

but this is the strange part.
They were in business for six months...

and from what I can tell,
yours is the only adoption they handled.

I can't believe you did this, Chloe.

You didn't know? I just assumed
that your parents would have told you.

- I mean, weren't you interested?
- Why would I be?

My biological parents are either dead
or didn't want me.

- You're prying into my private life.
- I was just trying to be thorough.

This is a class project. I spent an hour
yesterday with Lana, that's it.

That's all I needed.
I'm not some mystery for you to solve.

Clark, I...

Talk to me, Mr. Raines.

According to the doorman, Kasich never
made it to the apartment in Metropolis.

- What about Royce?
- His parents died when he was young.

Car accident. He was
an only child, inherited everything.

And Amanda Rothman?
Have you tracked her down yet?

She moved, left no forwarding address.
When's the last time you spoke to her?

About three years ago.

I'll go wider,
but it could take some time.

It'd help if you tell me
what's going on.

No, it wouldn't.
You're my head of security.

You find her and warn her
she could be in danger.

That's all you need to know.

Make a path. Police.
Excuse me, excuse me. Police.

- Who are you?
- Detective Sam Phelan, Metropolis P.D.

Are you what passes for security
in this zoo?

- Yeah.
- Don't go anywhere. We'll talk.

- Thank God you're here.
- Lex, Lex.

You really put your foot in it this time.

Tell me exactly what happened.

Hey, if you fall apart on me,
I can't help you.

Now what went down?

That's exactly what happened?

Good. Here's how it's gonna go.

You were never here. Your name will not
appear in any papers or the police report.

- How?
- That's what your daddy's money's for.

This one's gonna cost him.

- What about Amanda?
- I'll take care of everybody's story...

but you are never to see her
or talk to her again. You got it?

Call this guy,
he'll take care of your shoulder.

No emergency rooms.

All right, get out of here.

- Did you see what happened?
- Most of it.

Well, smile. Because you're about to
come into some serious money.

Nothing to say?

I thought Lex Luthor
had all the answers.

Look, you twisted son of a bitch.

- I don't know what you want.
- What happened at Club Zero.

The cover-up.

You know the cop?

The one on the report? Phelan?

He's dead.

It seems you were somehow involved
in that too. I find that very interesting.

Why don't you kill me now?

Because it's more fun
to watch you suffer.

Knowing that at any moment, bang!

Tell me.

What really happened?

Lex!

Lex, you all right?

Clark, what are you doing here?

Your office told me you were here.

I thought I heard someone else.

No. I'm all by myself.

Hey, I looked up Max Kasich.

I know what happened at Club Zero.

That he was shot and killed Jude Royce.
Everyone fits into this except for you.

- What's going on?
- Please, Clark.

For our friendship, I'm asking you
to stay out of this.

Some secrets are better left alone.

Clark.

Come on, son, the cows aren't
gonna feed themselves.

- You have a late night?
- I was helping Lana.

She's not gonna let the whole body-part
incident delay the opening of the Talon.

That's what happens when you get into
business with somebody like Lex Luthor.

If it wasn't for Lex,
the Talon would be a parking garage.

Son, he casts a very, very long shadow.

I just want to make sure
none of you kids get hurt, that's all.

The past is in the past.
The best we can do is look to the future.

All right, you got me.

Speaking of that,
how's Chloe's paper coming along?

I assume she's done
with her interviews?

I'm not sure.

Look, Clark, if she mentions anything
to you about the peas, I'm sorry.

It's the first thing that came to mind.

And if she mentions anything to me
about the Metropolis United Charities?

I used to think perseverance
was an admirable quality.

Since I learned the real truth,
I hadn't thought about the adoption.

Dad, Chloe told me the agency you used
was only open six months...

and I was the only kid adopted.

Look, son...

the process is a really tough one even
when you go through normal channels.

With you, it was just
a little more complicated, that's all.

- Is everything legal?
- Yeah, it's legal, it's just...

Well, it required a higher level of access
than your mother or I had.

What does that mean?

Let's just say it's a long road between
what's sitting in our storm cellar...

and what's written
on your birth certificate.

- You hear that?
- Hear what?

The whole herd's just over that rise.
We ought to be hearing something.

What do you think happened?

Why would LuthorCorp
dump their stuff here?

I'm gonna go take
from some different angles.

Mr. And Mrs. Kent, I have no idea
how this could have happened...

but I'll do everything in my power
to find out.

And I'll pay for your livestock, of course.

You think that's how
you solve everything, don't you, Lex?

You sprinkle a little money on it
and hope the problem goes away.

Well, obviously, some things
are a little more difficult than that.

I didn't think it was possible to fall
any further in your father's eyes.

Obviously, I was wrong.

I'd never intentionally allow
something like this to happen.

Does this have anything
to do with Club Zero?

- I think so.
- You need to tell the authorities...

everything you know.
This isn't just about you anymore.

Mr. Luthor, the C.E.P. Guy
needs to talk to you. He's over there.

Looks like a black mark
on your company's environmental record.

- I'm gonna walk over and get the sheriff.
- And tell him what?

Just tell him that Clark Kent called.
Thank you.

- Who was that?
- I'm trying to reach Lex.

He's not in the office.
He's not at the mansion...

and his cell phone goes straight
to voice mail.

Where's Dad?

Still supervising
the removal of the cows.

- Lex said he'd pay for that.
- Clark, this isn't just about money.

We don't know
what kind of health threat...

this poses to us or to our neighbours.

I don't think this is Lex's fault.

Someone is trying to set him up...

because of what happened
at the nightclub.

Look.

- Until this is cleared up, I don't...
- Lex has always been a good friend.

I know.
I'm usually the one who defends him...

but there are some things in his past
that are a little shady.

In this family we don't look at the past.

Clark, I grew up in Metropolis,
I know the Luthor world.

It looks glamorous and fun,
but the kids grow up too fast...

and they can get into trouble.

Whatever's happening to Lex is starting
to affect you.

Body parts in boxes and poisoned cows?
This isn't normal.

What do you want me to do?
Cut him out of my life?

No, I want you to cool it off for a while
until we know what really happened.

Your father and I just don't want to
see you pulled into his problems.

Can I talk to you for a second?

How you doing?

- That depends if it's on the record.
- Okay, I deserve that.

Look, I didn't mean to ambush you
with the whole adoption agency thing.

Hey, you saw a story
and you went right for it.

- That's what journalists do.
- You're right.

I didn't think about
how it would hurt you.

And, you know,
as much as journalistic instinct rebels...

I'd rather have a friend
than a subject...

so I'm dropping the whole thing.

Thank you.

Can I ask you a question?

Totally off the record.

Do you ever wonder
about your biological parents?

Every day of my life.

Looks like I'm not the only one
doing some digging.

- What's Club Zero?
- Part of Lex's past...

he asked me to stay out of.

By the way, I brought by
some pictures for your parents.

I figured they could use it
for insurance purposes and stuff.

I'll see you later. I gotta go.

Chloe...

it's the same guy.

- Wait, but he's...
- Dead.

Help!

Somebody!

Help!

Help!

Somebody!

No word from Lex. No one's
spoken to him since this morning.

I pulled our alleged dead guy's license.
It's registered to a John Smith. Original.

He has an address in Metropolis
and does not work for the C.E.P.

- How'd you do that?
- I hacked into the DMV database.

- Sometimes persistence is a good thing.
- Call Metropolis P.D.

- Have them go to that address.
- What's going on?

I think Lex is in serious trouble.

You ready to talk?

You're finally where you should
have been three years ago.

Exposed in the spotlight.

What do you want from me?

The truth about Club Zero.

Kasich.

Excuse me,
did you find anyone else in there?

- You know where I can find Club Zero?
- You're six months too late, kid.

- What do you mean?
- Well, it closed down.

It was an old warehouse
on 78th and Main.

Liar! That's what it said in the papers,
but that's not what really happened.

- It's the truth. Read the police reports!
- I know you covered it up.

I don't know how you did it,
but you're gonna pay.

Who are you?

Don't you remember?

You killed me.

Daddy can't save you this time, Lex.

No more games, Lex.

It's time for the truth.

I know you.
You're the contractor from the Talon.

That's my day job.

Who are you?

Amanda never talked about her family?

She said she had a brother
in Central City.

He was in prison. She was the only
person who kept in touch.

She was my lifeline when I was inside.

I never had a rich daddy
to keep me out of jail.

- I don't understand. What do you want?
- What do I want? What do I want?

I want vengeance for my sister.

What do you mean? Where's Amanda?

She's dead, Lex.

She committed suicide a year ago.

- I never knew.
- Because you cut her out of your life.

She was never the same after Club Zero.
Jude's death devastated her.

He was the love of her life.
You took all that away.

She had nothing to live for.

Who's that?

Lucky break.

Couple weeks after Amanda's funeral...

I walk into a greasy spoon
in Bludhaven and there he is.

I couldn't believe it.
Short-order cook flipping burgers.

You know how they say everyone in life
has a double? I had to look twice.

I figure if he can fool me,
he can fool you.

Why'd he do it?

He was on parole, needed the money,
and that's when I got the idea.

You ruined Mandy's life, I'd ruin yours.

Mandy's finally gonna get the justice
she deserves.

You were right.

You were right. The newspapers,
the police reports, what I told Phelan.

They were all lies. You want the truth?
I'll give it to you.

- No, no, no. You're twisting it again!
- That's what happened!

That's what happened.
Amanda pulled the trigger.

She shot Jude.
I was just trying to protect her.

I'm through with you, Lex!

Killing me won't bring Amanda back.

None of this can change
what happened.

I don't care.

After tonight,
you'll never hurt anyone else.

You can't escape your past, Lex.

Lex!

Get down!
There's a man with a gun up there.

Where? You mean that guy?

- What happened?
- I have no idea.

How'd you find me here?

With a little help from my friends.

- So, what do you think?
- I'm definitely surprised.

Me too.

Where's Chloe?

She said she wanted to be
fashionably late.

I got this for you.

Don't worry, it's not a body part.

It was in the attic.
It was my grandfather's.

It was taken just after the Talon opened.

- You could hang it above the counter.
- Clark, it's amazing. Thank you.

You're welcome.

I better get back to work.

How does it feel?

- Terrifying. Don't tell anybody.
- Your secret's safe with me.

I get the feeling
you're avoiding me, Clark.

I just realized there's a lot
I don't know about you.

You think my dark past
is gonna rub off on you?

I was trying to protect Amanda.

My father wouldn't
raise a finger to help her...

but I knew he'd do anything
to save his only son.

So you took the fall
and everything was covered up?

Is that really what happened?
Is it the truth?

The truth is, I'd do anything
to protect my friends.