Smallville (2001–2011): Season 9, Episode 13 - Persuasion - full transcript

Sorry about the heels.
I need the inches.

- I'm not sure this is such a good idea.
- Look, either R.A.O. Incorporated...

...is throwing a Valentine's party for
their workers behind this wall...

...or they're running double shifts on
a Saturday night. A total union violation.

Lois, I'm sure someone
is keeping an eye on the situation.

Bingo.

They are moving more tech equipment
into that building than NASA.

And if they're skulking around
in the middle of the night...

...they are definitely hiding something.

Nice teddy. Next time
buy her a silk one. She's not 6 years old.

- Lois, I think we should drop this story.
You sound like you want it to yourself.



Wait, is there something about
that tower that you're not telling me?

No.

It's Valentine's Day.

We should be out having dinner together,
by candlelight.

Valentine's Day is a smarmy Hallmark
holiday engineered by executives...

...to convince people to spend money
on dead flowers and overpriced meals.

But not you two.

Uh, yeah.
Lois.

You're kind of overreacting,
even for you.

History has proven that if I embrace
V- day in any romantic way at all...

...it always ends in disaster.

Valentine for the lady?

- No, thank you, she doesn't really...
- Uh, actually....

What? I didn't have dinner.



Happy Valentine's Day.

Whoa. Heh. Easy with the pixie dust there,
Tinkerbelle.

Looks like it's too late to file
that story anyway.

It's never too early for nachos, and
it's never late for hard-hitting journalism.

Lois, maybe we should put our relationship
before work just for tonight and...

Hold hands?

You could come a-courting on your horse
and buggy. All we need is a chaperone.

- Sounds mighty traditional.
- And what's wrong with that?

With all our crossed text messages
lately, I thought maybe sometimes....

I want us to have
a more traditional relationship.

Lane.

The R.A.O. Has scheduled a, uh, ribbon
cutting for the solar tower in two days.

I'm gonna need the expos? now.

Two days?

Maybe I should check on those building
permits that you were talking about.

You wanted to avoid
the whole Valentine's Day thing, right?

Anything for your career, sweetie.

Lane?

Here's the scoop, buddy.

A traditional woman
does not spend her time in the office...

...when she can be at home
taking care of her man.

I quit.

Hey, I was gonna ask you for the
lowdown on your V-Day with Lois...

...but something about you being here
tells me it didn't go over so well.

Do you have the passports
and ID cards ready?

Or we could get
right down to business.

All the materials you would ever need
to escape your life and start a new one.

Thanks, Chloe. You're a lifesaver.

Heh. If you mean sweet on the outside
and empty in the middle...

...that's pretty much exactly
how I feel right now.

I realize you're not on board
with me helping the Kandorians.

Yeah, well, you know how it is.

One of them skewers you to death
in the post-apocalyptic future...

- ...you kind of lose interest.
- Oh.

- I may have overlooked their mistakes.
- Mistakes?

And by mistakes you mean building a
tower so they give themselves powers?

I'm gonna lead them to a better place.

The tower will be completed
in two days.

Granted, they haven't got the satellites
running to change the atmosphere but....

Come on, Clark, we both know
one of them killed your father.

Look, maybe it would just be safer...

...if we sent the Kandorians
to the Phantom Zone.

I know that you're saying that
because you wanna protect people.

But right now, I want you to focus
on watching my back.

Leave the rest of the planet to me.

Clark.

I will protect you,
no matter what it takes.

Move those men to second....
Faora, Alia.

I have your papers.

It's your new life.

You'll have your own identities.

I misjudged you, Kal-El.

I was born into the military.

I never had a choice
to live as a civilian.

We can't repay you.

Tell me who killed my father.

I know that Zod took him from Tess.

But was he the last one
to see Jor-El alive?

I know you want justice,
but be careful.

Zod has a lot of loyal followers,
and if you go after him, it'll be war.

Hey, sweetie-pie, welcome home.

Lois, what's going on?

I moved in.

But, don't worry, I'm camped out into
the guest room until we get engaged.

Engaged?

Mm-hm.

Move over Betty Crocker,
I have got this cooking thing down.

How's your pot roast?

Oh, it's delicious.

Wonderful.

It was really sweet of you
to do all of this.

Well, I am just so proud of you
for bringing home the bacon.

The least I can do
is cook it up in a pan.

And, well, never let you forget
that you're the man.

Lois, did something happen?

You just seem so cheerful, I...

Well, you said you wanted
a more traditional relationship.

And you were very persuasive.

What if I miss the old Lois?

It's too late.

I quit my job at The Planet.

- You did what?
- Yeah.

Now, instead of being chained
to a desk all day...

...I get to be your ball and chain.

Lois, you can't quit reporting.
That job is your life.

Well, now my life is with you...

...for better or for worse,
for richer or for poorer.

Lois, what are you talking about?

Yeah, you're absolutely right.

What kind of adjective is "poorer"?

Somebody is gonna need an editor.

For their vows.

Right.

You know, Lois, there's something
at the, uh, office that I need to investigate.

All right, Mr. Cold-Feet,
I'll keep the home fires burning.

Rain check on talking
about the big event for now.

You better make an honest woman
out of me, Clark Kent.

Security.

I'm afraid they're otherwise engaged.

Ah, no.

I like you just where you are.

Then maybe you'd like to join me.

You're already in bed
with someone else.

Kal-El.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Wrong choice of bedfellows.

I'm moments away
from completing my tower.

I thought you needed
the Book of Rao to finish it.

We found another way.

And it seems your satellite systems
are lagging behind schedule.

We're onlining the safety tests now.

I'll handle that, thank you.

Only I can run them.

Well, now that I've got
your fingerprints...

...I can access all of the networking data
without you.

Cheers.

You're digging your own grave.

Then you better make sure
there's room in there for both of us.

You neglected to tell me...

...that Kal-El was supplying
new identities to my people.

They're no more your people
than they are his.

And eventually, he will be their leader.

And don't underestimate
their loyalty to me.

But they don't see you
as the savior that he is.

There's blood on your hands.

You're tainted,
a reminder of their past.

He's the promise for their future.

That's what you've always wanted,
isn't it?

Help give my people their powers
so they can save your doomed planet.

Hand over the reins to Kal-El,
and then what? Hmm?

Get rid of me?

If necessary.

We need the knowledge of your people
to reverse the damage we've done here.

To show mercy to this planet.

When I take over
those satellites tomorrow...

...and when I gain my own powers...

...you will be the one
who needs mercy.

Clark?

- Hey, Chloe.
- Lois.

Well, it is amazing what four hours
of scrubbing a kitchen can do.

Ah. It simply sparkles.

Okay, let's open a window.

I think you may have gotten a contact
high with that lemony-fresh scent.

And why is your vinyl collection here?

Drum roll, please.

Chez Kent has a new resident.

- I moved in.
- Great.

We have you moved back to the Talon
and all packed up before the sun's up.

Look, I'm sorry that you're, uh,
having a hard time with this, Chloe...

...but this love train
has left the station.

No, the love train has jumped the tracks.

I've seen Clark in love before
and it holds him back.

Hey, you know what?

It is sad that the only way you can get
close to Clark is to play mother hen.

Clark is a very private person.

And when the chips are down,
everyone can see your cards.

Hey.

Clark knows that he can trust me.

Just like The Blur?

When you were secretly
talking to him...

...and you announced it to everyone
on national television?

I never planned for it
to happen that way.

Lois, look. You know what?

You have always had
to have the scoop...

...but when it comes
to understanding the real Clark...

...you are always gonna be
a second stringer.

You know, this whole Martha Stewart
makeover thing isn't fooling anyone.

Once Clark knows you, the real you,
underneath all of this Lois armor...

...he's gonna see
that you're a scared little kid...

...who runs away
the second anything goes wrong.

If you really love him...

...the best thing you can do for Clark
is leave him.

Excuse me.

You sold my friend and I
some candies the other night.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

You were with the bitter chick.

Right, well, the bitter chick
isn't feeling so good. She got sick.

I'm retracing her steps.

Was there anything
in that chocolate you sold her?

Uh, yeah, fat.

I ate two boxes
and gained three pounds.

Okay. Thanks.

Fairy dust. That was... That was cute.

Where'd you get it?

Yeah, I don't know what it is...

...but it comes from some quarry
in Smallville.

Meteor rock.

Is that your girlfriend?

Well, she's not my....

We don't use that word.

Oh.

Lois, are you all right?

What's the emergency?

Oh, um....

False alarm.

Are you sure?

Because you seem kind of....

Kind of pathetic, right?

I mean, why even bother
going through the motions, Clark?

This whole moving-in thing together
was a joke.

- You're not yourself right now.
- Come on, I'm not stupid.

I could tell that you just hated
that burned brick of meat.

- Let's get you some water.
- Just stop trying to sugarcoat it, Clark.

I mean, I'm not good for you, Clark.

Chloe was right
to protect you from me.

Well, Chloe can be overprotective
sometimes.

No....

She hit the target head on.

She said that I was gonna wreck us,
and she's right.

Clark, I don't....

I don't know the first thing
about family time or dinners at home.

- I don't.
- Lois, I'm glad that you're opening up to me.

But there's something else
going on here.

You're right.

Something is going on.

I've made a fool of myself
long enough.

It hurts me to be around you.

I have to leave you, Clark.
Leave Smallville.

Lois, you need to sleep on this.

I promise,
things will look better in the morning.

No, they won't.

I'm a big girl, I can pull myself up by my
own bootstraps, thank you very much.

I just....

I'd hoped that somehow
I'd be able to pull it off.

The whole making-a-home thing.

Lois, stop. You are home.

No.

A home is for real.

For always and forever.

Not this.

Goodbye, Smallville.

Lois, you can't leave. Not yet.

I promise, we'll be together.

Always and...

Forever?

Do you mean it?

I do.

I guess we can move my stuff
out of the guest room now, huh?

Clark, it's good you're here.

Chloe has shut me out of Watchtower's
systems, everything's encrypted.

I'm sorry to hear that, Emil,
but I have my own fires to put out.

- Do you know where Chloe is?
- She's gone.

But she's activated laser tripwires
around the system core.

Oh, there are firewalls around firewalls
around firewalls.

I can't get into it.
I've tried every iteration.

Emil, look, I want you to calm down.
Just try to relax for once.

Emil?

Whatevs.

This place goes nuclear,
it is not my problem. Heh.

I want you to go back
to the way you were.

There are no backsies in this lifetime.

- Where are you going?
- I need a brew.

This job is way too stressful.

I need to figure out how to reverse this.
I think I breathed in some meteor rock.

Dude, hasn't anyone ever told you
not to inhale? Ha, ha.

This is serious.

It's like you and Lois are doing
whatever I say but then I can't undo it.

Normally kryptonite only affects me,
not other people.

Well,
it sounds kind of like hypnosis to me.

Oh, people are pathetic.

They're open to suggestion.

I bet it's great with the ladies.

How do I stop putting people
into hypnotic trances?

Mm.

Well, maybe you don't need to stop it.

Maybe you just need to chill.

Use it or lose it, Kent.

Come on, there's gotta be something
out there that you're after. Huh?

There is one thing.

Oh, Mrs. K, can I really?

Thanks so much.

But actually, I'm wearing it right now.

I found it in the back of your closet.

I know.

Clark will just love it.

Thanks.

Mom.

Okay, I have breaking news, sis.
Brace yourself.

I am getting married.

Come on, Dad,
can't we just hitch a carrier to Greece?

I'm only getting married once.

Okay.
All right, thank you.

We need to talk.

Why would I make time for you?

You're trying to isolate me
from my people.

You lost your right to lead
when you killed my father.

He was a brother to me.

We had our differences,
but I could never take his life.

I want you to tell me the truth.

Did you kill Jor-El?

I didn't kill him.

But I know who did.

Tess Mercer.

How is that possible?

Well,
she obviously had her own agenda.

She was the only one who knew where he
was, the one who could finish the job.

You are his firstborn.

Only you can seek retribution.

I'm not gonna kill Tess.

It's the Kryptonian way.

You cannot let this injustice stand.

Kal-El....

You knew when you started on this path
that you had to get your hands dirty.

You must avenge him.

- I can't.
- Ha, ha.

I tortured him.

I beat him black and blue.

I threatened him,
and he still wouldn't give you up.

You were the son he never met...

...and he was still willing
to sacrifice his life for yours.

He died protecting you,
and you won't even defend his honor.

You don't think I want justice?

You don't think I want revenge?

You don't think sometimes
I wanna be a killer like you?

I can't believe
you piggybacked my cameras.

And I can't believe you actually
managed to be of some use.

Go ahead, hack yourself silly.

You'll never crack my system.

This isn't so much cracking
as it is bleeding out.

This is the digital equivalent
to the Ebola virus.

You take down my firewalls...

...and you'll be exposing Clark
to greater dangers than you can imagine.

I've done everything in my power
to postpone this, but the day has come.

The tower is ready.
It's linked up to the satellites.

The countdown has started,
and in T-minus 18 hours...

...the atmosphere will turn red and
the Kandorians will have their powers.

But I have lost my faith in Zod.

If Clark joins them...

...he can rule over all the Kandorians,
even Zod.

But you and I have to work together.

That's quite the offer.

Let me think about it.

I'm sorry, but embracing the red skies
definitely violates...

...my no-conspiring-with-baddies
policy.

Should have aimed a little higher.

My father was murdered
and I'm here to collect.

- Collect on what?
- Justice.

Or vengeance.

Just depends whose side you're on.

You confided in me, Clark.

You revealed your powers.

You know
I haven't told anyone your secret.

Only to sell me out to Zod
and the others.

No.

So that you could lead them.

You've seen the future, Tess.

You know what happens.

Which is why you have to join
the Kandorians and defeat Zod...

...so he doesn't take your powers
away.

He doesn't take them, Tess.
Your tower does when it goes online.

No, the satellites just create a shield
that filters the radiation.

And block the source of my power,
giving them theirs.

You have to believe me.

I had no idea
that your powers disappear.

Don't worry, Tess.

I'll save your world.

Just not with you in it.

Alia.

Why did you call me here?

I'm sorry.

I did it in the name of Rao.

Jor-El,
he thought we were abominations.

He would have destroyed us.

You killed him.

Justice must be served.

Mom, about the engagement,
there was a miscommunication.

They're gonna print a retraction.

Sure, I'll tell her.

Okay, I love you too, Mom.

My mom says,
"When you're ready, you can borrow it."

Do you have any idea
what she's talking about?

Nope. It's Greek to me.

Speaking of Greece,
your dad left a message?

Oh, you know what, I....

I just need to make
a few phone calls here.

Donna Reed on crack.

I just... I'm never gonna buy chocolate
from another fairy.

I promise you, I wasn't myself.
I don't know what she put in that stuff.

It's too bad. I kind of liked your outfit.

You really are an old-fashioned romantic,
aren't you?

Well, I guess it's easier to complain
about Valentine's Day...

...than it is to give it a shot.

So in the face of the candy-coated
emotional manipulation of V-Day...

...maybe I just need to trust
that what we have is something more.

It's Chloe. She's been really sweet.

She left 12 messages apologizing
for what she said...

...after she found out that
I moved in together with you here.

Yeah, we should talk.

Right, when you asked me
to move in with you here...

...I know it seemed like a good idea
at the time.

Yeah, but it wasn't...

And about the whole proposal,
it was a dream-come-true level of wow.

But, um, things are moving
a little too fast for me.

Right,
I don't know what I was thinking.

We should just stick to our plan
and take things slow.

I am so relieved to hear you say that.

We just have to continue being honest
with each other.

Yeah, about everything, right?

God knows I spilled my guts.

Clark, if you had a really big secret...

...would you trust me with it?

You're the most trustworthy person
I know.

But I confessed to the whole world
that I was talking to the Blur on television.

And I really meant to keep that secret.

I don't think the Blur minds, Lois.

You were doing the right thing.
You were protecting him.

But that's not the point.

Look, I know it sounds crazy,
but I'm just afraid that my big mouth...

...is gonna wreck
our relationship one day.

Don't worry, Lois.

It's not gonna be that easy
to get rid of me.

How'd she die?

By my hand.

You killed her?

She confessed
she murdered your father.

She was one of the zealots who thought
he would find a way to destroy us.

She didn't deserve to die.

You've gone too far just like when
you did when you sent me to see Tess.

You want to become one of us.

You want to live by our ways
and yet you reject them.

Kal-El, when you came to us
with your powers I thought....

I thought it represented hope
for all of us.

But because you were too weak to do it,
I had to kill one of my own soldiers.

To get justice for you.

This isn't my kind of justice.

In the coming days, you will see,
there is only one kind of justice.

And then you will have to decide
if you really are one of us.

If you were really under a command
to protect me...

...why didn't you let me kill her?

Because sometimes protecting you
means protecting you from yourself.

You're someone we all have
to believe in.

Nothing can compromise that.

Zod took matters into his own hands.

He killed Jor-El's murderer.

It was Alia.

So now Alia can't slay me in the future,
like she's supposed to.

This means the future that we saw
is changing.

But there's only one way to be sure.

The first rays of the sun fall upon
the solar tower tomorrow morning.

It will herald the dawn
of a new age of infinite power.