Loyal Subjekts/Transcript

[soft dramatic music]

[♪]

Why is Edge here? I mean, why Smallville?

Definitely not for the biryani.

He was in and out of Hazel Green and Granville in weeks, he shut down operations in New Carthage in a few months, and now he’s here.

Gotta be for the same reason as the other towns, right? Mine for X-Kryptonite, use that machine I saw that gives people powers.

Yeah, I know that’s part of it, but Smallville’s the only town where he’s sticking around, so there has to be a reason why Smallville is different. He needs this place.

This is your specialty. How do you suggest we figure out why?

We dig deeper.

We need to use every resource at our disposal.

So as we know, he was only in Hazel Green…

Clark’s a great reporter. Now that he’s not coaching, he can help. We get all the information we can from Lana, files on everyone Edge has recruited, who they are, where they come from.

Thank you.

Pore over every single detail.

[♪]

There’s Emily.

And then we start back at the beginning.

All right, so we know Emily is the newest recruit.

Connect every dot, piece it all together, and if we’ve done our job right, the answer will present itself.

My goal has always been the same. I want to change this world, and I finally found the place where I can start doing so… Here in Smallville with people like you.

Me? Why?

I know your life hasn’t been easy the past few years. I know the pain you’re in.

[♪]

The fear, knowing you can’t provide for your family, that burden, that stress. With my assistance, all those fears can go away. I can improve your life in every way imaginable. I can improve you, Emily.

Will this hurt?

[screaming]

Not a bit.

If you’d like me to, I can activate a new life.

A new life?

Process you’d go through will make you feel like a new person, clear-minded, stronger, capable of things you never dreamt possible. But I can only do that if you’re willing, if you acknowledge that the life you have now is not what you want anymore.

Complete host acceptance.

You’ve done well.

Process isn’t complete. It’ll take a few days before you’re fully in control, but once that happens… Life will be yours again.

Do you want to become your best self, Emily?

I do.

[♪]

Lana said Edge asked her to find more candidates, so until we can figure out how to stop him, we need to convince people to stay away.

Lois, he’s offering people jobs and money, things they need to feel in control of their lives again.

Boys, bus’ll be here in a minute!

Clark, we have to do something, and nobody’s gonna listen to me. They haven’t since that first town hall, but they will to you.

Hey, which one’s mine?

Here.

Thanks.

All right, guys, we’re probably gonna have another late night working on this Edge case.

All right, we were gonna see Sarah’s revue tonight anyway.

You guys sure are spending quite a bit of time together for just being “friends.”

Just trying to support her, Dad.

Uh-huh.

Right.

[laughs]

What? She said she just wanted to be friends.

Might be more than that, but I will leave it up to her to tell you.

[bus whirs faintly]

Bus is pulling up.

All right, there’s leftovers in the fridge, okay?

All right, love you guys. Bye.

All right, I gotta go meet Lana at the Gazette. Clark, you are Martha Kent’s son. She was helping people here way before Edge showed up. They will listen to you.

All right.

Bye.

Bye.

And none of these people are acting differently at all?

I mean, the only change I see is how happy they are. Like, they’re truly excited to be there, to be a part of something, to change their lives.

What is he doing with them?

Personal development, self-improvement, trust exercises. I really don’t know the specifics.

Well, it sounds like a cult, only Edge is power-brainwashing free of charge.

The only other thing I can tell you is they started these morning “togethers” at Victoria May’s.

Togethers?

Mm-hmm. Camaraderie-building breakfasts. Oh, I’m gonna be late.

Wait… Lana, maybe you should take a break. This is kinda starting to get really dangerous, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.

It’s okay, Lois, really. I mean, if I can keep Edge from hurting just one person, it’s worth it.

Think I should head over to the diner, go full intervention on this breakfast.

No, you stay focused on getting what you can on Edge’s minions. I know someone who might have a better shot at getting through.

[upbeat music]

[school bell rings]

[♪]

Okay. [chuckles]

Hey, boys! Hey, come on over.

Hey, Mr. Cushing.

Hi.

Jordan, listen, I… I just want to say thank you for stepping up and helping Sarah with her audition the other day. That really saved the day, man.

Yeah, uh, thanks.

Okay, you don’t want to be late.

Yeah.

Hey, we’ll see you later, okay?

Yeah.

Can’t wait to see you up there tonight!

Don’t ask. He’s having some kind of personality crisis.

Really?

Yeah, he keeps telling me how he’s changed for good and how he feels better. Things improve for a little bit, it’s the same crap as always, and then he crashes like your brother’s about to.

What?

I told you, stay away from Tegan Wickhem. Just trust me, okay?

[soft music]

[♪]

Clark?

Emily, hi.

I heard you were back in town.

Yeah, I’m sorry I haven’t seen you. It’s been crazy since we moved here.

I bet… me, too, actually, but for the better.

Oh, yeah? I heard you were working at Edge EnerCorp.

It has changed my life.

[soft tense music]

I feel great. I can think better, focus, you know, problems that seemed impossible before are like nothing now.

Really? Wow, you know what? Actually, I would love to talk to you about that.

Like, you’re looking for work?

Uh, well…

Oh, it’s okay. Just talk to Lana. She hooked me up, got me into the program. I’m sure she’d be happy to help her old boyfriend.

Yeah.

Oh, I gotta go. Let me know if I can be of help. It was so good to see you, Clark.

You, too.

Take care.

[dramatic music]

[shouting in Spanish]

[people screaming]

[shouting in Spanish]

[♪]

[shouting in Spanish]

[♪]

[breathing deeply] [heartbeat thumping]

[grunts]

[♪]

[both screaming]

[strained breathing]

[dramatic music]

[shouting in Spanish]

[♪]

[Speaking Spanish]

[♪]

[applause]

[Speaking Spanish] You got this from here?

[Speaking Spanish] Are you okay?

[Speaking Spanish] I’ll be fine

[Speaking Spanish] Thank you.

[♪]

Thank God you’re back. Edge just sent someone over with a massive ad buy for tomorrow’s paper.

For more recruits?

Twice as many. Whatever crazy voodoo Edge is doing to those people, he’s kicking it into high gear. Where are you going?

Oh, to make a scene.

[♪]

Lois.

Where’s Edge?

He’s in a group meeting. I just found out about the ad this morning.

[♪]

You don’t want anything to do with what he’s offering.

Ms. Lane…

You all need to walk away right now. Walk away.

Don’t touch me.

I’m sorry, if everyone could give Ms. Lane and I a moment. I promise this won’t take long.

I know this sounds insane because it is, but he wants to erase everything you are and replace it with something else.

Well, that was desperate.

I know what you’re doing.

Providing good jobs to a community in need.

You are putting Kryptonian consciousnesses into people’s bodies. You are taking them over and giving them powers.

And your evidence for this is…

Derek Powell, Reno Rosetti, Leslie.

Oh, so two dead men and my personal assistant. I have to say, this story has holes even by your standards.

We both know it’s the truth.

In my experience, truth is rather subjective. Who do you think people are more likely to believe? A has-been slumming it at the local paper or the man who’s giving this town the best economy it’s ever known?

These people are not puppets to be controlled by you. They have dreams. They have families.

No one’s being forced to do anything against their will. Everyone’s made the same offer: the chance for a better life. Says so right there.

We’re not publishing this.

Then I guess word of mouth will have to suffice. You can’t stop this, Lois. Perhaps it’s time you use that device you have to call in your super friend.

Perhaps it is.

Risky, though. Need I remind you where he’s from? He may take comfort knowing there are others here just like him, as John Irons prophesied.

Superman is nothing like them.

[chuckles] I’m excited to find out.

[♪]

Hey, looks like you finally figured out that locker.

Yeah, no, yeah, I took your advice. You know, nothing good ever comes from anger, so…

[soft music]

[♪]

Hey, Tegan. Hey, um, I was just wondering if, like, maybe you wanted to, like, hang out after school sometime?

Hang out? Like, just the two of us?

Yeah, I mean, it doesn’t have to be, like, that formal or anything, just, I don’t know, grab a bite at the diner, or…

Um… Look, I’m sure you’re a really sweet guy and all…

Look, I just… I thought… I don’t know, I just thought, like, we were trading looks.

Well, yeah, I mean, you had that broken arm, and you looked so lonely. I was just trying to be nice.

Yeah, right.

Look, I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings or anything…

No, no, no, no, no, no, it’s, uh… it’s all good. It’s my bad.

Cool.

See ya later.

[♪]

Whew, looks like you need a new playbook, QB number two. You gotta work on closing that deal like you close your locker.

[school bell rings]

[♪]

Clark, are you here?

In the kitchen.

We got a problem. Morgan Edge is ramping up that program of his. Oh, my God, what happened?

I went to stop this bank robbery, and I got hit.

Did they use kryptonite?

No, regular bullets.

This isn’t normal. Superman doesn’t bruise, especially not from bullets.

Do you think it has something to do with that gas Rosetti used?

I don’t know. We’re gonna have to call my dad.

[dramatic music]

[piano playing softly]

Sorry about messing up the intro.

I didn’t even notice. You sounded great.

Thanks. How are you so awesome at piano? Do you have any other little secret talents you’re not telling me about?

Um… nah, this is pretty much it.

[chuckles]

Well, thank you for everything, all the time you’ve put into this. It really means a lot having you here, so…

I want to be here.

[soft music]

[♪]

[sneezes]

[tense music]

Bless you.

[♪]

I, um… I must have allergies or something.

Jordan, I… Jordan!

[♪]

[sneezes]

[device whirring]

Jordan.

[♪]

Something’s wrong with me.

[♪]

You’re infected, too.

Come on.

[♪]

Here, honey.

So what’s happening?

The kryptonite gas that Rosetti used on me at the DOD, it was a bio-weapon, and I think it might be communicable.

Like, a virus? So I’m getting kryptonite sickness from you?

Yeah.

Clark, it’s not your fault. You didn’t even know anything was happening until today.

You have super-healing, so how long are you sick for?

Your dad has never been sick a day in his life.

Well, I’m not that bad.

[sneezes]

Ow. [groans]

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Really? Because it sure seems like a weapon designed to hurt Superman would hurt Superman.

It was only meant as a last resort, just to weaken him temporarily.

Then why is my son sick? Explain that to me. You put your own grandson in harm’s way.

Sam, how do we fix this?

My guys are working on it.

[tense music]

Yo, Sarah.

Hi.

Hey, are there gonna be, like, refreshments at this thing, or what?

Have you seen Jordan?

No, he’s probably just, like, putting on his best black tee for the show. You know how it goes.

No, I don’t, because he left about an hour ago, and he hasn’t come back.

Did he tell you where he was going?

No, he just ran out of rehearsal like a frightened little rabbit, I… We were really having a nice time together, or at least I thought we were until he completely ghosted me.

Sarah, I don’t think it’s about you. I’ll find him.

Okay, well, hurry up because I think I’m the first one up.

All right.

[sighs]

Emily. Emily, hey. I’ve been meaning to ask you, how’s it going with the program?

Mr. Edge is a genius. You know, that he somehow figured out a process to completely transform people’s lives, it’s amazing.

What process?

[♪]

I’m sorry, I assumed you’d already gone through it.

No, I haven’t. What did he do to you exactly?

Mr. Edge was very clear we not tell anyone.

Emily, we’ve known each other since the fifth grade. You can trust me.

Lana, do you have a moment?

[♪]

I’ll see you later.

[♪]

It seems you’ve been looking into things that don’t concern you.

You put me in charge of the Young Executive Program. I should at least know what it’s really about.

And is this to satisfy your own curiosity or so that you can run and tell Lois Lane?

I never told her anything.

It’s okay. As evidenced by today’s spectacle, Miss Lane is desperate. In fact, I’d have been more surprised if she hadn’t tried to scare you into helping.

[♪]

Emily told me about a process she went under. What is she talking about?

An offer I made her, the same one I’m about to make right now to you, and make no mistake. The answer you give will impact the rest of your life.

[♪]

Jordan, where are you?

Upstairs.

Wow, it’s like Iditarod-level cold in here.

Your brother’s sick.

Does that have something to do with you flaking on Sarah?

I gotta get back there, I…

You’re not going anywhere.

Sarah’s going on any minute, and I can’t just abandon her.

She’ll be okay.

No, she won’t. This is exactly what her dad did. I can’t let that happen again.

I know you want to be there for her, but you cannot go anywhere until we know exactly what is going on.

Wait, w… wait, we don’t even know what’s going on with him?

The kryptonite that infected your brother is affecting him differently than me.

Your grandfather’s working with the doctors to figure out a way to help him.

Jonathan, he’s gonna be fine.

[sneezes]

[groans]

Dad, that does not seem fine.

It’s getting harder to breathe.

What is happening to him?

We can’t wait for your dad.

[♪]

Let me call you back.

Why’s Clark leaving?

To do what you can’t.

Lois, that gas Rosetti used on Clark was synthetic, experimental, hadn’t been tested. We didn’t know what his reaction would be.

All my life, your job was your number one priority. Accepting that wasn’t easy, but I learned to live with it, and somehow even grew to respect it because I believed that you were trying to do the right thing, and I honestly naively thought that once I had a family, you might change, start putting us first, but I was wrong. Knowingly and willingly endangering the lives of the people I love… I can’t forgive that. So when this is over, I want you to leave and never come back.

[soft music]

You’re not welcome here anymore.

[♪]

[dramatic music]

[♪]

Jordan’s been infected with kryptonite. It’s affecting his breathing.

He’s in respiratory distress.

Why?

The kryptonite is causing his lungs to fill with fluid. As he can condense large quantities of air…

He’s cooling it, like I do. Can you get the kryptonite out of him?

Likely, but only the same way we have with you in the past.

[♪]

What?

Come here. Come here.

[♪]

We’re gonna have to burn the kryptonite out of your system.

Burn it how?

With heat, with some immense heat.

No, no…

Listen to me, listen to me. Listen to me. This is the only way, okay? We have to do this, otherwise your lungs could completely freeze.

Dad, I’m scared.

I’m gonna be right here. You’re gonna take my hand, okay? You’re gonna squeeze as hard as you need to, okay? You can do this.

[♪]

[screaming]

Mom. Mom, you okay?

I should’ve protected him.

[sighs]

Mom, this isn’t… This isn’t on you.

[soft music]

I’m your mom. My one job is to keep you guys safe, and I keep failing at it.

No, no, you don’t.

You were almost gunned down in John Henry’s RV…

That was my fault.

Got into a car accident.

That was also my fault.

I feel like I can’t turn around without one of you being in mortal danger. Why is it so hard to keep you safe?

I don’t know. Just… Just part of being a super family, I guess.

[♪]

Hey, come here. Dad’ll figure something out. He always does.

[♪]

[upbeat music]

[♪]

Hey, Lana.

Hey.

I saved you both seats.

Oh, thank you.

Hi, how are you doing?

Hey.

Good to see you.

[♪]

Hello, everyone, and thank you for coming. Our students tonight…

How did everything go with Edge?

Oh, amazing. He explained everything to me. It all makes perfect sense.

All right.

Yeah, thank you.

And for our first performance, we have the very talented Sarah Cushing singing “Little Light” by Amos Lee.

Whoo!

[cheers and applause]

[soft music]

[♪]

Um… I’m sorry, I can’t do this.

Yes, you can. It’s just like being at home, okay?

[♪]

[soft guitar melody plays]

[♪]

♪ Some days I can’t get myself out of the box ♪

♪ And some days I can’t find keys to any locks ♪

[♪]

♪ Some days I feel like it’s all overblown ♪

♪ And then I look at you, and I don’t feel so alone ♪

♪ And I say, hey

♪ Let your little light shine

♪ Let your little light shine

♪ For the world to see

[cheers and applause]

[soft music]

[♪]

Just waiting to hear back from my team. Then we’ll get everything straightened out with Jordan and your dad.

Little late for that, isn’t it? Why’d you do it? Why’d you build those weapons to hurt my dad?

Your father’s the most powerful being this world’s ever known. My job is to keep us safe, which means being prepared for any scenario, no matter how unlikely. You and I, we’re not like your dad, or even Jordan.

He’s my twin brother.

Yes, but the minute his powers surfaced, you and him began walking two very different paths.

That scares you, doesn’t it?

It does.

You know, I think you’re wrong. I think you’re wrong about you and I being alike.

How so?

[♪]

I could never be scared of my family, no matter what powers they might have.

Jonathan, you haven’t seen the things I have.

[♪]

Yeah, you’re right.

[♪]

But in the end, I don’t think that would matter ’cause I’d still trust them, and you’d still be a coward.

[♪]

♪ There’s a fight to be won ♪

♪ For the love you find at home ♪

Mom.

♪ Words to be done for…

You were wonderful up there.

Thank you. It felt really good once I got going.

Yeah.

Yeah, told you you’d kill it.

Thank you, Dad, for helping me.

♪ Well, I know I have… ♪

[whirring sounds]

[dramatic music]

[♪]

♪ Please forgive if I don’t walk… ♪

Emily, where are you going? Avery’s not done yet.

I’ll be right back.

[♪]

That was weird.

Yeah.

I’m gonna go see what’s wrong.

Wait, Kyle…

[♪]

Have you seen this?

[♪]

He’s still weak.

The exact reason why I just activated some of our Subjekts.

To take down Superman?

Not him, the one he protects.

[♪]

The kryptonite is nearly gone.

Doing great, you’re almost there. You’re almost there.

[groans]

[sobbing]

That’s it, that’s it! It’s over. That’s it, it’s over. You’re done. Hey, you did it, okay? Hey. Hey, I’m proud of you. You all right? Come here. I’m proud of you. Come on, stand up. Stand up.

What do you mean, you don’t know how long it’ll affect him? No, I haven’t tested the prototype. He wasn’t exactly in the mood. Just get me an answer.

[dramatic music]

[♪]

Can we just, like… Like, call them or something?

It’s named the Fortress of Solitude for a reason. I know it sucks. We just have to be patient, okay?

[cell phone trilling]

Hey, Lana.

Lois, you know how you kept asking me if anyone over at Edge EnerCorp was acting differently? I just saw it for the first time with Emily Phan.

Emily?

Yeah. She left in the middle of her daughter’s performance. She would never do that. Avery is everything to her. I mean, it’s like she was…

She was someone else.

[♪]

[knocking at door]

I’ll get it.

I guess this is what Edge meant.

What do you mean?

Tonight before I left the office, he made me an offer to do what he’s doing to everyone else.

What?

I turned him down.

Lana, why wouldn’t you mention this before?

‘Cause I was nervous. He knew I was feeding you information.

Hey, Mom, I think it’s for you.

Lois, I’m worried. What if he does something?

[tense music]

Mom?

Lois?

She shouldn’t have called.

Lois.

[♪]

Not this time.

Ahh!

[♪]

This isn’t you.

Not anymore.

[♪]

Get out of here!

[coughing]

Keep hitting this till he comes. It’s all we can do.

No, no, no, no. We need to go to the barn.

I’ll keep ’em busy.

[♪]

You took his weapons?

[♪]

Kyle?

I just came from the performance. Lana was scared. What’s going on?

Edge sent people to kill me.

It’s not gonna happen.

[♪]

[grunts]

[panting]

[groans]

Stay down.

[♪]

Targets first.

So that’s what kryptonite feels like, huh?

Yeah.

Dad?

[soft music]

[♪]

I’m sorry, Jordan. Your life right now is completely changed because of who I am. Everything that’s happening to you, you didn’t ask for any of this.

[♪]

I didn’t, but you didn’t ask for what happened to you either.

[♪]

[dramatic music]

[♪]

Here, give me the gun!

[♪]

[both scream]

Pretty good with that thing.

[♪]

[distorted voice] We’re not just gonna kill you, Lois. He wanted you to suffer first.

[♪]

They’re gone.

[soft music]

[♪]

Better than ice, unless that was a lie you told me when I was a kid.

Only way I could get you to do it. We sure went through our fair share of frozen peas, didn’t we? God, even as a kid, you were always coming home bruised up.

[♪]

I was never there to keep you from getting them though, was I?

Dad.

It’s true. Everything you said is true. I wasn’t the best father. I was gone a lot, and I wasn’t there to protect you the way a parent should.

[♪]

You were tonight.

Couldn’t let them hurt my grandson. Or my little girl. Lois, we’re gonna stay here till this is over. As of now, you, the boys, Clark, Smallville, that’s my priority.

Good. ‘Cause that war John Henry Irons was talking about, I think it’s about to happen.

[dramatic music]

Think Mom’s gonna let you keep those solar weapons now?

I don’t know. I mean, they’re pretty much the only reason we’re alive, so…

It’d suck to come home and find out I was an only child.

Yeah. So… so you’re just, like, fine now?

Yeah, other than ice breath.

So you have that now for good, or what?

Think so.

What’s that feel like?

Like having a piece of wintergreen gum in your mouth at all times.

Nice.

I can’t believe what happened. Avery Phan’s mom and Mr. Cushing?

Right, but it wasn’t them, you know? They were super, super brainwashed. I think Grandpa’s sending a few people to go look for ’em both.

What are they gonna tell Sarah?

I don’t know.

[♪]

[phone dings]

[♪]

My God, what happened?

Are you drunk?

No.

Honey, could you excuse us?

Mom…

Please? I need to speak to your father alone.

Sure.

Are you?

No. No, look, I told you I am done with all that. I’m trying to improve myself, Lana. I really am, but something happened to me tonight. I was at the performance, and we were talking to Sarah, and then I blacked out. Next thing you know, I’m out in the middle of a field somewhere outside of town, and my ribs… My ribs are hurting, and I don’t know how I got there. I don’t know what’s going on… What?

The steps you’re taking to improve yourself… Did Morgan Edge make you an offer?

[dramatic music]

[♪]

How can I help you?

I want to be my best self.

I wanted to be better for you and for our girls, babe.

[phone rings]

Hey, Chrissy.

You said if we kept digging, the answer would present itself, and honestly, for a while I thought you were nuts ’cause nothing new was coming to light, but then I got back all the research on the powered people we know, and I found this little nugget that means something. I just don’t know what yet but thought your big brain might be able to connect the dots.

Chrissy, what are you talking about?

Irma Sayres and David Fuglestad.

Who?

Leslie Larr and motel attacker guy.

Leslie Larr’s real name is Irma Sayres?

Mm-hmm, and the guy is David Fuglestad, and guess what? I found out they’re both originally from Smallville.

[♪]

Derek Powell’s from New Carthage. Reno Rosetti’s from Metropolis.

David Fuglestad and Leslie Larr are from Smallville.

When Derek Powell killed himself, what did he say to you?

That he was already dead.

And his powers were fritzing.

Yeah, just like Rosetti’s. That didn’t happen when I fought David.

And it didn’t happen with Leslie.

[♪]

When I landed here, there were meteor showers all over the world for an entire week.

Right, remnants of Krypton. That’s why there’s kryptonite.

Right, every form of kryptonite, and the kind that landed here is buried in the mines.

Was X-Kryptonite. So the only place in the world that has X-Kryptonite is also the only place that has people who’ve been exposed to it long enough to accept its effects.

Like Tag Harris. It’s not Smallville Edge needs to build his army.

It’s the people.

[device whirring]

What?

It’s your ELT.

[♪]

Edge.

[♪]

I’m glad you came.

Everything you’re doing is gonna stop.

That’s exactly what your friend Lois Lane keeps saying to me. You can’t make that happen any more than she can.

[♪]

Did you really think I’d be giving people powers without having them myself? You see, I got mine the same time you did, Kal-El, when I arrived on this planet.

When you arrived?

[♪]

I think it’s time you learned the truth about who I am and where I’m really from, brother.

[♪]