Pilot/Transcript

Teaser Sequence
CLARK: My most vivid memories are of the days when my life changed.

[explosion]

CLARK: I remember coming to this Earth, feeling the sun on my face for the first time.

MARTHA: Oh, my God, Jonathan. It's a baby boy.

JONATHAN SR: Hold on, Martha.

CLARK: Hearing the voices of my parents.

[serene music]

♪ ♪

MARTHA: Are you gonna join us?

CLARK: My mother called me their greatest surprise. And boy, there sure were lots of them.

CLARK: I remember loving Smallville-- the people, the community, how the small things were the big things. And I thought I'd live there forever.

CLARK: Dad?

Martha: Jonathan?

CLARK: Dad! Dad!

MARTHA: Jonathan!

CLARK: Dad, wake up! Somebody call 911!

CLARK: But my father's death set me on a different path.

CLARK: Eventually, I moved to Metropolis to become who I was meant to be.

[tires screech]

[metallic crunch]

♪ ♪

[onlookers chattering]

SUPERMAN: There you go, friend.

KID: Thanks. Cool costume.

SUPERMAN: Thanks. My mom made it for me.

CLARK: But my most vivid memory of all was the day I met her.

MAN: Everyone in here, we're the most dependable friends the people of Metropolis have. You remember that.

CLARK: Uh, yes, sir.

MAN: Stick with Lane. She'll show you the ropes.

CLARK: Uh, Lane, sir?

LOIS: Who told you to wear a tie?

LOIS: Let me guess. Lombard? Ignore him. Though he can get box seats to the Meteors. You like baseball?

CLARK: Uh, uh, of course. I mean, who doesn't like America's pastime, Miss Lane?

LOIS: It's Lois. What'd you say your name was again?

CLARK: Uh, Kent. Clark. Clark Kent.

CLARK: Oh! Oh. [chuckles] Sorry.

LOIS: Hmm. Never met a Clark before.

CLARK: Oh, uh, I've never met a Lois before.

LOIS: Thanks.

CLARK: Actually, there was my first-grade teacher, Lois Hannigan, so I guess technically-- oh, tech--technically, you'd be the second.

CLARK: We fell in love. I told Lois who I really was, where I came from.

♪ ♪

[guests cheering and applauding]

CLARK: We married, got our first place together...

CLARK: The twins came. They were as different as brother gets.

CLARK: Look out!

[twins laughing]

CLARK: Jonathan was easy. Always happy, always, smiling.

[twins cheer]

[Lois claps]

LOIS: Good job, babe!

CLARK: And things with Jordan were more...challenging.

LOIS: Jordan? Stop it.

SUPERMAN: Tantrums, night terrors.

[Jordan sobbing]

CLARK: A year ago, he was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder.

♪ ♪

CLARK: And suddenly, here I am, living in Metropolis, raising two teenage boys, married to the most famous journalist in the world, trying to make the world safer for the people I love.

[helicopter whirring, alarm blaring]

[siren wailing]

[indistinct radio chatter]

SAM: Here, here. Here!

[suspenseful music]

SAM: Hey! Hey, hey! How long we got before this thing pops its top?

TECHNICIAN: A few minutes, tops.

SAM: The fallout?

TECHNICIAN: As far as Metropolis.

SAM: Come on, Superman.

[ringing tone]

WOMAN: The heat exchanger 's offline.

MAN: Where's the damn water tanker?

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[alarm blaring]

MAN: His cold breath isn't gonna fix it.

WOMAN: We need water back in the reactor vessel, or we're gonna have a meltdown the size of Fukushima.

MAN: - It's out of water! - Tanks!

♪ ♪

TECHNICIAN: It's cooling down.

[exciting music]

♪ ♪

SUPERMAN & LOIS LOGO

Act I
[crowd gasps]

[indistinct chatter]

[cheers and applause]

SUPERMAN: It's just like Oyster Creek. Same kind of crack in the cooling tower.

SAM: How is it no one at either plant saw anything?

SUPERMAN: I don't know yet. But you can't get equipment in here unnoticed. Both cracks were man-made.

SAM: That's what concerns me.

SAM: You've been putting in a lot of OT lately. My daughter okay with that?

SUPERMAN: She's not the one I have to worry about.

SAM: Bass are gonna start biting again soon. Was thinking I'd take Jonathan fishing. Maybe even get Jordan to come this time.

SUPERMAN: I'll talk to Lois about some dates. Night, General.

[stirring music]

♪ ♪

LOIS: And the delivery truck crashed into your car?

LOIS: It was an unmarked box truck? Can you hold on one sec?

LOIS: I gotta get Foswell copy first thing in the morning.

CLARK: Okay.

LOIS: Your plate's in the fridge, Jonathan's got some news, and apologize to Jordan; you missed therapy today.

LOIS: Sorry about that. Yeah...

[rock music playing in other room]

ELIZA: Well, how do you know who she is?

JON: Come in.

ELIZA: You've never met her.

CLARK: Hey.

JON: Hey!

CLARK: What's up? Mom said you had news.

JON: Uh, Eliza, one second.

JON: Yeah, um, yeah. I'm--I'm actually starting QB.

CLARK: For varsity?

JON: Yep. Yeah, um. Think--think I'm the first freshman to ever do it, and some of the upperclassmen are pretty ticked off.

CLARK: Oh, don't worry about them.

JON: Worry? Nah, it's awesome. You should've seen their faces.

CLARK: [laughs]

JON: Um, Dad.

CLARK: Oh, right, yeah. Okay. Okay.

CLARK: Hi, Eliza!

ELIZA: Hi.

CLARK: Hey, congrats.

JON: Thanks, Dad.

CLARK: Proud of you.

JON: Th--okay, thanks.

CLARK: Sorry. I'm out of here.

JON: All right.

[rock music playing in other room]

♪ It's all I can take ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ You're a flake ♪

♪ ♪

[knock at door]

♪ And I need a ♪

♪ Need a break, you're a flake ♪

CLARK: Hey.

- ♪ I don't wanna see you ♪

[music volume lowers]

CLARK: Wow, you, uh, you make a pretty good Superman.

JORDAN: Superman's boring. I'm Raiden.

CLARK: Huh, Um.

CLARK: [stammers] Sorry I-- I missed our therapy today. Um, I was in Wichita for a story--

JORDAN: You couldn't catch a flight back. Mom said.

CLARK: So, uh, high--high school starts tomorrow. You, uh, you nervous? 'Cause you know, it's okay if you're nervous. Um, I know freshman year was pretty tough for me. [chuckles] Did I--did I ever tell you about the time I was the team manager of the football..

JORDAN: Yeah, everyone duct taped you to a tractor. Yeah, life's a little different in Smallville than it is in Metropolis.

CLARK: Okay, well, yeah. You know. If you--if you need anything, if you wanna talk... I'm hear.

♪ That's okay, this is LA ♪

♪ But we're not gonna make it after all ♪

JORDAN: Hey Dad?

CLARK: Yeah?

JORDAN: The music?

♪ Said you'd be late ♪

CLARK: Right.

♪ You're barely awake ♪

[volume rises]

♪ Give me a break ♪

♪ ♪

♪ You're a flake ♪

♪ ♪

♪ And I need a, need a break ♪

[phone chimes]

♪ I don't wanna see you around this place... ♪

[sentimental music]

♪ ♪

MARTHA: I saw you on the news. Are you just getting home now?

CLARK: Yeah, a little bit ago.

MARTHA: Honey, I know you've got a lot on your plate, but you really do need to be around more.

CLARK: Mom, I uh, you know, I do have a responsibility to the world as you-know-who.

MARTHA: Well, you've got a bigger responsibility to your family as a father. The boys need to see what a strong and loving and vulnerable man look like-- what your father was to you. You only have them for a short while longer before they go off into the world. You gotta be present.

CLARK: I'm trying. [chuckles] I really am. I don't wanna let anybody down. Was it, um... [chuckles softly] Was it always this hard for you and Dad?

MARTHA: Your lives are so much more complicated than ours ever were. Besides, life's a little different in Smallville, remember? [groans softly]

CLARK: You okay?

MARTHA: I just need to lie down, that's all.

CLARK: Get some sleep, Mom. I love you.

MARTHA: Good night, honey.

CLARK: Night.

♪ ♪

CLARK: Get 'em while they're hot.

JON: Thanks.

CLARK: More juice?

JON: Uh, I think I'm good. Thank you.

LOIS: Little help? Your mom called while you were in the shower about a visit.

JON: Are we going to Grandma's?

CLARK: I think we're overdue.

JON: Great. Smallville. A place where you can spend a full year in one afternoon.

LOIS: It's not that bad.

JON: - Whoa. Is that how you're going dressed today? Somebody got the punch-me-in-the-face memo.

JORDAN: Yeah, I should dress like you? Like some sort of human participation trophy?

JON: No, but you could watch a, like, "HowToBasic" video on style.

LOIS: Enough. Both of you, go. Your ride's here.

LOIS: Love you guys.

JON: Love you.

CLARK: Good luck today, guys.

JON: Thanks, Dad.

JORDAN: Yeah.

LOIS: You're worried about Jordan.

CLARK: I tried talking to him last night, but he was pretty upset.

LOIS: Well, if he knew where you really were... your parents told you about your real heritage when you were six.

CLARK: That was --that was different. I lived on a farm. I had powers.

LOIS: You don't think Jonathan's got something?

CLARK: Test at the Fortress said it was unlikely.

LOIS: He's about to be starting quarterback at one of the most competitive high schools in the nation... as a freshman.

CLARK: Yeah. Doesn't mean he has powers.

LOIS: Have you seen him throw a deep route?

CLARK: And what about Jordan? All it's gonna do is make him feel more alien than he already does. Trust me, I've been there.

LOIS: We're late.

CLARK: It's too dangerous for them to know.

LOIS: It's more dangerous if they don't.

CLARK: But Lois, they slip up once, say the wrong thing to one person, the whole world know who I am.

CLARK: What? Your father agrees with me.

LOIS: Oh, now we care what my dad thinks?

[indistinct chatter]

CLARK: I'm just saying, they're 14. They don't need to know yet.

LOIS: Maxy, what's going on?

MAXY: Whit...fired.

LOIS: More layoffs?

LOIS: I knew when Morgan Edge bought the "Planet," there's be cuts, but this is unbelievable.

MAN: Kent! You got a minute?

[tense music]

LOIS: Foswell fired you?

CLARK: It's better me than somebody else, okay? I do have another day job.

LOIS: That's not the point! Foswell's no editor; he's a patsy for Edge. All these billionaires that by media outlets use this "moving to digital" crap as an excuse to destroy journalism, and they don't care about human interest stories or facts. All they care about is click-throughs.

LOIS: OW.

LOIS: You're gonna need a new excuse for being gone all the time now.

[phone rings]

CLARK: Lois. We're not telling the boys.

CLARK: Hey Mom, sorry. This morning's just been...

[suspenseful music]

CLARK: Dr. Frye?

♪ ♪

FRYE: Clark? How did you...

[somber music]

FRYE: The stroke... [sighs] It...

♪ ♪

[breath catches]

[crying softly]

[crying softly]

Act II
[somber music]

PASTOR: - Faithful God, Lord of all creation, you desire that nothing redeemed by you Son will ever be lost, as we return the ashes of our sister to the earth to live with you and all your children forever and ever. Amen.

♪ ♪

MARTHA: - Clark!

EXT - KENT FARM

JORDAN: - What's that?

JONATHAN: - It's 1:00. Don't you need to take your pill with something?

JORDAN: - Who are you? Mom?

JONATHAN: - Someone's gotta watch out for you.

BRANDEN: - Now, Clark here and his dad? They could harvest crops faster than any farm in the area.

LOIS: - How's your place, Mr. Branden?

BRANDEN: - We had to sell to Oberlee Foods last year.

LOIS: - I'm really sorry to hear that.

BRANDEN: - It's hard for family farmers to make it around here nowadays.

[overlapping voices]

LANA: It's been so long since we've seen them.

LANA: - What are you doing?

LANA: - Come on, sweetie. Keep up.

[serene music]

♪ ♪

JONATHAN: - Remember that girl from that summer we stayed here?

JORDAN: - Sarah Cushing?

JONATHAN: - Yeah. She's here.

JORDAN: - Really? Where?

JONATHAN: - 50 yards and approaching.

JONATHAN: If you hurry, you'll have time to go inside and change into... A completely different person.

LANA: - Clark, I'm so sorry. She was always so kind to me. To all of us.

CLARK: - It's good to see you, Lana.

LANA: - Same.

LANA: Lois, it's great to see you. I'm sorry it's under these circumstances.

LOIS: - It's nice to see you too. You remember our boys, Jonathan and Jordan.

LANA: - Hi.

JORDAN: - Hey.

KYLE: - These are our girls. The littlest one here is Sophie. And, uh, well, the one with the perma-scowl over there, that's Sarah.

SRAHA: - [chuckles] Hi. I'm really sorry about your grandma. She was really special. Even my dad like her, and he hates everyone, so.

Kyle: - [chuckles]

KYLE: - House full of girls. Someone's always pissed at you.

SOPHIE: - Mommy.

LANA: - Mm-hmm?

SOPHIE: - That's him.

LANA: - Well, your daddy and I went to high school with Mr. Kent.

SOPHIE: - You dated him. That's why daddy got mad when he saw you on his Facebook page.

LANA: - Okay, sweets, why don't you go play? [chuckles]

LANA: [sighs] How are you holding up?

CLARK: - I could really use a drink, actually.

KYLE: - See, now you're talking. Lead the way.

KYLE: Be good.

SARAH: - I didn't think you guys would've remembered me from that summer.

JORDAN: - Of course we would, I mean, y-- buy you changed your everything.

JONATHAN: - What my brother's trying to say is that whatever you're doing is-- it's totally working for you.

SARAH: - Well, we still get puberty in Smallville. Although cell service sucks, so.

JORDAN: - Yeah no, I've been trying to get on all morning. I think there's something wrong with the router.

JONATHAN: - Just probably needs to be reset.

JORDAN: - Jon, it's in the barn.

[apprehensive music]

SARAH: - Ooh, mysterious. What's in the barn?

JORDAN: - Our dad doesn't like us in there. He says it's full of stuff that can kill us.

JONATHAN: - Yeah, when we were. like, eight.

SARAH: - Well, as a member of the FFA, I think I can keep you guys safe.

JONATHAN: - What's the FFA?

JORDAN: - I don't know.

INT - HOUSE

LOIS: - Your daughters are so gorgeous.

LANA: - Aw, thank you.

LANA: You look exactly the same as you did in high school.

LANA: He--he doesn't age.

CLARK: - It's, uh, good genes, I guess.

LANA: - And Lois, I read all your stories. I mean, it's so impressive. 'Cause of you, I tell my girls they can do anything.

LOIS: - Thank you. Are you still at the bank?

LANA: - Yep, and Kyle's still at the firehouse, made fire chief last year, and everybody else we knew moved away.

KYLE: - She means "bailed."

CLARK: - Lueck?

KYLE: - Twin Cities.

CLARK: - Sippy?

KYLE: - St. Louis.

LOIS: - Maybe you'll see them at the next reunion.

KYLE: - Kent didn't make it to the last one, now, did he?

CLARK: - Ah, I was supposed to, but we, uh--

KYLE: - You know, it used to be that when folks move away to get their degrees, well, they bring their skills back home, take care of the community's help raised them, you know? That ain't happening anymore.

KYLE: Well, hey, we'll at least get a lifeline if this whole Edge proposal goes through, right?

LOIS: - What does Morgan Edge want with Smallville?

CLARK: - Oh, boy.

LANA: - He's retrofitting the coal mines to produce alternative energies.

KYLE: - It's gonna put a lot of folks back to work around here.

LOIS: - Until it doesn't.

CLARK: - Lois.

LOIS: - Morgan Edge ruins everything he touches.

KYLE: - What's he ruined?

LOIS: - He is single-handedly destroying the "Daily Planet."

KYLE: - People quit reading that paper 'cause, uh, you reporters can't keep your politics to yourself.

LOIS: - Edge's companies prey on struggling communities. He busts up union. He barely pays a living wage. I don't understand how he can keep fooling people.

KYLE: - Oh, you mean us dumb, backwards, small-town folk?

LOIS: - No, no, that is not what I meant.

KYLE: - Know what you meant. See, people like you, you look at Smallville, and you think of the past, and you feel a little bad for use, right? People like Morgan Edge, though, now see, he looks at Smallville, and he sees the future.

LOIS: - It's not a future I would want to live in.

KYLE: - It's a good thing we don't have to worry about that anymore, now, do we?

CLARK: - We haven't made any decisions about the farm yet, Kyle.

KYLE: - But your mother has.

[unsettling music]

LOIS: - What does that mean?

LANA: - Kyle, go get the girls.

♪ ♪

KYLE: - I'm sorry for your loss, Kent.

KYLE: Evening.

CLARK: - Lana? What's he talking about?

LANA: - Your mother had some business with us, that's all. Come by the bank tomorrow. Martha was a great lady. The heart of Smallville, really. I'm sorry she's gone.

INT - BARN

SARAH: - Yeah, your dad's right. Pretty much everything here can kill you.

JONATHAN: - WHat's that thing?

SARAH: - Oh, that's a hay raker. I guess you guys don't see much of this in Metropolis.

JONATHAN: - No, but our dad told us all these stories about growing up here.

SARAH: - Tell you it sucks?

JORDAN: - Actually, I think he kinda loved it.

JONATHAN: - Can't be that bad. I mean, it's more the people that make up a place, right?

SARAH: - Wow. Metropolis boys are really starting to lose their game.

JONATHAN: - Relax. I'm--I'm taken. I didn't mean it like that. I'm just saying-- well, I guess I'm trying to say that we're only here for a few days, and I figure that we kinda need someone to show us around.

SARAH: - Mm. Okay. Uh, phone.

SARAH: Oh, no, not you.

[uplifting music]

♪ ♪

SARAH: - You.

SARAH: Thank you. Uh... There's a bonfire tomorrow at the old Shuster Mine. Hit me up if you wanna go, but I can't guarantee I won't get you into a little bit of trouble.

JONATHAN: - Guys. Found the router.

SARAH: - Oh. [laughs]

JONATHAN: - What the hell was Grandma thinking, putting it up there?

JORDAN: - I got it.

SARAH: - Oh, Jordan, be careful.

INT - HOUSE

LOIS: - "Come by the bank"? I wonder what that was all about. I shouldn't have lost my cool with Kyle.

CLARK: - You think he's right? SHould I have come back to Smallville more often?

LOIS: - No, Clark, he's not right. Your mom knew where you were and who you were.

CLARK: - Right before she died, I...

[somber music]

CLARK: I heard her say something as I was flying here.

♪ ♪

MARTHA: - It's time. Come home.

CLARK: - She wanted me to come home. I just don't know why yet.

INT - BARN

[wood creaking]

JONATHAN: - Careful.

SARAH: - Still not working.

JORDAN: - Got it.

[apprehensive music]

JORDAN: [groans, coughs]

[wood splintering]

♪ ♪

SARAH: - oh, my God.

Act III
SARAH: - Help! Somebody help! Help! The boys! They're hurt!

LOIS: - Go get medical supplies.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

JORDAN: - [groans]

JONATHAN: - It was his idea. It's okay.

JONATHAN: You're saying all we have are mild concussions?

CLARK: - You're both really lucky.

BENNY: - Little rest, should be fine.

CLARK: - Thanks, Benny.

BENNY: - Yeah.

CLARK: - It's good to see you.

BENNY: - No worries. Thank you.

CLARK: - Best to the family.

BENNY: - Thank you. I'm sorry for your loss.

CLARK: - Thanks.

LOIS: - Come on, boys. Let's get upstairs. You've had a long day.

[apprehensive music]

♪ ♪

JONATHAN: - Great, Engstrom just said that I might not be starting anymore 'cause I missed practice all week.

JORDAN: - Seriously? Football's what you're worried about right now? How are we fine, Jon?

JONATHAN: - Jordan, look, if you wanna fixate on something weird, maybe you should start thinking about how Sarah Cushing gave you her digits and not me.

JONATHAN: You texted her already, didn't you?

JORDAN: - I don't know. Wha--

JORDAN: I just wanted her to know we were okay, all right?

JONATHAN: - What is this? You sent a waving hand emoji?

JORDAN: - Okay, no, that is a Vulcan salute.

JONATHAN: - I gotta say, that's even worse. You're kind of a freak.

JORDAN: - You know what? Something a lot freakier than me happened to us in that barn. Something we're not being told about. And it's up to us to find out what that is.

JONATHAN: - Okay. Whatever, weirdo.

[somber music]

♪ ♪

LOIS: - Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

CLARK: - Jonathan must have somehow shielded them both?

LOIS: - You saw how confused they are. They need to know the truth.

CLARK: - What is the truth gonna do to Jordan? It's hard enough on him having a brother that everything comes easy to, but having one that has powers? Like Superman?

LOIS: - We don't know what he can or can't do yet. And yes, it will be hard for him, but he will have his family there to help him figure things out like he does right now.

CLARK: - I can't lose him, Lois. I can't. He's pulled so far away from me already.

♪ ♪

LOIS: - When we were dreaming about having a family, it didn't look like this, did it? Didn't have lost jobs or... Teens with severe anxiety or... Parents gone too soon.

LOIS: No one ever dreams about the problems, but every life has them. Even the extraordinary ones.

[distorted, overlapping voices]

WOMAN: SITREP on the way, General.

CLARK: - Your dad's back.

[suspenseful music]

LOIS: - That's not good.

SAM: - Had my team analyze security camera footage from bothe nuclear plants where the ruptures occurred and this is the only commonality.

CLARK: - Whatever did this, it's moving fast.

SAM: - That's not all. We also discovered a sub-microscopic etching at both sites. Thought maybe it was a fingerprint at first. It wasn't.

Clark: It's Kryptonian. "You are not a hero, Kal-El." Whoever did this knows who I am.

SAM: - He's studying you, Clark. Now. I'm sure there's a phone booth in this Podunk town where you can suit up.

LOIS: - Now? No.

SAM: - Lois.

LOIS: - I get it. There is a powerful something out there that doesn't like Superman or nuclear power plants, and that is a bad combo. But now is not a moment Clark can just take off. His mom just died.

LOIS: I mean it, Clark. The world will always nee Superman, and when there is a problem, you will be there for them, but right now, this family needs you more.

CLARK: - She's right, Sam.

♪ ♪

SAM: - I tried to warn you, Lois.

LOIS: - Come on, Dad. No this again.

SAM: - When you wanted to get married, I tried warning you. You may have fallen in love with Clark Kent, but you married Superman. And Superman doesn't get to have a normal life, no matter how much you want one for him. Or yourself.

[tense music]

♪ ♪

Act IV
[church bell tolling]

Int - Smallville Bank

LANA: - So how are the boys doing?

LOIS: - They're fine, they're just a little shaken up.

LANA: - Ah, it seems luck runs in the family. Did Clark ever tell you about our accident coming home from the Soul Asylum concert?

CLARK: - Oh, I try not to talk about my Soul Asylum days too much.

LANA: - [laughs] So Pete was at the wheel. Fell asleep, drove off the road. We came to. The car was a pretzel. Nobody was hurt. Not a scratch. It was the strangest thing. Again, lots of strange things happened here back then.

LANA: Okay.

CLARK: - Mortgage papers? My mom paid hers off years ago.

LANA: - Her first. About five years ago, at the peak of the farming crisis, banks here were offering reverse mortgages to seniors. Pay now for the opportunity to let the bank purchase the remainder of the farm upon their death if the landowner's heirs couldn't repay the balance of the loan.

CLARK: - She--she didn't need that kind of money.

LANA: - No. But... the Gordons were gonna be evicted from their farm that had been in their family for generations. Margie Kelton's lung surgery made it so she could hardly put food on the table. I have dozens of stories. Everyone in town knew that if you were in trouble, Martha would be there. She was like your friend you always write about, Lois. She was like this town's Superman. Or Superwoman.

[tense music]

LOIS: - Sound like they had a lot in common.

LANA: - She still protected half the farm's value. She wanted there to be enough money to send the boys to college. So you can either repay the loan, or you can accept a healthy buyout for the remaining value of the property.

♪ ♪

Int - Barn

JONATHAN: - You really think Dad's hiding something from us?

JORDAN: - We had all those poles land on us. Besides, how did he get them up off of us so fast, anyway?

JONATHAN: - I don't know. Adrenaline, maybe? Like a soccer mom lifting a car kind of thing.

JORDAN: - Dad can't put up a Christmas tree without falling off the ladder. And what's the thing he says every single time we come here?

JONATHAN: - "Don't put your finger in that"? I don't know.

JORDAN: - "Stay out of the barn," dumbass.

JONATHAN: - Jordan, what are we looking for, anyways?

JORDAN: - Just something unusual. Something out of place.

[apprehensive music]

♪ ♪

[wood creaks]

JONATHAN: - What?

JORDAN: - You hear that?

[wood thumping]

JONATHAN: - The poles, (just probably) they must have shifted the floor.

JORDAN: - I think it's a door.

JONATHAN: Look. Look. Look. Right there.

BOTH: Three, two, one.

♪ ♪

JORDAN: Help me move this.

JORDAN: - Get the flashlight.

JONATHAN: - Yeah.

Int - Cellar

JONATHAN: What are you doing?

JONATHAN: This is literally just a old cellar. It's probably Grandpa's old tool storage or something.

JORDAN: - Jon?

[music heightens]

♪ ♪

JONATHAN: - What is that thing?

JONATHAN: What are you doing? Do not touch that!

[pod hums]

JONATHAN: Oh, my God. Did you see that? Did you see that? What the hell was that?

JONATHAN: No. No, no, no. What was that? Jordan, what was that?

[pod humming]

JONATHAN: Jordan, what are you...

[mysterious music]]

♪ ♪

JONATHAN: What the hell is that thing?

JORDAN: - Whatever it is... It's not from Kansas.

Act V
CLARK: - All my memories, my childhood, my parents... They're all here. Why would my mom want me to come home just to sell the farm?

LOIS: - I don't think she wanted you to sell it. I think she wanted you to save it.

CLARK: - How? You know, we're not exactly flush with cash, especially after getting fired.

LOIS: - I don't know yet. But those reverse mortgages weren't because the bank was feeling generous. You may have super strength and super hearing, but I have super smell, and those loans don't smell right.

CLARK: - I do have super smell, by the way. I just don't use it very often, you know. Not with two teenage boys in the house. Kinda gross.

LOIS: - Two very upset teenage boys.

JORDAN: - So that's why? WHy you never wanted us in the barn? 'Cause you keep a freakin' alien ship in there?

CLARK: - Look, I can explain.

JORDAN: - Yeah, can you? Can you explain how I fell 30 feet and nothing happened?

JONATHAN: - Just give him--

JORDAN: All you said is that we got lucky.

JONATHAN: - Just give him a chance.

JORDAN: But that was a lie, wasn't it?

CLARK: - Yes. Yes, okay? It was a lie.

CLARK: Look. That ship... brought me to Earth.

[pensive music]

CLARK: Landed her in Smallville, right in those cornfields over there. I was sent here when my planet... Krypton, was destroyed.

JONATHAN: - Krypton?

CLARK: - Yes. Because I wasn't from here, I had certain powers. You're grandparents, they took me in. They raised me. They taught me how to control my abilities, how t blend in until the day I was ready to leave and become who I was sent here to be.

JONATHAN: - You're saying you're Superman?

JORDAN: - No, I;ve seen Superman before. We've seen him.

♪ ♪

[metal groaning]

[triumphant music]

♪ ♪

LOIS: - When your father first told me, I didn't understand either.

JORDAN: - I understand.

[metallic thud]

JORDAN: I understand all the excuses. All the times you were gone, you lied to us. You both did.

LOIS: - He was saving lives, Jordan.

JORDAN: - That doesn't make it less true! You lied to protect his secret. All the things I've been feeling. You made me think I was crazy. They put me on pills!

LOIS: - Your mental health has nothing to do with who your-- father is.

JORDAN: - And how do you know that? I'm half human, half whatever the hell he is!

CLARK: - Do not yell at your mother, okay? This is not her fault. I'm the one that didn't want you to know.

JONATHAN: - Why?

CLARK: - Because I knew what kind of burden it would be if you both had powers. Or worse, if one of you had them, and the other one didn't.

[solemn music]

JORDAN: - You think he's the reason we survived yesterday.

JONATHAN: - What are you talking about?

JORDAN: - Go on, Dad. Go tell Superboy here why he's really so perfect.

LOIS: - We thought your athletic talents could be latent abilities starting to emerge, and then yesterday...

CLARK: - The only way that both of you survived that accident is for at least one of you to be like me.

JORDAN: - You wouldn't have it any other way, would you, Dad?

CLARK: - Jordan!

JORDAN: - Don't try to talk to me, all right. You may have been sent here to be some hero, but you sure as hell weren't sent here to be a father.

JONATHAN: - Just leave us alone.

♪ ♪

CLARK: - Everything I do with the boys just... seems like it blows up in my face. Is Jordan right? A--am I a bad father?

LOIS: - Clark.

CLARK: - 'Cause right now, I... It feels like it's my fault that this is all falling apart.

LOIS: - Your life falling apart doesn't mean you're special. It means your human.

[distorted voices]

WOMAN: - Another breach in progress.

[tense music]

CLARK: - It's another nuclear facility.

LOIS: - Hey. We're gonna be all right, okay? Go.

♪ ♪

[dramatic percussive music]

♪ ♪

SUPERMAN: - I found your message. I know you're here.

LUTHOR: - And I know you can't see me. Lead encasements. You can't see through lead. One of your few weaknesses.

SUPERMAN: - That's why you're choosing nuclear facilities. You can watch me without me knowing.

LUTHOR: - And see how good you really are, Kal-El.

Act VI
EXT - SHUSTER MINE

[dance music playing]

♪ ♪

- ♪ Yes, I'll come back to you ♪

♪ No, I won't ask where you run ♪

JORDAN: - Hey, Sarah.

SARAH: - Hey. you made it.

SARAH: See you guys later.

SARAH: I still don't understand how you guys didn't get hurt.

JORDAN: - Still figuring that one out.

SARAH: - Well, I'm just glad that you made it.

JORDAN: - You promised me trouble.

SARAH: - Well, I will definitely do my best. I don't really know how you guys party in Metropolis, but here in Smallville, we do it a little different.

- ♪ And hold up the sun ♪

♪ ♪

INT - NUCLEAR FACILITY

[suspenseful music]

SUPERMAN: - How do you know my name?

LUTHOR: - I know everything there is to know about the Last Son of Krypton. Where I come from, let's just say the two of use have history.

SUPERMAN: - And where is that, exactly?

LUTHOR: - Nowhere now. My world was destroyed. But somehow, I managed to survive. I eventually arrived here, where I learned you were here too.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

LUTHOR: Not as fast as I thought.

EXT - SHUSTER MINE

[indistinct chatter]

[dance music playing]

♪ ♪

SARAH: - Maybe you shouldn't. Beer and benzos don't really mix well.

JORDAN: - How'd you know?

SARAH: - I saw you take one back at the funeral reception. But you're not the only one, you know, on something, so.

JORDAN: - You? For what?

SARAH: - Are we really gonna do this now? Go full "Euphoria" on each other?

JORDAN: - We don't have to. I... You're just kinda the only person I know around here.

SARAH: - No, it's cool.

SARAH: Up until I was... 11 or 12, I had a pretty awesome life. I mean, it wasn't perfect, but it was nice. Dolls and dance classes. But then something changed. People around here, they get this sadness, and they act like it's something you can catch like the flu, but... I never thought it was gonna hit my house till it did. Now half the nights, my dad sleeps on the couch, and my mom gets really mad at him for being checked out, but honestly, I can't blame him. He's a firefighter, and being a firefighter here, you see all the really bad stuff. I mean, stuff that no one really wants to talk about.

JORDAN: - Like what?

SARAH: - Like parents cooking meth and the whole house catching on fire with the kids inside.

SARAH: Anyways... About a year ago, I took a bunch of my mom's pills. I still don't understand why I did it. I've never done anything like that before, and my mom, she made a really big drama out of it. Lots of therapy and whatever. I know, for a--for a sad story, it's really basic.

[heartwarming music]

JORDAN: - No. It's not.

♪ ♪

SARAH: - What are you doing?

JORDAN: - What?

SEAN: - Hey!

SARAH: - Sean!

SEAN: - That's my girlfriend!

SARAH: - Sean, what the hell is your problem?

SEAN: - The hell you doing with this guy?

SARAH: - It doesn't even matter. Relax. Relax.

JORDAN: - Girlfriend?

SARAH: - I would've gotten around to it, but you sorta kissed me first.

JORDAN: H-Hey hey man, I didn't know.

SARAH: It's not that big of a deal!

JONATHAN: - Back off!

[tense music]

JORDAN: Jon?

JONATHAN: What the hell are you doing? You know how many townies I had to randomly DM to find out where this party was?

SEAN: - Out of the way.

JONATHAN: Hey. - Back off! You really don't want to get in my face right now.

♪ ♪

JORDAN: - Hey, hey, hey!

SARAH: Jordan!

[kids shouting]

♪ ♪

EXT - SHANGHAI

[workers shout]

[wind howling]

EXT - SHUSTER MINE

[crowd shouting]

SARAH: Hey! Get off of him. What is wrong with you.

EXT - ATMOSPHERE

LUTHOR: - Aren't you curious how I know so much about you, Kal-El?

LUTHOR: Like me, your home was destroyed. Your were sent here as an infant to a world where you'd spend your whole life trying to prove your worth, convince yourself you were one of them, but you're not! You're still that scared, lost child, desperate for the love of people that will never accept you!

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

LUTHOR: And the only remnants of your real home-- Kryptonite-- make you sick. Dust to dust. Superman.

♪ ♪

Act VII
[suspenseful music]

♪ ♪

LOIS: - Yeah, have you still got those contact at HUD? I need you to check Smallville Community Bank for any unusual activity in the last five or--

REPORTER: ...injuries are a concern.

LOIS: - Six years.

REPORTER: - This is a volatile situation for firefighters.

LOIS: - Maxy, I gotta go.

[metallic ringing]

LOIS: Clark.

♪ ♪

LOIS: Who told you to wear a tie?

♪ ♪

LOIS: Clark. Come home.

♪ ♪

[metallic ring]

EXT - SHUSTER MINE

JONATHAN: - Dad.

CLARK: - Jonathan!

[triumphant music]

KYLE: - The other one's pretty shook up. Twice in two days, Kent. Luckiest family I know.

CLARK: - Kyle. Thank you.

♪ ♪

CLARK: - Are you okay? WHat happened?

JONATHAN: - Dad. Dad. I--I don't know what happened. Jordan...

[tense music]

♪ ♪

INT - HOUSE - KITCHEN

LOIS: - So you saved your brother.

JORDAN: - I wasn't sure what happened. That's why I didn't say anything.

JORDAN: All I knew is, when I fell, I felt something come over me. It was a strength I've never had before. I felt...control. I-I don't know. It's hard to explain.

JONATHAN: - What's gonna happen to him?

CLARK: - I'm not sure yet. Jordan's powers are manifesting very differently than mine did.

LOIS: - But we're gonna help you get through this, okay?

JONATHAN: - Yeah, it's probably like learning to drive a car, you know? If cars were indestructible and had giant death lasers as headlights.

JORDAN: - Yeah. Thanks.

LOIS: - Apologize to your brother.

JONATHAN: - I know. Too soon. I know. [sighs]

CLARK: - You were right. I should've told them a long time ago. [sighs] Jordan could've killed someone tonight.

LOIS: - We just gotta be on the same page going forward.

[sentimental music]

MARTHA: - These are the important years, Clark. Life's a little different in Smallville.

♪ ♪

CLARK: - I think I know what my mom meant when she said to come home. She knew how busy we are in Metropolis, how absent I've been. I've tried convincing myself that the boys would be fine and that it was okay for me to be gone so much, but... [sighs] I was wrong.

LOIS: - You think your mom wanted us to move to Smallville and live on the farm?

CLARK: - It's a simpler life. More time with each other, be part of a community, and now this? I think she felt like this family needs Smallville.

LOIS: - As much as the world needs Superman?

♪ ♪

CLARK: - Look, I know. I know it would be a huge, huge change.

LOIS: - Yeah, it would. But I think she was right.

CLARK: - Really?

[both laugh]

EXT - PORCH STEPS - NIGHT

CLARK: You know, I think about my dad a lot. How he was just heading off to church one day when a meteor crashed in his front yard. And just like that... He was a father. I didn't know it back then. but... but he had no idea what he was doing. Ah, it didn't matter. 'Cause he was always there.

[heartwarming music]

♪ ♪

CLARK: You were right. I haven't always been there for you. But I promise you, from now on, I will be.

Act VIII
INT - KITCHEN

LANA: I pulled some strings, got you $2,100 an acre, which is well above market value in Rice County.

CLARK: Wow, that-- that's very generous. Um. But we decided we're-- we're not selling.

LANA: You're not?

CLARK: We're thinking of reopening the farm. Run it the way my folks and I used to back in the day.

LANA: So you're staying.

LOIS: Well, we're talking it over, but a change might be good for this family.

LANA: Okay. Then let's go over the pre-negotiated terms for taking over the loan.

LOIS: Before we do, Lana, I was wondering if you knew that a couple months before those reverse mortgages were offered, a company had secretly acquired your bank.

LANA: No. I didn't know that.

CLARK: Galaxy Holdings, whose majority shareholder is Morgan Edge.

[suspenseful music]

LANA: Why would someone like Morgan Edge be interested in a bunch of family farms in Smallville, Kansas?

LOIS: That's a very good question.

♪ ♪

EXT - FARM

JORDAN: How's everyone doing after last night?

SARAH: Tag Harris broke his arm. Other than that, nobody else got hurt.

JONATHAN: Anyone say what caused the explosion?

SARAH: My dad said it was probably just a methane pocket.

JORDAN: Look, I should've never kissed you last night.

JONATHAN: Wow. That is awkward. Good Luck.

SARAH: It's not your fault. You didn't know about Sean, and I'm just really sorry about how it all went down. I just wanted to hang out with you. You were so sweet that summer that we met, and then yeah, I saw you take that pill at the funeral... I just thought that if someone like you had issues, then someone like me wasn't so messed up.

JORDAN: I think maybe it means we're both just a little messed up.

SARAH: [chuckles] Yeah, maybe you're right.

[heartwarming music]

SARAH: Do you think that you can keep it a secret? Uh, one person finds out, and then everybody knows, and it's just...

JORDAN: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Your secret's safe with me.

SARAH: Thanks.

LANA: Sarah!

SARAH: I'm sorry--

JORDAN: It's--it's all right.

SARAH: See you around.

JORDAN: Yeah.

♪ ♪

JONATHAN: Well, that didn't look like a total disaster. All right?

JORDAN: Yeah, yeah, look. Um, Jon, about the powers, uh...

JONATHAN: It's all good.

JORDAN: Huh?

JONATHAN: Yeah. Powers are overrated anyways. Plus this just confirms what I've known to be true all along.

JORDAN: Yeah?

JONATHAN: Yeah. My skills on the field are legits.

[both chuckle]

JONATHAN: Come on.

INT - KITCHEN

JONATHAN: Still cannot believe that you said that to her.

[indistinct conversation]

CLARK: Hey boys. What would you guys think about staying here a little longer than any of us planned?

JORDAN: Like a couple days or something?

LOIS: More like permanently.

JONATHAN: Uh, I mean, I-- I have school. Practice, the team.

CLARK: We know, we know. It's a big conversation.

LOIS: Yeah, we'll have it tonight at family dinner. We just wanted to give you both some time to process what this would really be like before we do.

JONATHAN: Okay.

CLARK: Well, until then, you two, follow me out to the barn. I wanna show you a few things.

JORDAN: Like Superman things?

CLARK: Like how to attach a plow to a tractor.

JORDAN: What?

JONATHAN: Seriously?

LOIS: Those fields aren't gonna plow themselves.

JONATHAN: Okay, but Dad, we have questions. We just found out our dad's Superman.

JORDAN: Yeah, like, thousands and thousands of questions...

♪ ♪

EXT - SNOW MOUNTAIN PEAK

[tense music]

♪ ♪

[wind howling]

LUTHOR: We need to improve tactile function and speed if I'm gonna end this.

A.I.: We also need Kryptonite. That was the last of your supply.

LUTHOR: Then we'll have to go get some.

A.I.: I'll install the upgrades to you armor right away. Captain Luthor.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

SUPERMAN & LOIS LOGO