Episode #216 - "Fever" 

Original airdate: February 18, 2003 

Written by: Matthew Okumura

Directed by: Bill Gereghty

Act 1 Teaser 

Martha comes down the stairs of the storm cellar. Day. She is holding the flour can that she hid the octagonal disk from Clark's ship in. She looks over at the ship nervously and then she opens the flour can and takes out the disk. 

Clark: (From outside) Hey, Mom, you down here? 

Martha quickly puts the disk back in the can and turns around. 

Martha: Clark. I thought you went to the hardware store with your father. 

Clark: (Comes down the stairs) Yeah, we were on our way. Then Dad remembered he had the part he needed in the barn so... What are you doing down here, anyway? 

Martha: I-I came down to get some, uh, peaches for dessert. I'll be right up. 

Clark: Okay. (He leaves) 

Martha takes another look at the ship, then looks to the side of the storm cellar where some old paint cans sit on the ground. She takes a gardening shovel off a shelf and moves the paint cans aside. She starts to dig a hole in the dirt and as she does this, a light green dust rises from the ground. Martha doesn't notice. She inhales the dust through her mouth and we follow it down her throat where the grains plant themselves onto the inside of her windpipe. 

When the hole is deep enough, she puts the flour can into it and covers it up with dirt. She coughs as she puts the paint cans back in place. 

CUT TO Jonathan fixing the pipes under the kitchen sink. 

Jonathan: Well, that ought to do it. 

He stands up and turns on the water as Martha enters with a jar of peaches. 

Martha: That was fast. 

Clark: I offered Dad a bit of spot welding, but he said it'd only slow him down. 

Jonathan: Son, as hard as it is for you to believe, even your abilities are no substitute for a three-quarter inch copper washer. 

Martha: (Taking a pitcher from the fridge) Well, it sounds like the two of you deserve a nice cold glass of lemonade. 

Martha starts to cough violently. 

Clark: Mom, you all right? 

She continues to cough and drops the pitcher on the floor, shattering it. She starts to faint and is about to land on an upturned shard of glass when Clark super speeds across the room and catches her. 

Jonathan: Martha! 

Clark: Dad, she's not breathing. Mom? Mom! 

Jonathan: Martha? 

[Opening credits] 

Act 1 Scene 1 

Martha is asleep in a hospital bed. Day. She is hooked up to an IV, a heart monitor, and an oxygen mask is strapped to her face. Dr. Helen Bryce leaves the room to talk to Jonathan and Clark who are waiting outside. 

Helen: The good news is we've managed to s*ab her and she's breathing on her own. 

Jonathan: I just don't understand. She was working outside all morning. She seemed fine. How could something come over her so quickly? 

Helen: My first guess is we're dealing with some sort of toxin. I'll have a better idea after we finish her blood work. 

Jonathan: All right. I'm gonna stay right here. 

Helen: I'll have an orderly bring you some coffee. 

Jonathan: Thank you. 

Helen leaves. 

Clark: She's going to be okay. 

Jonathan: I know that son. I also know that she wouldn't want us both out here standing guard. 

Clark: I'm not leaving. 

Jonathan: Clark, your mother had a whole list of things she needed to get done for the fundraiser. You know how important the food bank is to her. 

Clark: All right. But as soon as I'm finished, I'm coming back to camp out with you. 

Jonathan nods and Clark leaves. 

Act 1 Scene 2 

Clark enters the Talon with a box. Day. Lana, Chloe, and Pete are talking at the bar. 

Lana: Clark, hey, I thought your mom was bringing over the prizes for the raffle. 

Clark: She was, but she came down with something this morning. My dad's at the hospital with her. 

Lana: Hospital? It sounds serious. 

Pete: Do they have any idea what's wrong? 

Clark: We're still waiting on some test results. 

Chloe: Well, they have to know something. I mean, what were her symptoms? 

Clark: (Abruptly) What is this, an interview? 

Chloe looks away, startled. 

Clark: She stopped breathing, okay? 

Lana: You know, this whole event was your mom's idea. Maybe you should just postpone until she's back on her feet. 

Clark: No, I appreciate the thought, Lana, but she's going to be okay and she'd be really disappointed if we cancelled. 

Chloe: (Quietly) Clark, I didn't mean to just-- 

Clark: It's okay, Chloe. I'm gonna get back to the hospital. 

He leaves. 

Act 1 Scene 3 Jonathan sits in a waiting room at the hospital. Day. Helen approaches. 

Helen: Mr. Kent? 

Jonathan stands up and they walk down the hall together. 

Helen: I know we've already gone over this, but I'm going to ask you one more time. Has Martha been exposed to any unusual substances over the last few days? 

Jonathan: No, no. Nothing she hasn't been around before. What is this about? 

They stop outside Martha's room. 

Helen: I've been going over Martha's blood cultures and her symptoms indicate an acute toxic reaction, but I can't identify the source. 

Jonathan: (Looking at Martha through the window) But you can-- you can do something for her, right? 

Helen: I've sent her blood samples to Metropolis for further testing. But I have to be honest with you, I'm concerned. For both Martha and the health of her baby. 

Jonathan jerks around to face Helen. 

Jonathan: Baby? 

Helen: You didn't know? 

Jonathan: (Shocked) There must be some... kind of a mistake. The doctor said that she could never have a baby. 

Helen: I asked your GP to fax over Martha's medical records. There's no mistake. 

Helen walks away and Jonathan turns back to the window. 

Act 1 Scene 4 

Helen and Lex sit in Helen's office. Day. 

Lex: I saw Mr. Kent in the hall. He looked worried. Is everything all right? 

Helen: We're doing everything we can. 

Lex notices a paper on Helen's desk that says Johns Hopkins. 

Lex: Johns Hopkins. Good school. 

Helen: Go ahead. Read it. 

Lex looks at the letter. 

Lex: They're offering you a 3-year research fellowship. I'm impressed. 

Helen: It's an opportunity to do pure research at one of the best hospitals in the country. 

Lex: As opposed to the rural pleasures of Smallville Medical? 

Helen: Lex, I like my work here, but research has always been my first love. So... What do you think? 

Lex: Trust me. There's nothing worse than a missed opportunity. 

A man with a DCA jacket on, DR. NEIL MOORE, enters the office. 

Neil: Dr. Bryce? I'm Dr. Neil Moore. We're here about Martha Kent. 

Lex: (To Helen) I'll let you get back to work. 

Lex leaves the office. 

Act 1 Scene 5 

Clark and Jonathan are standing outside Martha's hospital room. Day. 

Clark: A baby? 

Jonathan: Yeah, yeah she didn't tell me anything about it. 

Clark: Why would she keep it a secret? 

Jonathan: I don't know. 

Helen walks up with Neil and his two colleagues. 

Helen: Mr. Kent. This is Dr. Moore with the Disease Control Agency. 

Neil: (Shaking Jonathan's hand) Mr. Kent. 

Jonathan: Dis-- I-I'm sorry, but what does that have to do with my wife? 

Helen: The disease control agency gets called in whenever it's a matter of public safety. The Metropolis labs sent them Martha's blood work. 

Neil: I don't mean to alarm you, Mr. Kent, but your wife's condition is caused by some unknown toxin. We're here to find it and identify it. 

Clark: Could someone else come down with this? 

Neil: Frankly, son, we can't know that until we find the source. We need to backtrack Mrs. Kent's movements over the last couple of days. 

Jonathan: Yeah, um, she hasn't left the farm since the weekend. She's been on the phone doing her fundraising. 

Neil: Then that's where we need to start. 

Neil and Helen start to leave. 

Jonathan: Start what? 

Neil: Searching your property for the source of the poison. We have to search the house, the outbuildings, anything Mrs. Kent might have come in contact with. 

Jonathan: (Whispering) Clark... the ship. 

Clark leaves. 

CUT TO Clark super speeding into the storm cellar. He runs down the stairs and over to the spaceship, kicking up some more of the green dust. As he covers the ship with a tarp, the dust gets into his face and he coughs but doesn't seem to notice. 

CUT TO Clark and Pete in Jonathan's truck with the ship in the back. 

Clark: Pete, are you sure the ship will be safe in your shed? 

Pete: Yeah, we'll put it between the old Betamax and my dad's Pong game. Indiana Jones couldn't find it down there. 

Clark: Yeah. 

Clark smiles and then his eyelids start to droop. He seems to be getting drowsy and the truck swerves onto the wrong side of the road. 

Pete: Clark! Clark, what are you doing?! 

The truck slides onto the shoulder of the left side of the road and slides on the dirt, causing it to turn sideways so that the back end lands in a ditch with the front end still on the road. 

Clark: Pete! Pete, are you okay? 

Pete: Yeah, I'm fine. What happened to you? 

Clark: I'm not sure. 

Pete: Come on, let's get out of here. 

They get out of the truck and walk to the back. 

Pete: Come on, let's get this thing back on the road. 

Clark tries to push the truck out of the ditch, but it doesn't move. 

Pete: Clark, come on, stop fooling around. I've seen you bench press a tractor-trailer. Let's go. 

Clark: (Pushing as hard as he can) I'm trying. I can't do this, Pete. 

We hear sirens approaching. 

Pete: Clark, X-Files alert. 

Clark: (Seeing the cars) That's the DCA team. 

Pete: We've got to get this thing back on the road. 

Pete helps Clark push and the truck finally starts to come up out of the ditch. They push the back end around so the truck is facing forward again. They stand next to the truck as the DCA vehicles speed by. Clark watches them go, worried. 

Fade to black. 

Act 2 Scene 1 

Workers from the DCA are all over the Kent property. Day. They are wearing protective suits and masks and taking samples of just about everything. Jonathan watches from behind a fence as Clark drives up and gets out of the truck. 

Clark: Find anything yet? 

Jonathan: No, not yet. Please tell me you got the ship out of there. 

Clark: Yeah, it's at Pete's. It's safe. Dad, when I was driving, my vision suddenly blurred. I lost control of the truck. 

Jonathan: You and Pete are all right, aren't you?

Clark: Yeah. But for a moment, I lost all my strength.

Neil, who is standing nearby, is talking on his walkie-talkie.

Man: (On the walkie-talkie) Dr. Moore.

Neil: Go ahead.

CUT TO the storm cellar where the man is waving a meter over the ground.

Man: I'm getting a h*t in the storm cellar. I'm registering a positive for organic particulate matter. Looks like someone was digging around and kicked up some sort of irradiated spore.

Neil: Get a surface sample, 10 centimeters and 50 centimeters.

The man's assistant starts to dig into the dirt. Soon he hits the flour can.

CUT TO Neil showing Jonathan and Clark the octagonal disk in a plastic bag.

Neil: Mr. Kent, we found this in a tin buried inside your storm cellar. Have you ever seen it before?

Jonathan: No.

Neil: Has Mrs. Kent been down in that cellar recently?

Jonathan: Not that I know of. We usually keep it locked.

Clark: Actually, Dad, she was down there this morning.

Neil: (Into his walkie-talkie as he walks away) This is Moore. I want a cleanup team to sterilize every inch of that storm cellar.

Clark: Dad, I don't get it. We've been searching for that key for months. How'd it end up in the storm cellar?

Jonathan: When I went to fix the leak under the sink I noticed the flour jar was there. Your mother must have moved it when we went to the hardware store.

Clark: Why didn't she tell us she had it?

Jonathan: She must have her reasons, Clark. Right now I'm more concerned about her health.

Clark: Me too. What do you think those spores are?

Jonathan: I don't know, but whatever they are, you were exposed to them too. Maybe that's why you lost your strength.

Clark: No, Dad, I just had a glitch. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me. We need to think about Mom.

Act 2 Scene 2

Jonathan enters Martha's hospital room where she is still sleeping. Day.

Jonathan: Sweetheart? (Martha opens her eyes) How are you feeling?

Martha: I should have told you about the baby. I'm so sorry.

Jonathan: Why didn't you tell me?

Martha: I was worried if I said it out loud it would go away.

She coughs. Jonathan pulls up a chair and sits next to her.

Jonathan: Martha, how is it even possible?

Martha: The day of the tornado, when Nixon opened Clark's ship, something strange happened. There was a blinding light, and I felt a surge of energy go through my body.

Jonathan: Are you saying you think the ship has the power to heal?

Martha: The ship made it possible for me to get pregnant.

Jonathan: However it happened, Martha, it's a miracle. (Pause) Uh... they found the key in the storm cellar. Why did you hide it from us?

Martha: I knew it was wrong, but... I was afraid if Clark opened the ship and found out the truth about his origins, he... he would want to leave us. (She starts to cry)

Jonathan: Martha, Martha, that's not going to happen.

She starts to cough again and Jonathan kisses her hand.

Act 2 Scene 3

Lana comes to Clark's house where he is standing on the porch. Night.

Lana: Clark.

Clark: Hey, Lana.

Lana: I just wanted to make sure you were okay.

Clark: It's weird how random memories can just pop into your head, huh? When I was in second grade, I was afraid to go to school because I thought my mom would disappear while I was gone and never come back. I wouldn't even get on the bus in the morning until she promised she'd be there when I got home. Sure enough, every day, there she was when I walked in the door.

Lana: Don't worry, Clark. In a few days, you'll walk through that door and your mom will be there again.

Clark nods and then starts to hunch over.

Lana: Clark? Are you okay? Clark.

Clark falls backwards down the stairs.

Lana: Clark! (She runs down the stairs and turns him onto his back) Clark.

CUT TO Helen entering the Kents' living room where Clark is lying on the couch unconscious and Jonathan and Lana are standing over him.

Helen: What happened?

Jonathan: Uh, Lana, would you-- would you excuse us, please?

Lana: Yeah.

Lana goes to the door and stops to look back at Clark one more time before leaving. Helen listens to Clark's heartbeat.

Jonathan: Clark was exposed to the same toxin his mother was.

Helen: You should've called an ambulance. We need to inform the DCA immediately.

Jonathan: I'm sorry, I can't let you do that.

Helen: Why the hell not?

Jonathan: Look, I need you to promise me that you won't tell anybody about this, and I mean anybody.

Helen: (Tying a tourniquet onto Clark's arm) Mr. Kent, I take my doctor/patient confidentiality very seriously. But Clark needs proper care

Jonathan: Doctor, Clark isn't exactly what you'd call a normal boy.

Helen: (Taking out a needle) I need to get a blood sample.

Jonathan: Listen, Dr. Bryce, you can't do that.

Helen: Is this some sort of religious thing?

Jonathan: No, I mean literally, you can't do that.

Helen pokes the needle into Clark's arm and it goes in without any resistance. The vial starts to fill with blood. Jonathan leans over to get a closer look as Helen finishes.

Jonathan: You can't take that sample to a lab.

Helen: Mr. Kent, I am trying to help your son, but I can't do that unless you tell me what's going on.

She starts to get up and Jonathan stops her.

Jonathan: You need to promise me that you will do the lab work on this blood yourself. If you do the blood work yourself, I think you'll understand why you can't tell anyone about Clark.

Helen looks at Clark and then back at Jonathan.

Act 2 Scene 4

Helen puts a smear of blood under the microscope in her office and studies it. Night.

Helen: Oh, my God.

There is a knock at the door and Lex enters.

Helen: Lex.

Lex: I came by to see how Mrs. Kent was doing. (Lex turns to close the door and Helen turns the file on her table so it's facing down) I saw the DCA. It must be serious.

Helen: You know I'm not allowed to discuss my patients.

Lex: The Kents are like family to me, more than my own.

Helen: I know, and I would tell you everything if I could.

Lex: I understand. I just wish there was something I could do to help.

Helen: Unfortunately, modern medicine doesn't always have the answers.

Lex: I guess that's the attraction of a research fellowship. A chance to help unlock the mysteries of science.

He puts his hand on the table next to the file. Helen takes it away.

Helen: I better get back to work.

Lex goes to the door and stops.

Lex: Helen... Johns Hopkins will be lucky to have you.

He leaves and Helen looks back to the smear of blood under the microscope.

Fade to black.

Act 3 Scene 1

Chloe drives up to the Kent house. Day. She gets out of the car and walks up to the door. She knocks and Jonathan answers.

Chloe: Hi, Mr. Kent, um, Lana told me what happened. Is Clark okay?

Jonathan: Uh, yeah, he's um, he's just resting on the-- on the couch. I'll be sure and tell him you stopped by to say hello.

Chloe: Actually, I'm sorry. I must be more annoying than a door-to-door salesman, but I was wondering if I could just sit with him for a while.

Jonathan: Uh, yeah, yes. Chloe, I'm sorry, yeah, uh, sure. Go on in. I'll-- I'll wait upstairs.

Chloe: Okay, thanks.

Chloe comes inside and Jonathan goes up the stairs. Chloe sits in the rocking chair next to the couch where Clark is still lying unconscious.

Chloe: Hi, Clark. (She squeezes his shoulder) Well, this is gonna make quite a story. "Clark Kent ends record-breaking perfect attendance streak." (Silently grins at her own by-line joke) Sorry. I'm doing it again. I just-- I've never seen you sick before, and it just got me thinking, you know? What if something did happen to you? And I-I never got to... (Pause) So in yet another classic maneuver to avoid emotional intimacy, I wrote my feelings down so that I could read them to you, thereby eliminating embarrassing eye contact.

She pulls a pink piece of paper out of her purse and starts to read.

Chloe: I want to let you in on a secret. I'm not who you think I am. In fact, my disguise is so thin, I'm surprised you haven't seen right through me. I'm the girl of your dreams masquerading as your best friend. Sometimes I want to rip off this facade like I did at the Spring Formal, but I can't because you'll get scared and you'll run away again. So I decided that it's better to live with a lie than expose my true feelings.

(She starts to get choked up and stops reading for a second)

Chloe: This is so much easier when you're unconscious.

(She runs her fingers through his hair brushing Clark's bangs to one side of his head and starts to read again)

Chloe: My dad told me there are two types of girls. The ones you grow out of and the ones you grow into. I really hope I'm the latter. I may not be the one you love today, but I'll let you go for now, hoping one day you'll fly back to me because I think you're worth the wait. (She puts the paper down on her lap and runs her fingers through his hair again. He stirs) Clark?

Clark: (Quietly Still out of it and eyes closed, groans) Lana?

A tear slides down Chloe's cheek. She quickly puts the paper back in her hand bag and quickly gets up and starts leaving. When she gets to the door she looks back at where Clark is laying still asleep. She walks out and closes the door before starting to cry.

Act 3 Scene 2

Jonathan leaves the house. Night. Clark comes out after him with a blanket over his shoulders. His face is pale.

Clark: Dad.

Jonathan: Clark, you shouldn't be up.

Clark: Where are you going?

Jonathan: I'm going to Pete's to get the ship.

Clark: Now? How's Mom? (Jonathan doesn't answer) Dad?

Jonathan: Clark, Helen says that your mother probably won't make it through the night. And now you, too.

Clark: You-- you can't think about me. We gotta help Mom.

Jonathan: I'm not gonna lose my family, not without a fight. Now, if it takes another miracle, I just have to go out and find one.

Clark: The ship. Do you think it can cure me and Mom?

Jonathan: I don't know, Clark. I'm just grasping at straws here. The doctors can't help you, and your mother thinks the ship helped her get pregnant. I don't know, maybe it's crazy.

Clark: The only way to get it to work is with that key.

Jonathan: I know that, son. I also know exactly where the DCA took everything. I'm going there to get it right now.

Clark: I'll go with you.

Jonathan: No. I want you to stay right here. You're too sick. Go to bed, son.

Jonathan drives away in the truck and Clark pulls the blanket tighter around himself.

Act 3 Scene 3

We see an armed guard patrolling the government grounds of the DCA. Night. He walks past a chain link fence and doesn't notice Jonathan crouched there. Using wire cutters, Jonathan cuts a hole in the fence wide enough to squeeze through.

On the inside, he runs to a parked truck and hides behind it as another truck drives by. Jonathan runs to a second parked truck to get closer to the building, but as he peeks around the corner, he sees another guard coming toward him and runs away. The guard comes around the side of the truck and passes it. Jonathan is nowhere in sight until the guard is gone. Then Jonathan comes out of the cab of the truck and heads for the building again.

A garage door opens, letting out another truck. As it starts to close, Jonathan goes toward it at a d*ad run, just barely rolling in underneath it before it is completely closed. Inside is a warehouse with rows of stacked boxes dimly lit with yellow lighting. In the corner, there is an enclosed room with more shelves and he sees people walking around inside through the windows.

He walks to the room slowly, remaining out of sight of the two men inside. They come out and Jonathan ducks behind a box as they leave. Once they're gone, he comes out from behind the box and goes into the room. All over the shelves are items in plastic bags and Jonathan rummages through the items, knocking most of them onto the ground.

He searches more shelves on the side of the room and finds the flour can. He continues to move things out of the way and finally finds the key to the spaceship. Then he puts it in his pocket and starts to leave.

Outside the room, a guard points a g*n at him.

Guard: Hold it right there! On the ground now! Hands at your sides!

Jonathan holds his hands up and Clark comes up behind the guard, knocking him out with a f*re extinguisher.

Jonathan: Clark!

Clark: (Out of breath) Thought you could use a hand.

Jonathan: Come on.

Jonathan takes Clark's arm and helps him out of the warehouse. As they exit, they set off an alarm.

Jonathan: We gotta run, son! Come on!

Several guards shout and run toward them as two more trucks speed out of the garage. We see Jonathan's truck speed away with the blue tarp covering the ship in the back. The army trucks follow.

CUT TO Martha sleeping in her hospital room. She has the oxygen mask strapped to her face again. She suddenly opens her eyes and takes a violent gasp as the heart monitor flat lines.

CUT TO Jonathan's truck, now being pursued by a helicopter as well as the two trucks.

CUT TO Helen rushing into Martha's hospital room and listening to her heart. Then she goes to the intercom by the door.

Helen: Code blue, Room 117. Code blue.

She goes back to Martha who is still lying motionless as the heart monitor holds its steady pitch.

Fade to black.

Act 4 Scene 1

The two trucks and helicopter continue to chase Jonathan's truck. Night. Ahead on the road is a barricade of police cars and officers pointing their g*n. The truck finally skids to a stop.

Officer: Get out of the truck and put your hands up!

The men close in and Pete steps out of the truck.

Pete: Is something wrong, officer?

Officer: This guy doesn't fit the description!

CUT TO Martha's hospital room. The defibrillator cart is wheeled into the room and Helen takes the paddles. We hear the electricity building up.

Helen: Clear.

She puts the paddles on Martha's chest and Martha convulses with the shock but doesn't regain consciousness.

CUT TO Jonathan and Clark driving up outside the hospital in another truck with the spaceship in the back. Jonathan gets out, pulls the tarp off of the ship, and helps Clark out.

Jonathan: Come on.

Clark comes weakly to the side of the truck and holds the key above the ship. It slips out of his hand hovers above the octagonal groove before dropping in.

The ship starts to open and rises into the air.

CUT TO Helen shocking Martha again. Nothing happens. Helen listens to Martha's heart one more time and then puts Martha's hospital gown back in place.

Helen: (Looking at her watch) Time of death, 2:17 AM.

Outside, the ship's white light grows in intensity until it blasts out a wave of white energy. The wave comes down the hall of the hospital and through Martha's room where Helen and the nurses block their eyes from the light.

When the light fades, Martha starts to cough and the heart monitor resumes beeping. A nurse goes to put the oxygen mask back on Martha's face, but Martha waves it away. Helen listens to her heart and smiles excitedly at her.

Outside, the ship closes up and lands in the back of the truck.

Act 4 Scene 2

Clark, Jonathan, Martha, and Helen are all in Martha's hospital room. Day. They are looking at an image of Martha's baby on the ultrasound monitor.

Clark: So is it a boy or a girl?

Jonathan: Hey, Clark. Doctor, please don't answer that.

Martha: We'd like to find out the old-fashioned way.

Helen: Well, the important thing is that the baby's healthy. And so are you. In medical terms it's nothing short of a miracle. Your family seems to have a stockpile of them.

Jonathan and Martha smile.

Helen: I saw Clark's blood test and I saw Mrs. Kent make an impossible recovery. If you know how that happened, you should tell me.

Jonathan: Just like you said, Doc. It's a miracle.

Helen looks at Clark and back to Jonathan, and then leaves.

Act 4 Scene 3

A man, DR. TRENTON, is sitting in his car, apparently waiting for something. Day. Lex drives up next to him, facing the opposite direction so that their driver side windows are next to each other.

Lex: Dr. Trenton, I appreciate you keeping me apprised of the situation.

Dr. Trenton: I shouldn't be doing this. If anyone finds out I'm giving you a file on a patient, I could lose my job.

He hands a manila envelope to Lex. Lex opens it and peeks inside.

Dr. Trenton: Mrs. Kent was a very sick woman. What's your interest in her?

Lex: She's a good friend of mine. That's all you need to know.

Lex drives away.

Act 4 Scene 4

Lex waits for Helen in her office at the hospital. Day. There is a small gift box on her desk. Helen enters.

Lex: Hey.

Helen: Hey.

Lex: I ran into Clark in the hall. He said Martha's gonna be fine. Congratulations, Doc.

Helen: I don't know how much I had to do with it.

Lex: Then how do you explain it? (She gives him a look) Right, I almost forgot. You, uh, can't discuss your patients. (She starts to leave and he stops her) I got you something.

He gives her the box.

Helen: A going-away present?

Lex: On the contrary. Open it.

She opens the box and inside is a key.

Lex: It's a key to the mansion. I want you to move in.

Helen: Lex...

Lex: I would never want to stand in the way of your ambitions, Helen. But I'd be the one missing an opportunity if I didn't tell you how much I want you to stay.

They kiss. When they pull away, Helen looks at the key.

Act 4 Scene 5

Chloe is working at the Torch. Day. She is putting together an article with the headline att*ck of the k*ller Mold Spores. Lana enters.

Lana: att*ck of the k*ller mold spores?

Chloe: Yeah. I'll never look at blue cheese the same way again.

Lana: I couldn't bring myself to go back and visit Clark when he was sick. Does that make me a horrible person?

Chloe: No.

Lana: I guess it just really scared me to see him like that.

Chloe: Me too.

Lana: Kind of makes you realize who's important in your life.

Chloe: Yeah. And who's important to Clark.

Lana: What do you mean?

Chloe: Nothing. I'm gonna head home and finish changing for the benefit.

Chloe starts to leave.

Lana: Oh, are the programs ready?

Chloe: Yeah, they are. They're right behind the desk. I'll see you there.

Lana: Thanks.

Chloe leaves and Lana walks behind the desk where there is a cardboard box on the floor. She starts to pick it up when she notices several crumpled up pieces of paper that have fallen out of the overflowing wastebasket. She throws them away and finds a pink piece of paper with typing on it. She opens it.

Lana: (Reading to herself) I want to let you in on a secret, Clark. I'm not who you think I am. In fact, my disguise is so thin I'm surprised you haven't seen right through me. I'm the girl of your dreams masquerading as your best friend.

She lowers the letter, realizing.

Act 4 Scene 6

The benefit at the Talon. Night. The band is playing a slow song and the room is full of people dancing. Pete is at the switchboard wearing headphones. Clark comes up to him.

Clark: Pete, this is awesome.

Pete: Oh, Clark, hey. Good to see you among the living, man. Check it out. (He hands Clark a CD) It's the latest Talon mix.

Clark: Thanks, Pete. Hey, and, uh, thanks for your help with the police.

Pete: No problem. Although if I had a choice, I'd rather play D.J. than decoy any day. So, um... the investigation over?

Clark: Yeah. I hope so.

Pete looks over Clark's shoulder and sees Chloe entering. Clark sees her and turns back to Pete.

Clark: I'll catch up with you later.

Pete: Good seeing you, man.

Clark goes to Chloe.

Clark: Hey, Chloe. My dad said you came to visit when I was sick. That was really sweet of you. Thanks.

Chloe: Sure. What are friends for? Um, I'm just gonna go buy a raffle ticket before the drawing. I mean, what could be more poetically just? Me winning a computer.

She laughs nervously and walks away. Lana walks up to Clark.

Lana: Clark.

Clark: Hey, Lana. This is a great party.

Lana: Your mom deserves a lot of the credit.

Clark: Is Chloe okay?

Lana: What happened to you really affected her. Me too. It was really hard seeing you sick. Guess I somehow always thought of you as invincible.

Clark: Now you think I'm just human.

Lana: I guess that's my way of saying that you mean a lot to me, Clark. And I know it's not very eloquent... (She looks at Chloe who looks back at her) ...but I guess some people are just better with words than others.

Lana looks at Chloe again. Chloe has tears in her eyes.

Fade to black.

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This Episode of Smallville featured music by:

"Not That Simple" by Jamestowne

"Wave Goodbye" by Steadman, Smallville Soundtrack

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Transcribed by: Kerrplop
{"type": "series", "show": "Smallville", "episode": "02x16 - Fever"}