Original Air Date on October 6th, 2004

The football field at Smallville High School. Day. At the edge of the field is a large square-shaped banner that says "Smallville High, Home of the Crows, 2001. As students stand all around the field and cheer at a pep rally, the football players, all wearing letterman's jackets and football jerseys, crash through the paper banner and run out into the field with Whitney Fordman at the lead.

Screen Text: Freshman Year 2001

Clark stands at the edge of the field clapping and looking wistfully at the excited football players who make their way to a small stage that has been set up. Once on the stage, Whitney shouts into a megaphone. The rest of the players and the crowd stay on the ground and continue to cheer.

Whitney: Are we going to state this year?

Crowd: Yeah!

Whitney: I can't hear ya! Who's gonna be the state champions?

Crowd: The Crows!

Whitney: I need a brave freshman to step up.

Whitney walks down the stage stairs to the ground to look through the crowd.

Whitney: All right, which one of you studs thinks you're a better quarterback than me?

He looks in Clark's direction, and Clark lowers his eyes.

Whitney: [Lowering the megaphone.] Kent! How about it?

Clark: Huh? [Whitney walks toward him. Clark shakes his head nervously.] That's okay.

Whitney: [With a smug grin.] You're too busy milking cows to come and try out for the team. The least you can do is show some school spirit.

He tosses a football to Clark who catches it. Then Whitney turns back to the crowd and raises the megaphone to his lips.

Whitney: Am I right?

Everyone yells excitedly.

Whitney: Come on, Kent. You want to take a sh*t at the hottest freshman in Smallville High?

Clark looks across the field where a dunk t*nk has been set up. Lana is sitting on the platform above the t*nk of water in a Crows T-shirt. To her left is a large circle with an X in the middle of it which Clark will have to h*t with the football to dunk Lana.

Lana: [Enthusiastic.] Come on, Clark!

Clark smiles at Lana shyly. Then he looks down from her face to the glowing Kryptonite necklace she is wearing. She is too far away for the necklace to affect Clark, but his attraction to Lana makes him even more nervous, and he clutches the football tightly as his hands start to shake. Whitney and another football player laugh at Clark.

Lana: [Sincere.] Just take your time. Come on, Clark, you can do it.

Clark pulls back his arm, preparing to throw the ball, when he is interrupted by a female student, Abby Fine. She runs onto the field dressed as a Crow, the school mascot. Her face is covered in a large mask and she jumps around while she makes crow noises.

Abby: Caw! Caw! Support the team! Caw! Caw! Whoo!

The crowd cheers for the mascot as she runs into the field between Clark and Lana.

Abby: Yeah, go Crows! Woo-hoo!

Whitney: [Into the megaphone, walking toward Abby.] Hey, it's the Crow! Who's the lucky freshman this year?

Another football player, Brett Anderson, walks toward Abby as well.

Brett: [Cruelly.] Probably the biggest loser like every year. [Gesturing to the mask.] Come on, take it off. Take it off. Let me see your face.

Clark: Hey, leave her alone.

Abby: Guys, just leave me alone, all right?

Another player holds Abby's arm, preventing her from running away.

Brett: [To Clark.] What? We always t*rture the mascot. It's a tradition.

Abby: Leave me alone. Leave me alone! [Brett takes off Abby's mask.] Stop it!

The mask is removed, revealing a girl with messy blond hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and horrible acne. The whole crowd gasps and starts to laugh.

Brett: Scabby Abby. Hey, it's Scabby Abby!

He turns to the crowd and waves the crow mask over his head as he chants the nickname. The crowd joins in.

Brett: Scabby Abby! Scabby Abby!

Crowd: Scabby Abby! Scabby Abby! Scabby Abby! Scabby Abby! Scabby Abby!

The chanting continues. Clark stands silently, unsure of what to do. Abby looks around at the crowd becoming more and more humiliated and starts to cry. She finally turns around and runs away.

Brett: [Holding the mask over his head.] Put your mask back on, Scabster!

Whitney turns back to the crowd.

Whitney: All right, who's next? Who's gonna step up and dunk her?

Clark lowers his eyes unhappily.

Abby runs to the parking lot and leans with her back against a parked truck sobbing. She takes off her glasses and wipes her eyes. Then she turns around and sees her reflection in the truck's window. We hear a woman's voice as we come to the present day.

Fade to a three-dimensional computer simulation of Abby's face.

Woman: Poor Abby. It's taken three years, but you finally let Mommy help you.

The simulation fades to Abby's actual face as she lies on a table in a lab covered by two metallic straps across her chest and pelvis. The woman speaking is her mother, Dr. Fine, an attractive woman who stands next to the table wearing rubber gloves and a lab coat. She strokes Abby's hair lovingly.

Dr. Fine: Don't worry, sweetheart. I won't let you waste your senior year like you did all the others.

Abby: You promise people will like me?

Dr. Fine: They will. I promise. Just like they did me.

Abby smiles. Dr. Fine walks to the wall and pushes a button. A buzzing is heard over the lab table.

Dr. Fine: Everyone will love you when they see the real you, the one that's been inside all along.

A large hard covering begins to lower toward the lab table. Its outline resembles a human body, not unlike the top of a sarcophagus except that it is made of transparent plastic, and Abby trembles in fear as it comes closer to her. We see it from her point of view, and the inside of the covering has dozens of needles pointing directly at Abby. The needles are spaced only inches apart from each other.

Dr. Fine: You're going to have a senior year no one will ever forget.

The cover continues to lower until the needles touch Abby's face and begin to break the skin. Small drops of blood pour down her cheek.

[Opening credits]

A sh*t of a football resting on the grass as a crowd is heard cheering. Day. We hear the voice of a male announcer.

Announcer: What a ball game! It's all tied up! With five seconds left, it's a brother here at Metro Stadium!

Clark, dressed in blue jeans and a flannel shirt, picks up the ball.

Announcer: Clark Kent, the young phenom from Smallville has led M.U.'s incredible comeback.

Clark holds the ball in his hands, looking at it intensely and turning it over. He is in the middle of an empty field in Smallville.

Announcer: Kent takes the step from his own ten-yard line. It's Hail Mary time. He fades back. Here's the pass.

Clark runs backwards a few paces and then chucks the ball into the air.

Announcer: A b*llet deep downfield! Way past his own receiver!

As the ball continues to fly across the field toward the Kent barn, Clark super speeds toward it.

Announcer: Wait! Kent's now flying down the field. He's going to catch his own pass!

Clark jumps into the air and catches the football.

Announcer: Touchdown! The Meteors win! Kent is unbelievable!

Clark smiles, pleased with himself. The cheering and the voice of the announcer in Clark's imagination fade away. Clark notices a tire swing hanging from a nearby tree and tosses the football at it, easily sinking the ball through the hole of the tire. He doesn't notice that Lois has parked her car behind him and is now walking toward him.

Lois: Nice arm, farm boy.

Clark turns around, startled.

Lois: When's the first game?

Clark: [Uneasy.] I'm not on the team.

Lois: Why not? An arm like that is a "Get out of geek free" pass.

Clark: Well, even if I wanted to play ...

Lois: Which obviously you do.

Clark: That wouldn't be the reason. Thanks, I don't really consider myself a geek.

Clark starts to walk away, and Lois walks with him.

Lois: So... what do you see yourself as?

Clark: I don't know. An outsider, I guess.

Lois: [She laughs.] That's a recipe for wedgies if I've ever heard one.

Clark: [Annoyed.] Have I told you how much I'm gonna miss you?

They stop walking as Lois's dad, General Sam Lane, drives up and steps out of his car.

Lois: [Not pleased to see him.] Daddy. Don't you have three thousand guys to babysit? Do you really need to keep checking up on me?

Sam: It would appear that way.

Lois: I know that I'm late. But I can still make it to campus for orientation.

Sam: Save yourself a trip. Met U just yanked your acceptance.

Lois: What? They can't do that.

Sam: They can if you don't have enough credits to finish high school.

Lois: Look, I know I missed a few classes, but...

Sam: Lo, you failed the last semester.

Clark laughs with delight. Sam looks sharply at Clark, and he stops laughing.

Sam: Not to worry, though. I'm sure that Clark will be happy to show you around.

Clark & Lois: [Worried.] Around where?

Sam turns his back to Lois and Clark and begins to walk back to his car.

Sam: Bright and early tomorrow morning. [He turns back to them.] You start Smallville High.

Smiling, Sam continues to walk to his car. Clark's eyes close in exasperation and his chin drops to his chest. Lois sighs heavily.

Lois: Great.

Outside sh*t of Smallville High School. Day. A banner over the front door says "Welcome Back!" Lois and Chloe drive into the parking lot in Lois's car and find a parking spot.

Chloe: You know, socially divisive cliques and hall passes aside, this place really isn't all that bad.

Lois: It's the varsity version of Dante's seventh ring.

Chloe laughs as she gets out of the car.

Chloe: Come on, do you know how many people would k*ll to relive their senior year in high school?

Lois: [Getting out of the car.] Make that semester. Five more credits and I am out of this cow pile.

They walk toward the school.

Chloe: Wait a minute. Five credits in one semester? Lois, the only way you're gonna do that is if you add an extracurricular to your class list. [With a bright smile.] Like, say, maybe... writing for the Torch.

Lois: Uh, no hard feelings here, cuz, but unlike you, the last thing I want to be is a reporter.

Chloe: Yeah, God. What could be worse than, you know, uncovering the truth and protecting the public?

Lois: And sticking your nose in other people's business.

Chloe: Like I said. You'd be perfect. Come on, let's go!

Lois shakes her head at Chloe's remark, and Chloe puts her arm around Lois's shoulder as they enter the school.

Chloe: It's gonna be great having you here.

Cut to the inside hallway of Smallville High crowded with students. Clark comes down the stairway and stops when he notices a poster on the wall that says "Football Tryouts This Week." He is clearly interested.

Behind him he hears a wolf whistle and turns around to see what is going on.

Male Student: Check it out. The new girl!

A sexy girl with blond hair, a pink dress, and a provocative smile walks down the hallway. A group of football players including Brett Anderson smiles at her. She smiles at all the guys who are checking her out, one of whom is Clark. The girl is Abby Fine.

Abby: Hi, Clark.

She goes to her locker. Clark realizes who she is.

Clark: [Surprised.] Abby?

Abby: It's actually Abigail now.

Clark: You know, I almost didn't recognize you.

Abby: After an entire summer in recovery... good. [She opens her locker.] With any luck, this old locker will be the only thing that stays the same this year.

Clark: [He laughs.] Yeah, um, that shouldn't be a problem. So, uh... Why the, uh...

Clark looks Abby up and down timidly.

Abby: Change? I guess just one day you realize you can spend another year being resentful of what everybody else has, or you can do something about it. It's our senior year, Clark. This is my last chance.

We see Brett who is still talking to his buddies and smiling at Abby. Lois and Chloe walk around the corner and pass Clark.

Chloe: Good morning, Clark. Hey... Abby.

Chloe and Lois keep walking.

Chloe: Whoa. Either she spent an entire summer at a silicon farm, or I am shopping at the wrong makeup counter.

Lois: How old is she, 17? That's like messing with the batter before the cookies are even baked.

Chloe: Don't tell me that the world isn't nicer to prettier people. [Chloe opens her locker.] Besides, you know, I mean it's her body and if it makes her feel better, then it's none of our business.

Lois looks at Chloe in surprise.

Chloe: What?

Lois: I'm just stunned that Miss "Letter to the Editor" doesn't find it one bit disgusting that a girl would get nipped and tucked to transform into some plastic pod person.

Clark approaches.

Clark: I think she looks great.

Lois: What a shocker. [Chloe laughs.] Look, that's the problem with high school. It's all a facade. Everyone's hiding who they really are and trying to be something they're not.

Chloe: Well, it sounds like you've got your first article. See you in the Torch.

Chloe and Clark start to walk away and Clark shrugs at Lois.

Lois: [Following them.] Okay, I'll write for you, but you better get me extra credit.

Cut to Lana walking down the hallway holding a folded up piece of paper with her name written on it. She smiles excitedly as she stops outside the coach's office. She opens the door and goes inside where she finds Jason putting books on a shelf. She laughs and closes the door behind her.

Lana: Hey.

They kiss. When they finish, Lana holds up the note.

Lana: A note through the vent of my locker. Very creative.

Jason: Well, I pride myself on being able to revert back to the fourth grade.

Lana: What are you doing here? If we get caught, I could get detention.

Jason: I could get fired.

Lana looks at him strangely. Before he can explain, there is a knock on the door and they step away from each other as Clark enters the office.

Clark: [To Jason.] Coach Teague.

Lana looks at Jason disbelievingly.

Clark: I'm Clark Kent.

They shake hands.

Jason: Hi.

Clark: [Noticing Lana.] Lana. What are you doing here?

Lana: Um, I, uh ...

Jason: The principal asked this young lady to give me the grand tour.

Clark looks at Jason as Lana tries to hold back her laughter at Jason's lie.

Jason: It's good to meet you, Clark.

Clark: You know, they didn't tell me you were Jason Teague. [To Lana.] This guy threw a passing record his freshman year at Metropolis University. He could've gone pro.

Jason: Yeah, well, now I'm just a transfer to Central Kansas A & M. It's amazing how quickly you fall off a recruiter's list when you tear your rotator cuff.

Lana: Well, then, I, uh, I guess we're lucky to have you here, coach.

Jason: Assistant coach... Miss Lang.

Lana mouths the words "Miss Lang" trying not to let Clark see how strange that sounds coming from Jason.

Jason: [To Clark.] Um, Quigley's still gonna be calling the plays for you guys.

Clark: Well, actually, I'm not on the team. [He glances at Lana.] I was hoping I could try out.

Jason: You look big enough. Sure.

Lana looks at Clark, surprised.

Jonathan and Martha stand next to the tractor on the farm. Day.

Jonathan: The Talon?

Martha: Lex, uh, agreed to let me manage it.

Jonathan looks unenthusiastic about the idea.

Martha: I was lucky to find a job at all, Jonathan. It's not like I have a full resume these days.

Jonathan: Sweetheart, if we're so worried about money, then why don't we just go through the books again? We'll find some other place to cut.

Martha: Like where? We've been over it every week for two months. There's no way we can get out from under these hospital bills.

Jonathan walks past her, upset. She stops him.

Martha: I'm not blaming you. I just... I just don't want to keep waiting and risk losing the farm. You've worked too hard.

Jonathan: Yeah, so that you wouldn't have to.

Martha: It's not so bad right now. You have the farm and Clark is gonna go off to college next year. I need something of my own.

Jonathan: But why does it have to be with the Luthors?

Martha: I'll be selling espressos, Jonathan, not masterminding hostile takeovers.

Jonathan: Well... I've always known that you wanted to have more than just this old farm. I'm not gonna be the one to stand in your way.

Martha smiles and they hug each other.

Martha: Thank you, sweetheart.

Jonathan: You're welcome. [He laughs.] You're welcome.

Clark is getting dressed in his football uniform in the boys' locker room. Day. There are several other guys in the room, and Jason enters with a clipboard.

Jason: Hey, Kent. I need your permission slip, bud.

Clark pulls a yellow slip of paper from his backpack and hands it to Jason. He smiles somewhat nervously.

Jason: What positions have you played?

Clark: None, actually. I've never been on a team before. My father wasn't too keen on the whole idea.

Jason: Your dad doesn't know you're here, does he? [Clark becomes more nervous.] When it comes to defying fathers, I'm kind of a pro.

Clark: I'm not doing this for him.

Jason: You know, I've seen a lot of guys join the team just so they can walk around in a letterman's jacket, because they want people to look at them differently. But football's just a game. If you want to change, you gotta do that yourself.

Clark: That's why I'm here.

They look at each other for a moment.

Jason: All right. Let's see what you got.

Jason leaves the locker room. Clark smiles triumphantly and slams his locker shut.

Cut to the football field where one of the team hopefuls does a tire run across the field, his feet landing perfectly through the holes of a line of tires laid out on the grass. When he successfully gets to the end, he slaps the hand of one of the other players who is watching. A whistle blows.

Coach Quigley tosses a football to Clark.

Quigley: All right, Kent. Prove something to us.

Clark tosses the ball to Jason and puts on his helmet. He looks at Jason with some trepidation, and Jason gestures to the field, encouraging Clark. Clark then walks over to a group of guys and they get into position to play. One guy bends over in front of Clark, holding the ball to the ground, and Clark stands behind him, ready to receive it.

Guy: All right, guys! On two!

Clark: Hut! Hut!

The guy in front of Clark passes the ball to him, and Clark throws it across the field with so much force that the guy who catches it is knocked to the ground. Both Jason and Clark smile. Jason goes to Clark.

Jason: All right. That'll work. [He pats Clark on the chest.] Line up again, guys.

Nearby, another group of players stands on the field talking. Among them is Brett. They watch Abby jogging on the track around the field.

Guy: Check out Scabby Abby.

Guy #2: [Referring to her chest.] They're fake, you know.

Guy #3: Who cares?

There are several wolf whistles, and Brett takes off his helmet to look at Abby dreamily.

Brett: Are you kidding me? Man, is she hot.

Abby stops running for a moment, making eye contact with Brett. Then she starts to jog away as the guys continue to call after her.

Abby opens her locker in the empty hallway of Smallville High after finishing her jog. Day. The first thing she sees is a mirror, and she smiles at it, adjusting her hair. Brett walks up to her and she jumps slightly with a gasp, then laughs when she recognizes him.

Brett: I didn't mean to scare you. I can't stop thinking about you.

Abby: You mean the girl you nicknamed Scabby Abby?

Brett: Yeah, I totally deserved that. Maybe if I'd been more patient, I would've seen who you really are. The most beautiful girl in school.

Brett touches her face gently and she smiles. He smiles in return. Abby is distracted as Lana walks by with an armful of books. Lana looks at them both, a little surprised at their intimacy, but keeps walking.

Brett: I have a lot to apologize for. What do you say we go someplace a little more quiet?

He continues to stroke Abby's face, and her smile grows as she thinks about it. She finally gives in and closes her locker. Brett leads her down the hall.

Abby: So where're we going?

Cut to the boys' locker room. Brett and Abby stand in the showers facing each other. Brett takes off his jersey. Smiling, Abby takes her hair out of the ponytail and takes off her own shirt. They embrace as Brett begins to kiss her neck and walk her slowly back toward the wall. She runs into the shower handle with her lower back and the shower turns on, pouring down over both of them. They smile in surprise, then Brett continues to kiss her neck and her shoulder.

Abby's eyes close with pleasure as Brett runs his hand along her back, then up her neck, fingering the necklace she is wearing. She doesn't notice as the necklace comes undone and falls to the floor. She runs her hand down Brett's arm and he pulls his head back so they are facing each other.

The water runs down both of their faces as they kiss breathlessly. As they kiss, a dark green mist comes from Abby's mouth and into Brett's. She pulls away.

Brett: What are you doing?

Abby: You didn't feel that?

Brett: Of course I did.

He leans in to kiss her again, but she stops him, suddenly uneasy.

Abby: No. I should ... I should go.

She picks up her shirt from the floor and holds it in front of her chest as she exits the shower.

Brett: What's going on? Abigail, wait. Oh, I get it. New face, same old boring scabby.

Abby puts her shirt on as Brett turns off the shower and follows her into the locker room. He stands behind her.

Brett: Hey!

Abby turns around to face him, and he notices the mirror on the wall behind her. With a look of fear, he pushes her out of the way and looks into the mirror.

Brett: Oh, my God.

Abby: Brett?

Brett: What's happening?

He raises trembling hands to his face, though nothing appears to be wrong with it.

Abby: What's wrong?

Brett: [More desperate.] Oh, my God. My face!

We finally see Brett's reflection in the mirror. His face looks as if it is rotting away. Red veins spread across his cheeks and his teeth turn yellow.

Brett: What did you do to me?!

Abby looks at Brett. Outside of his reflection in the mirror, he looks completely normal, and Abby can't see anything wrong with him.

Brett: No! My face!

Brett runs from the locker room.

Cut to the parking lot of Smallville High. Lois is driving extremely fast through the parking lot as she talks angrily into her cell phone.

Lois: Admissions office? Look, I'm in the nation's cream corn capital retaking calculus! No, don't put me on hold! [To herself.] Could this day be any worse?

She lowers her eyes to hang up her phone. When she looks up again, she screams as Brett, wearing only his football pants, darts in front of her car.

Lois: Aah!

She slams on her brakes as Brett slams against her windshield, cracking it, then rolls off the hood of the car and onto the pavement, unconscious.

Fade to black.

Lying on his back on a gurney with an oxygen mask strapped to his face, Brett is wheeled into an ambulance outside Smallville High. Day. He has dried blood along the side of his neck. A police officer writing in his notepad finishes taking Lois's statement as they stand next to the ambulance. The area is surrounded by police cars and spectators who are held back by police tape.

Lois: [Slightly dazed.] No, that's everything.

Officer: Thank you.

Abby watches from several meters away as Lois starts to walk back to her car. Clark approaches Lois.

Clark: Lois, what's going on?

Lois: He just ran right out in front of me. I don't know. They said he's gonna be okay. Physically, anyway. The cops think he kind of lost it.

Clark: Who, Brett? [Lois nods.] I just saw him at practice an hour ago. He was fine.

Lois: Are you sure about that?

Clark: Yeah.

Lois: Think about it, Clark. It's the start of a new season, scholarships, the entire town counting on you to be their hero. Who knows what kind of neuroses are hiding behind that "Big Man on Campus" mask?

Clark: No way. If anything, Brett was too overconfident. He probably just didn't see you.

Lois: Yeah, that might explain the broken windshield, but do you want to tell me why he was running around half naked, soaking wet? Who would do that?

Abby, who still has wet hair and is wearing her revealing jogging clothes, walks away from the scene anxiously.

Clark enters the boys' locker room. Day. There are several guys wearing only towels, changing after their showers. Lois walks into the locker room, following Clark, not intimidated in the least. Clark tries to stop her from going any farther.

Clark: Hey, hey! The last time I checked, you were missing a few prerequisites for being in here.

Lois: [Smug.] So you have been checking me out.

Some of the guys laugh in surprise when they see Lois.

Clark: Lois, just wait outside.

Lois: Are you kidding? Tortured senior can't keep up the hometown hero act and buckles? This is as juicy as my teen cosmetic surgery article.

Lois walks over to a group of shirtless guys standing by the lockers.

Lois: [With a friendly smile.] Excuse me. How well did you know Brett Anderson?

One of the guys looks Lois up and down, checking her out.

Guy: [Smiling.] Not as well as I'd like to know you.

Lois: Charming. Look, Brett ran in front of my car. Do any of you guys know what that was all about?

Lois and the guys continue to talk as Clark walks farther into the room to look through the next row of lockers. He goes to the showers and finds Brett's jersey on the floor. Then he notices Abby's necklace resting on the drain in the floor. He picks it up and looks at it closely. The pendant is a fancy bejeweled letter A.

Outside sh*t of the Talon. Day. The marquee says "Closed." Inside, Lex opens a cardboard box and pushes aside the bubble wrapping to reveal a book called "The Hieroglyphs of Meso-America." Lana comes down the stairs behind him.

Lana: Do you make a habit of going through other people's mail?

Lex: Sorry, the box was addressed to the Talon. [He shows her the book.] Something tells me this isn't a book of the month selection.

He pulls another book out of the box that is written in a foreign language.

Lex: What's with this fascination with ancient writings?

Lana: [Pause.] School project.

Lex drops the books back into the box.

Lex: Must be the same project Clark's always working on. [He turns and walks toward the bar.] For two people so different, you have remarkably similar interests.

Lana picks up another book from the box and the cover features the symbol that has been mysteriously tattooed onto her lower back. Lex's back is to Lana, and he doesn't notice her surprise. He looks around at the empty coffee house as Lana puts the book back in the box.

Lex: It still amazes me what you did with this place. You saw promise in something everyone else thought was beyond redemption.

Lana: Huh. This is a side of Lex Luthor I've never seen before. [Walking toward Lex with a smile.] You're coming dangerous close to being nostalgic.

Lex looks at Lana with a small smile.

Outside sh*t of the Kent farm. Day. Clark walks up the stairs to the front porch where his father is waiting, looking out at the yard quietly.

Jonathan: Congratulations are in order. Coach Quigley called. You made the football team.

Clark: You don't have to worry, Dad. I'm not gonna hurt anyone. [Clark walks past Jonathan toward the door.] I know how to control my abilities.

Jonathan: The person I'm worried about you hurting, Clark, is yourself.

Clark stops walking but keeps his back to Jonathan.

Jonathan: You're gonna be tempted to run just a little bit faster, to throw the ball just far enough to win every game.

Clark turns to Jonathan, becoming angry.

Clark: You think I'm gonna cheat? I won't cross that line.

Jonathan: [With an exasperated laugh.] You won't even know where that line is, Clark. Come on, think about it. You're out there, your friends are giving it their all. You're gonna do whatever it takes to win. That's football, son. And with you, it's never gonna be a fair competition.

Clark: [Hurt.] Well, let's talk about what's fair. What's the first thing you remember about high school when you think back?

Jonathan: [Trying not to let Clark change the subject.] No, no, no.

Clark: Don't tell me it's not football. [Jonathan can't answer.] I want that, too, Dad, and I'm sick of begging for the same chances that you just had. I want my own life.

Clark leaves Jonathan and enters the house. Jonathan remains on the porch, staring sadly at the ground.

Lana is lying on her stomach on the table in Dr. Fine's office. Day. Her shirt is lifted up just far enough so that her tattoo is exposed and Dr. Fine is using a blade to take a small scraping of skin. Lana grimaces slightly.

Dr. Fine: You're not the first person to walk through that door with tattoo remorse. But you're the first one to do it without ink.

Dr. Fine puts the skin sample in a dish and walks to the counter. Confused, Lana sits up.

Lana: What?

Dr. Fine: Whatever this pigment is, it's almost as though the symbol were branded underneath your skin. Someone wanted to leave a mark you wouldn't easily forget.

Lana: But you can still remove it, right?

Dr. Fine: Well, I'll have to send this tissue sample up to the lab, but I am guessing removal won't be possible without a complete skin graft.

Lana sighs unhappily.

Dr. Fine: But we'll see.

Dr. Fine walks back to Lana who is still sitting up on the table.

Dr. Fine: You go to school with my daughter, don't you? I never forget a face. Especially a perfect one like yours.

Dr. Fine walks closer to Lana and touches her face, inspecting it with fascination.

Dr. Fine: It must get you anything you want, hmm?

Lana is uncomfortable and slightly pulls away from Dr. Fine's touch. Abby enters the room looking flustered. She stops at the door when she sees Lana.

Lana: [Smiling.] Abby. How's Brett? I saw you two in the hall.

Abby: [Quickly.] I don't know what you're talking about.

Abby looks intensely at her mother, and Lana can sense the tension.

Lana: I'll talk to you later. [To Dr. Fine.] Thank you. Um, bye, Dr. Fine.

Lana leaves the room. When she is gone Abby whispers angrily to Dr. Fine.

Abby: What did you do to me? I kissed this guy and he freaked out. It was like ... It was like he went insane or something, and I ...

Dr. Fine: [Calming.] You were my first trial at this, Abigail. I mean, there's always potential for complication.

Abby: Complication? Brett's at the hospital because of me!

Dr. Fine: Brett? Isn't that the boy who named you Scabby Abby? Maybe he got exactly what he deserved. And Lana should too.

Dr. Fine walks toward the door to make sure no one is listening, and Abby follows her.

Abby: Lana? But Lana never did anything to me.

Dr. Fine: Lana saw the two of you together. She's already asking questions.

Abby: You think she knows?

Dr. Fine: This is a very serious problem, Abigail. If Lana says anything to anyone about what's happened between you and this boy, they'll take all of this away from me. And without your treatments, you're gonna revert back exactly the way you used to be. Is that really what you want?

Abby: [With tears in her eyes.] No.

Dr. Fine: I have done everything for you. And now I need you to do something for me.

Abby listens silently.

Outside sh*t of Smallville High School. Night. Inside, Jason leads Lana by the hand into a dark room and closes the door behind them. The only light comes through the translucent window in the door, and even that isn't very bright.

Jason: Yeah. Okay.

He flips on the lights revealing a large room with all types of costumes hanging along each wall. There is a spinning mirror ball in the middle of the ceiling reflecting little spots of light that chase each other around the room. There are also several antique chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. In the middle of the room are several full length mirrors.

Jason: It's the old drama room.

Lana: [Amazed.] Wow. [She laughs.] This is an interesting detour from the coach's office.

Jason: Mm-hmm.

Lana: I didn't even know this room existed.

Lana walks farther into the room and starts to look around at all the elaborate costumes and set pieces.

Jason: Yep. Neither does anyone else, hopefully.

Lana: I still can't believe that you have a job at my school.

Jason: I know. I guess I'm gonna have to get used to my guys drooling over you.

Lana: I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Jason: Yeah? What about Clark Kent?

Lana doesn't respond right away. Jason raises his eyebrows as he waits for an answer.

Lana: I thought that you said you had a surprise for me. How did this become about Clark?

Jason: It was strange. He kind of opened up to me today.

Lana walks toward Jason who is now standing in the middle of the room.

Lana: You have no idea how strange that really is.

Jason: Really?

Lana: Yeah.

Jason sits down on a closed costume chest and Lana sits on the floor at his feet, resting her arms in his lap.

Jason: Well, the thing is, you know, running the drills and putting together a good team is one thing, but having guys like Clark come to me for advice? It's not gonna be so easy when these guys are looking at me like I'm an adult and I still feel like I'm part of the team.

Lana looks at him warmly.

Jason: But this moment isn't about me.

Lana: No?

Jason: Mnh-mnh.

Lana: Mmm.

Jason reaches into his back pocket.

Jason: Hold on.

Lana: Okay.

Jason pulls out a red piece of cloth.

Jason: It's about this.

Lana: Oh, dear. That would be a blindfold.

Jason: [Standing up, teasing.] Yes, it would.

Lana: [Nervous.] Okay.

Jason kneels behind Lana and puts the blindfold over her eyes.

Lana: So, what do you think you're gonna get out of this?

Jason: Oh, nothing. We never really got to celebrate somebody's birthday.

Lana: Right.

Jason: So... you stay right here.

Lana: [Reluctant, but giving in.] Okay.

Jason: Okay.

Jason stands up and starts to leave the room.

Jason: Don't peek.

Lana moves her head around as if to prove that she can't see. Then Jason leaves the room and the door closes after him. For a moment, Lana sits in the middle of the large room in silence. Then she hears the door open again.

Lana: Jason?

We see a shadow cross the floor as someone enters the room.

Lana: Hello?

There is a long silence. Then we see that Abby has entered the room and is standing right in front of Lana.

Lana: Jason, what are you do ...

Abby steps forward quietly and kisses Lana on the lips. The kiss isn't passionate, but it does last several seconds and Lana responds to it, thinking that she is kissing Jason. The dark green mist passes from Abby's mouth to Lana's. When Abby backs away, Lana pulls the blindfold away from her eyes and sees Abby.

Lana: Abby?

Abby: [Getting to her feet.] I'm sorry, Lana.

Abby backs away slowly as Lana gets to her feet and looks into one of the nearby mirrors. She starts to gasp as her reflection shows her face appearing to rot. But again, the image is only in Lana's perception of herself in the mirror. Lana's face actually appears normal.

Frightened, she turns away from her reflection and ends up face to face with another mirror, revealing that the rotting is already getting worse with black and gold veins spreading across her face. Abby starts to cry and runs out of the room as Lana trips and falls to the floor, bumping the bottom of another mirror.

We hear the hinges of the mirror creak as it tilts toward her. Lana stands up and screams at her hideous reflection as the mirror tips toward her.

Lana: Aah!

Lana crouches on the ground and the mirror crashes on top of her, shattering the glass and cutting her face. She remains within the frame of the broken mirror, shivering and only partly conscious.

Fade to black.

Outside sh*t of the Smallville Medical Center. Night. Inside, Lana is lying unconscious in a hospital bed and Jason sits on the edge of the bed speaking to her.

Jason: I don't know if you can even hear me, Lana... but if you knew how much you meant to me...

We see that Lex is standing in the doorway to the hospital room behind Jason.

Lex: Well, I guess the polite thing to do is cough and let you know I'm standing here, but that always seems so forced, doesn't it?

Jason watches as Lex walks into the room.

Lex: How is she?

Jason: Well, they don't know what's wrong with her so it's... it's kind of hard to say.

Lex: Lex Luthor.

Jason: Jason Teague. I, uh, I work at the school. I'm the new assistant football coach.

Lex: Teague. As in Marion, Teague, & Weisman?

Jason: [Nodding.] That's my father's firm.

Lex: [Understanding.] And you decided to get as far away from the family business as possible. Smart move.

Jason: [He smiles.] It didn't exactly go down like that. He, uh, he cut me off.

Lex: Well, what better place to kick-start a new career than Smallville High?

Jason: Yeah.

Lex: Certainly responsible of the school to send over a representative to check in on her.

Jason realizes that Lex sees the strangeness of the situation.

Jason: [Trying to cover.] Oh, um, yeah, I just ... I thought I'd stop by on the way home. It was nothing.

Lex sees the way that Jason looks at Lana.

Lex: I doubt that.

Jason turns to look at Lex, speechless. Lex looks from Lana to Jason, and then turns to walk toward the door. He stops and turns back.

Lex: Lana deserves the best. I hope you're it.

Jason doesn't respond and Lex leaves the room.

Lois is seated at the computer in the Torch office. Night. She is on the website of Beechwood, the cosmetic clinic belonging to Dr. Fine. At the top of the screen we see the words, "You are one procedure away from perfection."

Lois clicks the page with her mouse and the line at the top of the screen is replaced with another that says "Do you want to make an appointment?" There is a yes button next to a no button. Lois clicks yes.

Lana is still unconscious in the hospital bed. Night. Clark stands in the hallway looking in at her through the window. Chloe comes down the hallway and walks to Clark.

Chloe: Hey. How's she doing?

Clark: She's pretty cut up. They gave her a sedative, but she keeps saying, "Don't let him see me" over and over again.

Chloe: It's like some kind of breakdown.

Clark: When they brought Brett in, he was acting the same way. The only thing they could find in common is a spike in their serotonin levels.

Chloe: Serotonin?

Clark: It's a brain chemical ...

Chloe: That LSD and hallucinogens mimic. It's also the word that Lois misspelled three times in her slander piece on extreme makeovers...

Clark: Yeah, but Lana and Brett are hardly candidates for plastic surgery.

Chloe: Yeah, but Abby was. Didn't Lana say she saw Brett with Abby right before he went crazy? Maybe this procedure made her more beast than beauty.

Pondering this, Clark looks through the window at Lana again.

Lois is in an office at Beechwood, seated across the desk from Dr. Fine. Day.

Lois: My parents don't understand. They say I'm too young for plastic surgery.

Dr. Fine: Well, some parents don't remember what it was like. When I was your age, I wasn't exactly homecoming queen. I worked harder than all the pretty girls only to watch everything get handed to them. Seven surgeries and two years changed all that.

Dr. Fine spreads her hands in a gesture of presenting herself, showing Lois how beautiful she is now compared to her memory of herself in high school. Lois smiles breathlessly, pretending to be impressed.

Lois: You know, I was actually interested in that new procedure you used on Abby. It is really true that you only have to come in once?

Dr. Fine: [Nodding.] That's why I developed the process. I didn't want to watch my daughter go through the pain that I endured only to have what other girls are lucky enough to be born with. [Lois smiles and nods.] So let's get you scheduled here.

Dr. Fine starts to schedule Lois on the computer.

Lois: Yes, please.

From Lois's purse, which is sitting on the desk, there is a high pitched chattering noise like a tape recorder malfunctioning. Dr. Fine looks at the purse suspiciously. Lois stands up and reaches for her purse.

Lois: You know, I'm actually running a little late.

Dr. Fine: [Angry.] Are you recording this?

Dr. Fine stands up and grabs the purse. She opens it up and pulls out a small tape recorder. Lois takes the recorder away from Dr. Fine.

Lois: I'm going to expose you.

Lois walks toward the door and Dr. Fine follows her.

Dr. Fine: Who are you to stop people from being their best?

Lois: Call me crazy, but I've always been a firm believer that beauty... It's on the inside.

Lois turns to leave, and Dr. Fine grabs her by the hair.

Lois: Ah!

Dr. Fine turns Lois around and injects her in the neck with a syringe. Lois falls to the ground.

Dr. Fine: The people that say that are the ones who already have it on the outside.

Chloe and Clark enter the Torch office. Day.

Chloe: Okay.

Clark looks around at the office. It is a mess.

Clark: Wow. You kind of let the inner slob out, huh?

Chloe: Yeah, and her name is Lois. She's been pulling these articles that Abby's mom published on this new breakthrough insta-makeover technique, but, uh, Dr. Fine ran into one snag. [She picks up an article and looks at it.] It's sending the patients' serotonin levels into overdrive.

Chloe hands the article to Clark.

Clark: It says here Dr. Fine was working on a suppression medication called Serythro to keep the serotonin levels in check. Maybe it worked. Maybe Abby was a trial run.

Chloe: Only Abby's seismic surgery didn't come without aftershocks. She's passing something to people that's super-boosting their serotonin.

Clark: That makes sense if she kisses Brett, but what about Lana?

Chloe: I don't know. All I do know is that Abby's not hallucinating, so maybe all Lana and Brett need is a dose of that Serythro medication.

Chloe notices Lois's day planner sitting open on the desk. She picks it up and looks at it, seeing a note that says "Dr. Fine, appointment Sat 10:30 A.M."

Chloe: It looks like Lois is one step ahead of us.

Lois regains consciousness and finds herself strapped to the table in Dr. Fine's office. Day. Dr. Fine is looking down at her.

Lois: [Weakly.] What are you doing?

Dr. Fine: Giving you the inside scoop. You really want to know what it was like for Abigail all of those years? Hmm? [Grabbing Lois's face viciously.] Well, you're gonna find out.

Dr. Fine lets go of Lois's face and walks over to the switch on the wall. She flips it, and the body-shaped cover starts to lower down to Lois. She starts to breathe heavily in fear as she sees the large needles coming toward her.

Dr. Fine: And without the suppressant to balance out your serotonin levels, you'll be filing your story from the psych ward. [She smiles sadistically.]

There are tubes on the outside of the cover that fill up with a green liquid. Lois struggles against the straps that are holding her down looking nervously from Dr. Fine to the needles coming toward her.

Cut to Clark entering the outer office. There is nobody inside, but the computer at Dr. Fine's desk is turned on. He looks at the screen and a live image of Lois appears as the needles come within inches of her face.

Clark super speeds to the procedure room and crashes through the glass door. He grabs the cover and pulls it off the table before it is completely lowered.

Lois: Clark?

Green smoke starts to rise from the tubes and fill the room. Clark is suddenly weakened and begins to gasp as he stumbles away from the table. Dr. Fine walks up to Clark and hits him across the face with a large metal object. He falls to the ground. Dr. Fine then walks toward the table where Lois kicks her in the face, knocking her off her feet. Lois unfastens the straps holding her down and slides of the table. She sees Clark struggling on the floor.

Lois: Clark! Are you okay?

Clark: Get me out of here.

Lois: Okay.

Lois grabs Clark arm and helps him stand up. Behind them, Dr. Fine grabs a scalpel that has fallen to the floor next to her and picks it up. She stands up and comes after Lois and Clark with it, but before she can do any harm, Lois turns around and kicks her in the chest, sending her back to the floor.

Lois: Bitch.

Lois helps Clark out of the office.

Fade to black.

Outside sh*t of the Talon. Day. Inside the upstairs apartment, Lana talks to Jason. The cuts on her face are starting to heal.

Lana: I don't know how to tell you this without sounding really stuck up.

Jason: [Joking.] I already know you're stuck up. In fact, I wanted to talk to you about that.

Lana: You're funny.

Jason: Yeah, and cute, huh?

Lana: [Pause.] Okay, Jason, look I'm being serious.

Jason: All right.

Lana: Back in freshman year, I, uh, made the cheerleading squad, and that was my whole identity. Putting on the face that I thought everyone wanted to see.

Lana looks at Jason waiting for a reaction. He waits for her to go on. She turns away from him and speaks again.

Lana: I keep thinking of all the times that you've told me that I'm beautiful, and, um... I can't help but wonder how much of me you really see.

Jason walks around Lana so he can look at her face.

Jason: Lana, I tell you you're beautiful because of who you are, not because of what I see. I mean, you're the girl I flew halfway across the world to be with. The girl who kicks the crap out of me at XBox and thinks it's hysterical.

Lana laughs.

Jason: I mean, I have seen you with the stomach flu where your eyes were puffy and your nose was running, you're yakking ...

Lana: Okay, okay. I get the picture.

Jason: All I'm saying is the reasons I love you... it's not something you can see in a mirror.

Lana looks at Jason seriously, touched.

Jason: That's good. I'm gonna write that down and use that later.

Lana laughs and they hug.

Clark drives up outside the farm where Jonathan is unloading bales of hay from the tractor. Day. Clark gets out of the truck.

Jonathan: I guess practice ran late, huh?

Clark takes his football and gym bag from the back of the truck and walks to Jonathan.

Clark: Dad, I'm sorry I disappointed you. But I'm staying on the team. I'm tired of living my life on the sidelines.

Jonathan: I realize that, Clark. I also realize that you're a senior in high school, and from now on, you're gonna be making a lot of your own decisions. But if you want to be seen as an adult in this family, then you have to start acting like one.

Clark smiles slightly as Jonathan continues to unload the bales of hay.

Jonathan: Adults in this family don't run off and do things without discussing them first.

Jonathan takes off his gloves and drops them on a bale of hay. Clark puts down his gym bag and keeps the football in his hand.

Clark: I know. That's why I have just one question for you. You gonna let some assistant coach from Metropolis teach your boy how to play football?

Clark holds up the football. Jonathan looks at Clark hesitantly. Clark glances at the football playfully, egging Jonathan on. Finally, Jonathan takes the ball.

Jonathan: Go deep.

Clark smiles at Jonathan, then runs with excitement toward the barn. Jonathan throws the ball to Clark and Clark catches it. Clark then runs to the basketball hoop on the side of the barn and dunks the ball in.

Jonathan: [Raising his arms in the air.] Yeah!

Outside sh*t of Smallville High School. Day. Inside, Lois stands against the wall in the crowded hallway looking proudly at the front page of the Torch. There is a picture of her next to an article she wrote called "Skin Deep." Chloe comes down the stairs and walks to Lois smiling.

Chloe: Admiring the genius within, huh?

Lois: [Lying to cover up her pride.] It had a typo.

They walk together.

Chloe: Oh, nice try. So I followed up on the Abby storyline, and it looks like Mother Makeover is gonna be playing "mirror, mirror" on the psych ward wall from now on.

Lois: Is Abby gonna be okay?

Chloe: Yeah, she'll be back next week. So are you excited for your first pep rally?

Lois: Hmm, not exactly the Friday night I've been dreaming of.

Chloe: Oh, come on, it's your debut as Smallville's newest celeb.

Lois: Yeah, right. One plastics 'r' us piece, and they're gonna be holding tables all over town for me.

Chloe: You'd be surprised. I mean, not that I'm ceding my stance on a woman's right to choose rhinoplasty, but... [She hands Lois several pieces of paper.] ...you've got fan mail. Looks like your little exposé struck a couple chords.

Lois: I didn't even expect anybody to read this, let alone have a... [Reading from one of the letters.] "A life-changing experience"? Please.

Chloe: Whatever. Say what you want, but I know inside, it's getting to you. Welcome to the bullpen, Miss Lane. [She starts to walk away.] Now, I'm off to see Clark Kent in a wet T-shirt. Care to join me?

Lois: [Following her.] Like I've never seen that before.

Cut to the pep rally on the football field outside the school. Lois throws a football at the target of the dunk t*nk and misses. Clark, who is sitting above the t*nk in a T-shirt and shorts, smiles at Lois teasingly. Jason tosses another football to Lois who is standing next to Chloe. A large group of students watches excitedly.

Jason: Keep your eye on the target.

Clark: Come on, Lois! Didn't those guys on the base teach you anything?

Lois: Wouldn't you like to know?

Chloe laughs. Clark gestures at the target, urging Lois to take her sh*t.

Lois: Doesn't matter 'cause you are going down.

Clark: That'll be the day.

The students watching all start to chant.

Everyone: Dunk! Dunk! Dunk! Dunk! Dunk! Dunk!

Lois pulls back her arm and chucks the football at the target, hitting it d*ad center. Clark drops into the water t*nk with a splash. Lois throws up her arms and cheers.

Lois: Whoo!

Chloe laughs as she and the rest of the students cheer and clap. Lois runs to the t*nk as Clark stands up, soaking wet, with a huge smile on his face.

Lois reaches out musses his wet hair, then turns and starts to walk back to Chloe. 

(manque la partie fin, si vous l'avez, merci de complèter)
{"type": "series", "show": "Smallville", "episode": "04x03 - Facade"}