Original Air Date on April 20th, 2005

A sh*t of a disco ball reflecting little spots of light along the ceiling of the gym at Smallville High School. Night. The sh*t lowers and we see that it is Prom. The room is full of couples dressed in tuxedos and dresses dancing slowly. The lights are low and there are decorative lights hanging everywhere. The band Lifehouse plays live on the stage. Above them is a banner that says, "Smallville High Prom, Look to the Stars." The band plays wordlessly for a while, and then the lead singer starts to sing softly.

Cut to a sh*t of a woman walking through the empty, darkened hallway of Smallville High. All we see is her legs and she is wearing a dress and very fancy high heels.

Another sh*t of the lead singer of the band.

In the hallway, the woman breaks the glass door of the cabinet holding a f*re ax, and pulls the ax out.

A sh*t of the band.

The woman holds the ax at her side and continues to walk.

A sh*t of the band.

A sh*t of the top of the woman's head. On her blond hair rests a silver jeweled tiara.

The band continues to play, growing in volume and the couples continue to dance, having a good time.

In the hallway, Jonathan Kent is walking up the stairs wearing a tuxedo. He gets to the top of the stairs and sees the woman holding the ax. The woman is Chloe. Before Jonathan even has a chance to acknowledge her, Chloe punches him across the face and he tumbles backwards down the stairs with a grunt. Chloe looks down at him, satisfied. She has mascara running down her face as if she has been crying.

The dancing continues in the gym.

Cut to Chloe entering the boiler room of the school, holding the ax tightly in both hands. She walks swiftly to the center of the room and looks around, surveying her options. She spots a pipe marked "flammable" with a knob sticking out of it. Smiling, Chloe walks over to the pipe and hacks the knob off of it with the ax. A thick black liquid squirts out of the pipe and makes a puddle on the floor.

Chloe then tosses the ax aside and walks daintily over to the incinerator, opening the door to reveal the burning f*re.

Chloe: [Happily.] You're all gonna pay.

She picks up a rag mop that is leaning against the wall and sticks the end of it into the incinerator. It catches f*re and she holds it up to look at it.

Chloe: Now that's what I call a Torch.

She tosses the flaming mop at the puddle of flammable liquid.

Chloe: [Smiling.] Genius.

[Opening credits]

Screen text: One Day Earlier.

A group of students in the hallway of Smallville High is busy painting the banner we saw hanging over the stage at the Prom. Day. Chloe and Lana walk down the stairs together. Lana reads aloud from an issue of the Torch.

Lana: "Election of Prom royalty is an archaic and elitist ritual whose time has come and gone." Chloe Sullivan strikes again.

Chloe: What? Oh, please don't tell me I lost you to tiara fever, too.

Lana: No. But balloons and taffeta seem a little harmless compared to your usual targets.

Chloe: Well, this is how I see it. Homecoming is for jocks, graduation is for parents, and Prom is the right of passage that's for all of us. It's supposed to be a culmination of four years of memories. Why do we have to ruin it with the pinnacle of a popularity contest?

Lana: So, does that mean I order more pizza for the Brad Pitt marathon?

They stop walking.

Chloe: What? You're not going? What happened with Jason?

Lana: Showing up with the coach that got fired for dating a student... that is an entrance I could live without.

Chloe: Right.

Lana: Besides, after imagining something for four years, I just don't think it could live up to expectations.

Chloe: Well, not if you're part of the half-empty persuasion. And the Lana I know wouldn't cop out like that. Come on, Lana, it's gonna be so much fun! Lex even got Lifehouse to play for the seniors. You can help me bring stag back in style.

Lana laughs.

They hear the annoyed voice of a Smallville High senior, Dawn Stiles.

Dawn: Excuse me. Coming through.

Dawn walks toward Lana and Chloe with two other girls following close behind. Dawn is a ditzy blond b*mb wearing high heels under her tight jeans and carrying a pink purse to match her pink top.

Chloe: [To Lana.] Smells like school spirit.

Dawn: Chloe, you may think bashing a sacred school tradition in your tabloid rag is cool, but I think it's disgusting.

Chloe: Lighten up, Dawn. You'll get your throne because the entire school is terrified if you and your vicious rumor mill.

Dawn pushes her hair behind her left ear with her hand and scoffs.

Dawn: k*ll me now! You are such a hypocrat.

Chloe: Hypo-

Chloe cuts herself off, and she and Lana both hold back their laughter.

Chloe: I'm sorry. Whatever it is that you're saying to me, it's getting lost in translation.

Dawn: Don't play stupid. The only reason your picture is on that wall is because of your lame article.

Chloe: Picture? What wall?

Dawn looks at the wall behind Chloe and Lana. Chloe and Lana turn around and see a poster featuring pictures of the three girls who are candidates for Prom Queen. One is Dawn Stiles, another is a girl named Paige Dejong, and the third is Chloe Sullivan. Chloe stares at the poster in horror. Lana smiles.

Dawn: I would say, "May the best girl win," but I think we both know who that is. Hmm? [She pats Chloe's shoulder coldly.] Laters!

Dawn waves perkily and leaves with her two silent friends in tow.

Lana: [Teasing.] So, apparently I'm not the only one who enjoyed your article... [She curtsies.] ...your highness. [She laughs.] Good luck.

Lana walks away. Chloe continues to stare at the poster in disbelief.

Lex is on the property outside his mansion with a security guard. Day. Two other guards follow. They walk near the lake in a clearing next to a fairly heavily wooded area.

Lex: Who found her?

Guard: The gardener. He was digging a drainage ditch. The guy's pretty shaken up.

They stop walking next to a dirt mound and Lex kneels down.

Lex: How long has she been d*ad?

Guard: At least a day.

A woman has been buried under the mound and all that is visible is her leg, sticking out of the earth. Jason walks up.

Jason: Lex? [He sees the leg.] Oh, my God.

Lex: [Standing up.] Jason, what are you doing here?

Jason: I came to talk to you about some reports and then I saw security run out of the mansion.

The guard walks over to Lex and hands him a wallet.

Guard: We found this, sir. We got an ID.

Lex opens the wallet and pulls out a New York driver's license with a picture of Bridgette Crosby.

Lex: Bridgette Crosby.

Jason: I know that name. I've come across it several times in my research. She works for Virgil Swann, the billionaire.

Lex: Look, this doesn't concern you.

Jason: If it has anything to do with the artifacts, it concerns me.

Lex: [To his guards.] Edwards, Lowe, will you please escort Mr. Teague to his car?

Jason stays still for a moment, then gives up and walks away.

Clark is seated at the desk in the Torch office reading the latest issue of the Torch. Day. The headline says, "Boycott the Vote!" Chloe enters.

Clark: Now, should I bow to you when I see you, or...

Chloe: Cute. Very cute. What about boycotting the vote didn't anyone understand?

Clark: Oh, they understand it perfectly. You see, you are the boycott. I mean, think about it. The last four years, everyone has been trying to break out of the stereotype they've been stuck in. You're the battle cry.

Chloe: Oh. The great Smallville High Prom coup, huh?

Clark smiles.

Chloe: Clark, you didn't happen to have anything to do with this, did you?

Clark: [Smiling slyly.] I may have spoken to a few people.

Chloe throws her pencil at Clark. He holds up the newspaper, blocking it.

Chloe: Now, I know you're not gonna let me storm this Bastille alone. So who is Smallville's most eligible bachelor taking to Prom?

Clark: [Becoming serious.] I was actually thinking of sitting this one out.

Clark stands up.

Chloe: What? Oh, not you too. Wait, let me guess. You spent four years imagining what it would be like, and you just don't think it's gonna live up to your expectations.

Clark: Something like that.

Chloe: So you're gonna let me break out of my rut onstage wearing a sash while you're at home playing the what-if game for the nine hundredth time.

Clark: I never said you were in a rut.

Chloe: Yeah, but I am. And I'm not alone. You know, Clark, in a couple of weeks, we're gonna graduate from this adolescent fantasy and we're not gonna have a rut to fall back into. The thing about expectations, Clark, is they're supposed to drive you to do more with your life, not stop you from living it. Personally, I think the future holds a lot more promise for you than you give it credit.

Clark looks at Chloe seriously, considering.

Dawn and her two friends enter the Talon holding notepads and marking the pads with pencils. Day.

Dawn: So. Two o'clock is tanning, three is nails, four is hair, and the limo picks us up at six.

One of Dawn's friends, Harmony, looks past Dawn to the bar.

Harmony: If I were you, I'd be more concerned about twelve o'clock.

Dawn: We don't need to start that early.

Harmony: No, Dawn. Twelve o'clock.

She points straight ahead and Dawn looks at the bar where a young man and woman are flirting. Dawn pushes her hair behind her ear.

Harmony: Is that your boyfriend crushing on a freshman?

Dawn: [Viciously.] She is so not making pep squad.

Dawn walks over to her boyfriend, Billy, and the girl.

Dawn: [To the girl, looking at her chest.] First off, Wonder Bra. [Loudly.] Laters!

The girl walks away fearfully.

Dawn: [To Billy.] The Talon? Hi, can you say mortified? I mean, Prom is only 27 hours away.

Billy: Yeah, about that. I'm not going.

Dawn: Don't be stupid.

Billy: Dawn, it's over.

Dawn: What?

Billy: It should've been over a long time ago. I'm not hanging around just so that I can be a bowtie that matches your dress.

Dawn: [Incredulous.] You can't break up with me the day before Prom.

Billy: It's over.

Billy walks away.

Dawn: Billy!

Billy leaves. Dawn's two friends walk up to her.

Girl: [Sympathetic.] That's harsh.

Dawn: Forget it. He's so yesterday's mystery meat. Okay. Massive re-strategy. I can't go to Prom alone. I need my king.

Her friends nod.

Dawn: Get me a yearbook.

Cut to Dawn driving her car as loud music plays over the radio. She hardly looks at the road as she flips through the yearbook in her lap. She finds a picture of Clark and gasps happily.

Dawn: I need me some of this! Genius.

She picks up her cell phone and dials a number.

Dawn: Harmony. Check out this profile. Okay, gorgeous, captain of the football team, and single long enough that it's not sloppy seconds. Mm-hmm. Get me the digits for Clark Kent.

Dawn takes her eyes off the road again to write Clark's number down on the notepad on her passenger seat.

Dawn: Uh-huh. Yep.

The road is on an incline and takes a sharp curve to the right. Just off the left side of the road is a long drop and the side of the road is barricaded. Dawn doesn't see the curve and keeps going forward, not realizing that she is headed straight for the barricade. When she finally looks where she is going, it is too late to stop.

Dawn: Aaaah!

She plows through the barricade and her car tumbles down the hill, landing first on its nose, then rolling over several times and finally coming to a stop upside down at the bottom of the hill. Dawn is thrown from the car and we see her lying unconscious next to several glowing green meteor rocks. Dawn's hand begins to shimmer with red energy.

Later, Dawn finds her way out of the woods on foot and back onto the main road. Night. Martha Kent drives toward her and Dawn stands in the middle of the road, waving her arms and trying to get Martha's attention.

Dawn: Stop! Please, stop!

Dawn is completely invisible to Martha who keeps driving.

Dawn: Wait! Stop!

Martha doesn't stop and Dawn turns her head, sure that she is going to be h*t. But instead, she goes right through the car and into Martha. Martha's head jerks and she slams on the brakes.

Once the car is stopped, Martha looks at her hands and then looks at herself in the rear view mirror.

Martha: Holy crap. I'm Clark Kent's mom.

Fade to black.

Clark enters the Kent house. Night. He stops for a moment, confused when he hears loud rock music playing in the kitchen. It is the same song that was playing when Dawn crashed her car. Clark goes to the kitchen.

Clark: [Shocked.] Mom?

Martha is in the kitchen, holding an open tub of ice cream in one hand and dancing wildly to the music. She doesn't see Clark come in.

Clark: Mom!

Martha sees Clark and turns off the radio.

Clark: What's going on?

She laughs.

Martha: Hi, son.

Martha eats a heaping spoonful of the ice cream.

Clark: [More confused.] What's for dinner?

Martha: [Not understanding.] Dinner? Oh, right! Here. [She holds out the ice cream tub.] Start with this. It's really yummy.

Clark: Are you feeling okay?

Martha: I'm great. I was wanting to ask you... [She pushes her hair behind her left ear and stares up at Clark flirtatiously.] Do you have a date for the Prom yet?

Clark: Mom, I told you, I'm not going to the Prom.

Martha: What?! You have to go!

Clark: [Startled.] Well, I kind of wanted to go with Lana, but-

Martha: [Childish, whiny.] Lana Lang? You can't be serious. You two are so last year. Clark, your Prom is the most memorable night of your life. I'm not going to let you miss it. You can take me.

Clark: Mom, you're already going, remember? With Dad. You're chaperones.

Martha: Oh. Yeah, right. Cool.

She rolls her eyes. Lois comes down the stairs sneezing, followed by Shelby.

Lois: I swear the dog knows I'm allergic. He follows me around wherever I go torturing me.

Martha looks at Lois viciously.

Martha: [To Clark.] So, this is your little secret. You're taking her to the Prom, aren't you?

Clark: [He snorts.] Lois?

Lois: Mrs. Kent, a lot of things are possible in this world, but there will be a man on Mars before Clark and I go to Prom together.

Martha: So what, you two just get together and mack, but keep it on the down-low in public?

Clark: [Embarrassed.] Mom!

Lois: I don't mean to be rude, Mrs. Kent, but, uh, did you crack open the cooking sherry?

Martha: Of course not! I'm just super-pumped about Prom.

Lois and Clark share a worried look.

Martha: Well, I'm gonna go.

Clark: Mom, maybe I should take you to the Talon tonight.

Martha: The Talon? Oh, right. I work there. No, I can drive myself.

[She waves.] Laters!

Martha exits.

Lois: "Laters?"

Outside sh*t of the Talon. Night. Martha enters, pushing her hair behind her ear. As she walks toward the bar, she overhears two high school girls seated at a table talking about Dawn.

Girl: I am psyched Billy dumped Dawn. She was getting so stuck up.

Girl #2: I heard he already hooked up with Sue Ann Gardner.

Martha turns to the girls angrily.

Martha: Sue Ann Gardner is a big, fat ho!

The girls look at each other and laugh in disbelief. Lana comes down the stairs from her apartment.

Lana: Mrs. Kent?

Martha: [Giving Lana a dirty look.] Oh, hi, Lana. Shouldn't you be at school helping with the decorations? The Prom committee needs all the help they can get.

Lana: I'm not gonna go to Prom.

Martha: [Spiteful.] Why, you think you're so above it all?

Lana: [Stung.] No, of course not.

Martha: Oh, come on. Poor little orphan girl, going off to your fancy French art school, going out with a big college guy.

Martha laughs.

Lana: [Insulted.] I don't have to listen to this.

Lana starts to leave.

Martha: Hey.

Martha touches Lana's shoulder to stop her, and there is a flash of light. Suddenly, Martha looks confused. Lana looks down at her hands and then she sees herself in a reflection and smiles excitedly. Dawn's spirit has been transferred into her.

Lana: Genius.

Clark enters the Talon and sees Lana. When she speaks to him, she is bouncy and perky.

Clark: Lana, have you seen my mom?

Lana: Forget about your mom, Clark. [She pushes her hair behind her ear.] I have been meaning to ask you something

Clark: Yeah, sure. What is it?

Lana: Well, I know that it's kind of last minute, but I thought it would be totally amazing if we went to Prom together.

Clark: [Surprised.] Us? [Lana nods.] Lana, what about Jason?

Lana: Clark, it's you I want to go with.

Clark thinks about it for a moment doubtfully.

Lana: Don't you want to go with me?

She pushes her hair behind her ear again and stares at Clark temptingly.

Clark: [At a loss for words.] Well, I mean, I-

Lana: Awesome. It's a date. I've got to get back to the school and help set up. They're lost without me. [She smiles and waves.] Laters.

Lana exits. Clark walks toward Martha who is seated at the bar looking upset.

Clark: Mom. Mom, are you all right?

Martha: For the life of me, I can't remember how I got here.

Clark looks at her strangely.

Lana enters the school where preparations for the Prom are still being made in the hallway. Night.

Lana: Looking great, guys!

Lana walks up to a girl who is standing on a ladder and hanging a poster on the wall.

Lana: That's perfect. But remember to use enough tape, okay? [Wagging her finger like she is talking to a child.] Too much is always better than not enough.

She walks over to where two other girls are hanging a green poster on the lockers. She rips it away from them angrily and walks over two Dawn's two friends who are sitting on the floor, painting a sign.

Lana: Give me that! Harmony! This is supposed to be cotton candy pink. Why is it sea foam green?

Harmony: [Smiling.] Nice Dawn Stiles impersonation.

Girl: Yeah, you have the queen-bitch control freak down pat.

Lana: [Angry.] What's that supposed to mean?

Harmony: Where is Dawn anyway?

Girl: I have no clue. And honestly, we'll get way more done without her ordering us around.

Lana purses her lips haughtily and throws the poster to the floor. The two girls look up at her, startled. Lana walks around the corner and sees Billy entering the boys' locker room wearing his gym clothes.

Lana: [Walking toward him.] You worked up quite a sweat.

Billy: Hey, Lana. I didn't expect to see you decorating for the Prom.

Lana: Well, maybe there's more to me than meets the eye. I heard you got over Dawn Stiles pretty quick.

Billy: I couldn't stand to spend another second with her. I mean, her voice, it's a little too nail on a chalkboard, you know what I mean?

Lana: [Shrill and angry, like nails on a chalkboard.] No, I don't know what you mean! [She calms down quickly.]

Billy is startled.

Lana: But I have an idea. Why don't you go clean up and then we can hang out and get to know each other better?

Billy: [Very interested.] I'll be right back.

Billy and Lana smile at each other, and then Billy goes into the locker room. When he is gone, Lana turns around and walks away from the door. She stops when she gets to an electric floor buffer that a janitor has left in the hallway. She rips the cord out of it and the end of the cord sparks with electricity. She smiles slyly.

Cut to Clark walking down a different hallway in the school where he finds Chloe.

Clark: Chloe, have you seen Lana?

Chloe: The only people here are the school spirit club spreading their Prom-aganda. Why?

Clark: There's something going on. My mom started to act strange. It's like she's channeling some kind of teenager, and now Lana's not acting like herself.

Chloe: Well, if you think Lana's here decorating for the Prom, that definitely falls under "altered state."

Cut to the locker room where Billy is standing in front of his locker getting dressed. He closes the door, and sees that Lana is standing there staring at him. He smiles uneasily.

Billy: Lana, what are you doing here?

Lana: No one breaks up with Dawn Stiles.

She holds up the sparking cord and then touches it to the bank of lockers. The electricity goes all the way through the lockers to where Billy is still touching his locker door and he gets electrocuted. His back arches and his arms become rigid with the electricity.

In the hallway where Clark and Chloe are standing, the electricity surges and the lights fade on and off.

Lana starts to leave the locker room as Clark walks away from Chloe to see what is going on. Chloe's head is turned. When she turns back, she sees that Clark is gone.

Chloe: Clark?

Clark super speeds into the locker room where he pries Billy's hand off the locker, and Billy falls to the floor. Clark turns around and makes eye contact with Lana, who then quickly leaves. Clark follows her out into the hallway, but before he talks to her, she touches the back of a young man standing at his locker. There is a flash of light, after which Lana looks disoriented and the young man starts smiling. He walks away from Clark and Lana as they talk to each other.

Clark: Lana? What's going on?

Lana: I don't know.

We follow the young man as he walks around the corner. A female teacher is walking toward him and he lightly taps her shoulder, transferring Dawn's spirit into her. The teacher smiles and walks over to where Harmony is standing with Dawn's other friend. She touches Harmony, and Harmony immediately walks away. The teacher touches her head as though she is dizzy.

Harmony walks past Clark and Lana, glaring at them as she goes. They don't notice. Harmony pushes her hair behind her ear and keeps walking.

Clark: [Motioning to the locker room.] Lana you were just in there.

Lana: I don't even know how I got to school.

Harmony glances coldly back at Lana and Clark again.

Fade to black.

Outside sh*t of Smallville High. Night. Chloe hangs up the phone in the Torch office and walks over to where Lana is sitting at the couch.

Chloe: That was Clark. He's at the hospital. Billy's gonna make a full recovery.

Lana: Good. Clark said he saw me come out of that locker room. Do you think I could've done anything when I was blacked out?

Chloe doesn't have a response.

Lana: Why would I ever hurt Billy Durden?

Chloe: You wouldn't. But Dawn Stiles would.

Lana: Dawn? The girl most likely to be Prom Queen?

Chloe: People were saying that you were acting freakishly like her, and Clark's mom was acting very Dawn-ish before she came back online at the Talon.

Lana stands up.

Lana: That's the last thing I remember before blacking out, talking to Martha Kent in the Talon.

Chloe: And Mrs. Kent says the last thing she remembers is driving along route 54. That's where they found Dawn's body at the bottom of Carlton Gorge. The mother load of all meteor rock.

Lana: [Understanding.] Oh, my God.

Chloe: They have her in the emergency room. She's in a deep coma.

Lana: So you think that her spirit was somehow able to take over Martha and then transfer into me?

Chloe: Well, we are in Smallville. And I mean, what would the Senior Prom be without a body-snatching Prom Queen?

Lana takes a nervous breath.

Outside sh*t of the Smallville Medical Center. Night. Clark stands with Chloe and Lana in the hallway outside Dawn's room.

Clark: Lana, are you okay?

Lana: Yeah, I just feel really horrible. I have no idea what I did.

Clark: Well, you didn't do anything. You were inhabited by Dawn Stiles.

Lana nods.

Chloe: And the question is, now that we have the old Lana back, where's the new Dawn?

Harmony walks up to them.

Harmony: [With exaggerated concern.] How is she?

Clark: Well, she's barely hanging on. She's got massive head injuries. She's severely disfigured.

Harmony: Disfigured?

Clark nods. Harmony walks to the window of Dawn's room.

Harmony: No, it couldn't be. My face was so perfect.

Chloe looks at Lana and Clark strangely. Harmony enters the hospital room and looks at Dawn who is unconscious in the bed. Her face is covered in cuts.

Harmony: Ew, gross.

A nurse enters the room.

Nurse: Uh, you're not allowed in here.

Harmony turns to the nurse with a thr*at smile.

Harmony: Really?

Cut to Lana and Clark in the hallway. Chloe isn't with them anymore.

Lana: I'm terrified to even think what else I could've said or done in the last hour.

Clark: So you don't remember what you said to me in the Talon today?

Lana: Oh, no. What'd I say?

Clark: You just, um... asked me to Prom.

Lana: [Surprised.] Oh. Really?

Clark: It wasn't you, though, right? It was Dawn.

Before Lana can answer, a woman's voice is heard over the loudspeaker.

Woman: Code Blue, room 256. Code Blue, room 256.

Clark and Lana walk toward Dawn's room and Chloe catches up with them. The same nurse that just spoke to Harmony walks up to them.

Nurse: Excuse me, are you friends of Dawn's?

Clark: Yes. What happened?

Nurse: There's nothing they can do. I'm afraid she passed on. I'm sure she didn't suffer. I'm sorry.

The nurse walks away, and turns the corner. When she is out of their sight, she holds up an empty syringe, smiles as she looks at it, and throws it away.

Jason is in Lex's study in the dark, seated at the desk. Night. He is typing on Lex's laptop and successfully logs in to the LuthorCorp intranet under Lex's name. He opens Lex's e-mail outbox and finds a message from Bridgette Crosby. Lex enters.

Lex: Find anything interesting?

Jason: Yeah, as a matter of fact, I did.

Lex walks toward the desk.

Lex: You've crossed the line, Jason. I take my privacy very seriously.

Jason: And I take m*rder very seriously. It says here that you sent e-mail to Bridgette Crosby.

Lex: I never denied I knew her.

Jason stands up and walks toward Lex.

Jason: Confirming a meeting between the two of you here at the Luthor mansion on the same morning she was found face down in the dirt.

Lex: Well, Miss Crosby never showed up for that meeting.

Lex walks to the bar and pours a drink.

Jason: You mentioned an item in your e-mail. I assume you're talking about an artifact. What were you gonna do? Where you gonna buy it from her? Or were you gonna take it with force?

Lex: I don't need to explain myself to you, Jason.

Jason: No, but you're gonna have to explain it to the police.

Lex: Look, I have no interest being in the middle of a m*rder investigation I had nothing to do with. Not to mention the media circus that comes with it.

Jason: There was a d*ad body found on your property, Lex. It's kinda hard to ignore.

Lex: Trust me, I'm not.

Jason: Who are you trying to protect? You? Your father?

Lex: Burying bodies in the backyard isn't exactly a hobby of mine, Jason.

Jason smiles doubtfully.

Jason: Yeah, well, covering up a homicide isn't exactly a hobby of mine. I think I'll go have a chat with the sheriff.

Jason leaves the study. Lex sits down at the desk.

Outside sh*t of the Smallville Medical Center. Day. Inside, Lois stands at the front desk talking to an employee. She hands him a bill.

Lois: [Angry.] I just went to see the allergist. This says I owe two hundred dollars.

Man: Actually, it's $215 including lab fees.

Lois: But all they did was stick a bunch of needles in my back and make me really itchy. What's that all about?

Man: They need to find out what you're allergic to.

Lois: I know what I'm allergic to. He's got four legs and drools. What I need is a prescription. Please. A dog's life depends on it.

The man picks up the bill and walks away. The nurse from the night before speaks from behind Lois.

Nurse: Miss?

Lois turns around.

Nurse: Maybe I can help you.

The nurse smiles pleasantly.

Outside sh*t of the Kent farm. Dusk. In the kitchen, Clark is seated at the counter looking through a Smallville High yearbook. Jonathan and Martha come down the stairs dressed formally.

Clark: Hey, you guys look great!

Martha: Clark, the only reason we agreed to be chaperones was because of you.

Clark: I know, it's a little backwards. My parents are going to the Prom and I'm staying home to wait up for them.

Jonathan: [Tying his tie.] Son, when you're older, we don't want you to have to look back on high school and regret not going to the Prom.

Clark: Dad, I'm not sure that standing by the punch bowl and watching bad dancing is a memory I'm gonna cherish.

Jonathan chuckles as Martha helps him with his tie.

Jonathan: I wouldn't be so sure about that, Clark. I'll bring the truck around.

Jonathan leaves.

Martha: I think I know why you're not going tonight.

Clark: When I was a freshman, I remember standing outside and watching the seniors going into Prom, the guys in their tuxes and the girls in their dresses. I guess I always thought that would be Lana and me.

Martha: Oh, Clark. Things don't always end up the way you picture them, but sometimes they can end up even better if you give them a chance. If you change your mind, I put your tux by the door.

Martha smiles slyly.

Clark: You rented me a tux?

Martha: [Nods.] Just in case.

Clark: [Touched.] Mom...

Jonathan honks the car horn from outside and Clark and Martha hug. Martha leaves and Clark smiles to himself. Then Lois speaks to him from the top of the stairs.

Lois: Well?

Clark looks at Lois and sees her dressed in a strapless pink Prom dress that hugs her body tightly. She is wearing pink earrings to match and holds a corsage and purse in her hand. She pushes her hair behind her ear.

Lois: [Smiling.] How do I look?

Clark: [Unsure.] Looks like you're going to the Prom.

Lois: I am. [She comes down the stairs.] And you're taking me! I'm not going to let you sit around moping all night while your parents go out and do the electric boogaloo all night. It's gonna be fun.

Clark: [Shaking his head.] No, I'm not going.

Lois: Massive re-strategy. You're going to your senior Prom whether you like it or not. End of discussion. Put on your tux.

Clark: Lois, wasn't this not in the realm of possibilities?

Lois: Anything is possible, Clark. Anything.

Fade to black.

Jason and Sheriff Adams are walking on the grounds outside Lex's mansion with flashlights. Night. Jason is taking her to see the body of Bridgette Crosby.

Jason: Over here, Sheriff. [He looks around but doesn't see anything.] Wait a second. The body was right here. It was right next to this rock. They must have just built this gazebo.

Jason walks over to an old-looking gazebo made of scrawny tree branches and steel.

Adams: Well, according to the county records, the gazebo has been here since before the Luthors even heard of Smallville.

Jason: Sheriff, I know what I saw!

Adams: Uh-huh, the d*ad and decaying body of one Bridgette Crosby. [She sighs exasperatedly.] Mr. Teague, I'll level with you. A good m*rder mystery is just the kind of thing I could use right about now. The thing is, you can't have a m*rder without a victim, and see, this Bridgette Crosby, there's no record she ever existed.

Jason: [Flustered.] This is crazy. Of course she existed.

Adams: Well, every government database from the IRS to the PTA happens to disagree with you. I even went on one of those Google searches. It kept asking me if I meant "Bing" Crosby.

Jason: The gardener. The gardener found the body. Did you question him?

Adams: I questioned the entire landscaping staff.

Jason: It's Lex. He's paid them off or he's intimidating them.

Adams: Or you're yanking my rope. Mr. Teague, the next time you say there's been a k*lling, I better see a stiff.

Jason stares at Sheriff Adams hopelessly.

Cut to Sheriff Adams driving away in her car, leaving Jason standing next to his car. When she is gone, he pulls out his cell phone and dials a number. He gets into his car as the line is ringing.

Jason: Hello, mother? [He smiles.] Oh, it's done. Lex took care of the body just like we wanted. [Pause.] Mm-hmm. I love you too.

He hangs up the phone and drops it on the passenger seat. Then he picks up a small tin box and opens it, revealing the black Stone of Power that used to be in the possession of Bridgette Crosby. Jason takes the stone out of the box and holds it in his hand excitedly.

The Senior Prom. Night. Lifehouse is playing on the stage and the gym is full of students dancing. The lead singer starts to sing and Lois enters with Clark who is now wearing his tuxedo. Lois looks around happily. Clark looks somewhat embarrassed.

Lois: [Ecstatic.] Isn't this amazing? Oh, aren't you so glad you came, Clark? We are gonna have so much fun!

Clark: Okay, Lois, you got me here. You can stop laying it on.

Lois: I'm gonna go get some punch.

Lois walks away. We see Martha and Jonathan standing at the punch table. On her way there, Lois sees the Prom Queen crown and scepter resting on a purple velvet pillow on the stage, waiting for the announcement and crowning of the queen. She touches her chest breathlessly and stares at the crown covetously.

Cut to Chloe entering the gym alone. She looks around at all the dancing couples apprehensively.

Chloe: [Quietly.] Come on, Chloe. You can do this.

Chloe walks a little farther into the room searching for a familiar face. She finally sees Clark and smiles with relief. Clark sees her and she waves as she comes over to him.

Chloe: Hey. Haven't I seen you here before?

Clark: Well, maybe this time we won't have any natural disasters.

Chloe: I'm really surprised that you made it.

Clark: Yeah, well, remember all those regrets we were talking about? I think not seeing you with a crown on your head would be at the top of the list.

Chloe rolls her eyes. Clark smiles at her, but his expression is more genuine than teasing.

Chloe: I'm glad you're here.

Lois: Clark! Clark!

Chloe looks confused as Lois runs over to them.

Lois: It's called an escort for a reason.

Chloe: [To Lois.] And you're here. In pink. Why?

Lois: I came to, uh, cheer you on, of course.

A teacher interrupts the music to speak into the microphone.

Woman: Excuse me, everybody! Excuse me! [To the band who has stopped playing.] Thanks, guys. [To the students.] If I could just get your attention for a moment. Thank you. It is time for the big announcement.

Jonathan and Martha listen expectantly. Lois turns to Chloe and Clark excitedly.

Chloe: Okay, if by some weird reason I win, the tiara burning party is at my house.

Lois: Let's get closer. Come on.

Lois and Chloe maneuver their way through the crowd to get closer to the stage.

Woman: You voted and the results are in. This year's Smallville High Prom Queen is...

The whole student body listens excitedly. There is a drum roll and Lois's smile grows bigger by the second as if she already knows the winner. Chloe stares at the stage with a hint of dread on her face. The teacher presenting the award opens an envelope and smiles.

Woman: Chloe Sullivan!

All of the students clap and cheer while Chloe and Lois exchange looks of surprise. Clark laughs as he applauds, as do Jonathan and Martha.

Woman: Come on up here, Chloe!

Lois: Congratulations!

Lois gives Chloe a hug, transferring Dawn's spirit into Chloe with a flash of light. Chloe then breaks out of the hug with a huge smile on her face and nearly prances up to the stage. Lois now doesn't know what's going on. She turns to Clark.

Lois: What the hell am I doing in a dress, and what the hell am I doing at your Prom?

Clark: [Realizing.] Oh, no.

Onstage, Chloe accepts her flowers happily, and the teacher places the tiara on Chloe's head. The teacher then hands Chloe her scepter which Chloe practically yanks from her hands.

Lois, still looking at Clark, points to the corsage pinned to her dress.

Lois: Did you pin that on me?

Clark: I'll explain later, Lois.

Lois: A little close to the boob, don't you think?

Clark holds up a finger to quiet Lois as Chloe begins her acceptance speech.

Chloe: Oh, my gosh, you guys, thank you so much! This is so totally awesome! I guess I could say I've looked to the stars and wished for this moment ever since I was a little girl. You can dream of standing here your whole life, but right now, looking down on all of you, I just... [Becoming emotional.] This is just so totally genius! Thank you so much! Although, I just have to say... [She touches the tiara on her head.] ...that the person who really deserves this honor is Dawn Stiles.

Several people laugh.

Chloe: No, seriously, you guys! Seriously! She gave so much of herself, way more than Chloe Sullivan.

The students all start to chant.

Students: Chloe! Chloe! Chloe! Chloe! Chloe! Chloe! Chloe!

Chloe is horrified by this, and turns her head, wiping an unhappy tear.

Chloe: [Dangerous.] Anyway, I promise this will be one night that I will always remember... and you will never forget.

Chloe darts off the stage.

Lois: [To Clark.] Okay, Smallville. I clicked my heels together three times and nothing happened. Better tell me what's going on.

Clark doesn't know whether to explain to Lois or go after Chloe.

Fade to black.

Act 5 Scene1

The students are still dancing at the Prom. Night.

Again we see the sh*t of Chloe breaking the glass on the wall to get the f*re ax. We see first her feet walking, then a sh*t of the tiara on her head. Jonathan walks up the stairs and finds Chloe at the top of them. She punches him the face and he falls down the stairs.

Then we see Chloe entering the boiler room.

Cut to Clark finding Jonathan at the bottom of the stairs.

Clark: Dad? Dad, you okay?

He helps Jonathan stand up.

Jonathan: Yeah. Chloe, she's not-she's not acting like herself. She took off down the stairs. I-I'm fine.

Clark: Dad, I need you to get something for me.

Cut to Chloe hacking the knob off of the pipe in the boiler room, causing the pipe to spew forth the black flammable oil. Chloe walks over to the incinerator and opens it up, gazing at the roaring f*re inside.

Chloe: [Smiling.] You're all gonna pay.

She grabs the mop leaning against the wall and lights the end on f*re. Then she turns back to the puddle of oil.

Chloe: Now, that's what I call a Torch.

She throws the mop at the puddle. But just before it hits, Clark super speeds into the room and catches it. Chloe stares at Clark in shock.

Chloe: How did you do that?

Clark throws the mop aside.

Clark: I know it's you, Dawn. You don't want to do this.

Chloe walks toward Clark.

Chloe: All those years I kept trying to be what everyone else wanted. And it turns out those losers don't even care. This was supposed to be the best night of my life and they laughed at me!

Clark: Let Chloe go!

Chloe: I will. [She smiles.] See, Clark, there's a whole life after high school, and I can be whoever I want.

Chloe touches Clark on the chest and there is a flash of light. Chloe gasps and then steps back a little, confused.

Chloe: Clark?

Clark takes the tiara off of Chloe's head.

Clark: The crown's mine, bitch.

Clark slaps Chloe across the face lightly, but it is still enough force to send her flying across the room. Chloe cries out.

Clark: [Softly.] Genius.

Clark bends over and picks up the mop that is still burning on the floor. He starts moving toward the puddle of oil. Chloe lies on the ground, but she is conscious. Jonathan enters.

Jonathan: Dawn!

Clark turns around.

Clark: Seriously, Mr. Kent. You can't stop me.

Jonathan: That may be true. But I can stop my son.

Jonathan holds up a chunk of green kryptonite. Chloe wakes up and watches from the floor as Clark grunts and drops the mop, stumbling backwards and then falling down.

Clark: What are you doing? What is that?

Jonathan walks even closer to Clark, holding the rock near him.

Jonathan: It's time for you to leave, Dawn!

Clark: Aah!

Chloe watches with a baffled look on her face. Clark lies on his back, groaning in pain, until finally a pink energy with Dawn's face comes out of his body. She looks back down at Clark as she rises toward the ceiling, and then she is gone. Jonathan takes the kryptonite away from Clark and goes over to the broken pipe, turning a wheel that stops the flow of oil.

Chloe closes her eyes, pretending to be unconscious so that Clark and Jonathan won't know that she saw what happened. Clark sits up, his strength restored.

Clark: Chloe!

He helps her up.

Clark: Are you okay?

Chloe: Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks.

Clark bends over and picks up the tiara.

Clark: I think you dropped something. Congratulations, Chloe.

He hands the tiara to her and she smiles.

Clark reenters the gym where the Prom is still going on. Night. He walks over to Lois at the punch table.

Clark: Listen, Lois-

Lois: Your parents filled me in. Apparently some girl named Dawn was possessing me.

Clark: Yeah, well, that's the short version.

Lois: Yeah, well, that's the last time I'll ever do my hair.

Clark: Look, I'm sorry you got pulled into all of this.

Lois: Don't worry about it. I never quite made it to my senior Prom.

She takes a drink of punch.

Lois: But the punch could use a little kick.

Clark smiles. A slow song begins to play. There is a long pause between Clark and Lois.

Clark: You know, I was thinking since you did get all dressed up and you came here with me... you should at least get a dance out of it.

Lois: Chivalry noted, but I'm not the one you want to dance with, Clark. She is.

Lois looks toward the door of the gym and Clark looks over to see that Lana has entered, looking somewhat out of place. She takes a deep breath and walks into the gym.

Lois: Go.

Clark smiles at Lois and walks to Lana. Lois sits down at a table next to Chloe who is looking in Clark's direction.

Lois: [Consoling.] Hey. You know, a year from now, this is all gonna seem like a lifetime ago.

Chloe: [Sadly.] That's funny because it feels like just yesterday when he deserted that nervous freshman on the dance floor.

Lois: You're headed for Metropolis. You are destined to be a big sh*t reporter at the Daily Planet. Do you really picture Clark Kent being able to keep up with you?

Chloe thinks about it for a moment.

Chloe: You know, Lois, I think Clark might have a lot more to offer than you realize.

Lois: I wouldn't bet on it.

Cut to Clark walking up to Lana. They both look extremely nervous, but hopeful. Clark holds out his hand.

Clark: May I have this dance?

Lana: [She smiles.] I thought you'd never ask.

Lana takes Clark's hand and he leads her onto the dance floor. Lois looks at Chloe sympathetically as Chloe watches Clark and Lana.

Clark and Lana start to dance slowly, looking into each other's eyes. Jonathan and Martha watch happily, and they begin to dance too.

The sh*t circles Lana and Clark in slow motion as they continue to dance. Lana leans her head into Clark's shoulder, smiling as she closes her eyes. Clark rests his face against the top of Lana's head with an expression of fulfillment.

Cut to Jason standing at the door to the gym, watching Lana and Clark dancing. His eyes narrow angrily and he leaves.

The sh*t backs up and we see Clark and Lana dancing in a sea of other couples.

End
{"type": "series", "show": "Smallville", "episode": "04x18 - Spirit"}