Jack: Chloe. I thought that was Gabe's car. What a surprise. I
haven't seen you since --
Chloe: Since my dad was fired from his job at the plant.
Jack: How's
he doing?
Chloe: Hangin in there I don't think he ever expected to be doing the human resources
shuffle this late in his career.
Jack: Well, he's a good man. I'm sure he'll land on his
feet.
Chloe: Actually, he sent out dozens of résumés and hasn't even gotten a nibble. I
know this is way above and beyond the call, but my dad said you kept your ear
close to the ground. Do you think somebody could be sabotaging his chances at
getting a new job?
Jack: Chloe, you know I'd do anything for Gabe, but, um, Lex is
opening some projects none of us want anything to do with. Trust me, your dad
would be better off to put Luthor Corp behind him.
[ Door beeps ]
[ Siren wailing ]
[ Rattling ]
Man: I need a decontamination crew in section 1-9-7-8. Send a security
team.
Officer: You got a visual? There she is!
Man: Hold it
right there!
Officer: There! Move it!
Clark: Chloe, hey! Hey, Chloe! I've been trying to break through the plane of Chloe
for two halls now.
Chloe: Yeah , I guess I've had a lot on my mind. Speaking of
which, please tell me I can cross your teacher of the year off my to -
do list.
Clark: Well, I called and I left a message, but she didn't call me back.
Chloe: Clark, I understand that Mrs. Taylor is like fort knox when it comes to
her private life. But journalism isn't about sitting back and waiting for
someone to hand you the truth. Sometimes, you actually have to work for it. And
sometimes, timing is everything. Okay, Clark. Now go. And, remember, "no
comment" is not an option.
Clark: Mrs. Taylor, I was woundering if we could set a time for you Torch interview. It'll be painless, I promise.
Mrs. Taylor: Actually, Clark, I'm really busy this week.
Clark: Mrs. Taylor, 10 mintues -- tops. How about before Lit class? Does that work for you?
Mrs. Taylor: No, I'm printing a pop quiz because I watched TV last night instend of prepping for class.
Chloe: Did she really just say that?
Clark: Hey, Pete, are we still on for tonight?
Pete: Oh, yeah . I got to drop some stuff off for my mom, but I should definitely be home in time for tip-off.
Chloe: Anouther lovely eveing huddled around the electronic hearth?
Clark: Yeah, and since Pete's supplying the big-screen, I got dinner.
Chloe: What? Clar Kent in the kitchen? What's on the menu?
Pete: Clark's going to run to Metropolis to get us Shark Dogs from the stadium.
Chloe: What? Whoa, whoa,
whoa, back up. You mean to tell me that Clark is driving six hours to pick up a
couple of hot dogs?
Pete: Well, when Clark goes supersonic, he can make the round tripin
10 minutes.
Clark: He's kidding. Come on, Pete, let's get to class. What was that?
Pete: I
don't know. It just happened, Clark. I never meant to say that. I just had this
urge to tell Chloe the truth.
Clark: Well, next time you get the urge to open up, don't.
Lionel: Lex...
thanks for, uh, dropping by.
Lex: Which of your obsessive compulsive fixations is
behind today's summons?
Lionel: I understand there was a, um, an incidentat the Smallville plant last night, correct?
Lex: A false alarm in the old wing. Already
taken care of.
Lionel: By scrambling the Hazmat team?
Lex: Just a precaution.
Lionel: Or a wild
over reaction. Unless, of course, a chemical agent had actually been released.
Hmm?
[ Chuckles ]
Lex: I'm curious, Dad. Why the, uh, sudden urge to play micromanager?
Lionel: Because I'm concerned about you, Lex.
Lex: Oh.
Loinel: You're not deliberately concealing
things from me, are you?
Lex: We all have our secrets.
[ Sighs ]
Chloe: Okay, well, so far we have student accolades, testimonials --
everything except for Mrs. Taylor herself.
Clark: Chloe, if she doesn't want to talk,
maybe we should just let it go.
Martha: Hi. Oh, Hi, Chloe.
Chloe: Hey, Mrs. Kent.
Clark; Are there
more in the truck?
Martha: Yes, sweetheart, thank you. I never got a chance to thank you
for the flowers you sent after Jonathan's surgery.
Chloe: Of course. How's he
feeling?
Martha: It's been really difficult. He's depressed and angry. I worry that when
he comes out of this, he won't be the same man I married.
Chloe: I'm sorry. How's Clark
handling all this?
Martha: Of course, he feels responsible for Jonathan's condition.
Chloe: How
could he possibly be responsible for Mr. Kent's heart attack?
Martha: It's not. It's
hisbiological father's. He's the one who drove Clark to Metropolis last summer.
Clark: Mom. Where do you want these?
Chloe: Clark... you found your biological father, and you
didn't tell me about it?
Clark: She meant figuratively. Um, you know, coming to grips
with the fact that my real parents didn't want me, um, played a part in what happened last summer. Let's pick
this uptomorrow.
Chloe: Okay. Bye.
Martha: Bye. I can't believe I... I told Chloe about Jor-El.
I don't... I don't know what happened, Clark.
Clark: Mom, it's okay. I don't think it's
just you. I think something has happened to Chloe. Clark: Lana. I
hope I'm not interrupting.
Lana: No, I'm just finishing up with the morning rush. I
haven't seen you around the last few days.
Clark: I figured after our last conversation
you could use some space.
Lana: Well, I was thinking the same
thing, but we don't seem to be very good at that.
Clark: It's hard to make
yourself scarce in Smallville. Actually, I'm here because of chloe. Have you
noticed anything different about her?
Lana: I don't want to cross the roommate
boundaries, but... this guy called for her yesterday when she was out. An old
coworker of her dad's.
Clark: From Luthor Corp?
Lana: Yeah, and he sounded really upset. He was
wondering if she had taken his security card.
Clark: Klepto Chloe? That doesn't
soundlike her.
Lana: He said that whoever stole it broke into a lab at the plant two
nights ago. Chloe: Mrs. Taylor? Hi, mrs. Taylor, I'm sorry to be pullingthe "60
minutes" card, but I'm crashing a deadline here. Can we just pop this off really
quick?
Mrs. Taylor: Yeah, only because I know you'll never let me off the hook.
Chloe: It must be pretty cool
having the best teacher in school as a mom.
William: Uh, yeah, I'm kind of used to her being
the best at everything she does.
Chloe: Okay. We'll just start with the obvious. Um,
what do you like about teaching?
Mrs. Taylor: I enjoy the students.
Chloe: Okay. Any downsides?
Mrs. Taylor: Always having to hide the truth.
Chloe: I'm sorry.The truth about what?
Mrs. Taylor: That Mrs.
Taylor doesn't exist. My real name... is Marianne Lewis. And I've been
running from my past since 1972.
Chloe: I don't understand. What did you do?
Mrs. Taylor: I was part of
a radical group. We planted explosives outside a bank in Seattle. We were just
trying to make a statement. But one of the guards came in early, and when the
bomb went off...
Chloe: Mrs. Taylor, are you saying you're wanted for murder?
Mrs. Taylor: I just
drove the car. I swear, I -- I never meant for anyone to die.
William: Mom, what are you
saying?
Mrs. Taylor: I should've told you this years ago. I'm so sorry.
Chloe: Okay, Mrs. Taylor --
William: No! Get away from her, okay? Just leave us alone! Come on.
Clark: Congratulations, Chloe. Within 24
hours, you've managed to tick off the entire school.
Chloe: You don't earn your press
pass by making friends.
Clark: Don't you think the police should be handling this?
Chloe: Clark,
I uncovered a murder.
Clark: With your new ability. You broke into the Luthor Corp plant
the other night. Didn't you? Something happened?
Chloe: Wow. There may be some journalistic genes behind those baby
blues after all.
Clark: Chloe, for some reason, people are telling you things they don't
want you to know, and it's not a joke.
Chloe: No, but it is every reporter's dream.
Rebecca... when the entire geometry class got C's on the final, how is it
possible that you aced it?
Rebecca: Oh, I swiped the answer key the day before the test.
You're not gonna tell anybody, are you?
Chloe: Mindy! Hey, Mindy. You're always so
upbeat. Does anything bother you?
Mindy: Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how hard
it is to cheer for a losing team?
Doug: Mindy, what are you talking about?
Chloe: Doug, if you
could take anyone to prom, who would you take?
Doug: That'd be Fitz.
Chloe: Thomas Fitzpatrick, the quarterback? Wow. I didn't
expectthat one.
Clark: Hey, it's cool. It's off the record.
Chloe: Oh, my god, Clark,this is
amazing. Can you imagine the kinds of stories I could break? I mean, I could
crack the mystery that is Clark Kent! What do you keep hiding from me?
Clark: I can't
believe you just asked me that.
Chloe: And you didn't answer. Everyone else would have.
What are you so afraid of, Clark? That I'll get behind that armor and finally
uncover your secret?
Lex: Clark, last time I checked, this area is restricted.
Clark: Hey, Lex. Sorry about just walking around, but the outside door was unlocked.
Lex: Actually, it looked broken to me, but, uh, I'll have a
word with my security people. Want to tell me why you're here?
Clark: I'm worried about a friend.
Lex: That friend wouldn't have happened to break into this lab a few nights ago, would they? Clark, why didn't you come to me?
Clark: The last time I did that, I had my conversations hand-delivered to the F.B.I.
Lex: Clark, whatever deal I've made with the feds, your family is strictly off-limits. I was kind of hoping you
might return the favor. Would you mind telling me what you were doing down here?
Clark: It wasn't me. Lex, there's something happening to my friend, and... what were you
working on down here?
Lex: An old projectof my father's. I was trying to
salvage something from his failure.
Clark: Then where is everything?
Lex: I decided to cut my
losses. Clark... we didn't get far enough to gauge the potential side-effects. If
this "friend" was exposed to anything here, there could be a serious health risk.
Now, it's hard for me to help unless I know who it is.
William: How could you print this?
Thanks to you, my mom had to go into hiding. The police are looking for her.
Chloe: I'm
sorry, William, but I just printed the truth. I mean, I can't be held responsible
for that.
William: You ruined my life.
Chloe: Was it just me, or did I completely
clear out the lunch crowd?
Lana: No, it was you. Ever since you've turned the "Torch"
into your own personal gossip column, no one can stand being around you.
Chloe: Yeah,
well, at least you're still talking to me, right?
Lana: For now.
Chloe: Okay. What's that
about?
Lana: I applied to the paris school of the arts. They have a full-time high
school program, and if I get accepted, I start in the summer.
Chloe: Wow. I guess I'm
out of the loop. When did you decide this?
Lana: I've been thinking about it for a while
now. Everyone has their families, you know, and, um, I'm not sure where I fit in.
Chloe: But I always thought that we were your family.
Lana: Oh, come on, Chloe. I know what you and everyone else thinks of me, that I'm
driven and self-involved. I just can't wait to get out of here and go
some wherewhere people don't judge me.
Chloe: I never said anything like that.
Lana: You never
had to.
Chloe: Why have you never talked to me about this?
Lana: Because I couldn't trust you.
Lex: Chloe, thanks for coming.
Chloe: Yeah, well, I only have a minute. Clark just called
me about a story that broke at the hospital,so...
Lex: Then maybe you can just give
me the abridged version of your field trip to Luthor Corpthe other night. Let me
guess, uh... somehow, no one can resist telling you the truth.
Chloe: Are you looking for
an apology?
Lex: No. Chloe, I want you to use your gift to help me get back the weeks
my father stole from me.
Chloe: Lex, I don't think your dad would go to such extremes to
destroy those memories if they didn't pose some sort of a threat to him. Maybe
you should just leave it alone.
Lex: Why do I get the feeling you know more about this
than you're letting on?
Chloe: I don't know anything about that. I do know that because
of you, my dad can't get a job. So why would I help you?
Lex: Because my father is the
one who ordered his dismissal. You know that's the truth, don't you?
Chloe: Meaning that
my family's future is just one chess move in the endless game of one-upmanship
played by you and your dad?
Lex: It's not a game, Chloe. You're the only one who can
get me the truth.
Chloe: Why do you keep doing this to yourself? Why can't you just walk
away from your father?
Lex: Because he won't give me the only thing I've ever wanted
from him.
Chloe: And that would be?
Lex: I want him to love me.
Clark: Pete,what are you doing here?
Pete: Chloe
said you had some big story.
Clark: I just told her that. The way she's been acting, I
thought it was the only way I could get her to the hospital.
Pete: Is she okay?
Clark: She got
doused with something at Luthor Corp, and I think it's making her sick. Some sort
of truth gas.
Pete: Which would explain the vise grip on my arm. I can take a hint,
clark --you want me to get out of here before the human lie detector shows up.
Chloe: Hey, Pete.
Pete: Chloe.
Chloe: No, wait. Enough is enough. Everyone seems to be on the "Run Away From Chloe" bandwagon. Why you?
Pete: I'm trying to stay away from you so I don't
tell you the truth.
Clark: Chloe! Remember that story that I called you about?
Chloe: Yeah, we can talk about this story later, Clark. Right now,
I want to know why you guys are playing such a zone defense on me. What is the
big secret, Pete?
Pete: I'm in love with you, Chloe. I've been waiting to do that ever
since the first day that I met you.
Chloe: Okay, whoa, Pete. Um, why didn't you tell me
this sooner?
Pete: Because I knew the way you felt about Clark. And I never saw the
point.
Chloe: Pete, wait.
Pete: Chloe, listen, if Clark's right and there's something wrong
with you, then take care of it. Please.
Clark: Chloe? Are you okay?
Chloe: Aah!
CLark: I need some
help! Please!
Doctor: What's her name?
Clark: Chloe.
Doctor: Chloe, we're going to take you down to exam
3. You're gonna be okay.
Pete: Clark, I've been looking for you. They arrested Mrs. Taylor.
Clark: I know. It's been all over the internet.
Pete: So long as you're online, you want to Ask Jeeves how long it takes to die of embarrassment?
Clark: Pete,how come you didn't tell
me how you felt about Chloe?
Pete: It's not like I ever had a chance with her.
Clark: What
makes you say that?
Pete: Because I'm always standing next to you. Oh, come on, Clark, as
far as long shadows go, you're the dark side of the moon. Why are you
looking through Chloe's files?
Clark: I'm worried about her. She was working on a story about a
Luthor Corp project called Levitas. This retired military Doctor
General Jonah Doyle claims he was part of the first test five years
ago.
Pete: Sounds like a crackpot.
Clark: It's our only lead. Doctor: Everything looks normal. I'll be right back.
Chloe: That wasn't very long.
Lionel: Miss Sullivan.
You look a bit piqued. Well, I suppose a steady diet of truth can wear on a
person. I understand you've borrowed one of our Luthor Corp security cards.
Chloe: I was
just trying to help my dad. What did you do, blacklist him?
Lionel: You're damn right I
blacklisted him. He'll be lucky to find a job as a dishwasher. Well, I warned
you there'd be repercussions if you defied me, and I'm a man of my word.
Chloe: There's
only one wayto find out.
Lionel: What?
Chloe: Did you order Morgan Edge to kill your parents?
Lionel: Of course I did for their life insurance. I needed that
money to start my company. Oh... I'm sorry you asked methat
question, miss sullivan. That's very dangerous information for you to
have. Why did you ask me that?
Chloe: It's not important. This is. I have your entire confession recorded on my voicemail, and the only
person that has the password is me. So if I were you, I would reconsider my
father's employment situation.
Lionel: I'm impressed, but unfortunately, I don't respond to
blackmail. But this isn't what's going to get your father's job back.
Chloe: Then what
would?
Lionel: Information from an especially intransigent source.
Chloe: Does this sourcehave a
name?
Lionel: Two, actually --Jonathan and Martha Kent. But you need only ask one
question.
Chloe: Why would I ever do that?
Lionel: Because I know that you have a special place
in your heart for their son, and it's killing you that he's hiding something from
you. And we both know that this may be the only opportunity you'll ever have to
find out what that is.
Chloe: And what exactly is it that you want to know?
Lionel: Where did Clark Kent come from?
[ Gun cocks ]
Jonah: You need a lessonin manners.
Clark: I'm here to talk to you about the Levitas project. I know
that Luthor Corp was the civilian contractor when you were in
charge. They've resumed the experiment.
Jonah: Lionel Luthor send you?
Clark: No, I'm
here because I need to know how the drug affects people.
Jonah: Over there. We were
trying to create the ultimate interrogator.
Clark: Why did you stop?
Jonah: I balked over safety
issues. Luthor retaliated by arranging for a disappointing psych report and a
dishonorable discharge.
Clark: Mr. Doyle, a friend of mine stumbled into the Luthor Corp
lab. It was continuing the Levitas research. I think she was exposed
Jonah: Is your friend showing any
symptoms?
Clark: She's been having headaches.
Jonah: Then my guess is, your friend will be dead
by morning.
Clark: Dead?
Jonah: That's why I suspended the project. We suspected the gas would
work. But the toxicity levels were off the charts.
Clark: Is there anything that can help
her?
Jonah: Just before the project went down, I was working on a possible counteractant.
It was never tested.
Clark: If I have to use this, how much do I give her?
Jonah: Hit her with
a full dose right in the heart. Clark: Excuse me. I'm lookingfor Chloe Sullivan.
Nurse: So are
we. She left without being officially discharged.
Lionel: Clark.What a surprise.
Clark: Is it? I
know about your human truth serum. The Levitas project.
Lionel: Levitas... Levitas. I think we abandoned that project five, seven
years ago.
Clark: You're lying.
Lionel: That's a provocative accusation, Clark, especially
coming from you.
Clark: I don't believe you're here just to check on Chloe's health. What
did you do, get her to work for you again, ask more questions about me?
Lionel: Whatever I
ask her to do, Clark, is in search of the truth.
Clark: She might die. And you couldn't
care less. Come on.
[ Cellphone rings ]
[ Ringing continues ]
Chloe: Hello?
Clark: Chloe, it's Clark. Listen, you have to get
back to the hospital right now. What you have might kill you.
Chloe: You're just saying
that so you can stop me.
Clark: Stop you from what?
Chloe: Clark, do you know what it's like to
look at your best friend everyday and know that he is lying to you? I can't do
this anymore.
Clark: Chloe... Chloe, talk to me. Chloe.Are you all right? Listen, you
haveto let me help you. Chloe.
William: I warned you to leave us alone! My mother doesn't
deserveto be in jail!
Clark: Chloe?
Chloe: Clark! Clark, I'm at the Coughlin Bridge! Please help me!
[ Gasps ]
Clark: Chloe, it's going to be okay.
Lionel: No, that's it. No need to call back.
Lex: Two invitations to your office in one week. I should be flattered.
Lionel: You should
be more careful. In the future, if you want to reactivate one of my old projects,
son, all you have to do is ask.
Lex: If you made more of an effort to keep me informed,
I wouldn't have to resort to subterfuge.
Lionel: I am trying to understand, Lex, why you
would be so desperate to learn the truth that you would resort to using a
dangerously unstable drug.
Lex: Well, I guess the truth has never really held much
merit for you.
Lionel: Now, I'm losing my patience, Lex. You are
constantlydefensive with me. Now, tell me, damn it, what is it you want from me?
Lex: It doesn't really matter, Dad. I'm never gonna get it.
[ Door closes ]
Clark: Chloe,how are you feeling?
Chloe: A little shaky. But I'm
totally truth-serum-free. Whatever you "Pulp Fictioned" into my chest not only
kick-started my heart but also relieved me of any Levitasin my system, so...
that's good. Did you hear what happened to William?
Clark: Yeah. Between his mother's
pastand her arrest, he took quite a hit.
Chloe: I never meant to hurt him.
Clark: His mom's the
one who should've told him. But that's the thing about the truth. It's bound to
come out, sooner or later.
Chloe: Then I guess it's my turn to come clean. When you found
me on the bridge, I was on my way here. I was going to ask your parents all the
questions you would never answer. Look, I know "I'm sorry" has become a
recurring motifin our relationship, but --
Clark: No, Chloe, um, look, I appreciate your
honesty, but you weren't yourself.
Chloe: I really wish I could believe that. But there
have been so many times when my curiosity has gotten the best of me. Maybe this is
just who I am.
Clark: No. You're going after the truth. Chloe, there's nothing wrong with
that.
Chloe: Unless it hurts the people you care most about. I'm just afraid that one
day I'm going to push too hard and I'm not going to get the chance to say I'm
sorry.
Clark: Today's not that day. [ Sighs ]
Lana: Clark. Thanks for coming by.
Clark: Is everything okay? I haven't
gotten many phone messages from you lately.
Lana: Yeah, um, I've been wanting to show
you this.
Clark: Paris?
Lana: I sent in my application last week.
Clark: I don't understand.
Lana: I'm
leaving.
Clark: Lana, if this is because of me --
Lana: No. No. Um... because of everything.
I'm beginning to feel like I need a fresh start.
Clark: Well, what about your life
here? What about all your friends?
Lana: Well, maybe I'll wind up in Smallville
eventually, but... I don't think I can be happy wondering if there's something
else out there.
Clark: Why didn't you tell me sooner?
Lana: Because... I didn't want anyone to talk me out of it. And
the truth is, I knew you were the only person that could.
Voicemail: Please
enter your security code now. You have one new message.
Lionel's voice: Hello, Miss Sullivan. It's only me. Um... oh, no need to look for that conversation we
had earlier. It's gone, and, um... well, that's it. No need to call back.
We don't read the guestbook very often, so please don't
post QUESTIONS, only COMMENTS, if you want an answer. Feel free to email us
with your questions by clicking on the Feedback link above! PLEASE SIGN-->
Pete: Clark's going to run to Metropolis to get us Shark Dogs from the stadium.
What? Whoa, whoa,
whoa, back up. You mean to tell me that Clark is driving six hours to pick up a
couple of hot dogs? 
Pete: I
don't know. It just happened, Clark. I never meant to say that. I just had this
urge to tell Chloe the truth. 
you sent after Jonathan's surgery. 
you could use some space. 
There may be some journalistic genes behind those baby
blues after all. 
o into hiding. The police are looking for her. 
I know what you and everyone else thinks of me, that I'm
driven and self-involved. I just can't wait to get out of here and go
some wherewhere people don't judge me. 
Lex, I don't think your dad would go to such extremes to
destroy those memories if they didn't pose some sort of a threat to him. Maybe
you should just leave it alone. 
Doctor: What's her name?
I'll be right back. 
Why did you ask me that? 
I think she was exposed 
Levitas. I think we abandoned that project five, seven
years ago. 
do, get her to work for you again, ask more questions about me? 
Please help me! 
Chloe: Unless it hurts the people you care most about. I'm just afraid that one
day I'm going to push too hard and I'm not going to get the chance to say I'm
sorry. 
