Smallville

Set. Blue 32! Hut! Hut!

Whitney, get over here!

Refresh my memory. Didn't I just send a pass play in there?

The rain's coming down so hard I couldn't see if Donner was open--

Hey! What does it say on my jacket?

-"Coach." -That's right.

Football is not a democracy

and you will do as I say because I know what's best for you.

Now, look, son, we have run this play a hundred times in practice.

You don't have to see Donner to know where he is, just throw it.

Now, I want you to go out there and run the same play.

And I want you to win this game for us, okay?

Go ahead.

Blue 32! Hike!

Yeah!

All right, listen up! There is another team eating Crow tonight, gentlemen!

I don't have to tell you how important next Friday night's game is.

Not only is it gonna put us in the state championship

but it'll be Coach Walt's 200th win!

Coach Walt! Coach Walt! Coach Walt!

Mm.

Come on in.

Principal Kwan, what brings you to the sweat box?

We've got a problem, coach.

-Cheating, huh? My boys? -Seven of them, on their math midterm.

Which means they're ineligible for next Friday's game.

Well, just keep it quiet for a couple of weeks

and, uh, we'll deal with it in the off-season.

I'm not sweeping a major academic breach under the carpet so you can win a game.

You've been here, what, six months? I've been here 25 years.

We're not talking about just a game. We're talking about my legacy.

I don't care about your legacy. I'm here to educate young people.

I've been educating young people all my life.

You know how many boys have gone on to college because of me?

Have gotten good jobs on my recommendations?

I know most people think you walk on water, coach.

I think you're dangerous.

I've seen your temper. I've seen your methods.

Just because you win doesn't make you right.

On Monday, I'm suspending the players. End of story.

No!

- "Football: Sport or Abuse?" - So, what do you think?

I think you need to seriously decrease your cappuccino dependency.

Pete thinks I'm being too hard on Coach Walt.

I mean, the man coached my dad, all my brothers.

He used to come over and watch the Super Bowl.

While I'm touched by that Hallmark moment

you don't get points for subtlety in journalism.

-I've started getting hate mail. -You seem very happy about that. Why?

It means I'm hitting a nerve.

Besides, between the abysmal sentence structure and generous use of obscenities,

I've got a pretty good idea of who's been sending it.

If you think my teammates read the Torch, you're giving them way too much credit.

- Don't you even care about this? - I don't see what the big deal is.

You don't think it's a big deal? I think it's a big deal.

Whoo. There's something you don't see every day. A pom-pom meltdown.

Ooh. Here they come. I need a picture of the cheating jockstraps.

I don't want to hear any rumors going around, any false accusations.

Any idea how they got that midterm?

Still a mystery, but I'm working on it.

- We got a problem-- - What's she doing?

Nice catch.

Your teammate attempts to assassinate me and all you can say is "nice catch"?

You wanted to hit a nerve.

Hey, Kent. I saw your arm out there.

Technique was lousy, but you've got power.

-Thanks. -So why aren't you on our team?

-My dad needs me on the farm. -Your school needs you on the field.

We've got a big game Friday night. We're short players.

Look, look. I know your dad would understand.

-He's kind of stubborn. -Yeah, I remember.

Jonathan Kent was one of the best athletes I ever coached.

A lot of God-given talent.

It's in your genes, Kent.

Actually, I'm adopted.

Look, I'm giving you a chance to be a part of something special. A part of history.

I've seen you stare at your father's picture in that trophy case.

Don't tell me you don't want to be a part of this.

Now, why don't you suit up?

Look at Ross. He doesn't have natural talent

-but he's got a truckload of heart. -Thanks, I guess.

Let me think about it.

Fordman, get over here.

Hey, Clark.

- Fordman, You're the team captain. - Hey.

How do you think Kent would do on the field?

I mean, considering our current predicament?

- He might do all right. - Hmm.

-He seems afraid, though. -That's not the reason, is it, Clark?

-It's my dad-- -Kent.

There comes a time

when you've got to step out of your father's shadow and be your own man.

Now, what do you say?

Are you ready to be your own man?

- Count me in. - Good.

I will see you at practice today, 3:00. Don't be late.

Hey, Clark. Hey, um...

Remind me what your dad said last time you asked him to play.

-He said no. -He said no. That's what I thought.

Call me when the hurting's done, okay?

- Are we okay? - This isn't about us.

The guys made a mistake. I don't see what the big deal is.

They cheated. I don't know how you can support them.

Because they're my friends, and they used to be yours.

Do you want to tell me what's really going on here?

The things that I thought I knew for sure don't seem so certain anymore.

I don't understand.

I know how much you love football, and you're great at it,

and I support you.

I want to find something that I'm great at.

Wait a minute. What do you mean, you had to say yes?

Coach Walt didn't give me a choice.

Let me guess. Did he give you the "be your own man" speech?

Walt's been giving that speech for 25 years.

Same one. Believe me, I know.

You've gotta go there tomorrow and tell him you can't play.

Dad, please don't make me do that.

I'm sorry, we've already had this conversation.

It's never been a conversation. I can be careful, and you don't trust me.

-Of course I trust you, Clark, but, uh-- -But what?

I'm old enough to make decisions.

On the field, a million things can affect your judgment.

If you get angry for just a second

or you, uh, try to impress some girl with a fancy move,

somebody could get seriously hurt.

You were meant for much more important things than winning football games.

I'm sick of being punished because I have these gifts.

Most parents would be happy if their son could be the star of the football team.

Son, I am happy when you wake up in the morning.

Now, I don't need to live vicariously through your achievements.

Why would you? You got to play.

-I'm not signing the permission slip, Clark. -You don't have to.

I'm playing football, and you can't stop me.

Well, if it isn't the three wise men. Hello, Dominic.

I assume you're late because you've been in a fencing lesson

or have you taken up polo again?

I'm not running late. I canceled this meeting, if you recall.

Your father insisted that we drive down here and keep it.

Mm. And when he barks, you jump.

- Have you seen the quarterly numbers? - Yes, I have.

We're 20 percent below projections.

And your father wants you to take drastic action.

I plan to.

Good, then I can inform him that you'll be cutting your work force.

On the contrary. You can inform him I plan on increasing my work force.

-By how much? -Twenty percent.

Lex, I've always enjoyed your unique sense of humor

but you can't be serious.

You've got to spend money to make money.

If we increase productivity and marketing while our competitors retreat,

when the sector bounces back, we'll corner the market.

Your father sent you to Smallville to turn the plant around.

He sent me to Smallville because he'd rather surround himself with drones

than people who challenge his archaic business practices.

-I'll be certain to tell him that. -Please do.

Now, this meeting is adjourned.

By the way, Dominic...

tell your sister I said hi.

Lana, you're home early. Did they cancel cheerleading practice?

Sort of. I quit.

You loved being on the squad. What happened?

I just think there's more to life than memorizing cheers and shaking pom-poms.

You just decided this out of the blue?

Some of the football players were caught cheating.

Guys I know. I told Whitney how upset it made me,

he said it was no big deal, that people aren't perfect.

I thought, "Why am I doing this, wearing a fake smile and stupid outfit

for people who will do anything to win a game?"

Well, you can't let a couple of bad apples spoil the experience.

You're part of a team, you're making friends.

Aunt Nell, I don't want to go back.

I want to try different things. What's wrong with that?

Nothing. It's just that you're on a good track.

I want you to be happy.

What are you gonna do with this newfound freedom?

I thought I'd get a job, something part-time.

Earn some extra money so I can go travel in the summer.

Well, I suppose I could always use some help around the shop.

Thanks, but I'm not looking for help. I want to do this on my own.

-Have you seen Lana? -No, but there's your dad.

Dad, I'm glad you're here. It means a lot to me.

I still don't support your decision, Clark. I'm here to see that no one gets hurt.

Hustle it up, guys, come on.

- Come on, line it up. - Kent, get in there at tailback.

Blue, 32! Hut, hut, hut!

Kent, it's yours.

Yeah, Kent, it's yours.

Kent! Quit looking in the stands! Your dad's not coaching this team, I am!

I didn't bring you out here to be a tackling dummy. Get angry, kick some butt!

All right, guys, same play.