Smallville

Killer view.

Good morning, Mr. Rickman. Thank you for coming in.

So, what can I do for the Center for Environmental Protection?

I heard your people were in Smallville doing some surveying.

I wanted to discuss your intentions.

My intentions are to build a new plant.

What's this?

Ground water from the last town where you built a plant.

Well, I find that very hard to believe.

Rickman Industries has always had a very good relationship with the CEP, Paul.

-Can I call you Paul? -No.

Tomorrow I'll have a restraining order preventing you from moving into Smallville

until every case against you is settled.

It's too bad. I-- Well, I have my mind set on Smallville.

This town has a special place in my heart.

I don't suppose there's anything I could do to change your mind.

I'm afraid I'm not as easy to buy off as my colleagues.

I've never bought off a soul in my life.

People listen to me because I'm right.

When they do, they end up better for it.

Tell that to the 96 cases of vinyl chloride poisoning

I've tied to your pesticide plants.

Well, I see there's little else to do.

Just want to tell you how much I appreciate your candor.

I wish you luck.

Now, listen, Paul-- I can call you Paul, can't I?

Uh...

I guess.

Now, you strike me as a man of passion, Paul.

Passion hurts, doesn't it? Hm?

People don't understand. They don't see how you devote yourself to what's right.

I bet you're afraid.

You give all that passion to a job no one even cares about.

-No. -Hmm.

-Yes. -Yes.

Look at that world out there, Paul.

Is any part of it yours?

No.

All that pain you feel, there's only one way to make it stop.

Going down?

Thanks.

Tyler, bring the car around. We're going to Smallville.

Okay, here we go. Whoa.

Gosh. I thought learning to drive my dad's Volvo was difficult

but at least the car had windshield wipers.

-You're doing fine for your first time. -No, no, we're turning.

- Ooh... - So how's Whitney holding up?

His dad's still in the hospital, so he's been working extra shifts at the store.

It's tough running a family business.

He secretly wants his dad to sell it. He doesn't want it when he graduates.

I don't blame him. I don't see myself being a farmer when I grow up.

-Well, what do you want to do? -I'm not sure

as long as it doesn't involve putting on a suit and doing a lot of flying.

I dropped my camera.

What'd you bring that thing for anyway?

I'm not out here doing this butt-bashing thing for fun.

These woods are like the Bermuda Triangle of Smallville.

People come in here, and when they leave they can't remember a thing.

There've been dozens of incidents the past 10 years.

- I'll go get you your camera. - Thank you.

The stories in these woods go back to the Civil War.

No, what I'm talking about happened a week ago.

Surveyors from Rickman Industries came out screaming

-and can't remember what happened. -You have a theory.

-Kyle Tippett. -The guy who sells weird sculptures?

Don't you think it's odd that he lives all alone out here in the woods?

Thoreau did.

Yeah, Clark, so did the Unabomber.

Lana.

-Stay with the horses. -Okay. Uh...

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, okay.

Easy, easy.

Get away from her!

-You okay? -Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.

What do you think happened, son?

I don't know, but it just doesn't look like he's trying to hurt her.

-Okay, Nell. Thanks. Bye. -How's Lana?

A mild concussion. Other than that, she's fine.

-And Nell? -That's a different story.

She wants Clark to go to the police and say he saw Kyle

spook Lana's horse and attack her.

That's not what I saw.

I don't think we've heard the end of this.

Did Kyle seem at all dangerous to you?

He seemed scared.

Chloe said some surveyors were spooked last week, and now us.

-I wonder if there's a connection. -Jonathan, go talk to Kyle. Get this cleared up.

-Yeah. -No, I'll go.

-I don't think that's a good idea. -It's not like he can hurt me.

That is not the point.

Dad, I understand what it's like to be hidden from the world.

Give me a shot.

-Do you know where Kyle lives? -I just follow the trail of bad sculptures.

Miss Hardwick, I'm surprised to find you in Smallville.

It grows on you after a while.

Don't encourage him, Victoria.

It's funny.

I was just saying what this town needs is more pesticides in the water supply.

Now, don't tell me you mind someone else sharing your little sandbox.

Only when they're polluting it. Hello, Bob.

Lex?

I'll leave you boys alone.

Photos are a bit over the top, but I like what you've done with the place.

Oh, it's only temporary.

Here, have a button.

Enough of these, and they won't notice you're rendering the town uninhabitable.

I'm just like you, Lex.

A government employee sets my emissions levels, and I abide.

Do you have an objection?

Let's call it an interest. Smallville's my home now.

That's right. Yes, Lionel had mentioned that he'd exiled you here.

-Had dinner with him a couple weeks ago. -Yeah? What happened?

Somebody more important cancel on him?

Don't worry, Lex, I'll keep my concerns away from the Luthors.

I found the perfect place for the plant. It's out of the way, it's near the river.

-The Kent farm? -Hm.

I assume you've approached them.

It's just a formality.

The way licenses and zoning permits always seem to be a formality for you.

I know the Kents, and not even you can convince them to sell that farm.

You'd be surprised.

Trust me, Bob, you're not that charming.

You're trespassing.

How'd you do that?

Magic. Haven't you heard of Crazy Kyle who lives in the woods by himself?

He's somewhere between Bigfoot and the Blair Witch.

-I'm-- -Clark Kent, Jonathan and Martha's son.

How'd you know?

I live in a trailer, not a cave.

I wanted to talk to you about what happened this afternoon.

You mean the girl?

The horse threw her, and I made sure she was breathing.

So you don't make a habit of scaring people out of the woods

and spooking their horses?

If I wanted to explain myself all the time, I'd get a job.

But I left that world behind for a reason. Goodbye.

Why are you so unfriendly?

-Because I'm not interested in friends. -Everyone needs a friend.

No, they don't...

because they'll always betray you in the end.

How are you feeling?

Better, thanks.

Nell said you're going to talk to the police.

Actually, I went out and spoke to Kyle.

You talked to that psycho?

Yeah.

He said he was making sure Lana was okay.

-Do you believe him? -Yeah, I think I do.

If I were there, I would have done something.

-Do you remember anything? -Not really.

I gotta get home. I'm glad you're okay.

That looked uncomfortable.

Listen, has Bob Rickman been by the farm?

-Why would he be interested in us? -He's interested in buying your land.

You have met my dad. Why are you even worried?

I've seen Rickman talk people out of house and home. He's a locust, Clark.

He tears through a community and betrays anyone who trusts him.

Tell your dad to be careful.

Okay.

Hello, Kyle. Wondering when you'd stop by.

We had an agreement.

You do whatever you want with the rest of the world, but leave this town alone.

Well, we made those rules a long time ago. The world's changed, Kyle.

Maybe it's time the public knew the whole truth about Bob Rickman.

The public believes whatever I tell them.

I spent nine years honing my skill while you hid in the woods

because you were afraid.

Take my hand. See how afraid I am.

You've been warned.

Kyle, what are you doing here?

I just registered a complaint.

What do you have against Rickman?

There used to be a time when people minded their own business.

Hey, Tippett!

-And what's your problem? -You are.

Touch Lana Lang again, and I'll take care of you.

-Whitney, back off. -I've got my eye on you.

-That's why I don't come into town. -You want a ride home?

Why are you so nice to me?

You're not a bad guy. You're just not a people person.

-What gave that away? -You want a ride or not?

Yeah, I gotta stop and get groceries.

No problem.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry, I couldn't help overhearing. Are you having a problem with Kyle Tippett?

Yeah, he attacked my girlfriend.

Bob Rickman.

Maybe I can help.

Thanks for the ride, I really appreciate it.

Next time, don't talk my ear off.

Hey, um, why were you at Rickman's?

Why were you at Rickman's?

I heard a rumor he was trying to buy our farm.

Stay away from him.

Do you miss it? Regular life, I mean?

Some people weren't meant to have a regular life, Clark.

Thanks.

Bye.

Whitney.

They're booking Kyle for assault.