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We're in Metropolis, in the office of one Paul Hendrix (it's the CEP building). He's got a scraggly beard and wild eyes, and looks completely incongruous with the suit he's wearing. He looks like he should be standing on a street corner preaching about God and the 12 apostles.

In any case, he seems to be SOME kind of bigwig at the Center for Environmental Protection, given that he has such a nice window office and ... well, the suit.

Enter Bob Rickman (not Alan, alas). He looks like a slimeball. All yuppie-like and smooth, you just know he's a big old snake. Rickman wants to build a plant in Smallville, but Hendrix holds up some dirty-looking sludge in a jar, which is apparently ground water from the last town where Rickman built a plant (LuthorCorp is starting to look like the purest thing around compared to this guy).

Hendrix says that he's going to have a restraining order brought forth that will keep Rickman out of Smallville until all the cases against Rickman are settled.

RICKMAN: I don't suppose there's anything I could do to change your mind?
HENDRIX: I'm afraid I'm not as easy to buy off as my colleagues.
RICKMAN: I've never bought off a soul in my life. People listen to me because they know I'm right.

(Actually, it's the freakish touch-power you have, you smug bastard.)

Hendrix isn't buying any of Rickman's crap, and Rickman looks like he's going to accept Hendrix's decision. He offers his hand, and we know this is bad news. We want to warn Hendrix, but we're on the wrong side of the glass. Hendrix takes Rickman's hand, and when the two touch, a green glow emanates from their clasped hands. Hendrix immediately looks blank, calm as a Hindu cow, to borrow an expression from Fight Club.

Rickman starts to subtly talk about Hendrix's crappy life, how he's misunderstood, etc. He says there's only one way to make it all stop, and leaves Hendrix with the implication that Hendrix should jump out the window.

Which he does.

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Clark, Lana, and Chloe are on horses. Chloe is humorously inept at it. Clark and Lana are talking about Whitney. I'm bored already. But then I'm amused:

CLARK: I don't see myself being a farmer when I grow up.
LANA: What do you want to do?
CLARK: I'm not sure. Just as long as it doesn't involve putting on a suit and doing a lot of flying.

Is it just me? Does anyone else think that these are clever? Well, it's my review, so you'll just have to put up with it even if you don't.

Chloe says that the woods are "the Bermuda Triangle of Smallville." She's brought her camera to ... I don't know, take photographs if they happen to disappear forever? But really, it's just a way to get Clark to herself, because she's conveniently "dropped" her camera somewhere, which Lana volunteers to retrieve (being that it's all Chloe can do to stay ON her horse).

While Lana's gone Chloe says that some surveyors from Rickman Industries were scared out of the woods last week, and she thinks the culprit is Kyle Tippet (Clark informs us that Tippet sells weird statues in town).

But Lana proves that she also knows how to play the game, and her girly scream sends Clark running after her. He finds her on the ground, conscious and trying to sit up. However, there is a man looming over her with his hands on Lana's shoulders. Clark freaks and tells the man (it's Tippet, in case you haven't guessed) to get away from her, and the man runs away.

Chloe's fallen camera is on the ground, and Clark picks it up.

----------

At the Kent house, he and Chloe watch the tape from her camera (because, of course, the record button was miraculously hit when it was dropped). It appears that Tippet was trying to help Lana, not hurt her.

Martha comes in, having just gotten off the phone with Nell. Lana has a mild concussion but is otherwise unharmed. Nell wants Clark to go to the police and tell them that Tippet spooked Lana's horse and then attacked her. (Yes, I think we are liking Nell less and less. The hobag.)

Martha suggests to Jonathan that he should go talk to Tippet and clear things up. Clark wants the chance to do that instead, and his parents relent.

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We're now in Rickman's offices, and he's apparently throwing a reception of some sort. Lex and Victoria (hissssssss) are there. Lex is openly derisive. He obviously can't stand Rickman (another point for him!), and when Rickman offers his hand, Lex ignores it, casually accepting a drink from a passing waiter instead.

Lex seems especially concerned about all the pollution that Rickman's plants create -- exactly the concern that Jonathan has about LuthorCorp. But clearly, in this case, LuthorCorp is the GOOD guy. Lex gets in a few good digs at Rickman, who reveals that he's found the perfect place for his new plant: the Kent farm.

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

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Clark pulls up to Tippet's trailer (um, isn't he 15? And he's driving without supervision? These Kansans ...) but it seems that no one's home. Clark gives up and turns around, but of course, Tippet is there to startle him. Tippet doesn't seem evil, only abrasive and unwilling to be polite for politeness' sake. Clark asks him about what happened that afternoon, and Tippet says that he was only checking on Lana to make sure she wasn't hurt. I start to like Tippet, so I'll start calling him Kyle.

CLARK: Why are you so unfriendly?
KYLE: Because I'm not interested in friends.
CLARK: Everyone needs a friend.
KYLE: No they don't, because they'll always betray you in the end.

That is SO COOL. And not only because it plays perfectly into our Lex/Lana theory.

----------

Clark goes into The Beanery, and sits across a table from Lana. She's not the only one there, however, as The Boy Wonder approaches with drinks for himself and Lana. Whitney has, of course, already made up his mind about what happened in the woods ... never mind that he wasn't there. He calls Kyle "that psycho" and implies that Clark was a wimp for not having acted.

Clark, bless his heart, doesn't take the bait. He tells Lana what Kyle said he was doing, and she asks if Clark believes him. Clark says that he does, and to Lana's credit, she seems to accept this as well.

Clark takes his leave, but near the front of the coffeehouse Lex stops him, asking if Rickman has been by the Kent farm. He tells Clark that Rickman is interested in buying them out, and impresses upon Clark that Rickman has some serious powers of persuasion. Clark seems appropriately concerned.

----------

Rickman is in his office. Kyle has come to pay him a visit. They're quite the pair -- the loon from the woods and the big-time businessman. Clearly, they've got a past. They're the Clark and Lex of their generation.

KYLE: We had an agreement. You do whatever you want with the rest of the world, but when it comes to this town, you leave it alone.
RICKMAN: We made those rules a long time ago. World's changed, Kyle.

Kyle challenges Rickman to a test of wills by offering his hand. Rickman is not brave enough to take it.

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Clark bumps into Kyle outside Rickman's office, which is apparently across the street from The Beanery. Clark wants to know what Kyle is doing there ("registering a complaint"). Whitney has also exited The Beanery and comes over to play his macho man card.

He makes threats on behalf of Lana (I'm sure she would be so proud and just swoon from the way he's exerting himself), and Clark tells him to back off. Clark then offers Kyle a ride home, which Kyle accepts.

Rickman has seen this whole exchange, and goes over to Whitney, who explains to him that Kyle attacked Lana. Rickman introduces himself and shakes Whitney's hand. Clearly proving that he's weak-minded, Whitney takes the offered hand, and their clasp glows green, as do Whitney's eyes.

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Clark and Kyle reach Kyle's trailer. Kyle thanks him for the ride.

CLARK: Do you miss it? A regular life, I mean?
KYLE: Some people weren't meant to have a regular life, Clark.

This episode is the king of double meanings. Clark drives away and Kyle goes up to his door. He sees Whitney reflected in the glass just in time to avoid Whitney and his baseball bat. Whitney continues to attack.

Clark passes by a truck on his way home, and recognizes it as Whitney's. For some reason, he gets out. Probably so that he can super speed back to Kyle's, which he does.

Whitney finally gets Kyle with the bat. Kyle defends himself by going on the offensive, picking up Whitney's fallen bat and getting Whitney in the chest. Clark arrives just as he's about to hit Whitney again, and Kyle gets Clark, which splinters the bat in really cool slow-mo. Clark hits Kyle with super strength, sending Kyle flying and hitting his trailer. He's knocked unconscious. Clark helps Whitney up, and he seems angry, thinking he was wrong about Kyle.

Later, Kyle is helped into a police car while Clark and Whitney look on. Jonathan has arrived, and starts grilling the guys. Whitney says that he went to Kyle's to talk because he thought Kyle was going to attack Lana again. The next thing he knew, Kyle was attacking him with a bat. Jonathan asks Clark if that's what happened, and Clark says that he saw Kyle swing at Whitney, but that Kyle says Whitney attacked him first.

Whitney is angry about this, and says that it's crazy; why would he do that? (Because you are a weak-minded individual who will act at the slightest suggestion? Okay, okay, I know I'm being too hard on Wonder Boy since Rickman does supposedly have these really awesome powers of persuasion. But it's still fun. <g>) Anyway, he whines some more and stalks off, pissed.

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Clark, Chloe, and Pete are peacefully going about their business in The Torch office when Tornado!Lana arrives. They'd been talking about Kyle, and Clark theorizes that Rickman is behind everything. Lana shoos the other two out, wanting to talk to Clark.

She proceeds to rip him a new asshole about his behavior toward Whitney, and with every word she loses more of my respect. Defending her boy toy is one thing, but her arguments are simply ludicrous -- not to mention, she's attacking with only one side of the story. She only ends up looking as closed-minded as everyone else.

Her finale:

LANA: You're looking for an excuse to knock Whitney. You know what he's going through with his dad. If you don't like him, just say it. Don't pretend to be his friend.

First of all, when has Clark ever really pretended to be Whitney's friend? And to play the guilt angle with Whitney's dad? Um, who was the one who was ready to kiss another guy just because her boyfriend seemed a bit closed-off? Who was the one who gave up the chance with the girl of his dreams and convinced Whitney to tell Lana about his father's condition? Grrrrr. And Clark doesn't NEED an excuse to knock Whitney. The guy does a great job of being an idiot all on his own.

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Jonathan's working on the farm when Rickman arrives. Jonathan is derisive about this city slicker in his nice shoes, and it's nice to see that he just hates ALL rich people and doesn't reserve that just for Lex.

Rickman tries to convince Jonathan to sell the farm; Jonathan, of course, refuses and will not relent. Rickman pretends to give up, and offers his hand to shake. Naturally, Jonathan takes it, and we follow the zap of green as it goes into his eyes and brain ... this took so long and it was so clear what was going on that I thought it was redundant to then show Rickman saying, "Are you sure I can't convince you to change your mind?"

The next thing Jonathan knows, Martha is screeching at him in the kitchen about having sold the farm. Clark walks in and is completely floored by the news. Jonathan is subdued and can't believe he did it, while Martha is flipping out. I thought this was very nicely played by both actors.

CLARK: I think I know someone who can help.
JONATHAN: No. I will not owe Lex Luthor anything, thank you.
MARTHA: Right now you don't have anything to owe.

YEAH.

----------

At The Beanery, Lana and Whitney give Clark cold looks as he passes by (all right, that is IT -- no more Lex/Lana, it's just going to be about Lex from here on out, what a BITCH), and he sits with Lex at a table. Lex has noticed the exchange and questions Clark about it. Clark explains that the whole Kyle thing has put him on the outs with Lana, and Lex compares Clark to Atticus Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird." Sigh, don't you just love a well-read man ...

CLARK: What kills me is that I know that I'm right. I just wish I could get them to see it.
LEX: That, my friend, is the key to leadership: Not only knowing you're right, but convincing everyone else.

Lex then tells Clark the good/bad news about the contract Jonathan signed: The deal is worth three times the market value for the farm -- however, it's ironclad. According to Lex, this just means an extra dozen lawyers, and he's got lots of those. Lex is really curious to know how Rickman convinced Jonathan to sign it (though I don't know why, given that it's not like he's sticking to the deal).

LEX: Rickman's known for getting past people's defenses, but that's just good business. Unless you think there's more to it than that.

This gets Clark thinking, and he gets up to go to jail. (<--- I thought about changing that, but it's funny so I'll just leave it as it is.)

----------

A deputy enters Rickman's office. Rickman has called him there for, presumably, nefarious purposes. And in fact this is proved true, as Rickman shakes the deputy's hand and says, "I need you to take care of an old friend."

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In jail, Kyle gets summoned, with another deputy saying that he has a visitor. Kyle stands up, then as the deputy opens the door, he takes the man's hand. There is a green glow.

Kyle exits the building wearing the deputy's uniform. Clark sees him, but so does the deputy that Rickman's got zombied. That deputy fires his gun at Kyle, and in slow-mo, Clark runs to save Kyle. He doesn't get there fast enough, and the bullet goes into Kyle's shoulder. The deputy continues to fire, but Clark has super-speeded himself and Kyle away.

Clark has brought Kyle to Lex's mansion, where an iffy-looking guy, Toby, is taking care of Kyle's injury.

CLARK: This guy really a doctor?
LEX: He was. Now he's more of an on-call specialist. You know, actors, rock stars, billionaire's sons.
CLARK: How do you know him?
LEX: Long story.

We have time, Lex. <g> I wonder if this will be revisited in a later episode, the way Fallon reappeared in Zero after Rogue. Lex is being pretty cool about all this, even though he could have no clue what the hell's going on.

LEX: I'm curious. Why did you think I'd be willing to harbor a fugitive?
CLARK: I figured my parents would freak, and if I took him to a hospital, they'd put him back in jail. You're the only one I could trust.

<SOB> Oh, this friendship is breaking my heart.

Toby says that Kyle will be unconscious until the next morning. Then Lex and Clark proceed to having the following slashy-undertoned exchange:

LEX: You'd better get home, it's late. Hey Atticus -- you may want to change your shirt.

(Because, of course, it's all bloody.)

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When Clark arrives at his loft, he's surprised to see Lana there. She's hanging around to make nice, which I thought was good of her and starts to repair the damage her image has suffered in my eyes. Clark, however, isn't just laying down to be her doormat, which I'm glad about. She says that she heard Kyle escaped and was freaked out by it; Clark assures her that Kyle isn't going to go after her. They have their first real fight -- it's totally tense and very well done, particularly since if you accept that Lana thinks Kyle's dangerous, they both have valid points of view. It's the first time that we've seen Clark actively choose to do right despite pissing Lana off. (Up until now, he's done the right thing re: telling Lana about Whitney's dad, etc., but he's never had to have her MAD at him.)

CLARK: You don't know the whole story.
LANA: Then tell me. What is it?
CLARK: I don't know it yet! But you've already made up your mind about the guy, so what do you care?
LANA: I wanted to clear the air and preserve our friendship, but now I don't even know why I bothered.

I'm glad to see that Lana's showing her human fallibility instead of always being the perfect girl, but did she have to choose NOW do to this, and look like Whitney? Argh.

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Rickman accosts Our Lex at The Beanery. Once again, Lex shuns Rickman's proffered hand.

RICKMAN: Oh, come on, Lex. This "Art of War" stuff is for amateurs.
LEX: It's not that. I just don't like you.

Have I MENTIONED how much Lex needs to be worshipped? Ahem. Rickman confronts Lex about the Kents challenging his purchase of the farm, and Lex explains that he's involved because Smallville is his home and the Kents are his friends (even if some of them are too stubborn/hypocritical to appreciate it). Rickman puts his hand on Lex's shoulder, and Lex calmly tells Rickman not to touch him, and that he heard Kyle escaped from jail.

As Rickman leaves, he runs into Clark and Chloe. Chloe goes to sit at Lex's table (damn that ho! <g>), while Clark confronts Rickman. Rickman extends his hand to Clark, who takes it. But of course, our hero is not affected; on the contrary, he squeezes Rickman's hand so hard that the bones grind together (OW). Rickman leaves, and Clark goes to sit with Lex and Chloe.

Chloe has the dish on Kyle and Rickman: Apparently, the two of them were business partners in the mid-80s -- they sold farm equipment -- and in the late 80s/early 90s were Salesmen of the Year for three years in a row. Then Rickman started his own company and Kyle became a recluse.

She hands Clark a newspaper clipping that says two salesmen were found trapped in a car after the meteor shower. Lex suggests that they go talk to Kyle -- Chloe is surprised that he knows where Kyle is.

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At the Luthor mansion in the bedroom where they'd put Kyle, the three are dumbfounded to find Kyle gone. The nurse, who was supposed to be watching him, smiles serenely and has no idea who Kyle even is. Clearly, he worked his mojo on her. Clark says that he thinks he knows where Kyle went, and he and Chloe leave. (Amazing, isn't it, that they always know who should go/follow and who shouldn't?)

Clark and Chloe go to Kyle's trailer (gee, what a difficult guess). He seems to be preparing to skip town. Chloe and Clark question him about the meteor shower, how Rickman got Jonathan to sell the farm, etc. Kyle says that until the day the meteorites hit, he and Rickman were the worst salesmen ever. After, they could get anyone to do anything, all with a simple handshake.

Kyle says that it lasts until the person does what they're asked to do, or until they're forcibly snapped out of it. And it they come out of it without a memory.

Chloe demands to be shown proof. Kyle hesitates at first, but Chloe pushes, so he takes her hand.

KYLE: You have feelings for Clark, don't you, Chloe? You see him, and you want him. All this time, you've been hiding it. Now you can show him.

Clark rolls his eyes, proving that he's completely unaware (or wants to be unaware) of what we all know: Chloe has the hots for him. Chloe seems to be entranced, and she runs her hands up Clark's chest, then pulls him down and kisses him. He doesn't shove her away, but he's shocked and wide-eyed. Afterward, she turns to Kyle. "Okay, come on. I'm ready." Then she remarks that her mouth is minty, and realizes what must have happened. She is cutely horrified. Clark says the words no girl who has a crush on the guy wants to hear after she's kissed him: "It was fine."

Clark asks what happened between Kyle and Rickman. Kyle says that he didn't care what Rickman did as long as he didn't do it in the town Kyle was staying in. Clark puts the guilt-squeeze on Kyle.

KYLE: Do you know what it's like to have to hide because of who you are?
CLARK: Yes, I do. But when you have a gift, you can't just hide in a hole and hope it goes away.

That's actually a lovely sentiment ... but what does Chloe think of all this? In what way does Clark have to hide because of who he is -- as far as she knows? Not very stealthy there, Super Boy.

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Rickman has charmed his way into the Luthor mansion (noooooooooo!). He tells Lex (who is just as cool and composed as always) that he's giving up the Kent farm, which we all know is a big fat lie.

LEX: Okay, then. Thanks for stopping by. (bwahahahaha)
RICKMAN: Well, since you won, how about it? Truce?

Rickman extends his hand, and because we know Lex is a decent human being goddammit, we know he's going to take it this time. NOOOOOOOO!!!

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At a gas station that looks abandoned, Clark is on the payphone to Lex, saying Kyle wants to go public. We suspect that Lex has already been zapped by Rickman, so this time we're not happy that Clark is calling upon his friend for help. Lex says he will pick Clark up. Ack!

Lex arrives, and tells Kyle that he's called some friends at the papers, would Kyle be willing to talk? Kyle says he'll do whatever it takes to stop Rickman. Ooh, bad answer. Clark and Kyle get into Lex's car, and Lex says he has to fill up. He locks the car, and starts pumping gasoline all over the car. He is expressionless.

Clark and Kyle realize what's going on, and just as Lex lights it on fire, the two escape. The car explodes, and Clark zips away with Kyle. Lex, of course, sees this.

LEX: Clark ... you have some explaining to do.
RICKMAN: What just happened?
LEX: I have my suspicions.
RICKMAN: Well, I'd hate to think that you failed to get the job done.
LEX: Relax. Failing isn't something I do.

Have I mentioned how hot and sexy Lex is? No? Lex is sooo hot and sexy. Anyway, Rickman hands him a machine gun.

----------

Apparently, even with his super powers, Clark hasn't carried Kyle much further than the inside of the gas station (<sigh> Crude is right, that boy is just dim). Lex follows them in, and quickly finds the injured Kyle, which draws Clark out of hiding. Lex is completely cool, even friendly, during all of this. He is very revealing:

CLARK: Don't do this. I'm your friend.
LEX: Oh, please. You think I don't see the way your parents look at me? The way half the town looks at me? You're no different. Friendship's a fairy tale, Clark. Respect and fear are the best you can hope for.
CLARK: Rickman's doing this to you.
LEX: What if he did?
CLARK: You hate Rickman!
LEX: You can learn a lot from someone you hate.

Lex raises the machine gun and fires at Clark. At first Clark is able to dodge the bullets, but there's too many of them and they start hitting him, mostly in the back. Lex goes up to Clark and prepares to fire a point-blank shot, but Clark grabs the gun and shoves Lex away, knocking him into a shelf. Lex is rendered unconscious.

Rickman is in his car, probably wondering what's taking so long. He gets out, but is confronted by Kyle. Rickman is holding a handgun, but Kyle grabs his hand and their clasp glows green. Eventually, Rickman's eyes glow green as well.

Clark rushes over to check if Lex is all right. He hears a gunshot and rushes outside. Kyle is standing over Rickman's body -- clearly Kyle got Rickman to shoot himself.

CLARK: Are you okay?
KYLE: (nods) I saw you get shot, Clark.
CLARK: I ... uh ...
KYLE: Don't worry. Just don't hide in the woods like I did. You got a gift; use it to do great things. I think I'll do the same with mine.

Another speech that just begs for some follow up in another episode sometime in the future. Kyle is now the only person -- other than Clark's parents -- who know about his gifts and is still alive. It's heartbreaking that Kyle and Rickman are clearly a parallel to Clark and Lex, with Clark being Kyle and Lex being Rickman -- and yet Lex absolutely despises Rickman. Is it safe to say that he would hate what he's to become? Oh, the angst!

----------

Inside the Kent house, Martha is cleaning? Clark's back, which has a few red/purple bruises.

MARTHA: I can't believe each one of these bruises was a bullet.

I KNOW! Poor Clark.

CLARK: It's weird ... I get shot at and the bullets are fired by my best friend.

Martha and Jonathan exchange a look; this is the first time that Clark has called Lex that. Oh, it's so sad.

There's a knock and Lana enters. Jonathan and Martha make hasty exits. Bwahahaha. Lana is back to being cool.

CLARK: I didn't know if we were still talking.
LANA: I'm not sure what happened with Kyle, and it's really not important. I think our friendship's worth more than one argument.
CLARK: You know, I thought we were done there for a while. (Oh, Clark, you dim boy -- don't you know she's got the hots for you?)
LANA: You and me are going to be friends for a very long time. We may have our ups and downs, but that's just the way it works. (Hmm, is this foreshadowing? WILL they be friends for a long time, or is this supposed to be ironic? Because if they are, it kind of puts a damper on the Lex/Lana theory we have going. On the other hand, irony is one of the show's trademarks, and this might work perfectly.)
LANA: Did Chloe really kiss you? (Oh, girl, don't you KNOW not to be so obvious?!)

----------

Next comes one of my absolute favorite scenes of the series ...

Clark is in the loft. Lex goes up to find him and tell him that Rickman Industries will not be expanding, due to their founder's death. Lex is concerned that he may have hurt Clark, but Clark assures him that he's okay. <sob>

LEX: I wonder where Kyle is now?
CLARK: I don't know. It's still strange to think that he and Rickman were once best friends. Think we'll ever end up like that?
LEX: Trust me, Clark. Our friendship is going to be the stuff of legend.

And really, nothing more needs to be said.

The End