7.16 Control by ED & MR (Part III)

MR: Lex slides the top enough to reveal a hand floating in a milky liquid.
AoT: Just a hand? Gross.
MR: It's attached to someone.
AoT: Still. Gross.
MR: Vital signs continue to drop. Pushing the top, "No!" Outside sparks fly, burning Richards' hand, "Ow!"
MR: He throws the backup power switch over.
JG: Switching to backup isn't automatic?
MR: Hush.
JG: Somebody should be fired.
MR: Vault Black vitals are near flat lined and Lex notices life support has been cut off. "No, no, no, no!"
KK: Lex hasn't been so enamored with a project since operation Silver Hot Pants.
BR: What was operation Silver Hot Pants?
MR: It was called project Aries. Lex was creating super soldiers
AoT: All dressed in little silver hot pants.
BR: Why were they in little silver hot pants?
MR: God, I don't know!
JG: Cheaper than gold?
MR: Shut up.
KK: Are you sure it wasn't called Operation Silver Hot Pants?
MR: I'm sure! Outside the backup power comes back on line. The computer announces "20% charged".
KK: Richards, "Come on, come on...".
MR: "40% charged"
KK: Inside vital signs finally go completely dead. After a couple seconds Lex stops trying to push the top aside. He hangs his head in defeat.
KK: Lex is a loser even in your own episode, Michael.
MR: Don't be so sure. Back to Richards. The computer announces the field is 100% recharged. "Initiating containment field in three... two..." Richards goes to the window just in time to see Lex sitting over the half open vault. He rushes back to shut the containment field down. Back inside the lab everything is quiet. A sudden jolt of music coincides with the hand inside the vault suddenly grabbing Lex's wrist. We cut to a close shot of closed eyes just beneath the milky liquid. The eyes open and glow an eerie white. Cut to Lex looking on in horror. Outside the computer announces "containment field engaged." Richards looks into at the lab and shields his eyes as the screen goes white. There's the sound of a huge explosion.
[Muffled yelling can be heard outside. There's a loud thud against the wall which startles BR]
BR: Oh, my God! What's happening out there?
JG: [Rubbing his temples] Erica Durance is single. handed. ruining. my. career. [To MR] Get the hell out there and help her, Rosenbaum!
MR: Me? Who's going to read the script?
JG: I don't give a damn!! Go save my career!
[ED stumbles in]
ED: They're here and Bryan is none too happy about it. Michael, you're up!
MR: It seems like you're handling things OK.
ED: [Limping to the table] I'm taking a break. Besides, he likes you.
MR: Don't rub it in.
ED: Good luck.
MR: But...
JG: Listen to the battered pregnant woman and get the hell out there, Rosenbaum!
MR: Okay! Okay! [Exits]
BR: What's going on?
ED: Don't worry Brendon...
BR: Brandon!
ED: ...it's all under control.
JG: God, I hope so!
ED: [Grimacing and budding her shoulder] Do we have any ice?
JG: Somebody used it all.
ED: All of it? That was stupid. So, where were we?
KK: We just blew up Lex.
ED: Really? I'm sorry I missed that.
[Another thud against the wall and shouting]
BR: Maybe we should...
JG & AoT & KK & ED: Shut up!

ED: Next we go to a mutants' right rally. Martha is there to make peace with Titian but he gives her a sanctimonious speech and excuses himself to rally the troops from up on stage. Annette, you want to read? [Another loud thump against the wall]
AoT: Actually, do you mind if I go out and watch?
KK: I want to watch too!
ED: Fine go.
[KK & AoT get up and exit]
ED: And bring back some ice!!

JG: Moving on?
ED: Oh, I love this scene! Bittleman is dropping Lois off at her apartment.
JG: Well, crap.
ED: What?
JG: Were the hell is Lionel?
ED: We'll get to him, I'm sure. You want to read for Bittleman in the meantime?
JG: Sure! [Chuckles] I love how Bittleman insults Lois at every turn! [reading ahead] Well, crap!
ED: What?
JG: I'm not reading this! You've castrated the man!
ED: How so?
JG: He makes a pass at Lois?
ED: Of course he does! She's hot. It was only a matter of time.
JG: Sweet Jesus! And Lois turns him down!?!?! What Bryan had planned is better than this garbage!
ED: Are you going to read with me or not?
JG: Hell, no!
ED: Brendon...
BR: Brandon.
ED: Whatever. You want to read for Bittleman?
BR: Um.. [notices JG glaring] no thanks.
ED: [sighs] Fine. Bittleman makes a pass at Lois. She turns him down. He's embarrassed.
JG: As well he should be! She's emasculated him!
ED: Shut up. Bittleman says he's the king of bad timing and he'll see her tomorrow at the funeral. Lois just nods sadly and enters her apartment. She sits at her bed and... [pauses while she reads] looks at a picture of her and Chloe singing karaoke?
JG: That's not yours?
ED: I.. uh...
JG: I'm supposed to believe this sentimental soliloquy of hers is all Michael's doing?
ED: Michael is a sentimental fool. He just doesn't let it show.
JG: He's a fool alright.
[MR, AoT, & KK enter grinning ear to ear.]
MR: Mission accomplished!
ED: Where the hell is my ice!?!
AoT: [Tosses a bag of ice to ED]
JG: [Pumps fist] Yes!
AoT: It's all over but the crying.
KK: And there's going to be a lot of crying.
[From outside BS wails in despair]
ED: Congratulations.
MR: So, where are we?
JG: Lois just finished castrating Bittleman.
MR: [Returning to the table] Perfect timing.
JG: Durance says you wrote it.
MR: Yeah, right.

MR: Back to the remains of the Vault Black lab.
ED: Through the thick smoke the camera approaches the hot tub.
MR: Vault Black. It's the Vault Black.
ED: Isn't it just going to be a hot tub painted black?
MR: We're pretending. Like we pretend Clark can run really fast.
ED: Oh. Okay.
MR: The figure inside takes a desperate gasp for air while jolting up out of the liquid.
KK: Why does that seem familiar?
ED: In the dark and smoke all we can see of the figure is a silhouette. It looks around the room cautiously. Then as the smoke clears it's revealed that Vault Black is actually...
[AM bursts in]
AM: Well, I'm back!!!!!
ED: [smiles ear to ear] ...Chloe Sullivan!

Continued