7.20 Harbinger Part III by TW & MR

MR: Smallville. Lex surveys the damage while nursing the hand hurt when the mansion collapsed.
TW: A minion approaches with a laptop, "We've found something."
MR: On screen a slightly garbled video from the teaser.
TW: As the video finishes up a second lacky hands Lex a phone, "The president, Mr. Luthor."
MR: Lex takes the phone, "Yes, Mr. President." There's a pause and then, "Safe? Based on my intel nowhere is safe. It's a brave new world, Mr. President. You're no safer on Air Force One than in Smallville." After another pause, "Understood." Lex hangs up and address Lackey number two. "Get a bull horn ready. The President is coming to Smallville."

TW: Back to the building Chloe set on fire.
MR: The fire is now out.
TW: Firemen are cleaning up the mess.
MR: Evelyn is reporting live, "It's a miracle no one died in this conflagration..."
TW: Cut to Bittleman jotting down notes as he talks with the fire chief.
MR: "Thanks, Karl, you're a doll!"
TW: "Shouldn't you be a the hospital?" Erica?
ED: "I'm just glad Chloe didn't hit me with her fist of fire." Inspecting the charred building, "Looks like Lex's cure didn't take. What do you think is up with her?"
TW: "I'm just glad you're safe." He nods toward Bittleman, "Are you really going to do a story on Chloe?"
ED: "It's me, Clark, I'm not going to turn in a story about my own cousin gone pyromaniac. Besides, after what happened to Smallville no one is going to care about this."
TW: "If no one cares why are you two so interested?"
ED: "A five alarm fire in the middle of rush hour and not a single person injured? Most don't even know how they got out! One minute they're in their apartment and the next..."
TW: "What are you getting at Lois?"
ED: "There's more to this fire than what meets the eye." She pauses, "Someone saved these people." Lois whispers, "I think it might have been Kal-El."
TW: Clark is angry, "Smallville is in ruins, something is seriously wrong with Chloe... and all you can think about is... alien conspiracies!?!?"
MR: Bittleman moseys over to butt in. "Is there anything aliens aren't behind these days, Chicken Little? Besides, this Kal-El, he's a bad guy now, no?"
TW: Lois gets a really angry look.
ED: "Back off, Ted. Kal-El wasn't the one who just nuked middle America." Then to Clark, "You're right, Clark. As usual. So are you going to help me find Chloe or not?"
TW: "Help? I was thinking more that you go get an x-ray while I find her."
ED: "Nice try but in case you haven't noticed the new but not so improved Chloe is dangerous. It's going to take more than an aw' shucks attitude and good hair to set her straight."
TW: Clark looks annoyed.
AM: For good reason.
TW: "Lois, she knocked you out."
ED: "It was a lucky punch!"
MR: "Into a wall?"
ED: "Stay out of this, Ted!"
MR: "Just calling it like I see it."
ED: "And you think pretty boy here would fare any better?"
TW: Clark and Bittleman together, "Pretty boy!?!?"
ED: "All the more reason the two of us need to stick together on this!"
MR: Bittleman is baffled, "Hello!?! You have a story to do, major Blonde!"
ED: Lois, "You're a big boy, Ted. I'm sure you can handle a story on your own for once."
JG: That self righteous bitch!
AoT: Stop it, John. You're starting to identify with Bittleman a little too much.
JG: Out side of Lionel he was my favorite character!

TW: Cut to the DP elevator opening up on outside Lois and Bittleman's office.
MR: Clark and Bittleman follow Lois out.
TW: "I still think we should split up. We could cover more ground that way."
ED: "And let Chloe pummel you like she did me? Sorry, I'm not about to let that happen to that pretty little face of yours."
TW: Clark and Bittleman simultaneously, "Pretty?!?"
MR: Lois grabs the keys off her desk.
ED: "Cover for me, Ted. I'll be back as soon as we've found Chloe."
MR: Ted is flabbergasted, "Barbie, you don't have to be the princess and the pea to realize your lily white ass is sitting on the story of a lifetime! Some asshole with a vendetta against the pet alien you've been trying to track down for months just nuked an entire town and you're going to run off with this vacant eyed farm boy?"
JG: Heh. Two birds with one stone.
ED: "Number one, jealously really doesn't suit you, Ted. And number two, I put a story above family once before and I'm not going to do it again."
JG: Jealously? The man is finally getting his balls back!
TW: Lois leaves as Clark gives Bittleman non-verbals that he's not involved with her.
MR: Ted is pissed anyway, "Get the hell out of my face Farmer Brown and take Benedict Arnolda with you!"
JG: Bravo, Bittleman!
TW: Lois yells from the elevator, "Small..." she stops herself, "Kent, are you comming or not?!?!"
MR: Clark gives Bittleman a weak smiles and heads to join Lois.

TW: Stock footage of Lex's dream sequence nuclear attack.
MR: Pull back to show Chloe watching it on a computer monitor in her bunker.
TW: She wearily rubbers her temples, "Replay scenario seven two zero. This time with three Spartans in DC, two in Metropolis."
MR: She looks over at her phone an notices there's a message waiting from Lois.
TW: Returning to her attention to the screen nukes are flying everywhere again, "Dammit! Re-run all scenarios with the following modification." She pauses, with a heavy sigh, "LuthorCorp assets protect densely populated areas only."
MR: The computer answers, "Estimated time to completion, six hours."
TW: A wide shot reveals the other Spartans are all running various simulations as well.
MR: Chloe addresses the one closest her, "I'm going to check on my cousin. Let me know if we make a break through."

TW: Cut to an alley. Chloe "lands" and heads around the corner just as Lois and Clark come out of the revolving doors of the Planet building. "Lois!" She spots Clark and her voice falls, "Clark."
TW: Clark and Lois stop dead in their tracks.
MR: Chloe picks up on their concern, "What's going on?"
TW: Clark, "That's what we were going to ask you."
MR: Lois is less diplomatic. "I hoping the fact you ditched the black leather for a pantsuit means you've re-embraced sanity, Chlo."
TW: Chloe looks back and forth between Clark and Lois more confused than ever.

MR: Cut to Clark and Lois escorting Chloe into a diner. Allison?
AM: "Black leather?"
MR: I'll do Lois.
ED: Don't you wish.
MR: "And not much of it."
TW: "Sit down. We need to talk."
AM: "Why here? Why not at the..."
MR: "Because for all we know the FBI has you on their most wanted list." Chloe looks guilty and gulps.
TW: "Chloe, where were you about an hour ago?"
AM: Chloe tenses, "I was... driving from here from Smallville."
MR: "Are you sure?"
AM: With a strained smile, "Positive."
TW: Lois and Clark exchange looks.
AM: "Is something wrong?"
MR: "You remember the bright shiny new condos I was hoping to afford someday?"
AM: "Yes?"
MR: "Thanks to you they're nothing more than a burnt husk."
AM: Chloe looks at Clark, "What is she talking about?"
MR: "It happened right after we heard about Smallville. I called your cell. You didn't answer and..."
AM: "I must not have heard it ring. Jimmy made me a play list."
AoT: Aw. Now I almost feel bad for Jimmy.
KK: Almost.

Continued...