"Fragile"
Original Air Date on April 13th, 2006
Naomi: Oh, Clark's in the neighborhood? Sure, he can come pick them up. Oh, don't even mention it. Okay. Bye, Martha. Maddie, what are you doing?
[ Sighs ]
Naomi: It's time to eat dinner, sweetheart you can draw later. Maddie, you know the rules. Please get back to the table. I want us to eat as a family.
[ Sighs ]
Naomi: Look, you might not want to talk, but you have to listen to me. Put your book away now. Maddie, give that to me! Maddie! What just happened? You did that, didn't you? All those times I've found broken glass ... they weren't accidents. Nobody warned me about this. I-I think you need help.
[ Gasps ]
Naomi: I'm calling the foster-care agency right now. I can't take this anymore. No! Don't touch me! Just ... just, please, go to your room!
[ Screams ]
[ Screaming ]
[ Rumbling, rattling ]
Naomi: No!
[ Glass shatters ]
Clark: I found Naomi in the kitchen. There was glass everywhere. What kind of person would commit such a brutal crime?
Deputy: Whoever it was, the sound of your truck probably scared them off.
Martha: Thank you for letting her stay with us tonight, deputy. After all she's been through, there's no reason she should be spending the night in some shelter.
Deputy: No problem, Senator. Child Services will come by tomorrow to check in.
Martha: Okay, good. Thank you. It makes no sense. All Naomi wanted to do was help people. She was a foster parent. She ran a youth center before she was my Chief of Staff.
Clark: Maddie hasn't said a word since she got here.
Martha: Naomi told me she hasn't spoken since she was 3 years old. That's when her birth mother was k*lled.
Clark: I can't blame her. She's been through one tragedy after another.
Martha: And countless foster homes. I should call Lionel in London.
Clark: Lionel?
Martha: Naomi used to run his children's foundation. I really should let him know what happened.
Clark: Mom, maybe you should just wait.
Martha: No, no, no ... it'll take a minute.
Clark: Hey, maddie, what are you drawing? You're quite the artist, aren't you? You know, I'm an artist, too. You don't believe me?
[ Sighs ]
Clark: All right, well, I'll just have to prove it to you, then. Now, prepare yourself, because this is gonna be a self-portrait, and you might not be able to tell the difference between this and an actual photograph.
Lana: As long we have to wade through a sea of government paperwork, at least we got to do it over spicy tuna rolls.
Lex: Well, I'm not too fond of working in the stacks.
Lana: I have to admit, I was pretty impressed when you ordered the entire meal in fluent Japanese. You could have warned me about the squid brains, though.
[ Speaking japanese ]
Lex: Come on. You can't fool me. You loved it.
Lana: Lex, I was thinking. I don't really feel comfortable hanging on to these. Some of these papers are marked "classified." You could get into a lot of trouble even showing them to me.
Lex: Lana, if Milton Fine is right about an extra terrestrial thr*at, the last thing the government's gonna be worried about is Lana Lang. Besides, you're the only one who knows of my transgression. I think I'm safe with my fate in your hands.
Lana: You must really trust me.
Lex: 100%. Well, I hope you feel the same way about me.
Lana: I do.
Chloe: Sorry I've, um ... I forgot my pencil in the library.
Clark: And this is the world-famous Kent barn. You know, when I was about your age, my dad used to let me jump in the hay stacks in here. Hey, why don't you close your eyes, turn around? I got a surprise for you. It'll be worth it ... I promise. So, what do you think? You want to give it a sh*t? Let me guess ... you're afraid of heights? I can relate. You know, Maddie ... you and I have a lot more in common than you think. I was an orphan, too.
[ Dog whimpers]
[ Panting ]
Maddie: Hey, boy. Good doggy.
Clark: Looks like Shelby likes you. Animals are great, aren't they? They listen to you, but don't say mean things back. Look, I might not be as furry as Shelby or wag my tail or bark, but I promise I'll never say mean things to you.
Maddie: What's up there?
Clark: It's kind of like my clubhouse.
Maddie: You're so lucky.
Clark: You can be lucky, too, Maddie. It's not too late. We're gonna find you a good family.
Maddie: People don't like me.
Clark: What? Well, those people are crazy. I like you.
Maddie: Is this your girlfriend?
Clark: Um, she used to be. We kind of parted ways. Hey, you want to go for a horseback ride, just you and me? Let's go. You can chat up Buttercup all you want.
Maddie: You have horses?
Lois: So, you can talk? I knew Marcel Marceau "sound of silence" thing was just a rumor. I'm Lois.
Clark: She's a little shy.
Lois: I understand. A lot of artists are. I brought you some crayons and a coloring book. Maddie, check it out. Go ahead. Your mom called from Topeka. With her Chief of Staff gone, she's been in emergency meetings all day. She asked if I could help out.
Clark: Actually, I think we've got it under control.
Lois: I'm the one with the little sister, remember? Okay, ready for a few games of hopscotch? I'm a bit rusty, but you'll be the odds-on favorite.
Clark: Well, actually, we were just about to saddle up and hit the trails.
Lois: Great bust out the spurs ... I'm game. Oh, how adorable.You want to be alone with Clark. Hey, no worries. I will be galloping way ahead of you guys.
Clark: Maddie? Hey, what just happened out there? Did you break all those light bulbs? See, Maddie, I understand. You have powers ... abilities that normal people can't even dream of. And it's okay. You can trust me. You can tell me the truth.
Maddie: Ever since I was little, I could break glass.
Clark: Yeah?
Maddie: And when I get upset, I can't control it.
Clark: Were you upset with Naomi?
Maddie: You think I k*lled her?
Clark: Maddie, you have the power to break glass. And the way that she d*ed ...
Maddie: I didn't do it. Clark, I wasn't in the same room, and I can't do anything through walls. I liked Naomi. I would never hurt her.
Lois: Clark! Can I talk to you for a minute? Clark, I'm gonna call the sheriff right now before we get sliced, diced, and pureed.
Clark: Lois, I'm not sure she k*lled anybody.
Lois: So someone else with the power to shatter glass just moseyed on in and m*rder*d her foster mom?
Clark: Just because she has this ability doesn't make her a k*ller.
Lois: I always knew you were naive, but come on. Don't let her rosy cheeks and saucer eyes sway you. That girl's one step short of the demon seed.
Clark: Give me an hour. Then we'll call the police.
Lois: You want me to baby-sit that little glass-smasher? Does my life mean nothing to you?
Clark: I don't think she's dangerous. If you're scared, I can call Chloe.
Lois: Who said I was scared? I'm not scared.
Clark: Great. Thanks.
Chloe: Um, I took a peek in Maddie Van Horn's d-serv files. And I hate to break it to you, but there's more than just one reference to broken glass. I think Maddie not just accident-prone ... she's disaster-prone.
Clark: Well, that doesn't prove she's a k*ller. Chloe, if my parents didn't find me in that field, it could have been me in the foster-care system, scaring people with my powers, being accused of crimes I didn't commit.
Chloe: And, Clark, one of your greatest powers is your unrelenting faith in people. But I think when it comes to Maddie, the jury's in. When she was little, it wasn't just a car accident that k*lled her mother ... it was a freak car accident. Witnesses saw the front windshield mysteriously shatter right before the crash.
Clark: You think Maddie's responsible for her own mother's death?
Chloe: Well, didn't she say she was having a hard time controlling her powers?
Lois: Who ever said you had to be indoors to have fun? Some of the best times I've ever had were way out in the boonies, as far away from breakables as possible.
Maddie: Where's Shelby?
Lois: Oh, I have no idea. I'm allergic to him. And let's just say he's not too fond of me. Here. You know what? We're gonna have a good old time. We can pick flowers or catch bugs ... whatever floats your boat. I even packed that little picnic for us. I'm not the greatest chef in the world, but how can you screw up pb&j?
Maddie: Shelby!
Lois: Hey, where are you going?
Maddie: Shelby? Shelby?
Lois: You can play with the pooch when Clark gets back. Turn around, and we can g ...
[ Rattling ]
Lois: Okay. Now, why don't we both just ease on out of here before one of us gets hurt? Okay.
Frank: What do you mean, "gets hurt"?
Lois: Who are you?
Frank: Frank Colbert, Child Services. What's going on here?
Lois: Okay, look. I know this sounds crazy, but I'm trying to keep her as far away from glass as possible.
Frank: Maddie, Why don't you get in the car?
Lois: No, no, no ... not the car. You don't understand. I am telling you, this girl, she can shatter glass just by looking at it.
Frank: Thank you for your concern. Maddie, I'm going to take you back to the shelter, where you can be properly taken care of.
Lex: Chloe.
Chloe: I know your moral compass has a tendency to veer off course, but taking advantage of Lana when she's at her most vulnerable? It's despicable.
Lex: I think your reporter's eye is getting a little cloudy. You're starting to see things that aren't there.
Chloe: I don't have to work for the DWP to know that there was enough electricity in that room to light up the entire state of Kansas.
Lex: It's interesting how perceptive you are about affairs of the heart, considering you've never actually been in a serious relationship.
Chloe: Do you really think that Lana would be remotely interested in you if she wasn't swept up in her own emotional tornado? I mean, honestly.
Lex: I appreciate your looking out for your friend. I'd do the same, but your concern is unwarranted. We're friends ... nothing more.
Chloe: Lex, I know you're used to getting whatever you want without even thinking about the consequences. But I promise you, if you hurt my friend, there will be a consequence. And you're looking at her.
Lex: Chloe. I think I'm getting an inkling why you've never had a boyfriend.
Lois: Trust me. For your own safety, the girl can't be near glass.
Frank: I heard you the first time. Will you get her belongings, please?
Lois: Oh, god. Maddie, get out of the car! Hey!
Tyler: Stay there.
Clark: Lois, are you okay?
Lois: I've screwed up a lot in my life, but this ranks up there. That little girl was on my watch.
Clark: Lois, there's nothing you could have done. I should never have left you two alone.
Lois: Who's kidding who, Smallville? If you had been there, you would have been shredded beef. Look, Clark, she's gonna be fine. They put out an amber alert. Every cop in the state is looking for Maddie.
Clark: Did you get a good look at the guy?
Lois: Like I told the sheriff ... mid-30s, sandy-blond hair, good-looking in that psycho-k*ller kind of way.
Clark: I just don't understand. Who would want to kidnap Maddie?
Lois: Considering her dangerous disposition, I'm guessing somebody who's pretty desperate to be with her.
[ Sighs ]
Maddie: Come on, Clark. Please pick up. Pick up, Clark, please. Come on, clark. Clark, please. Where are ...
Tyler: What are you doing, princess? Why are you running away from me? Ugh. Look, look, I'm your dad. I'm your dad.
Maddie: What?
Tyler: Yeah. All those years locked up, you're the only thing that kept me going. I would do anything for you.
Maddie: You k*lled that man.
Tyler: Look ...
Maddie: You k*lled Naomi. You k*lled my real mom, didn't you? You did.
Tyler: Your mother didn't want me near you. She thought I was some monster. I swear, all I wanted was for us to be together. You like butterflies, don't you? I made this for you. It's okay. I know this is a big change. All I want to do is put our family back together. You belong to me. Come on. Come on. I've got a surprise for you.
Chloe: His name is Tyler McKnight, and I think he might be Maddie Van Horn's long-lost father.
Clark: What makes you say that?
Chloe: He was Maddie's mom's college sweetheart the year before she was born.
Clark: But what does that prove?
Chloe: 12 years ago, he landed in Belle Reve with the ability to control all things glass.
Clark: So he really is Maddie's dad.
Chloe: Which means that Maddie Van Horn's meteor powers are second-generation. Her dad had the misfortune of being in a stained-glass workshop when the first meteor shower hit.
Clark: So Maddie never met her father cause he's been locked up.
Chloe: That's what happens when you use your powers to rob a jewelry store. He got caught. The seven 5-karat diamonds he stole didn't.
Clark: Did he just escape?
Chloe: He walked out. He was a model patient. The shrinks gave him a clean bill of mental health.
Clark: Chloe, we have to find Maddie. We don't know what this guy's capable of.
Chloe: How? We have no idea where he's headed.
Clark: Where did he live when he was arrested?
Chloe: With his mother ... 145 Hastings road.
Grandmother: I can't believe they let my son out. Why didn't he come and see me?
Clark: He probably went straight to see his daughter.
Grandmother: Daughter? Tyler doesn't have a daughter.
Clark: Her name is Maddie, and she's 11 years old.
Grandmother: I have a granddaughter?
Clark: Yes, ma'am, and it's very important that we find her. She could be in danger. I've seen this before at The Talon.
Grandmother: Isn't it beautiful? He made it right before he was arrested. I don't have the finished piece. I had to sell it after my husband passed away. The seven diamonds he stole ... did they ever find them? No.
Tyler: I made this right before they threw me into Belle Reve. But I always knew that I'd get out and we'd be together. Watch this.
[ Laughs ]
Tyler: I hid these here for you, Maddie for us. These are the start of our new life. Take them. Go on, take them.
Maddie: No. You stole them.
Tyler: No, I didn't.
Maddie: You stole them.
Tyler: Please take them.
Clark: Let her go! Maddie? It's okay. Clark! It's ... ohh. It's okay. It's okay. He'll never hurt anyone again.
Chloe: Thanks. Hey, what are you doing here? I didn't think the Daily Planet was on your weekend orbit.
Lana: I just got a phone call from Lex. I don't understand, Chloe. Why didn't you just talk to me?
Chloe: Look, Lana, I'm sorry, but after the last couple weeks, I didn't think you were interested in talking to me about your love life.
Lana: My love life? With Lex? You've got to be kidding me.
Chloe: Lana, it's okay to be honest. I'm not gonna burn you at the stake.
Lana: There is nothing to be honest about, Chloe, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stop spinning your rumor mill before you humiliate me any more than you already have.
Chloe: Lana, I understand if you want to hurt Clark.
Lana: What?
Chloe: But just don't hurt yourself in the process. Lex Luthor is nothing more than a predator.
Lana: Well, I don't plan on being anybody's prey. So we have nothing to worry about.
[ Sighs ]
Clark: Now, remember, the doctor told you to take it easy, so you might have to lay off the arm wrestling.
Lois: My arm doesn't even hurt anymore. What hurts is knowing how badly I treated that poor girl. I had no doubt she was a cold-blooded k*ller.
Clark: Just goes to show you people aren't always who you think they are.
Lois: I have to give you credit, Smallville. Who would have known you'd be such a natural with kids?
Clark: Maddie's pretty special.
Lois: So what happens to her now? It can't be easy finding a family that's willing to live without windows.
Clark: Maddie's gonna live with her grandmother, who couldn't be happier. She didn't even know she had a granddaughter.
Lois: Wow. She must be pretty brave. She's very excited, like my parents when they adopted me. But they didn't have to worry about their house getting destroyed.
Martha: He his moments. Hi, Clark. Since you're gonna be bed-ridden for a few days, I brought you some stuff to read. The Chief of Staff for a State Senator needs to be fully informed on all sides of the issues.
Lois: Wait a minute. You want me to be your Chief of Staff?
Clark: Mom, are you sure you don't want to think this through?
Martha: If it weren't for Lois Lane, your father would never have been elected and I wouldn't be in office. Besides, Lois, it's pretty clear your destiny lies far beyond a cappuccino maker. What do you think?
Deputy: Come on. Let's go.
Tyler: Nice glasses.
[Horns honking]
[Siren wails]
Clark: Maddie? What are you doing?
Maddie: Clark, you saved my life. I just wanted to help out.
Martha: Maddie. Sweetie, you don't need to do that.
Maddie: Don't worry. I'm used to cleaning up after myself.
Clark: Well, in this house, you're a guest. And guests always get a double helping of mom's banana pancakes.
Martha: The way you are with her, your dad would be so proud.
Maddie: Clark, did you ever meet your real dad?
Clark: Sort of.
Maddie: Is he bad like mine?
Clark: Maybe worse. But just because he gave me life doesn't mean I'm anything like him. See, the thing is, Maddie, anyone can be a father, but it takes someone very special to be a dad. I wish you could have met the man who raised me. He was my real dad. He would have liked you a lot.
Maddie: Clark, could I stay here with you?
Clark: Maddie, you have a grandmother. She's very excited for you to come live with her.
Maddie: I don't know her. I know you.
Clark: Well, Maddie, it's just you're gonna have to give it time to get to know her. And ... Maddie. Maddie, listen. Maddie, I would never let you go with anyone who's not gonna accept you for who you really are, okay? I promise. You're gonna be okay. I'll make sure. Okay?
Clark: Hey, mom! We need another deck of cards.
[ Glass breaks ]
Clark: Maddie, stay here. Mom!
Martha: Clark.
Tyler: Move a muscle mom gets her throat slashed. Bring me my daughter. Bring me my daughter! Now!
Maddie: Don't worry, Clark. I'm not gonna let him hurt any more people.
Clark: Maddie, no.
Tyler: Princess, what are you doing to me?
Clark: Don't. Maddie, if you k*ll him, you'll be just like him. You don't have to turn into your father.
Maddie: Maybe I don't have a choice.
Clark: Maddie, just because you're his child does not mean that you're destined to follow in his footsteps.
Maddie: But I don't want him to hurt any more people.
Tyler: I won't, honey. Please. I promise. I made a mistake, Maddie.
Clark: Maddie, your father has already destroyed his life. Don't destroy yours. You have too much to offer this world.
Maddie: I'm sorry, Clark.
Clark: It's okay. It's over now.
Clark: Go ahead, Maddie. There's nothing to be scared about.
Maddie: Yes, there is. You won't be with me. I'll have no one to talk to.
Clark: That's not true. Maddie, your grandmother can't wait to talk to you. She wants to hear every word you have to say.
Maddie: What about my powers? What if I can't control them?
Clark: But you can, Maddie. I've seen you. Just like you did in the barn, remember? But if you ever feel like you're gonna lose control, all you have to do is pick up the phone. You call me. I'll be right there to talk you through it, okay?
Maddie: I already miss you, Clark.
Clark: I miss you, too. Your grandmother is waiting for you. She's gonna take good care of you.
Maddie: I almost forgot.
Chloe: So, the good news is with Lois' love for gossip, I will always have the inside scoop at the State Capitol.
Clark: As long as she doesn't get my mom impeached.
Chloe: Yeah, I think that Lois is the least of your mom's worries. Have you told her about your other worldly suspicions that Lionel knows your secret?
Clark: She's got a lot on her mind right now. Hey, how's lana?
Chloe: I was wondering when you were going to bring up the "L" word. Why don't you call her?
Clark: Actually, I was just trying to give her some space. Has she met anyone yet?
Chloe: Clark, look, if you don't want to talk to her, that's fine. It's your choice. But please don't make me your own personal little covert spy.
Clark: Chloe. Is there something you're not telling me? No. Not at all.
Lex: Lana. I thought you were busy explicating Shakespeare today.
Lana: I wanted to talk, just to set the record straight.
Lex: I don't think the record could be any straighter. Chloe's working on a story where there is none.
Lana: Lex, our friendship means a lot to me, and I don't want any misunderstandings to get in the way of that.
Lex: Lana, we're on the same page. If I somehow I gave you the wrong impression the other night, I apologize.
Lana: You don't have to apologize for something that didn't happen.
Lex: Well, it wouldn't be the first time.
Lana: This whole thing ... I mean, I can't believe we're even having this conversation. To think that there'd be anything between us besides friendship.
Lex: Don't worry. Talk is just a bunch of noise. As long as we both feel the same way Lana: That's all that matters.
Lex: You okay? Look, it's just something that happened.
05x18 - Fragile
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A young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville.
A young Clark Kent struggles to find his place in the world as he learns to harness his alien powers for good and deals with the typical troubles of teenage life in Smallville.