Creepy Metropolis skyline. Gotta love those Kansas harbors. A woman lets Chloe in to Papa Luthor's ultra-modern office. Papa Luthor is at his desk (have we ever seen him actually sitting on a desk?), and he asks Chloe if she's brought him an addendum to her Clark Kent report. For such a complex man, he has an awfully simple computer mouse. Chloe hands over a blue folder and says it's her final article for The Daily Planet, and that she's turning in her resignation. Fine, Smallville So you completely answered my question about this plot thread from last week. Very nice timing, that. Papa Luthor says her resignation is unexpected and disappointing. Chloe says that some people are better at leading double lives than others. Chloe tries to have that be the last word and walk off all "Power Girl!" but Papa Luthor stops her by saying that she misunderstood him. He says that the one who's going to be disappointed is her father. I smell a threat in the air! It smells like roasted pork. Papa Luthor stands and goes to Chloe, telling her in a playful voice reminiscent of Dr. Cox from Scrubs that it's disappointing because her father just put a big down payment on a house overlooking the golf course. Chloe scoffs. She says he hasn't paid off the water heater. She doubts he's moving them to "Brat Flats." Papa Luthor says it must be his way of celebrating his new promotion. Papa Luthor says that when he promoted her father, he was brimming with pride. Now? Soooo disappointed. And unemployed. Papa Luthor really plays that up, too. Chloe moves her eyebrows around in shock and says he can't do this. "Yes I can," Papa Luthor says, his eyes shining. You really do believe he can. He says he thinks they're going to enjoy a long and fruitful partnership. What have I told you about deals with the Devil, Chloe? Wait, I guess I haven't said anything about that. They're bad! Don't do it! It's too late! Chloe looks sad and trapped.

Van McNulty (hee) is walking down the school hallways. He's got a police scanner/walkie-talking-looking gadget strapped to his belt, and he's listening to it with an earbud headphone. He's wearing a red shirt with "22" on it. Clark, waring a blue t-shirt (red = evil? Blue = good?) flags him down in the hall. He says he's sorry homeboy's friend got killed. Van McNulty (now with extra Nults!) says that his friend was always chasing girls down, but that he never thought the pasty dude would attack somebody. Clark happens to be looking at McNulty's belt. McNulty explains that it's a police scanner, and that he wants to hear if they catch his friend's killer. Clark says he's doing a story for the newspaper and wants some background on the friend. McNulty says that everything he knows is in the police report. As is all of that is stuff he needed to know that he learned in kindergarten. Clark notices a photo in McNulty's locker of a thick-looking military man who kind of resembles John Mahoney when he was in Say Anything.... Clark says he's never seen so many medals before (although the guy actually doesn't have so many and they're all the bar kind), and asks if it's McNulty's dad. McNulty just nods. Clark says he must be a real hero. But can he fly? McNulty says he was, and that he was a great father who used to do everything together with McNulty. As a bell rings,McNulty says he's going to be late for class and walks away. Clark watches him intensely as he leaves. Why doesn't Clark do some x-ray vision on McNulty's locker or his backpack?