Poppy music plays outside Smallville High, where the weather is always a cool, jacket-necessitating Vancouver. Inside, a mock-up of the Smallville High Torch is held up, showing a sports headline. Guess there hasn't been a lot of Kryptonite freak action going on lately. Clark appears in the doorway through the see-through proof. Chloe -- whose hair has gone from Jonathan Lipnicki back to its original flippy glory -- looks at Clark with disdain. She says that Clark is far from his new hood. Clark thanks Chloe. Clark says it's one of those days, and that she can never be sure if Clark is going to walk in with an apology or an accusation. Clark declares to Chloe -- who's wearing one of her "artsy" shirts -- that she had no reason to stick by him, but that she did it anyway. Chloe says simply that friendship works like that. She asks if he's talked to Lana yet. Clark sits down heavily and says he tried. Chloe asks if, after two years of "Lana lusting," that's the best he can do. "You're not staying. Are you?" Chloe suddenly guesses. Clark says he's not sure yet. Chloe advises him not to keep running away, and to put off facing his demons. So let me get this straight: she's not spying for Papa Luthor anymore? Because if not, that was a great subplot that went completely wasted.

Kent Farm. Clark is bringing a big-ass bamboo chair outside. I expect to see Kirstie Alley pop out of the bushes and try to steal it away for a Pier 1 commercial. Clark puts the chair and a box in the moving truck. "Am I too early for the farm auction?" a voice says. It's Lex, and he's got a fever for the flavor of some Clark. "Lex?" Clark asks. The following is not embellished: "Three months on a deserted island was almost worth it to see the look on your face right now." Love! Clark lets out a little sharp breath; his eyes go googly, and he rushes forward to get him some of that. It's the Gayest Look/Embrace of the episode. There's even a grunt. "Aw, man!" Clark moans. Much patting of the backs. In a very butch voice meant to counteract all this, Clark says, "Aw, Lex, we thought you died!" Lex says that fate has bigger plans for him. So does Clark. Lex asks about the farm, and whether there's anything he can do. "No, Lex, you know my dad," says Clark. Besides, Clark's ass is already being pimped out for Jor-El's evil schemes. Clark says it's good to see Lex. It always has been. Clark asks what happened. Lex says he found an enemy in the most remote solitude. Lex talks about the malaria, and about finding the beast within. "Lex, I...I guess we all got to take a look at our dark side sooner or later," Clark says. Lex turns and says that if you stare at it long enough, it's tough to tell the two sides apart. I feel exactly the same way about nearly every football game shown on TV.