Our blond card sharp keeps running and makes it outside to a fire escape, where it's raining. He leaps onto the street level and finds a motorcycle. Down the alley he goes as they start to fire their guns. Everybody ducks. White boy goes down, his motorcycle sliding. More gunshots. As the white boy tries to crawl away, we hear a screech of tires. An even sexier bald man kneels down in the rain. "Come on!" he yells, and pulls the boy up. "Who the hell are you?" the white boy asks. "Lucas," Lex Luthor says, taking a dramatic pause over the door of his town car. "I'm your brother." Lex and Lucas Luthor scramble into the car as the gangsters run over. The car speeds away and rounds the corner. Man, what are the odds Lex was here to rescue him? No matter. I'm in love with Smallville's version of Chintatown.

Opening credits. A Radio Shack commercial with Howie Long and no shriveled-up Teri Hatcher? Pinch me, because I must be dreaming.

American flag. The Talon. We turn our view down toward the marquee, but a tree obscures it. I think it reads, "Cappuccino and Unnecessary Drama, 2 for 1!" Lana is putting tables on the floor from where they were resting on tabletops. Clark walks in. He says it's awfully peaceful that early in the morning. Lana says she never figured him to be a coffee junkie, but she's got some brewing if he wants a cup. Instead, he holds up a placard. It's a Talon "Help Wanted" sign. Lana is taken aback. "...Here?" she asks. Clark says that if he's gonna work, why not do it where his friends are hanging out? Too bad none of them is here. Maybe you should work out of the barn or Lex's office. That's where all the action seems to be. Lana tells Clark not to take this the wrong way, but Clark doesn't have the best track record keeping appointments. There's a right way to take that? Clark looks sad. Lana suggests that Clark talk to Hank at the hardware store. "Ouch!" Clark says. See, it's poignant because he can't usually feel physical pain! But emotionally...aw, screw this. I'm not making their point for them. Lana admits that was kind of harsh. Clark looks over and notices that the rose he gave Lana is in the trash. So this is the next morning after the last episode? He asked for a job from her the morning after they just had an emotional throw-down? Lana notices Clark's sad look. She offers to put him in the running with the other candidates. Gee, thanks, Lana. Lana holds up a job application. More embarrassed Clark.