Phoenix (Smallville episode)

"Phoenix" is the second episode in the third series of Smallville. It continues from the pilot episode, Exile where Lex was stranded on a desert island and Clarke was under the influence of red Kryptonite and calling himself Kal.

The episode was written by Kelly Sounders and Brian Peterson and directed by James Marshall. The episode first aired on 8th October 2003.

Plot

Clarke is still wearing the ring of red Kryptonite and has just been found by Jonathan Kent. Jonathan has been given super-powers by Jor-El to help him take Clarke home. The two fight in Lionel Luthor's office and tumble out the window, crashing into the basement of the Lexcorp building.

Jonathan fares badly in the battle, and Clarke almost kills him with a final punch, but instead chooses to shatter the ring, freeing himself from its influence. Jonathan's powers are removed and he collapses, leaving Clarke to bring him home.

Lex has returned from the island and confronts Lionel at the Luthorcorp building. They argue about the circumstances of Lex being involved in the air crash, and Lionel suggests that Lex's wife may have been repsponsible because of the financial gain to her.

Clarke admits that having a dual identity is difficult, and reveals that he has stolen something from Lionel Luthor at the request of Morgan Edge. Inside the box is a vial of blood. Jonathan tests this against a Kryptonite rock and confirms it's Clarke's blood.

Lionel Luthor is meeting with Morgan Edge and it transpires that they have known each other in the past. Luthor blackmails Edge to return the vial of blood or face the consequences.

Clarke visits Lana and things between them are strained. Although he wants to make amends, he acknowledges that he's had a negative effect on Lana's life and says he might not stay in Smallville.

Lex takes Helen on a trip on his plane. He confronts her again about the accident, telling her that if his father wanted him dead, he'd have succeeded. Lex accuses her of bribing the pilot and allowing his plane to crash. She attemps to shoot him, but they struggle and a stray bullet kills the pilot. As Lex attempts to fly the plane, he discovers Helen has bailed out of the plane.

Lex confronts Helen, who claims that Lionel is coming between them. She admits that the story she told about their experiences on the plane wasn't completely true.

Morgan Edge pays Clarke a visit at the Kent Farm and tries to blackmail him into handing over the package he stole from Lionel. However, Clarke loses his temper and - showing aspects of his alter-ego Kal - he pulls the door off Edge's car and drags him out. He warns Edge to stay out of Smallville.

Lex pays Clarke a visit just as Clarke is helping pack up the van. He reveals that the enemy he was fighting on the island was a halucination due to malaria. He seems to recognize that his suspicious nature is causing him problems.

Chloe and Lana talk at The Talon. Lana is initially upset at Chloe for hiding Clarke's location from her, but the two finally settle their differences.

Meanwhile, Morgan Edge reappears at the Kent Farm, but is holding Jonathan and Martha hostage. Unable to save them both, Clarke is forced to give him another sample of his blood. He cuts his wrist with a Kryptonite rock. Edge takes the jar of blood to Lionel Lutho, who has it tested in his car.  Edge tells Luthor that he can bring him the source of the blood and summons his henchmen to bring Clarke to Luthor.

During a plane journey, Lex confronts his wife Helen with the accusation that she was trying to kill him. She pulls a gun on him and they struggle. A stray shot kills the pilot and while Lex tries to fly the plane, he looks back to see Helen has jumped from the plane.

As the henchmen are leaving with Clarke, Lana arrives. She's taken hostage, but overpowers her captor, accidentally killing him in the barn.

As Clarke is delivered to Luthor, he manages to escape the kryptonite that is weakening him. He uses his heat vision to ignite a gas cannister and blows up the truck. He dives to safety in the nearby water as Lionel and his men are blown off their feet by the blast. Luthor suspects a setup by Edge.

Later, Lionel appears at the Luthor mansion in Smallville and tells Lex he knows about what he did to Helen. Lex tells him that without his many tests as a father, he would have died on the island. He accepts Lionel's offer to manage Luthorcorp together.

Lex visits the Kent Farm and reveals that he's bought the farm, but put their names on the title deeds. As Jonathan protests, Lex explains that their wedding gift to him (a compass) saved his life when he was stranded on the island. They accept the gesture, and though they vow to pay him back, he says the only payment would be to be accepted as one of the family.