“Break the Cycle”
DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE (“AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.”) – Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) makes increasingly bold moves as she tries to stop Luthor (Michael Cudlitz). Jonathan (Michael Bishop) struggles to balance his personal life and responsibilities, while Clark (Tyler Hoechlin) learns an unsettling truth. Elizabeth Henstridge (“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..”) directed the episode written by Adam Mallinger (#405). Original airdate 10/28/2024.
Episode 5:
17 years ago. Raining. Luthor served divorce papers by his wife Erica. She says you were never here. You didn't try to connect with me. You don't see how lonely I am. How desperate I am for even a scrap of attention from you. He says you don't now what I went through growing up. She says you never let me in. You're still an angry little boy hurt by his mother. She made it impossible for you to love anyone. Including your daughter. One day, Elizabeth will come to you and beg you for your love, and you will push her away, just like you did to me.
Present. Getting closer to finding Elizabeth. Lex says he has until the end of the week. I'm heading back to Smallville. He saw the article about Superman.
Lois and Clark in the kitchen. She's worried about Doomsday coming back. Clark says what if we just talk to him face to face. Lois says it's a waste of time. Clark says he blames us for being separated from his daughter. She says if you want to talk to him, fine. She's going to keep going through her dad's files and find another way. He says wish me luck.
Kids have fireworks. We are living in weird times. If Superman can barely survive, no one's safe. Might as well live it up while we can. Teasing Jon about his girlfriend. The boys walks off. A girl - Denise - says she saw what happened. To....your dad? I'm not going to say anything. It just really sucks you had to go through that and I'm really glad he's okay. See you guys tonight?
Lex driving back. Superman lands in front of his SUV.
Lex gets out of the truck. Superman....or is it Clark? Superman asks can we talk? Lex asks how Lois brought him back from the dead. Superman says I came to talk to you as a father. Apologizes. But it doesn't justify what you're doing. You have to find another way forward. Lex asks do you even know what it's like to suffer? Superman keeps appealing. Lex isn't persuaded. Enjoy the time you have left. It's running out. Lex gets back in the truck. Superman flies away.
Lex and his wife negotiating the divorce. He says she can have any property she wants. But Elizabeth stays. His wife says no. Elizabeth arrives home early. Witnesses them argue and runs out.
Jordan and Jon discussing their dad. Candace is almost there. Lois calls. Jon needs to bail. Can you cover? Take Candace back to the house and I'll be back as soon as possible. Bus arrives. She greets Jordan. Where's Jon? Jordan says he had to help mom with a big story. He helps with her luggage. Are you driving now? We'll see.
England? France? Lois approaches Elizabeth. No one else knows where you are. Where's General Lane? My father.....he found out. She's pregnant. Please, leave me alone. Lois appeals to her. Elizabeth doesn't know how to help. Lois says talk to him. You're the one person in the world he cares about. He still carries a photo of you. Elizabeth says he used to walk me to school every day, even the morning of his arrest. Lois says they were wrong about that case. Elizabeth says But now wrong that he's a criminal. Have him arrested on another crime. She can't have him in her life, not with a child. Lois pleads. If you don't talk to him soon, he's going to do something terrible to my family.
Lois updates Clark. Elizabeth is almost 6 months pregnant. Lois says we're running out of options. Maybe you go to the Fortress. Clark can't just hide. She says you're nowhere near ready. Clark says it used to be me on another world. Lois asks if his mom can help. Clark leaves. Her phone buzzes. It's Elizabeth.
Jon and Candace in the kitchen. He promises he's spending time with her now. Then Lois tells Jon she needs his help and they need to go. Jordan will explain.
Clark talks to his mother. Whatever Luthor did to him, I've never faced a being this powerful. Every time I killed it, it made it stronger. How can I deal with a being like that? She says walk me through what happened. We'll see where things went wrong. He puts a headset on and starts going through his memories. The Doomsday fight. It kept coming back, over and over, until finally..... I can't beat it. She says do not give up hope, my son. He has to tell Lois.
Lex called. Found Elizabeth. Photo of her sitting with Lois. He charges in. Where is my daughter? Lois says we were just about to head over. Elizabeth says hey, Dad.
Lois and Clark watching from the Gazette. He tells her he can't beat Doomsday. She says we better hope Elizabeth can get through to him.
Lex asks how far along she is. Almost 6 months. Who's the father? You don't get to know that. He asks why she stopped writing. Your letters were all I had. She needed to move on. Do you know how hard it was to grow up as a Luthor? They assumed I was like you. He says I didn't kill those people. She says no, but you did other things. Killed other people. He says lies from Lois Lane. She says don't blame her. She's not the only one who thinks you're a monster. Do you? She's not sure. He says he's always been real with her. You're the only one who knows me.
Flashback. Lex explaining that the divorce is not Elizabeth's fault. Did you want to be a dad? No, not at first. Then, I saw you were so much better than me. You are the one good thing I've done in my life. Everything else was about survival. The reason I'm fighting for you is because you're the best thing in my life.
She says you're not the man in that closet. You never were. He says she's wrong. He's asking for a chance to be her dad again. All I ask.
Jon and Jordan bring Candace to a party. You're both lying to me. Tell me what's really going on or I'm leaving.
Lex shows Elizabeth the photo. She was 14. He says the accent suits her. Heard you went to medical school. She graduated top of her class. She knows he had people looking into her. He has blame for everyone but his actions. Her mother. Lois. Elizabeth says you are the reason I grew up without a father. It's always someone else's fault, isn't it? This was a mistake. She leaves.
Clark insists he can fix this. Lois remembers the remote to call Doomsday. Finds it in a box.
Clark approaches Elizabeth. Tells her about missing his dad. She says my dad is a monster. It's not my job to fix him. Clark agrees. She says don't put this on me. Clark isn't. But you lost something, too. If you don't try to get it back, you'll regret it.
** Is Henstridge pregnant for real?
The party. Candace has questions. Jon can't talk, but he's trying to convince her. Candace says she's done.
Elizabeth returns to the diner. Sits at the counter. Lex sits next to her. He says I tried to be a good father. Break the cycle. The first time my father walked out on me and my mother, I was 7. She took that anger out on me with his belt. The abuse did't stop until I left. Elizabeth never knew. He says it's best she didn't. You were too perfect. the hardest part of being locked up was wondering if you needed me. She says I did. He says he'll be there now. Hold hands.
Flashback. She wanted to live with her dad. Wife says you want me to suffer. I just pray Elizabeth sees who you really are before it's too late.
Car stops. Lois has the remote. This has to work. She signals Doomsday.
Jon and Jordan. Jon says Candace wants to go. They hear Grandad's ELT. Jordan tells Jon to go.
He arrives and Lois tells him to leave right now! Doomsday lands.
**Somewhere inside Doomsday is Bizarro, who had a Lois, too.
She tells Jon to stay back, then starts talking to Doomsday. You know me. Look at me and try to remember. You know me. Bizarro remembering.
Lex and Elizabeth still at the diner. You're going to be a great mother. Her husband hopes for a boy. She asks how is it, now you're back? He says he hasn't been to Metropolis much yet. You've been here? In this town? Because of Lois Lane? So it's true. You're trying to destroy her family. He says Lois Lane took 17 years of my life. There has to be a price! She says not if you want to be in my life, or your grandson's. All those years ago, I chose you. Now it's your turn. Choose me! He says don't do this. She says leave this all behind. It's the only way, Dad. He says she has to pay. Elizabeth wipes her tears. Mom was right about you. Stands. I won't expose my son to this kind of hatred, so stay out of me life - forever. She leaves. Lex leaves the diner.
Clark steps out of the Gazette.
Flashback. Lex dropping his daughter off at school. Tells her he loves her. Superman is there. The police agreed to let me bring you in so you could say goodbye. Lex says he'll never forget this.
Lex gets a text. Walks away.
The party. Candace kisses Jon. Jordan told me everything. About your dad and who he is. About you and Jordan. You're lucky to have such a sweet brother. Fireworks. They watch the show.
Lois on the porch. Clark tells her Elizabeth left and she's not coming back. We have to go to the Fortress. She says sit and watch the fireworks with me. Clark asks what did you do? Lois says I realized we were trying to get through to the wrong heart.
Lois appealed to Doomsday's memories of his family. Pleaded with him to not hurt her family. He flies off.
Lex is shown that Doomsday left. Someone called for it.
Next ep - Lex has a plan. I know how this ends.
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