Hostage - Recap

Clark searches the Kent farmhouse for the Book of Rao, where Jor-El hid it during his brief return. Chloe is busy reassembling Watchtower, and Clark calls her to inform him of his failure. She figures that Zod is also searching for it. Clark hears Lois in the pantry and checks in on her. She explains that since they've been fired from the Planet, she's running low on money and appears to be the only one doing anything between them to get back on their feet. She claims she has a story that will get Stern to hire them back, and notes that Clark doesn't appear to be worried. Clark tries to calm her down, but Lois says that they should take a break. As he starts to respond, Martha Kent comes into the house. When she wonders why he's there during the day, Clark lies and claims that he's working at home. Martha invites Lois to stay for dinner, and says she has enough food for four. Lois and Clark are both surprised when the fourth person, Martha's new boyfriend, reporter Perry White, comes inside.

Once things settle down, Martha goes out to the barn and remembers the times she was there with Jonathan. When Clark comes out, she explains that she was able to take off because the Senate broke early for recess. She met Perry during a committee meeting and they fell in love. When Clark explains about his recent problems with the Blur and Lois, Martha insists that at least she sleeps better knowing Clark has someone special in his life.

Lois is awestruck at meeting one of her idols, the famous Perry White. He mentions a major story that he's working on, and Lois admits that she has one of her own. Perry is unimpressed until she shows him a sketch of the Book of Rao. He wants to see more but Lois insists on trading information. Perry explains that he's on the trail of the Red Queen, who has been blocking his investigation of Checkmate and the destruction of their headquarters in the Rocky Mountains. He admits he's impressed with Lois' work and tells her that now she'll have the privilege of working with him as his partner as they tackle the story together.

Tess wakes up in her bedroom at the Luthor manor, and discovers that the windows have been barred. The Black King, Maxwell Lord, enters and casually smashes her into the wall, and then demands that she give him the Book of Rao.

Lois talks to Martha as she prepares dinner and lies about how her relationship with Clark is progressing. However, Martha notes that she's working with Perry instead of Clark on her story, and admits that she had a hard time taking the next step on her own rather than staying with Clark. Lois explains that she's found a higher purpose with something by helping a "friend" save the world. Martha responds by talking about how when she first moved to Smallville, she gave up a promising career as a lawyer and became a farmer's wife, and didn't think she could do anything to contribute to the world. Then she helped save 20 farms from a flood by placing sandbags and realized that she could make a difference no matter where she was.

Clark calls Chloe to find out how she's doing on her search for the Book of Rao. The Red Queen is blocking her computer efforts, but Chloe believes that the Red Queen is a third party and is also opposing Checkmate. Clark says he'll visit Chloe once he's able to get away from the farm after his mother's dinner. Outside on the porch, he talks to Perry, who thanks Clark for helping get him off the bottle several years ago. Perry admits he's working on the story with Lois, and talks about how he ruined two marriages due to his obsession with chasing stories. He then asks Clark for his blessing because he's going to propose to Martha. Clark warns him that Martha might not tell Perry what he wants to hear.

Lois sets the table and Clark tries to talk to her about their relationship. Martha comes in before he can get very far, and they start lying again. Perry comes in, carrying firewood and wearing Jonathan's old jacket, and Martha is stricken dumb at the reminder of her previous life.

As they eat, Perry asks how Clark and Lois are doing as a couple that work together. Clark and Lois start sniping at each other, with Clark saying that they're taking it slow. Martha is impressed, but Lois finally tells Martha the truth about how they're out of work and separated. She insists that she needs to make a difference on her own, and insists on breaking up entirely with Clark. She leaves and Clark goes after her, but she asks him to let her go if he really cares about her. Inside, Perry tells Martha that he has a story to finish and he'll get Lois home safely. As he goes, he drops some of his research files and Martha notices the drawings of the Book of Rao.

When Tess doesn't crack, Lord tossed a bleeding Oliver into her room. Oliver accuses Tess of being the Red Queen and the whole thing is her setup to get him to tell her where the Book of Rao can be found.

As Clark and Martha clean up the dinner, Martha wonders if it's too early for her to consider a second marriage. Clark apologizes for lying to her, but Martha says he needs to worry about Lois. When Clark worries that his dual identity as the Blur is hurting things with Lois, Martha says that he needs to take his relationship with her to the next level and tell her the truth, or he'll lose Lois forever.

When Lois and Perry return to Lois' apartment, they discover that someone has ransacked the place. Lois calls Checkmate on the special phone Waller gave her, but the number is apparently a Mexican takeout restaurant. Figuring it's a fake, Lois leaves her number and warns that they'll expose the Red Queen if they don't get an answer. After she hangs up, someone calls and provides them with coordinates where they can meet with the Red Queen.

Clark tracks down Vala, who accuses him of killing her sister Fiona. Clark denies it and Vala accepts his claim. When he asks about the Book of Rao, Vala explains that it contains all of Krypton's knowledge and power, and that it could be used to destroy everyone on Earth. Zod is trying to get it but the Red Queen is stopping him, and that Tess is the Red Queen. Vala leaves before Clark can question her further, and Chloe calls to tell Clark that she's intercepted signal traffic indicating that the Red Queen has set up a meeting with Lois and Perry, and they're in great danger.

Lord tortured Oliver in front of Tess in the hopes that she'll confess and reveal that she's the Red Queen. She denies it and Lord shoots Oliver in the leg. Oliver begs her, saying that he's always loved her. Realizing what's going on, Tess hits Oliver, then disarms Lord and shoots him. The room wavers and disappears, revealing a hidden chamber. Lord has been using his powers to create a mental landscape to torture and interrogate her. Tess explains that he gave himself away when he had "Oliver" say that he loved her, something Tess believes the real Oliver would never do. She warns him to stay away from her and leaves. Lord calls the Red Queen to report his failure, and she activates a signal that scrambles his brain.

Lois and Perry go to the outside café at the coordinates provided. They spot the Red Queen on a nearby rooftop and climb up the fire escape to confront her. Perry falls behind and the ladder breaks, dropping him onto a street sign. It collapses and falls toward the crowd. Fortunately, Clark arrives at superspeed and grabs it, lowering it to safety, and then departs. Lois rescues Perry on her own, pulling him to safety, and smiles in triumphant. In the shadows, Clark watches, satisfied that he didn't have to help her as the Blur.

Next, Clark tracks down the Red Queen as she escapes the crime scene. When he yanks open the car door, she uses a piece of kryptonite to force him away before he can get a look at her face. Weakened, Clark is unable to pursue her as she escapes in her car, but he figures that it's Tess and promises that she won't escape him again.

The next morning, Clark gets to Watchtower where Chloe has completed repairs. She tells him that Tess was in the hospital being treated for broken ribs at the same time that Clark confronted the Red Queen. Chloe admits that she's known about the Book of Rao for several months, but she retreated into Watchtower and her private life when Clark gave up on her. Now that she has Oliver, she wants things to change. Clark insists that she's as much a hero as himself and the others, and that Watchtower will stand for generations to help people in need. He also insists that he needs her. Chloe turns to the shuttered windows, activates Watchtower, and looks out on the new day. She assures Clark that she was always trying to protect him, even when he hurt her. When she mentions protection, Clark gets an idea.

Tess goes to the wine cellar at the manor and removes the Book of Rao from a hidden container. As she leaves, he finds a red chess piece, a queen, on a shelf in front of her. The Red Queen comes in behind her with a gun and warns her not to turn around. Tess is unaware that the woman is... Martha Kent. Martha demands the disk and forces Tess to turn it over. Tess realizes that the entire thing with Lord was a setup to get her to escape and reveal the Book's location. Martha accuses her of not caring about anyone but herself, and tells her to stay away from Clark. As she goes, Tess sheds a single tear.

Lois returns to the Planet with Perry and discovers that she and Clark have their jobs back. Perry admits that he put in a good word with Stern. Now he's leaving for Nairobi to follow up on another lead to the Red Queen. He asks Lois if she wants to go with him, but Lois says that she figures she can be a hero in Metropolis. Perry wishes her well and leaves, and the Blur leaves a note on Lois desk at superspeed saying it's finally time to meet.

Clark returns to the farm where Martha is cooking. He suggests that she not use kryptonite on him the next time they meet, and says he knows she's the Red Queen. He figures that Martha used the dinner as an excuse to keep him at the farmhouse while her people recovered the Book of Rao. She apologizes for involving Lois and Perry, who she didn't know were also trying to find the Red Queen. Clark asks for the Book, explaining that he needs it to fulfill his destiny and stop Zod. Martha explains that when she went to Washington as a senator, she soon learned that there were governmental forces prepared to battle Clark. She created the identity of the Red Queen to stop Checkmate, and gives him the book where she has it hidden. Martha warns that the book has the power to teleport the Kandorians to another plane of existence. However, the power can only be used in indiscriminately. If it's activated, every Kryptonian will be banished from Earth, including Clark.

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