Hug - Recap

Corporate executive Bob Rickman comes to see environmentalist Paul Hendrix at his office at the Center for Environmental Protection. Hendrix says that Rickman Industries' operations in Smallville are suspect, and they've found evidence of ground water contamination at his other plants. When Rickman asks if there's anything he can do to convince Hendrix to stop filing a lawsuit against him and stop construction, Hendrix says that he can't be bought off like others. Rickman angrily insists that he's never bought anyone off, and then offers to shake hands. When he does, there's a green glow and Rickman directs Hendrix's attention to the window and says there's one way to stop all the pain that he feels. As Rickman leaves, he calls his chauffeur and says that they're heading for Smallville. Outside, Hendrix falls from his office onto a taxi.



Lana, Clark and an uncomfortable Chloe go riding, and Clark and Lana discuss how Whitney is busy working at the store to cover for his ailing father. Chloe says that he dropped her camera, and explains that the woods they are riding through have been the site of dozens of amnesia cases throughout the years. As Lana rides back to get Chloe's camera, Chloe says that surveyors for Rickman Industries were the most recent victims, and she suspects Kyle Tippet, a local sculptor. They hear Lana scream and Clark secretly superspeeds away to help.

Lana wakes up and finds Kyle leaning over her. Clark arrives and tells him to get away from Lana, and Kyle runs into the woods. Lana is okay, and they find Chloe's camera nearby, turned on. Back at the farm, Clark plays the video for Jonathan and Martha, and it shows that Kyle didn't hurt Lana. Martha calls Nell, who wants Clark to testify against Kyle. Clark insists that's not what he saw, and offers to go talk to Kyle. Jonathan warns against it, but Clark says he can understand someone wanting to stay hidden from the world.

Victoria and Lex attend a Rickman open house, and Lex makes it clear that he's not happy with Rickman opening a pesticide manufacturing plant. Rickman offers to shake his hand, but Lex passes. The CEO insists that he's trying to make a buck and the government sets his emissions levels. He's also met with Lionel recently, but Lex isn't impressed. Rickman says that the plans to build his plant on the Kent farm, and is confident that he can convince them to sell their land.



That night, Clark goes to Kyle's trailer and knocks on the door. Kyle comes up behind him. He knows who Clark is, and insists that he only helped Lana after her horse threw her. When Clark notes that Kyle has a reputation for scaring outsiders from the woods, Kyle angrily tells him to leave. He insists that he doesn't need friends because they'll always betray you.

Clark goes to the Beanery and meets Lana, and explains that he talked to Kyle. Whitney is there, and says that if he were there he would have done something to Kyle. Lana doesn't remember the incident and can't testify on behalf or against Kyle. As Clark leaves, he runs into Lyle, who warns him that Rickman plans to buy the land. Clark doesn't believe he can convince Jonathan to sell, but Lex warns him that Rickman has a reputation for getting what he wants.

Kyle comes to see Rickman and accuses him of breaking their agreement to return to Smallville. Rickman insists that times have changed, and he has spent nine years honing his skills. Kyle invites him to take his hand, but Rickman refuses and Kyle leaves.

At the Beanery, Whitney is leaving when he sees Kyle walking down the street. Kyle runs into Clark and admits he went to see Rickman, but refuses to discuss it. Whitney threatens Kyle and walks away, and Clark offers Kyle a ride. Kyle mellows and accepts his offer. Meanwhile, Rickman overhears the exchange and approaches Whitney. He offers to help him with Kyle and shakes his hand.

Clark drops Kyle off at his trailer, and admits that he's interested in Rickman because he's planning to buy the Kent property. After Clark drives away, Whitney sneaks up on Kyle with a baseball bat and attacks him. Down the road, Clark sees Whitney's truck and realizes something is going. He speeds back just in time to keep Kyle from hitting Whitney in self-defense, and knocks him out.



As the police take Kyle away, Jonathan arrives and confirms that they're booking Kyle for assault. Whitney says that he came out there to talk in the middle of the night, claiming that he thought Kyle was planning to attack Lana. Clark has talked to Kyle, who said that Whitney attacked him first, but Whitney doesn't believe it and angrily accuses Clark of blaming him.

The next day, Chloe hears about the arrest and figures that something has made Kyle stop. They wonder what Kyle has against Rickman and Chloe plans to investigate, figuring it's a good story. Lana comes in and asks to talk to Clark in private. After Pete and Chloe leave, Lana says that Clark accused him of attacking Kyle. Clark defends Kyle and notes that Whitney once strung him up in a field, and Lana figures that Clark is looking for an excuse to knock her boyfriend. She tells Clark not to pretend to be Whitney's friend and leaves.

Jonathan is working at the farm when Rickman comes in. Jonathan shakes his hand, but is wearing gloves. He insists that he's not going to sell to Rickman no matter what. As Rickman starts to leave, Jonathan removes his gloves. Rickman fakes twisting his ankle and asks Jonathan for help, and Jonathan offers his hand.



Later, Clark returns home and discovers that Jonathan has signed over the land. Martha is shocked and Jonathan has no explanation for what he did. She's checked with their lawyer, who warns that Jonathan saying he doesn't remember it won't hold up in court. Clark offers to take the contract to Lex and Jonathan reluctantly agrees.

That night at the beanery, Lana and Whitney give Clark the cold shoulder as he meets with Lex. Lex notices and admires Clark for standing by his beliefs. He warns Clark that the contract is iron-clad but gladly offers his lawyers to help. Lex wonders if Clark suspects anything that Rickman could have done, and Clark goes to the jail to see Kyle.

Rickman calls in Deputy Markowitz, shakes his hand, and asks him to take care of an old friend. A little later, another the deputy unlocks Kyle's cell and says he has a visitor. Kyle touches his hands and takes control of him the same way that Rickman does, takes the deputy's uniform, and sneaks out. Clark arrives and sees him, and the first deputy opens fire on Kyle. As the bullet passes him, Clark gets Kyle out of the way at superspeed, although it grazes Kyle, and then escapes as Markowitz continues to fire.



Clark takes Kyle to Lex, who has his personal doctor, Toby, treat the wound. Lex assures Clark that the doctor won't talk, and wonders why Clark brought Kyle there. Clark admits that he's the only person he can trust. When Clark returns to his loft, he finds Lana waiting for him. She's worried since Kyle has escaped, and wonders if Clark has changed his opinion. He insists that he doesn't owe an apology, and says that Lana doesn't know the whole story. When she asks for an explanation, Clark admits that he doesn't know it yet, but figures her mind is closed. Lana angrily storms off, insisting she doesn't know why she came over to try and preserve their friendship.

The next day, Rickman approaches Lex and offers to shake his hand, but Lex refuses. Rickman wonders why Lex is using his lawyers to oppose the land purchase, and Lex insists that the Kents are his friend. He mentions Kyle and notes that there are rumors that Rickman and Kyle were friends. As Rickman leaves, Clark and Chloe come in and Clark asks how he got Jonathan to sell the land. Rickman claims that he's just a good salesman and shakes Clark's hand, but is surprised that his power has no effect on Clark. Once he leaves, Chloe shows Clark and Lana an article on Kyle and Rickman, who were farm equipment salesmen together twelve years ago. They were caught in a car after a meteor shower, and Lex suggests they talk to Kyle. They go to the manor, but the nurse doesn't remember Kyle. However, Clark figures he knows where Kyle went. He and Chloe got to trailer and find Kyle packing to leave. They ask him what happened in the meteor shower, and Kyle explains that they were lousy salesmen until the meteor shower. After that, they could touch people and make them do whatever they want, until the person does what they're ordered. Chloe doesn't believe it and asks for a demonstration, and Kyle takes her hand and tells her to show her real feelings for Clark. She grabs Clark and kisses him, and Clark hastily backs away. Once Chloe is done, she has no memory of what happened. She quickly realizes what happened, and Clark and Chloe are both embarrassed. Kyle leaves, saying that he was afraid he'd lose control. He threatened to expose Rickman if he ever came back to Smallville, and now Rickman is trying to kill him. When he asks if Clark knows what it's like to have to hide because of who you are, Clark admits that he does but says that hiding is impossible.



Rickman comes to see Lex at the manor and says that he's dropping his buyout of the Kent land. Lex tells him to go, but Rickman offers his hand to declare truce.

Clark and Kyle go to a gas station, and Clark calls Lex to say that Kyle wants to testify against Rickman. Lex comes to pick them up and confirms that Kyle will do whatever he has to, to stop Rickman. As Clark and Kyle get in the car so they can drive to Metropolis, Lex sprays gasoline on the car, locks them in, and sets the car on fire. They realize that Rickman has got to Lex and Clark kicks the door off, and then gets Kyle to safety as it explodes. Lex sees Clark superspeed away into the station's garage with Kyle, and Rickman pulls up. When he wonders what happened, Lex says he has his suspicions. Rickman tells him to finish the job and gives him a submachine gun.



Lex goes into the garage and finds Kyle, and calls Clark out. Clark insists that Rickman is controlling him, but Lex says that it doesn't matter and you can learn a lot from people you hate. He opens fire on Clark, who dodges the first few bullets but eventually is hit by the barrage. Lex then closes in for the kill, but Clark knocks him out.



Rickman, waiting outside, finally draws a gun and goes in to investigate. Kyle grabs him and the two match their mind control powers against each other.

As Clark checks on Lex, he hears a gunshot. He runs outside and finds Rickman, dead. Kyle says that he saw Clark got shot, and tells him to use his gift to help people... and promises to do the same with him.

The next day, Martha and Jonathan check on Clark's injuries, which are already healing. They don't know where Kyle is, but Clark figures that he's out in the wood using his power to help people. Lana comes in and says that their friendship is worth more than one argument. She says that she'll be friends for a long time, and then asks if Chloe really kissed him.

Later, Lex comes to see Clark and tells him that Rickman Industries won't be expanding since Rickman's death. Lex doesn't remember what happened under Rickman's spell and wonders where Kyle is. Clark notes that it was strange that he and Rickman were once friends and wonders if he and Lex could end up the same way, and Lex assures him that their friendship will be the stuff of legends.



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