Smallville Season 5 Episode 19 : Mercy
Synopsis
Lionel is taken hostage by a masked man who forces him to play elaborate games for the prize of staying alive. Martha goes to confront Lionel after Clark tells her Lionel knows his secret and becomes a part of the game herself, fighting for her life.
Full Recap
Lionel is driving along and taking a business call when the divider window shows up and a masked figure comes on the television screen. The limo screeches to a halt on the railroad tracks and the driver gets out, locking the doors. The Figure taunts him to a game of Hangman to win the game before the train hits the limo, and hints that he learned the answer from Lionel, who figures out the answer is “no mercy.” The doors unlock and he gets out just in time, to see a billboard painted with “Having fun yet?” on it.
Clark is at the Daily Planet grousing to Chloe about Lionel’s growing familiarity with Martha, and admits he’s reluctant to put her through more. Lionel confronts Lex to accuse him of the murder attempt – Lex denies it and Lionel reluctantly accepts his explanation but refuses to accept his help.
Clark returns home and tells Martha that Lionel knows about his secret. In return she tells Clark about the recording of Clark at the warehouse rescuing Lana, and that she didn’t want to tell him because of everything he’s been through. They decide not to confront him but see what else he might know.
Lionel has his security office swept by a security guard who finds nothing. After he leaves, the Figure appears on Lionel’s computer screen and taunts Lionel, having cut off the phone lines. The Figure appears behind him and drugs him unconscious.
Lionel wakes up in a furnace chamber and finds a charred corpse. The Figure torments him further via TV and is clearly a former worker. The lights come on to reveal a fuel tank and two buckets. For the new game, Lionel must fill the two buckets equally and balance them on a hook – if he fails the furnace will go off. The Figure shows how the limo driver died trying to pass the text, and warns Lionel only has ten minutes or the flames will come on anyway.
Lex is teaching Lana how to play chess and they start talking about their kiss, with Lana reluctant to pursue the matter. When there’s a phone call, Lana takes off and Lex gets the news that Lionel is missing. Lionel works to complete the game while the Figure torments him with the accusation that Lionel killed his parents, a charge Lionel denies. Ignoring him, Lionel balances the scales, opening the doors and letting him dive through into the next chamber. There he finds Martha sealed in an airtight chamber.
The tank begins to fill with water and Lionel can’t get her out. The Figure shows him a board with letters and a scrambled series of letters. Clark meets with Chloe to discuss Fine when he gets a call from Lois that Martha is missing. Lex is working with the security team when Clark and Chloe arrive. Clark spots a hidden camera and finds an excuse to reveal it, and Chloe offers to trace the signal.
While Martha and Lionel work on the anagram, Clark, Chloe, and Lionel work together but Lex is interrupted by a call from Lana. Chloe finds the signal while Lionel solves the puzzle and Martha is freed with seconds to spare. The lights come on to display a door and they have no choice but to go through it for the final game. They enter an elevator which closes and ascends by itself. Lionel connects it to his takeover of Apex to teach Lex a lesson, a “lesson” Martha can’t comprehend.
They arrive at the top and a gun opens – the Figure demands that Lionel take the gun and only one of them can leave the elevator alive, or the elevator cable will break and they both lose. Clark and Lex have gone to the building and find a camera transmitting Lionel and Martha in the elevator. Lionel picks up the gun and apologizes, talking about how Clark is such a special boy and he’ll need Martha more then ever. He asks her to shoot him but she can’t, and expresses his wish that it would end differently for them as he prepares to shoot himself…but the gun is empty. The signal cuts off and Chloe reveals it was shut off at the source.
The Figure comes out to confront Lionel and Martha while Chloe gets the new address to Clark, who super speeds away from Lionel. The Figure reveals he never planned to let Lionel live and takes off the mask to show he was the security guard who checked Lionel’s office earlier, and that he lost everything in the Apex takeover. Lionel begs for Martha’s life and apologizes, but the man releases the elevator. Clark catches it at the bottom in clear sight of Lionel, who wanders off after saying, “thank you…son.”
At the house Clark and Martha discuss the situation and Clark is skeptical, but Martha points out Lionel was willing to sacrifice his life for Clark’s future. Clark doesn’t buy it but Martha points out they may not have a choice. Back at the warehouse where the games were held, Lionel is considering the gun when Lex shows up to reveal they’ve found the killer, Lincoln Cole. Lionel tries to cover for their miraculous rescue and Clark’s involvement, and Lex wants to know why Lionel referred to Clark as a “special boy.” Lionel dismisses Lex’s suspicions about Clark and tells him to let it go.
Clark goes to visit Lionel who addresses him as Kal-El and reveals he’s known since he held the crystal. Lionel admits he doesn’t want to endanger Clark’s destiny and he wants what’s best for Clark and Martha, calling him “son.” Clark takes offense and warns Lionel to stay away from Martha. After Clark goes, Lionel has some kind of spell and clutches at his head, then scribbles something down.
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