Inspired by that really cute article @ http://www2.warnerbros.com/web/smallville/torch/article.jsp?id=torch_vol51_iss57_art01 and also the beginning of the episode "Kinetic". I'm sorry I keep tweaking with this – but each time I re-read it, I find typos and other errors that I have to fix.

***

Verbal Judo

Chloe [into the tape recorder]: Testing….. The next part of our searing expose of Smallville's most prominent, high-flying yet maddeningly enigmatic individual Mr Lex Luthor. As you will recall, the last time I spoke to Mr Luthor was after he kindly regranted me an interview - after the first attempt had been rudely interrupted by my unceremonious leap out of a third story window. In view of reader complaints that the last interview in The Torch was too short, Mr Luthor has acquiesced to my requests for a further interview.

Lex: You mean demands.

Chloe: Do you mind? I'm trying to get the introduction just right.

Lex: Very professional. It's a pity the tape recorder can't capture that chilling glare. I note that you've been considerate enough to dispense with the video camera again.

Chloe: It's as much for me actually. Bad associations. The tape recorder is fine though isn't it? Please don't tell me you're going to be so archaic as to make me write this out by hand.

Lex: No, taping's fine, but are you sure that it won't bring back unpleasant memories about being buried alive in Chandlers Field?

Chloe: Thanks ever so much for the reminder. That event took place well after our last interview – such that the tape recorder remains trauma-free in terms of memories. Now let's begin. Since we last spoke, I've received many emails about the fact that you have taken a part share in The Talon. Explain your motivations for this somewhat uncharacteristic action.

Lex: Ms Lang provided me with a viable business proposition that I considered and accepted.

Chloe: Nothing more? There weren't any motives of sentiment perhaps?

[incredulous silence]

Chloe: All right – well was it a blatantly shameless attempt to buy favour and win the hearts and minds of the admittedly mistrustful folk of Smallville who regard you and your family as being something akin to the spawn of Satan?

Lex: First Ms Sullivan, do you think I care about the opinions of the good folk of this esteemable town and secondly, in view of your spawn of Satan comments, do you think that anything I do could could possibly sway their views of me anyway?

Chloe: OK, what about the purple shirts? No one else in Smallville wears purple shirts.

Lex: I'm gratified that you care. Is that all you learned from an internship at the Planet, Chloe? Sartorial patterns of the rich and famous?

Chloe: Well they're just so purple! OK, back to the interview, sorry, was just distracted for a moment there. [Into the tape recorder] By way of explanation, Mr Luthor is wearing another one of his striking lilac numbers.

Lex: Purple.

Chloe: And he is leaning back in his seat in the library in that arrogant manner to which we are all accustomed, an enigmatic expression in his cold pale eyes. The gold Napoleon face of his watch gleams balefully as he contemplates my next question…..

Lex: Is that really necessary?

Chloe: I'm adding context. Readers like to know the little details.

Lex: I see.

Chloe: I know that like me you are a believer in the theory that the meteor shower in 1989 has had an untold effect on the local flora and fauna. Why is it you believe? I would have had you pegged as a sceptic rather than a believer.

Lex: Well while I'm not an avid fan of the X-Files, I do know how to trust my own judgment. I have personally seen and experienced the strange things that take place in Smallville even though at first blush, it might appear to be the most ordinary of farming communities and …

Chloe: Just in case you were about to launch into some quote about there being more things in heaven and earth Horatio than are dreamt of in my philosophy yada yada ya – I already used that quote in an earlier edition of The Torch. Been there done that. Try something else.

Lex: I …

Chloe: Oh and before you even think of it – I already used the other one too ie I could a tale unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood blah blah make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres etc etc thy knotted and combined locks to part and each particular hair to stand an end like quills upon the fearful porpentine. You know the one. Sorry, it's a great play but Hamlet's been done to death.

Lex: As you appear to have so neatly taken the wind out of my sails, I suppose I can only quote the Chinese philosopher Chuang-tzu who once said that: "Once upon a time, I, Chuang-tzu, dreamt I was a butterfly, flittering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly...suddenly I awoke... Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man."

Chloe: Not bad - you'll have the readers convinced you're either addicted to drugs or inhaling fertiliser. Either way – the readers will love it. Darn, I should have used that butterfly quote when I did the report about Bug Boy.

Lex: My apologies for the tardiness of my inspirational quote, Ms Sullivan.

Chloe: You called me Chloe before.

[silence]

Lex: I did?

Chloe: Yeah.  You did.

[silence]

Lex: Must have been a slip of the tongue.

Chloe: I guess.

[silence]

Chloe: OK, so why Lex?

Lex: I thought we already discussed my name in the last interview? Do you have a problem with my name?

Chloe: It's just so eighties .. model-sounding …. Eurotrash Trophy Wife … luxury car-esque.

Lex: Let's just say I'm not too thrilled about walking around being called Alexander by all the world.

Chloe: Good point. So what would you say was your most frightening encounter in Smallville to date?

Lex: Besides being interrogated by intrepid young journalists?

Chloe: That's so funny. Let's see. We've had psycho wall walking tattoo junkies, sleazy Uri-gellar-esque developer who handshook Clark's dad into selling the farm, freaky shape shifting girl who framed you for a bank robbery and made your bad boy reputation even worse than it was…. Oh and my personal favourite – the evil sunflower of death that made everyone do the wacky.

Lex: You forgot the maladjusted teen with an invisibility complex who encouraged his sister's sad stalker tendencies, attempted to drown my girlfriend in her bath and then tried to beat me to a bloody pulp in my own home.

Chloe: Yeah. He was pretty freaky I admit. Actually …..Lex ..

[long pause]

Lex: Yes?

Chloe: …. although I would have said that Sean the life sucking human popsicle was pretty freaky on the Freaky Scale, my most terrifying encounter was with Deputy Watts who was, by comparison – completely human still.

Lex: It's a sad fact that man is capable of the most horrific atrocities and our capacity for evil is boundless. "Detestable race, continue to expunge yourself, die out. …".

Chloe: Edna St Vincent Millay – Apostophe to Man On reflecting that the world is ready to go to war again

[long pause]

Lex: Well-spotted – as always Ms Sullivan.

[long pause]

Chloe [clearing her throat]: Well I guess I can categorise you as a pessimist then, Mr Luthor.

Lex: That's Eighties Eurotrash Trophy Wife to you, Ms Sullivan. I wouldn't say I was a pessimist. I still believe in the fundamental goodness of some people. Trust, honestly, loyalty – these are qualities that I value and cherish.

Chloe: Victoria wasn't really your girlfriend was she?

[pause]

Lex: Pardon?

Chloe: I mean, wasn't she just your Featured Skanky Ho of the Week? I wouldn't have thought she would fall with the category of Girlfriend as such.

[pause]

Lex: I confess, your interest in my personal life is as perplexing as your interest in my purple shirts.

Chloe: I'm telling you those purple shirts are going to qualify you for my Wall of Weird status if you're not careful – right next to Bee Girl or Fat Sucking Vampire Girl…….. Mr Luthor - why are you smiling at me like that? Stop it!!! It's disconcerting me.

Lex: I have no idea what you're talking about. You must be mistaken.  By the way – you called me Lex quite nicely before.

Chloe: You're laughing at me.

Lex: I wouldn't dream of it, Ms Sullivan. You're looking a little flushed – are you feeling all right? Would you like a drink?

Chloe: I'm fine. Stop trying to highjack my interview.

Lex: Do all seventeen year olds blush as charmingly as you? It's rather appealing.

Chloe: Look here – don't you try to ooze charm and throw me off guard you … you …. Fertiliser King!

[the tape spools as the silence grows]

Lex: Fertiliser King? Stooping a little low, aren't we? I think I almost preferred Eurotrash Luxury Car. Next you're going to call me baldie.

Chloe: Never. That would be completely devoid of any wit.

Lex: Whereas "Fertiliser King" is simply oozing Dorothy Parker and Shavian Sparkle.

Chloe: Stop laughing at me!!!!!

Lex: I can't help it. You're so very adorable, Chloe.

[tape starts to squeak]

Lex: Maybe it's my turn to add context. Ms Chloe Sullivan is sitting at the edge of her seat in my library, blushing furiously with her eyes fixed on my face. Through the course of the interview I've watched her animated face with great interest, seeing the flashes of irritation, laughter and sadness …. and…. dare I say it …. attraction?

Chloe: Of all the arrogant ….. what are you doing? Sit down. You're being interviewed – you stay on that side of the desk. You do not cross over to this side … that's bad interviewing etiquette ….. what are you doing????

Lex: Is that damned tape recorder still on?

Chloe: Of course… but … what are you doing? Lex!

click

The End

**

I'm so sorry guys!  That's where it ends! Inspiration took me thus far and that's where it left me so I suspect that the story was meant to end with the click …..