Smallville (TV Series)

Luthor (2010)

Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer, Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor

Quotes 

• Clark Kent : Emil finally finished working through the files we found after the fire. There's one body still unaccounted for - LX-15. There's another Lex on the loose.

  Tess Mercer : Why look here? I closed the book on this place months ago.

  Clark Kent : Supplies are still being sent here.

  Tess Mercer : Someone's helping him survive, but you're assuming he's a threat just because he's a Luthor. What ever happened to everyone deserving a second chance?

  Clark Kent : No, Luthor blood is Luthor blood. It's poison.

• Clark Luthor : Hardly any trace of Lionel at all. It's refreshing, actually... being out from under our father's shadow.

  Tess Mercer : Lionel Luthor's been dead for years. Lex killed him.

  Clark Luthor : I guess Lex did something right in this place. I got to tell you, sis - this alternate earth - it's a blast. Doesn't feel right, though. Not having blood on my hands before lunch.

  Tess Mercer : Well, that's the great thing about us being on our own now. It's that you can have lunch whenever you want.

  Clark Luthor : And what if I was hungry now?

• Clark Luthor : [Tess notices the scar on his arm]  It still bothers you doesn't it? There's no take backs when it comes to Gold K. Lex sure knew how to leave an impression, didn't he?

  Tess Mercer : His ego certainly left something to be desired.

• Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Why couldn't you ever love me the way that you love Clark?

  Lionel Luthor : Simply put, sweetheart, you're just not special enough.

  [she smashes a framed picture, and his guards grab her] 

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : [as they drag her out]  I hope that your love is enough to save you when he stabs you in the back, you son of a bitch.

• Lois Lane : Clark, if this is some kind of red-K episode, we can work this out.

  [he grabs and throws her across the room] 

  Tess Mercer : Leave her alone!

  Clark Luthor : I wouldn't worry about Lane, sis. It's remarkable what you can hear when you stop to listen.

  Tess Mercer : You can't stay here.

  Clark Luthor : I can do whatever I want. I'm not going back to Lionel's world. 'Cause that's exactly what it is, Lionel's. This world will be mine. Give me the box.

  Tess Mercer : And if I don't?

  Clark Luthor : I'll kill you.

• Clark Kent : "Luthor blood is poison." That's what I said before things got weird.

  Tess Mercer : Who knew you had such a gift for understatement?

  Clark Kent : The heir that Lionel left that box to, it's you.

  Tess Mercer : Given all that the Luthors have done, is it any surprise that I didn't feel like sharing with the rest of the class?

  Clark Kent : I'm guessing how I reacted is exactly why you didn't tell me everything.

  Tess Mercer : Clark, you wanna know the truly perverse part? I'm upset that he threw me away. As grotesque and sordid a family tree as I've just inherited, I... wasn't good enough. Okay. And you're lucky the Kents found you.

  Clark Kent : You weren't so unlucky. As screwed up as you think your life has been, Lionel didn't raise you on this side. And what happened with... the other Clark is just proof that Lionel's blood doesn't corrupt. It's the man himself. I was wrong.

• Tess Mercer : The real reason that I hid Alexander... is because I didn't want anyone to... take him away from me. I was afraid that he might be the closest thing to family that I would ever know. But he fooled me. And he's just as smart as Lex, if not smarter. When and if he's found, it'll be because he wants to be.

  Clark Kent : [taking her hand]  When Lex does show up, we'll face him together. You're not alone anymore.

• Lionel Luthor : My prodigal daughter. You've returned.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : It's too much to drop in on dear old dad from time to time?

  Lionel Luthor : When you've turned your back on both your father and your fortune, yes, it is.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : If you saw my back, it's only because you kicked me out the door.

• Lionel Luthor : A little Greek tragedy you've been trying to drag your brother into. Oh, yes, I know all about that.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : I love him, like you never will.

  Lionel Luthor : Of course you love him. That's no mystery. Clark is a god among men. Though how he could love you, a consummate disappointment, is beyond me. You're nothing but trouble, Tess. You're corrupting him.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : You take a good long look in the mirror at the person who's responsible for corrupting Clark.

  Lionel Luthor : I have worked too long and too hard to let you, a little half-bred tramp with a Magdalene complex, ruin everything.

  [she slaps him] 

  Lionel Luthor : You just made this a lot easier.

• Tess Mercer : If I'm calling you, Lane, it's for a reason.

  Lois Lane : Tess? How are you doing this?

  Tess Mercer : Look to your left.

  [Lois looks to her right] 

  Tess Mercer : Your other left.

  [glancing left, Lois notices a surveillance camera] 

  Tess Mercer : Watchtower is everywhere. Now get up here. We have a problem.

• Tess Mercer : Considering that I can't successfully round up the troops, I just assumed that Watchtower was the safest place in the city.

  Lois Lane : For who?

  Tess Mercer : For you.

  Lois Lane : From who?

  Tess Mercer : From Clark.

  Lois Lane : Wait. My Clark?

  Tess Mercer : Not exactly. And it's only a matter of time before he realizes that I'm not his Tess.

  [hearing a whoosh outside] 

  Tess Mercer : He found us.

• Tess Mercer : I'm watched constantly here.

  Clark Luthor : Where's the box, Tess?

  Tess Mercer : Why?

  Clark Luthor : We destroy the box, we destroy any chance of being sent back there. And nothing can stop us.

  Tess Mercer : Well, why don't you wait at the mansion? I'll...

  [as she stands up, he pulls her back down] 

  Tess Mercer : And I'll grab the box. And we can celebrate.

  Clark Luthor : This world won't know what hit it.

• Clark Luthor : It's adorable, seeing you at my desk like you own the place.

  Tess Mercer : How can you be so flip when I've been looking for you all night long?

  Clark Luthor : I like making you wait.

• Clark Kent : [entering what he thinks is the Kent farm barn]  Mom? Dad?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : He isn't here.

  Clark Kent : [whooshing up to her]  How long have you been here?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Long enough to go for a ride. You love to make me wait, don't you?

  Clark Kent : [pushing her away as she kisses him]  What are you doing?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Stop worrying. Father will never find us here.

  Clark Kent : Father?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Mm-hmm.

  Clark Kent : Our father?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : [starting to undress]  Last time I checked, you're still adopted, and I'm still as redheaded bastard as it gets.

  Clark Kent : You're a Luthor.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : God, you love to rile me up, don't you?

• Clark Kent : I'm not who you think I am.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : [noticing his wrist]  Your scar. Where's your scar? That bastard. He used the mirror box. He tells me about it. And then he says he can't find it. I can't believe I ever thought it would work with us. I can't believe I ever trusted him.

  Clark Kent : Tess, I found it. I used it. But who are you talking about?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : You. Or the more... fun version of you, anyway.

  Clark Kent : Is this time travel? Something went wrong in my past? And if I fix it, I get to go back?

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Are you really this naive in your world?

• Clark Kent : Tess, I need some help, all right? You obviously know something. You need to tell me. Tess! Please.

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : According to my Clark, it's like a parallel reality. It's still the same history. It's just rewritten with a sort of... darker edge.

  Clark Kent : So while I'm stranded here, he's...

  Lutessa 'Tess' Lena Luthor : Stuck in your life there. And your kinder, gentler world is about to get an explosive awakening.

• Tess Mercer : I'll go back to Watchtower and see if I can program Oliver's satellite.

  Clark Kent : [finding an open journal]  "Dearest Tess, thanks for the read, but I'm all grown up now. Alexander."

  [looking around] 

  Clark Kent : You knew about all this. After everything Oliver and I did to trust you. This is how you repay us?

  Tess Mercer : No. No, I was only trying to protect you.

  Clark Kent : Only trying to protect yourself.

  Tess Mercer : No. Clark.

  Clark Kent : [seeing drawings of his shield all over the wall]  You're no better than he is.

  [seeing the box in her bag] 

  Clark Kent : What else are you hiding, Tess?

  Tess Mercer : It's a Kryptonian relic. I only just received it. I swear to God I was gonna tell you about it, Clark. It just showed up.

  Clark Kent : Why do you have it?

  Tess Mercer : Clark, there's something I need to tell you.

• Tess Mercer : Clark. Calling another woman at this hour. What would the industrious Lois Lane think?

• Tess Mercer : Not that I've been getting any sleep lately, but this had better be important.

  Luthor Lawyer : Your father's will dictated certain articles be delivered to his surviving heir. This particular line item wasn't discovered until after Lex passed. You can imagine our surprise when Lionel's heir turned out to be you.