Clark has his first run-in with red kryptonite in this exploration of classic Superman mythology, turning immoral when he gets his high-school ring holding a piece of rock. Meanwhile, Lex and his father have some issues to resolve when Lionel starts taking over the manor.

Lex hires some thugs to bug Lionel's office but things get out of control when Lionel and Martha are taken hostage, and Clark must rescue them without revealing his secrets.

When Jonathan begins to act strangely, Clark believes Jor-El is sending Jonathan messages through the key and is the cause for his father's withdrawal from the family. Clark goes down to the caves to confront his biological father but Lionel catches him there and begins putting the pieces together, leading him straight to Dr. Swann. As the two billionaires face off, a deal is struck and Lionel's true motives are revealed.

Alicia (from "Obsession") is supposedly cured and returns to Smallville to start things back up with Clark. When she pushes for more and he turns reluctant, Alicia expoess him to red kryptonite, and the two go off to Las Vegas to get married. Meanwhile, Lana questions whether sex may prove the key to winning Jason back.