A pesticide magnate gets Jonathan to agree to sell the Kent farm. Clark turns to a local hermit who holds the town's future in his hands.

Who is Bob Rickman? Rickman Industries wants to build a pesticide plant in Smallville. Bob Rickman is the big-shot who has damaged the environment of every town that has a plant. Bob possesses an invincible power of persuasion, enhanced by kryptonite, gained by exposure during the meteor shower. Rickman needs only to grasp a person's hand to transfer his persuasion, making the victim helplessly convinced of whatever his scheme may be, without memory of it afterwards. Clark is unaffected by the kryptonite handshake.

Who is Kyle Tippet? Clark, Chloe and Lana are horseback riding in the woods. Clark and Lana talk about their future careers. Clark doesn't intend to be a farmer, and doesn't know what he'd like to do, as long as it doesn't involve "putting on a suit and doing a lot of flying." (Catch the inside joke?) Lana gets separated from the other two, and thrown from the horse. Clark rushes to investigate, and finds her lying on the ground with a man over her, the hermit sculptor who lives in the woods, Kyle Tippet. Lana has a concussion.

Clark thinks Kyle spooked Lana's horse. Later, he visits Kyle at his secluded trailer. Kyle says he just wanted to check on Lana after she was thrown from the horse. Clark believes him.

What's up with Whitney? Wanting to protect Lana, Whitney threatens Kyle to stay away from her. Rickman witnesses the encounter, and shakes Whitney's hand, offering help. Later at Kyle's trailer, Whitney sneaks up on Kyle and beats him. Clark goes back and gets in the middle of the two to stop the fight. Kyle is arrested for assault. Whitney says Kyle attacked him first. Kyle tells Clark that Whitney attacked him.

What's up with Lana? She becomes very upset with Clark, thinking he's accusing Whitney of attacking Kyle.

What's up with Clark? Clark realizes that there is more to Kyle's story, and trusts him, unlike the rest of the town. Kyle warns Clark to avoid Rickman.

What's up with Chloe? Clark suspects Bob Rickman and asks Chloe to investigate. Sniffing out the story, Chloe discovers that Kyle and Rickman were sales partners and friends. Things changed after the meteor shower. Clark and Chloe confront Kyle at the trailer as he's packing to leave town. Kyle tells them about the power of persuasion that both he and Rickman have since the meteor shower. To prove it, Kyle holds Chloe's hand, and suggests Chloe's attraction to Clark. With that, Chloe kisses Clark, then doesn't remember it. Kyle admits he was frightened by "the gift" of persuasion, while Rickman exploited it.

What's up with Lex? Even Lex doesn't like Rickman, and the thought of Rickman Industries polluting Smallville. At the Beanery, Lex warns Clark about Rickman wanting to buy the Kent farm.

What's up with Jonathan? Rickman visits Jonathan, offering to buy the farm. Jonathan refuses, even after a handshake. After Rickman's touch, Jonathan agrees and signs the contract to sell. In the kitchen, Martha is distraught, and Jonathan can't understand how he could sell the farm. Clark suggests Lex might be able to help. Lex says he'll help void the contract with his army of lawyers.

Kyle's escape:Clark goes to the jail to see Kyle. Kyle slips out in an officer's uniform. Clark calls to him, and the deputy, under Rickman's power, shoots at Kyle. Clark out races the bullet, pushing Kyle to the ground, as the deputy continues shooting. Kyle and Clark get away.

How it ends: At the mansion, Rickman says he'll leave Smallville and drop the proposed plant project. He offers Lex a handshake in truce.

Clark calls Lex from a gas station. He's with Kyle, who wants to go public about Rickman. When he arrives to pick them up, Lex locks Kyle and Clark into his Benz, pouring gas on it, and setting the car on fire. Clark breaks out and he and Kyle escape to the garage. Lex sees Clark rescue Kyle and speed away. Rickman arrives and gives Lex a gun. Lex, still under Rickman's power, follows into the garage. Lex fires multiple shots at Clark, who dodges many of the bullets, but is hit several times in the back. As Lex prepares to shoot Clark in the head, Clark throws him across the garage. Outside Kyle and Rickman struggle, and Rickman is shot dead.

Rickman's death is reported as a suicide. Kyle recognizes Clark's gift, and promises secrecy. Lana apologizes to Clark.

At the barn, Lex tells Clark his lawyers have dissolved the contract to sell the farm. Lex doesn't remember what happened in the garage. Clark points out to Lex that at one time, Kyle and Rickman were best friends, and wonders how that friendship went so wrong. "Think we'll ever end up like that?" he asks Lex. "Trust me Clark, our friendship is gonna be the stuff of legend," Lex replies.