: The episode highlights the lengths Lionel Luthor will go to protect his business interests, even at the cost of human lives.
In , titled "Jitters," the story focuses on a disgruntled former LuthorCorp employee, Earl Jenkins, who suffers from violent, uncontrollable "jitters"—massive tremors caused by exposure to experimental Level 3 toxins. The Plot Summary
: Clark must find a way to stop Earl and save his friends without revealing his powers to the hostages or the tactical teams surrounding the building. He also feels a personal connection to Earl, who was an old friend of the Kent family.
: Lex Luthor, desperate to prove he is different from his father, offers himself as a hostage in exchange for the students. He also begins to realize that his father, Lionel Luthor , has been keeping dangerous secrets right under his nose.