Smallville (TV Series)

Hothead (2001)

Michael Rosenbaum: Lex Luthor

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lex Luthor : Dad, you have no idea what I'm capable of.

• Lex Luthor : My father sent me to Smallville because he'd rather surround himself with drones than people who challenge his archaic business practices.

• Lionel Luthor : You know perfectly well how I feel about you.

  Lex Luthor : Hence, I'm at a crap factory in Smallville.

• Lex Luthor : The Luthors wrote the book on uncomfortable silences.

• Clark Kent : What are you working on?

  Lex Luthor : Oh. I'm trying to figure out which poor bastard should get the ax. My father wants me to cut 20% of my workforce.

  Clark Kent : Any way around it?

  Lex Luthor : Once my father's made his mind up, he's not easy to turn around.

  Lana Lang : If it makes you guys feel any better, you should have seen the look on my aunt's face when I took this job. Not that I was eavesdropping or anything.

  Clark Kent : I guess we're all in the same boat.

  Lex Luthor : No, no, you both stood your ground and are doing what you want. I caved. You two have inspired me.

• Lex Luthor : Two trips in one week. I'm flattered, dad.

  Lionel Luthor : What is this?

  Lex Luthor : It's my new proposal. I worked out how to cut the operating budget by twenty percent without losing a single job.

  Lionel Luthor : Lex, I specifically told you to cut your workforce.

  Lex Luthor : Why? With this plan, you don't get the bad P.R.

  Lionel Luthor : That's not the point.

  Lex Luthor : Careful, dad, you're getting emotional.

  [picking up a fencing foil] 

  Lex Luthor : We could always try a rematch. Are you afraid you can't take your son again?

  Lionel Luthor : You get one.

  Lex Luthor : One what?

  Lionel Luthor : One chance to defy me.

  Lex Luthor : I can't figure out what you hate more; the fact that my plan works, or that you didn't come up with it first.

• Lex Luthor : Well, if it isn't the three wise men. Hello, Dominic.

  Dominic Senatori : I'm assuming you're running late because you've been in a fencing lesson. Or have you taken up polo again?

  Lex Luthor : I'm not running late. I canceled this meeting, if you recall.

  Dominic Senatori : Your father insisted that we drive down here and keep it.

  Lex Luthor : Mm, and when he barks, you jump.

• Dominic Senatori : Have you seen the quarterly numbers?

  Lex Luthor : Yes, I have. We're 20% below projections.

  Dominic Senatori : And your father wants you to take drastic action.

  Lex Luthor : I plan to.

  Dominic Senatori : Good. Then I can inform him that you'll be cutting your work force.

  Lex Luthor : On the contrary, you can inform him I plan on increasing my work force.

  Dominic Senatori : By how much?

  Lex Luthor : 20%.

  Dominic Senatori : [sardonic chuckle]  Lex, I've always enjoyed your unique sense of humor, but you can't be serious.

  Lex Luthor : You've gotta spend money to make money, Dominic. If we increase productivity and marketing while our competitors retreat, when the sector bounces back... we'll corner the market.

• Lionel Luthor : [fencing with Lex]  Look at your moves, Lex. They're rash, no thought to their consequences.

  Lex Luthor : If I wanted a running commentary, I'd buy one of your books on tape.

  Lionel Luthor : You know what your problem is?

  Lex Luthor : Enlighten me.

  Lionel Luthor : You're ruled by your emotions. You always have been.

  [getting the upper hand] 

  Lionel Luthor : And that can be a fatal flaw. I want those workers gone by noon tomorrow.

  [tapping Lex's chest with his foil] 

  Lionel Luthor : Meeting adjourned.

• Lex Luthor : Lana. What happened? Did Nell put you out on the street?

  Lana Lang : I decided to join the workforce.

  Lex Luthor : Good for you. I'm sure you'll be employee of the month in no time.

  Lana Lang : Right now, I hold the record for most dishes broken in a single day.

  Lex Luthor : Better bring my cappuccino in a Styrofoam cup, then.

• Lionel Luthor : Congratulations, Lex. You made the business page for once.

  Lex Luthor : I told Dominic I was doing this two days ago.

  Lionel Luthor : Yes, and my drone dutifully reported it to me. I just didn't think you'd be stupid enough to implement it.

  Lex Luthor : If you had a problem, why didn't you pick up the phone and call me?

  Lionel Luthor : We have a reporting structure. Just because you're my son, don't expect any special treatment.

  Lex Luthor : Believe me, I never have.

  Lionel Luthor : That wounded-pride routine may have worked for your mother, but don't try it with me.