SMALLVILLE (1×20): Aired 20 Years ago today

20 years ago (May 14, 2002) was Aaron’s first guest appearance on an episode of SMALLVILLE (1×20: Obscura).

Fun Fact 1: Mark Verheiden wrote this SMALLVILLE episode. Mark would later go on to become a writer and producer on BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.

Fun Fact 2: For Aaron’s character’s surname, IMDb had it listed as Vertigo. The Official Smallville Magazine has Birtigo. The subtitles for the episode has Bertigo. The character was wearing a name tag but it was too hard to make out what it read. So a couple of years ago Aaron (at my request) asked Mark Verheiden to confirm the spelling. Mark the absolute legend still had a copy of the script. It’s actually BIRDEGO. I had the IMDb entry corrected.

Aaron Douglas (@theaarondouglas) May 14, 2022
In the times before Chief.
Look at that hair.
Was that in the script? Ha!
Thank you to one of my closest friends @MarkVerheiden
This is the first time he wrote for me but certainly not the last.

Mark Verheiden (@MarkVerheiden) May 14, 2022
I still remember the casting call for Aaron’s “Obscura” cop: must be handsome, GREAT hair, a magnificent specimen of humanity whose sterling bravery is a beacon of heroism for generations to come. My good pal Aaron brought all that and more! @theaarondouglas #Smallville

[https://www.facebook.com/AaronDouglasFans/posts/pfbid05VQrQtgUfUkcf9YN5M68Kw5yf6XoHGkTnEQyKjdLVRiVWUHKbBAdYvqoJhGy9K2yl]
[https://twitter.com/AD_Fans/status/1525480474164232194]
[https://twitter.com/theaarondouglas/status/1525499198816194560]

VIDEO: SMALLVILLE – 1×20: Obscura (May 14, 2002)

TV SHOW: Smallville
EPISODE: 1×20: Obscura
AIR DATE: May 14, 2002
AARON’S CHARACTER: Deputy Michael Birdego
TELEPLAY BY: Michael Green & Mark Verheiden
STORY BY: Greg Walker
DIRECTED BY: Terrence O’Hara
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0702984/

NOTE: videos will wait until they are fully buffered before playing

TRANSCRIPT: SMALLVILLE – 1×20: Obscura (May 14, 2002)

(1) EXT. COUNTRYSIDE – DAY
***** BIRDEGO IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****

[Whitney and Lana are horseback riding through an open field. They come to a slower pace]
Lana: It’s been a long time since we’ve done this.
Whitney: Yeah.
Lana: I thought it’d be nice, you know? Something to keep your mind off of…
Whitney: It’s okay. You can say it, I’m not gonna break. Sorry, I’ve just been kind of out of it lately.
Lana: I’m here if you need to talk.
Whitney: Well, there was one thing I wanted to ask you. Would you be my date to the Spring Formal?
Lana: (she laughs) Of course. You didn’t have to ask.
Whitney: I guess I’m just not taking anything for granted anymore.
[There is an explosion in the distance. They tie the horses to a fence and go to see what happened. Cops drive up as a fire blazes out of a pipe sticking out of the ground. Two cops get out of the car]
Watts: (into a radio) This is Watts and Birdego. We have a gas main fire just off of Route 12, mile marker 18.
[Whitney and Lana run up. They see another pipe right next to them shaking]
Lana: (pointing at it) Whitney, look.
Whitney: (to the men at the other pipe) Hey!
Lana: Hey!
Whitney: Hey! Lana get out of here.
[Whitney starts to go to the men]
Lana: Wait, no!
Whitney: Get out of here! Run! (He gets to one of the men) Look at the pipe.
Man: Everybody! Clear on out!
Whitney: Lana, get out of here! Go! Run!
[Everybody runs away and Lana runs in the opposite direction. The pipe explodes, throwing her to the ground. She is covered in dirt and several meteor fragments]
Whitney: Lana!
Man: (pushing Whitney behind the cop car) Get down!
There are several more blasts. Lana looks up and sees the two cops looking down at her. Whitney runs to her]
Whitney: Lana! Lana!


(2) INT. THE TALON – DAY

[Chloe’s father enters the Talon with the two cops from the explosion (Watts and Birdego). Clark and Lana are already there.]
Mr Sullivan: Hey, guys. I, uh, I called the sheriff’s office because I wanted them to hear this too.
Clark: Any luck reaching Chloe, Mr. Sullivan?
Mr Sullivan: No, I haven’t heard from her all day. I’m starting to get concerned. I called her cousin, but all I get is the
machine.
Watts: (to Lana) You said you had some proof that Chloe might have been abducted?
Lana: Well. I sort of had a vision,
Birdego: (skeptically) A vision?
Clark: She saw Chloe being kidnapped.
Birdego: Maybe you should have called the Psychic Friends Network instead, then.
Watts: What makes you think it was real?
Lana: I saw Chloe bound and blindfolded in a dark room.
Birdego: Oh, wow. It’s too bad you didn’t see something a little more useful like an address where we might find her.
[Mr. Sullivan’s cell phone rings]
Mr Sullivan: Uh, excuse me.
[He steps away to answer it]
Watts: Miss Lang, you went through a pretty rough ordeal yesterday. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?
Lana: You mean do I think I’m hallucinating? It felt like I was right there, like I was seeing through the kidnapper’s eyes.
Watts: I promise, we’ll take this seriously, and look into it.
Mr Sullivan: (on the phone) Thanks. (he hangs up)
Clark: Mr. Sullivan? What is it?
Mr Sullivan: They found Chloe’s car. It’s been abandoned in the woods.


(3) INT. THE TALON – NIGHT

[Birdego enters]
Birdego: Miss Lang. I know it’s late, but I just wanted to ask you a few more questions.
Lana: I’m surprised you found the time.
Birdego: I know I deserved that.
Lana: Do you want a cup of coffee?
Birdego: Sure.
Lana: Kay.
[Lana goes toward the bar and has a vision of someone entering the Talon. Her view comes up behind Birdego, and a hand punches him in the face, knocking him out. She sees herself from behind as the man in the mask walks up behind her. She turns around]
Lana: Aaaah!
[Fade to black]

[Clark, Whitney, and Chloe in the Talon. They help Birdego into a chair]
Whitney: Where’s Lana?
Birdego: I don’t know, she was here. The guy must have grabbed her.
Whitney: I’m gonna check the back.
Clark: Deputy, where’s your partner tonight?
Birdego: Gary? Uh, he’s working a second job at the carnival grounds. He’s a security guard.
Clark: (to Chloe) You said you saw stuffed animals and train tracks.
Chloe: The carnival’s closed this time of year. It’s a perfect place to hide someone.


(4) EXT. CARNIVAL GROUNDS – NIGHT
***** BIRDEGO IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
Cops turn up at showgrounds


(5) EXT. CARNIVAL GROUNDS – NIGHT
***** BIRDEGO IS IN THIS SCENE. NO DIALOGUE *****
Lex’s henchman watching through binoculars


Transcript: Forever Dreaming “01×20 – Obscura” – Smallville Transcripts –

IMAGES: SMALLVILLE – 1×20: Obscura (May 14, 2002)

SCREEN CAPTURES