Smallville (TV Series)

Abandoned (2010)

Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer

Photos 

Quotes 

• Granny Goodness : Do you know, I've been always been able to tell an abandoned soul when I see one. It's a gift.

  Tess Mercer : Do the girls come here as - as babies?

  Granny Goodness : Unfortunately, tragedy strikes as it pleases. They come at any age.

  Tess Mercer : It must be difficult to find the older ones permanent homes.

  Granny Goodness : Well, the truth is, by the time I get my hands on the lost souls, they no longer have that cute baby scent childless couples yearn for.

  Tess Mercer : The children don't spend their entire childhood here, do they?

  Granny Goodness : Oh, mercy me. You make it sound like punishment.

• Tess Mercer : Thanks. I thought I could handle that on my own. I'm so used to looking after myself.

  Clark Kent : You're a part of my team now. I wasn't gonna abandon you.

• Tess Mercer : [to Mad Harriet]  Move it or lose it, sister.

• Tess Mercer : Happy Birthday, Lutessa.

• Clark Kent : Does "Saint Louise's" mean anything to you?

  Tess Mercer : This might come as a surprise to you, Clark, but I've never really identified with any Saints.

• Tess Mercer : In my photo album, there are no pictures of me before I was five.

  Granny Goodness : That's because they didn't have you then. I did.

  Tess Mercer : That dream. That was a memory. You were chasing me. You were hurting me.

  Granny Goodness : My child, I could never hurt you. I've always loved you.

  Tess Mercer : Stop it! And tell me the truth. Who am I? What happened to me?

  Granny Goodness : Do you think I wanted to say goodbye to you? I was already training you. You had so much promise. Then your birth parents found you a home, forced my hand. They wanted you sent far away, told me to forget about you.

  Tess Mercer : My birth parents. Who were they?

  Granny Goodness : They were powerful. They would have closed us down if I'd fought back, but I never stopped watching over you. When I heard you were in that hospital, I couldn't let you die. I had to save my dear girl.

  Tess Mercer : Cadmus Labs. You brought me there?

  Granny Goodness : The scientists did a remarkable job. You can't even see the scars.

• Granny Goodness : Abuse is a horrible cycle to break, even for a strong woman. But nothing can break you. I've always known you were stronger than any girl I'd ever chosen before. You've always been my favorite. You see, I'm your true family.

  Tess Mercer : Why don't I remember? Why don't I remember my real parents?

  Granny Goodness : You don't need to remember. Look at everything you've become on your own.

  Tess Mercer : Why are you coming after me now?

  Granny Goodness : With your power, we'll accomplish great things, and my brilliant girl, very soon, lines will be drawn. Believe me, you'll be glad to have me on your side.

• Tess Mercer : I swear I've never been here before.

  Clark Kent : You may not remember, but that was you standing on those steps twenty years ago. And someone broke into your house to remind you of it.

• Clark Kent : You said you needed help. I thought you meant Watchtower, not scrapbooking.

  Tess Mercer : Clark, I-I meant when we came in to work tomorrow morning.

  Clark Kent : Well, since I'm here...

  Tess Mercer : Someone broke into the mansion. And left this with a gift tag. It said "Happy Birthday, Tess". It's not my birthday. Someone's messing with me, Clark. And I had this nightmare where I was a little girl, and I was holding this exact music box. And then I woke up and I found it in the library.

  [he sets it in motion; after a few bars, she stops it] 

  Tess Mercer : I thought that maybe I'd find a picture of it in this old photo album, but... but this just reminds me why I don't like going home for Christmas.

  Clark Kent : [peeling the gift tag off, he finds a potential clue]  Tess, I may have found something.

• Tess Mercer : Who is she?

  Clark Kent : She's the woman who runs the orphanage. She's the Mother Teresa for needy children. They call her Granny Goodness.