Man of Steel Quotes

[from Comic Con trailer]

Jonathan Kent: People are afraid of what they don't understand.

Clark Kent: My father believed that if the world found out who I really was, they'd reject me... out of fear.

[flashbacks show Clark telling Lois how Jonathan died in a tornado; Clark having to stand and watch because Jonathan told him not to use his powers to come to his aid]

Clark Kent: I let my father die because I trusted him. Because he was convinced that I had to wait. That the world was not ready. What do you think?

Jor-El: Goodbye, my son. Our hopes and dreams travel with you.

Lara Lor-Van: He will be an outcast. They'll kill him.

Jor-El: How? He'll be a god to them.

[from TV spot]

Jor-El: You can save them... You can save all of them.

[from trailer]

Superman: I won't betray them.

General Zod: You already have.

Faora: [Beating up Kal-El] You are weak, Son of El, unsure of yourself. The fact that you possess a sense of morality, and we do not, gives us an evolutionary advantage. And if history has proven *anything*...

Faora: [Faora picks up Kal-El throws him into another building]

Faora: ...It is that evolution always wins.

[Lara looks out solemnly over the exploding landscape of Krypton]

Lara Lor-Van: Make a better world than ours, Kal.

Lois Lane: Why are you surrendering to Zod?

Superman: I'm surrendering to mankind. There's a difference.

Lois Lane: You let them handcuff you?

Superman: Wouldn't be much of a surrender if I resisted. And if it makes them feel more secure, then... then all the better for it.

Lois Lane: What's the 'S' stand for?

Superman: It's not an 'S.' On my world it means 'hope.'

Lois Lane: [smiles] Well, here it's an 'S.' How about... Super-

[interrupted by Dr. Hamilton]

Colonel Nathan Hardy: This man is not our enemy.

Clark Kent: Thank you, Colonel.

Perry White: Two weeks leave, no pay, that's your penance. You try something like this again, you're done here.

Lois Lane: [turning to leave] Fine.

Perry White: So let's make it three weeks, since you're so willing to agree with me.

Lois Lane: Perry...

Perry White: No, no. Don't. Don't. I believe you saw something, Lois. But not for a moment do I believe that your leads just went cold. So whatever your reasons are for dropping it, I think you're doing the right thing.

Lois Lane: Why?

Perry White: Can you imagine how people on this planet would react if they knew there was someone like this out there?

General Zod: If you love these people so much, you can mourn for them!

Clark Kent: Don't do this! Stop! Don't!

General Zod: Never!

Clark Kent: NOOOO!

Lara Lor-Van: I can't do it... I thought I could, but...

Jor-El: Lara, Krypton is doomed. This is the only chance of safety he has.

[last lines]

Lois Lane: Hi, Lois Lane. Welcome to The Planet.

Clark Kent: Glad to be here Lois.

General Zod: Your father equipped himself with great honor Kal.

Superman: You killed my father?

General Zod: I did. And not a day goes by that it does not haunt me. But if I had to do it again I would. I have a duty to my people, and I will not allow anyone to prevent me from carrying it out!

Jor-El: To see you standing there having grown into an adult... if only Lara could have witnessed this.

Clark Kent: Who are you?

Jor-El: I am your father, Kal, or at least a shadow of him. His consciousness. My name is Jor-El

Clark Kent: Kal? That's my name?

Jor-El: Kal-El, it is.

Clark Kent: I have so many questions. Where do I come from? Why did you send me here?

Jor-El: You came from Krypton, a world with a much harsher environment than Earth's. Long ago, in an era of expansion, our race spread out through the stars, seeking new worlds to settle upon. This scout ship was one of thousands launched into the void. We built outposts on other planets, using great machines to reshape environments to our needs. For 100 thousand years our civilization flourished, accomplishing wonders.

Clark Kent: What happened?

Jor-El: Artificial population control was established. The outposts and space exploration were abandoned. We exhausted our natural resources. As a result, our planet's core became unstable. Eventually, our military leader, General Zod, attempted a coup, but by then it was too late. Your mother and I foresaw the coming calamity and we took certain steps to ensure your survival. This is a genesis chamber. All Kryptonians were conceived in chambers such as this. Every child was designed to perform a predetermined role in our society as a worker, a warrior, a leader, and so on. Your mother and I believed Krypton lost something precious, the element of choice, of chance. What if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had intended? What if a child aspired to something greater? You were the embodiment of that belief Kal. Krypton's first natural birth in centuries. That's why we risked so much to save you.

Clark Kent: Why didn't you come with me?

Jor-El: We couldn't, Kal. No matter how much we wanted to. No matter how we loved you. Your mother, Lara, and I were a product of the failures of our world as much as Zod was. It's hard to explain.

Clark Kent: So I'm alone?

Jor-El: No, you are as much a child of Earth now as you are of Krypton. You can embody the best of both worlds. The dream your mother and I dedicated our lives to preserve.

[He reveals to him the Superman suit]

Jor-El: The people of Earth are different from us, it's true, but ultimately I believe that is a good thing. They won't necessarily make the same mistakes we did, but if you guide them, Kal, if you give them hope, that's what this symbol means. The symbol of the House of El means hope. Embodied within that hope is the fundamental belief the potential of every person to be a force for good. That's what you can bring them.

[first lines]

Jor-El: Will you not understand? Krypton's core is collapsing! We may only have a matter of weeks! I warned you, harvesting the core was suicide! It has accelerated the process of implosion!

Lor-Em: Our energy reserves were exhausted. What would you have us do, El?

Jor-El: Look to the stars, like our ancestors did! There are habitable worlds within reach. We can begin by using the old outposts.

Ro-Zar: Are you seriously suggesting that we evacuate the entire planet?

Jor-El: No, everybody here is already dead. Give me control of the Codex. I will ensure the survival of our race. There is still hope. I have held that hope in my hands...

General Zod: This council has been disbanded!

Ro-Zar: On whose authority?

General Zod: Mine.

[Zod shoots and kills Ro-Zar]

General Zod: The rest of you will be tried and punished accordingly.

Jor-El: What are you doing, Zod? This is madness!

General Zod: What I should have done years ago! These lawmakers with their endless debates have led Krypton to ruin!

Jor-El: And if your forces prevail? You'll be the leader of nothing!

General Zod: Then join me. Help me save our race. We'll start anew. We'll sever the degenerative bloodlines that led us to this state.

Jor-El: And who will decide which bloodlines survive, Zod?... You?

[pause]

General Zod: Don't do this, El. The last thing I want is for us to be enemies.

Jor-El: You have abandoned the principles that bound us together. You've taken up the sword against your own people. I will honor the man you once were, Zod, not this monster you have become.

General Zod: What have you done?

Jor-El: We've had a child, Zod. A boy child. Krypton's first natural birth in centuries, and he will be free, free to forge his own destiny.

General Zod: Heresy! Destroy it!

General Zod: Lara, listen to me! The Codex is Krypton's future! Abort the launch!

[Lara continues the launch sequence and sends her son into space]

Lor-Em: General Zod, for the crimes of murder and high treason, the council has sentenced you and your fellow insurgents to 300 cycles of somatic reconditioning. Do you have any last words?

General Zod: You won't kill us yourself! You wouldn't dirty your hands but you'll damn us to a black hole for eternity! Jor-El was right! You're a pack of fools, every last one of you!

General Zod: [to Lara] You... you believe your son is safe... I will find him. I will reclaim what you have taken from us! I will find him. I will find him, Lara. I WILL FIND HIM!

Jor-El: Our people can co-exist.

General Zod: So we can suffer through years of pain, trying to adapt like your son has?

Jor-El: You're talking about genocide.

General Zod: Yes! And I'm arguing its merits with a ghost.

Jor-El: My son is twice the man you were, and he will finish what we started. I can promise you that.

General Zod: Tell me, you have Jor-El's memories; his conscience. Can you experience his pain? I will harvest the codex from your son's corpse, and I will rebuild Krypton atop his bones.

Jor-El: Can you see the Codex?

Kelex: It's just beneath the central hub, sir. But I'm compelled to warn you, breaching the genesis chamber is a Class B crime punishable...

Jor-El: Nobody cares anymore, Kelex. The world is about to come to an end.

General Zod: Your son, Lara, where have you sent him?

Lara Lor-Van: His name is Kal, son of El. And he is forever beyond your reach.

Father Leone: What's on your mind?

Clark Kent: I don't know where to start.

Father Leone: Wherever you want.

Clark Kent: That ship that appeared last night, I'm the one they're looking for.

Father Leone: [swallows nervously] Do you know... why they want you?

Clark Kent: No, but this General Zod... even if I surrender, there's no guarantee he'll keep his word. But if there's a chance I can save Earth by turning myself in, shouldn't I take it?

Father Leone: What does your gut tell you?

Clark Kent: Zod can't be trusted. The problem is, I'm not sure the people of Earth can be either.

[walks away]

Father Leone: Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith first. The trust part comes later.

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Sir? Hi, my name is Dr. E...

Superman: Emil Hamilton. I know, I can see your ID tag in your breast pocket, along with a half-eaten roll of wintergreen Life Savers. I can also see the squad of soldiers in the next room, preparing that tranquilizing agent of yours. You won't need it.

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Sir, you-you can't expect us to not take precautions. You could be carrying some kind of alien pathogen.

Superman: Been here for 33 years, Doctor. Haven't infected anyone yet.

General Swanwick: That you know of. We have legitimate security concerns. Now, you revealed your identity to Miss Lane over there. Why won't you do the same with us?

Superman: Let's put our cards on the table here, General.

[Superman effortlessly snaps the links between his cuffs and approaches General Swanwick]

Superman: You're scared of me because you can't control me. You don't, and you never will. But that doesn't mean I'm your enemy.

General Swanwick: Then who is? Zod?

Superman: That's what I'm worried about.

General Swanwick: Be that as it may, I've been given orders to hand you over to him.

Superman: Do what you have to do, General.

Superman: If Krypton lives again, what happens to Earth?

General Zod: A foundation has to be built on something. Even your father recognized that.

[Superman sees he is surrounded by human bones]

Superman: No! NOOO!

General Zod: Where is the Codex?

Martha Kent: Go to hell!

Jenny: [trapped under rubble] Don't leave me!

Perry White: [takes her hand] I'm not going to leave you. Lombard, get your ass over here!

Martha Kent: [about Jonathan] He always believed you were meant for greater things, and that when the day came, your shoulders would be able to bear the weight.

Clark Kent: Yeah, I just wish he could have been here to see it finally happen.

Martha Kent: He saw it, Clark, believe me.

Martha Kent: What are you going to do when you're not saving the world? Have you given any thought to that?

Clark Kent: I have, actually.

[Clark chuckles]

Clark Kent: I gotta find a job where I can keep my ear to the ground. Where people won't look twice when I want to go somewhere dangerous and start asking questions.

Clark Kent at 13: Can't I just keep pretending I'm your son?

Jonathan Kent: You are my son. But somewhere out there you have another father too, who gave you another name. And he sent you here for a reason, Clark. And even if it takes you the rest of your life you owe it to yourself to find out what that reason is.

Superman: [about Earth's people] Why am I so different from them?

Jor-El: Earth's sun is younger and brighter than Krypton's was. Your cells have drunk in its radiation, strengthening your muscles, your skin, your senses. Earth's gravity is weaker, yet its atmosphere is more nourishing. You've grown stronger here than I ever could have imagined. The only way to know how strong, is to keep testing your limits.

General Swanwick: What have they hit us with?

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Looks like some kind of gravity weapon. It's working in tandem with their ship. Somehow they're increasing the Earth's mass clouding the atmosphere with particulates. Oh, my God. They're terraforming.

Captain Carrie Farris: What's that?

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Planetary engineering modifying the Earth's atmosphere and topography.

General Swanwick: Turning Earth into Krypton.

Captain Carrie Farris: But what happens to us?

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Based on these readings, there won't be an "us."

Northcom Threat Analyst: General Swanwick, sir. I'm on with the control tower. Colonel Hardy's on his way in and he's got Superman in tow.

General Swanwick: Superman?

Northcom Threat Analyst: The alien, sir. That's what they're calling him. Superman.

Jonathan Kent: Did they hurt you?

Clark Kent at 13: You know they can't.

Jonathan Kent: That's not what I meant. I meant, "are you all right?"

Clark Kent at 13: I wanted to hit that kid. I wanted to hit him so bad.

Jonathan Kent: I know you did. I mean, part of me even wanted you to, but then what? Make you feel any better? You just have to decide what kind of a man you want to grow up to be, Clark; because whoever that man is, good character or bad, he's... He's gonna change the world.

Clark Kent at 13: I just wanted to help.

Jonathan Kent: I know you did, but we talked about this. Right? Right? We talked about this! You have...!

[calms himself]

Jonathan Kent: Clark, you have to keep this side of yourself a secret.

Clark Kent at 13: What was I supposed to do? Just let them die?

Jonathan Kent: Maybe; but there's more at stake here than our lives or the lives of those around us. When the world... When the world finds out what you can do, it's gonna change everything; our... our beliefs, our notions of what it means to be human... everything. You saw how Pete's mom reacted, right? She was scared, Clark.

Clark Kent at 13: Why?

Jonathan Kent: People are afraid of what they don't understand.

Clark Kent at 13: Is she right? Did God do this to me? Tell me!

Jonathan Kent: [Jonathan shows Clark his ship] We found you in this. We were sure the government was gonna show up at our doorstep, but no one ever came.

Clark Kent at 13: [Clark looks over the ship in puzzlement] .

Jonathan Kent: [Jonathan shows Clark the command key] This was in the chamber with you. We took it to a metallurgist at Kansas State. He said whatever it was made from didn't even... didn't even exist on the periodic table. It's another way of saying that it's not from this world, Clark... and neither are you. You're the answer, son. You're the answer to, "are we alone in the universe?"

Clark Kent at 13: I don't want to be.

Jonathan Kent: And I don't blame you, son. It'd be a huge burden for anyone to bear; but you're not just anyone, Clark, and I have to believe that you were... that you were sent here for a reason. All these changes that you're going through, one day... one day you're gonna think of them as a blessing; and when that day comes, you're gonna have to make a choice... a choice of whether to stand proud in front of the human race or not.

Clark Kent at 13: Can't I just keep pretending I'm your son?

Jonathan Kent: [hugs Clark nearly in tears] You are my son;... but somewhere out there, you... you have another father too, who gave you another name, and he sent you here for a reason, Clark; and even if it takes you the rest of your life, you owe it to yourself to find out what that reason is.

[repeated line]

General Zod: You are not alone.

Lois Lane: You know, they say it's downhill after the first kiss.

Superman: I'm pretty sure that only counts when you're kissing a human.

General Zod: I'm going to make them suffer, Kal. These humans you've adopted, I will take them all from you one by one.

Superman: You're a monster, Zod, and I'm gonna stop you.

Steve Lombard: Come on, Lois. When are you gonna throw me a bone? Court-side seats to the game tonight. What do you say?

Lois Lane: I say you should go back to trolling the intern pool. You'll probably have more luck. Sorry.

Martha Kent: Sweetie. How can I help you if you won't let me in?

Clark Kent - age 9: The world's too big, Mom.

Martha Kent: Then make it small. Just, um, focus on my voice. Pretend it's an island out in the ocean. Can you see it?

Clark Kent - age 9: I see it.

Martha Kent: Then swim towards it, honey.

Clark Kent - age 9: [comes out from the room] What's wrong with me, Mom?

Martha Kent: Clark.

Colonel Nathan Hardy: Miss Lane. I'm Colonel Hardy, U.S. Northcom. Dr. Emil Hamilton from DARPA. You're early.

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Hi.

Colonel Nathan Hardy: We were expecting you tomorrow.

Lois Lane: Which is why I showed up today. Look, let's get one thing straight, guys, okay? The only reason I'm here is because we're on Canadian soil and the appellate court overruled your injunction to keep me away. So, if we're done measuring dicks, can you have your people show me what you found?

Lois Lane: I figured if I turned over enough stones you'd eventually find me. Where are you from? What are you doing here? Let me tell your story.

Clark Kent: What if I don't want my story told?

Lois Lane: It's going to come out eventually. Somebody's going to get a photograph or figure out where you live.

Clark Kent: Well, then I'll just disappear again.

Lois Lane: The only way you could disappear for good is to stop helping people altogether, and I sense that's not an option for you.

Jor-El: Look.

Superman: Lois.

Jor-El: You can save her, Kal. You can save all of them.

General Zod: What have you done to me?

Superman: My parents taught me to hone my senses, Zod. Focus on just what I wanted to see. Without your helmet, you're getting everything.

General Zod: Unh!

Superman: And it hurts, doesn't it?

[Superman has brought down a military drone]

General Swanwick: Are you effing stupid?

Superman: It's one of your surveillance drones.

General Swanwick: That's a $12 million piece of hardware!

Superman: It was. I know you're trying to find out where I hang my cape. You won't.

General Swanwick: Then I'll ask the obvious question. How do we know you won't one day act against America's interests?

Superman: I grew up in Kansas, General. I'm about as American as it gets.

[pause]

Superman: Look. I'm here to help... but it has to be on my own terms. And you have to convince Washington of that.

General Swanwick: Even if I were willing to try, what makes you think they'd listen?

Superman: I don't know, General. Guess I'll just have to trust you.

[Superman flies away]

General Swanwick: What are you smiling about, Captain?

Captain Carrie Farris: Nothing, sir. I just think he's kind of hot.

General Swanwick: Get in the car, Captain.

Captain Carrie Farris: [still smiling] Mm-hm. Yes, sir.

General Swanwick: All right. You've got our attention. What is it you want?

Superman: I would like to speak to Lois Lane.

General Swanwick: What makes you think she's here?

Superman: Don't play games with me, general. I'll surrender, but only if you guarantee Lois' freedom.

Faora: Are you the ranking officer here?

General Swanwick: I am.

Faora: [pointing at Lois] General Zod would like this woman to accompany me.

Colonel Nathan Hardy: You asked for the alien. You didn't say anything about one of our own.

Faora: Shall I tell the general you're unwilling to comply?

Colonel Nathan Hardy: I don't care what you tell him.

Lois Lane: It's all right. I'll go.

Dr. Emil Hamilton: General Swanwick, sir.

General Swanwick: What am I looking at, Doc? Comet? Asteroid?

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Comets don't make course corrections, General. Wanted you to see this before some amateur with a telescope creates a worldwide panic.

[Hamilton goes to a monitor showing an image of Zod's ship]

Dr. Emil Hamilton: The ship appears to have inserted itself into a lunar synchronous orbit, though I have no idea why.

General Swanwick: Have you tried communicating with it?

Dr. Emil Hamilton: Well, they haven't responded, as of yet.

General Swanwick: I'm just speculating, but I think whoever is at the helm of that thing is looking to make a dramatic entrance.

Lois Lane: [Jor-El's image appears behind Lois] Where did you come from?

Jor-El: The command key Miss Lane; thanks to you, I'm uploading into the ship's mainframe.

Lois Lane: Who are you?

Jor-El: I am Kal's father.

Lois Lane: Can you help us?

Lois Lane: I designed this ship, I can modify its atmospheric composition to human compatibility. We can stop them, we can send them back to the phantom zone.

Lois Lane: How?

Jor-El: I can teach you; and in turn you can teach Kal. Will you help me?

[Scene cuts to ships flying through clouds, and then approaching Earth's surface]

Jor-El: The Ship's crew are alerted. We need to move quickly. Retrieve the command key.

[Lois retrieves the key, and Jor uses power to open door, they are ambushed a moment later by a female guard, Jor uses power to slam the door on her arm]

Lois Lane: Did you do that?

Jor-El: Yes, pick up her sidearm.

Jor-El: [Lois retrieves the weapon then begins to follow Jor down the corridor, scene cuts to Kal escaping from Zod's chambers, then to Earth where spaceships can be seen flying overhead, then returns to the corridors aboard the command ship] To your right, fire. Behind you.

[uses power to slam door. Then guides Lois to escape pod chamber, using power to open the door]

Jor-El: Secure yourself inside the open pod. Safe travels Miss Lane, it's highly unlikely we'll be seeing each other again. Remember, the phantom drives are essential in stopping them... Move your head to the left.

Lois Lane: What if I need to tinkle?

Colonel Nathan Hardy: There's a bucket in the corner.

Jed Eubanks: I gotta confess, Ms. Lane... I'm not a fan of the Daily Planet. But those pieces you wrote when you were embedded with the 1st Division were... well, they were pretty impressive.

Lois Lane: Well, what can I say? I get writer's block if I'm not wearing a flak jacket.

Officer Sekowsky: NASA's EOS satellites pinged the anomaly first. The ice shelf plays hell on the echo soundings. But there's definitely something down there.

Lois Lane: A submarine, maybe? Soviet-era?

Colonel Nathan Hardy: Hmm, doubtful. That's 300 meters. Considerably larger than anything we know they built back then.

Officer Sekowsky: But here's the spooky part. The ice surrounding the object... it's nearly 20,000 years old.

Clark Kent: You're hemorrhaging internally, and if I don't cauterize this bleed...

Lois Lane: How can...

Clark Kent: I can do things that other people can't. Now, hold my hand. This is gonna hurt.

Lois Lane: What Colonel Hardy and his team surmised was a Soviet-era submarine was actually something much more exotic. An isotope analysis of the surrounding ice bores suggests that an object had been trapped in the glacier for over 18,000 years. As for my rescuer? He disappeared during the object's departure. A background check revealed that his work history and identity had been falsified. The questions raised by my rescuer's existence are frightening to contemplate, but I also know what I saw. And I have arrived at the inescapable conclusion that the object and its occupant did not originate on Earth.

Perry White: I can't print this, Lois. You might have hallucinated half of it.

Lois Lane: What about the civilian contractors who corroborated my story?

Perry White: The Pentagon is denying that there was a ship.

Lois Lane: Of course they are. That's what they're supposed to do. It's the Pentagon. Perry, come on, it's me we're talking about. I'm a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter.

Perry White: Then act like it.

Lois Lane: Print it or I walk.

Perry White: You can't. You're under contract. I'm not running a story about aliens walking among us. Never gonna happen.

Lois Lane: I'm sending you the original article. My editor won't print it, but if it happened to leak online...

Glen Woodburn: Got it. But didn't you once describe my site as a creeping cancer of falsehoods?

Lois Lane: I stand by my words, Woodburn, but I want this story out there.

Glen Woodburn: Why?

Lois Lane: Because I want my mystery man to know I know the truth.