Man of Steel (2013)
Henry Cavill: Clark Kent, Kal-El
Photos
Quotes
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Superman : [punches Zod] YOU THINK YOU CAN THREATEN MY MOTHER?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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[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.
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Colonel Nathan Hardy : This man is not our enemy.
Clark Kent : Thank you, Colonel.
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Superman : [to Lois] You might want to step back a little bit. Maybe a little bit more.
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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]
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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Superman : Krypton had its chance!
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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.
