In the decade of the 1930s, even the great city of Metropolis was not spared the ravages of the worldwide depression. In the times of fear and confusion the job of informing the public was the responsibility of the Daily Planet. A great metropolitan newspaper, whose reputation for clarity and truth had become a symbol of hope for the city of Metropolis.
Excuse me, Mr. White. I was wondering if, if, uh, perhaps you could arrange for half my salary to be sent to this address on a weekly basis.
Lois Lane
Your bookie, right?
My what?
Lois Lane [cynical as ever]: Don't tell me. He sends a check every week to his sweet, grey-haired old mother.
Actually, she's silver-haired. [brief pause as they both realize he's not kidding]
Perry White
Yeah. I'll see what I can do.
Lois Lane
Any more at home like you?
Uh, not really, no.
Lois Lane
I didn't think so.
I have to leave.
I knew this time would come. We both knew it from the day we found you.
I talked to Ben Hubbard yesterday, and he said...that he'd be happy to help out from now on. [struggling to maintain his composure] Mother...
I know, son. I know. Do you...know where you're headed?
North.
Remember us, son. Always remember us.
Mooney, first bottle's on me, let me get my hat.
The energy input to Jor-El's quarters is now in excess. Our data indicates the loss is due to a misuse of power.
Investigate.
And if our suspicions prove correct?
He knew the penalty he faced, even as a member of this Council. The law will be upheld.
...An unpleasant duty has been masterly performed, Jor-El. They have received the fate they deserve: isolation in the Phantom Zone; an eternal living death.
Jor-El
A chance for survival, nonetheless. As opposed to us, if we continue to ignore these facts...It's suicide! No, it's worse. It's genocide!
Be warned, Jor-El. The Council has already evaluated this outlandish theory of yours.
Jor-El
My friends, you know me to be neither rash nor impulsive. I'm not given to wild, unsupported statements. And I tell you that we must evacuate this planet immediately!
Jor-El, you are one of Krypton's greatest scientists.
Ah, yes, but so is Vond-Ah.
It isn't that we question your data. The facts are undeniable. It's your conclusions we find unsupportable.
Jor-El
This planet, along with its red sun, will destabilize and burst within thirty days...likely within seven.
I tell you Krypton is simply shifting its orbit.
Jor-El, be reasonable! Let Krypton die? Never! This is just another one of your...mistaken fantasies.
Jor-El
My friend, I've never been otherwise. This madness is yours...to do with as you wish.
This discussion is terminated. The decision of the Council is final...Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us...an act of insurrection.
Jor-El
You would accuse me of insurrection? Has it now become a crime to cherish life?
You would be banished to endless imprisonment in the Phantom Zone...the eternal void which you yourself discovered. Will you abide by the Council's decision?
Jor-El
I will remain silent. Neither I nor my wife will leave Krypton.
Jimmy Olsen
Golly, Miss Lane, how come you get all the best stories?
Lois Lane
A good reporter doesn't get great stories, Jimmy...
Perry White
...a good reporter makes them great.
Been showing off a bit, haven't you, son?
Uh...I didn't mean to show off, Pa. It's just that...well, guys like that Brad, I just wanna tear 'em apart...I know I shouldn't, but...
I know. You can do all these amazing things, and sometimes you think that you will just go bust unless you can tell someone about it.
Yeah!...I mean, every time I get the ball, I can make a touchdown. Every time! Is it showing off for a person to do what he's capable of? Is a bird showing off when it flies?
No! No, now you listen to me. When you first came to us, we thought that people would come and take you away because if they found out about the things you could do, well, that worried us a lot. But then a man gets older and he thinks very differently, better, starts to see things very clear. And there's one thing I do know, son. And that is, you are here for a reason. I don't know whose reason it is, or whatever the reason...maybe it's...I don't know...but I do know one thing: it's not to score touchdowns.
Thanks Dad. C'mon Dad! I'll race you to it!
You will?
C'mon! C'mon! [runs into the barn with his dog]
Oh, no. [collapsed dead]
Jonathan...? [realizing] Jonathan!
Dad...
Jor-El
My son, you do not remember me. I am Jor-El. I am your father. By now, you will have reached your 18th year as it is measured on Earth. By that reckoning, I will have been dead for many thousands of your years. The knowledge that I have, matters physical and historic, I have given you fully on your voyage to your new home. These are important matters, to be sure, but still matters of mere fact. There are questions to be asked, and it is time for you to do so. Here in this...this Fortress of Solitude, we shall try to find the answers together. So, my son, speak.
Who am I?
Jor-El
Your name is Kal-El. You are the only survivor of the planet Krypton. Even though you have been raised as a human being, you are not one of them. You have great powers, only some of which you have as yet discovered.
Jor-El
This is no fantasy, no careless product of wild imagination. No, my good friends. These indictments that I have brought you today, the specific charges listed herein against the individuals, their acts of treason, their ultimate aim of sedition, these are matters of undeniable fact. I ask you now to pronounce judgment on those accused. [referring to Non] On this...this mindless aberration, whose only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction. [referring to Ursa] On the woman Ursa, whose perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton. Finally, General Zod. Once trusted by this Council, charged with maintaining the defense of the planet Krypton itself. Chief architect of this intended revolution and author of this insidious plot, to establish a "New Order" amongst us with himself as absolute ruler. You have heard the evidence. The decision of the Council will now be heard.
Guilty!
Guilty!
Guilty!
Guilty!
The vote must be unanimous, Jor-El. It has therefore now become your decision. You alone will condemn us if you wish, and you alone will be held responsible by me. [Jor-El signals the Phantom Zone] Join us. You have been known to disagree with the Council before. Yours could become an important voice in the new order, second only to my own! I offer you a chance for greatness, Jor-El! Take it! Join us! You will bow down before me, Jor-El! I swear it! No matter that it takes an eternity! [screaming with rage] YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!! BOTH YOU, AND THEN ONE DAY, YOUR HEIRS!!!
Jor-El
You...enjoyed it.
Superman
I don't know what to say. I guess I just got carried away.
Jor-El
I anticipated this, my son. I...
Superman
You couldn't have! You couldn’t have imagined...
Jor-El
How good it felt!
Superman
How good it felt...
Jor-El
You are revealed to the world. Very well. So be it. But still you must keep your secret identity.
Superman
Why?
Jor-El
The reasons are two: First, you cannot serve humanity 28 hours a day.
Superman
24.
Jor-El
Or 24, as it is in Earth time. Your help would be called for endlessly, even for those tasks which human beings could solve themselves, because they're happy to abuse their resources in such a way.
Superman
And secondly?
Jor-El
Second: Your enemies will discover their only way to hurt you by hurting the people you care for.
Superman
Thank you, Father...
Jor-El
Lastly, do not punish yourself for your feelings of vanity. Simply learn to control them. It is an affliction common to all, even on Krypton... [expression changes] Our destruction could have been avoided but for the vanity of some who considered us indestructible. Were it not for vanity, why, at this very moment...I could embrace you in my arms [barely audible] ...my son...
Lex Luthor
Everything west of this line is the richest, most expensive real estate in the world: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Everything on this side of the line is just hundreds and hundreds of miles of worthless desert land, which just so happens to be owned by... [whaps Otis with his pointer]
Otis
Uhhh...Lex Luthor, Incorporated.
Lex Luthor
Now, call me foolish, call me irresponsible, it occurs to me that a 500 megaton bomb planted at just the proper point would, uh...
Superman
Would destroy most of California. Millions of innocent people would be killed. And the West Coast as we know it would-
Lex Luthor
Fall into the sea. Bye-bye, California. Hello, new West Coast. My West Coast. [Otis overlays map with new map]
Lex Luthor
Costa Del Lex. Luthorville. Marina del Lex. Otisburg...Otisburg?
Otis
Miss Teschmacher, she's got her own place. ["Teschmacher Peaks"]
Lex Luthor
Otisburg?
Otis
It's a little bitty place.
Lex Luthor
Otisburg?!
Otis
Okay, I'll just wipe it off, that's all. It's just a little town. [erases Otisburg]
Lois Lane
As you know, my newspaper, the Daily Planet, is very interested in that dam, Chief, but what I don't understand is why you would sell out to a faceless person that you've never met. I mean, you don't even know his name.
At the stupid high price that he offered for this worthless piece of desert, I hope it's Custer!
Lois Lane
So, how did you enjoy your first day on the job?
Frankly, the hours were somewhat longer than I expected, but meeting you and Jimmy and Mr. White on the whole, I think it's just swell.
Lois Lane
"Swell"? You know, Clark, there are very few people left in the world who feel comfortable saying that word.
What word?
Lois Lane
"Swell".
Really? It just sort of comes naturally to me.
Miss Teschmacher
Why is it I can't get it on with the good guys?