General Zod
So this is planet Houston. A very strange surface!
Played by Terence Stamp 
Superman II (1980) · 77 quotes
Superman II (1980) · 77 quotes
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 with be held responsible by me. You will bow down before me, Jor-El! I swear it! No matter that it takes an eternity! YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME! BOTH YOU AND THEN ONE DAY... YOUR HEIRS!
More lines from General Zod
8 quotes General Zod
General Zod
I like the glow. It flashes red, like the Krypton sun. But not this disturbing noise. Make way!
General Zod
[after shooting himself, unharmed]
Crude noisemaker.
General Zod
I win! I always win. Is there no one on this planet to even challenge me?!
General Zod
[referring to the President]
And he will answer to me! Or all of his cities shall end up like this one!
General Zod
I see you are practiced in worshipping things that fly.
General Zod
Come to me, son of Jor-El! Kneel before Zod!
General Zod
[to Superman]
And now, finally- take my hand, swear eternal loyalty... to Zod.
Scenes with General Zod
19 scenes
Deputy Dwayne
(Spotting the strangely dressed Kryptonians in the road, a sheriff flips on his police lights and siren)
I dunno, from the look of them I'll bet ten dollars they're from Los Angeles.
Sheriff
Hey, ya hippies! Get your butts off the road!
General Zod
I like the glow that flashes red like our Krypton sun. But not this irritating noise. Make way.
Sheriff
Did I hear right? That son of a bitch give me an order?!
Sheriff
(The Sheriff hands a shotgun to Dwayne)
Dwayne, you take care of him.
Dwayne
But I...
Sheriff
Dwayne, you gotta learn to kick ass, you wanna be a peacemaker.
General Zod
(In East Houston, Non is about to destroy a TV newscrew's equipment, but he is stopped by Zod)
No! Who else is seeing this?
Reporter
Ah . . . well, with this satellite link up, uh . . . just about everybody. I mean, the whole planet!
General Zod
The whole planet Houston?
Reporter
Earth. The whole planet Earth.
General Zod
(Zod looks arrogantly into the camera) (satisfied with the man's answer)
You may continue.
Reporter
As the extraordinary story continues . . . as this extraordinary st—
Ursa
(petulantly)
Enough of this nonsense! If the whole planet is watching, can't we show them something more interesting?
Army Major
(A US Army battalion has been deployed to East Houston) (via bullhorn)
Throw down your arms and surrender! This is an order!
Ursa
General Zod does not take orders. He gives them.
Ursa
(An Army helicopter fires on the Kryptonians, to no effect)
Look! They need machines to fly!
General Zod
What bravery! Be nice to them, my dear. Blow them a kiss.
General Zod
(Ursa blows at the chopper and the resulting violent wind sends the craft crashing fatally into a barn)
I win! (now realizing the lack of resistance he is receiving) I always win. Is there no one on this planet to even challenge me?
Ursa
(With East Houston in ruins, the US Army battalion surrenders to the Zod trio)
Come forward. Your General wishes to speak.
General Zod
I am General Zod. Your ruler. Yes, today begins a new order! Your lands, your possessions, your very lives will gladly be given in tribute to me, General Zod. In return for your obedience, you will enjoy my generous protection. In other words, you will be allowed to live.
General Zod
So you are a general too? And who is your superior?
Army General
I answer only to the President.
General Zod
And he will answer to me! Or all of his cities will end up like this one!
[Zod demands that the President kneel before him. The man complies)
General Zod
You are not the President. No one who leads so many could possibly kneel so quickly.
President
(The real President emerges from the group)
I am the man they're protecting. I'm the President. I'll kneel before you if it will save lives.
General Zod
It will. Starting with your own.
President
What I do now, I do for the sake of the people of the world. But there is one man here on Earth who will never kneel before you.
General Zod
Who is this imbecile? Where is he?
President
I wish I knew.
The President kneels before Zod)
President
Oh, God...
General Zod
Zod.
President
[Clark and Lois watch the President address the nation on TV.]
This is your President. On behalf of my country, and in the name of the other leaders of the world, with whom I have today consulted, I hereby abdicate all authority and control over this planet...to General Zod.
Clark Kent
Zod!
President
Only by strict compliance with all his directions will the lives of innocent millions be spared. [desperately] Superman! Can you hear me? Superman! Where—?
General Zod
(The camera pans to Zod as he grabs a microphone)
Who is this "Superman"?!
President
You'll find out, General, and when you do —
General Zod
Come to me, Superman! If you dare. I defy you! Come! Come and kneel before Zod! Zod!
Ursa
[Non, Ursa, and Zod lounge about the Oval Office, bored.]
You're master of all you survey.
General Zod
So I was yesterday. And the day before.
Lex Luthor
[Lex Luthor waves a white handkerchief in the doorway, knocks, then enters.]
Hello, there. Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor. Possibly you've heard of the name — the greatest, eh, criminal mind on Earth?
Ursa
I told you this was a puny planet.
Lex Luthor
[She and Non advance on Lex]
Wait just a moment! Wait— till you get to know me better, will you, please? [laughs nervously] Wait! Look! I-I-I-I-I can give you, uh, anything you want! I-I can give you the brass ring! The… uh, unlimited freedom to maim, kill, destroy! Plus . . . Lex Luthor's keen mind, Lex Luthor's savvy . . . [He grasps Ursa's hand.] . . . Lex Luthor's career guidance, Lex Luthor's school of better re—
General Zod
[Ursa squeezes. Lex grimaces as his bones audibly crunch.]
We have all of this without you. You cannot bargain with what you don't have.
Lex Luthor
Oh, Magnificent One. [bows] What I am bargaining with is what you do not have. The Son of Jor-El.
General Zod
(Non turns to General Zod, clearly intrigued by Luthor's offer) (taken aback)
The son of Jor-El?
Lex Luthor
I said that, didn't I?
General Zod
Jor-El, our jailer?
Lex Luthor{sarcastically): No, Jor-El the baseball player.... (seeing Non and Ursa start toward him)
Lex Luthor{serious tone}: Uh yes! Jor-El, your jailer.
General Zod
(still at a loss)
The Son or Jor-El! On this planet?
Lex Luthor
Ah, possibly you know him better by his nom de voyage, or his . . . name he travels under — Superman.
General Zod
(everything now making sense)
Ah, so this is Superman. How do you know of Jor-El?
Lex Luthor
Oh, my Fullness . . . as I explained to you before . . . I'm about the best there is.
General Zod
Revenge! We will kill the son of our jailer!
Ursa
Revenge!
Lex Luthor
Revenge! Heh heh, now we're cooking, huh?
General Zod
He flies, then?
Lex Luthor
Constantly.
General Zod
He has powers as we do?
Lex Luthor
Certainly, but, uh . . . oh, Magnificent One, he is . . . just one, where you are . . . three!
Lex Luthor
[Non growls menacingly]
Or four, if you count him twice.
General Zod
We will bring him to his knees!
Ursa
Praying!
General Zod
Yes, to me!
Lex Luthor
[Zod strides toward the door, Ursa and Non following]
Wait!
Lex Luthor
[They turn back to Lex]
First you must find him. And Lex Baby is the only one who knows where he is.
General Zod
What . . . do you want?
Lex Luthor
[Lex makes himself at home in the President's chair and lights a cigar.]
Well, General . . . the world is a big place. Thank goodness, uh . . . my needs are small. Eh, as it turns out, I have this affinity for, uh . . . beachfront property.
General Zod
(approaching Luthor and mildly irked)
What do you want?
Lex Luthor
[Lex, feet up on the Oval Office desk, makes a Nixonian double-V sign with his fingers]
Australia!
Lex Luthor
[Lex, walking through the Daily Planet, observes the destruction wrought by Non] [muttering]
Even with all this accumulated knowledge, when will these dummies learn to use a doorknob?
Lex Luthor
[He enters Perry White's office]
Hi! You should see the White House. They'll be cleaning it for months.
Lois Lane
Lex Luthor.
Jimmy Olsen
Wouldn't you know it!
General Zod
[holds Jimmy up by the scruff of his neck]
This is the son of Jor-El?
Jimmy Olsen
No, but I'll bet you're the son of a...
Lois Lane
[cuts him off]
JIMMY!
General Zod
You promised me the son of Jor-El.
Lex Luthor
Oh yes, Your Grace. But what I've given you is the next best thing. You just hold onto that little lady and he'll be along. You see, that have this relationship. She does all his public relations and he gives her every exclusive.
Lex Luthor
[Luthor snickers]
They're the best of friends. [snickers again] You know what I mean?
Ursa
What an undemanding male this Superman must be.
Lois Lane
Yeah, and you could use a tuck here and there yourself, sister.
. . .
General Zod
She lives for now. Kill the rest. [nods to Lex] Starting with him.
Lex Luthor
W— w— wait! W-wait! Wait! Don't you remember the White House? The- the Oval Room? We had a few laughs, right? Oh, it's Australia, Australia! It's too much, right, okay forget it. I can turn over a new leaf...a tree, a whole forest.
Superman
[Superman arrives, floating just outside Perry White's office window.]
General? Would you care to step outside?
Lois Lane
Superman!
Lex Luthor
Superman! Thank God. [Zod looks sharply at Lex] I mean, get him!
General Zod
Come to me, son of Jor-El! Kneel before Zod!
General Zod
Son of Jor-El. We were beginning to think you were a coward.
Superman
I'm not a coward, Zod.
Ursa
Let him prove it!
General Zod
Possibly not. It is extremely likely you are merely a fool. Like father, like son.
Superman
Somehow I just can't hear you, Zod.
General Zod
[Zod fetches slab of concrete and prepares to throw it at Superman.]
Then die as you deserve to!
General Zod
This . . . Superman is nothing of the kind! I've discovered his weakness.
Ursa
Yes.
General Zod
He cares. He actually cares for these Earth people.
Ursa
Like pets?
General Zod
I suppose so.
Ursa
Sentimental idiot.
Ursa
(Superman rams the mammoth radio antenna back onto the Metropolis State Building, onto the momentarily supine Non)
He's caged Non.
General Zod
I'll draw his fire . . . with some of my own.
General Zod
[Superman flies off, abandoning Metropolis to Zod]
Our victory is complete. The Son of Jor-El has fled.
Jimmy Olson
Superman fled?
Perry White
I don't believe you!
Lex Luthor
You heard him. Three against one.
General Zod
He fled in fear of us!
Lois Lane
(shakily)
He'll be back! As long as he's alive, he's going to try again.
General Zod
The next time we will kill him.
Lex Luthor
The next time? The next time? What am I gonna do with you people, huh? I held up my end. I delivered the Blue Boy. What do I get for my triple threat? "Bow! Yield! Kneel!" That kind of stuff closes out of town.
General Zod
Why do you say this to me… when you know I will kill you for it?
Lex Luthor
Kill me? Lex Luthor? Extinguish the greatest criminal flame of our age? Eradicate the only man on Earth with—
Ursa
Kill him!
Lex Luthor
Superman's address?
General Zod
[Zod and company arrive at the Fortress of Solitude, Lex and Lois in tow.]
Scruffy. So morbid! A sentimental replica of a planet long since vanished! No style at all!
Superman
[off-camera]
I expect better manners from my guests, Zod.
General Zod
Now. The son of Jor-El will be my slave . . . forever. If not, the millions of Earthlings you protect will pay for your defiance, beginning with this one. I sense the presence of Joe-El here. Destroy this place.
Lex Luthor
[Lex finally makes his way down the crystal walls.]
Hi, guys. Uh, sorry I'm late—
General Zod
We have no more use for this one. Kill him.
Lex Luthor
Me?! Lex Luthor? General . . . I showed you through the tough times, remember? I set your insights straight! Y-y-you came to me with nothing! I gave you Superman!
General Zod
Silence!
Lex Luthor
[Non pushes Lex, who moves off.]
Watch it! Don't touch me.
Lex Luthor
[Lex approaches Superman.] [muttering, to Superman]
Guy's a clod! [laughs nervously] Promises were made, gifts exchanged. . . I gotta hand it to you, you know. You always told the truth. Guy always knew where he stood with you.
Superman
[whispering to Lex Luthor]
: Try to get them all into this molecular chamber.
Lex Luthor
Huh?
Superman
It takes away their powers. See—
Lex Luthor
Ahh!
Superman
And turns them into ordinary human beings.
Lex Luthor
Hmm.
Superman
Now, if you could—
General Zod approaches them.
Superman
Shh! Shh!
Lex Luthor
Don't go in there, General. It's a trap.
Superman
Luthor, you poisonous snake!
Lex Luthor
That's a molecule chamber. It makes people like you . . . into people like me.
General Zod
You've done well, Lex Luthor.
Lex Luthor
General, um, the crystal there activates the mechanism.
General Zod
Lex Luthor, ruler of Australia, activate the machine.
Non grabs Luthor from behind and flies him to the machine.
Lex Luthor [on the way there]: Hugh! Whoa! Wuh!
The two land.
Lex Luthor
Thank you. [grabs the crystal] [to General Zod] With your permission.
General Zod nods. Luthor places the crystal into the machine. Superman sighs while Lois cries. Superman walks into the chamber. Lois continues crying. The machine activates. Lois puts her hand to her face. Superman steps out of the chamber
Superman
Huh, huh.
Lois continues crying. General Zod beckons Superman to come to him. Superman sighs and obeys.
General Zod
And now [Lois sniffles and continues to do so.], . . . finally. [motions Superman to kneel, and Superman obeys] Take my hand and swear eternal loyalty to Zod.
Superman takes Zod's hand...and crushes it, causing Zod to scream in pain. Superman lets go of Zod's hand, grabs Zod and lifts him into the air while standing up. Superman looks at Zod and shakes his head. He then throws Zod, who falls to his death. Non growls and attempts to fly, only to discover that he cannot. He loses his balance and falls to his death while screaming.
Lex Luthor
He switched it. He did it to them. I mean, the lights were on out here...while he was safe in there.
Lois Lane [to Ursa]: Hey, you know something? [grabs Ursa's arm and gets out of her grip.] You're a real pain in the neck!
Lois punches Ursa who falls to her death screaming.
Jor-El
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. On the woman Ursa, whose perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton. Finally, General Zod - chief architect of this intended revolution, and author of this insidious plot, to establish a "New Order" amongst us - with himself as absolute ruler! The decision of the Council will now be heard.
Council Member 1
Guilty!
Council Member 2
Guilty!
Council Member 3
Guilty!
Council Member 4
Guilty.
General Zod
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] You will bow down before me, Jor-El! I swear it! No matter that it takes an eternity! YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!! BOTH YOU AND THEN, ONE DAY, YOUR HEIRS!!!
Lex Luthor
Oh, Magnificent One. [bows] What I am bargaining with is what you do not have. The Son of Jor-El.
General Zod
The Son or Jor-El!
Lex Luthor
[to himself]
I said that right?
General Zod
Jor-El!? Our jailor?
Lex Luthor{sarcastic tone}: No, Jorel the baseball player... Non and Ursa move towards him to attack...
Lex Luthor{serious tone}: Yes, Jor-El, your jailor. Ah, possibly you know him better by his nom de voyage, or his... name he travels under — Superman.
Jimmy Olsen
Wouldn't you know it?
General Zod
[thinks Jimmy is Superman]
This is the son of Jor-El?
Jimmy Olsen
No, but I bet you're a son of a-
Lois Lane
Jimmy!
General Zod
[to Lex Luthor]
You promised me the son of Jor-El.
General Zod
Son of Jor-El. We were beginning to think you were a coward.
Clark Kent
I'm not a coward, Zod.
General Zod
It is extremely likely you are merely a fool. Like father, like son.
General Zod
(Superman flees Metropolis; the villains return to the Daily Planet)
Our victory is complete. The Son of Jor-El has fled.
Jimmy Olson
Superman fled?
Perry White
I don't believe it.
Lex Luthor
You heard him. Three against one.
General Zod
He fled in fear of us!
Lois Lane
(shakily)
He'll be back! Believe me, he'll be back.
General Zod
Then next time we will kill him.
Lex Luthor
The next time? The next time? What am I gonna do with you people, huh? I held up my end; I delivered the Blue Boy. What do I get for my triple threat? "Bow! Yield! Kneel!" That kind of stuff closes out of town.
General Zod
Why do you say this to me when you know I will kill you for it?
Lex Luthor
Kill me? Lex Luthor? Extinguish the greatest criminal flame of our age? Eradicate the only man on Earth with...
Ursa
(impatiently)
Let me kill him!
Lex Luthor
Superman's address?
General Zod
(Lois and Perry stare at Luthor in shock) (suspiciously)
What more do you want? I can see the greed written on your face.
Lex Luthor
A small incentive, oh Fullest One. A mere bauble to jog the memory.
General Zod
What more?
Lex Luthor
Cuba.
