Those words --- probably the most profound such dialogue ever to open a major motion picture --- serve as both prophecy and warning. They are a warning in that they remind those of us watching in the dark that what we are about to witness does not represent the musings or chroniclings of any one group of author/artists. Yet they are also prophecy, in that what we are about to witness is a tale of legends, spanning generations beyond any known human comprehension --- eventually recalling the genesis of one Legend .... a Legend in whose mind, heart, soul, body and spirit will be written that most heartfelt of all human desires: that of abiding by all that is good and right and just.
This, then, is his story. The year is 1948, Earth time.....
In the constant darkness of outer space, we approach a giant gaseous red star, looming proudly like a crimson jewel in the eternal night. Passing through it, we observe a small white planet, nearly calm in terms of its scope and nature. Descending downward, we soon glimpse a series of crystalline city structures, spires, towers and spheres, looking for all the universe like a painstakingly carved sculpture. This, in short, is Kryptonopolis --- capital city of the planet Krypton!
Entering the largest of Kryptonopolis' structures, the Great Council Chamber, we watch the faces of the Council's members looking on in judgment, as the wise scientist Jor-el, recaps his case against three 'rebel elements' --- Non, a "mindless aboration whose only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction;" the female known as Ursa, "whose perversions and unreasoning hatred for all Mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton;" and the leader of the trio, 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!" The decision of the Council is swift: "Guilty!"
Zod, for some reason, is not surprised by this. "The vote must be unanimous, Jor-el," says he. "It must therefore now become your decision. You alone will condemn us if you wish --- and you alone will be held responsible by me!" But Jor-el is not moved.
"You have been known to disagree with the Council before!" Zod persists, as Jor-el vanishes into the darkness. "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!" Again, bitter silence. "YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME, JOR-EL! I SWEAR IT!" Zod screams out. "NO MATTER THAT IT TAKES AN ETERNITY --- YOU WILL BOW DOWN BEFORE ME! BOTH YOU --- AND THEN, ONE DAY, YOUR HEIRS!"
But just then, the mighty dome opens, revealing the purity of the skyline of Kryptonopolis. It is the signal to summon a mighty crystalline square, which zooms far above the skyline to sweep away the three criminals. This unusual device can only be the living death that is the Phantom Zone. Here, the greatest evildoers are sent into a crystal prison of suspended animation, where there can be no hope of repreive.
Sometime later, the Councilmembers thank Jor-el for his masterful handling of an otherwise unpleasant duty. As terrible a punishment as the Phantom Zone is, Jor-el tries to explain, as he has done many times in the recent past, it ironically represents a chance for life. He expresses his apparent disgust at the Council's ignorance of that truth.
"Be warned, Jor-el," says the leader of the Council elders, "the Council has already evaluated this outlandish theory of yours."
"My friends, you know me to be neither rash nor impulsive," Jor-el responds. "I am not given to wild and unsupportable statements --- and yet I tell you that we must evacuate the planet immediately!"
"Jor-el, you are one of Krypton's greatest scientists," a second Councilman comments, "but so too is Vond-ah." The woman Vond-ah explains to Jor-el (or tries to) that the Council finds certain faults with Jor-el's conclusions. But Jor-el is unswavering: "This planet will explode within 30 days, if not sooner."
"I tell you Krypton is simply shifting its orbit!" Vond-ah replies. "Jor-el, be reasonable!" suggests the second Councilman.
"My friend, I've never been otherwise," says Jor-el. "This madness is yours!"
"This discussion is terminated," the Council leader interrupts curtly. "The decision of the Council is final." The eleven Councilmembers, including Vond-ah and the second elder, now separate themselves from Jor-el, as their leader invokes one last stern warning: "Any attempt by you to create a climate of fear and panic among the populace must be deemed by us an act of insurrection."
"You would accuse me of insurrection?" Jor-el laughs bitterly. "Has it now become a crime to cherish life?"
"You would be banished to endless imprisonment in the Phantom Zone --- that eternal void which you yourself discovered," states the Council leader, who then asks, "Will you abide by the Council's decision?"
"I will remain silent," replies Jor-el reluctantly, "and neither I nor my wife will leave Krypton." But one need only look at Jor-el's downcast face to realize that, in ignoring his warnings, the Kryptonian Council of Elders has all but virtually signed its own death warrant.
Later, as Jor-el works on an incredible crystalline rocket, shaped like a pointed star, we see Lara, his wife, carrying her little bundle of joy into the launch area. "Are you finished?" she asks. "Nearly," replies her husband. Though he wishes there were some sort of alternative, Jor-el knows that this cannot be so. "It's the only answer, Lara. If he remains here with us, he will die as surely as we will."
"But why Earth, Jor-el? They're primitives, thousands of years behind us."
"He will need that advantage if he is to survive. Their atmosphere will sustain him."
"He will defy their gravity."
"He will look like one of them."
"He won't be one of them," Lara replies. "No," says Jor-el, "but his dense molecular structure will strengthen him."
"He'll be different," Lara suggests. "Stranded."
"He'll be fast, virtually invulnerable."
"Isolated .... alone ...."
"No," replies Jor-el, as he places one large crystal into the ship's memory banks. "He will never be alone."
Meanwhile, in the Council's main hall, an Executioner droid reports to the Council that certain energy deposits to Jor-el's quarters are in excess of planetary limitations. "Investigate," the Council leader orders, "and if that investigation proves correct ---" He then sighs sadly, for he regards Jor-el as a true and noble friend. "He knew the penalty he faced ... even as a member of this Council. But the Law must be upheld!" The Executioner droid vanishes to begin his investigation, as all around the planet, the fire of the red Krypton sun begins to grow closer ...... closer .......
Back in the launch area, Jor-el and Lara reluctantly place their infant son in the crystal rocket. Tears are streaming down Lara's cheeks, as Jor-el utters his last words to his beloved child:
"You will travel far, my little Kal-el, but we will never leave you, not even in the face of our deaths. The richness of our lives shall be yours. All that I've learned, all that I've known, everything I feel --- all this and more I bequeath unto you, my son. You will carry me inside you all the days of your life; and you shall see my life through your eyes as your life shall be seen through mine ..... the son becomes the father, and the father the son ...... This is all I ..... all I can send you, ..... Kal-el!" Unbeknownst to Jor-el and Lara, the Executioner droid is secretly making his way toward the launch area......
Now, Jor-el places one huge, green power crystal into the rocket. In the background, explosions begin to echo in the distance. There is not much time. And throughout Kryptonopolis itself, the inhabitants watch their City's Council dome glow a hideous white, as the structures of the city begin to burn a pulsating blood red. Towers are beginning to fall from the superstructure holding the city together, and all around the ground begins to shake ..... and one collapsing chunk of the superstructure destroys the Executioner droid almost immediately.
Then, Jor-el activates the rocket launchers. Slowly at first, then faster and faster, the rocket gains momentum as it ascends high above the heads of Jor-el and Lara, until it bursts through the crystal ceiling of Jor-el's quarters, zooming higher, ever higher..... Towers continue to crash and fall away, while explosions continue to rock throughout the city, in the main hall of the Council Chambers and ultimately the very streets of the city, causing ruptures to form beneath people's feet! Through these ruptures, the populace practically plunge to their deaths --- and, far above, one lone starship spirals away from the dying planet: the ship that will carry the infant Kal-el to the Terran solar system!
And finally, in one huge rumble of sound, the red sun of Krypton EXPLODES, taking the planet and its people with it, and scattering fragments and particles in all directions.