Superman: Red Son (2020) - full transcript

Go ahead. Run!

But when we catch you,

we're going to break

those skinny legs of yours.

And stomp

on your ugly face!

Leave him alone!

He didn't do anything to you.

I said, leave him alone.

Bitch!

I'll hit you again,

Dimitri Romanovich.

If you weren't a girl...

Come on.

Are they gone?

I can't keep saving you

like this, Somishka.

You have to stop running,

and find the courage

to face them.

It's... It's not

like that, Svetlana.

I didn't run

because I was afraid of them.

I ran because I was afraid

to hurt them.

Have I ever lied

to you, Svetlana?

How is this possible?

I don't know.

Something has been

happening inside me,

for weeks now.

Something incredible.

Such incredible powers,

Somishka.

You have to give them

to the State.

The people need you.

Extraordinary reports

coming out of the Soviet Union.

Tales of a being,

allegedly alien in origin

with powers and abilities

far beyond those of mortal men.

This footage released by

the Russians appears to show

the Soviet Superman in action.

If true,

this could be the beginning

of a new kind of arms race.

This is undoubtedly

mere propaganda

tailored to send

ripples of fear into the West.

And in these treacherous times,

fear is something

we must never surrender to.

This is George Taylor,

saying good night,

and may your tomorrows all...

As I said, Mr. President,

I anticipated this.

Of course,

I understand your concern,

but I assure you,

the Luthor Company has this under control.

We'll find out soon enough

if he's real.

All I need is a hundred

technicians, $20 million,

and permission to drop

a satellite on Metropolis.

Drop a satellite on Metropolis?

Eisenhower.

Are you out of your damn mind?

I have to go, sir.

Something more urgent

just came up.

You can't...

I'd say extremely urgent.

We gather here today

to celebrate

a glorious achievement.

The largest hydroelectric

station in the world.

Ten thousand of our bravest...

...strongest men

worked ceaselessly

to construct it.

But even with

their sweat and toil,

this dam would never

have been completed

in so short a time

if not for the efforts

of a truly extraordinary

young man...

A young man

I have come to look upon

as both a great Soviet hero

and a son.

Comrades,

I give you...

Superman!

Can't I just smile and wave?

We all must make sacrifices

for the greater good, comrade.

But this display?

You are a symbol

for all we aspire to be.

The people need

to hear your voice.

Your words are extremely kind,

Premier Stalin.

Perhaps too kind.

I am no hero.

I'm merely a servant

of the State

who seeks, as you do,

to better the lives

of our citizens.

Yes, I work to protect them,

perhaps inspire them

in some small way.

But make no mistake,

I didn't build this dam.

The Soviet people did,

and may it stand forever

as an example

of what we as a people

can achieve here

and across the world,

so long as we remain united

by our ideals.

Colonel Masoff.

What is it?

The Zenit satellite, sir,

it's fallen out of orbit.

What?

But that's...

What's the trajectory?

North America, sir.

The eastern seaboard

of the United States.

Look, up in the sky!

I don't blame

those among you that fear me,

for you've been taught

to fear all your lives.

And if you learn

nothing else today, learn this.

We in the Soviet Union

do not oppose

the citizens

of the United States.

We only oppose the government

that oppresses you.

Our sole desire is for peace

and equality among all men.

And what about women?

Lois Lane,

Daily Planet.

Lois Lane Luthor.

I know of you...

and your capitalist husband.

If you're really serious about

us wanting to learn about you,

how about an interview?

The press is the enemy

of the people.

Why would I let you

twist my words

and use them against me?

So, the great Soviet Superman

is afraid of

the free expression of ideas.

You really shouldn't smoke,

Mrs. Luthor.

This is the same brand

my doctor smokes.

So, you're not afraid

of the American press.

I'm not afraid of anything.

Have you ever considered

that the lack of fear

can lead to arrogance?

Recklessness?

Eisenhower's saying your people

sabotaged their own satellite...

We did no such thing.

...so that you could come

flying in to save the day.

You have to admit,

it is the perfect

propaganda opportunity.

Is it propaganda to envision

a world where

the poor and afflicted

can be lifted out of misery?

Where the working classes

can rise together

and reshape humanity

for generations?

You're a super alien.

What could you possibly

know about humanity?

Until I was 12 years old,

Mrs. Luthor...

"Lane." I'm not an appendage.

Until I was 12 years old,

Ms. Lane,

I was as human as you are.

This planet is the only home

I've ever known.

And I would sacrifice anything

to protect her.

The United States already is

the protector

of the free world.

The bulwark

of liberty and equality.

Your bulwark was built

on the backs of slaves

and immigrants.

And it hasn't changed much,

has it?

While you and your privileged

kind live in luxury,

all across your country,

people are struggling,

suffering,

dying.

I can't deny that there's a gap

between the American dream

and the American reality.

But there are some massive

gaps in your utopian vision

that need addressing as well.

What is this?

Proof of the repression

in the USSR.

The Gulags,

mass executions of people

unfortunate enough

to be labelled dissidents

by your beloved Premier Stalin.

Lies.

I would certainly know

if such things existed.

Would you?

Welcome, Superman.

We

weren't expecting you.

I'm sure you weren't.

Shielded by lead to prevent

me from discovering it.

You are the Superman.

They say you can hear a leaf

fall a thousand miles away.

And you never heard our cries?

It is you.

At last.

Svetlana?

I...

I could have died...

Should have died, long ago.

But I held on for you.

I never stopped believing

that you would come one day

to liberate us.

That we'd see each other...

one last time.

But what did you do

to deserve such a punishment?

I knew you...

before.

I'm so sorry, Lana.

I didn't know.

Don't blame yourself.

You are...

You have always been...

my hope.

My savior.

But I am no...

This is a world,

where the strong rule.

And you are the strongest

of all of us.

Remember when we were

small, Somishka?

How I used to save you

from those bullies?

Now you must save all of us.

Use your power to...

Millions of people dead.

Explain that to me,

Premier Stalin.

Help me to understand how...

Why you could do this?

I tried to protect

you, my son.

To keep you untainted

by the grim realities

of governments.

I asked you, why?

Because, as much as

it breaks my heart...

it is necessary.

How could such atrocities

be necessary?

What you call atrocities...

I call terrible necessities.

For our vision

of a better world to succeed,

we must weed out

the insurgents.

The weak.

The ones whose minds have been

poisoned against the State.

They're human beings.

You're like

a blind kitten, comrade.

So good, so pure.

But you just can't see.

You must understand.

You must believe

that everything I've done

has been for the ultimate good

of the people

and the welfare

of the Soviet State.

The State's welfare...

Or your welfare?

They're one and the same.

We need to close the gap

between our highest

communist ideals

and the cruel reality

I saw today.

Then I urge you to try.

But you'll quickly find

that the only way

to achieve that goal

is to follow my example.

The unpleasant truth, my son,

is that certain people must die

in order for the system

to work.

Wise words.

What now?

Now?

Now I save the world.

You might consider

cutting down

on those four-course

dinners, Lex.

You're getting a little thick

around the middle.

Vanity is more

your style, my dear.

Unfortunately, darling,

we live in a world

where people talk

as much about my looks

as my work.

While a man

can be fat or skinny,

short or tall,

hairy or bald...

and it doesn't matter

one tiny bit.

Did you read

Hedda Hopper's column today?

She claims you're pregnant.

Like I'm ever gonna

end up some happy housewife

with a brood of annoying brats.

That's mine.

Lois Lane.

What?

Slow down, Perry.

Right. Got it.

Stalin is dead.

Apparently all hell's

breaking loose in Moscow.

As I knew it would

when I gave you that file.

I hope this isn't a mistake.

I don't make mistakes.

Morning, Mr. Luthor.

Special Agent Olsen.

How is my favorite G-man

babysitter today?

Excellent, Mr. L.

And how's my most

exhausting assignment?

The usual.

Burdened by

your own brilliance?

Frustrated by the limitations

of everyone around you?

You know me too well, James.

I'll say it again.

This is extraordinary,

even for you.

True,

technology curves stipulated

that none of this equipment

would even be invented

for another five decades.

I guess the Man of Steel makes

your head work faster, huh?

Careful there!

The genetic information

the alien left

on that satellite is essential.

Especially if Ike

expects me to build him

a Superman of his very own.

We thought

that the bloody conflict

was over four years ago,

that a fragile peace

had finally come

to the war-torn

Korean Peninsula.

We didn't realize just

how fragile it was.

It began 24 hours ago,

when the Soviet Premier

announced

that he would be

liberating the South

from American oppression

and reuniting the Korean people

under his rule.

The last war went on

for three years.

This one was over

in three hours.

We deeply regret

the loss of life today.

Even a single death

is a tragedy.

But a few thousand

weighed against

the nearly three million

who perished in

the previous Korean conflict,

we believe that's a small

price to pay for peace.

And there will be peace

and prosperity

for all Korean citizens.

I promise you that we are

not here to dominate you

or trample your rights.

We are here to lift you up

and set you free,

to offer you a better life.

And what we offer

the people of Korea...

we offer to the entire world.

I hear congratulations

are in order.

Thank you, Olsen.

The solar engine I conceived

in the shower this morning

will certainly revolutionize

the automobile industry.

- But how...

- I wasn't talking about you, sir.

Perry White's retirement?

Your wife becoming editor-in-chief

of the Daily Planet?

If we'd seen each other for more than

a few hours these past four months,

maybe you wouldn't be

so befuddled.

Sorry, my dear, I've been understandably

distracted with the project.

Oh, Christ, don't tell me.

Yep, you forgot

our anniversary.

Again.

Impeccable taste,

as always.

I'll dispatch Ms. Teschmacher

to get you... something.

It'll be delivered later today.

You're such a sentimentalist.

You're a woman of great

patience, Ms. Lane.

In other words,

why do I put up with him?

Three reasons.

One, he supports my career.

Two, the sex is phenomenal.

And three?

That man is gonna

change the world.

With the emergence

of the Soviet Superman,

the Cold War reached

a freezing point.

Our nation reacted to this

new threat as it had to.

By doing everything in our power

to hold back the communist tide

through force of arms

and force of will.

But as recent lessons in Korea

have taught us,

conventional weapons

aren't enough when one man,

one alien,

has the power to bring

entire nations to their knees.

And so, we turn to the only person

who could shift the balance of power.

Thank you,

Mr. President,

for both your service to your great

nation and your confidence in me.

A confidence that I believe,

has been rewarded today.

Many of our citizens have lived

in fear of the Soviet Superman.

But no longer.

As of today,

the United States

has its own living weapon.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I give you...

Superior Man.

Faster, stronger and far

deadlier than our Russian friend.

And once unleashed...

...my creation will restore American

superiority and bring the Red Menace

to its knees.

America first!

Questions?

One at a time, please.

Mr. True.

I'm confused, Mr. Luthor.

A project like this, wouldn't it be better

to keep it secret from the Russians?

Why reveal this new weapon to

the world in such a public way?

For one very good reason.

I want our friend in Moscow

to know what's coming.

I want him to be afraid.

To say that I am honored

to have you here, Ambassador,

is a massive understatement.

Call me Diana, please.

On Themyscira, we have little

patience for formalities.

And what shall I call you?

Superman.

I had a name once, Diana...

before I stopped being a man,

and became a symbol.

Then "Superman" it is.

If only my mother had come.

If she could meet you,

see what you've accomplished here.

She's still resistant?

Queen Hippolyta

doesn't trust man's world.

But you do.

I believe that the only chance for

peace in this world is reaching out,

forging alliances.

Finding common ground.

The Amazons can't keep their

heads buried in the sand forever.

So you have hope.

You give me hope, Superman.

Stalin was a brute.

But you, I think,

actually embody the ideals you profess.

You're the first person I've

met with abilities like mine.

Each of us alone has the power

to change the world.

But together...

Forgive me, I...

I come from an island

of all women.

Work it out for yourself.

Ah...

Right. Of course.

Hmm.

Well, that's a relief.

Is it?

I thought sex was

what you expected from me.

It's certainly pleasant

enough, but ultimately,

it's a diversion from

the critical work at hand.

Nothing wrong with

a good diversion...

with the right partner.

I don't need or want

a mate, Diana, but...

I could certainly use a friend.

I'd be proud to offer

my friendship.

And my assistance.

Perhaps together, we can change

the world for the better.

And what do you make of this duplicate

Superman the Americans have created?

If you're asking me

if I'm worried, no.

Our intelligence reports indicate that

this so-called Superior Man is flawed.

Incomplete and inoperable.

A propaganda tool,

meant to frighten us.

We do not frighten easily.

So much fear,

so much mistrust.

On both sides.

Perhaps I could be a bridge

between your nations.

I think you overestimate the

Americans' desire for peace.

Superman!

Come to me now, Russki.

Before I bring this entire city

down on your head!

Years ago, when Metropolis

was threatened,

I put aside our countries' differences

and protected the lives of the innocent.

Yet you dare to come here,

as an invader.

Not an invader, a liberator.

I am truth. I am justice.

I am the American way!

This violence is unnecessary.

You're not an enemy, you are a

victim of the capitalist machine.

- Surrender now, and I will...

- I am an American,

and I will never surrender

to a commie dictator.

Very well.

You had your chance.

The subcutaneous camera you

embedded in him is working fine.

Unfortunately, he's not.

More power.

He's nearing overload now, sir.

Of course he is.

Now, give him more juice.

More juice.

Superior Man hates you.

Superior Man kill you!

- Lex, for God's sake.

- More!

Me am truth. Me am justice.

Me am... Americ...

Americ...

Americ...

Americ... Americ...

Americ...

What's happening to you?

Not know...

Me feel... strange.

Me...

Luthor.

Unfortunate, but expected.

There was only a 12% chance Superior

Man could have killed Superman

before he disintegrated

from the strain to his systems.

- What?

- You deliberately put that poor creature

into a state of overload,

knowingly sent him

to his death. Why?

Not a "him," darling, an "it."

An inhuman construct created

from the alien's DNA.

Why?

To test Superman's limits.

Unnerve him, psychologically

and emotionally.

For a moment there...

I actually saw fear

in his eyes.

And that means...

You created that creature and

then very consciously murdered it.

We're at war, Lois.

Your compassion,

however admirable, is misplaced.

Don't!

I'm sorry.

This is Jack Ryder reporting

from Checkpoint Charlie,

where the final reinforced section of

the Berlin Wall is being put in place.

This veritable Iron Curtain,

a massive undertaking

of the democratic allies,

assures all freedom-loving

people of the West

that they are finally safe from

the cancerous spread of communi...

Excuse me,

ladies and gentlemen,

but the sound of what can only be described

as a sonic boom has shaken the ground here...

Workers of the West,

too long have you been deceived

by the lies of America.

This pitiful wall was created to

prevent you from knowing the truth...

that you live your lives

enslaved to the capitalist elite.

In the name of peace,

in the name of equality for the

United States and Western Europe,

I open this gate.

I tear down this wall.

Ladies and gentlemen,

from what we've just seen here today,

it is only a matter of time,

very little time,

until all of Western Europe

is absorbed,

is taken

by the Soviet Superman.

The attack on Stalingrad by the alien

artificial intelligence called Brainiac

has haunted the Soviet people

for years.

The entire city remains

miniaturized,

secreted away in the Kremlin

where our Premier works tirelessly

to restore Stalingrad's population.

Over time, Superman was able

to reprogram Brainiac,

and the living computer

now serves the State.

Poverty, disease, and ignorance have been

virtually eliminated in the Warsaw Pact states.

And disobedience to the party

is now a thing of the past.

The glorious future envisioned

by Karl Marx is here.

Really?

When we're all his pets.

Animals in a carefully

constructed cage.

He may feed

and shelter everyone,

but the only freedom we have is to

be exactly what he wants us to be.

To do exactly

as he wants us to do.

The only answer to this world

of perfect order is chaos.

We have to blow

the entire system apart.

Which is why this museum

is going to explode

in ten minutes.

Everyone, please proceed to the exits

in an orderly fashion.

There's more than

enough time for...

Did I say ten minutes?

I meant ten seconds.

- Where did he go?

- He's on you, Petrovitch.

- There!

- Open fire!

You serve that

terrorist bastard,

plant his bombs...

take lives

in the Batman's name?

You don't deserve to live.

But it's not your fault,

is it?

He's fed you lies.

Brainwashed you.

You're broken.

I can fix you.

What kind of

human being would do this?

A soulless lunatic

with no respect for human life.

Men.

Not all men.

No powers to speak of,

yet this Batman eludes the police,

the military.

- You.

- I swear to you, Diana,

his day will come.

The Army

retrieved it six weeks ago.

As soon as I was informed,

I brought Mr. Luthor in

to consult on the project.

Of course, to Lex,

"consult" means "take over."

I do my best to serve

my country, Mr. President.

You know that.

You serve the pursuit

of knowledge

above all else, Lex,

but I respect that.

If I may ask, sir,

what is it exactly

that they retrieved?

See for yourself.

Christ on a cracker.

Apologies, sir.

That's all right, Captain.

I just about shit a brick

myself, first time I saw it.

The ship is made

of a fascinating alloy.

We haven't been

able to identify it yet.

Although we have been able

to determine the age

and probable use

of the vehicle.

But this,

however spectacular,

pales beside what was found

within the craft.

At first, we thought

it was a simple ornament.

But now...

We're beginning to suspect

that it's the doorway

to a power source

as old as the universe itself.

Why haven't you

removed the ring?

We've requested

permission, Mr. Luthor.

But the brass is concerned that

it might be some kind of...

Problem solved.

Understand,

it could take decades

to retro-engineer this weapon.

Why are you

telling me this, sir?

Why did you bring me here?

Because,

Captain Jordan,

we're setting up an entirely

new branch of the military.

And I want you to lead it.

It's finally completed, Diana.

And I wanted you

to be the first to see it.

From here,

I can be certain that the USSR

ticks with the precision

of a Swiss watch.

Brainiac.

Summarize today's

statistics, please.

Production is up 8%,

life expectancy has increased

to 97 Earth years,

with greater increases

predicted over the next decade.

Suicides are down since I added

fluoxetine hydrochloride

to the water supply.

Birth rates are

on the rise, and...

Thank you, Brainiac.

What is it?

My mother.

She wants to shut down

the Themysciran embassy.

What? After all I've achieved?

But how have you achieved it?

Better than the Gulags,

isn't it?

Better than extermination.

A day will come when it won't be

necessary Diana, but till then...

And what if

that day doesn't come?

Is even one soul

suffering like this

worth the price

of your perfect world?

- On Paradise Island...

- Paradise Island is unique.

Human nature is dark, brutal.

It requires different methods.

Human nature,

or man's nature?

Would you prefer

we were like America?

Brainiac.

A nation in decline, Princess.

Economic depression.

Social unrest bordering on civil war.

Millions on the brink

of starvation.

I had high hopes for Kennedy

when he was first elected.

But he's turned out to be

just like the rest of them.

Ranting about the Red Menace,

refusing all offers of aid.

Perhaps it would be

more efficient, sir,

to invade their shores

and compel them to align

with the rest of the world.

Out of the question.

This global revolution

has been,

with rare exceptions,

bloodless.

America will eventually fall,

and we'll be there

to pick up the pieces.

Can't your mother see

that we're building

a better world?

Queen Hippolyta believes

that freedom must spring

from within.

That it can't be imposed

from without,

no matter how high-minded

the motives.

But...

I've told her to wait,

to give you more time.

I haven't given up on you yet.

The dinner

was wonderful, Premier.

What? Yes, I'm glad

you enjoyed it, Mr. Ambassador.

It's been too long since we

spent an evening together.

We have missed

your extraordinary hospitality

and your warm friendship.

As the representative

of the People's Republic,

- I have nothing but the greatest...

- We've known each other

for some years, Ambassador Lee,

have we not?

We have.

Then why are you

still so cautious,

so tense around me?

"Tense"?

You are our savior.

The man who is bringing peace and

prosperity to a troubled world.

- Whose flag flies over my...

- The truth, Ambassador.

You terrify me.

- Superman!

- Diana.

Ten seconds.

Batman said you only

have ten seconds to find me

before...

Eight seconds to track

her voice here.

Expected you in six.

What have you done?

My Lasso of Truth,

its energy is part of me,

of my very soul.

Batman used it to bind me

psychically and physically.

- And not even you have the power to...

- Shut up.

You see, now she is

as obedient to me

as those poor mind-jacked

dissidents are to you.

And she's under orders

to kill herself

if you harm me in any way.

What do you want?

What I've wanted

since I was a child.

To destroy you.

To break and utterly humiliate

the great Superman.

For all your powers, you've always

underestimated the greatest weapon of all...

the human mind.

I can see your brain

from here, Batman,

and it's nothing

to boast about.

And can you see...

- You think you're going to stop me with that?

- No.

With this.

Sun lamps, wonderful.

Let them burn for a few thousand

years, and I might get...

Impossible.

These lamps were provided by a

mutual friend of ours from America

who specializes

in the impossible.

They simulate the conditions

of a red sun.

The conditions of your

home world.

Pain is

a new sensation, yes?

Get used to it.

I saved you all.

Destroyed the Gulags.

Gave you paradise.

Did you?

You and Comrade Stalin,

may have different methods,

but you're variations

on the same tiresome theme.

Narcissistic,

power-hungry egomaniacs

bent on reshaping the world

in their own grotesque image.

But in the end,

all men like you inevitably fall.

And there you will stay for the

remainder of your wretched life...

while my followers rise up

and finally

take our country back.

You may speak freely.

You're a monster.

And he's not?

Men.

All of you alike in the end.

My mother...

was right!

Game's over, Batman.

You don't understand

at all, do you?

It may be a game to you,

but not to me.

Never to me.

Don't worry,

I'm not going to hurt you.

I'm going to help you.

Just a few hours

of brain surgery,

and then, a nice job

in a Moscow laundry for you.

Diane, let me help you.

Like you were going

to help Batman?

What? No, of course not.

- I was just...

- I couldn't let you die, Superman.

But I can no longer call myself...

your friend.

This is what all men

bring upon themselves

in the end.

And this is what happens

to women...

foolish enough

to trust them.

As it was

with the Lasso of Truth,

it is now with us.

The bond has been broken.

After years of unrest,

insurrection,

and political assassinations,

the end of the American epic

seemed assured.

But the election of

Alexander J. Luthor

proved to be a miraculous turning

point for the United States.

President Luthor,

ably assisted by Vice President Olsen

and press secretary

Lois Lane Luthor,

slowly brought the country

back from decades of chaos.

Under his leadership,

a thriving democracy has been restored,

and America is on the rebound.

But the US recovery, has sent ripples

of unrest through the Soviet Empire,

as people across the globe

begin to realize

that you don't have to give

one man all the power

in order for the world

to be a better place.

Turn it off.

I'll give Luther one thing,

he's a master of propaganda.

A handful of unruly demonstrations,

and they call it an "uprising."

The American resurgence

is having an impact, sir,

and not an advantageous one.

I estimate that

within three years,

discontent in the Warsaw Pact

nations will reach critical...

I don't care

about your estimations.

Sorry, Brainiac.

I am, as I often remind you,

an artificial lifeform

void of emotion.

There is never a need

to apologize.

May I speak freely, sir?

Of course.

Luthor has always

been a danger.

Yet, for years,

you resisted direct action,

remaining firm in the belief

that America will consume itself,

be the engine

of its own destruction.

And it almost was.

It will be.

It is my assessment that an

invasion of the United States

is our only recourse.

Conquer the Americans,

capture Luthor.

Re-condition him.

No.

If I'd wanted to,

I could've attacked

and brought America

to its knees years ago.

But I want to achieve my goals

by winning the argument,

not beating my opponents

into submission.

At the moment, sir,

President Luthor is the one who is winning.

America is like a cancer cell,

and it must be removed.

If we attack now, I estimate a

total of only 6.5 million dead.

No!

That's a choice

I will never make.

The choice may have

just been made for you, sir.

Missiles?

Those are not missiles.

Home base,

this is Colonel Jordan.

ETA red bunker, 20 minutes.

Copy, Jordan.

We're only gonna get one shot at this,

so knock it out of the park.

Roger, home base.

Unidentified flying object

approaching, Colonel Jordan.

Approximate speed is...

really freakin' fast.

- Nervous, Captain?

- No, sir.

Given the stakes,

fear is a luxury we can't afford.

Damn right.

Look alive, Lanterns.

We've got incoming.

Focus, Lanterns.

Think green thoughts!

Is that the best you've got?

Oh, God, that freak

is unstoppable.

Keep it together, Gardner.

Focus your will.

- We got it, Colonel.

- Sure as hell...

Diana.

I should've known

you'd come to back me up.

Back you up?

In the name of the friendship

we once shared,

in the name of this planet

we both love,

I have come to beg you...

all of you, to stop this, now.

Before the entire Earth

is consumed in

your insane war.

- Stop? But Luthor...

- Peace is the way, Superman.

Let me intercede,

Let me speak to President Luthor and...

That monster could

manipulate you,

convince you to turn against me

in a matter of minutes.

Do you really think

so little of me?

That's not what

I meant, Diana,

but I can't stop now.

Don't you see?

He's given me no choice.

What I see is that

the man I once admired

is long gone...

if he was ever there.

Then I am truly sorry.

You're just another

pathetic man, aren't you?

- Diana...

- As of this moment,

the Amazon nation washes

its hands of you.

Themyscira will remain

hidden to men's eyes

for all eternity.

Farewell, Superman.

We will never see

each other again.

Women, right?

Light him up!

You were right, Brainiac.

It's time to take this

straight to Luthor.

Unexpected, sir.

No soldiers.

No Secret Service.

No defense at all.

He's up to something.

Whatever the game is, Luthor,

whatever ultimate weapon

you're planning to unleash...

it's too late.

It's never too late.

How did you get that?

My husband's always ten steps

ahead of you.

Look at them.

Like specimens

in a laboratory.

Like flies in amber.

Just the way you wanted it.

What are you saying?

I've spent decades

trying to restore them.

You're telling me that Brainiac

couldn't have done it at any time?

No.

Brainiac was damaged

when I found him.

- We tried and tried to undo this...

- Actually, sir,

the restoration technology

was always available.

But you did not want me

to utilize it.

I never said that.

Words were

not necessary.

Stalingrad is a representation

of all you have worked for.

All you desire.

A perfect symbol for a dictator

who spent his entire life trying

to put the whole world in a bottle.

You have to believe me.

All I wanted was...

to put an end

to human suffering.

Shut down your weapon

systems, Brainiac.

We're going home.

Not recommended, sir.

Retreat now will give

the Americans the advantage,

- throw the USSR into chaos.

- I don't care.

Stalin once called

me a blind kid.

So pure in my beliefs,

so walled in by my ideals

that I was unavailable

to see reality.

Maybe he was right.

But I finally do see that

this is humanity's world,

and they have to be free

to make their own mistakes,

chart their own course.

And your perfect world,

your utopia, sir?

It's in their heads.

That is

an unacceptable response.

I urge you to reconsider.

Lois, get inside!

You were never reprogrammed,

were you?

You wanted me to bring you

to Moscow.

A superb strategy, was it not?

Expanding and consuming,

nation by nation.

Why settle for a city

in a bottle

when you can possess

an entire world?

Lex?

What is this thing?

You know

I'm always prepared, dear.

Now get down to the bunker

and let me handle this.

But you could die out here.

Really, Lois, all these years together

and you have so little faith in me.

I've never lost faith.

We've got to get through

his force field.

My force fields have been

immeasurably improved since Stalingrad.

You barely pierced them then...

and only because I allowed it.

You used me!

Manipulated me as if I was

some brainless puppet.

My methods were not

unlike yours,

only more efficient.

Until now.

This is illogical.

You are merely

a thing of flesh, while I am...

A useless machine.

Well done, Superman.

Now, having realized what a

sociological disaster you were causing,

will you have the decency

to leave Earth?

My only plan right now is to bury

this ship in the Sea of Tranquility.

Then I'll decide whether or not

I can safely stay on Earth.

What the hell?

He must have had a self-destruct

mechanism encoded into the hard drive

in case he was defeated.

The six mini black holes that were powering

his engines have been primed to go off,

and I can't stop it.

Then it's on me.

When it explodes, it's gonna wipe out

everything in a 15-million-mile radius.

Even you aren't fast enough

to get it clear.

Don't count on it.

Get out of here, Lex.

- But...

- Go.

Now!

What's he doing?

Saving the world.

Remember

when we were small, Somishka?

How I used to save you

from those bullies?

Now you must save all of us.

Use your power to...

Superman, gone.

Brainiac, gone.

One could be forgiven for thinking

this had all been worked out

to the tenth decimal point

25 years ago.

Checkmate, Superman.

It is with no small amount of

sorrow, and a vast amount of pride

that I stand before you today

to say farewell

to this sacred office

and its scared trust.

With the death of Superman, the collapse

of the Soviet Empire is inevitable.

We see it happening even now.

But it's not the American way to

leave an enemy gasping in the dust.

We will reach out.

We will give aid and comfort

to the Russian people.

And with the determination and compassion

so unique to the spirit of this nation,

we will reinvigorate

the Soviet economy.

A people that have lived too

long in the shadow of oppression

will awaken to the true power,

the shining glory of democracy.

Be assured that, in time, all the Soviet

nations will gladly and willingly join us

in the formation of a truly

global United States.

The world we'll build together

won't be perfect...

but it will be one

we can all be proud of,

because it will be a reflection

of the very best of humanity.

My resignation has shocked

many of you.

But a man has to know when

it's time to leave the stage.

I leave it in the capable hands

of a truly great man

who has worked beside me for

more years than I dare to count.

President James B. Olsen.

I entrust that vision

not just to President Olsen,

but to all of you.

And with that, I bid you all

a truly heartfelt farewell.

Time to leave the stage, huh?

Well, time to leave

that stage.

What are you gonna do now?

Oh, I don't know.

Write the great

American novel, maybe.

Find a cure

for the common cold.

Or maybe I'll just retire

to a desert island

with the smartest, strongest,

most challenging, most beautiful woman

I've ever known.

I kind of like

that last option.