Smallville (TV Series)

Rosetta (2003)

Christopher Reeve: Virgil Swann

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dr. Virgil Swann : Hello, Clark. I've been expecting you.

• Clark Kent : [reading Kryptonian]  "We will be with you, Kal-El, for all the days of your life." What does this mean?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : I'm not sure, but one thing I've learned about science is the value of patience.

  [Clark notices a picture of outer space on the wall with an area circled] 

  Clark Kent : Is that where Krypton is?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : No, that's where Krypton was. I followed the signal's path billions of miles out into space. I was hoping to discover its origin but instead, I found nothing.

  Clark Kent : Planets just don't disappear. What do you think happened to it?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : Oh, it could be any one of a million different scenarios. War, famine, disease. I mean, look at the world around us. Is it really that hard to believe?

  Clark Kent : Well, I can't be the only one. There must be others like me.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : There was only one message.

  Clark Kent : Why me? There must be a reason why I was sent to this planet.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : You won't find the answers by looking to the stars. It's a journey you'll have to take by looking inside yourself. You must write your own destiny... Kal-El.

• Dr. Virgil Swann : [showing Clark the Kryptonian language]  Does any of that look familiar?

  Clark Kent : What is it?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : It's a message from the stars, Clark. All my life, I've been staring out into space wondering. Wondering is anybody else out there, and then thirteen years ago, I got an answer.

  Clark Kent : The day of the meteor shower.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : One of my receiving stations picked up a faint signal. It took me years to decrypt it. And finally I discovered a mathematical key that was built into the transmission.

  Clark Kent : Can you read it?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : Yes. It says "This is Kal-El of Krypton. Our infant son, our last hope. Please protect him and deliver him from evil."

  Clark Kent : Kal-El. Krypton.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : I've always wondered what happened to that child. Did he survive the journey? If he lived among us? And then three days ago, I saw the symbol for hope burned into the side of a barn in Smallville. And I found out that the farmer and his wife had an adopted son.

  Clark Kent : So you think I'm Kal-El? I'm just Clark Kent.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : No, no, no, no. I'm-I'm not trying to expose you, Clark. I'm just... I'm just seeking the truth.

  Clark Kent : I'm sorry, Doctor. The truth is I'm not who you think I am.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : If you can live with that decision, so can I. But if you walk out that door... it'll never be open to you again. Then you'll never know the second part of the message.

• Clark Kent : Tell me something, Doctor. Why are you doing this to me?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : We all have our windmills, Clark. I need to know I'm right. Once I do, it'll never leave this room.

• Clark Kent : Hello? Hello, Dr. Swann?

  [getting no answer, he turns to leave] 

  Clark Kent : What am I doing here?

  Dr. Virgil Swann : Looking for answers, I assume.

• Dr. Virgil Swann : You're probably wondering why a billionaire scientist works in the back room of a planetarium.

  Clark Kent : The thought had crossed my mind.

  Dr. Virgil Swann : Well, I find it peaceful. Besides, I own the building.