Smallville (TV Series)

Persuasion (2010)

Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer

Quotes 

• Tess Mercer : I confided in you, Clark. You confided in me. You revealed your powers. You know I haven't told anyone your secret.

  Clark Kent : Only to sell me out to Zod and the others.

  Tess Mercer : No. So that you could lead them.

  Clark Kent : You've seen the future, Tess. You know what happens.

  Tess Mercer : Which is why you have to join the Kandorians and defeat Zod so he doesn't take your powers away.

  Clark Kent : He doesn't take them, Tess. Your tower does when it goes online.

  Tess Mercer : No, the satellites just create a shield that filters the radiation.

  Clark Kent : And block the source of my powers, giving them theirs.

  Tess Mercer : You have to believe me. I had no idea that your powers disappeared.

  Clark Kent : Don't worry, Tess. I'll save your world. Just not with you in it.

• Tess Mercer : We need the knowledge of your people to help us to reverse the damage we've done here, to show mercy to this planet.

  Zod : When I take over those satellites tomorrow, and when I gain my own powers, you will be the one who needs mercy.

• Tess Mercer : Hack yourself silly. You'll never crack my system.

  Chloe Sullivan : This isn't so much cracking as it is bleeding out.

  [shows a flash drive] 

  Chloe Sullivan : This is the digital equivalent to the Ebola virus.

  Tess Mercer : You take down my firewalls, and you'll be exposing Clark to much greater dangers than you can even imagine. I've done everything in my power to postpone this, but the day has finally come. The tower is ready. It's linked up to the satellites. The countdown has started, and in T-minus 18 hours, the atmosphere will turn red and the Kandorians will have their powers. But I've lost my faith in Zod. If Clark joins them, he can rule over all the Kandorians, even Zod. But you and I have to work together.

  Chloe Sullivan : It's quite the offer. Let me think about it.

  [punches Tess] 

  Chloe Sullivan : I'm sorry, but embracing the red skies definitely violates my no-conspiring-with-baddies policy.

• Zod : [surprising Tess in the bathtub]  Ah, no. I like you just where you are.

  Tess Mercer : Then maybe you'd like to join me.

  Zod : You're already in bed with someone else. Kal-El. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Wrong choice of bedfellows. I'm moments away from completing my tower.

  Tess Mercer : I thought you needed the Book of Rao to finish it.

  Zod : We found another way. And it seems your satellite systems are... lagging behind schedule.

  Tess Mercer : We're onlining the safety tests now.

  Zod : I'll handle that, thank you.

  Tess Mercer : Only I can run them.

  Zod : [holding her wine glass]  Well, now that I've got your fingerprints, I can access all of the networking data without you. Cheers.

  Tess Mercer : You're digging your own grave.

  Zod : Then you better make sure there's room in there for both of us.

• Zod : You neglected to tell me that Kal-El was supplying new identities to my people.

  Tess Mercer : They're no more your people than they are his. And eventually, he will be their leader.

  Zod : Now, don't underestimate their loyalty to me.

  Tess Mercer : But they don't see you as the savior that he is. There's blood on your hands. You're tainted. A reminder of their past. He's the promise for their future.

  Zod : It's what you've always wanted, isn't it? Help give my people their powers so they can save your doomed planet. Hand over the reins to Kal-El and then what? Hmm? Get rid of me?

  Tess Mercer : If necessary.