01x03 - The Origin of the Silver Surfer: Part 3

[bunniefuu]

For millennia,

the peaceful teachings
of the world of Zenn-La

have brought the universe
wisdom and hope.

Attempting to ease
his eternal hunger for energy,

the unvanquishable being
called Galactus

struck at Zenn-La.

The destruction of the planet
appeared imminent.

Then, Norrin Radd,
a brilliant young student

made a fateful covenant
with the despoiler.

In return
for the sparing of Zenn-La,

Norrin Radd gave up
his home and his love

to become Galactus' herald
and scout.

As the Silver Surfer,

he soared
to the ends of the universe

finding planets
for his master to devour.

With his memories
hidden from him,

the Silver Surfer
never understood

why he was so moved

by the plight
of Galactus' victims

until he was forced
into mental battle

with the tyrant, Thanos,

an entity dedicated
to universal annihilation.

During the conflict,

the mental barrier
erected by Galactus

was breached,

and the Silver Surfer's

awareness of his past returned

only to be lost once more,

leaving an even greater sense
of loneliness and betrayal.

As the Silver Surfer
confronts his master

about this treachery,

it is my duty to observe

all that occurs here

for I am the Watcher,

and this is the site
of Galactus' latest depredation,

a small blue and green world
its inhabitants call Earth.

[theme music playing]

[thunder rumbling]

[Silver Surfer] Galactus!

The time has come
for us to talk.

There is no need, my herald.

I have found a planet
with more life energy

than I ever dared imagine,

and for that reason I forgive

your failure
to perform your duties,

for now.

But I do not forgive you.

Those are audacious words,
Silver Surfer.

I want my life back.
I demand my soul.

[Galactus laughing]

I pledged
that I would serve you,

not give up my past.

We will discuss this
another time, my Silver Surfer.

For now, it is your duty,

no, your obligation,

to seek out
my next source of energy.

It is your obligation
to return my memories

for now and evermore.

[Galactus] I said go!

[Silver Surfer screaming]

[Galactus laughs]

The database has analyzed
the probe's data, Lord Glenn.

Process.

I am sorry, my lord.

This star system lacks
the essential elements.

We cannot build
an advanced technology here.

We will continue
our search, Ivar.

Somewhere in this universe
must be a place

where we can settle in safety

and recover from the doom
brought upon us by Galactus

and his herald,
the Silver Surfer.

[Silver Surfer] What happened?

Galactus brushed me away
with as much thought

as I might give a speck of dust.

[man]
This is the United States Navy.

Remain where you are.

[Silver Surfer]
Do these beings not realize

that their world
is coming to an end?

I must help them understand.

To me, my board.

My planetary brothers,

you must gather yourselves
and flee this world

while there is still time.

[man] It's a man,
a man of silver.

Whatever he is,
he's wiping out our world.

[Silver Surfer]
They look so familiar.

How can this be? What is this?

What am I seeing?

Norrin Radd,
would you demonstrate

the true importance of weapons
here on Zenn-La?

I fear it is the end of Zenn-La.

[Silver Surfer]
Zenn-La? Norrin Radd?

I do not understand.

[whirring]

And yet within me
those names strike a chord.

Aircraft...

But how primitive they are.

Is it possible that
the inhabitants of this world

are unable to leave it?

No!

Am I going mad?

This cannot be happening again.

[Shalla-Bal] But, Norrin,

this ship is
so primitive, so old.

I can't understand
why it fascinates you.

It is not the ship, Shalla-Bal.

It's what it means.

The adventure of soaring
through space.

[Silver Surfer]
Again, Norrin Radd.

And now, Shalla-Bal.

The words taunt me.

Are they indeed madness?

Or are they real somehow?

Nice work, guys.

Looks like we just took out
our first ET.

[Silver Surfer]
Cannot concentrate

must clear my head.

[Frankie] Just my luck!

A genuine hunk of a space alien

comes to visit,

and it turns out he wants
to blow us to smithereens.

These special bulletins
are knocking

my favorite shock-jock
right off the air.

[Frankie] The whole world
is falling apart,

and you're worried
about the Top Forty?

[Silver Surfer groaning]

[girls scream, grunt]

[groaning]

I... I seem to be making a habit

of falling out
of this world's sky.

Ever consider getting into
a 12-step program for that?

Uh-oh.

[girls screaming]

I thought Galactus a myth.

And I hoped him one.

Quickly, we must begin
the ceremony of outreaching.

Zenn-La cannot bring peace
to the universe

if there is no Zenn-La.

We cannot give up.

We will not.

My mind reels.

- Is that my past?
- [girls screaming]

Is that me?

[people screaming]

How can I become master
of Zenn-La, Shalla-Bal,

when I cannot even be
master over myself?

I believe in you, my love.

Whatever happens,
I will be at your side.

Yes.

Shalla-Bal.

My Shalla-Bal.

Sorry, Silverado,

but the name's Frankie,
Frankie Ray.

Never have I fed as well
as I have

since you joined me.

I will guide him only to planets
whose cores burst with energy,

yet which have
no intelligent life.

All that must concern you

is that I obtain
the energy I need.

I will save
countless civilizations.

[Galactus] Soon this planet
will be drained,

and the great hunger
will be upon me

once more.

Frankie!

This is your fault! Who are you?

Why are you doing this
to our planet?

You have a hard time
keeping friends, don't you?

Hey! It doesn't hurt anymore.

I used my Power Cosmic
to heal you.

Not too shabby.

How about giving
some of that action

to the rest of the planet?

Now that I know who I was
and who I am,

that is exactly what I shall do.

Galactus, our bargain is over.

You have deceived me,
and I serve you no more.

I will stop your carnage
even if it costs me my life!

[Silver Surfer] Galactus!

When I agreed
to become your herald,

it was to save lives

by leading you away

from sentient beings.

This world is populated
by men and women

who think, who feel,
wh-who dream!

This planet has not the time
for me to argue

with one who will
not even deign to answer.

Instead, I shall have to apply
the Power Cosmic more directly.

Just as the power
of Galactus created

these engines of destruction,

the power he has given me
shall destroy them.

[man] LA's falling
into the ocean!

[woman] Help us!
Can't somebody help us?

There's got to be
a way out of this.

There.

Frankie, are you nuts?

We've got to get to high ground.

[Frankie] Hey, we can't get
any higher up than that.

Everybody, this way!

Hurry up! Hurry up!

[panicked shouting]

Hope the owner
doesn't freak out.

I didn't run my card through.

[Amber] You did it!

If there's one thing
you've always been good at,

it's being in the right place
at the right time.

[Frankie] Way I see it,
the right place now

is wherever
those alien attackers are.

I got to fight.

[girl 2] I hate to break it
to you, Frankie,

but this is a balloon,
not a rocket ship.

[people screaming]

[Silver Surfer] All this effort
has drained my Power Cosmic.

I must replenish it quickly.

That should do.

[screams]

Audacity is one thing,
my Silver Surfer,

but rebellion is quite another.

You have accomplished something

that no force in the universe
ever has before.

[Silver Surfer] What is that?

You have forced me
to interrupt my repast.

I do not know
whether to congratulate you

for this unique deed,

or vaporize you.

Do what you will,
my former master,

but I cannot allow you
to k*ll anymore.

[Galactus laughs]

"Former master"?

"Former" you say?

Can it be that I have been wrong

about you, Silver Surfer,

and you are neither audacious

nor rebellious

but simply mad?

[Silver Surfer] Perhaps I was,

to believe that I could make
any agreement with you.

But now, I know the truth.

And because of that, you would
attempt to destroy your creator?

For make no mistake about it,

your creator I am.

I took away your memories
because it was necessary.

I knew that, with them,

you would never
be able to serve me.

Galactus, can you
not understand?

I no longer care
about what you've done to me.

It is what you are doing
to this world.

[Galactus laughs]

This planet dies
so that I may live,

a course of events
that has occurred

a billion times before.

But it has been wrong
a billion times before.

This place reminds me
of Zenn-La.

And given the time, it, too,
might become such a refuge.

But even if it did not,

still would its life
be sacrosanct.

I must make my stand!

Your stand will destroy you.

Better to perish
for what I believe in

than endure forever
as a traitor to life.

Then so be it.

[groans]

Frankie girl, what have you
gotten yourself into now?

One minute, I'm dodging
a tidal wave and the next,

I'm in the absolute middle
of nowhere.

Or am I?

Let's see how that "right place
at the right time" stuff

really holds up.

I live.

And, and so does the planet.

You have abandoned it.

But... why?

Since the dawn of time

the purpose of my life has been
my continued survival.

To that end have I devoted
all my great power.

But you, Silver Surfer,

in your willingness
to pay the ultimate price

for the well-being of others
you do not even know,

have demonstrated
a strength and courage

that even great Galactus
shall never possess.

Norrin Radd,

we can trust each other no more.

Consider this world
a parting gift.

You will release me?

I, I can go?

[Galactus] You must go

and with you,
take the Power Cosmic,

not as my blessing,
but as my curse.

The power shall be like a brand,

marking its bearer for all time.

Let us see if those
for whom the Silver Surfer

has been so willing to sacrifice

can ever overcome their fear

and hatred of you.

My board.

Mighty Galactus,

I shall prove you wrong about
the people of the universe.

Go! You are condemned.

Oh, man,

talk about out of the frying
pan and into the fire!

You are from the planet below.

How do you come to be here?

[Frankie] Guess it just
must be my lucky day.

[screams]

[Galactus] You have a rare gene

triggered by
the Power Cosmic itself.

It enables you to

unerringly find
whatever you seek.

I do not know
what a "frying pan" is.

However, I can extend to you

the gift of fire.

[Watcher] On a planet
known as Earth,

there lived a young woman
named Frankie Ray.

Now she has a new form
and a new name,

Nova, herald of Galactus.

But what of the original herald,
the Silver Surfer?

A free man, noble and pure,

he streaks to his new life.

[Silver Surfer] Zenn-La, the most
beautiful planet in the universe.

Soon, I will be in the
loving arms of Shalla-Bal.

What has happened?

Where is Zenn-La?

Norrin Radd, I said
that you could leave me

and I have kept my word,

but never did I say

you could return to Zenn-La.

[Silver Surfer] Watcher!

Watcher, where is my world?

Where is my home?

Tell me, please.

I cannot tell you.

So mighty is Galactus

that he has moved Zenn-La
to a place where it is hidden

even from me.

Truly, I am sorry.

I will find you, Shalla-Bal.

No matter how long
or dangerous the way,

no matter what travail
I must endure,

never will I stop searching.

This I swear by our love.

I am the Watcher.

It is my task to note
all events of significance

in this part of the cosmos.

This task brings me great joy,

and great sorrow.

[theme music playing]