I grew up on the Lower East Side. My father sold fruit. My mother sewed shirtwaists for a factory. Let me tell you, you don't get to climb the American ladder without picking up some bad habits on the way. There's a ceiling for certain types of people based on how much money your parents have, your social class, your religion, your sex. And the only way to break through that ceiling sometimes is to lie, so that's my natural instinct. To lie. I shouldn't have lied to you. For that, trust me, I am truly sorry.
Why did you have Steve's blood in the first place?
I was one of the lead scientists on Project Rebirth. Eleven vials went to the government, one vial went to me. Does the SSR know they have the vial?
Why shouldn't they have it?
The government's almost through their supply. If they know they have mine, they'll never give it back. Even if you clear my name.
That still doesn't mean you deserve to have Steve's blood.
You know, I believe that sample SR-53, that blood, Captain America's blood, holds the key to vaccines, medications, possibly even a cure for the common cold. Steve Rogers may not still be with us, but he can still save millions of people.
And how many millions of dollars are you set to make?
What the hell do you think of me?
I think you're a man out for his own gain no matter who you're charging. You are constantly finding holes to slither your way into in the hope of finding loose change, only to cry when you're bitten by another snake. You're a man who says, "I love you," whilst looking over a woman's shoulder into the mirror. Steve Rogers dedicated his mind, his body, his life to the SSR and to this country, not to your bank account. I made the same pledge, but I'm not as good as Steve was. I forgot my pledge running around for you like a corporate spy. So thank you, Howard, for reminding me who Steve was and what I aspire to be. For all I know, you did steal your inventions.
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