Phil Coulson quotes from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't leave a man behind.

Mack

You really think this is our best move?

Coulson

You know the saying - if a jet crashes in the woods and there's no one to hear it, stick to the guy with super strength.

Coulson

With Nadeer and her staff in the meeting we have an opportunity.

What opportunity? I wasn't briefed on any opportunity.

Coulson

While Nadeer's in with Daisy, Yo-Yo and I will get into her office and plant surveillance.

Daisy

We can finally keep an eye on her, figure out her next move.

What? No! No! No, there'll be no planting, no I'ing, no Yo-Yo'ing. S.H.I.E.L.D. is now legitimate. We have to remain above reproach.

Coulson

You mean like juicing our directors so we can pretend to be Inhuman? [Talbot shakes his head] Look, you were reacting to the situation we had, you put Jeffrey in place, I understand. But we're S.H.I.E.L.D., we have to be proactive.

This is politics, Phil. Which means politicians. They are a festering cesspool of toxic waste fires. You swim in those waters, you could get pulled under.

Coulson

You and the director can handle it, we'll handle the rest.

Yo-Yo

So Mack, personal time?

Coulson

Don't put me in the middle of this.

Yo-Yo

What middle? No middle. But you know something.

Coulson

It's not for me to say. Mack's a very private person. All I know about him is what's in his file. I spent 6 months on a place with the guy and I know even less than you.

Yo-Yo

So maybe something's on his file.

Coulson

Maybe you should ask him.

Yo-Yo

I don't want to annoy him.

Coulson

Well, I don't know about annoying him, but you're certainly starting to annoy me. Isn't it better to learn things organically, instead of all at once in a report?

Yo-Yo

No, all at once much better. Private person, secret, same thing. Must be even tougher with May. [both stop walking] If it's better to get to know each other in tiny, slow, annoying pieces...

Coulson

I don't think that's how I put it.

Yo-Yo

... then you two will never get together.

Coulson

Me and May? No, it's not like that.

Yo-Yo

Please, I don't need to read a file about you two to know. [superspeeds to get a security guard's tag]

Coulson

You know, no one likes a smartass.

Yo-Yo

That hasn't been my experience.

Coulson

I'd be the first to admit that I followed my worst instincts at times. Last year. Loss will make you do that. Feels good in the moment, but it never ends well. I've lost my temper, I've killed. But lately, I have this voice in my head telling me not to go down that path again. It's telling me to be patient. To stay steady.

Mack

I take it you don't mean me sir.

Coulson

It's Agent May. She'd tell me to stay on mission.

Mack

Listen to the woman, she knows what she's talking about.

I want to be here for you Phil. Radcliffe has the Darkhold, May is missing, Nadeer and her Russians are gunning for the Inhumans. I need to do something more.

Coulson

I know, I felt the same way when I started working with the Avengers. It's not easy to find your place when you're working with heroes and gods.

So what did you do?

Coulson

I did my best to protect the team. Turns out I had a role to play. You'll make the right decision at the right time, or you'll get an Asgardian staff through the chest. I'd try to avoid that part.

Coulson

Hi. I was planning on coming down here and try to throw my weight around, force you to comply. Came up with some pretty good material, but I think the best place to start might be an apology. I know you don't want to hear "I'm sorry" anymore, so I apologize. Really, I do.

Okay.

Coulson

Radcliffe took something from me too. Her name is Melinda May, and she means everything to me. [Agnes lets Coulson in] I wish there was another way. I'm trying not to make it personal because May would hate that, but I can't help it, it is.

Coulson

You were one of the SVR agents at the mining facility. That was your unit.

Da. And they were killed for not retrieving the object, stolen from our soil. When I looked for who did, I found S.H.I.E.L.D. and after years of looking behind S.H.I.E.L.D. I found you. That face, the man there at the very beginning. What a coincidence.

Coulson

I'm sorry, I don't really have time for all this conspiracy theorist crap. I'm done playing games. Where are May and Mace?

But play my games you will. Did you really think I would really let you have what it is you seek at the end?

Coulson

They're not even here, are they?

Well, your pretend Inhuman director is in the compound, but he may be dead by the time you find him.

Coulson

All of these things you've done, all of the energy spent, the hatred. And you know what the funny thing about it is? I have no idea who the hell you are. I've been on hundreds of missions in my time. This one you're so upset about? I was sent to retrieve an object. If I'm being honest, I don't even remember what it was. As far as I'm concerned, you're just another redshirt, like so many others who tried unsuccessfully to stop me from saving the world, because that's what I do. So, cool origin story, bro. But this means nothing to me.

Daisy

Please– remember me.

Coulson

I'm sorry, I don't.

Daisy

It's not your fault. It's just– you're the person who I go to when things get heavy. And this world is scary, and nothing makes sense, and you're the closest thing I have to family. So I just hoped that deep down you'd feel it too.

Coulson

[Realizing who Daisy is] Daisy?

Simmons

You're not crazy!

Coulson

I live alone and make my own soap.

Simmons

It's quaint. Hipster, even!

Coulson

Got to say, the whole Rebel Alliance aesthetic is really working for me.

I'll take that as a compliment. I think.

Wait, don't shoot! They need help up there!

May

[Lowers her weapon and talks on comms] This is Agent May, there are kids in here. Why the hell are there kids in here? [Enters room where Coulson, Mace, and more children are] Where's the Patriot?

Coulson

Put that gun down! We need help here, there's a kid buried under that pile of rock.

Trip

It's coming down!

Simmons

No, it's coming up.

[Lifts up giant pieces of rubble] Get him out.

May

Nobody move!

Coulson

Are you insane? He's trying to save a kid!

May

So was I.

Ward

Agent May, he's the only thing keeping this building from falling down on all of us. You shoot him, we all die.

Coulson

We don't have time for this, we've gotta save that kid. Form a team, find something to pop up that beam. Either shoot us or help, but don't just stand there. Snap out of it, May!

Coulson

Let's think this through. Skye could be anywhere. Running blind puts our people at risk.

Ward

She is at risk. Hydra is hunting her, full force.

Coulson

Call me crazy, but I think she can take care of herself. The smart move is to wait for her to reach out.

Ward

Look, this isn't your wheelhouse. I'm sure you're a good schoolteacher, but you're a schoolteacher.

Coulson

Maybe, but someone once thought I could be more than that. I had a chance to join S.H.I.E.L.D. A man showed up, when I was fresh out of school–

Ward

I don't have time for a history lesson. [turns to leave]

Coulson

[blocks Ward] I said no, because I was afraid. The way you're afraid right now. Don't let emotion cloud your judgement.

Ward

That's not what's going on here.

Coulson

I could've changed my life that day. But it seemed like too much responsibility. I didn't want to shoulder it. Now I think maybe I should have.

Ward

Well, when I got that offer I took it. I was serving time, arson first-degree, pretty sure my life was over. That's when someone came to me.

Coulson

A S.H.I.E.L.D. agent? What was his name?

Ward

She'd laugh that you assumed it was a guy. Her name was Victoria Hand. She was the first person to tell me I could be a good man. Skye was the one who made me believe it. Now she's in danger. I can't just sit around and do nothing.

Coulson

Try not to get killed, okay?

Daisy

Mack?

Daisy

Mack.

Mack

I'm here to help you– not the woman who held my daughter hostage.

Daisy

May is the only reason I'm alive. She helped me escape. Hydra messed with her head, but she's fighting back now.

Mack

How do you know she's not lying?

Coulson

[Enters and stands between Mack and May] Not a good time to be holding guns on our allies. [Hydra agents request a situation report over the radio] We have to go, now. Mack, I get it. These wounds don't heal overnight, but for reasons I can't fully explain, I trust this woman. [Lowers Mack's rifle] And so should you.

May

Getting this footage out isn't enough to make up for what I did in Hydra, but it's a start.

Daisy

Changing people's hearts and minds is great, but I know a way to destroy Hydra for good. Remember the place Simmons and I were trying to find? Radcliffe told me where to go, how to find it.

Coulson

The way out of this?

Daisy

Yes, yes. If we can get there, all of our problems go away. We just need all the help we can get.

May

I don't know what you mean. There's no magic bullet against Hydra.

Ward

Yeah, and this footage is as close as it comes. I mean people will finally wake up!

Daisy

No, you don't understand! None of this will matter in the long run. It's... [cuts off] Coulson? This is the only chance to actually wake people up.

Coulson

Maybe the only way to solve our problem is to solve their problem.

Daisy

What does that mean?

Coulson

Getting to Radcliffe's coordinates right now is next to impossible. We need a way to divide Hydra's forces. To save ourselves we need to save the world.

Coulson

[broadcasting on National television] Good evening. As you all know, a Hydra facility was destroyed yesterday. Hydra told you that it was an act of terrorism. They told you an Inhuman named The Patriot murdered civilians. What they told you was a lie. We're going to show you what really happened. [rolls footage from May's body-cam] This footage was taken from the body-cam of a high-level Hydra operative. Hydra used this "enlightenment center" to brainwash anyone who dared to question them. Jeffrey Mace saved these people, but Hydra was willing to kill them just to maintain their lie. Once you see this footage, the truth is undeniable. Hydra doesn't think we're smart enough to know when we're being fed alternative facts, to keep us afraid, to keep them in power. Remember, there are more of us than there are of them. And now that we know the truth, we have a choice to make. We all have the opportunity to be Patriots, will you take a stand? Are you going to hold them accountable? Throughout history we've seen empires rise and fall–

[at the broadcasting studio] There are people outside. [Bakshi smiles and Ward picks up his pistol] No, they're not Hydra. I think they're here to help us fight.

Coulson

A wise man once told me that a person can do anything once they realize they're a part of something bigger. It's taking me a while to understand that. For years I was just a face in the crowd, a history teacher who spread Hydra's lies. They seemed too imposing for any one person to fight. But now... I'm choosing to stand up, to become a part of something bigger. I really do believe that together we can accomplish anything. Because the truth is... I'm not just a history teacher. My name is Phil Coulson, and I'm an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.