Hector Ayala quotes from Daredevil: Born Again

Hector

Luquillo is a beach near where I'm from in Puerto Rico. To me, it's the most beautiful place on Earth. White sand, palm trees, and the Coquí, this little tree frog. Doesn't croak. It sings its name. [he whistles] Ay, I laugh because... the tourists, man, they think it's noisy and annoying but, to us boricuas, it's a magical sound. And the Coquí, it mates for life, right? So every sunset, thousands of these frogs start calling out to their one and only love. It's the music of the island.

Matt

You decided to risk your own safety to help a stranger. Wasn't the first time, was it?

Hector

I-- I don't understand.

Matt

Well, I'm just saying you put yourself in harm's way before. Many times. The question is, why?

Hector

Because he was in trouble.

Matt

You intervened that night 'cause you're a hero.

Kirsten

[realizing] Matt, don't do this.

Kirsten

Matt, don't do this--!

Matt

Mr. Ayala, yes or no, are you the vigilante known as the White Tiger?

Hector

I don't think you understand. Being the White Tiger is more than just putting on a suit. It's who I am. It's a calling. I didn't choose it, it chose me. You might as well ask me to stop breathing.

Matt

There are other ways to help. Other ways to contribute. Ways that don't require a mask. You have to think about your family now. They need you. And for what it's worth, I think you might be surprised at how much you don't miss... being him.

Matt

Mr. Ayala, let's talk about Mr. and Mrs. Burgos. Why would you risk your life by running toward a burning car to save strangers?

Hector

It's the right thing to do.

Matt

What about Gianna Moreno? You again put yourself in harm's way. Why?

Hector

...It's the right thing to do.

Matt

And when you saw Officer Barlow was in trouble, you ran in when other's would've run out. Why?

Hector

It's the right thing to do.

Matt

The police said that Hector attacked them, that he came out of nowhere. That's what they said. But why would Hector, the White Tiger... Why would he do this without the amulet that gives him extraordinary strength and power? Would any of you walk into battle with one arm tied behind your back? I wouldn't. Every night, Hector Ayala goes out and risks his life to keep his neighborhood safe, to protect his community. So ask yourselves... does this sound like the type of man who would murder a police officer in cold blood? He is a man of integrity. The community says so... The police say so. The mask doesn't make the man. And whether Hector Ayala's wearing the White Tiger suit or not, he's a hero. Thank you.

Yeah, you know, every morning, I get up, I kiss my wife, I call my kids. I go to work to serve the people of this great city, I go to church every Sunday, I sit in my usual pew, I give money to my parish, then I drive out to Queens to see my mother. Does that make me a "good" person? That was a trick question. See, frankly, it's a false premise. Good people can do bad things, bad people can do good things. Humans, all of us, we're-- we're... messy, complicated! Capable of good, capable of evil. Yes, Hector Ayala might have done some good things. Does that make him incapable of doing a bad thing? Of course not. Do you know what happens to a person when they get hit by a train? When you have 200,000 pounds of steel slam into you? All of your bones break, all of your organs are eviscerated, your body twists up like a circus balloon full of blood. But here's the kicker, you're still alive. You don't actually die until they back the train up and then your body, it just bursts. And that is exactly what happened to Officer Shanahan when Hector Ayala pushed him in front of that train. But we're supposed to be okay with that, right? Because he's done some nice things for people. Because it was the "right thing to do". Look around you. These men and women you see sitting here, they're officers of the law. They took an oath to protect, even in the face of danger. And every single day, these brave men and women show up to serve the people of this city -- to serve you, to serve me. And they do all that... without a mask. If Hector's sole intent was to do good for this community, why was he hiding?! Because the last time I checked, real heroes don't need to hide.