Steve quotes from Stranger Things

Jonathan

I just thought that, tonight of all nights, you would give it a rest.

Steve

Give what a rest?

Jonathan

This bullshit macho competition for Nancy's affection.

Steve

What are you talking about?

Jonathan

What am I talking about?

Steve

Yeah.

Jonathan

Really? Dude, ever since I got back from Lenora, you are constantly showing off for her. How you’re better than me. Which is shitty enough on a normal day, but now her parents are fighting for their lives, her sister is missing, and all you can think about is giving her flowers. You selfish, chauvinistic meathead!

Steve

You know what, Byers? You're totally right. Me worrying about my good friend, my friend, that makes me the selfish one here. Or maybe, just maybe, you're the problem, dude. Ever since you got back, you've been acting like a paranoid pothead weirdo. And maybe if you stopped focusing on me and started focusing on her, maybe then the two of you would finally be happy. Because right now, the only one who's more miserable in that relationship than you... is Nance!

Steve

You've done some stupid shit in the past, but this? Man, this takes the cake.

Dustin

You wanna talk to me about dumb shit?! How about chasing after somebody else's girlfriend when the world is ending!

Steve

Nancy is a friend. She's a friend, okay? Do you remember what that's like, having friends?

Dustin

Yeah. I do. I remember what it was like to have a good friend. A real friend who actually believed in me and was actually kind to me--

Steve

A-ha!

Dustin

What?

Steve

A-ha.

Dustin

What?

Steve

There we go. That's what this has all been about, really, is Eddie. All your bullshit, pushing everyone away? It's because no one could ever be as perfect as he was.

Dustin

Well, he wasn't perfect, but at least he knew that, unlike you! He was never fake! He didn't care what other people thought about him. He was just himself. And you know what? He was the smartest, kindest person I have ever met! And he would've solved this in thirty seconds flat.

Steve

Well if I'm such a goddamn idiot, how come I'm the one still standing here?

Dustin

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Steve

That night, I told you not to be heroes. I told both of you. What did Eddie do? He charged into a swarm of killer bats.

Dustin

To save my life!

Steve

He saved no one.

Dustin

He saved everyone!

Steve

You can keep telling yourself that, Henderson. But deep down, the reason you're so goddamn pissed is because you know the truth! Eddie wanted to play hero and he made a dumb call and he got himself killed!

Dustin

SHUT UP!

Steve

Henderson! Dustin! Dustin. Hey. What the hell was that? Was that the shield generator? Did they find it?

Dustin

I was wrong. I was terribly, catastrophically wrong.

Steve

What?

Dustin

After you left, I found a journal. Brenner’s journal. The key to destroying that wall is in this lab, but it is not a shield generator. It isn’t dark magic. Vecna didn’t make it. Science did. Theoretical physicists call it exotic matter. A single source of energy that is holding that giant wall together, and I think Nancy just shot it.

Steve

How is that bad? That’s why we’re here, to get through this wall.

Dustin

You are not listening!

Steve

I am listening.

Dustin

Vecna didn’t make the wall. So he isn’t on the other side, which means Holly and the missing kids aren’t either. Nobody is.

Steve

Then what the hell is on the other side of that wall? Why’d it stop? Dustin, what’s on the other side of the wall?

Dustin

Death.

Dustin

Steve, what the hell are you doing? That's never gonna work. Stop! Stop! Steve, stop! I'm serious! It's not safe! You're gonna fall!

Steve

It's unstable! I got it already, okay? [he turns to climb]

Dustin

No, don't! [grabs him and pulls him back] STOP being an asshole!

Steve

I'm not being an asshole! I'm trying to get to them, man!

Dustin

You're always trying to get yourself killed and I can't let it happen again! [sobbing] Stop being so selfish, please, if you go on there, you're gonna die, and I can't deal with it again. You can't die cause I can't deal with it again. Don't let it happen again. Please. Please don't let it happen again. [hugs him] Not you. [still sobbing into Steve's chest] I'm sorry.

Steve

No, no, no... [they watch the ladder collapse as they hold each other]