James Olsen quotes from Supergirl

James

I understand that Kara is special, and not just because of the cape. She's the kind of girl worth risking it all for. Hey man, if I were you, I'd risk it.

James

When I was a kid, I used to get bullied. See, I went to a school where there weren't a lot of people who looked like me. And then when my Dad died... it just got a lot worse. See, he was... he was my guardian. That he was the guy that made me feel safe. So after he was gone, I just... I put up this wall, and I didn't let anybody in. Until I moved to Metropolis. And then I made a new friend. And this guy was different, too. I didn't realize how different he was. I just knew that he understood something that most people didn't. And because of that, I trusted him. And eventually, I let him in. Do you know what happened?.... The wall came down. You see, Marcus, sometimes you can meet somebody and they can become your friend. And by trusting them, everything in your life can change.

Kara

I am not doing that interview. No. I can't... I mean I can't. Ms. Grant's not stupid. She'd recognize me in, like, one second.

James Olsen

She will look at Supergirl right in the face and she will not see her assistant.

Kara

How can you be so sure?

James

Because she doesn't see you now. I watched it happen for years with your cousin. Why don't you think that people recognize him as Clark Kent?

Kara

Reading glasses and a good slouch?

James

No, he's able to hide because the world can't believe he's really a hero in their mist.

Kara

Yeah, and I'm sure there's a good reason why my cousin keeps his job at the Daily Planet instead of flying around as Superman all the time, which would be so much easier.

James

Yeah, well, one, he's able to pay his rent.

Kara

Maybe I put the "S" on too soon.

James

Kara, look at the window. Tell me what you see.

Kara

Buildings. Billboards. There's that bar where that guy cards me all the time. He knows how old I am.

James

I see a city full of people who need help. Who need a hero.

Kara

You really think so?

James

If anyone can fill Superman's boots... It's you.

James

[shows his signal watch] Kara, he gave me this a long time ago. If I ever got in trouble, I could contact him.

Kara

But you weren't in trouble. When did you even call him? The second I left?

James

Kara, I made a promise to your cousin. If anything ever happened to you...

Kara

My cousin doesn't get a "get out of a jam card" when he first started. Neither should I.

James

I'm just trying to keep you safe.

Kara

And, yes, I appreciate that. But of all the things the "S" stands for, safety is not one of them.

James

You lost your powers. Solar flare.

Kara

I did not know we were calling it that.

James

He does. Well, he likes to name them. You know, heat vision, freeze breath...

Kara

He's such a nerd. I don't know, today, I'm less Girl of Steel and more Girl of Stucco.

Hank

What the hell are these guys doing here?

James

Where Supergirl goes, we go.

Hank

This is a top secret facility Mr. Olsen, you think I'm going to let the media waltz in here?

Winn

Actually, I'm in IT, so definitely not worth shooting.

James

Lucy. Please remember I would never try and hurt you.

Then how do you keep managing to do it?

[drawing circles on a whiteboard] All right. So imagine there are multiple versions of Earth. One where, uh... the Nazis won World War II , one where Kennedy was never assassinated...

Winn

[raising a hand like he's in a classroom] Okay, one where all of us are evil.

Barry

Been there. It sucks. So all of these Earths occupy the same place in space, but they vibrate at a different frequency, so they can't see one another.

Winn

Yeah, yeah, but it's like, if you can go fast enough, then it's possible to open, like, a breach and then travel between worlds.

Barry

Yeah.

James

But how could you travel that fast?

Barry

[amused] Uh, well, um...

Kara

[overjoyed] Yeess!!

Barry

Yeah. So, um... I was struck by lightning the same night a particle accelerator exploded, and I became a... superhero.

James

So, so, so... y-you're a superhero, too.

Barry

Mmm-hmm.

James

[subdued] Tha-that's cool, I guess.

James

Well, I'm just happy that you're safe and the three of us are back together.

Kara

Me, too.

James

But I think we should talk about that thing that happened, uh... right before Myriad struck.

Kara

The thing.

James

Yeah. The thing thing.

Kara

[realizing] The thing.

James

Hmm.

Winn

[understanding] Oh, this thing has nothing to do with me. All good. I got other things. [leaves]

Winn

I thought male corsets went out of style in the late 1800's.

James

Nah, I was just, um... I was shooting some hoops last night and hurt some ribs.

Winn

[touches him in the ribs] You're a terrible liar, Olsen. So I hacked into this security footage taken at the Federal Reserve that got attacked last night. The same place I told you about yesterday. [shows James his image from the footage] Great disguise by the way. What were you thinking?

James

You wouldn't understand.

Winn

Well, then, enlighten me! Because all I see here is a crazy dude with a baseball bat and a ski mask and a death wish.

James

My whole life, I have been a sidekick. I have hidden behind my camera. All my best friends wear capes and they're heroes and they save people, and I want to do something good for the world, and I feel like I've waited too long already. Winn, you found the work you're supposed to do at the D.E.O. I haven't, not here. But I feel like this is it.

Winn

I hate to break it to you, dude, but you don't have superpowers.

James

I know! But I can do this. We can do this.

Winn

I'm sorry, "we"?

James

Yes, "we". I mean, I have a black belt and you're right, I don't have powers. You can make me a suit, you can build me a weapon, and together we can level the playing field. C'mon.

Winn

No, no, no, I can't do it.

James

You helped Kara!

Winn

There's a difference! She can fly, you're just tall.

James

You know, watching my dad's camera get destroyed reminded me of something. He gave his life protecting this country, and if I do this, I can honor him.

Winn

Or you can end up just like him.

James

Winn, I'm gonna continue being that crazy guy with the baseball bat and the ski mask... with or without you.

Winn

James, guys like us, we are here to give people information, right? To fight with knowledge. There is no shame in that man! You gotta think this, through. You're gonna get yourself killed.

Winn

So what, are you out of your mind? Like, what's going on?

James

Are you? Kara almost died, Winn!

Winn

You think that I don't know that? I– get out of here.

James

Look, I'm sorry, okay? I know I don't hold the copyright on caring for Kara, but we're out of time, man! I need this suit now!

Winn

When it's ready, I will let you know.

James

NO! Now! Winn.

Winn

Are you serious? No, no. I'm not taking orders from you.

James

I'm–

Winn

Dude, I'm not your assistant, I'm not the IT guy. I'm the guy who knows what he's talking about!

James

I know.

Winn

In fact, I'm better at this kind of stuff than anyone else you'll ever meet! And until I finish making it all fancy, it's just gonna be a glorified Halloween costume. So when I tell you the suit is not ready, that means if you go out there right now, you're gonna die. You will die. And then what? You– you're not gonna be helping anyone.

James

I better suit-up.

Winn

Hey, before you open it, I need you to make sure you are sure, alright? This will be the end of James Olsen. Full stop. You do this, you are someone else. There's a cost. Are you sure?

James

I have been ready to do this since the day I found out the truth about Clark Kent. This is who I am. I can't hide behind my camera anymore. If there's a cost, I'll pay it.

Winn

That's a pretty good answer.

Kara

I... I am... I'm losing my mind right now. Livewire's just out there right now roaming the streets, and I don't know where she is or when she'll strike. I just know... she's out there somewhere and she's gonna hurt people.

James

The city's not defenseless, Kara.

Kara

I hate having a nemesis. Clark always makes it look so much fun, like... like you have a deadly pen pal you see once a year. But having a nemesis is stressful.