I just witnessed a business owner refuse to serve an alien, and then assault him.
JamesYeah. We're getting a lot of calls like that lately. And it... it's good for us to follow up on these types of stories, so that people know how these businesses are treating aliens.
Absolutely, but... it's bigger than that. Mr. Olsen, I really think we need a statement from our Editor-in-Chief. Aliens are being subjected to hate crimes like never before.
James
It is horrible, which is why we are reporting on this kind of stuff. We are. But... I have to think strategically. And this is not the best time for me to write an editorial.
I know you've been under a lot of scrutiny since unmasking as Guardian. You have another chance to fight for justice, now.
James
Okay, please. What's on your mind?
You may not know this about me, but I am a transgender woman. I know what it's like to be... attacked and denied because of who I am. When I saw that alien being attacked, I couldn't let it pass. I... I had to stand up, hold a mirror to that bully's face. And I made a difference. And that was just one person. You are the Editor-in-Chief of CatCo Worldwide Media. You can hold a mirror up to the entire city. We have to show people that violence against aliens is not okay, and that the only way we are going to survive is if we start truly seeing each other.
James
Thank you, for sharing your truth, and your passion. But there's something else that I want you to understand, too, is that our readers that share our values already know that we support aliens.
Well, what about the others?
James
We're trying. We're... we're reaching over the aisle. If I editorialize too soon, they're just gonna call us biased. They're gonna prejudge us. Look, I've been doing this a long time, and the only way to reach people is through balanced reporting.
When innocent people are being attacked, it's not about balance. It's about justice.
I just wanted to mention how thankful I am. 'Cause, uh, I've been reading about Ms. Grant, and CatCo, and you. You know what we do up here is important, right? I... I've also been reading about matters of the law. Did you know someone could be prosecuted for continued instances of the same crime?
James
Yeah. I have a lawyer.
Of course. I'm not even saying you're thinking of taking up the shield again. But, if you were, especially with Supergirl down, don't.
James
Is this the same Nia Nal I'm talking to, the cub reporter who convincingly and rightfully convinced her boss to act? And to speak out when the innocent are being attacked?
I know. I don't sound like myself. But that's because this is different. If you go out there again, I have a feeling something bad will happen.
James
Heroes go out there, even when they know something bad's gonna happen. That's what makes them heroes.
You know, I was just talking about you on my show recently.
James
So I heard. And just to be clear, you and I do not represent the same things.
Hmm. Far be it for James Olsen to listen to an opinion that is not his own.
James
I listen to opinions that are not my own. But what I heard in your show was full of discrimination and hate, and that's when I stopped listening.
I see. So this is the part where you and others like you start making crass generalizations based on ignorance and stereotype.
James
And you forgot the part where people like me walk away.
James
So when do I get to meet Agent Liberty?
TTom
You're talking to him.
James
You're Agent Liberty?
TTom
We're all agents of liberty.
James
Nah, I mean the big guy, the guy who signed the leaflet. I was hoping to get to interview him.
TTom
Well, that's above my pay grade. I was just asked to show you what we do, answer some questions.
James
And this is what you do?
TTom
Patrol the streets, keep them safe for humans, just like you do with Guardian. I mean, this week is special. We don't want any roaches crashing people's Thanksgiving dinners.
James
Roaches? That's pretty heavy language, and I would really appreciate it if you didn't call aliens roaches in my presence.
TTom
That's what they are.
James
Or you just classify them that way so you don't have to deal with the fact that they're living and breathing beings, just like you and I.
James
I happened to meet with a regular guy, named Tom, who happens to be afraid of aliens and afraid of their capabilities and he feels inferior.
People can be powerful too. You and Alex are examples of that, James.
Yeah, but not as powerful as aliens. I mean, no matter how many weights you lift, you'll never be as strong as Supergirl.
No, but with technology, we can hold our own.
But what if we could do more? What if we could make people super?
It's not possible. The biological processes that cause alien powers are incompatible with human DNA.
Okay, but just say we could, right? If James is right and people feeling inferior is what makes them join these hate groups, then we could just level the playing field.
The last thing we need is a bunch of evil people running around with superpowers.
Okay, but evil people wouldn't get powers.
James
So, only certain people qualify?
And who would decide who gets them? They'd be playing God.
And if they don't listen?
James
Then I will find a way to make them listen.
James
I don't have time to talk about this right now.
They don't have time to talk either. They're out there looking for a fight!
James
I appreciate the fact that you're trying to help me, I do. But I don't need it. I'm gonna be fine.
Right, because you can handle it?
James
Yes, I can handle myself! I don't need you freaking out about every little problem that I have in my life! Take the DA for example. You got all worked up about that, and it turned out to be fine! Okay? I'm going.
It was fine because I made it fine!
James
What are you talking about.
I talked to the DA, James. I traded information about Bruno Manheim and she dropped the indictment.
James
You did what?
James
You lied to me.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love you, and there's no line in the universe I would not cross to keep you safe.
James
If that's what you think love is, I'm not sure if I want any part of that.
James
I came here on my own accord. To talk to you, to listen. I'm prepared to hear your side of the story. I mean, obviously you have an agenda, but why? There has to be something, a core to your anger, something that's happened to you.
LAgent Liberty
Something did happen to me, Mr. Olsen. I saw men struggling to remain relevant, to provide for their families. I saw human beings being treated less than they deserve, less than exceptional.
James
Surely there has to be a part of you that can find a commonality between aliens and humans. We just want good, safe, lives for our loved ones.
LAgent Liberty
No, we're not here to talk about my empathy, or lack thereof, for aliens.
James
Okay, you tell me, what am I writing?
LAgent Liberty
You won't be writing anything. I'm giving you an opportunity to sit in front of the camera for once, to be the story. To galvanize, not to inspire. Because Guardian stands for everything my followers strive for, human exceptionalism.
James
You want me to inspire your followers? And how exactly do you want me to do that?
LAgent Liberty
I want you to destroy something, a monument, something that stands against everything we believe in.
James
I don't send things down, that's not my style.
LAgent Liberty
I get it. You're not a willing participant yet. But you will be. I believe in you, Mr. Olsen.
TTom
If you stay, if you blow up that monument, then everyone's gonna think you're with them. That you're a Child of Liberty. You're gonna give them the face that they've been dying for, the legitimacy–
James
So what? That's what happens if I stay. But if I go, and I preserve my reputation, you die. And in the meantime I'm lost and you're dead, and I am no better than him. And I'm stronger than that. I've spent my entire life building myself up into the man that I am today and I have not given society one reason to doubt me. But what is reputation? I mean what is it? It's nothing. It's not who you are. So if the latest friends group wants to tear that monument down, we will build it right back up. Agent Liberty can do whatever he wants with my reputation. I know who I am.
James
Nervous about covering the march
James
No, it's okay if you are, Franklin. I mean, we are living in crazy times, right? It's just important to remember what we do here every day. Reporting on events like this, taking the risk to show all sides, and showing the humanity there, that's nothing less than heroic. I mean, think about it. You fight injustice with your fists, you can help one, maybe a dozen people. But good journalism, that can impact millions. It's why we became journalists in the first place, right?
By George, I think we've got it. We stumbled upon your core trauma, James. And surprisingly, it isn't a Lex Luthor murder attempt. It's your father's death.
James
Brainy, you said that whatever I saw in your mind palace was gonna be based on real memories. I wasn't at our father's funeral.
Yes. You were. Incontrovertibly.
No, Brainy, he wasn't. I was alone. That is not something you forget.
Consider the possibility that James was there, and you, Kelly, did not see him.
James
I was across the street. At a diner. I got locked in the bathroom and nobody could hear me. By the time the manager opened up the door, his funeral... his funeral was over.
Perhaps that is merely a picture of the truth that got framed and hung in your mind. An excuse you invented that, over time, even you came to believe. The mind will play tricks to protect itself. Think of memories like a watercolor. While you're painting, the colors blend into each other without clear borders until they grow opaque. Once the painting dries, the picture is set.
Yeah, I'm sorry, I need a break.
When Ms. Danvers won the Pulitzer, readership tanked. It gives a certain kind of impression that the paper is pedantic; it's heavy, it's dull, like homework.
No, Kara, what's insane is branding a company in a way that causes people to click away from the site.
The news is not about clicks.
Everything is about clicks. From Fortune 500 companies selling their wares to a new mom posting her child's birthday, today the measure of worth is on a click. To survive, CatCo needs to pivot. Attention spans have plummeted along with revenues. Readers want watercooler news that's just fun to read and just as easy to digest.
James
That, um... I'm pretty sure I can speak for everybody in the room when I say that if that is the kind of content that you wanna create here, we will walk. This is not what we signed up for.
This is nice, you in my office.
James
Well, I'm not so sure if I actually have an office anymore.
Yeah, I, uh, ran into Kara in the elevator, and I had to tell her that I couldn't join her crusade against my new boss on my... second day?
James
Yeah.
I'll support whatever you guys decide to do. Just mostly in the abstract.
James
I'm just really proud of the company that we built over the last few years. It's a strong, serious, hard-hitting news organization that actually affects people's lives. Whatever this vision Andrea has for CatCo, I don't recognize it. And I don't think I can play that game.
James
What do you mean?
CatCo and journalism isn't all that you are. You started helping people long before dad put that camera in your hand. And, look, I know that you think that you have to muscle your way through everything. But, for once, just take a step back and ask... what does James Olsen want?
Well, this should help take away the pain temporarily.
I don't understand. You think that whoever did this to you was also the person that released Midnight?
Yes. He said he was my brother. At first, I didn't believe him, but now I know it must be true.
James
How do you know?
This is specifically a Martian form of agony. In the early days of Mars, there were two brothers, Phobos and Deimos. Their rivaly and bloodshed was the reason for the split of the Green and White Martians. To prevent this ever happening again, a curse was placed on the Green Martians. We call it Fa'ra'too'rik. It is the punishment for brother attacking brother.
James
So, how long you been living in my aunt's house?
SKSimon Kirby
Couple months. Sometimes we crash with friends, sometimes we just camp out in the woods.
James
Where are your parents?
SSimon
Haven't seen my dad since I was... five? My mom got busted last winter stealing a space heater from the hardware store. The judge wouldn't even give her a chance to explain. They gave her ten years for stealing a 30-buck heater.
James
Since when does petty theft get you that kind of time?
SSimon
It's a racket. The cops, judges, lawyers, everyone's in on it. They keep the prison full, the prison keeps their pockets lined.
James
How's nobody stood up against them? Called these guys out?
SSimon
Like who? Nobody's gonna speak up and risk themselves. Anyways, you can't beat the system, so what's the point?
James
There is a point, Simon. You have to stand up and fight against injustice.
SSimon
Everyone's just out for their own skin. It's the way it is.
James
Not on my watch.
James
So, I met this local kid who says his mom is serving ten years for petty theft? So I did some digging, and that prison in your backyard, it seems to have a lot of people serving long sentences for small crimes.
NSNelson Stewart
Yeah, people have bad luck, I guess.
James
Bad luck? It's prison corruption, wouldn't you say?
NNelson
It's, um... it's complicated. Look, I wish I could help you, but...
James
You can help me, Nelson. That's why I'm here. Journalism's about fighting for the little guy, you taught me that. It's your job to point out corruption, so what the hell's going on here?
NNelson
Things have, uh, changed for some people. Idealism doesn't feed a family. And this whole power of the press thing, it might work if you've got the backing of a media conglomerate and a certain girl with a cape. But around here, it doesn't mean anything.
James
Standing up for what's right always means something. Nelson. That prison is stomping on the neck of this entire town.
NNelson
It's also the only thing that's keeping this town alive. Look, I'd love to see these bastards get what they deserve. But if I call them out, my advertisers, they pull their money, not only am I out of a job but so are the 30 other people I employ. Go back to National City. I like to think of you there. You know, I'm just glad somebody made it out of this town. And I'm glad it was you.
Supergirl · 472 quotes
