Butcher quotes from The Boys

Hello?

Hughie

Oh. Sorry, I thought I was getting your voicemail.

That why you called five times?

Hughie

No, I just thought you should know Liberty–that Supe that Rayner was looking into… turns out it's Stormfront. Vought changed her name, they've been moving her around like a fucking Catholic priest.

Right.

Hughie

Um… She probably murdered Rayner. Annie's trying to figure out why, but... you know, who the fuck knows.

Well, as long as Starlight's on the job, we're sorted then, yeah?

Hughie

I'm not... I'm not mad, you know?

What d'you mean?

Hughie

I–I just want you to know that, um... Yes, you are leaving us holding the bag on this shitshow, but I want you to know that I–I get it. It's Becca. I'd do the same thing. I'm not mad.

Well... wouldn't matter if you were.

Hughie

How is she?

Lovelier than the day I met her.

Hughie

[pause; hears Butcher squeezing a dog toy] Where are you?

Headin' off grid. Argentina, maybe. Early retirement.

Hughie

Butcher?

Yeah, what?

Hughie

You could've said goodbye.

I know we've been through some shit together. [beat] You were... You were always like my canary, I suppose. Thank you. Goodbye, Hughie. [hangs up phone]

Hughie

Your canary? Hello?

Hughie

What are you watching?

A show called Eat My Dick.

Hughie

[defensively] Okay.

Have you seen Frenchie or Kimiko?

Hughie

No. No, not... for a while. Why?

[quietly] Fuck.

Hughie

Uh, listen. I just got off the phone with Butcher and I think something might be wrong. Like really, really wrong.

What would make you think that?

Hughie

He was nice and… called me his canary?

...Tell me everything he said.

That ninja cunt's here for me, isn't he?

Hughie

Yeah, but you can't go out there. He'll kill you. So… So that's it?

Expectin' a happy ending, were we? Well, I'm sorry, Hughie. It ain't that kind of massage parlour.

Well, well, well. What have we here?

Hughie

I know what you're gonna say, but we just took out her chip. Everything's fine.

Starlight, don't you just light up a room, eh? You're lookin' well.

Yeah, no thanks to the .50-caliber round that you pumped into my chest.

Well, what don't kill you makes you stronger. [to Hughie] What's she doin' here?

Hughie

She has a lead on Stormfront.

I broke into her laptop, and I got a look at the inbox. Dozens of e-mails from Stan Edgar.

Stan Edgar? And what does Vought's big slapper have to say?

How they're close to a breakthrough at the Sage Grove Center. It's a psychiatric hospital in Pennsylvania.

Hughie

Wait, what kind of breakthrough?

She came in before I could see any more.

Well, we better have us a little dekko at this loony bin, eh, lads? Starlight, would you be amenable to joinin' us on this little caper?

Hughie

You want her to come?

Oh, most definitely. If shit goes sideways, who do you think Vought's gonna go after? Us or their billion-dollar baby turned traitor who just ripped out her own fuckin' chip? Never go into shark-infested waters without chum.

[to Butcher] Seriously, what is your problem with me?

I ain't got no problem with you, love.

Really? That's why you won't even touch my hand?

Hughie

Okay, guys, come on. Not the time.

You know what? No. I think it's exactly the right time. I think the time is long overdue. [to Butcher] You know that I hate Vought as much as you do. You know that, but it doesn't even matter to you because what you can't stand is in my blood. I'm subhuman to you. Only good Supe is a dead Supe, right?

Your words, not mine.

Hughie

That's enough.

You know what? Underneath all that swagger, you're just a bigot and a bully. I know another guy just like that. He's got a flag for a cape.

Mallory

Put away that petulant look before you hurt someone with it.

I should be chuffed we're pissin' away the best asset we ever got our mitts on.

Mallory

And your plan would be?

Same as always: Squeeze the cunt until he gives up the next cunt, then kill the fuck when we're done.

Mallory

I have no doubt you'd be happy with that unending cycle of brutality.

How can you not want blood for what he done?

Mallory

He's willing to speak against Vought at the hearing. We've never had Congress on our side before.

Congress? Please. What a bunch of corrupt fuckin' cunts they are.

Oh, come on. You're not the first person to call me a cunt, Mr. Butcher. I'm starting to think it's like a... badge of honor.

Term of endearment where I come from, love.

Mallory

[to Neuman] Well?

Opposition's gonna have a field day with him. Disgruntled ex-Supe… I am fairly sure he's fucked half the Sacred Heart cheerleading squad. But yeah, he'll be a good witness. It's not enough, though.

Not enough? If torturin' and burnin' a bunch of mentals on Vought's say-so ain't enough for you Muppets, then what the fuck are you good for, huh? A strongly-worded tweet?

What was he like?

Who?

Homelander, growin' up as a lad, what was he like?

I'm sure you don't wanna talk about this–

Oh, there is nothing I wanna talk about more. And who knows better than you?

When he was a little boy, five or six, he was quite sweet. He'd cuddle up to me. He loved stories about Davey Crockett, Teddy Roosevelt, loved the idea of the woods, the forest. Manifest destiny. But, you know, I needed him to be the strongest man in the world. So I went to work on him. He didn't even want it. It was for me.

Hmm. And that wasn't your only sin, was it? It weren't Homelander who hid my wife away all them years. It ever occur to you, the pain you cause sorry bastards like me?

At the time, it was barely a blip on my radar.

Tell me, Doctor... What's your radar tellin' you now?

Do what you want to me, but I can't help you. My family would be in−

Your family's already in trouble. 'Cause I'm about to go into that room next door, to your daughter, and I'm gonna bash her brains out. And then, I'm gonna find your two sons, and their wives, and their little kiddies. Your whole fuckin' family dies today. Or... you help me. What's it gonna be, Doc?

Stan Edgar

Homelander's a friend. Why would I betray him?

Because you're a ruthless bastard.

Edgar

That's hurtful.

You turned a racist piece of shite into America's sweetheart. Now, what word would you use?

Edgar

[pause; sips water] Stormfront's good at making people angry. Angry people want Compound V. Compound V raises our stock price. Look, I'd have preferred V remained a secret, but we play with the cards we're dealt. It's not ruthless; it's prices per share. That's all.

Maybe you should take a look in the mirror, mate. 'Cause that bitch should bother you.

Edgar

Of course she does. But it's not about me. I can't lash out like some raging, entitled maniac. That's a white man's luxury.

So it's just business, then, eh?

Edgar

When, Mr. Butcher, in history, has it ever been about anything different?

Becca

You remember the range at Fort Bragg? I was a better shot than you.

Well, you had a bloody good teacher, didn't ya?

Becca

I like your friends. Especially Hughie. He's, uh… [chuckles] He's good for you.

Look, Becca... you ain't comin' with us.

Becca

Bullshit. Ryan doesn't know you, he'll never come to you.

It's too dangerous, and I ain't gonna lose you again.

Becca

He's my son, and I'm coming. [beat] I need you to promise me something. I need you to promise me that you will save him no matter what and you will get him back to me.

Yeah. Of course.

Becca

You realize this isn't just about me, right? Like, he can't grow up like Homelander. You have to think of all of the people out there that he would… Swear to me, then. You swear to me on your brother's soul.

I swear to you. I swear to you on Lenny's soul.

Homelander

Ryan? Did you do this?

Ryan

I didn't mean to.

Homelander

Let's go. Come here. Come. Ryan... Ryan, come here.

No.

Homelander

[beat; laughs maniacally] He's mine. What, are you gonna blow yourself up to save the little shit that fucking murdered your wife?

I promised.

Homelander

Have it your way.

Queen Maeve

Stop.

Homelander

What are you doing here?

Queen Maeve

You're gonna let them go.

Homelander

And if I don't?

Queen Maeve

Let them go. You're gonna stop hunting Starlight, you're gonna leave me and Elena alone… or I release this.

Homelander

If you do that… I'll destroy everything and everyone.

Queen Maeve

Great. As long as everyone sees what a fucking monster you are. As long as no one ever loves you again.

Queen Maeve

I heard Termite walked. My lead was good. What happened?

Don't ask.

Queen Maeve

Well, we gotta talk. I think I have something.

Soldier Boy. So what?

Queen Maeve

Remember how he died?

Stoppin' a nuclear meltdown in Ohio. '83, '84 I think. Got buried beneath a reactor. Always thought it was bollocks.

Queen Maeve

Yeah, you thought right. Read.

[looks at the file again] What's B.C.L. Red?

Queen Maeve

If you believe the rumors, it's the thing that killed Soldier Boy. Some kind of gun or weapon or something.

Had to have been a fuckin' H-bomb. He was nearly as strong as… [pause; sees Maeve smiling] Ah.

Queen Maeve

If we can find this weapon–or whatever it is–maybe we can use it to blow Homelander's fucking brains out.

If it is real, and not some fuckin' fable.

Payback. [scoffs] What a bunch of fuckin' wankers.

Queen Maeve

I'll say. When The Seven passed them as the number one super team, Crimson Countess sent me a box of cat shit. She was fucking Soldier Boy, and Gunpowder was his sidekick. If anyone knows what happened to him, they do.

[looks at the photo again and sees Black Noir] Your mate Noir was in Payback. Why don't you ask him?

Queen Maeve

[chuckles] Even if that walking tumor could talk, it wouldn't be to me. Here.

What's this?

Queen Maeve

It's Temp V. One shot makes you a Supe for 24 hours. I mean, they think. It's still in R&D.

Oh, great. So powers, maybe. Maybe my bollocks swell up like footballs, yeah?

Queen Maeve

Payback may be a bunch of fuckholes, but they're strong. And they're dangerous. If you're going against them, you're gonna need it.

And what makes you think that me, of all people, would wanna turn into one of you?

Queen Maeve

This is our best chance to kill Homelander. Don't fuck it up.

[opens balcony door] If you wanna watch me have a wank, it'll cost you a tenner.

Homelander

May I come in?

Homelander

Where's Ryan?

He's at 673 Nosh My Bollocks Ave. You want a pen and paper?

Homelander

You know, I could just... pull you apart, limb by limb. Make you tell me.

Nah, that'd be worthless. Victim always goes into shock. You gotta start small. Fingers, toenails, ears...

Homelander

He's my son, William. My family. I'm gonna find him sooner or later.

[pause] Look, uh... I don't mean to be rude, but can we just skip to the part where you laser my fuckin' brains out?

Homelander

Oh, for Christ's sakes. Where's the sport in that? I mean, look at you. It'd be like putting down a wounded dog.

You're the one with your tail between your legs on all them fuckin' talk shows. And then, they go and make Starlight co-captain? That's gotta sting.

Homelander

[smiles] Touché, William. Touché.

What're you doin' here?

Homelander

[disgusted] Vought. And the fucking Bureau. The wheeling and dealing, and–and giving and taking, just to keep everything... exactly the same. And you and me? Well, they treat us like old playthings and put us up on the fucking shelf. Treat us like we're obsolete. Doesn't that make you angry?

Yeah. It does.

Homelander

What if... What if it doesn't have to be that way? What if you and I... Well, what if we share a different destiny? Something a little more... scorched earth. Shock and awe. Blood and bone. And in the end, only one of us left standing. [beat] Isn't that what you want?

Too fuckin' right. More than anything.

Homelander

I look forward to it.

Okay, one, you don't just pop up here. You call first. And, two, eff Soldier Boy. I don't give a mothereffin' doo-doo how he checked out.

Ah, bollocks. He didn't die like no hero. I'll wager he went out on his knees, beggin' like a right cunt.

What the f…?

[to Janine] Sorry, love. [to M.M.] Look, if there's a weapon out there that killed Soldier Boy, then it can kill Homelander. And that's gotta be worth something. Now, we're workin' our way through his old team. Frenchie and Kimiko are startin' with the Crimson Countess, and I'm gonna hit up Gunpowder.

Sounds like you got everything covered.

This ain't just anyone; it's Soldier Boy. You could close the book on him once and for all. For your dad. Your family.

Fuck off with that shit. [pause] My father died hunched over a desk, obsessing over a dead man while he was ignoring his two living children. And I almost did the same thing to her. [points at the door] Thanks for coming by.

[beat; looks at Janine] You're doin' a bang-up job with her, mate.

[standing besides Gunpowder at the washroom urinal] 'Scuse me, Mr. Powder. I'm your number one fan. I've bought all your rifles. Every one of 'em. That Vought VR-15? Ooh…

That is a hell of a gun. Smooth trigger pull.

Smooth. I'd shake your hand, but uh… Well, you know.

Well, I appreciate that.

Yeah, I followed you since your Payback days. I mean, fourteen years old, picked to be Soldier Boy's sidekick.

He was a great man. Well, it's nice meeting you, buddy.

You must've been chuffed, eh? Helpin' him on those missions, lettin' him watch you on the bog, stick his finger up your bum a bit, give him a sloppy little nosh. All in a day's work for a young ward, innit?

Like I haven't heard that sidekick pedo shit a thousand times before. Why don't you do me a big favor, buddy, and fuck off!

You're right. I'm sorry. That's a filthy unsubstantiated rumour.

Goddamn right it is.

[holds up paper] Till now. This is a complaint you filed to Vought, beggin' to be taken off Payback on account of, and I quote, "Soldier Boy's habitual abuse". Of course, they buried it–Vought bein' the cunts they are.

That right there is a fake.

Course it is.

I'm sorry, who are you?

I told you. Biggest fan. And I wanna help ya. Keep shtum. It'd be a cryin' shame if your red-meat faithful out there found out you were Soldier Boy's underage nob-gobbler. Now, all I wanna know is what happened to him, and you're gonna tell me.

Or maybe I put a bullet in your head.

You do that, and it'll be all over the interweb within an hour.

See, buddy, I don't give a shit. 'Cause that never happened. Soldier Boy never touched me like that!

Hughie

Butcher?

You alright, mate?

Hughie

Hey, um… Frenchie told me about Crimson Countess. What the hell happened?

We was chasin' down something, but… I–I'm gonna knock it on the head. You was right the other day. Things are good. Ryan's good. I should leave it well enough alone before I go and fuck it all up. [pause; Hughie is silent] You there?

Hughie

Neuman's a Supe.

Yeah, what?

Hughie

Yeah, she's pretty much Stan Edgar's daughter, too. Past year of my life has been a waste. I thought we could fight Vought the right way, but we can't. It's all rigged. If we're gonna take them down, we have to do whatever it takes. We have to do it your way.

The prodigal son returns.

Hughie

What the fuck? Hey, man. [laughs as M.M. hugs him] Yeah… Wait. Wait, are you… Are you back?

We'll see.

Hughie

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy, but are–are you sure?

[sees the bloody bandage on Hughie's hand] What the fuck happened here, kid? You jacking off with razors again?

Hughie

You know, you should see the other guy. The other guy's my penis.

[laughs] I missed you, kid.

Hughie

I missed you, too, man. [pause; notices Butcher staring at him and sighs] Look, I know what you're gonna say, and I just–

No. No, mate. I'm just chuffed to have all the Boys back under the same roof, alright?

Hughie

Really?

Yeah. [to Frenchie and M.M.] I mean, there he was, right? In his fancy pants, lordin' it over us like the viceroy of Vought Square, eh? And that whole time, he weren't nothin' but a Supe's bootlick.

Hughie

Yeah.

That, my son, is a Lifetime Achievement at the Cunt of the Year Awards, innit?

Hughie

Yeah, it is. It is a Lifetime Achievement. [Butcher laughs] Are you done?

No, mate. I am just gettin' started, believe you me.

Hughie

Great. Listen, we need to get Ryan somewhere safe. Vicky knows where she is because we fucking told her, which means Stan Edgar knows, too.

Yeah, one step ahead. Colonel's already done a runner with the boy. They're well outta sight. In fact, we were gonna pay 'em a little visit.

We are?

Frenchie

Monsieur Charcutier, I cannot go. I have a matter of great importance.

Oh, I'm sorry. I must've forgot to run it by your bleedin' secretary!

Frenchie

It's an emergency!

Hughie

I–I'll go instead.

Nah, you skive off today, and that congresswoman might split your pretty little buns.

Hughie

Yeah, thought of that. Uh, Kimiko. [pause; Kimiko removes her headphones] Kimiko, hi. Can you please… break my arm? Vicky will smell it if I fake being sick, so it's gotta be real, and it's gotta last for days.

[laughing] Fuckin' hell, Hughie!

Frenchie

At least take something for the pain. I got opium. [tosses prescription bottle to Hughie]

Hughie

Government employees can't fail a piss test. [tosses prescription bottle back to Frenchie; to Kimiko] Let's just get this over with, okay? Just do it pretty fast.

Hold on. Hold up, hold up. Have a seat, please. Only been here three minutes, and it's already The Bold and the Batshit. [puts garbage bag on Hughie's lap] Alright, go ahead.

Nah, nah, nah! [points at Hughie's forearm] Right here. Clean break, no permanent damage.

Hughie

[takes a deep breath] Yeah? [pause; Kimiko nods] One, two–

Hughie

WHAT THE SHIT?!