Hughie quotes from The Boys

Hughie

You sure you wanna do this?

I don't need it. [shakes her head] I don't. The suit never gave me any power. And Vought sure as shit didn't. [Hughie gives Annie her old boots to throw away] It's always just been me.

[pause; clears his throat] Uh, Annie?

Mm-hmm?

You know, we're in a historic building. You need to double-knot...

Okay.

… and bag your trash if you're gonna be working here.

Butcher isn't gonna like it.

Frenchie

Butcher can suck my shit. From now on, this is a democracy, huh? I say you're one of The Boys.

Me, too.

Hughie

Oh, fuck.

[on TV] After the tragic drowning of presumptive VP candidate Lamar Bishop, we go live to the Singer campaign in Sioux Falls, where Dakota Bob just announced his new running mate.

[on TV] What would you like to say to the American people?

[on TV] As the next Vice President, I will work hard to provide a safe and secure future for all citizens on both sides of the political divide.

[on TV] And that's why I am so proud to have her on my team.

Well… That bitch has definitely gotta go.

Hughie

Thank Christ. Can we go now? [recoils in shock when he sees Neuman] Jesus!

Hey, Hughie.

Hughie

Hey.

You gotta teach Butcher the meaning of the word "covert". He just got made by a 12-year-old.

Hughie

You mean Zoe, who just murdered two guys? Vic, you–you shot your own daughter up with V? How could you do that to her?

I needed to keep her safe.

Hughie

Safe? You turned her into a fucking monster. Like you.

I'm sorry. That sounds like the pot calling the kettle a teleporting dude with his dick out.

Hughie

Worst mistake I ever made. [pause] Vic, you and me, we were… We were like family. I mean… Was everything just… bullshit?

I almost told you once. That night of the blackout, you remember? You brought every bodega snack you could carry for Zoe. We played Uno with her for hours until the lights came back on. And I thought… you were one of my closest friends. I mean, hell, you're dating a Supe. If anyone would understand, it'd be you, right?

Hughie

Why didn't you tell me?

I was scared.

Hughie

Scared you'd have to pop my head.

I was scared to lose you. [Hughie sighs] I always cared about you, Hughie. That part was real.

Hughie

Hey, Vicky… Fuck you!

Seriously? [scoffs] I have to be on TV in, like, ten minutes, you fuckin' asshole!

Hughie

We're gonna out you! We're gonna go to the press, tell them you blew up Congress! I still–I still got the Red River files!

Okay, okay, okay. Have you ever seen WarGames? What am I saying, look at you. Of course you've seen fucking WarGames.

Hughie

We're making jokes?

Mutually assured destruction. I hurt you, you out me. You out me, I kill everyone you've ever loved. The only thing that makes sense is a truce.

Or Plan B.

Hughie

Jesus, fuck!

[groans] How is it you guys are actually getting worse at your jobs? [hears her phone chime and checks it] Mmm. They just called Arizona. Guess I better go change.

Hughie

Jesus. You're just telling us now? Have you seen any specialists? Have you…

How long you got?

It's none of your fuckin' business. I'm not sure why I'm tellin' you at all.

Kimiko

[signing to Frenchie] What's going on?

Let's just say I got an angel on my shoulder. And she's a right bloody nag.

Butcher, I tried to warn you that that shit was poison!

You ain't one of us.

Hughie

Hey!

Alright! [to Butcher] A word.

You're done.

Yeah, what?

Fired. Grab your shit and get the fuck out.

I level with you lot and this is the thanks I get. Fuck me. See what bein' honest gets ya?

Honest? Motherfucker, you've been lying to us for the last six months!

Not tellin' ain't lyin'. Look, you need all the help you can get, mate.

Not from you. You're a liability, Butcher.

I ain't gonna let this stand, then. The Boys is mine.

Says a dying man with one last bluff. Now grab your shit and get the fuck out. Or I'll throw you out.

Hughie

Just–

I don't wanna hear it. He's out. You can join him if you don't like it.

Hughie

How is he?

He's the same.

Hughie

[beat; sighs] Look, my plan was to come in here, you know, fight you bloody over Dad, but um… I have had a day, and I think what I really just wanna know right now is… Why?

Why what?

Hughie

Why'd you leave? How? How could you leave me?

[pause; clears her throat] I was, uh… 22 when I had you. Mm-hmm. [chuckles] Oh, those dimples. But I was depressed. Postpartum. Uh… You know, people think depression, they think, “Oh, so you’re sleepy, so what?” But it’s… not like that. It… It’s painful. It hurts. My friends all said, “Give it a month, six months, a year,” but it–it never went away.

Hughie

But you were always so fun. We’d have dance parties.

I never wanted you to see it. But… getting dressed was like… climbing Everest. And so, one night, I just took 40 Ambien and tried to kill myself. Thank God I threw them up in the toilet. So the next day, I… took you to school, and I left. I didn’t want to, but… it was life or death for me.

Hughie

I didn’t know that.

Why would you?

Hughie

You, um… you never called.

I tried. But your dad was so hurt, and–and… he didn’t want me to confuse you. So, eventually, I just stopped. I thought, you know, maybe I wasn’t cut out to be a parent. And I know you’ve spent a lot of your life hating me and thinking I’m the villain, and I would never ask for your forgiveness. But I’m really sorry, Hughie, that I hurt you. I was just fucked up, you know?

A-Train

What the shit is this? Where’s the talking goatee with the gold chains?

Hughie

[to Kimiko, who he holds back] It’s okay. [to A-Train] I’m the one that called you.

A-Train

Are you crazy? Sage is on my ass, stares at me like I’m fucking dinner, but you thought this was a good time to be seen together?

Hughie

I need a dose of Compound V, and I need it today.

A-Train

Oh, is that all?! For what?

Hughie

What do you care?

A-Train

Homelander has every vial of V locked up in his apartment. Hundreds of them. Nobody gets it.

Hughie

Okay. Well, he’s not gonna miss one vial, then. You gotta find a way.

A-Train

No. It’s too dangerous. [starts walking away]

Hughie

No! Hey, fuck that! You owe me!

A-Train

I owe you? I just saved your fucking life.

Hughie

Every single fucked-up, horrible thing that’s ever happened to me–to all of us–it all started with you, ’cause you took away someone I loved! And now you’re gonna give someone I love back.

A-Train

What?

Hughie

[pause] My dad’s about to die. V is the only thing that can save him. This is your chance… to finally make things right.

A-Train

What makes you think I give a shit?

Hughie

You tell me.

A-Train

If I do this… we’re good? Forever?

Hughie

Yes.

Hughie

Ow! What?!

Kimiko

[texting to Hughie] You didn't say we were meeting A-Train. And you want V? Haven't you learned anything?

Hughie

Kimiko, I’m sorry, but it’s my dad. What else was I supposed to do?

Kimiko

[texting to Hughie] I'm sorry, but I think you are supposed to let him die.

A-Train

It’s bullshit, right? You’re not gonna forgive me. [pause; Hughie just stares at him] Yeah, thought so.

Hughie

Wait. You’re right. I–I was gonna tell you to go fuck yourself, but I changed my mind. We’re good.

You fuckin' dog wanker.

Hughie

Jesus. How long have you been standing there?

Long enough. How could ya?

Hughie

I didn’t–I didn’t do it for him. I don’t wanna spend the rest of my life hating anybody.

[looks at the Compound V] Whatcha gonna do with that, then?

Hughie

I mean–Look, you're probably the only guy that would understand, but I was gonna give it to my dad.

[shakes his head] Oh, Hughie.

Hughie

Look, I know. I know it’s insane and terrible, but what other choice do I have?

Any other fuckin' choice, you twat.

Hughie

You’re really telling me that you wouldn’t take some if you were in his shoes? ‘Cause you kind of are. There’s enough here. It’d save you, too. It’s gotta beat dying of brain cancer, right?

I already took some. Nicked it outta Frenchie’s desk four months ago. Thought it might cure me.

Hughie

Jesus. Do you have powers?

No. All it did was bring up the big day. I’m tellin' ya, quit while you’re behind. You’ll only make matters worse.

You… you left me. You left our little boy.

Hughie

Dad–

[tearfully] You broke our hearts.

Hughie

Dad, stop.

Hugh, please. Hugh… Hugh, please. Please, Hugh!

Hughie

I'm Hughie, Dad. I'm the one you took to the Vought Store to buy the Tek Knight doll. Remember, I was–I was short eight bucks, even though I saved for weeks. And you said, "Anything for your number one hero." But that's the thing, Dad. He–He never was. You are. You're my hero. And that's why I–I needed you to wake up, so that I could say it, and I–and I know that you heard it. You're my hero, Dad.

[beat] Hughie?

Hughie

Yeah. Yeah, Dad, it’s me. It’s me. It’s Hughie.

Wh–Where are we?

Oh–Oh, God, wha… [tearfully] Oh, God. Wh–Why am I… I–I don’t know what’s going on.

Hughie

It’s–It’s a long story, but…

No! No!

Hughie

Dad? Dad, it’s Hughie. It’s Hughie, remember?

I know. I–I know. I just, I–I don’t… There’s–There’s something wrong with me. I–I can’t stop it. [crying] I don’t know what to do.

Hughie

That’s okay. I think I do.

A-Train

Hey, this is so fucked!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. Where are you?

A-Train

Toronto, so we could talk. They killed Cameron Coleman because they thought that he was the fucking leak!

Oh, shit.

A-Train

Listen, I can’t do this shit anymore, man. I’m done!

Alright, no one ever said this would be easy. Think about your brother, your nephews. They’d be so proud of you, man.

A-Train

Who cares what my family thinks if I’m already fuckin' dead?!

Calm down. Now walk me through everything, and let’s process this shit together, alright?

This is so fucked! So before Cameron got beaten to death, Homelander was seen putting Supes together like a…

An army?

[nods] Mm-hmm. And then A-Train saw Tek Knight talking to Sage. Looked like they were planning something.

Hughie

You–You wanna talk to Tek Knight?

Now, he’s having a Federalist Society party tonight at his estate.

I cannot believe that this is about to come out of my mouth, but… we could use Butcher.

Hughie

Have you heard from him?

Motherfucker’s MIA.

[to Hughie] Hey… Maybe you should sit this out, you know? You’ve just been through so much with your dad–

Hughie

I’m fine. Focusing on work is exactly what I need to do right now, okay? Just trust me.

Okay.

Hughie

Okay. So, how are we supposed to sneak into an alt-right cocktail party?

Thought you’d never ask. [holds up a Vought record file on…]

Webweaver?

Come on out, kid.

Hughie

You guys are gonna laugh.

No one is gonna laugh.

Hughie

Guys, come on. You–You promised!

Kimiko

[texting to Hughie] You're like a Times Square Elmo.

[laughing] Oh, my God.

Hughie

Okay, you know what? [removes mask] Fuck you guys.

[coughs] How did a junkie like Webweaver score an invite to this anyway?

Don’t know, but A-Train said he’s on the list.

Hughie

God, why does he wear it so tight? [sniffs] Smells like ass sweat and broken dreams in here.

Good. It’ll hide your scent from Tek Knight. You don’t wanna give him any tells.

Wait, Tek Knight has super smell?

Yeah. Smell, vision, taste, touch. He’s like Sherlock Holmes on meth.

I don’t like this. He’s gonna make Hughie–

How else are we gonna find out what Sage is cooking? [to Hughie] Just gotta work fast, kid. Take these bugs, put ’em all over the party, and lure Tek Knight back here as soon as you can.

Hughie

Okay.

We’ll take care of the rest.

Oh, God. Okay, comm check-ins every two minutes. Just say something, okay? Anything.

Hughie

Yeah. Copy.

In Webweaver’s voice, motherfucker.

Hughie

Uh… Copy, dawg.

Hughie

Hey, so, did I get the gig? [winces as Tek Knight caresses him] Dammit.

Just one last thing. What’s your safe word?

Hughie

[groans] You know… I’m actually–I’m probably gonna save that for something I–I really can’t handle, but yeah, I’m good.

[pause; sees Hughie's fist shaking] You’re trembling.

Hughie

Mm-mm.

Your body’s riddled by horripilation. Come on. It’s the thing that you love the most. [pause] Say it.

Hughie

…Lube?

I know you. You’re Hughie Campbell.

Hughie

Fuck!

This is actually great news. Not only am I gonna get points for catching you, but before I let the big guy know that you’re down here…

Hughie

Wait, wait! Wait a minute! [stutters] Wait a minute, um… You were–Hey, you were my favorite hero as a kid, okay? You don’t wanna do this.

Everybody always has the same holes. Over and over again, it gets so fucking boring.

Hughie

Please! I looked up to you!

Sometimes, you just gotta make your own… [picks up a knife] and then fuck them.

Where the fuck you been?

[coughs] Shittin’ a kidney. Alright, listen up. Now, don’t get your knickers in a twist, but…

You remember Neuman’s dearly departed virus bloke, Dr. Sameer Shah?

I’m serious, Butcher. Don’t.

Well, funny story. Turns out he ain’t that dead. He’s been workin' for me, makin' some more of that virus.

What the fuck?

Hughie

Wait, all they found was…

Goddamn it, you asshole.

Hughie

Did you cut off his leg?!

Alright, alright. Keep your hair on.

So, basically, you’ve been amputatin’ motherfuckers while working on a secret bioweapon, and we’re the ones that are supposed to chill?

You are pissing away our best shot.

Now, the trouble is, we’ve hit a slight snag. He can’t make it deadly enough to top Homelander without causin' a global pandemic.

Jesus.

Wait… Genocide. You’re talking about Supe genocide. That’s…

Hughie

Yeah, Butcher, even for you this is…

Which is why I’m fuckin' tellin' you, innit? You think I want that much blood on me hands?

Yeah, you do. You wanna fuckin' swim in it.

[to Kessler] No, I don’t! [pause; to the Boys] No, I do not. So to keep the bug from burnin' through you lot like wildfire, I thought ol’ Sameer could do with a bit of a hand.

Hughie

From who?

A question both insightful and germane, my son. [pause; turns around] Ah, here he is. Speak of the devil.

Frenchie

Bonjour.

How the fuck did you get out?

I had Mallory pull a few strings.

Frenchie

Just to be clear, this was against my will. I’d rather fuck a jar of fishing lures than to be free.

Hughie

Oh, cool. Cool.

Alright, then. Happy reunions. So, Frenchie will help sort the virus. We’ll use it on Homelander and the VP, and that’s it. No one else.

Listen… You should go on ahead.

Yeah, what?

Without me. I gotta talk to Monique. It’s–

Oh, come off it. Don’t leave me alone with this lot.

Wait, what?

He ain’t goin'.

Hughie

[to M.M.] You’re not going? Why?

Alright, so we gonna make this official? [to Butcher] Take a knee, I’ll knight you with my dick. You’re back in charge of The Boys again, alright? I’m better off doing research anyway.

No, you can’t do this.

You don’t gotta do this.

Yeah, he does. This is good for us.

You can’t. Things are bad already without this fucking asshole back.

Look what I gotta deal with.

Listen, it ain’t a debate, you guys. I passed out during a mission. I ain’t cut out to be a skipper… but he is. So, it’s him. [to Butcher] It’s you. End of story.

Fuck, I’m gonna miss New York bodegas.

Hughie

Listen, we need to talk. You can still stop all this, alright? Just stop.

You must be pretty desperate if you’re throwing a Hail Mary like this. Jesus.

Hughie

Five minutes, alright? Just five minutes where we cut the bullshit and we talk–just you and me–about how fucked all this is!

What it is, is politics. You know how it goes, strange bedfellows.

Hughie

Yeah, but it’s not like you’re palling around with Mitt Romney! You’re working with Homelander! He’s gonna kill the President. That sounds fucking insane coming out of my mouth! [pause; Neuman just shrugs] Wow. When Homelander chucks all the Starlighters into internment camps, you’re just–You’re cool with that, too? [pause] You didn’t know about the camps. Why do you think that you were at Tek Knight’s? That’s what his prisons are for.

I gotta get back to it.

Hughie

I still have all the dirt on you. What you said at Tek Knight’s. Everything.

Is that a threat?

Hughie

No. Because when we drop it, then you’ll kill us all. Like you said, mutually assured destruction. But it doesn’t have to be that way. And if you’re even, like, one percent of the person that I knew, then I don’t think you really wanna do this. You can still step back. Vic, it’s not too late.

[beat] Thanks for coming by. [pause; Hughie starts walking out] I’m sorry… to hear about your dad.

Hughie

Vicky?

I want out.

Hughie

Sorry, is–is this a joke?

No. It’s gone too far.

Hughie

No. No, you’re just saying that ’cause the assassination failed.

No, I’m saying it ’cause it’ll never fucking end. Homelander’s unhinged, he’s not even listening to Sage anymore. If I become President, I’m just gonna be a puppet, and if I fight back, he’ll… I’ll resign without a fight. You just need to get the CIA off my ass and get me and Zoe out, okay?

Hughie

Fuck all the way off. You’re like the asshole who cried wolf. I mean, the shit that you have done–

Oh, what? Like how you got Sameer to cook up some more of the virus to kill me? Oh, and yeah, cut off his fucking leg?!

Hughie

Ah… Glad you two connected. Okay, so the leg thing wasn’t me, and you didn’t exactly leave us with a ton of options.

Look, the point is, you hit me, I hit you back and it never fucking ends. WarGames, Hughie. The only way to win is not to play. I thought I wanted this. Not for Zoe or… Edgar, but for me. You know, I just… I wanted to feel safe, and not like that scared fucking kid at Red River. [tearfully] But I don’t feel safe, and I’m really fucking scared. And I’m not getting Zoe killed over this. This is the only way.

Hughie

Vicky, I don’t know how to trust you.

I’ll tell you where Zoe is.

Hughie

Is she okay?

Yeah, but if I get her, it’ll draw too much attention. And that’s how you know you can trust me–because I am trusting my daughter with you. Please, Hughie. You’re literally the only person on Earth I can turn to right now.

Hughie

Stop, stop. It's suicide.

I’ll be takin' that virus now. Thanks, Frenchie.

Ain’t no fuckin' way.

Frenchie

You took V? It will work on you, too.

[beat] If I were you lot, I wouldn’t hang about. [pause; turns around on his way out] Oh, by the way… you’re all fuckin' welcome.