[Butcher brings his associate, Frenchie, along with Hughie to an abandoned restaurant, where they imprison Translucent]
What d'you think, Frenchie?
FrenchieYou just dropped the Moby fucking Dick of problems on my plate. That's what I think, okay? He can re-order the carbon on his skin into metamaterial. It's hard as diamonds. It's nearly impossible to penetrate.
Alright, how 'bout we suffocate him?
Frenchie
Some Dominicans already tried this, way back in '07.
Frenchie
They're all fucking dead. That's what happened.
Alright, then, fuck it. Electrocution. We'll just increase the amps.
Frenchie
You already hit him with enough to drop a water buffalo, and look. Might knock him out. Doesn't seem to kill him, huh? No. We need to pierce the skin somehow.
Well, how the hell are we gonna do that?
Frenchie
I don't know.
[pause; turns and stares at Hughie] We didn't bring him here for a fuckin' Happy Meal.
I don't–I thought we'd question him or something. I don't know, you get a–you get a hold of someone this big–
At Gitmo, we had to waterboard Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 times over six months to get him to talk just once. Now, we ain't got six months. I doubt we've even got six hours.
There are so many crazy things about what you just said. But right now, you're talking about randomly killing one of the most famous men on the planet. A goddamn national treasure. I mean… people tend to notice that kinda thing.
And if we let him go, what do you think The Seven will do to us? Hmm? You can't get A-Train if you're a greasy smear on the pavement.
What the…? Something doesn't feel right.
Frenchie
I'm not ashamed to admit I have outdone myself. [to Translucent] Now, the problem is the skin, no? It's hard like diamonds. But then I realized, it is just your shell that is hard, huh? Like a turtle. But your insides, they're like the rest of ours: Soft. So, how do you get to the squishy insides? Through the mouth? Non. The stomach acid, the gag reflex… if I stick something down your throat, you may vomit it up. There's truly only one way.
The fuck did you do to me?
He stuck a lump of plastique up your bum, son.
Frenchie
Ass bomb.
[Butcher recruits his old partner, Mother's Milk, to the team. M.M. and Frenchie immediately tense up when they see each other]
Frenchie
Oh, no…
MSMother's Milk
Motherfucker!
[They both approach each other with knives. Butcher gets in between them.]
Butcher, who is this guy?!
You'll give the game away!
MSMother's Milk
Not until this frog gets what's coming.
Frenchie
The only thing that is coming is me on your mother's titties!
MSMother's Milk
Let me throw it at him, bitch!
MSMother's Milk
We had an agreement about him.
We agreed to put a pin in it, alright?
Frenchie
What agreement?!
MSMother's Milk
There was no pin! I don't trust this French whore!
Frenchie
I am more American than you, you racist piece of shit!
Nothing! It is water under the bridge!
MSMother's Milk
[to Frenchie] You tell that to Mallory's grandkids. Tell them it's water under the bridge.
Frenchie
That wasn't my fault.
Alright, the both of you, knock it on the head, now!
[The standoff is interrupted by a cell phone ringing]
MSMother's Milk
…Shit! [answers phone] Hey, Monique. How you doin', baby? Ooh, I forgot to marinade the tilapia. I am so sorry, sweetheart. [pause] Okay, how 'bout this? How about on my way home from work, I stop by DeLuca's, pick up two fat tenderloins, some portobello mushrooms, that pinot that you love so much. Yeah, baby. Okay, I–I gotta go. Alright, sweetheart. Yeah. Me, too. …Baby, I just–Uh, you're right. You're right. I love you, too. Okay. Bye.
[Mother's Milk makes kissing noises and hangs up. Frenchie and Butcher burst out laughing.]
MSMother's Milk
Fuck all of ya'll, okay?
Alright, alright. [to M.M. and Frenchie] Listen, you two knobbers kiss and make up, yeah? We got a fuckin' job to do.
[Butcher meets up with the rest of the Boys after Frenchie frees the Female from her armed captors. He inspects a Compound V needle that M.M. found]
So A-Train's runnin' it here, and these blokes are dosin' the Asian bird with it.
MSMother's Milk
Yeah, back when they had eyeballs.
Yeah, but why? Is it a Vought thing or, like, a side hustle?
MSMother's Milk
[shows Butcher a paper bag] Came gift-wrapped in this.
Find out where it came from.
MSMother's Milk
I'll shake a few trees.
Why the hell were they dosin' her?
MSMother's Milk
[points at Frenchie] Why don't we ask Foie Gras over here? He's the one that let her out.
Frenchie
She looked innocent.
MSMother's Milk
Innocent? She's locked up in a cage underground with two armed guards?
Frenchie
I had a feeling about her.
MSMother's Milk
Nah, Frenchie. You just didn't follow the plan. You never follow the plan, man.
Frenchie
You need to unclench your asshole.
MSMother's Milk
You need to eat my clenched asshole.
Why are you two carryin' on like a bunch of fuckin' twats? We're sniffin' down a shit sandwich the size of Watergate. Vought and the Supes are both gonna be lookin' for her. All we gotta do is find the Female first.
[Butcher notices Hughie looking at his cell phone]
Keep lookin'. [to Hughie] Who's that, then, eh?
[Butcher gestures for Hughie to hand him his phone. He scrolls through Hughie's text messages.]
Yeah, it's nothing. I mean, we were supposed to go on a date. Not a date. Just, she asked me if I wanted to ask her for her number, and then we just kinda platonically exchanged information, but the… the word "date" was never mentioned.
Call her back right now. You're fuckin' goin'.
As a rule, I don't usually go out after a gory massacre.
Listen, here's the job. You're gonna hot mic her phone. From now on, we hear everything she says. I mean, this is a golden opportunity. And after all you done, piece of cake.
Yeah, she's not a… She's not a bad person.
She's a Supe, Hughie. Just like the fuckin' rest of them.
MSMother's Milk
So where's the girl, Frenchie? Since you're the psycho chick whisperer all of a sudden.
Frenchie
Maybe subway. Maybe she wants to find a train, no?
MSMother's Milk
Oh, yeah? How deep up your ass did you pull that out?
Frenchie
Well, it depends. How deep does your tongue go?
MSMother's Milk
Listen, you lost her, man. We had orders, we're supposed to follow them. We're professionals and we count on each other, but you're on some fucking Bohemian flaky drug shit. Even Hughie–who's a fucking white Urkel–is more professional than you.
Frenchie
I understand it's hard for someone who's anally OCD to understand.
MSMother's Milk
Okay, then help me understand, Frenchie. What happened the night that Mallory had you tail Lamplighter?
Frenchie
Oh, that's enough!
MSMother's Milk
Mallory was our boss, man. We had orders. And you were supposed to follow him. You were supposed to follow Lamplighter, tail him, but you let him go!
Frenchie
I didn't know.
MSMother's Milk
And Lamplighter goes and torches Mallory's grandkids!
Frenchie
I didn't know!
MSMother's Milk
It doesn't matter! You didn't follow orders and it cost some lives!
[Frenchie punches M.M. in the face, causing a brief scuffle. Butcher quickly intervenes.]
Hey! Hey, knock it off! Knock if off!
MSMother's Milk
You know what? Fuck this, Butcher. And fuck you! I'm done!
MSMother's Milk
You said this time would be different. [gestures to Frenchie] But this motherfucker's still here doing the same old shit! And we're all gonna fucking end up like Mallory!
Frenchie
Yeah, fuck off. [throws his fist in the air as M.M. walks off]
MSMother's Milk
Fuck this.
What's Sporty Spice up to?
Sporty fuckin' Spice. What is she up to?
MSMother's Milk
[pause; walks back up to Butcher] I don't know.
Exactly. [to Frenchie] How 'bout Posh? You know what she's doin'?
Frenchie
I don't understand.
Makin' clothes for anorexics, alright? Not exactly a growth market. And Baby? You know what she's doin'? Fuck all. Not even page six of the Daily Mail. And Scary Spice? Up to her eyeballs in lawsuits and sex tapes. Ginger, on the other hand, has released three albums: Passion, Schizophrenic, and Scream If You Want To Go Faster. They'll all make your ears bleed. You see, when they're apart, they're absolute fuckin' rubbish. But you put 'em together… They're the goddamn fuckin' Spice Girls.
MSMother's Milk
How do you know so much about the Spice Girls?
Look, the point… is that we're all shite by ourselves. We need each other. We need each other, or we're fuckin' dead in the water. Now, you guys can beat the livin' fuckin' shit out of each other. I really don't care. It ain't gonna change the past. [takes gas canister from Frenchie] What d'you say we go find that dirty little bitch, gas her arse, and get the fuck outta here?
[Frenchie and M.M. exchange confused looks with each other as Butcher walks away]
MSMother's Milk
Jesus, he gives the worst pep talks.
Frenchie
He really, really does.
[Frenchie is watching a nature documentary on sharks and The Asian Female/Kimiko sits next to him]
Frenchie
Mon coeur. Would you like me to change it?
[The Female shakes her head]
Frenchie
You talked to me. She talked to me!
MSMother's Milk
That's talking?
Frenchie
Well, she communicated anyway.
MSMother's Milk
She likes Shark Week, huh? I'll call BuzzFeed.
Frenchie
I wonder if she lived by the water. [gets off couch and walks to M.M.] You know, you can't fool me. [sits near M.M.] Who is she? What does she want? Why is she here? She could be the key to it all. That's what you think, huh?
MSMother's Milk
No, that's not what I think.
Frenchie
Yes, you do. It torments you. It's okay. Listen, I got one word for you. It's a surefire way to solve this puzzle. Once and for all.
Frenchie
Mesmer.
MSMother's Milk
Mesmer? You want help from a Supe?
Frenchie
He despises Vought. Hates them, hates the other Supes. And the enemy of your enemy…
MSMother's Milk
Frenchie, what part of "you're burned" do you not understand?
Frenchie
Oh, come on. It's a quick trip. She and I will hide in the van. Let's go. In, out, boom, bing.
MSMother's Milk
"Boom, bing?" Look, I'll tell you what I can do. I can… possibly tattoo "fuck no" on your ass.
Frenchie
[gets up and flicks a hand] Ah, come on.
MSMother's Milk
Best I can do.
Frenchie
You know… I've seen you eat ice cream.
MSMother's Milk
Oh, my God.
Frenchie
Chunky Monkey, I believe.
MSMother's Milk
Where is this going?
Frenchie
Well, you know, you take a spoonful… a chunk of fudge, perhaps. But then, I see you with the surface is uneven. So what do you do? You take another scoop, you try to even it out, which tragically creates a corresponding divot. Ultimately, there is only but one choice for you, no? To consume the entire pint. No, you don't want to. You don't want to, but you must. And I tell you why, my friend: Because you cannot bear things out of order. And she… she's out of order.
[Mother's Milk stares disapprovingly at the Female]
[The Boys recruit Mesmer to learn more about the Female by reading her mind. As Mesmer holds her hand, he sees a series of visions of her in a jungle with armed soldiers.]
MMesmer
There's a camp in a jungle. She's a soldier. There's a flag with a two-headed snake on it.
Two-headed snake? Like… [makes an "X" with his arms and fists]
MSMother's Milk
It's the flag of the Shining Light Liberation Army. Frenchie… you're dating a terrorist.
[...]
Frenchie
There must be more to all of this. She can't be a terrorist.
Yeah, well, you just fuckin' keep her under control.
MSMother's Milk
Okay, so they smuggle in a top-shelf extremist recruit and pump her up with Compound V.
And then, when she's good and ready, they cut her loose to wreak havoc.
Frenchie
She wouldn't.
Wait, why would Vought give Compound V to terrorists?
MSMother's Milk
'Cause the only thing more dangerous than a terrorist is a Supe terrorist. And the only way to fight it…
Is with Sergeant fuckin' Homelander. Gotta let the cunts in the army now. Those fuckers are creatin' supervillains. And maybe there's more of 'em. God knows how many.
MSMother's Milk
Okay, this is a clusterfuck. Even for us.
Frenchie
No, listen to me, okay? Maybe that's what they want her to be. But that's not who she is. That's not what she wants!
And you know this 'cause she bends your fuckin' ear off?
Frenchie
She saved my life! She's not bad! She just wanna go home!
She's a fuckin' Supe, just like the rest! How many times do I have to fuckin' say it, eh?!
[Frenchie notices the Female making more drawings]
Frenchie
[to the Female] Mon coeur, I know you understand me. Tell them who you are. Tell them what I see.
[The Female gets up, takes Mesmer's hand and kneels down with him. Mesmer closes his eyes and sees another series of visions of the Female as a child.]
MMesmer
The drawings are palm trees in front of the moon. It's where she grew up. They killed her parents. They kidnapped her and her brother… forced them to be soldiers. She just wants to go back and get her brother out of there. Her name's Kimiko.
Frenchie
Kimiko… Bonjour, Kimiko.
[Hughie gets himself captured and is placed in the same cell where Mother's Milk and Frenchie are imprisoned]
MSMother's Milk
Did they get Butcher too?
Frenchie
They had you separated? When? When?
Well, um… He went after Homelander. But I–I came to save you. Yay.
MSMother's Milk
So, you came here. You meant to come here. Without Butcher.
Frenchie
[genuinely impressed] C'est incroyable. [grabs Hughie and kisses him on both cheeks] Never has a man thrown his life away so… completely like you've thrown yours away today. No. No, I mean, you rescuing us is the most useless, futile gesture I can think of!
Frenchie
Unbelievable!
MSMother's Milk
We gotta get outta here. Now.
Frenchie
[shakes his head] Good passports do not come cheap, huh? I sell the RPGs, smuggle in Kalashnikovs, we have enough money. That's it. [to Hughie] Where will you go, Petit Hughie?
MSMother's Milk
You could just stay here… with Frenchie's gangbanger friends. [sarcastically] The cots, they got 31 flavors of semen on them. You'll love 'em.
Frenchie
Oh, and you have a better idea? No? Maybe we can stay–all of us–in your mother's asshole!
Or… maybe we could not run.
Frenchie
You are like a record that is broken.
Well, we shouldn't just give up. Guys, we get some Compound V, we–we bring it to the New York Times, we burn Vought to the ground.
MSMother's Milk
You got some V, Hughie? 'Cause I don't.
We could… get some. Someone could help us get it.
MSMother's Milk
And who might that be?
Frenchie
You did not hear the television? We are famous now. Butcher even more so!
Fuck Butcher! We don't need him!
Frenchie
A-Team had Hannibal. Dirty Dozen, Lee Marvin. Beatles, Brian Epstein.
Frenchie
Okay, who's gonna be our captain? You?
I mean, guys, just–just hear me out.
MSMother's Milk
Shut the fuck UP! [gets up; whispering to Hughie] This is over.
[The Boys are back in their basement hideout after learning about Frenchie's associates' plan to smuggle Supe terrorists into the country]
Frenchie
They were wired the money from a blind account to smuggle the bastard in. Cold trail.
Amazing fucking friends of yours.
Frenchie
I never said they were my friends, huh? I only said we will be… safe here.
Okay, okay. Alright, what do we do?
MSMother's Milk
Oh, you just call 911.
What, an anonymous tip? Yeah, I'm sure that'll go straight to the mayor. You saw that video. What if he does that to an airplane? Or the fucking Brooklyn Bridge?
MSMother's Milk
So, what's your big plan, Hughie?
Okay, the CIA lady, right? Rayner?
MSMother's Milk
Right. The same CIA that wants to clamp our nuts into some jumper cables.
Frenchie
We could call Butcher.
For the last time, we don't need Butcher.
Frenchie
Then what?
MSMother's Milk
[chuckles sarcastically] "Call Annie." [beat; turns to Hughie] Annie?
MSMother's Milk
You mean Starlight? 'Cause that's who she is. Vought has her phone so bugged, they're praying that you do that. [pause; Hughie looks scared] Oh, no. You fucking called her?
No. No, I'm not–I'm not stupid, okay? I texted her…
MSMother's Milk
Oh, fuck.
…and then we met up, but we're getting some Compound V.
MSMother's Milk
[shoves Hughie against the wall] Fuck you! Are you fuckin' crazy?!
Frenchie
M.M., easy!
MSMother's Milk
[to Hughie] You fucking crazy?! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!
We were careful! We used burner phones!
MSMother's Milk
Kid, you don't get it. They could've been following you! They could be watching us right fucking now! [pause] If you're the fucking reason why I can't finish that Vermont country dollhouse, I will fucking end you.
You've been walking around for days like you wanna kick my ass, so do it already.
[M.M. stares menacingly at Hughie. Frenchie lays a hand on M.M., who pulls his fist back from Hughie]
MSMother's Milk
[sighs] Goddammit! [pause; Frenchie motions for Hughie to back off] Shit! I don't wanna kick your ass, Hughie. I just don't wanna get dragged back into this shit, alright? I wanna get home to my wife and my kid. That's it. If I still can.
This guy could kill a lot of people.
MSMother's Milk
Hughie, let somebody else handle it.
There's no one else! No one's coming to save us!
MSMother's Milk
You don't get it. You are not a soldier. You're not a spy. You're just a kid that sells stereo equipment.
No, I don't! I don't have a job. Or Robin… or my dad, or Annie. One way or another, they all... Now, all I have is this. This. Which is really fucking depressing, but it's true. So maybe I can't be Lee Marvin… but I can be Harry Potter. Or, you know, John Connor or–or whats-her-name from The Hunger Games.
Frenchie
Katniss.
Yeah. The point is, I could be that person that nobody thinks is awesome, but it turns out they're kinda fucking awesome!
[The Boys see an unknown assailant kick one of their guards down the stairs. Frenchie's associates aim their guns as the assailant walks down the steps. The assailant is revealed to be Butcher in casual clothes.]
Alright. Easy does it, lads. Easy does it. [points at the guard] Like, I tried to tell this cunt... I'm with that lot, yeah?
[Frenchie salutes Butcher and motions for his associates to lower their weapons]
MSMother's Milk
What the fuck are you wearin'?
[to Frenchie] You called him?
Frenchie
I'm sorry, Petit Hughie. It's not a game now. We need a real captain.
[to Hughie] Frenchie's right. This is a fuckin' mess, son. We got a Supe terrorist, Rayner's blown her canister, and we're the most wanted cunts in the country. But don't you worry… Daddy's home.
[Hughie is watching the same breaking news report about the discovery of Compound V as he leaves a voice message for Annie]
Uh, hey. Is this you? You did it. We did it! Um, call me. Call me back when you get a chance.
MSMother's Milk
Did what? [beat; watches the news for a moment] You did this?
Uh, yeah. Starlight did mostly, I'm pretty sure. But I just gave her an old alley-oop.
MSMother's Milk
Hughie… HUGHIE, YES! [hugs Hughie and lifts him up] HUGHIE! Dude, look what you fuckin' did! Oh, my God!
You lads touchin' your tips?
MSMother's Milk
Look at what the kid just did.
Me and Starlight, but yeah.
Frenchie
Petit Hughie?!
MSMother's Milk
The fuckin' kid!
[Frenchie kisses Hughie full on the mouth]
MSMother's Milk
[laughing] Oh, shit!
Frenchie
Yes!
MSMother's Milk
That's all you got? We've been trying to do this shit for years, Vought's finally fuckin' going down, the kid did it... and "Nice one"?!
You can't even give me this, can you? Not one goddamn win.
I'll tell ya what. When we're all done here, I'll buy you a nice, big family-size bottle of top-shelf lube, and I'll tickle your balls till you beg me to stop. And even then, I won't. I just won't do it. But right now, we got a Supe terrorist below deck and shit could go sideways just like… [snaps his fingers] So all of ya, keep your fuckin' eyes on the ball, yeah?
[Butcher walks out of the living room. Frenchie reassuringly pats Hughie's arm.]
Frenchie
Don't worry about him.
MSMother's Milk
Yeah, fuck him. You did great.
[The Boys are all covered in blood and guts after impaling The Deep's whale with their speedboat.]
[spits out whale blood] Fuckin' diabolical! Where's Hughie?!
[Butcher sees Hughie lying down inside the whale carcass in utter shellshock]
Hughie! Oh, geez. You alright? Come on, son. We gotta leg it. Deep's here, and The Seven won't be too far behind.
Um, you know what? You know, you guys go ahead. You guys go ahead. I'm good.
Just gonna sit here and wait, if you don't mind.
What the fuck are you waitin' for?!
Alright, son. Come on. [tries to get Hughie up] Come on.
GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF OF ME!
Geez! Alright, fine. Suit yourself. [pause; to M.M. and Frenchie as he gets out] C'mon, let's go!
MSMother's Milk
Whoa, we can't leave the kid, man.
Pinocchio is stayin' put. Have at it.
[Later, M.M. is able to convince Hughie to join them, but Hughie is still in a daze as they try to escape through the sewers.]
MSMother's Milk
Hey, the kid's fallin' apart. You know that, right?
Well, what'd you expect? He's a fuckin' civilian.
MSMother's Milk
No, no, no. It's not just him. It's all of us.
Frenchie
[to Hughie] Move the feet. Just move the feet, come on. Move.
MSMother's Milk
We're at our breaking point–at each other's throats–and you keep pushin' us and pushin'. It's like–
Right over the fuckin' finish line. We just need to keep our shit together a little bit longer, okay? We hand that cunt over, and I get Becca, and you get your girls.
MSMother's Milk
Butcher! Butcher, we're right there. Hughie's not gonna make it. And you need that kid more than any one of us. He's your canary.
MSMother's Milk
You let your canary die, how you gonna know when you've gone too far?
Oh… I mean, what a load of bollocks. [pause; looks briefly at Hughie] Hell, I tried, alright? The kid doesn't want a part of me, so fuck him.
MSMother's Milk
[after nearly getting choked by Love Sausage] That's his fuckin' dick.
Frenchie
Oh... Don't be so closed-minded.
[...]
MSMother's Milk
[to Butcher on the phone] Yo. Close stitch, but Hughie's okay.
Frenchie
Hey, tell Butcher about that thick penis around your neck.
MSMother's Milk
[whispering] Fuck you. [to Butcher on the phone] Nah, nah, nah. It's just Frenchie being Frenchie.
Frenchie
Why are we still alive?
Frenchie
No. I mean that night. We went underground for months… but you never came for us. Not you, not Homelander. Why?
You're disappointed we didn't kill you?
Frenchie
I thought The Seven always retaliates, no?
You're nobody. Not worth it.
Frenchie
[beat; looks at M.M.] You didn't tell them, did you? Why wouldn't you tell them?
Frenchie
I figured you'd boast about it to Homelander. Must've been thrilling for you.
I'm not a fucking animal.
Frenchie
Only a fucking animal would do what you did.
Frenchie
You murdered innocent children.
Frenchie
You watched them burn alive, crying for their mama! If that's not an animal, then what is, huh?!
I didn't know! I didn't know they were gonna be in that bed. It was supposed to be your boss. [pause] Then, they started screaming… but it was too late.
MSMother's Milk
So what? Are we supposed to feel bad for you now? Fuck you.
I don't want anything from you. [to Frenchie] But you… I saw you following me that night… and then you disappeared. I keep asking myself why. Why didn't you stop me? [beat] Why didn't you?
MSMother's Milk
Good question.
[...]
Frenchie
[to Lamplighter] My best friend OD'd and I left to save him that night. Why I didn't stop you. You were at a party, I was away for thirty minutes. Came back, you were gone.
Did he live? Your friend?
Frenchie
Oui. But I never saw him again, and… then he died a few months later. Another overdose.
MSMother's Milk
Are you serious? Frenchie, why…? Why didn't you ever tell us?
Frenchie
What difference would it make?
MSMother's Milk
After all these years, man? We would've left you off the hook.
Frenchie
What makes you think I want to be let off the hook, huh?
The Boys · 278 quotes
