Scenes with Ashley 20
[Annie meets with some marketing people, along with Stillwell and Ashley]
AshleyThis is Seth and Evan from marketing.
Ashley
They have some brilliant ideas on how to capitalize on all the buzz. Gentlemen?
Okay. Now, small-town Iowa girl–unexpected child prodigy–is chosen for The Seven.
EEvan
Destiny knocks on the girl next door's door, and she answers, to fight for truth and justice side by side with her heroes.
The Big Apple is rough, tumble. It's got worms. Muggers and rapists and thieves, oh, my! Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore!
EEvan
Or Iowa. Poor girl gets knocked around by something fierce. Kicked while she's down.
So what does she do? Does she cry in her milk? Does she quit?
She adapts! She transforms!
EEvan
Embraces her feminine strengths!
Good-bye, Yellow Brick Road!
EEvan
And hello, Starlight!
[A fashion designer, Isadora, pulls back the fabric to show a new Starlight outfit, which is a skimpier version of her old one]
ASAnnie/Starlight
I can't wear that.
Ashley
Why not? It's beautiful.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Seriously? It's just… It's not me.
IIsadora
I designed Homelander's suit. This isn't my first rodeo.
You're wrong. It's totally you. It's bold, it's brave, it's feminist.
ASAnnie/Starlight
How is that feminist?
EEvan
It's empowering. It says you're confident in your own skin, and you're not afraid to show it.
Most importantly, it tells the story. Of your transformation. Of what you're going through.
ASAnnie/Starlight
How exactly do you know what I'm going through, exactly? I'm sorry. I–I appreciate the effort. I really do, but I'm fine with my old outfit.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Excuse me?
Starlight, like I said before, this is a partnership. In a partnership, there is give and there is take.
ASAnnie/Starlight
It's my body. I have the right to choose how much of it I show.
That is true. You do. You just won't be doing it in The Seven, unless it is wrapped in that.
BBlindspot
Homelander. Wow, you're… It's–It's an honor, sir.
Wait, hold on. You can tell it's me?
Ashley
Mm-hmm!
[laughs] Wow! That's–That's impressive!
BBlindspot
You don't need super eyes when you have super ears.
Can I just say, that is amazing. And you, my friend, are a true hero. Not because of what you do for a job, but… [sighs] well, because of what you've overcome.
BBlindspot
Thank you. That means everything coming from you.
Aw, stop it. Come on. Hey, guys, I just have one question if that's okay.
Ashley
Yeah.
Ashley
Yeah.
Alright, so… What happens if, I don't know, I do this?
[Homelander claps his hands over Blindspot's ears, piercing his inner ear canal. He drops to the floor, screaming and bleeding from his ears.]
And now you're just another useless fuckin' blind guy. [shakes his head] This must be some kind of a joke. [turns to Ashley] Ashley, what made you think I would ever allow a cripple into The Seven?! [sees Ashley staring at Blindspot in utter horror] For fuck's sakes, Ashley! Don't look at him! Look at me! ASHLEY! LOOK AT ME!
Ashley
Sorry.
Let's get one thing straight. The only reason you're here and not doing corporate PR for fucking DivaCups is that I brought you here. You are dispensable, which means you answer to me.
Ashley
Okay, okay.
From now on, I will set my own agenda. I'll approve my own marketing and write my own talking points. You will tell me everything that goes on on the 99th floor. And I mean everything. Every call, email, group chat. If a fucking light bulb goes out, you will tell me. And Ashley… in no fucking way do you decide who goes in The Seven. I decide.
[The newest member of The Seven, Stormfront, livestreams to her fans on Instagram while Homelander and Queen Maeve are filming a military promo.]
Here I go, guys! Wish me luck! Oh, FYI, not a real base. [pans phone camera around the film set] As if Homelander and Maeve are gonna eat MREs and piss in a ditch with the rest of the grunts.
Ashley
Uh, hey. Yeah, hi. We're filming right now. Excuse me.
Also, you might recognize "Army Boy" as Hotel Clerk #2…
Ashley
Hello, excu–! Okay…
…from "The Devil's Breath" episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Oh, my God, hi! My nana's your biggest fan. I'm Stormfront.
Oh, right, yeah. From Seattle, right?
Uh... [giggles] Portland, actually, Your… Highness. [pause; stares at Homelander] Holy shit! Your eyes are really fuckin' blue up close!
[laughs] You are fun. It's been a hoot, but we got work to do, [to Maeve] so let's get back to it.
Oh, totally. They just wanted me to meet you.
Oh, the boys on 82. I'm the new girl.
Wait. What are you talking about?
Oh, hi. I'm in The Seven, replacing Translucent. God bless his soul. Ink's barely dry, but uh… Yeah, reporting for duty. Fuck, yeah.
Ashley
No, I don't think that this is–It's not true. [to Homelander] I don't know anything about this.
Wow. Well, uh… Stormfront, who delivered the good news?
Oh, uh... Mr. Edgar? The big guy?
[Homelander is seething underneath his frozen smile. He stammers as he tries to hold back his anger.]
Wonderful. Great. [claps] Alright, great!
FRFemale Reporter #1
Tell us how fun it is to have all this girl power.
MRMale Reporter #1
Can you repeat that, but say, "strong is the new pretty" right at the end?
MRMale Reporter #2
Do girls make better heroes?
FRFemale Reporter #2
Do girls make better heroes than boys?
MRMale Reporter #3
Do girls make better heroes?
Look, uh, no offense. I–I get you have your talking points, but why does it matter whether heroes have a dick or a vag? I mean, shouldn't we all just, you know, be competent at our jobs? I don't think girls do anything better. I think chicks and dicks are in it together. [hears her phone vibrating] Oh, that's me!
Ashley
[mouthing] Are you fucking kidding me?
Sorry, Ashy! Vought won't let me have pockets in this thing. You can see every crease in my ass. You can practically see up Starlight's uterus. You wanna talk about girl power? Let's talk about getting some pockets.
[A-Train is upset over seeing Shockwave at Vought. He confronts Ashley, fearing that Shockwave might replace him in The Seven.]
Don't bullshit me, Ashley!
Ashley
Shockwave is just here to talk about Vought for Tots. I swear to God!
What the fuck is Vought for Tots?
Ashley
It's a new fitness outreach for toddlers. Apparently, they're getting obese.
Well, shit! I fucking love fat kids! Use me!
[enters Ashley's office] Oh, good, you're here. [to Ashley] You tell him yet?
Ashley
I thought we were gonna have a strategy meeting.
Out of The Seven. You did great, but we're going in a different direction, so... You're out.
What the fuck? [to Ashley] You just said everything was fine!
Ashley
You're gonna have a whole year of parades, tribute concerts. You're gonna hit the talk show circuit. You're–You're gonna have your own reality show on Vought+. The outpouring of love and gratitude is gonna be off the charts.
Oh, this is bullshit! You used to get my fuckin' coffee! [pause; looks at Ashley and Homelander knowingly] Oh, fuck this! I'm not going!
Yes, I can run. I just... I–I just...
Buddy… You think I don't know what's been going on? It's your heart. I doubt you're even cracking the Top 20 anymore, and that makes The Seven–me–look pretty ridiculous. [pats A-Train on the shoulder] I do want you to know, this was really hard for me, okay? It's nothing personal. We'll always be friends and, uh... etcetera. Attaboy.
[Ashley shows Homelander a viral video of him killing an innocent civilian boy after confronting a Supe in an African village]
Oh… [scoffs] So, what? They're all starving, but one of them's got a fuckin' cell phone?
Ashley
You know, I really wish you had cleared this with me before you went over there.
Oh, Jesus Christ. I don't have to clear shit with you, Ashley. I saw a chance for an easy win, and I took it. How many views?
Ashley
Well, they posted last night. We scrubbed it seventeen minutes later, but that's forever, and there's been some blowback.
Blowback? Alright, fine, fine, fine. So, what? I–I'm down a point? Point and a half? Two?
Ashley
[clears throat] No, nine and a half.
Nine and a half? Nine... Nine and a half?
[Ashley switches to another video of a huge crowd protesting against Homelander]
What, th–they're fucking protesting… me? Oh, my God. Th–They're pro... They're protesting me.
Ashley
They've been at the Tower all afternoon.
Why didn't you fucking say something?! Goddammit. Don't these fucking ingrates realize I killed that asshole for them? What do they think "Saving America" fucking means, anyway?
Ashley
Well, PR is drafting a response as we speak. Acknowledgment, apology, action.
No, no, no, no. Apology? No. You schedule a press conference, and–and I'll clean it up myself.
Ashley
Uh, well, Mr. Edgar... and legal would like your official position to be "no comment at this time." Please, no press until the crisis team has an actionable strategy, okay?
[Homelander runs into Stormfront as he walks back to his trailer]
Bad day? Hey, I'm with you! Fuck these maxi pad-wearing ingrate hicks. But you know, there's a way to handle it.
I do not need your fucking help.
Sure. You seem to be doing so well on your own. Well, I'm here when you want me.
[Victoria Neuman is holding a rally where many Homelander protestors are in attendance]
VNVictoria Neuman
Yes, it's true. Vought has all the money and the power. And we have… no offense, jack shit. [laughs] But after Homelander's war crime, how can I stay quiet and still look my daughter in the eyes? I can't. I know you can't, and guess what? The House Judiciary can't either! Finally, we are going to hold hearings on Vought and Compound V! Yes!
[Neuman and the crowd are interrupted by Homelander, who makes a dramatic entrance by landing next to her]
Hey, everyone. [to Neuman] May I? [Neuman gives him the mike] Thank you. [to the crowd] Congresswoman Neuman, everybody. Isn't she great? Didn't you love that little "Walk Like an Egyptian" dance she did online? So fun. I loved it. But fun is not what we're here for, is it? Let me just start by saying how pleased I am to see you all here. That we live in a country where all your voices can be heard.
[Cut to Ashley watching the rally live on her iPad with members of the film crew]
Ashley
Everyone get the fuck out! Get the fuck out! Fuck you, get out!
[Cut back to Homelander at the rally]
I know that some of you are a little upset by that video online of me stopping the terrorist, and I just want you to know that I understand. I'm upset, too. I mean, come on, guys. Nobody wants innocent people to get hurt. Of course not. But sadly, well… The bad guys, they don't think like us. And so, sometimes… Well, these things just happen.
M1Man #1
Wait, this has happened before?
Well, no. Hold on, guys. My point is, we all have the same goals, don't we? To keep our country safe.
W1Woman #1
So American lives are the only ones worth protecting?
Of course not. But if you've served with our amazing soldiers like I have, you would know that freedom comes with a price.
W2Woman #2
You don't speak for us!
M3Man #3
Yeah, you don't speak for us!
[The protestors all start chanting, "You don't speak for us"]
Alright, alright. Everyone just calm down. Calm down! Let's not let your hearts get in the way of your heads! [pause; the chanting continues] Everyone just relax! Calm down!
[As the chanting gets louder, another man in the crowd flips off Homelander, who starts killing the protestors row by row with his laser eyes until they are all dead. When his eyes return to normal, it's revealed that the massacre was just a fantasy in his head.]
[beat; stares at the chanting protestors] Alright! You guys are the real heroes! God bless you! Love you guys! [flies off]
[Homelander arrives to save a woman named Chelsea from jumping off the edge of a building]
Hi, Chelsea. It's your lucky day. Well, considering you're my annual birthday save.
CChelsea
Don't come any closer.
Life is a precious gift. To throw yours away would be a real slap in the Lord's face, don't you think? You don't wanna go to Hell for all eternity, do you?
Alright. Well, regardless, just step back from the ledge, please.
[Ashley is giving direction to the camera crew on the street below them]
Ashley
Okay, that's good. Just don't be afraid of the zoom. You're not Roger Deakins. Mike, frame up. He could be flying down any second.
Ashley
[checks an alert on her phone and looks up] Oh, fuck!
Come on, look. I'm here now. If you jump, I'm just gonna fly down and save you anyway. It's all futile and...
[Homelander notices a breaking news story about Stormfront's suicide on a billboard]
She–She wouldn't… It's my... It's my birthday. She... [beat; to Chelsea] You probably don't know this–because, you know, Jew–but Jesus wasn't born on the 25th of December. That was piggybacked off a pagan festival, and guess what? Today is not my birthday either. Nope. Don't know when it is, but sure as hell ain't today. This was just chosen for me by a marketing department. I mean, I can't even have a birthday at all. I wasn't born. I was just poured out of a fucking test tube. Immaculate conception. I know exactly how he must have felt. Jesus. You give and you give… [stutters] You give your whole fucking life, and what happens? People just tear you down. Why do people destroy their gods? How is it fair that you get saved while a beautiful, perfect god gets killed? [beat] You know what, Chelsea? [pause] I think you should jump.
CChelsea
I–I don't think I want to.
You don't want to? Why don't you show a little follow-through, Chelsea? Jump.
CChelsea
Please, I... I just wanna get down.
I'm not suggesting anymore. Jump.
CChelsea
No. No, please. Oh, God… Oh, God!
No, no, no. No God. The only man in the sky is me. [his eyes light up]
Ashley
How the fuck did she bite off her own tongue? Stormfront Million Dollar Babied herself. It was horrible.
[Chelsea leaps from the building and lands on the ground in a sickening splat. Homelander looks down disheartened.]
[A-Train walks out on stage to present the next segment of Homelander's televised birthday special. He is wearing a completely new supersuit]
Ashley
What the fuck is he wearing?!
AAnnouncer
Yeah, alright. Let's hear it for Supersonic, everybody.
Ashley
Get me fucking wardrobe! Get me fucking wardrobe so I can fucking choke them out!
Alright, so now, I would like to bring out our co-captains. So let's give it up for Starlight and the man of the hour himself, Homelander! Happy birthday, Homelander.
[muffled by the cheers while feigning his smile] I can see your girdle, you disgusting fat fuck! Get off the fucking stage!
ASAnnie/Starlight
Wow, I'm so honored to be with you guys tonight to celebrate my dear friend and mentor, Homelander. I'm here to do more than wish you a happy birthday, though. I'm thrilled to be announcing a project that is near and dear to my heart. The Starlight House is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping homeless and at-risk youth.
AHAudience Heckler
Hey, Homelander! Your Nazi died!
Ashley
Did he just say his Nazi died?
SSecurity
[to audience heckler, grabbing him by shoulders] Let's go.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Homelander… He's just–He's a human. He's just like the rest of us. And we all make mistakes, right? But we all deserve second chances. In that spirit, Homelander has agreed to donate $10 million to the Starlight House, which is–I mean…
ASAnnie/Starlight
Give–Come on. Give it up!
ASAnnie/Starlight
Give it up for this guy!
No, no, no! Starlight lied to you just now. She did. I don't make mistakes! I'm not "just like the rest of you"! I'm stronger, I'm smarter, I… I'm better! I AM BETTER! I'm not some weak-kneed fucking crybaby that goes around fucking apologizing all the time! And why the fuck would you want me to be?!
Ashley
Quick, Roger! Stop rolling, go to fucking commercial! Go to fucking commercial!
[pointing to an offscreen camera operator] Don't you DARE stop rolling, Roger! All my life, people have tried to control me my whole life. Rich people–powerful people–tried to muzzle me, cancel me, keep me impotent and obedient like I'm a fucking puppet! And you know what, it worked. Because I allowed it to work, and guess what? If they can control me, then you can bet your ass they can control you! They already do. You just don't realize it. [pause] I'm done. I am done apologizing, I am done being persecuted for my strength. You people should be thanking Christ that I am who and what I am, BECAUSE YOU NEED ME! YOU NEED ME TO SAVE YOU! You do. I am the only one who possibly can. You're not the real heroes. I'm the real hero. [beat] I am the real hero.
[to Annie] Ashley tells me that you chose Silver Kinca… Kincaid.
Ashley
[nods] Mm-hmm.
I have notes. I mean, I'm a co-captain. It's only fair I have a say in the new recruits, right?
ASAnnie/Starlight
No. Actually, I choose the new members.
But I am pitching the craziest twist. The audience will never see it coming, right?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Well, I've made my decision.
Oh, come on! You haven't even heard it yet! Seriously, you're–you're gonna love it. Ready?
[Ashley opens the doors and reveals…]
Hey. What's up, guys? How are you?
[Annie is visibly upset at seeing the Deep and his wife, Cassandra at the door]
No, no, no, no, no. Starlight, before you say anything, doesn't Christ tell us to turn the other cheek?
CCassandra
[hugs Annie] I really want us to be sisters.
I had something made for you, Starlight. It's a peace offering. [opens a jeweler box with a gold dolphin necklace inside] It's 24-karat gold with certified conflict-free diamonds. I've put in the work. And I realize that when you've made an unforgivable mistake, the first person you have to forgive… is yourself.
ASAnnie/Starlight
What makes you think that I want a daily reminder of the guy who fucking mouth-raped me?! [to Homelander] I need a word.
Ashley
Let's let these two chat, shall we?
[Ashley leads The Deep and Cassandra out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar]
ASAnnie/Starlight
[to Homelander] Absolutely not.
Do you really think I'm gonna let a fucking Muslim in The Seven? Captain Al-Qaeda? We're Americans.
ASAnnie/Starlight
I'm taking this to Mr. Edgar.
My speech last night? Thirty-eight-point-six rating and a 59 share. Oh, and they're saying that the live-plus-threes are gonna be even bigger. Edgar said it himself: Popularity is power. He won't die on this hill.
ASAnnie/Starlight
[pause] Do I need to remind you of the Flight video?
[Homelander scoffs, gets up and closes the door shut]
Go ahead. Release it. Let's light this candle, huh? I mean, sure, I'll lose everything, but then… I'll have nothing to lose. First, I'll take out the nerve centers: White House, Pentagon. Then, any domestic defense capabilities, and then critical infrastructure like cellular, Internet–that kind of thing. And then… Well, I think then I'll just wipe New York off the fucking map. For fun. I'll even throw in Des Moines and that little cousin-fucker hick town that Maeve's from, 'cause why not? See, Starlight, I'd prefer to be loved. I would. But if you take that away from me… Well, being feared is A-one okey-doke by me. So… go ahead, partner. Do it. [pause; Annie doesn't say anything] No? You don't wanna to do it? Well, then I would have to say that you have absolutely no fucking leverage because I am the Homelander… and I really can do whatever the fuck I want.
Ashley
Victoria Neuman is doing a press conference tonight.
Ashley
It's about you.
…And you're just finding out about it now?
Ashley
I'm sure it's a nothing burger. [chuckles]
Hey, come here for a sec. [Ashley approaches him] Is your idiot brain getting fucked by stupid? It's not rhetorical. Answer me.
Ashley
No. My idiot brain is not getting fucked by stupid, sir.
[scoffs] Well, then go and do your only job and find out what the fuck is going on, Ashley!
Ashley
[reads off card of gift flower basket] Congrats from Lindsey Graham. [to A-Train] He's such a gooch-licker. Anyway, I hope you know how much Homelander appreciates your loyalty. Now more than ever, he needs people he can trust. So, to thank you for being a team player, Homelander has agreed to a meeting with you and Blue Hawk.
Ashley
Yeah. I'll just pop outside and get him. [walks over to door]
Ashley
[opens door] Hi.
BHBlue Hawk
Hey. [walks in]
Ashley
Thanks for coming on such short notice, Blue Hawk.
BHBlue Hawk
Oh. [points and laughs heartily] A-Train, hey. Big fan.
Cool. Yeah. [Blue Hawk sits] Blue Hawk... Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about your patrols in Trenton. Little excessive.
BHBlue Hawk
Hmm? Says who?
Well, a lot of black folks.
BHBlue Hawk
No. No. This has nothing to do with... African Americans. You and me both trained with Coach Brink at school. We were taught to dominate totally.
Yeah, but you're mostly just doing it in–in black neighborhoods. And you don't want people to say that you're being racist, right?
BHBlue Hawk
You know, it's actually racist to call somebody racist. What is this? Is this, like, a "cancel" thing? Am I being canceled? What can I do to make this right?
Wouldn't take much. [chuckles] I don't know. Make an apology or some shit.
Ashley
What a great idea. Thank you for saying that. I'm sure Homelander would really, really appreciate that, Blue Hawk.
BHBlue Hawk
Hey, name the time and place.
Ashley
It is so important to do the work, to have the difficult conversations. This is so great, you guys.
[The Deep plays a voice recording of Annie calling Vought security for Ashley, A-Train and Homelander]
[over the recording] I'm Starlight, and I'm telling you that you need to evacuate the Tower now.
VGVought Guard
[over the recording] Why?
[over the recording] Because Soldier Boy is alive, and he–
We ran it through the voice thingamabob. It's really her, so… you know, I think we should probably evacuate.
Nobody's evacuating anything. We have to project strength.
Right. No, that's smart. Strength. Okay, so my Angel Fish–that's what I call Analytics–we think Soldier Boy's coming for Noir. Last member of Payback, right? So we should use Noir as bait. And that way it draws Soldier Boy directly to the…
[Homelander lays Black Noir's face mask on the table]
…Hey, is everything–Is everything okay with Noir?
He was keeping secrets from me. You know, when the company first rolled me out in front of the cameras, they told me I was gonna get my very own team. I wanted so badly for that team to be the family that I never got. And then, I got you.
I've–I've always tried to help, sir.
What, like when you ran away from Herogasm? Or maybe when you fucked an octopus? [pause; A-Train looks at The Deep with disgust] You really wanna help?
[Homelander motions for The Deep to come closer to him. He whispers something in The Deep's ear.]
Sir… [chuckles] That's sort of treason.
Anything you need, Homelander. Sir.
Ashley, take off that wig.
Ashley
What wig?
[Homelander just glares at her. Ashley reluctantly reaches above her head, and takes off her red-headed wig, revealing that she is mostly bald from pulling her hair out. A-Train and The Deep look shocked.]
Hmmm. [to A-Train] And then, there's you. How could you kill one of your own kind in cold blood? You are gonna tell the world that we are the one and only true justice. Noir was worth more than all of you put together. You're not my family. I don't need any of you. Remember that.
Ashley
[to Homelander] Sir, after that debacle at Godolkin–thank you again for saving my life–the board felt we should find new candidates for The Seven, ASAP. The selection committee has narrowed it down to 25 choices.
[Ashley switches to a Supe leaderboard on the monitor. Homelander has his back turned towards her.]
Ashley
Um… Okay, great. If we're going purely on socials, I might suggest Talon out of Redlands.
Pass. She's a butterface. Her body's on point, but her face...
Ashley
Yeah, I get it. Thank you so much for explaining. [under her breath] Chauvinist prick. [looks at Hyperion's profile] Ugh, not that slutty cum rag.
[She clicks on the profile of a male Supe named Dogknott]
Hold up, I thought he ate a dog.
He ate out a dog. [A-Train and Ashley give concerned looks] It's a big difference.
[Ashley clicks on the next profile, which shows…]
Sister Sage? Hell no. She was with me in Teenage Kix for, like, barely a year before they canned her ass.
She's the world's smartest person. She's not smart enough to know when to shut her mouth. [looks at the profile of a white male Supe named…] Wrangler. Isn't he a–
Ashley
Texas nutjob. The San Antonio office had to cover up those migrant murders.
Ashley
Of course, he bumps us with suburban women and white men over 50. Amazing choice, sir.
Yeah, I totally agree. He's a mensch. Did I use that word right? Mensch?
[to Ashley] You just said he was crazy.
Ashley
What I meant was we would be crazy to, you know, not bring him in.
[beat; groans] I am surrounded by sycophants and fucking imbeciles!
It's just that you make a lot of really great points, sir.
Deep, just… [beat; turns chair around to face The Deep] Blow A-Train.
I'm not kidding. Go over there, pull out A-Train's cock and blow him.
[The Deep just scoffs before reluctantly getting up from his chair to stand next to A-Train]
[A-Train stands up and faces The Deep, who kneels down to eye level with A-Train's crotch. Ashley is surprisingly turned on and grins.]
[chuckles; to A-Train] Sex is just a spectrum, right, bro?
Get off your fucking knees!
[The Deep quickly gets up and returns to his seat]
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Not one of you has the stomach to challenge anything I say. [gets up and starts walking out of the conference room] Oh, my God. I have gotta carry this entire fucking company on my shoulders.
Ashley
You're… right?
[Homelander stops for a moment, then sighs and leaves]
[notices A-Train staring at him] I wasn't gonna do it.
[The Vought marketing team pitches Ryan's new Supe identity]
EEvan
Small-town kid grows up on a Montana ranch with his mom. On the surface, he's an everyday all-American boy.
But deep in his heart, he knows he's different, special. He's always asking himself, "Who am I?" Then one day, that question is answered when Homelander flies down from the sky and says, with tears in his eyes…
…and says proudly, [Homelander mouths along with Seth and grins] "Son, it's time for you to take your place by my side".
EEvan
And for Ryan it feels surprising, yet inevitable. He always knew he was destined for greatness.
Because he came from greatness!
[Seth unveils a poster of Ryan wearing a supersuit that looks identical to Homelander's with the Supe name, Homeboy]
Oooh! [chuckles and claps] Wow. [to Ryan] Oh, buddy, can you believe that? Wh–What do you think?
You guess? [chuckles] Uh… I think it looks amazing.
Ashley
Oh, so amazing. Really marketable.
AAAlso Ashley
So marketable.
Ashley
It… does not blow.
It blows, harder than Nancy Reagan on the MGM backlot.
Ashley
I'm sorry, why are you here?
Vought got rid of most of the sidekicks after Gunpowder. The settlements exceeded profitability.
Yeah, but I don't think Ryan is gonna file an HR complaint against me. [laughs with the rest of the marketing team]
Ryan is the first natural-born superhero, and his brand needs to reflect that. He's not one of Vought's lab rat freaks. He was chosen by fate, God, whatever… to be the one who saves the world.
Yes. But let's not forget why he is special, shall we? He's my son. Chosen by God, sure, but uh… made by me.
The chosen one narrative only works if he stands alone. Harry Potter, Neo, Luke Skywalker. Hollywood's trained people to fall in love with white boy lone saviors. So, America will want to fall in love with Ryan.
[Sage hands Ryan her iPad, which shows a crime itinerary document]
It's a crime itinerary. Your first save. Congratulations, son. [whispering to Sage] I'm not on the call sheet.
You wanted a kingdom for your son. I'm helping you get it.
[beat] Excellent. Just as we discussed. Feel free to move forward.
Thanks. [pulls out cell phone; to Homelander] Ah, if you don't mind? [takes a quick selfie with Homelander; to Ashley] I'm here because Homelander wants me here. Because he trusts me.
The Boys · 278 quotes
