[Trans-Oceanic Flight 37 has lost both pilots after Homelander and Queen Maeve kill the last of the hijackers]
Queen MaeveCan you fly a plane?
[shakes his head] Wouldn’t matter if I did. [points at the destroyed control board]
Queen Maeve
What do we do?!
[Homelander just aimlessly looks around and walks out of the cockpit]
[to the passengers] Alright, everyone, remain calm. Stay in your seats. Everything’s under control. [gives thumbs-up]
Queen Maeve
You’ve gotta go out there. Lift the plane up.
Lift the plane? How? Th–There’s nothing to stand on; it’s fucking air.
Queen Maeve
I don’t know, fly at it! Ram it straight!
You know, at that kind of speed, either the plane goes ass over tit, or I’ll punch straight through the hull or–
[The plane dips into a nosedive. Oxygen masks to deploy, which sends everyone into a panic]
[to the passengers] Whoa! That was a big one! Everything’s fine, don’t worry about it!
Queen Maeve
[pause; Homelander glares at her] Okay. Okay, you take everyone one by one. You fly them to the ground.
[laughs] And what, come back 123 times? Maeve, think.
[Maeve realizes to her horror that Homelander has no intention of saving the passengers]
Queen Maeve
Please!
[to the passengers] Everything’s fine, guys. Everything’s fine. You’re okay.
FPFemale Passenger #1
Wait, you’re leaving us?
No, no, no, no, no. I’m just seeing something down the back.
FPFemale Passenger #2
Oh, my God. You’re leaving! He’s leaving us!
[The plane turns on its side. Everyone panics even harder.]
LGLittle Girl
Homelander, are you gonna save us?
Oh, sweetheart, of course I’m gonna save you! You betcha! I’m gonna save everyone here. Don’t worry about it.
[Maeve looks around in dismay as the passengers continue freaking out]
[Homelander heads to the back of the plane and breaks the emergency door open. Maeve sees a mother with her daughter and tries to save them.]
Queen Maeve
Okay, you two. Take off your masks. Come on! Now! [to Homelander] Take these two!
Queen Maeve
Just these two, please!
No! What, so they can tell the world we left the rest of them to fucking die?!
Queen Maeve
Come on!
No, Maeve! [to several passengers trying to escape] No, you stay back! ALL OF YOU, STAY BACK! [activates laser eyes] YOU STAY THE FUCK BACK OR I’LL LASER YOU, GODDAMMIT!! I’LL LASER EVERY FUCKING ONE OF YOU!
Queen Maeve
Boy, you're really milking this thing for all it's worth.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Excuse me?
Queen Maeve
This empowerment act. I mean, every time I'm on a red carpet now, they're asking me how I'm supporting Starlight. But hey, as long as you're trending, right?
ASAnnie/Starlight
I know that you might not get this, but it's not an act. I'm just trying to be honest.
Queen Maeve
Okay, yeah.
ASAnnie/Starlight
When I was younger, I read your autobiography so many times that I wore it out. I had to buy a second one. I wanted to live my life exactly like yours. Because you didn't just break all the bones in your right arm stopping that school bus from falling off of a bridge… but you also went to every kid's physical therapy afterwards just to show the world that they were heroes, too. You really stood for something. But now… I'm pretty sure that was just written by the marketing guys.
Queen Maeve
You know, I had someone once. We were gonna get away, start a family.
ASAnnie/Starlight
So what happened?
Queen Maeve
Well… Everyone always asks, what's our special weakness? Gamma rays? Iron daggers? Some ridiculous, stupid thing? The truth is, our weakness is the same as anyone's. It's people. The people we care about. So I say, cut them loose. For your good and for theirs. That way you're really bulletproof.
[Queen Maeve overhears Annie vomiting in a Vought bathroom stall]
Queen Maeve
You want me to hold your hair back?
ASAnnie/Starlight
[groans] Don't touch… [grunts; flushes the toilet] Leave me alone, I'm not in the mood.
Queen Maeve
Not in the mood for what?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Your bottomless casual cruelty. So just make whatever shitty comment you're gonna make and then go.
Queen Maeve
Look. [turns her wrist over]
ASAnnie/Starlight
What am I supposed to be looking at?
Queen Maeve
No… my radius never healed straight. I really did break every bone in my right arm.
Queen Maeve
Stopping the bus from falling. You said the marketing guys made it up. It was me: 23-year-old, bright-eyed, "ass you could bounce a quarter off of"… me. I really did want to make a difference. I really did care. I was just like you. And then, I started giving pieces of myself away and… I guess I gave away everything. [beat] So you know what? Be… Just be original. For fuck's sake. My position is already taken. Be the annoying goody two-shoes asshоlе that you are. [chuckles] One of us has to be.
[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.
Uh, hey. Yeah, hi. We're filming right now. Excuse me.
Also, you might recognize "Army Boy" as Hotel Clerk #2…
…from "The Devil's Breath" episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Oh, my God, hi! My nana's your biggest fan. I'm Stormfront.
Queen Maeve
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.
Queen Maeve
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.
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!
[The Seven are attending an emergency meeting with Stan Edgar]
I know I don't come up to 99 enough, and I apologize for that. But times like this [points at his iPad, which shows footage of Kenji] tend to give us clarity, don't they? You and me are partners after all. A symbiotic part of a larger thing. A living thing named Vought. And that's how we'll get through this: Together, as Vought.
But, sir… I gotta say… [pause; looks at Annie and shakes his head] We didn't know about this Compound V shit. None of us.
Is that so? Well, we're all victims here, A-Train. But we'll get to the bottom of it. I promise. Right now, catching this superterrorist is–
Sure, whatever. It must be our priority, and it changes the conversation.
So you want us to go out there? Now? I mean, we still need to be prepped by legal and PR. [scoffs] We'll be eaten alive out there.
There's no time for that.
Queen Maeve
Well, I'm sorry, but I don't think we have to damage-control your fuck-up.
Hey, guys… Enough. We gotta pull together here.
Shhh. Not you. Us. The Seven. See, [gets up from chair] it doesn't matter who made us or how we got here. The point is… We are here. Together. Family. You guys… you are my real family. [points at Edgar] This guy… he doesn't care about us. We're not his partners; we're his product. So who gives a shit if Vought burns to the fuckin' ground?
You should think before you say something you don't mean.
Really? Should I? We are not Vought! You see, companies, they come and go. But talent… Talent is forever. The world still needs superheroes, and that, family–that's what we are. So let's get out there and do what it is we do. Let's take this cocksucker down.
[Cut to The Seven all walking out of the main conference room]
Fuck Vought, huh? I did not see that coming from you.
Maybe you don't know me that well.
[Elena is still tense around Maeve after watching the Flight 37 video]
Queen Maeve
That was a fraught "hi".
EElena
I'm going to my sister's for a while.
Queen Maeve
I have a plan. You don't need to be scared of Homelander.
EElena
That little girl… on the plane. What she must've gone through in those last few moments… I lie awake every night thinking about that.
Queen Maeve
Me, too.
EElena
But then, I start snowballing and wondering… How many other people have you killed, and what else have you done?
Queen Maeve
I didn't have a choice.
EElena
I'm not blaming you. I'm not. It is not your fault.
Queen Maeve
Will you just… Will you–Will you sit down?
EElena
And it's not fair.
Queen Maeve
Will you sit down?
EElena
I wish I were as strong as you… but I'm not. I just need time.
[Maeve flips the dining table over in a fit of rage]
Queen Maeve
Over and over, you… [sniffles] You said you wanted to see the real me. This is the real me.
EElena
I know. I'm sorry.
ASAnnie/Starlight
I need to ask you something. It's a lot. I need you to testify.
Queen Maeve
Testify?
ASAnnie/Starlight
On the record. Against Vought, against Homelander, Stormfront, everything.
Queen Maeve
Why would I do that?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Because things are really bad, and… you're our last chance.
Queen Maeve
Pass.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Look, I get that it's dangerous.
Queen Maeve
It's suicide, but that's not the reason.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Well, then, what is it?
Queen Maeve
[shrugs] I'm tired.
We're all tired… but they're hurting people. And sooner or later, they're gonna hurt someone you love.
Queen Maeve
Am I talking to you?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Look… I get that it's easier to just disappear inside of yourself. Trust me. It's all I wanna do, but we can't, Maeve. We can't. This is a war now, and we–
Queen Maeve
Shut the fuck up. Christ, you… Haven't I done enough for you? [pause] Didn't I save your fucking life?! It doesn't matter what we do; nothing changes. Nothing ever changes or gets better… and I'm tired. Just leave. GO! TAKE YOUR FUCKING TWINK AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!
[Homelander finds Ryan frightened and guilty over accidentally killing Becca and brutally maiming Stormfront with his powers.]
Let's go. Come here. Come. Ryan... Ryan, come here.
[Ryan walks over to Butcher instead of to Homelander]
[beat; laughs maniacally] He's mine. What, are you gonna blow yourself up to save the little shit that fucking murdered your wife?
Queen Maeve
Stop.
Queen Maeve
You're gonna let them go.
[Maeve plays the Flight 37 video on her phone and tauntingly shows it to Homelander]
Queen Maeve
Let them go. You're gonna stop hunting Starlight, you're gonna leave me and Elena alone… or I release this.
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 is secretly working with Butcher to investigate a secret weapon that could kill Homelander]
Queen Maeve
I heard Termite walked. My lead was good. What happened?
Queen Maeve
Well, we gotta talk. I think I have something.
[Maeve hands Butcher an archived memorandum file on Soldier Boy]
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.
[Butcher flips through the files and finds a photograph of Soldier Boy standing in the center of a group of other Supes]
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.
[Butcher receives three vials of V24 from Maeve]
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.
[Butcher and Queen Maeve get drunk during their meet-up]
I done 'em all: Coke, E, meth, smack. [holds up V24 sample] Ain't nothing like this. Used to be months of leg work to take down a Supe. Gunpowder… not even a New York minute.
Queen Maeve
Must've felt good.
I hated every second. [shakes his head] No. The V just made me more… me. With great power comes the absolute certainty that you'll turn into a right cunt. [sips from the bottle] I mean, that's the thing, right? You're all just people. All the V does is just amp up all that shit that's already inside. Your lot? Just a bunch of walkin' nuclear erections, y'know? And it's not just Homelander. I mean, you–you fuckin' all gotta go. Every fuckin' last… one of ya.
Queen Maeve
Yeah.
[Maeve drunkenly kisses Butcher. They simultaneously get up from the couch and stare at each other.]
Queen Maeve
What? You still think you're too good for me?
You think it really was Edgar and the mayor, maybe Jake Tapper? Just trying to fuck with me? Make me look ridiculous?
Queen Maeve
Or maybe, you're just a paranoid malignant narcissist who thinks everything is about you.
[smiles slyly] Mmm, it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you, though. And you, Maeve... You're out to get me, aren't you?
Queen Maeve
What are you talking about?
William Butcher. I can smell him all over you. You really will do anything to hurt me, won't you? So, what are you and William cooking up, hmm? Maybe you two brought that supervillain to town.
Queen Maeve
Oh, John. John, come on! You're talking crazy. I'm not cooking anything up with Butcher. Let's talk about this.
Don't you dare fucking "John" me. You're not gonna weasel your way out of this. You know, the real tragic thing in all of this is that more than anyone, I knew what it was like for you. Swarmed everywhere we went. Every little mistake, front-page news. It is lonely at the top, yes. But at least we had each other. We were lonely together. And I loved you in my own... way. But you... what happened? Was anything about us ever real? Hmm?
Queen Maeve
[beat; leans forward and whispers in his ear] From the start... I hated you. But what's more... I fucking pitied you.
You're completely and utterly alone. You're getting old and bitter. You pity me? [chuckles] That's actually kinda funny, don't you think? [leans into Maeve's face with a sinister smile] Hey… You wanna know something else that's funny?
[Homelander looks over Maeve's shoulder and raises his eyebrows. When Maeve turns to look, Black Noir suddenly attacks her.]
[Homelander visits a prisoner, revealed to be Queen Maeve, inside a Vought holding cell]
Hey, how you doing? Look, I–I'm sorry about all this. I wish I could say you get used to it, but you never do. So… where are they hiding? [beat; Maeve doesn't say anything] Butcher and Soldier Boy. Where are they?
Queen Maeve
Wait, is… [gets up and walks up to Homelander] is that concealer? Do you have a bruise?
Yeah. Do you have any idea what you've set loose? Butcher has powers. I assume thanks to you. They've killed Crimson Countess and seven other heroes, Maeve. Seven. The ones that–that survived are done; they're powerless. Soldier Boy fried the V right out of their blood somehow. Maeve, do you understand that could happen to any one of us?
Queen Maeve
Yeah. That's the difference between you and me. You need to be a Supe. I can't wait till that's over.
Queen Maeve
Why are you letting me live?
Maeve… You know, back when things were better between us… [sighs] I used to dream of having kids with you. [chuckles] No, I did. A family. Nesting, you know? I–I mean, can you imagine how perfect our kids would be? Sublime. Twice as strong as Ryan. No kid of mine would ever know a room like this, I'll tell you that.
Queen Maeve
Just so you know, I'll fucking shatter whatever you try to stick up there.
Maeve, don't be so crass! We're not savages. I respect what you are, even if you don't. I would never force myself on you. [pause] But I am gonna harvest your eggs. That way, if… God forbid, you do die–whether by accident or choice–you'll die knowing that the very best of you carries on. With me. See, Maeve, I'm not letting you live. I'm keeping you alive.
Queen Maeve
[smiles and snickers] This is still a top-three day in my life. Because today is the day I saw you scared.
Hello? It's me. Are you there?
[Queen Maeve walks out Annie's bedroom with an arm cast, wearing gauze over her right eye while her other eye is black and blue]
Oh, God. Well, you, uh… You look like shit.
Queen Maeve
[grins] Fuck off, Smurfette.
[chuckles] You gonna be okay?
Queen Maeve
Yeah, slowly. Painfully, like every other powerless schmuck in America, thanks to Soldier Boy. Question: Should I get a pirate patch or the Sammy Davis glass eye?
Oh, the pirate patch. No question.
[Maeve's girlfriend, Elena, comes out to join her]
EElena
[to Maeve] You ready? [to Annie] Hey.
Hey, Elena. Where will you guys go?
Queen Maeve
I don't know, somewhere Homelander won't find me.
EElena
A farm, ideally. She's from Modesto. She was a Future Farmer of America.
Queen Maeve
[smirks] Great.
[to Maeve] Thank you. For everything.
Queen Maeve
First time your prissy ass showed up at the Tower, crying in that bathroom… You saved me. Truth is, you… you don't need me anymore. I could jump… but you can fucking fly. [beat; chuckles when Annie hugs her] You're like a walking Hallmark card. Enough.
The Boys · 278 quotes
