[The newest member of The Seven, Stormfront, livestreams to her fans on Instagram while Homelander and Queen Maeve are filming a military promo.]
StormfrontHere 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.
Stormfront
Also, you might recognize "Army Boy" as Hotel Clerk #2…
Stormfront
…from "The Devil's Breath" episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Stormfront
Oh, my God, hi! My nana's your biggest fan. I'm Stormfront.
Oh, right, yeah. From Seattle, right?
Stormfront
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.
Stormfront
Oh, totally. They just wanted me to meet you.
Stormfront
Oh, the boys on 82. I'm the new girl.
Wait. What are you talking about?
Stormfront
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?
Stormfront
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?
Stormfront
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!
[mouthing] Are you fucking kidding me?
Stormfront
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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Hey, you don't know me. I'm not a sellout.
Stormfront
Oh. Okay, cool. [playfully throws her fists up] Congratulations. [chuckles; notices Annie staring at her] Oh, come on. Why do you care what I think?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Maybe… I wanna say everything that you're saying about Vought. Maybe I think Vought's…
Stormfront
[beat; looks up and around] What? What's Vought? [pause; Annie says nothing] Oh, my God. Everyone is so fucking stage-managed. Life isn't actually a PR strategy! You can say what you think!
ASAnnie/Starlight
What if it's not safe?
Stormfront
You are literally bulletproof. What the fuck is gonna happen? [brief pause] Okay, who's the greatest superhero of all time?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Homelander.
Stormfront
No, Pippi Longstocking. [pause] Pippi Longstocking. She's a nine-year-old girl. Lived in a house all by herself. Pet monkey. Could lift a horse with one hand. You–You haven't read Pippi Longstocking?
ASAnnie/Starlight
I guess not.
Stormfront
Hmm… Okay. Well, uh, I used to dress as her every Halloween, and all the girls dressed like Disney sluts would make fun of me. And you know what I thought? I thought, "Who fucking cares?" Pippi didn't care. She never cared about being polite or cute. Look, fuck this world for confusing nice with good. Be a bitch if you want. Be whatever. Just drop the mask once in a while. Feels good. You can finally breathe.
[As Stormfront turns around, Annie quickly steals the wallet with the Compound V sample from Stormfront's backpack]
Stormfront
Oh, and if someone sticks a dick in your mouth, bite it off. Pippi Longstocking would bite a "D", that's for damn sure.
[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.
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]
Stormfront
Fuck Vought, huh? I did not see that coming from you.
Maybe you don't know me that well.
Stormfront
Maybe I don't.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Uh, who invited you… exactly?
Starlight. Listen, what I did was unforgivable. I'm gonna do whatever in my power to renew my light. Not just for you, but for all the female people that I've offended.
Stormfront
Renew your light? Did you just fucking join The Church of the Collective?
Stormfront
You're an idiot.
Hey, easy on the religious persecution. Okay, new girl? [to Annie] Starlight, maybe one day you can welcome me back into The Seven. I know my road is long and hard.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Are you serious? There is no fucking way you're coming back!
There's no need for language.
Alright, enough! We do not have time for this.
Stormfront
[holds hand up to stop Homelander; to Annie] Look, I am with you, sister, but first we have to go get the terrorist, okay?
Alright, everyone in the tunnels.
Yeah, everyone in the tunnels.
Not you. Anyone gets eyeballs on the target, he's mine. Understood?
[to Black Noir] Go get 'em, Noir.
Alright, you… need to hang back a bit, okay?
Still got some work to do with the ladies, but it's gonna be okay. They'll be back in no time.
Sure. One other thing: You ripped your vest.
Your gill is showing. Cover it up. It's disgusting.
Who the fuck do you think you are? What, you think I don't see it? Trying to undermine me, steal my team.
Stormfront
Hold on a minute.
Let me tell you right now, it won't work. I'm the face of The Seven! Not you! Me! I still score higher in every demo that counts: 18 to 34, 18 to 49, 25 to 54! They all love me!
Stormfront
[sarcastically] Well, congratulations. I mean, this constant need to be loved by everyone is kinda pathetic, but um… Yay! [beat; Homelander activates his laser eyes] Okay. Okay, calm down. [pause; Homelander's eyes return to normal] I clearly pushed you a little far. I'm sorry. Look, I'm… I'm just trying to help.
Really? How? By taking what's mine? Let me tell you something right now: I built this team from the ground up, and there is no fucking way that anyone is gonna take it away from me.
Stormfront
You spent $273 million on that "Saving America" bullshit, and I am running circles around you with five guys on laptops churning out memes. I practically pay them with Arby's gift cards. You… You can't win the whole country anymore. No one can. So why are you even trying? You don't need fifty million people to love you. You need five million people fucking pissed. Emotion sells, anger sells. You have fans, I have soldiers. [pause] Look, I know that you probably won't believe this. I think that you are the best of us. I think that you are everything we should be. You just need a little help connecting with your audience. You know, change with the times. God knows I did.
[beat] I don't need help connecting with my audience. Thank you.
Stormfront
Okay. Well, just know I'm always here. Door is always open for anything.
[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?
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?
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?
[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.
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?
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.
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]
Stormfront
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.
Stormfront
Sure. You seem to be doing so well on your own. Well, I'm here when you want me.
[A-Train is watching a Church of the Collective ad featuring The Deep]
That's a bunch of bullshit.
Stormfront
Didn't used to be. Church used to mean something.
Oh. What, are you a member?
Stormfront
I was, a long time ago. That place used to be pure. And then, they just started letting all kinds of people in, you know?
I don't know. So why don't you tell me?
Stormfront
Well, I think you do know. Some people are quality and others are… garbage. [pause] Oh, by the way, I heard they're retiring you? So unfair.
Stormfront
Of course not. Why would I say that?
Stormfront
What are you doing in my trailer?
ASAnnie/Starlight
You know, you had no right to talk to my mother about personal shit. What were you trying to prove?
Stormfront
Okay, sorry. Just trying to help.
ASAnnie/Starlight
She didn't just lie to me about Compound V, okay? She lied to me about everything. So don't try and broker some kind of peace between us, because I don't want it!
Stormfront
Wow, that–that… I mean, that… is a performance. [sarcastically] Oh, my God, look. I'm, like, tearing up. You don't suck, Starlight! You're Tilda fucking Swinton! I know you leaked it.
ASAnnie/Starlight
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Stormfront
Not as good. Magic's gone. I guess lightning really doesn't strike twice, huh?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Okay, whatever. You know what? I need to get to set, so–
Stormfront
That hack-a-limb, Gecko–Yeah, he stole the V, and then you… you leaked it to MSNBC. Now, what do you think Vought's gonna feel when I tell them?
ASAnnie/Starlight
[pause] Well, how do you think the world will feel when I tell them that you used to be Liberty?
Stormfront
Wow. You are a special kind of poison flower, huh? Going against your own people?
ASAnnie/Starlight
[scoffs] You mean fucking white people?
Stormfront
Starlight, superheroes. Don't be racist.
[Annie makes all the lights in the trailer flicker with her powers]
Stormfront
Oh, my. Oh, yes. That is adorable. I do like you. You… you got spunk. You're gonna be a big help to me.
ASAnnie/Starlight
What the hell does that mean?
Stormfront
Hey, I'm so glad you're here. I wanna apologize. Please, just let me explain.
Flap, flap, flap goes that little mouth of yours. You remember you told me that you don't break easily? Well, I've been thinking about that. A lot.
Stormfront
I will never lie to you again. I will tell you everything. [pause] Starting with this.
[Stormfront takes out a photograph of herself with an elderly woman]
Stormfront
My daughter, Chloe. She died of Alzheimer's a few years ago.
Stormfront
I was born in 1919… in Berlin.
[She flips through another photograph taken during the 1940s. She is at a Nazi gathering standing with another man.]
Stormfront
Heinrich Himmler. He was a lovely dancer. And that's Goebbels, and… the most important man in the room.
[She flips to a third photograph of her and the man from the second photo on their wedding day]
Stormfront
He gave me the first successful V injection. He taught me everything. And then we fell in love, and he gave me a daughter. He made me, and his genius made you. [pause; Homelander starts pacing around the room] Frederick didn't care about all the fans or stardom or any of that shallow bullshit. We are in a war for the culture! The other races are grinding us down and taking what is rightfully ours, but we can fight back… with an army of supermen, millions strong! Because that is Vought's true destiny! And you will be the man who will lead us. You are everything that we dreamed of. So I love you with all of my heart. How could I not? Everyone I have ever loved is in the ground. And then, I found you. We found each other. And now, neither of us has to be alone ever again. And that... is the truth.
[Homelander stares at Stormfront like he's about to hurt her, then pulls her in for a passionate kiss]
Stormfront
So, are you into anything that kids are into?
Stormfront
Like, uh, NBA 2K? PewDiePie?
Stormfront
Uh, what about one of your dad's movies?
[to Homelander] You're in a movie?
[chuckles] I'm in a bunch of movies, man. Let's see, there's Homelander: Origins, Homelander: Rise of a Hero, Homelander: Darkest Day, Homelander: Brightest Night…
Stormfront
Oh, your dad is so good in Homelander: Brightest Night.
When you're old enough, we can talk about it, okay?
Ah, they're PG. He can see them now. You're old enough.
Stormfront
You're absolutely old enough.
For sleepovers and baseball games and visits to Vought Land.
Stormfront
Yeah. Did you know that your dad has his own rollercoaster?
[to Homelander] I need to speak with you.
We're having a good time here, right?
[pause] That's a great idea. [to Ryan and Stormfront] You two… stay here. Get to know each other better.
[Homelander walks outside with Becca]
I know what you're doing.
No, you do not. You could not possibly understand. [pause] I was raised the same way as him. That kid doesn't know anything about anything. When he sees the outside world, he's going to panic. Now, that's gonna fuck him up. I do not want my son to have to go through what I went through. His life… is different.
[sighs] He has a mother. And I know that that means something to you–I do–and if you take him away from me, this… this whole world will feel so confusing and frightening.
Yes. But Rebecca, you… are lying to him.
Because I love him. And I know a part of you loves him, too, and that you want what's best for him. But what's best for him is to be here with me–his mother. Look, we have this opportunity to give him a childhood you never had. We can do that if he's here with me. Please. I'm begging you, please.
[Homelander tries to get Ryan to destroy a Deep action figure with his laser eyes. Ryan continues straining himself in an attempt to activate his powers.]
Keep going. You got it. That's it, don't give up. That's it, that's it. Keep going. Little more. Little more, you got it. [pause; Ryan exhales in defeat] Oh... hey, that's okay. You'll get it, you'll get it. Um… I know what. Imagine, um… Well, sometimes it helps to imagine someone you hate, okay? So, try that.
But at home, when I say "hate", I have to put a quarter in the swear jar.
Well, there's no swear jar here. So, you can hate away. [chuckles]
But I don't really hate anyone.
Stormfront
Aw. Well, that is very sweet, Ryan. But it's not something we can afford. We're under attack.
Stormfront
Bad guys wanna hurt us just 'cause of what we look like. They wanna wipe us from this Earth, just because of the color of our skin.
Stormfront
It's called white genocide. And we're gonna need people like you to protect our kind.
Stormfront
There you are, you slippery little bitch! I'm assuming it's you who sent all those lies to the press.
ASAnnie/Starlight
They're not lies!
Stormfront
The pictures are clearly deepfakes, and you're a lying slut! People love what I have to say. They believe in it. They just don't like the word "Nazi", that's all.
[...]
ASAnnie/Starlight
What about the truth?
Stormfront
What truth? What is the truth? [beat; sees Kimiko laughing at her] And what are you laughing at?
[Kimiko signs to Frenchie with a smirk]
She says the truth is… she's gonna stick her boot up your Nazi kitty.
The Boys · 278 quotes
