Stillwell quotes from The Boys

Did you hear about the mayor of Baltimore?

Homelander

…Yeah. Yeah, heard his plane went down. Some sort of engine trouble.

Yeah, it's awful. I saw him on Tuesday. I had a meeting with him right here.

Homelander

Wow. Well, hug your kids, right? 'Cause you never know what might happen.

So true. You know what's interesting? The Deep told me–and only me–that there were scorch marks on the mayor's engine. Almost as if from two small, high-intensity beams roughly the width of human eyes.

Homelander

Say what you mean to say.

Your brand is hope, baseball, America, sunshine. You don't do vengeance.

Homelander

Madelyn, I heard him through the wall. He was blackmailing you.

I am the last person you need to save.

Homelander

Yeah, but I did it for you!

I know, but did the timing occur to you? I have half the Senate Appropriations Committee coming tonight.

Homelander

[beat] How did he even know about Compound V?

We are not going to talk about that.

Homelander

Oh, come on, Madelyn. You do not need to hide things from me. I love Vought as much as you do, and I can do more.

You can do more? You've already grossed $12.3 billion for us.

Homelander

Right. So the pricks on 82 can take all the fucking credit? Empty fucking suits with Cornell degrees? Come on! I'm the one who's out there, not them! I'm the one who–who knows the audience. Who knows what's good for this company!

I know. I hear you, I do. But what I need right now is I need you to charm the shit out of those congressmen.

Homelander

[glares at Stillwell] Right. 'Cause that's all I'm good for, huh? Smile, look pretty, say my lines. Whoop, whoop, whoop.

No, no. You just need to let me protect you.

Homelander

Oh, you're gonna protect me?

Mmm-hmm. [pause; touches Homelander's cheek] Gods are pure… and they're perfect. And they're above it all. And they need to stay that way.

Ashley

This is Seth and Evan from marketing.

Hi.

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.

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!

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?

No way!

She adapts! She transforms!

Embraces her feminine strengths!

Good-bye, Yellow Brick Road!

And hello, Starlight!

I can't wear that.

What?

Ashley

Why not? It's beautiful.

Seriously? It's just… It's not me.

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.

How is that feminist?

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.

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.

We're not.

Excuse me?

Starlight, like I said before, this is a partnership. In a partnership, there is give and there is take.

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.

What are you doing here?

Homelander

Skipping work now?

I am taking Teddy to the pediatrician.

Homelander

Maybe reschedule it.

I've already rescheduled three times. What is the emergency?

Homelander

My speech.

Your speech?

Homelander

Yes, my speech. It reads like corporate fucking mayonnaise. We're talking Believe here. These are my people.

But you're not just talking to them. Every dove and Democrat in Congress is gonna be watching you on CNN. You need to appear moderate…

Homelander

No.

Humble.

Homelander

No, you… There is an opportunity here. People are scared. They don't trust Washington or the coastal elite, and they hate foreigners. What they want is a little John Wayne frontier justice. And that is what I do. [pause] Don't forget… it was me that saved that Flight 37 thing. I turned that into a win. For us.

You're really gonna talk to me about "saving" Flight 37? [snickers]

Homelander

Well, why wouldn't I?

Look, can I please just talk to you later? The speech is perfect! Trust me!

Homelander

"Trust you." Okay. That's what you always say.

[to Teddy] Come here.

Homelander

You're not even fucking listening to me! You're so full of shit! You say you want my input, but you don't.

Yes, I do.

Homelander

No, you don't. And you never will.

I do! Can we please just talk later?!

Homelander

Why? You gonna run off and play "strong single mom"? Please… That baby is an accessory.

We need boundaries.

Every single word that I say up here, I'm reading from a script. I didn't write any of these words. I don't even know if I believe in them. I mean, I believe in God. I love God so much, but… honestly, it's… it's just how goddamn certain everyone is around here. [pause; the audience gasps] I mean, tickets start at, what, 170 bucks so that these people can tell you how to get into Heaven? How do they know? How does anybody know? When the Bible was written, life expectancy was 30 years old. I mean, I'm not so sure you're supposed to take it literally. It also says that it's a sin to eat shrimp. What, if–if you're gay or if you're… Gandhi, you're going to Hell? I mean… [scoffs] And if you have sex before marriage, that's–that's not immoral. That's human. What's immoral is the guy who shoved his dick in my face.

The Deep

[watching from the Seven's meeting room] Shit.

[watching from her office] Shit.

[looks at Hughie and her mom before continuing her speech] Here's the truth. Anyone who tells you they know the answers is lying. And I know, I know, I'm supposed to be this hero-idol-symbol-whatever, but... I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'm just as scared and confused as the rest of you. I'm done pretending, and I'm done taking any more shit. [pause] Thank you.

You fired Ashley?

It was actually a mutual decision. She wanted to explore different career paths, and um, we wished her well. So, I would like you to take this in the constructive spirit that it is intended.

Okay.

You are a selfish, arrogant child.

Wow.

Back in Iowa, I bet you watched a lot of Queen Maeve's movies, right?

I did.

She was a rebel. Didn't take anyone's shit, didn't play by the rules. That's what you wanted to be. That's what American heroes are, but it's a myth; I should know because I wrote it. The truth is dozens of people in this company spent hundreds of hours to create the thing that is you.

I never asked for that.

Then, why don't you burn the sparkly outfit and become a cop? You wanna be a superhero. You wanna be famous… but nobody's famous alone. So why don't you cut the petulant diva shit, show a little fucking gratitude, and let us do our job?

[beat] No.

I'm sorry?

I mean, I don't mean to be ungrateful, but… No red carpets, no reality TV, and no Noxzema commercials. And I want my old uniform back. I'm gonna save people.

Then, I think we may need to reconsider your position in The Seven.

And I think that firing an employee after she reported sexual assault on live TV might tank your stock price.

[taken aback] Well, I hope we can count on your discretion.

Sorry, I don't do discretion anymore. If anyone asks me who did it, I'm gonna answer honestly.

Well, it's great that you wanna tell the truth. I just don't know to whom you're referring.

Oh, I think you know. I think you've known for a long time.

[pause] Thank you so much for coming, Starlight. I have a lot to think about.

The Deep

Oh, Ms. Stillwell. Hey, you wanted to see me, right?

Yeah, I'm running late. Can you walk with me?

The Deep

Yeah, sure. [holds up infant sleeper suit] Hey, look. I brought a little present for your little guy.

Ah.

The Deep

Never, uh, too young to start saving the world, right?

I'm gonna need you to make a public apology. And you're going to be taking a sabbatical from The Seven.

Homelander

Billy Butcher. You don't mind if I call you Billy, right? You are pretty darn impressive. I mean, especially for, you know… one of you. See, even now, most people standing where you are would be pissing their pants terrified. But you… Sure, your heart's pounding, but you're not afraid. It's anger. That's a new one for me.

Homelander, will you please take the baby upstairs?

Homelander

All because of your lovely wife, Becca. Right? Okay, let's cut the bullshit, huh? You know that we, uh… [makes humping gesture] Bro, not my fault, okay? She came on to me. It happens…

Will you stop?

Homelander

…you know, it's–it's the fame. They get crushes. There's nothing I can do about it. But what I will tell you is, she was a hell of a lay. [laughs] She came three times, eh? Three times. [places Teddy in his crib] Alright, little man, have a little lie-down. Good boy.

I want you to take him out of here.

Homelander

[to Stillwell] Yeah, I hear you. [sighs; to Butcher] But that's not really it. No, no, no, no, no. No, it's more than just that. [pause] You think I'm responsible for her death, don't you? So now you have a hostage that–that I care about, right? Someone I love. So, what's your plan… from here? What do you want? Do you want a confession, or… What's your endgame?

I'm just gonna hurt you. I mean, really fuckin' hurt you… and that'll be good enough for me.

Homelander

So, you–you don't really want anything, per se? You just–You wanna blow her up in front of me, right? [laughing] Wow, fuck! Uh… [stammers] You are dark, and I kinda like it.

[to Homelander] Will you please take Teddy upstairs?

Homelander

[to Stillwell] It's okay. [to Butcher] Just answer one question for me. Just one: How do you know? How do you know? I mean, you must have some rock-solid proof, right? That it was actually me who killed your wife. You must have that, right? So what is it? Share. We're all very interested. [pause; Butcher says nothing] Now's not the time to be strong and silent. Go for it. [beat; Butcher remains silent] Are you telling me that this whole thing is–is based on fucking feelings? On a hunch?

Will you please take him upstairs?!

Homelander

A little bit–Madelyn, hold on!

TAKE HIM UPSTAIRS!

Homelander

SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Homelander

You promised me, no more lies. You fucking promised me. You and Vogelbaum should've got your stories straight. They were so close–so fucking close–but there were a few little details that were different. So I went back to Vogelbaum, and I managed to squeeze the truth out of him. The real truth. [Stillwell starts crying] Yes, that's it.

I'm so sorry. I never should have lied to you. I know now that you don't need to be protected. I'm so sorry. Will you please take Teddy back upstairs?

Homelander

Did you ever really care about me?

You mean everything to me.

Homelander

No. No, no. I mean everything to your job. You care more about that fucking baby than you do about me.

No. I love you. I love you, I love you. I swear I love you.

Homelander

But…? [pause; Stillwell hesitates] Tell me the truth, or I walk out right now.

[quietly] I'm scared. I'm scared of you.

Homelander

What?

I said I'm scared.

Homelander

Of?

Of you. I'm scared of you.

Homelander

[tenderly] Thank you. Thank you for finally being honest.