ASAnnie/Starlight
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.
You are a selfish, arrogant child.
Back in Iowa, I bet you watched a lot of Queen Maeve's movies, right?
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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
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?
ASAnnie/Starlight
[beat] No.
ASAnnie/Starlight
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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
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.
Boy, you're really milking this thing for all it's worth.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Excuse me?
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.
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.
[Frenchie is watching a nature documentary on sharks and The Asian Female/Kimiko sits next to him]
Mon coeur. Would you like me to change it?
[The Female shakes her head]
You talked to me. She talked to me!
MSMother's Milk
That's talking?
Well, she communicated anyway.
MSMother's Milk
She likes Shark Week, huh? I'll call BuzzFeed.
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.
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.
MSMother's Milk
Mesmer? You want help from a Supe?
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?
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.
[gets up and flicks a hand] Ah, come on.
MSMother's Milk
Best I can do.
You know… I've seen you eat ice cream.
MSMother's Milk
Oh, my God.
Chunky Monkey, I believe.
MSMother's Milk
Where is this going?
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]
[Suspecting that Hughie may be falling in love with Annie, Butcher takes him to a superhuman survivors' support group to listen to people and their personal experiences with Supes]
So I'm kind of a writer. I work in marketing. There's this one hero, who shall remain nameless, but has ice powers.
[snaps his fingers] Ice Princess.
I'm… not allowed to say. Anyway, she took a liking to me. It was heady, man. Intoxicating. No one wants to fuck the writer. Needless to say, I fell for her big time.
[whispering to Hughie] What kind of knobber falls for a Supe?
Anyway, we were being intimate when she climaxed and accidentally turned into ice. Just for a second, but I was, uh… still in there, at negative 346 degrees. Same temperature as liquid nitrogen. As you can imagine, um… [beat; looks down in shame] It snapped off.
[Everyone, except Butcher and Hughie, quietly gasps]
The crazy thing is, I still miss her. It's like… that's the cost of a mortal like me for being with a god like her.
[whispering to Hughie] If a Supe done that when she was happy, imagine what one would do if she found out you'd been lyin' to her from the get-go?
LLydia
Excuse me. Do you have something you'd like to share?
No, no. Apologies. [to Seth] Please, do continue the ice capades.
LLydia
We don't make jokes or judgments here. Why don't you take the talking stick and tell us your story?
LLydia
You know, I've seen guys like you before.
Oh, I seriously doubt that.
LLydia
The smirk, the jokes–It's all a defense mechanism. But you don't have to do that here. This is a safe space.
I said I'm good. Time to move on.
LLydia
Go ahead, Seth. Give him the stick.
[Seth attempts to give Butcher the talking stick, but Butcher yanks it from him and threatens him with it]
You back off, or I'll shove this stick where your dick used to be. [to the rest of the support group] You're a bunch of pathetic Supe-worshipin' cunts. I bet you'd thank a Supe if they shat on your mum's best china! Did it ever occur to you that they split your spine… or broke your dick just for a laugh? Where's your fuckin' rage?! Your self-respect?! Sittin' here in your little share circle. Havin' a little whinge and a moan. Fuck lettin' go! You should be out there with a fuckin' chainsaw, goin' after them! Just a bunch of scared fuckin' rabbits.
[Butcher drops the talking stick and collects his jacket]
[to Hughie as he walks out] Supes are the same. Every fuckin' one of 'em.
Oh, he's, um... sorry. [follows Butcher out]
[Butcher and Hughie are sitting on a park bench]
My wife, Becca, used to hum the Spice Girls. She drove me round the fuckin' bend, y'know? All day long, walkin' around the house hummin'. She was happy. Now, I don't know why she was happy with me, but… she was happy. [beat] Homelander raped her.
…Jesus. [pause] I–I'm sorry.
Not long after that, she came and sat right here. I know this 'cause she got tagged in that security camera right there. [points at said camera on a lamp post] She sat here for three hours. Didn't move a muscle. Then, she just got up and walked away. That was eight years ago… and nobody's seen her since. Either Homelander killed her or she killed herself. Same difference. [pause] You see, I know what it's like to lose someone. You and me, we're in this together. For Robin… and Becca. That is why you can't allow yourself to be distracted by another bird. Especially not a Supe. Just remember… who your friends and who your enemies are.
Oh, Ms. Stillwell. Hey, you wanted to see me, right?
Yeah, I'm running late. Can you walk with me?
Yeah, sure. [holds up infant sleeper suit] Hey, look. I brought a little present for your little guy.
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.
[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.
[...]
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.
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.
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?
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]
[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.
ASAnnie/Starlight
I don't remember, but my mom said that when I was born, I almost blinded the doctor. So I had powers from the start. Why?
No. No, I'm just curious.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Mmm. Do you mind if we just… not talk about hero stuff tonight?
Yeah, yeah. Bad day at work?
ASAnnie/Starlight
Yeah, it's an understatement. You know, there's this beach in the Bahamas where the sand is pink. Like, cotton candy pink.
ASAnnie/Starlight
Pink Sands. [Hughie laughs] It's not the most creative name, but… Let's just go.
Yeah. No, I can, uh… learn how to play the steel drum. You can get cornrows.
ASAnnie/Starlight
[chuckles] How about tonight?
[snaps fingers] Book that ticket. [pause] Are… Are we talking about this?
ASAnnie/Starlight
I don't know. I… I just know that, for me, New York has been such an endless shit show...
[Hughie has vision of Robin staring at him from the back of the bar]
ASAnnie/Starlight
…Except for you. Somehow, in the middle of it all… you found me.
[Hughie kisses Annie. When they break away, he looks off to the distance and no longer sees Robin. Annie giggles and passionately kisses him back.]
Hughie? I thought that was you. [chuckles] Oh. Oh, I apologize. I didn't mean to interrupt.
ASAnnie/Starlight
No. Hi, I'm Annie.
Billy. [shakes Annie's hand] Old mate of Hughie's.
ASAnnie/Starlight
[to Hughie] Boy, you really–you have a lot of friends showing up here.
[...]
She's quite tasty up close and personal. I get what you see in her.
I thought we had an understanding.
We do. We do. It… It's not what–
Not what it looks like? 'Cause from where I'm sittin', it looks like you've got your tongue halfway down the opposition's throat.
She is not the opposition. She's a good person, okay? I mean, she could help us.
And what d'you think she's gonna do when she finds out you murdered Translucent?
That's what we're doin', innit?
There ain't no secrets here, son. Spit it out.
MSMother's Milk
Stop being an asshole. Just talk to the guy.
Hughie doesn't mind. Do you, Hughie?
[pause] Okay, fine. I don't think I can do this anymore.
This. I mean, Vought–whatever with Kimiko–it's awful, and you gotta stop it, but I can't.
Right. You just wanna kick back, drink a few Mai Tais, and let us do all the work. Is that it?
I managed to go my whole life without seeing someone die horribly, and now I'm up to about a half dozen, so I think I'm good.
Please. You're a fuckin' killer, Hughie. Just like the rest of us. Now, why don't you stop pissin' around and tell everybody what this is really all about? Yeah?
MSMother's Milk
[sighs and facepalms] Fuck.
[claps] Fuckin' finally! He's been sneakin' off to give her one at Lincoln Grand!
You've been following me?
Like you gave me a choice.
She doesn't know anything, okay?! I'm not gonna tell her anything! We'll just–
Just what? Fuck off to Epcot? The Hamptons? Maybe pump out a few flyin' babies?!
No, you don't know! 'Cause you ain't thinkin', except with your dick.
That bitch is fuckin' playin' you, and you're too fuckin' blind to see it!
So better to be loyal to a dead woman who doesn't know and doesn't care? How's that working out for you?!
You know, this shit must be pretty good… if it's worth running through a human being for.
Oh, my God, man! That was an accident! Where the fuck is the V?!
That "accident" had a name.
And what about Popclaw?! She had a name, too! Charlotte! The only good thing left in my life is gone now! What is this, man? I kill your girlfriend and you kill mine?!
I didn't kill your girlfriend.
You used her. You put her in danger, and then you threw her out like she was fucking garbage! How does this not all start with you, Hughie?! The only difference between you and me is that I made a mistake! The shit you did was on purpose! So who's worse?!
[In a flashback, Butcher is visited by a woman from the CIA]
Don't want none, fuck off.
GMGrace Mallory
I'm here about your wife.
[Cut to Butcher watching surveillance camera footage of Becca with Homelander on a laptop]
I believe this was a few days after you met Homelander at that Christmas party?
[Homelander is seen laughing and leading Becca into an empty room]
She was alone with him for three hours.
[Mallory fast-forwards the footage until a disheveled and distressed Becca is shown running out of the room. Butcher covers his mouth as he realizes what Homelander did to her.]
Not long after that, Rebecca went missing and has remained so ever since. One way or another, Mr. Butcher, I believe Homelander was involved.
Homelander… But he's a fuckin' superhero.
You wouldn't believe what they get up to.
[pause] Who the fuck are you?
My name is Mallory. [shows Butcher her CIA badge] I'm the person who can get you payback.
JVJonah Vogelbaum
Eight years ago, Stillwell called me with quite an interesting challenge. Rebecca Butcher had come to her with a completely unprecedented medical condition.
[In a flashback, Becca pulls up her hospital gown and her belly starts glowing. Stillwell and Vogelbaum look at her in shock.]
VVogelbaum
She was pregnant… with your child.
Pregnant? [pause; mutters in shock] But I–I thought I couldn't.
VVogelbaum
So did I. Apparently, nature is tenacious. The fetus was developing unnaturally fast. We told her we'd deliver the baby safely at a secure location, but she had to sign an NDA. Couldn't tell anyone; not even her husband. You can imagine the size of the potential scandal.
[In another flashback, Becca is wheeled into an operating room and goes into labor. She screams in pain as her baby rips her out from the inside, causing tremendous blood loss.]
VVogelbaum
The birth was difficult. The baby clawed its way out of her. The blood loss, no one could have survived. She died on the table.
VVogelbaum
Lived all of ten seconds. Drowned in its mother's blood.
VVogelbaum
Does it matter?
VVogelbaum
To protect you. That's always job one at Vought, isn't it? Protect our most profitable asset?
So why are you telling me now?
VVogelbaum
You don't understand. The thing about cross-breeding dogs… you get the right genes, you can get a perfect creation. But it doesn't matter how perfect they are; it's not enough. When I raise subjects without their mothers, they become violent. Aggressive. Downright hateful. You should've been raised in a home with a family who loved you. Not in a cold lab with doctors.
And yet I turned out great.
VVogelbaum
When I think what it's done to you, and what you can now do to everyone else… [beat; sighs] I'm sorry.
I don't want your fucking apology.
VVogelbaum
All this is my fault.
[in a shaky tone] What do you want? What? What do you want, forgiveness? Now? After you raised me like a fucking lab rat? [shakes his head] No. Too little, too late.
VVogelbaum
I don't want anything from you, John. I'm just an old man thinking about his mistakes.
I'm the world's greatest superhero.
VVogelbaum
You're my greatest failure.
ASAnnie/Starlight
What's Compound V?
DJDonna January
Compound V? I don't know, sweetheart. Should I?
ASAnnie/Starlight
How old was I? How old was I when you let Vought pump me full of drugs?
DDonna
Annie, honestly, I don't know what you're talk–
ASAnnie/Starlight
How old, when you let them turn me into a freak?
DDonna
You're not a freak! Never say that!
ASAnnie/Starlight
So it's true.
ASAnnie/Starlight
[beat; looks on the verge of tears] Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
DDonna
Did–Did Vought tell you all this?
ASAnnie/Starlight
No. No, a friend told me. How much did they pay you?
DDonna
It wasn't about money.
ASAnnie/Starlight
How much?
DDonna
There was no money. They–They just paid for the medical bills, that's it. I did it because they–they promised that you'd have a chance at an extraordinary life. To be strong and successful and special. I mean, who wouldn't want that for their–
ASAnnie/Starlight
You made me think that I was chosen by God!
DDonna
You were! God brought Vought into our lives. He made this possible.
ASAnnie/Starlight
BULLSHIT! YOU DID! And then you controlled every single minute of it! You woke me up at 5:00 a.m. to train for those stupid pageants, and the tap dancing and the tae kwon do! I gave up every moment of my life!
DDonna
I gave up every moment of my life. And I was happy to do it! This was our dream!
ASAnnie/Starlight
This was your dream! I never got a chance to choose my own dreams. No wonder I don't know who the fuck I'm supposed to be!
What are you lookin' at out there?
Eastern meadowlarks. It was either bird-watching or alcoholism, so… birds. [lifts binoculars from her eyes] I thought we agreed that you were never gonna come out here.
Yeah, well, you taught me a thing or two about broken promises, didn't ya? This is Hugh Campbell. We're working with M.M. and Frenchie. I got the Boys back together.
[to Hughie] Grace Mallory. I'm the founder of your little club. [to Butcher] So, let me hear it.
Sorry, I can't. I'm hoping to photograph a snowy owl in the dunes.
Look… I didn't wanna come here, but I need your help. And you're gonna fuckin' help.
[gets in front of Mallory] Because you owe me. You fuckin' owe me, goddammit.
[...]
There's simply nothing else to say. I can't help you.
Well, you're gonna have to do better than that.
'Cause you made me a promise!
But then my grandchildren got incinerated. Tends to change one's perspective. There weren't even teeth left; Lamplighter had burnt them alive so thoroughly. Well, I think I've had enough sun for one day. Pleasure meeting you, Hugh… Butcher.
Well, what about what you've done?
To me, goddammit. To me. You trained me up, manipulated me, aimed me at Homelander like a fuckin' howitzer! And then when it didn't suit you anymore, you just threw me away!
And not a day goes by that I don't regret it.
Day late, dollar short, love. Now, I'm gonna finish what you started… and I need your help. Please.
You can leave with something if you never come back, and you keep your goddamn promise this time. [pause; Butcher nods] Madelyn Stillwell.
Homelander's her main account.
No, but this is: They have a… what shall we say, a very special relationship. Complicated, intimate, hard to quantify.
Still have a few fingers in a few pies. I don't know if Homelander has a weakness, but if he does… she'll know it.
[Butcher begins walking away with Hughie following behind]
You wanna kill yourself, that's your right. I won't stop you! But, Billy… not the others! [to Hughie] Vengeance isn't a path to glory, Hugh. It's a one-way ticket to a dead end, looking at fucking birds.
