03x05 - The Last Time to Look on This World of Lies

[bunniefuu]

♪ ♪

The most powerful are not above the law.

Homelander has provided
evidence of crimes

committed by Stan Edgar.

Vicky, I'm glad you chose your own kind.

[STARLIGHT] If we need to fight him,

- will you help me?
- Okay, I'm in.

[HOMELANDER] A-Train told
me about your little plots.

Alex! Oh, my God.

- What's B.C.L. RED?
- The thing that k*lled Soldier Boy.

[BUTCHER] Hello, hello.

You must be Nina.

I'm after a particular w*apon.

We just got to do a little job for her.

I want to try something.

[BUTCHER] It's not
power. It's punishment.

Evening, c**ts.

Why did you do this
to yourself on purpose?

You're better than this, kid.

[BUTCHER] Soldier Boy.

[SHOUTING]

Ain't no team for me to hold
together no more, Butcher.

- [MOTHER'S MILK] Hold her head up, Frenchie.
- [FRENCHIE] Mon cœur!

[RUSSIAN SYNTH-POP SONG PLAYING]

Are you recording?

Yes.

As you know, the subject's skin has

demonstrated remarkable durability.

Which includes internal tissue.

- [GROANING]
- [CHATTER IN RUSSIAN CONTINUES]

[g*nf*re]

[GRUNTING]

[FRENCHIE PRAYING SOFTLY IN FRENCH]

[BUTCHER] How is she?

Stable, for now.

Please note that, due to the
procedure dated January ,

the subject still registers
high radiation levels.

[BUTCHER] How the f*ck's
that c**t still breathing?

Twenty sieverts of radiation.

Sulfuric acid cocktails.

More or less shoved
Chernobyl right up his arse.

We will now determine whether his cornea

shares a similar strength.

I'll wager that's how he
got them nasty new powers.

[GASPING, SPEAKING
FRANTICALLY IN RUSSIAN]

- [SHOUTING]
- [OBJECTS CLATTERING]

[ALARM BUZZING]

[FRANTIC RUSSIAN CHATTER OVER P.A.]

[BUTCHER] Listen, mate,
we can't hang about here

looking for him, right?

He's Ivan's problem now.

We got to get Kimiko
home to a proper doctor.

You don't give a sh*t about Kimiko.

Or anyone else.

Oh, come off it, mate.

Look, I took a f*cking drug.

And in case you forgot,
I just saved your life.

You k*lled Gunpowder, didn't you?

Did you use your little laser eyes?

You're too f*cking right, I did.

And it felt good.

For once, I leveled the
f*cking playing field.

Butcher,

the whole point of what we do,

the whole g*dd*mn point,

is that no one should
have that kind of power.

Well, ain't that just f*cking
fairies and dancing dildos, eh?

I happen to live right down here, mate,

on planet Earth.

[VOMITING]

Oh, f*ck.

Looks like Kermit the Frog
had a right wank in your mouth.

No, I'm good, okay?

[VOMITING]

So I see.

[RETCHING CONTINUES]

What?

Nothing.

♪ ♪

[GROANING]

[ASHLEY] I know these
are difficult times,

but with the greatest humility,
I accept your nomination as CEO

of Vought International. [CHUCKLES]

You know, my mother
used to say, before she

- d*ed of cancer when I was ...
- [DOORS OPEN]

Okay, Ashley, that's enough.
Let's not bring the room down.

Apologies, sir. Of course.

Hello, everyone. Sorry I'm late.

Thank you so much for coming up to ,

the mountain to Muhammad,
as it were. [LAUGHING]

[FORCED LAUGHTER]

Okay.

Seeing as it's, uh, my
very first board meeting,

I thought perhaps we'd start
by, uh, going around the room

and giving you all a chance

- to introduce yourselves.
- Bill Marsh.

And I, for one, would like
to thank you, Homelander,

for giving me the opportunity
to serve this board

at such a pivotal moment
in, uh, Vought's history.

- [CHUCKLES]
- [PAT] Pat Willis, sir.

You've rid us of Stan Edgar
and restored honesty, integrity

and innovation to this corporation.

[MAUREEN] One question.
With the changes around here,

our EBITDA margins will drop a tiny bit.

How do you want to handle
that on the earnings call?

What's your name?

Maureen.

Is there something you want
to get off your chest, Maureen?

Sorry, sir? Wh...

Do you think you know better than me?

I don't know. Maybe
you think you should be

sitting in my chair and...

I should be sitting all
the way down there in yours.

No, God, no, sir.

I-I'm sorry. I... I was just...

It was stupid of me.

I'm so stupid, and you're so great.

And... uh...

Maureen, you're embarrassing
yourself. You should go.

So who's next?

[MAN] We look forward
to working hand in glove

under your tremendous

[FADING, DISTORTING] and
competent leadership, sir.

[BARBARA] It was my honor
to lead Crime Analytics

for the past years,

but all good things must come to an end,

and the Vought board decided
it was time for a change.

So, allow me to introduce you to the new

head of Crime Analytics:

the Deep.

[ONLY CASSANDRA CLAPPING]

[CHUCKLES] Thank you, thank you.

Thank you for your service, Bar.

Let's hear it for Bar.

- Come on, she did great.
- [APPLAUSE]

For someone with no
practical experience,

it's amazing.

[SIGHS] Look, it's always
been a big dream of mine

to be able to fight crime

both at sea and on land.

I'm here to tell you

that if you work hard enough,

there's nothing you can't achieve.

Hashtag dream big.

Real big.

Because Vought'll make
sure the right man...

Er... [SCOFFS] Sorry, Barbara.

Right person, gets the job.

So, to break the ice, we brought...

- Cupcakes. [LAUGHS]
- [DEEP] Cupcakes. [LAUGHS]

- From Sprinkles.
- That's right.

Oh, and one more thing.

Everyone just needs to sign up for, uh,

performance reviews. [CHUCKLES]

Just a formality,
nothing to worry about.

[MOUTH FULL] Mmm. You
thinking of going freelance?

Watch her head. Let's go.

[BUTCHER] She'll be up
and about in no time.

We'll see you in the morning, yeah?

- [MOTHER'S MILK] f*ck you.
- [CAR DOOR CLOSES]

[HUGHIE] Hey.

You still got me.

[NEWSMAN SPEAKING SPANISH]

[NEWSWOMAN] Tragically relapsed
into an opioid addiction,

just as he was slated to join The Seven.

Not since Len Bias has a public figure

been lost to a drug overdose

- on the cusp of the next...
- [HUGHIE] Hey.

- Um...
- [DOOR CLOSES]

Hey. Come here.

[WHISPERS] Come here.

I'm sorry.

I'm so f*cking sorry.

I shouldn't be here.
It's not safe for you.

I don't care. It's okay.

Hughie, Homelander k*lled Alex.

He f*cking m*rder*d him,
and it's all my fault.

Hey. It is not your fault.

Come here, come here, come here.

We got Charleston Chew.

We got Almond Joy.

Bit-O-Honey.

There's White Claws in the fridge.

Some of that gross lavender
bath b*mb sh*t in the tub.

Look, I know this doesn't make this

any better, but I just...

Let me take care of you for a second.

Tell me you found it.

[SIGHS]

Moscow was a dead end.

I'm sorry.

No w*apon or g*n or anything?

f*ck.

Then what k*lled Soldier Boy?

Let... You know what? I'm
gonna get you a White Claw.

[REFRIGERATOR DOOR OPENS]

Uh, Hughie?

Your arm is broken.

Where the hell is your cast?

You're-you're really
gonna want a White Claw.

Wow. All right.

Gonna have another one.

Um... Just... I'm just trying

to get a bead on what, uh,
part you're most upset about.

Is it the part where, uh,
Soldier Boy's loose in Russia,

or the part where I-I took
some temporary Compound V?

Um...

it could be both parts. Uh...

- All the parts.
- I told you right away, though, right?

That's-that's... No secrets.

That's got to be worth some points.

You want points for not lying to me?

I... would like to retract
that statement. Um...

Hughie, you sh*t up an untested drug

from Vought.

You could've gotten yourself k*lled.

We don't have any more.

And even if we did,
I-I wouldn't take it.

It was awful.

Like, uh, the hangover,
all of it, just...

absolutely hated it. [SIGHS]

- You loved it.
- I f*cking really loved it.

It was awesome. I mean, you know me.

If a guy in the car next
to me gives me a dirty look,

I'm like f*cking Dom Torreto taking off,

trying to get away from
him 'cause I'm quick

and I'm all about family.

But in Russia... [SCOFFS]

I wasn't scared.

I-I... I saved M.M.

Me.

I could, like, teleport.

- Teleport?
- Yeah, I... I just...

I knew how to do it.

I just clenched my butt,
and-and I jumped, and...

No. Hughie, that was
stupid and dangerous.

I can't lose you, too.

Oh, God, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. You're right.

[SIGHS] It's over.

So...

what do we do now?

I don't know.

But whatever it is, we'll
figure it out together.

You and me against the world, right?

I love you.

I love you, too.

[CONVERSING IN RUSSIAN]

[MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN OVER P.A.]

[JET ENGINE WHOOSHING]

- [SNIFFS]
- [DOOR OPENS]

How the f*ck is Soldier Boy still alive?

Another nutter loose in
the world, thanks to us.

You look like warmed-over sh*t.

Well... least I'll be
sober in the morning.

You'll still be a Supe.

Well, if Supes are so f*cking vile,

why do you want to be one again?

[UNZIPS BAG]

[MAEVE] What are you
gonna do with those?

[ZIPS BAG]

[DRINK POURS]

No, thanks.

I've been sober four months, assh*le.

It's been a year for me.

[SIREN WAILING FAINTLY IN DISTANCE]

[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING QUIETLY]

[SIGHS]

What about Homelander's son?

No.

Be years before Ryan can take him on.

What about that plane video?

I mean, I know it wouldn't
be so brilliant for you,

- but...
- [SIGHS]

least it'll pull back
the curtain on the c**t.

Would send him over the edge.

He'd end up k*lling a million people.

The video was always a bluff.

Not to me it ain't.

I thought I hated the guy.

I done them all.

Coke, E, meth, smack.

Ain't nothing like this.

Used to be months of leg
work to take down a Supe.

Gunpowder...

not even a New York minute.

Must've felt good.

I hated every second.

No.

The V just made me more...

... me.

With great power comes
the absolute certainty

that you'll turn into a right c**t.

I mean, that's the thing, right?

You're all just people.

All the V does is just

amp up all that sh*t
that's already inside.

Your lot? Just a bunch of
walking nuclear erections.

You know? A-and it's
not just Homelander.

I mean, you-you f*cking all got to go.

Every f*cking last...

... one of you.

Yeah.

What? You still think
you're too good for me?

- [GRUNTS]
- [♪ THE KINKS: "YOU REALLY GOT ME"]

- [GRUNTS]
- ♪ Girl, you really ♪

- [GROANS]
- ♪ Got me going ♪

♪ You got me so I don't know ♪

- [MOANING]
- ♪ What I'm doing ♪

[GLASS SHATTERS]

♪ Yeah, you really got me now ♪

♪ You got me so I can't sleep at night ♪

[MOANING LOUDLY]

- [GRUNTING]
- [GLASS SHATTERING]

♪ You really got me now ♪

♪ You got me so I don't
know what I'm doing ♪

♪ Oh, yeah, you really got me now ♪

♪ You got me so I can't
sleep at night ♪♪

[MOANING]

[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.]

- [GASPS]
- Chocolate limes.

For when she wakes up.

I pray she pulls through.

Ten dead Russian soldiers.

A classified lab destroyed.

Three of my contacts in the Kremlin

have disappeared already.

You know, Sergei, there is
this absolute natural law.

That law, it says

you do not f*ck me, I f*ck you.

It was Monsieur
Charcutier who came to you,

made the deal with you.
Take it up with him.

I don't know him. I know you.

You're the one who introduced us.

You're the one who pays the debt.

You work for me now.

Absolument pas.

You know, before you
abandoned me for Butcher,

you always wrung your hands.

"Oh, Nina, I cannot k*ll.

It's like acid to my heart."

Yet you always did.

[OPENS ENVELOPE]

Pyotr Semenov and his daughter Katarina.

You do it today.

She's just a child.

That's never stopped you before.

Call me when it's done.

[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.]

Mon cœur?

Mon cœur? Hey.

Ca va?

[WHISPERS] How are you feeling?

It was Soldier Boy.

Why are you smiling?

- I didn't heal!
- Hmm.

Hand me something heavy!

Something heavy!

[PANTING]

It's too heavy!

It must've been Soldier Boy!

My powers are gone!

Can I help you?

Supersonic trusted you,
and you got him k*lled.

- I don't know what you're talking about.
- You f*cking coward.

Why are you so desperate to
be with people who hate you?

Congrats from Lindsey Graham.

[LAUGHS]

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.

[CHUCKLES] Okay, great.

- Thanks.
- Yeah.

I'll just pop outside and get him.

What? Like, right now?

- Hi.
- Hey.

- Thanks for coming on such short notice, Blue Hawk.
- Oh.

A-Train.

[CHUCKLES] Hey.

Big fan.

Cool. Yeah.

- Blue Hawk.
- Yeah.

I wanted to talk to you
about your patrols in Trenton.

Little excessive.

Hmm? Says who?

Well, a lot of Black folks.

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.

[A-TRAIN] Yeah, but...

you're mostly just doing it
in-in Black neighborhoods.

And you don't want people to say
that you're being r*cist, right?

You know, it's actually
r*cist to call somebody r*cist.

What is this?

[CHUCKLES]

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 sh*t.

What a great idea. Thank
you for saying that.

I'm sure Homelander would
really, really appreciate that,

Blue Hawk.

Hey, name the time and place.

It is so important to do the work,

to have the difficult conversations.

This is so great, you guys.

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

♪ ♪

What the f*ck?

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[MEN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[RUSSIAN SYNTH-POP
SONG PLAYING OVER RADIO]

[MAN SINGING IN RUSSIAN OVER RADIO]

[SCREAMING]

[PANTING]

[MAN] Hey, buddy?

You okay, buddy?

[STRAINING]

- [YELLING]
- [PEOPLE SCREAMING]

I'm not just like the rest of you.

I'm stronger. I'm smarter.

I'm better.

I am better!

- [KNOCK ON DOOR]
- I'm not some

weak-kneed f*cking cry baby...

- Hey, look who it is.
- Todd.

- Hey, baby.
- Daddy!

Ah... hey!

- You ready?
- Yeah.

All right. Go get your backpack.

[TODD] She can't stop talking
about this Science Center trip.

[HOMELANDER] All my life,
people have tried to control me.

My whole life.

Todd, you, uh...

you got Janine watching this guy?

I know, I know.

His language gets a bit
salty, but it's good for her.

How is this good for Janine?

Um, because he's America's

greatest hero who saves
thousands of people.

He's standing up to the crooks,

the corporations and the legacy media.

Hey, you friend me on Facebook,

I'll send you some stuff that will...

Todd, I don't want Janine watching

any more of this garbage.

- Do you understand?
- Ready.

Why? Janine loves
Homelander. He's her favorite.

Isn't that right, sweetie?

[MOTHER'S MILK] 'Cause
Homelander is a psycho

- piece of sh*t, that's why.
- Daddy.

You want to pull it back in
front of the kid there, Marvin?

It's not the kid. She's my daughter.

- Okay.
- [NEWSMAN] We have breaking news this hour.

An expl*si*n just
rocked midtown Manhattan.

Early reports indicate are dead.

The NYPD and Bureau of
Superhuman Affairs...

♪ ♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Baby, I'm sorry, but Daddy's got to go.

No. Daddy, I want to go
to the Science Center.

[TODD] What are you doing? She's
been waiting for this all week.

Did I do something wrong?

♪ ♪

[MOTHER'S MILK] No, baby.

I'm sorry.

[NEWSMAN] The NYPD and
Bureau of Superhuman Affairs

are calling it the work
of an unknown supervillain.

At this time, we're still waiting

for more information from authorities...

[STARLIGHT, MUFFLED]
Homelander? Did you hear me?

Sorry, what?

I said we need to handle this. Now.

[NEWSMAN] ... confirmed k*lled,
with dozens more injured.

Uh, yeah, of course we do. Okay.

So, book slots on all the Sunday shows.

Tell them that, uh, there's
nothing to worry about,

not a thing.

We got everything under control.

- That's smart.
- So smart.

- So we're gonna...
- Jesus, I meant that

we need to stop this guy!

Could you watch your f*cking
tone, please, darling.

I'm sorry.

I just, I mean...

Don't you think that

maybe the best way to
handle this is to find him?

I never thought of that. Obviously.

God. O-okay, so why
don't you go and do that?

Hmm? Run along and save the day.

Meanwhile, the grown-ups,

well, we got to worry
about the share price

and the EBITDA margins, okay?

- Thank you.
- So much.

Hey. It's me.

Tell me this isn't who I think it is.

Probably exactly who you think it is.

[STARLIGHT] Oh, my God.

[SIGHS] Look, we're
coming up on the site now.

Can your Crime Analytics
people look for him?

I'm on it. Just be careful, Hughie.

- [SIREN WAILING]
- [URGENT CHATTER]

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

f*cking hell.

[IVY] Hughie.

Ivy.

Hey, uh... [SIGHS]

Morning, morning.

- Is Vicky here?
- She's on her way.

Didn't you break your arm?

Yeah, um...

Yes. It turns out it's a bad sprain,

- so I... I'm okay. I'll see you later.
- Okay.

[EMBERS CRACKLING]

[GEIGER COUNTER CLICKING RAPIDLY]

[SIGHS]

Oi.

Still think he's the Reds' problem?

All right. Easy, mate.

f*ck you.

I'll find him myself.

And what you gonna do
when you find him, eh?

He's well out of your league, son.

You need help.

You need us.

Oh, we can talk about what
a c**t I am another time.

But right now, let's just
focus on the job at hand.

Let me help you with Soldier Boy.

I owe you that much, and then
you don't got to see me no more.

[SIGHS]

Knowing you, you already got a lead?

Course I f*cking do.
Look at where we are.

The Legend.

Want to bet Soldier
Boy paid him a visit?

- Do you want the other half?
- No. No.

Not right now, thanks. You were saying?

To find the guy, we'd
have to comb through

every CCTV camera in the city.

It would take a dozen
analysts working double shifts.

Okay, then let's do it.

Where is everyone?

We are everyone.

Deep fired most of the department.

What? Why?

They had some tweets over the years

he said were critical of Homelander.

Said he only wants "team players."

Can I have that half?

Thank you.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

- [♪ STYLIZTIK JONES: "HALL OF FAME"]
- ♪ Ballin' like the greats ♪

♪ And I'll probably never let up ♪

♪ Running through your
defense like Jerome Bettis ♪

♪ Better than a brother that plays... ♪

Everybody...

Reg.

- What you doing here, man?
- [CHUCKLES]

♪ You don't know nothing if
you don't know Bo Jackson ♪

♪ Crashing through defenders
never knowing what happened ♪

♪ Going through tackles like
I'm driving through traffic ♪

♪ Getting hit hard, it can
make your brain scramble... ♪

What the f*ck?

- He wants to apologize.
- He came with you?

And a camera crew? Come on, man.

Listen, you get a public apology,

Vought gets some
publicity. It's a win-win.

You just spring this sh*t on me?

- What's wrong with you?
- Isn't this what you wanted?

For me to use my platform
to help the community, right?

[SIGHS]

Five minutes.

All right.

- [MICROPHONE FEEDBACK SQUEALS]
- Sorry, sorry.

It's the metal in my helmet.

[CLEARS THROAT]

All right.

To, uh, the residents of Trenton,

thank you for giving me the opportunity

to speak with you today.

As you know, superheroes
often have to make,

like, uh, split-second decisions

when fighting crime,
a... a... and I apologize

if any of mine have been...

perceived as being... r*cist.

But that is not who I am, okay?

Just ask my friends,

many of whom are, uh, are Black,

like A-Train.

I do not see color.

I only see crime.

And as a sign of my commitment
to you all, I am donating

$ , to this community
center. Thank you.

What about what you
did to Raymond Tucker?

- [CROWD MURMURS IN AGREEMENT]
- Well, he-he-he was a criminal.

He was unarmed.

Would you have done the same thing

to a white guy in Mill Hill?

[BLUE HAWK] I-I go where the crime is,

and the crime just happens to
be i-in Black neighborhoods.

- That-That's not my fault.
- [OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

[A-TRAIN] All right, all
right. No, that's enough here.

We're done here. Just say you're sorry,

and we can get out of here. Yeah.

You know what? Do your research.

Like, Blacks commit

a disproportionate number of murders.

How about all the
Black men you m*rder*d?

How about you tell me why were
they so f*cking aggressive?!

I was acting in self-defense.

You got powers! They don't!

- Black lives matter!
- [MAN] f*ck you, Blue Hawk!

- [ANGRY SHOUTING]
- Walk away, walk away.

Where you going? Get the f*ck out.

- Come on, out!
- All lives matter.

- All lives matter.
- [MAN] Black lives matter, m*therf*cker!

Supe lives matter. Supe lives matter!

Supe lives matter, you f*cking ingrates!

Hey, Blue Hawk!

[BLUE HAWK] Shut the f*ck up!

- f*ck out of here!
- [SCREAMING, CLAMORING]

- sh*t!
- Stupid fucks!

Shut the f... Get the f*ck out of here!

- [CLAMORING]
- [WOMAN CRYING]

Stop!

[WOMAN] Oh, my God!

[WOMAN CRYING] Why?!

Nate?

Nate!

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

[LEGEND] Just leave it.

What?

Leave the g*dd*mn clams
casino at the door.

This ain't Grubhub,
m*therf*cker. Open up.

Marvin. [LAUGHS] Hey.

I see you still got this piece
of dog sh*t stuck to your boot.

Oh, go do one, you withered old c**t.

[MOTHER'S MILK] This is Hughie.

Hughie, you know who this is?

He doesn't know who I am?
Read a f*cking book, kid.

This... this is The Legend.

That's, uh, quite a nickname.

No, it's not a name. It's a level.

Legend, we need to talk.

- Not him.
- [MOTHER'S MILK] He'll behave.

You got my word.

This is important, and you owe me.

[GRUMBLES QUIETLY]

[♪ KOPPER: "ONE STEP"]

♪ One step ♪

♪ One step at a time... ♪

[HUGHIE] Whoa.

Is that you and Roy Scheider?

That's at the Chateau

after the Marathon Man premiere.

Roy Scheider, Dustin,
Anjelica, Big Chief Apache.

That whole night's a
little cloudy to me.

But if you ask Army Archerd,

I was balls deep in Golden Geisha,

and Marlon Brando was
apparently balls deep in me.

What?

That's gay now? f*ck you. Who cares?

What's the difference?

Anyway, after that, I got
Marlon to cut his quote

on that Steel Knight
picture, so I ask you,

who f*cked who?

[SNIFFS]

He was here, wasn't he?

[LEGEND] Hmm?

Oh, no, I'm-I'm good.
I'm-I'm full. Of cocaine.

All right.

See, now Vought is all demo points

and audience testing,

thanks to those backstabbing fucks

Edgar and Stillwell.

And yes, I know she's dead.

- f*ck her anyway.
- [MOTHER'S MILK] So, The Legend was

the VP of Hero Management over at Vought

before Stillwell came in.

He helps us out from time to time.

He really doesn't know who I am?

See, when I was in charge,
you go with your gut.

That's when heroes were heroes,

not these stage-managed silicone dolls.

I've never even seen Homelander sweat,

let alone butter churn half
the cast of Falcon Crest

at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which I did.

Two words.

Shannon Tweed.

[MOTHER'S MILK] Legend.

Soldier Boy came to see you.

- I need to know what he said.
- What are you, crazy?

Marvin, he's a f*cking doornail.

So who's that coke for?

That's just me.

I'm writing my memoir.

It's gonna be really dynamite.

So I'm, you know,

I'm burning the candle
at both ends. I swear.

I swear on my kids' lives.

You hate your f*cking kids.

So would you if you met them.

[MOTHER'S MILK] So, if I ran
the prints on that mirror,

who would I come up with?

- Huh.
- [MOTHER'S MILK] Don't worry.

Soldier Boy's not gonna trace
this back to you. Trust me.

Oh, trust you.

Like I trusted him?

You forget what happened
last time I helped?

- The underage hooker sting on Electroshock?
- Oh. Oh.

You can't trust a man like that.

Everything and everyone
he touches turns to sh*t.

Well, you can trust me

to bash your f*cking brains
out with that leg, mate.

Butcher, please.

Look, I'm the one you trust.

Now, you know what Soldier
Boy did to my family.

And you know because
you okayed the cover-up.

sh*t, I... I okayed a million cover-ups.

And they're all tearing you up.

So just make this one right, will you?

[EXHALES]

I thought I was staring at a ghost,

but it was him.

He had a f*cked-up beard, maybe,

- but he hadn't aged a day.
- [HUGHIE] Wait, so he doesn't get old?

- Like Stormfront?
- We kept that under wraps.

Though it got a little
fishy when he starred

in that Love and w*r
picture with Phoebe Cates.

He was . She was .

Oh, f*ck. Remember Entrapment?

Connery banged Zeta-Jones.
He was, like, a thousand.

Why was Soldier Boy here?

Came to pick up his super suit.

I held on to it.

You know me. I'm sentimental.

Although I did actually
wear the suit once

for Kelly LeBrock.

By the way, her, too.

You don't know Kelly
LeBrock? f*cking google it.

Big "L." Big "B."

The other letters, small.

So, did he tell you
where he was going next?

Or that he was gonna blow up
a f*cking restaurant on th?

Who the hell knows why
talent does what they do?

That's why they're talent.

He also came for his
girlfriend's address.

He's headed there.

Crimson Countess?

Why?

I didn't get the feeling it
was gonna be a happy reunion,

but I don't know.

Maybe you can go there and find out.

But mostly, get the f*ck out of here.

[CAMERON] Today's att*ck

- on th Street.
- [HOMELANDER] Yeah.

How great a thr*at is America facing?

Oh, no thr*at whatsoever.

No. Truly, i-it is a stretch

to even call this guy a
supervillain. [CHUCKLES]

The Stormchasers,
Stormfront's supporters,

said on chan that this whole thing

was an attempt by Stan
Edgar to discredit you.

[CHUCKLES] Right. Yeah.

Well, look, I-I don't know
anything about Stormchasers,

but, uh, look, I can understand
why they might think that.

The minute we free
Vought of the corruption

and the lies, and this happens.

I mean, the timing is,
uh, very convenient.

Smells like a false flag.

- Well, you said it, pal, not me.
- [CHUCKLES]

[CAMERON] And what do you say
to the mayor who wants to, uh,

impose a citywide curfew
until the t*rrorists

- are captured?
- Oh, please.

America is safe.

Okay? It is safe.

So, everyone, get out there.

Go to your restaurants

and, uh, go to your movie theaters

and-and live your lives.

Have fun, okay?

[HOMELANDER] You think it
really was Edgar and the mayor?

Maybe Jake Tapper.

Trying to f*ck with me?

Make me look ridiculous?

[TV TURNS OFF]

Or maybe

you're just a paranoid,
malignant narcissist

who thinks everything is about you.

Mm, 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?

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.

[CHUCKLES] Oh, John.

John, come on.

You're talking crazy.

- I'm not cooking anything up with Butcher.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Let's talk about this.

Don't you dare f*cking "John" me.

You're not gonna weasel
your way out of this.

You know the real tragic
thing in all of this?

It's 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?

From the start,

I hated you.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

But what's more,

I f*cking pitied you.

You're completely and utterly alone.

You're getting old and bitter.

You pity me?

I mean, that's actually kind of funny,

don't you think? [CHUCKLES]

Hey.

You want to know something
else that's funny?

- [MAEVE SCREAMS]
- Frenchie's not answering.

Kimiko's out of commission.

Soldier Boy's already got a head start.

We gonna need some backup.

And here it is.

[BAG UNZIPS]

[MOTHER'S MILK] I thought you were out.

Nipped into the Duane Reade,
got some more, didn't I?

Look, I know how you
feel about this shite,

but it's Soldier Boy.

So why don't you come down

off your high horse just this once, eh?

- My dad wouldn't want it.
- Your dad,

who d*ed of a dodgy ticker,

suing Vought and never getting nowhere?

Yeah. Him.

You know, he also said,

if you don't draw the line somewhere,

how the hell are you
gonna know where you stand?

They ain't drawing no line.

Which is why we got to.

I'm in. Give me some.

Kid, didn't you just hear
a g*dd*mn word I said?

I mean, who do you guys
want? Do you guys w-want

gawky, weak,
freaking-the-f*ck-out Hughie

or do you want strong, confident,

handling-his-sh*t Hughie?

With it, I can actually help.

Without it, I'm...

I-I'm probably dead.

Lad can think for himself.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[SIGHS]

- I am so sorry, Ms. Barrett.
- What the f*ck

- did he do to Maeve?
- That's all right, Gregory.

Maeve is at the Global
Wellness Retreat in Malibu.

Asking for help, it's just not easy.

And she is just truly
Brave Maeve, isn't she?

Mm-hmm. I want to
speak to her right now.

Unfortunately, the facility
requires a digital detox

for their patients, but I'm
sure you can leave her a message.

g*dd*mn it, Ashley!

- We can't let him do this.
- Who are you referring to?

He is out of control.

Yesterday, it was Supersonic.

Today, it's Maeve.

Tomorrow, maybe it's me or you.

Look, I know you're scared.

I am, too, but this CEO job,
it can't be worth your life.

[EXHALES] Oh.

[WHISPERS] I don't have powers.

You don't need powers.

You just need to be human.

Please. Where is Maeve?

Is she even alive?

Look, Starlight, sh...

[RAGGED EXHALE]

I am CEO.

Next time, make a f*cking appointment.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- [DOCTOR] There's been severe damage

to the thoracic and lumbar
regions of the spine.

Lacerations to vertebrae
T , T , T and T .

The damage is so severe that
Nathan will never walk again...

[BLUE HAWK] ... individual
reached for his g*n

and I had to act quickly
to save innocent lives.

You know, to think that my
donation to this community

would be met with such intolerance,

you know, by a few Antifa
thugs and bad apples,

just breaks my heart.

Just breaks it.

- [♪ JUDY GARLAND: "I GOT RHYTHM"]
- ♪ Song ♪

♪ Why shouldn't we sing ♪

♪ Along? ♪

♪ I'm chipper all the day ♪

- [PHONE VIBRATING]
- ♪ Happy with my lot ♪

♪ How do I get that way? ♪

♪ Look at what I've got ♪

♪ I got rhythm ♪

- ♪ I got music ♪
- I...

♪ I got my man, who could
ask for anything more? ♪

♪ I got daisies in green pastures ♪

♪ I got my man, who could
ask for anything more? ♪

[SONG STOPS]

I...

I got... rhythm.

[GASPS]

[MURMURS]

Doctor, come!

She speaks!

[BAND PLAYING "I GOT RHYTHM"]

♪ I got rhythm ♪

♪ I got music ♪

♪ I got my man, who could
ask for anything more? ♪

♪ I got daisies in green pastures ♪

♪ I got my man, who could
ask for anything more? ♪

♪ Old Man Trouble, I don't mind him ♪

♪ You won't find him round my door ♪

♪ I got starlight, I got sweet dreams ♪

♪ I got my man, who could
ask for anything more? ♪

♪ Who could ask for anything more? ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Old Man Trouble ♪

♪ I don't mind him ♪

♪ You won't find him round my door ♪

♪ I got starlight, I got sweet dreams ♪

- ♪ I got mon cœur ♪
- ♪ Who could ask for anything more? ♪

♪ Who could ask for anything more? ♪

[JUDY GARLAND OVER TV]
♪ Who could ask for anything more? ♪

♪ Old Man Trouble ♪

♪ I don't mind him ♪

♪ You won't find him round my door ♪

♪ I got starlight, I
got sweet dreams... ♪

Oh, I think I need
café. You want café?

Well, yeah, I'll be right back.

♪ ♪

[MACHINE BEEPING]

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

[GRUNTS]

[CRIMSON COUNTESS] I've
already got commitments

from the orangutan
from Dunston Checks In

and the capuchin from Outbreak.

[SIR-CUMS-A-LOT ]
Technically, those aren't chimps.

No, but they're famous.

They're gonna be real draws.

I worked with that Outbreak monkey once.

- He's very good.
- I'm telling you,

there is no other place in the world

a monkey will want
to be than right here.

Uh, I love our little chats, you know,

but, you know, meter's running, so...

Hold your horses, Sir-Cums-A-Lot .

Yes, Countess.

- Did you get them?
- Sure did.

Wow.

Those are much bigger than
I thought they would be.

[LAUGHS]

Let's warm these bad boys up,

and I'll get out of this itchy suit.

Get ready.

[CRIMSON COUNTESS OVER SPEAKERS]
♪ In the heart of the jungle ♪

- ♪ Just trying to stay alive... ♪
- [MOANS SOFTLY]

God, it hits the spot every time.

♪ Just bananas... ♪

- f*cking sexy.
- [RHYTHMIC SLOSHING]

- You like that?
- Yeah.

♪ Now they play little cymbals... ♪

You want it?

- I'm ready.
- [EXHALES]

♪ It's time to take a stand
for what evolved into man... ♪

Get that spandex down and start
popping those things in there.

- Yeah.
- [CLATTERING]

What the f*ck?!

- Oh, no!
- [CRIMSON COUNTESS SHOUTS]

- What the hell?!
- [RHYTHMIC SLOSHING CONTINUES]

[GRUNTS] Where'd you go? I'm almost...

[SHOUTING]

[GROANING, SIGHING]

Hello?

Probably not the dom-sub rumble
you fancied tonight, yeah?

What the f*ck's up with him?

We ain't here to hurt you.

But I am gonna tell you something,

and I don't want you to lose your sh*t.

What?

Your lover boy's on his way here.

Soldier Boy.

He's alive.

How'd he escape from Russia?

Well, that's interesting.

You knew the Ivans
had him all this time?

I got to get out of here. Okay.

Untie me right now.

He's gonna k*ll me.

He's gonna k*ll all of us.

[MOTHER'S MILK] Why? What'd you do?

f*ck you, all right?

Let me go or we're all dead.

[BUTCHER] Trouble in paradise, eh?

Don't you worry, darling.

We got to big fish to
hook, and you're the worm.

Is this a joke? Is this a joke?

Come on. Let me go.

Come on, guys. Let me go.

- [DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
- Come on, guys.

Thanks. Here.

We're sure halothane will work?

Looked that way in the Reds' video.

We knock him out, we keep him out,

then we figure out what to do with him.

[STARLIGHT] What the hell's going on?

Annie, what are you doing here?

M.M. called me.

- Did he?
- [MOTHER'S MILK] Just told her

we might need some backup.

That's all.

Look, y-you shouldn't be here,
all right? It's dangerous.

It's too dangerous for me?

- What about you?
- [BUTCHER] Oi, you lot,

take your little tiff somewhere else.

We're on the job here.

Okay, uh, over here. Huh?

I just don't understand why
you wouldn't call me for this.

Okay, okay. Look, you...
you're probably gonna be mad...

... but I promised no
more secrets, right? So...

Oh, my God.

Hughie.

Hold... One second.

- You found more V?
- It's temporary V.

It's temporary, okay? I'm not an idiot.

I-I know it's sketchy.
I've seen Trainspotting.

But i-it's Soldier Boy.

I mean, what else was I supposed to do?

- You were supposed to call me.
- Yeah, and what if you got hurt

trying to save me, Annie?

I would never forgive myself.
But now you don't have to, okay?

I can handle myself. I can
finally save you for once.

I don't need you to save me, Hughie.

I need you.

[GEIGER COUNTER CLICKING SLOWLY]

[CLICKING CONTINUES FASTER]

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

What'd you do?

I know you're never gonna forgive me,

but you left me no choice.

Why?

I can't draw no line, M.

Not with what I got to do.

- [GRUNTS]
- I'm sorry.

[GRUNTING]

You'll be all right in the morning.

♪ ♪

You're that assh*le from the lab.

That's right.

I'm the arsehole that let you out.

Russian Porta-Loos, eh?

You want the Countess's
head on a spike, don't you?

Well, she's in there,
yours for the taking.

Consider it a gesture of good faith.

Good faith for what?

I was thinking that you and I

could come to a little arrangement.

What you lot call...

a team up.

[CRIMSON COUNTESS] Ben?

Is that really you?

You look so young.

You don't.

I'm so, so sorry.

It wasn't my idea.

God, you got to believe me. I-I...

How much did the Russians pay you?

Hmm?

They didn't.

What?

They didn't pay you anything?

I loved you.

All those years...

... that they b*rned me

and that they pumped me full of poison,

I held onto the hope
that you would come.

That you would save me.

Because I still loved you.

I didn't love you.

I hated you.

We all did.

[WHOOSHING GROWING LOUDER]

[HUGHIE] Annie, please, just go.

Let us handle this.
You can yell at me...

[expl*si*n]

What happened? Is he hurt?

Keep an eye on him.

He's had four or five mgs of Rohypnol.

You f*cking roofied him?!

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

What are you doing?

[HUGHIE] Annie, listen.

We wanted a w*apon.

Soldier Boy's our w*apon.

He's how we k*ll
Homelander. And Neuman maybe.

If anyone's strong enough, he is.

Y-You knew Butcher was gonna do this?

M.M. never would've
gone for it, and you...

- Look, you weren't supposed to be here.
- [EXHALES] Oh.

So...

no more secrets, huh?

Hughie...

you're teaming up with a m*rder*r.

This is the only way that I
can save you from Homelander.

I'm doing this for you.

Whatever it takes, remember?

Come with us.

You and me against the world.

[BUTCHER] Hughie.

Please don't go.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪