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The Boys – S03E07 – Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed | Transcript

Everything's changing as never expected for the Homelander. Soldier Boy is searching for the other old payback members to slay. Black Noir recollects what has really got him to the current situation.
The Boys - S03E07 - Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed

Original release date: July 1, 2022

In flashbacks, Noir is revealed to have traded Soldier Boy to the Russians on Edgar’s behalf with the help of Payback, who resented Soldier Boy for his abusive behavior. In the present, A-Train is successfully revived after receiving a heart transplant from Blue Hawk. Butcher, Hughie, and Soldier Boy seek Payback member Mindstorm, who subdues Butcher, trapping him in memories of his abusive father and the suicide of his little brother Lenny. Hughie convinces Mindstorm to free Butcher in exchange for his freedom, but Soldier Boy kills Mindstorm shortly afterward. While retrieving Compound V for Kimiko at Vought, Annie discovers that V24 will kill users after three to five doses. Homelander confronts Annie regarding her livestream, but Annie records him confessing to his crimes and posts it on social media. Frenchie injects Compound V into Kimiko, healing her injuries and restoring her powers. Annie informs Butcher of V24’s risks, but Butcher chooses to withhold this information from Hughie. Soldier Boy calls Homelander and reveals that he is his biological father.

* * *

[news announcer] A VNN special report. A nation betrayed.

It’s been five days, and still nothing but lies from Vought. Soldier Boy is still out there and Maeve is still missing.

Ms. Barrett, your reaction?

Once again, Maeve is in rehab. And the Soldier Boy thing really takes the cake. He died in ’84. She is trying to incite a panic.

I wonder if Starlight’s actions could be considered treason.

Me, too.

So, is Starlight just hysterical? Another woman scorned, after Homelander jilted her?

Or is she trying to change the subject?

From what?

Her ties with this woman, a known terrorist with the Shining Light Liberation Army, a notorious human trafficking ring. Connect the dots, Cameron.

♪ If you want to be happy ♪

♪ Living a king’s life ♪

♪ Never make a pretty woman your wife ♪

♪ Now, all you have to do is just what I say ♪

♪ And then you may be jolly, merry and gay ♪

♪ Therefore, from a logical point of view…

What are you watching?

Old mistakes.

♪ Uglier than you ♪

♪ From a logical…

I actually produced this piece of shit.

[clicks]

Between you and me, Soldier Boy did to singing what pantyhose did to finger-fucking.

Yeah.

What’d he want?

Um, well… he wanted me to tell you that you’re out of Astroglide.

Jesus Christ. You know, I would say you fucks are overstaying your welcome, but what welcome?

I thought you and Soldier Boy were friends.

Why, ’cause he forced his way into my home?

Let me tell you something, kid.

I don’t make friends with talent.

They’re all the same.

I mean, they’re not all the same.

Eh.

Come on, Soldier Boy was a hero, right?

I mean, he stormed Normandy.

Yeah, he did. Two weeks after D-Day.

For the photo op.

So he didn’t see any action?

Not in Germany.

Sprayed a fire hose in Birmingham.

Some target practice at Kent State.

There were rumors about Dealey Plaza.

Wait, what?

Yeah, and they call ’em the “good old days.”

The thing is, to be American

means knowing you’re the hero.

So what do we do? We sweep all our filthy shit under the rug

and we tell ourselves a myth like Soldier Boy.

And I get stinking rich selling it.

[door opens]

[exhales]

There you are.

Oh, fuck me. Is he still at it?

[♪ REO Speed wagon: “Can’t Fight This Feeling”]

♪ And I can’t fight ♪

♪ This feeling anymore…

[woman moans]

[gasps]

Ladies. You got a minute?

Oh, good. Lube? Huh?

Come on, I can’t go in raw.

Please don’t make eye contact.

Hughie, listen, these women, they’re like fine wine.

Okay, the older they get, the more delicious, but the drier.

Mary, Lucille, come on, chop-chop.

Break time’s over. That shag’s not gonna vacuum itself.

Come on.

Okay.

What’s the problem?

[Legend] What’s the problem? First of all,

I can never fire those girls now, thank you.

And second of all, this bed has seen two Jaclyns.

You know that? Smith and Bisset.

Y-You’re treating it like a Reno cat house.

Jesus.

[Butcher] The problem

is you gave me 11 of Mindstorm’s last-knowns.

So far, I’ve had a look at three and found fuck all.

I-I’m chasing me fucking tail here, mate.

Sounds like that’s three down and eight to go.

Yeah, and that’s gonna take weeks, and weeks I don’t got.

Egyptian cotton sheets and now I got to fucking burn ’em.

The deal was, we get the rest of my team,

then we get Homelander.

And what I’m saying

is I could use an hand figuring it out.

I told you. Mindstorm’s a paranoid fuck.

But, hell, if you could hear everybody’s shitty thoughts,

you’d be, too.

Look, he bought up all these run-down cabins

all over the place.

He’s Howard Hughes without the piss jars.

He’s bat shit crazy.

Mindstorm’s not crazy. He’s bipolar.

He’s bipolar?

Yeah.

Does he take meds for it?

I believe so. At least he did.

Girls, it smells like sex and Ben gay in here.

Lithium prescriptions aren’t that common.

I mean, I doubt he’s making it.

Maybe… i-if we look at the cabins and we…

And then check the local pharmacies.

Yeah.

See who’s handing out lithium.

Nice one, Hughie.

♪ Closer than I…

We’re gonna need more reefer.

♪ Thought I might ♪

♪ And I can’t fight this feeling anymore ♪♪

Hey. How you doing?

[door whirring]

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?

[inhales sharply] Butcher and Soldier Boy.

Where are they?

Wait, is…

is that concealer?

Do you have a bruise?

Yeah… [sighs]

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.

Yeah.

That’s the difference between you and me.

You need to be a Supe.

I can’t wait till it’s over.

[sighs]

[quietly] Maeve…

[sighs]

Why are you letting me live?

[grumbles]

Maeve.

You know,

back when things were, uh,

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.

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.

[sighs]

But I am gonna harvest your eggs.

[stammers] 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.

This is still a top-three day in my life.

Because today is the day I saw you scared.

[laughs]

[door whirring]

[door closes]

[Mother’s Milk] The hell happened to you two?

[Frenchie] It is but trivial.

[Mother’s Milk] Trivial, my ass.

Y’all look like y’all got hit by a truck.

[Starlight] Oh, my God, you shouldn’t even be on your feet.

Come here, come here.

Come on.

Yeah, um, we’re just gonna go lie down for a minute.

Okay? Come on.

She insisted when you called, right?

Butcher is everyone’s problem now.

We’re here to help.

Oh.

[clattering]

Frenchie, are you high?

Well, that goes without saying.

Okay, satellite view has Mindstorm’s place

about two miles in, due west.

Two miles?

Fuck me.

We could’ve parked closer.

So, do you mind telling us what we’re walking into here?

All you got to know is,

if he tries to make eye contact with you, close your eyes.

Or what?

Just don’t make eye contact with him,

then you got nothing to worry about.

Hey, why do you keep buying him, like, Hefty bags full of weed?

[Butcher] Better high than mental.

Takes the edge off his PTSD.

Wait, he has PTSD?

Yeah, I saw it at Herogasm.

It’s why he keeps blowing the fuck out of everything.

We got to keep that cunt dozy as a lamb.

So, just to recap, uh, he’s radioactive,

highly traumatized and heavily self-medicated.

Feels good, feels right.

[scoffs] Tell me about it.

I mean, what sad bastard self-medicates like that, eh?

[exhales]

[filtered breathing]

[braying]

[neighing]

[birds chirping]

Earving,

sooner or later, you’re gonna have to t-t-talk about it.

Remember when you were nine,

a-and you hid in that ball pit right over there,

after you p-p-p-paralyzed Lewis Frankel?

This is just like that.

[sighs] You can’t hide from Soldier Boy.

We’re your best pals, aren’t we?

We got you through that erection in the seventh grade,

that Hard Rock Cafe m-m-massacre in Lagos.

And by golly, we’ll get you through this, too.

You got that…

That’s right.

You’re our friend.

What’d you say?

What?

What?

Nothing, mate. No one said nothing.

[sighs]

Hey, hey. Uh, your… your brain’s leaking.

Oh, fuck.

[all grunting]

[crows cawing]

Oh, shit.

[whistling]

What the fuck is this shite?

Mum.

Oi, Mum.

Fucking Mind storm.

Knock it off, you little fucking freak.

Come on,

[Hughie] Butcher, wake up.

Wake up!

[Soldier Boy] Fucking freak

slipped away. He’s gonna pick us off…

Butcher, wake up.

…one by one.

Come on, wake up, Butcher. Butcher!

Wake up.

No, you’re wasting your time, he’s gone.

What did Mind storm do?

Well, if it’s his usual MO,

trapped him in an endless nightmare

till he dies of terminal dehydration.

No, there’s got to be a way we can wake him up.

Mind storm put him into this. He can snap him out.

Okay, great, great. Uh…

But he’s about to be dead.

Wait, wait, just hang on. If we, if we, if we grab Mind storm,

we make him help Butcher…

No way.

And then, and then you can kill him,

Then you can go to town on him, man. I don’t give a fuck.

Hey.

If you’re gonna act hysterical, I’m gonna slap you

like I’m Connery.

Now, unless you want to end up like your friend there,

it ain’t worth the risk.

Look, chin up, okay? Deal’s a deal.

You help me finish this, I’ll kill Homelander.

Butcher would have given up his life for that in a heartbeat.

So, we doing this or not?

[groans]

Leave it. We got to move fast.

Ah.

Do you hear that?

Uh… [clears throat] You might want to lay off the weed, huh?

And you might want to gargle my ball sack.

[soft clicking]

[kettle whistling]

[young Butcher] Where is she?

[laughs]

[Sam in distance] Lenny! Where the fuck’s Lenny?

Shit. Come on.

[Sam] Left his bloody bike in the garden again.

Lenny! Lenny?

Billy?

Leave off ’em, you cunt.

[coughs]

Gotcha.

Come here. Come here.

Come here.

[panting]

Where is he?

Who?

[Sam] Don’t fuck me about.

Where is he?

[belt whipping]

[grunting]

[crows cawing]

Fucking snotty little cunt.

Lenny, i-it’s okay. [clears throat]

[coughing]

Jesus. I thought you quit.

The Lord hates quitters.

Is that halothane?

I chucked some at him at Herogasm.

The motherfucker didn’t even flinch.

It will be the greatest sorrow of my life

that I missed Herogasm.

But no, this is not halothane.

You see the texture?

Mm.

[Frenchie] It’s all wrong.

What is it, then?

Well, let’s find out.

Okay. [sniffles]

Okay.

Whoa, whoa, hey, hey.

It’s just, uh, un peu kétamine.

It’s okay. You know, the…

Frenchie, you’re a fucking mess.

Well, that makes two of us.

♪ Will and what will be ♪

Okay, sorry.

♪ She’s a maniac ♪

♪ Maniac on the floor…

Okay.

Should be good.

Is there anything else that you need?

Are you hungry?

♪ She’s a maniac, maniac ♪♪

Oh. Kirkland.

A fine choice. Yeah.

Oh. When you grow up in Iowa, there is not much else to do.

Here.

[exhales]

Mmm.

Oh.

[coughs]

[laughs] Ooh.

When did you have your first drink?

Right now?

Oh, my God, wow.

Okay, um…

Okay, well, cheers to that.

I tried.

He doesn’t want to be saved.

With what?

What about it?

You want me to…

Kimiko,

uh, hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. Hang on.

The…

You know that I can’t go to the Tower.

Even if I could, this would be such a bad idea.

No, but you don’t know if it’ll do that again.

I mean, you could get yourself killed.

I won’t do it. I’m sorry, I can’t.

I can’t.

Still can’t believe this shit is legal.

I locked up so many assholes for it back in the day.

What the fuck did you say?

Uh, uh, literally nothing.

Jesus. How hard?

What?

How hard did Butcher

suck your dick that you miss him that much?

Hmm? His mouth must feel

like a Hoover Deluxe.

God, every single thing

you say is so gross.

He saved me, okay?

More than once.

So I owe him.

Oh, bullshit.

You’re on a mission. You get the job done.

Okay? I stormed Normandy.

I fought the Nazis.

You want to know what I do when I’m sad

or scared?

Fucking nothing.

‘Cause I’m not a fucking pussy.

[Hughie chuckles softly]

You didn’t storm shit.

Your whole Marlboro Man act?

It’s fucking crap.

And I…

Oh…

[Hughie panting]

I warned you.

[♪ Extreme: “More Than Words”]

♪ Saying I love you…

[Cassandra chuckles]

[Deep] Oh, hi.

Babe.

[chuckling]

[Deep] Why don’t you put

that work shit down, get that little butt over here.

What is the occasion?

Well, not a big deal.

Just, uh, found out I’m gonna be on Hannity tonight.

Hannity, babe.

You are?

Yeah. [chuckles]

Uh, when-when do you tape?

We need to prep.

No, no, no, no, babe. Don’t worry.

I got it. I got it. Trust me.

This is a big deal, Kevin.

I know.

Okay? So we need to go over everything.

Okay, hey.

I got us this far, didn’t I?

[chuckles] Y-You got us this far?

Just relax a little bit.

Turn around.

[chuckles softly]

Come here. Just…

Get into the moment. [kisses]

Okay. [moans]

But listen, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.

♪ That you love me…

You know that I love you.

Mm-hmm.

And I know that you love me, too.

[Deep breathes deeply]

But we both know that our marriage…

sex life has gotten a little vanilla.

So maybe…

it’s time we branch out.

[chuckles]

Branch out?

Yeah. Like, um,

you know, uh, introduce a new partner.

Just to spice things up a little bit.

♪ What would you do…

Well, is there anyone you had in mind?

Well,

I’d like to introduce you to someone.

Oh. Okay.

[water splashes]

♪ Then you couldn’t make things new…

Babe, this is Ambrosius.

[squelching]

She’s very pretty, and she thinks you’re super hot.

I, um… [chuckles]

I don’t want to, uh, do that.

Cassandra, I need this.

♪ More than words ♪♪

Oh, fuck.

[squelching]

Ooh.

Hey there.

[moans]

Oh, Jesus Christ.

[exhales] Okay…

Ambrosius says she wants to taste you.

No. No. Okay, I can’t.

I’m out. I’m out. No.

I’m-I’m done. I’m done.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Honey, are you okay? What’s wrong?

You want me to fuck

a-a fucking fish!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey.

One, she’s a mollusk.

[sighs]

Two,

she has feelings.

It’s okay.

[water splashes]

How long have you been fucking it

behind my back?

Okay, it’s not an “it.” It’s a “her.”

Get your pronouns right.

I have given up a year of my life for you.

I gave up my tenure at Vassar.

I-I propped you up.

I’ve steered your comeback. And this?

This is how you repay me?

You propped me up, huh? Right, you wrote a few lines.

I’m the one who had to fucking sell it.

Okay.

Okay, let’s, um…

Let’s see how well you do without me.

[laughs] I’ll be great without you.

Without you over-noting me all the fucking time.

You’re an idiot, Kevin.

Then why did Dave Eggers say I have a formidable intellect,

huh?

Formidable intellect!

[water splashes]

God. No, she’s…

She just needs time to cool off, babe.

Come on, Earving. Me and the others have

something to sh-sh-sh-show you.

C-C-C-Come on!

Something you pushed d-d-d-deep, deep down.

♪ ♪

[grunting]

[blows landing]

Lighten up, Gunpowder. I’m just playing ar…

You fucking pussy.

You’re late. We started at 3:00.

I really wanted that movie.

The hell are you talking about?

I just got off the phone

with my manager.

It’s a no-go on Beverly Hills Cop.

[Eagle Soldier Boy] Oh. That.

[Black Sheep Noir] I was…

I was born to play Axel Foley.

Why would you say all those horrible things about me

to Don Simpson?

Jesus, Ben, really?

Zip it, cooze.

The guy’s supposed to be funny.

You’re not funny.

Well, I could’ve been.

You’re not good enough.

Now shut your cock hole and get to work.

But-but wait.

[grunting]

Stop it!

Take it easy.

Whoa!

Stop it. You’re hurting him.

Take it easy. Calm down.

For God’s sake, dude.

Take it easy. Take it easy.

Guys. Guys, leave him…

leave him alone.

Don’t… Get off.

Get him off him.

That’s enough.

Get off of him.

That’s enough!

Hey, now.

Come on.

That’s enough!

Which one of you wants next?

Huh?

[Black Sheep Noir panting]

Thought so.

You think you can be me?

You’re not a movie star.

You’re not shit.

I see you getting out of line again,

trying to move on up,

I will put you in the fucking ground. Understood?

[young Butcher] Please don’t tell my old man.

[headmaster] You were selling marijuana, William.

You know I have to tell him.

And we both know your dad.

You’re a smart boy.

I’d just hate for you to…

turn out like him.

[blows landing]

[grunting]

Fucking snotty little cunt!

[grunting]

Butch, what are you doing? Stop!

[young Butcher] Fuck, Lenny.

I-I didn’t mean to. I…

I-I’m-I’m sorry. I-I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

[dishes clattering]

[indistinct chatter]

[birds squawking]

The world’s an ocean of shite, lads.

You either sink…

…or you swim.

Today,

Billy, my boy,

you swam.

Some cunts need a slap.

[grunts]

Don’t they?

Here.

[kicks table]

Oi. You ought to take a page

out of his book.

You don’t want to be

a fucking little poof all your life.

Don’t you listen to him.

Don’t you listen to that worthless lump of shite.

Not a bleeding word.

[nun] Maybe we should walk back to that town we saw.

[Father Wallace] It was, like, five miles away.

It’ll take forever to get there.

We’re never gonna get to the retreat now.

Oh! Oh, you startled me.

Son, are-are you a superhero?

Yes, Father. You folks need some help?

Yes. Yes, please.

[Soldier Boy] Okay, well,

it’s not safe. There’s a fugitive in the area.

You should get out of here before you get hurt.

Uh, well, we can’t.

I don’t suppose either of you know engines?

I’ll have a look.

[Father Wallace] Oh,

I’d appreciate that very much.

Uh, so, where you guys headed?

We’re just on our way to a Samaritan’s Embrace retreat

over there in Danville.

Oh! Oh, my God!

[nun screams]

Oh, my God! What the fuck?!

This is Mindstorm’s MO. He brainwashed them.

That priest was gonna shank us. And she will, too.

Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[crying] Father Wallace, no!

Hey, hey, she doesn’t look brainwashed to me.

Take my word for it. Everyone’s coming for us.

Everyone, every day.

[Hughie] Whoa, no!

No, no! You have PTSD!

[nun praying indistinctly]

You have PTSD,

and you are super fucking stoned.

All right? Maybe this isn’t

what you think it is.

[Soldier Boy] Move.

Move!

She’s a human being.

A nun. And if there’s one thing I know…

Die, you fucking cocksuckers!

[Hughie screaming]

Oh, my God! Do something!

If you stay still, I…

Fuck you! [screams] Get her off me!

Oh! Fuck me!

No! Hard pass on this Exorcist shit!

[Hughie panting]

What’s black and white and red all over?

Okay, first off,

I don’t have shell shock. Fuck you.

Second, this is what I’m talking about.

This is being a soldier.

Come on.

[Hughie whimpers]

[Starlight] It’s been five days, and still nothing

but lies from Vought.

Soldier Boy is still out there,

and Maeve is still missing. And you know what?

More people are just going to die

until they admit to what’s going on.

[Homelander] So, I guess you’ve all heard about Starlight’s

“alleged” involvement…

[cheering and applause]

…with a human trafficking ring?

[booing]

Mm-hmm. Yeah.

And I suppose it’s “pure coincidence”

that, uh, she opened Starlight House for runaway teens.

Huh? Come on,

we can put two and two together, can’t we?

[applause]

What the holy fuck does he think he’s doing?

[Homelander] Those poor kids.

They pass through her doors, they disappear.

They are never seen again. It’s horrific.

But we got to face the truth,

people, no matter how ugly it is.

Starlight is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Plain and simple. She fooled me.

[cheering and applause]

She fooled you. She fooled all of us.

[booing]

Right? Now she wants to take me down. Why?

Because with me out of the way,

there is no one who can stop her.

No one, and she knows it.

[cheering and applause]

Exactly.

Do you think the media, our buddies over here…

[booing]

Do you think the media is gonna report on that?

No, no, no, no, no. Of course not.

[exhales]

Ah. Tell you what. You guys,

love you!

[cheering and applause]

[Homelander] All right!

And vote for Bob Singer. He’s, uh, he’s… great.

Let’s hear it for Homelander.

[cheering and applause in distance]

[cock crowing]

[breathing heavily]

[moos]

♪ Ah ♪

[♪ Tommy James and the Shondells: “Crimson and Clover”]

♪ Now I don’t hardly know her ♪

♪ Crimson and clover ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ I wish she’d come walking over ♪

♪ Now I’ve been waiting to show ♪♪

Skip breakfast, did we?

[Homelander exhales]

No.

No. Uh…

She’s in pain, so I tried to help.

Look, I’m gonna

tell you the truth here because no one else will.

Pull your shit together,

admit it’s Soldier Boy

and take control of the situation.

[chuckles]

You think, uh, I’m not in control?

[bucket clangs]

No. I think you just spent the last 20 minutes

ranting about Starlight instead of talking up

the next president of the United States.

You’re Homelander.

Button your shit up. You’re flailing.

This whole fucking scene right here. Jesus Christ.

[gasps]

Oh, I’m sorry.

Go on, please.

You need someone you can trust.

Someone like you?

I got rid of Edgar for you.

That cost me a lot.

I’m proposing a strictly transactional relationship.

You help me out with one small favor,

and I help you.

[grunting softly]

Where did you get this?

[cow moos]

[monitor beeping steadily]

You’re awake. Fantastic.

What happened?

Pretty fucking nuts, man.

I mean, how Soldier Boy attacked you and Blue Hawk at Herogasm.

Yeah.

Soldier Boy

murdered Blue Hawk right in front of you.

You tried to save Blue Hawk, of course,

but…

Must’ve been awful for you.

Yeah.

It seemed

like you two were on your way to a healing place,

which is why you’re gonna love this.

Blue Hawk will live on

because we gave you his heart.

[beeping speeds up]

A super-abled heart.

No more heart disease.

You’re gonna get to run again.

Can I get a “what-what”?

Look, you’ll need insane amounts of rehab,

but luckily, you heal fast,

bro.

That’s…

We’re gonna get you back in your old suit. We’re gonna

get you out there ASAP.

You’re okay talking shit about Starlight?

Yeah, sure. Why?

Oh, amazing.

Oh, my God, I almost forgot.

[chuckles] We are already working on your new movie.

Training A-Train.

Gritty biopic.

You’re a roughneck gangbanger from the South Side

slanging that yayo

when a track coach… We’re thinking Tom Hanks…

Teaches you a more civilized way.

[exhales]

That’s not at all how that happened.

My brother’s my coach.

We’re out to Sir Julian Fellowes to write, so…

No.

I’m not doing that.

You’re gonna love it.

Anyway, I got to bounce. But the A-Train’s back, baby!

[chuckles] Right?

Uh…

That’s your…

[sighs]

Okay.

[door closes]

[newsman] Senator Bishop, will you confirm

you’re about to join the ticket

as the vice presidential candidate?

Well, if I was lucky enough

to be so honored, you’ll be the first to know.

[Singer] And now, if you will all excuse us,

I want to get a deep-fried Twinkie

before my wife finds out.

[reporters clamoring]

[TV turns off]

It’s not a gas.

What?

It’s vapor.

Vapor. Vapor. Just a delivery system.

This.

[Mother’s Milk] You think I can read

this shit?

Novichok.

Russian nerve agent. [chuckles]

Expose you or moi to Novichok, our nervous system shuts down.

Multiple organs fail. Painful death.

But for Soldier Boy, it’s a nap.

All right. So where can we get some?

Another vacation to Russia?

[phone chimes]

Motherfucker.

Huh? Qu’est-ce que c’est?

What got into him?

No clue.

Dance with me?

You’re still hurt.

I’m still high.

We’ll start with a slow one.

♪ Stars shining ♪

[♪ Anne Reburn: “Dream a Little Dream of Me”]

♪ Bright above you ♪

♪ Night breezes ♪

♪ Seem to whisper “I love you” ♪

♪ Birds singing ♪

♪ In a sycamore tree ♪

♪ Dream a little dream of me ♪

♪ Say nighty night ♪

When I was on V

♪ And kiss me ♪

I couldn’t feel your arms.

♪ Just hold me tight ♪

They felt like bendy straws.

♪ And tell me you’ll miss me ♪

♪ While I’m alone ♪

♪ And blue as can be ♪

No offense.

None taken.

♪ Dream a little dream of me ♪

♪ Stars fading ♪

♪ But I linger on, dear ♪

I wanted to feel them for real…

♪ Still craving ♪

♪ Your kiss ♪

One last time.

♪ I’m longing ♪

What do you mean?

♪ To linger till dawn, dear ♪

Annie is getting me Compound V.

♪ Just saying this ♪♪

Why? This is everything you said you did not want.

No. Listen to me. Listen to me.

You can walk away. You and me.

We go together to Marseille.

Your freedom, your humanité.

You have it. Mon coeur, please.

S’il te plaît, don’t do this.

“Annie.

I know I’m asking a lot.

At first I hated the V

because I didn’t choose it.

But now it’s my choice.

I think that matters.

I blamed my powers for my problems.

But it’s not true.

The V isn’t good or bad.

It just depends on the person using it.

I wanted to use my powers to do good.

To fight for the ones I love.

I almost lost Frenchie because I couldn’t fight.

I can’t risk that again.”

[inhales]

When we kissed, it was weird.

[chuckles] Oui.

Not because it felt bad.

It didn’t.

But because we’re more than that.

You are my family now.

I want to protect my family.

♪ ♪

[whispers] Oh, my God.

Jesus Christ.

[Buster] By 1984,

things had gotten so bad.

There was only so much m-m-more

of Soldier Boy’s abuse you could take.

[birds chirping]

So when St-St-Stan Edgar made you an offer in Nicaragua,

you jumped at it.

Vought’s really okay with this?

Sometimes,

old soldiers just fade away.

I don’t want the details.

Just do what you need to do.

Why now?

Vogelbaum has a replacement.

Just a child,

but they’re convinced he’ll be stronger than Soldier Boy.

And he can fly.

Will the others go along?

Everyone but Gunpowder.

Good luck, Earving.

Can you please stop eating those in front of me? I’m allergic.

[guns firing]

[grunting]

What the fuck is this?

Something we should’ve done a long time ago,

you piece of shit.

TNT detonate!

TNT detonate!

[grunting]

[blows landing]

Hold him down.

[Eagle Soldier Boy laughs]

[Eagle Soldier Boy] Fucking piece of shit.

[screaming]

[grunting]

[Pony Tommy] Get him, Mind storm.

Scramble his fucking brains.

No!

No!

[grunts, coughs]

[gasps]

Fuck you, motherfucker.

[Buster] This is some tough stuff, I know.

But when you gave him to the Russians,

you knew Soldier Boy would come back one day.

You need to f-f-f-face him.

No one really knows you.

But we know how s-sensitive

and s-s-scared you are.

Yes.

We’re here for you.

Hey, we got your back.

We’re here for you.

Yes.

[Buster] It’s okay.

Bravery isn’t having no fear.

Bravery is having fear,

but you d-d-d-do it anyway.

[birds] Time to finish what you started.

[vehicle approaching]

[engine turns off]

Get the fuck out the car.

What’s wrong?

You heard me.

[Janine] Daddy?

[Mother’s Milk] Hey, baby.

I need you to go inside the house with your mama.

Daddy needs to talk to Todd alone.

[Janine] Okay.

[Mother’s Milk] All right.

Marvin, what are you doing here?

You’re okay with this?

[Monique] What?

[Mother’s Milk] He took her

to a Homelander rally.

Yeah, so?

Excuse me. You took her where?

It’s fine.

No, it is not fine. You didn’t ask me.

Janine. Come on. Inside, honey.

Everything’s fine. Just relax.

[Mother’s Milk] Don’t tell me to relax, Todd.

Soldier Boy is out there gunning for Homelander.

Do you have any idea

what kind of danger you put my baby girl in?

There’s no danger.

[chuckles] Starlight is making all that up.

Read any news outside the establishment media.

Todd, Todd, they’re lying.

Really? All of them?

All of them.

Homelander is lying to you.

He’s a fucking psychopath.

Worse than Starlight?

She’s trafficking kids the same age as Janine,

as the… as the kids in my classroom.

Homelander is the only one protecting them.

Okay, you guys. That’s enough.

[Mother’s Milk] Homelander

ain’t protecting shit, all right?

He’s feeding you this insane fairy tale,

and you’re too fucking stupid and-and brainwashed

to fucking see it!

[Todd] Hey,

fuck you. [chuckles]

Both of you, stop.

You know what?

If you want to risk your life, fine.

Have at it.

But not with my baby girl.

You’re not her father.

Someone’s got to be.

[grunts]

[Monique] Marvin!

[voice breaking] Oh, my God, Todd.

Todd. Oh, my God, Todd.

Todd. Todd. Open your eyes.

Wake up.

♪ ♪

[Homelander] Here she is.

Did you think I wouldn’t know

the second you walked through the door?

Well, we broke up.

[Homelander chuckles]

It was time to pack my shit and go.

[Homelander chuckles]

[inhales] Okay.

So, here’s what happens now.

You’re gonna march into VNN studios,

and you’re gonna recant everything you said.

It was a tragic cocktail

of heartbreak, Zoloft and despair.

You regret any harm

that your lies have caused Vought or me,

but me in particular.

Mm.

Good.

Okay. But, um,

you want to hear my counter?

I stop Soldier Boy before he murders more people,

and I find Maeve.

If she’s still alive.

Maeve’s just learning her manners.

And you should do the same.

Seriously, before you throw away

everything you’ve worked so hard for.

Hmm?

You know what? I could give a shit.

Really? You sure about that?

Your fame is the only thing protecting you.

Here’s the thing.

I’m not scared of you anymore.

I’m not. I see who you are.

I see how small you are.

I saw it.

[exhales]

I saw it the night that you killed Supersonic.

You know what I remember from that night?

I remember what I told you would happen to Hughie.

You walk,

that’s next.

Good luck with that.

Now that you’ve told

my 190 million followers.

I’m still pretty famous.

[chuckles] Hey, everybody!

[elevator bell chimes]

Oh, that’s me.

I got to go.

Starlight,

uh, wait.

You’re not supposed to record us

when we’re running lines.

[elevator whirring]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[inhales deeply]

[tinkling continues]

[whoosh]

[soft thud]

[grunts]

Shit!

[both grunt]

What the hell?!

[Hughie] Okay, wait! Wait.

Wait.

Why the fuck am I naked?!

[Hughie] I can explain, okay?

You’re with Soldier Boy.

You’re trying to fucking kill me.

No!

No. No, I just saved your life.

Leave me alone!

Please, calm down. I only want to talk, okay? Just talk.

[Mind storm] I’m not bothering anyone. I’m just trying

to get away from all the fucking voices.

I’m just trying to get away from the voices.

I’m just trying to get away from the voices!

Hey, hey. I’m gonna open my eyes, all right?

Please don’t coma me. [breathing shakily]

Okay. Hey. We’re cool.

Very chill. Very cool.

Also, we-we don’t have to do this naked.

All right?

Just-just clothes. They’re clothes.

I’m gonna reach in. I’m gonna grab you some,

okay?

[zipper rasps]

Look. Look, hey, I don’t want to be here.

I-I was pretending to be someone I’m not.

I’m not like Soldier Boy. That guy’s full of shit.

I mean, no one is that tough, and then…

And the people who say they are?

They’re lying.

And I’m… I’m done.

I want to go home.

So, I’m just…

I’m begging you…

to please wake up my friend.

[Mind storm] I’ve been inside his head.

That guy’s a piece of shit.

[Hughie] It doesn’t matter.

I-I don’t want to be someone who leaves people behind.

I want to be someone who saves his family.

And for better or worse…

[voice breaks] …he’s family.

Please wake him up.

No.

No way.

I can get you out of here.

If you just please,

please wake him up,

I’ll teleport you away.

You’ll be safe

away from everyone, including Soldier Boy.

I’ll take you wherever you want to go.

And I will never tell a soul where that is.

Hand to God.

[inhales]

[Butcher] No.

Not here.

So, that’s it then, Billy?

Jesus, Lenny.

Just gonna piss off,

no goodbye or nothing like that?

[young Butcher] I’ll be back Christmas, once I got everything

sorted at the barracks, you can maybe come out and see me.

Billy.

Please don’t leave me alone with him.

I can’t hack it.

You’ll be all right.

No, he won’t.

Fucking listen to him.

[young Butcher] If I stay,

I’m gonna end up killing him,

get sent off to Borstal, or prison,

and what’s that gonna do to Mum, hmm?

Break her bloody heart, is what it’d do.

Besides,

the old cunt hates me the most,

so maybe if I’m gone, he’ll leave you be.

You stupid fucking twat. Don’t you leave him.

I got to go, Len.

Billy, please.

Leave off.

For fuck’s sake, Lenny,

it ain’t my job to look after you.

Don’t be such a fucking poof all your life.

Right.

Please,

don’t go.

You served me up to him on a plate.

No, I…

I didn’t.

I-I wouldn’t.

It’s been six months, and you come home to check on me

not once.

Len, I-I’m sorry, but they…

they just wouldn’t let me out of the barracks.

Oh, Jesus, please.

Please, fuck, no.

He’s beating the living shit

out of me, Billy.

Day in and day out.

I can’t take no more.

Please, Len, don’t.

You fucking knew what he’d do. It’s your fault.

No, don’t say that. That’s… that’s not true.

I… I’m not that bastard.

Come off it, Billy. You always have been.

‘Cause anyone who’s ever loved you,

you end up getting them killed, don’t you?

Me. Becca.

Now, Hughie,

the last person on God’s green earth

trying to stop you from being a monster, and what do you do?

Drag him down to your level.

When he dies,

and he will,

then no one can stop you.

Can they?

[Butcher] No!

Lenny, no!

[gunshot]

[panting]

I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry!

Sorry for what?

Hughie.

It’s okay, Butcher.

It’s okay. You’re all right.

Here. You’re okay.

Hey, kid.

Right, right, yeah.

Okay. Deal’s a deal.

Where we headed? [gasps]

[screaming]

Hey, wait, wait, wait.

[Hughie grunts]

[coughs]

[groans]

Hiya, Dan.

It’s-it’s not what you think. It wasn’t my idea.

Oh, I know. It was Noir’s,

but how does that work, huh? ‘Cause no way

he makes a fucking move without Vought.

They gave him the green light.

Why would they do that?

[panting]

[indistinct conversation]

What? That’s impossible.

[screams]

[shouting]

[gasps]

What’d he say?

[sniffles]

[cell phone buzzing]

Hello?

I need to talk to Hughie. Where is he?

[Butcher over phone] Oh, Starlight.

How delightful.

He’s just popped out for a bit.

Okay, well, he’s not answering his phone.

Bit hard to keep

a phone when you’re teleporting all day, innit, love.

How can I help?

Temp V is gonna kill you both.

Well, it’s gonna have to join the queue.

I was just in the lab. It causes lesions.

Okay? It turns your brain into fucking Swiss cheese,

so, please, be honest with me,

and tell me how many doses have you taken?

Just a couple.

Jesus Christ.

Butcher, three to five doses kills you.

You need to tell Hughie.

Yeah, yeah. I will, I will. I promise.

Okay, but I’m calling back every five minutes until…

[phone beeps disconnected]

Butcher?

Goddamn it.

[door closes]

[footsteps approaching]

[Hughie] Okay.

Hi.

Only thing open was Long John Silver’s,

so… I guess that’s kind of fish and chips, right?

Yeah.

Nice one.

Everything all right?

It’s, uh…

It’s the Temp V.

What about it?

We got to swing by the office and get some more.

And then you, me,

and granny fucker are gonna finish this fucking job.

[chuckles]

Yeah, fuck yeah.

[line ringing]

[automated voice] Your call has been forwarded…

Fuck.

Do you think Monsieur Charcutier will tell Hughie?

Do you?

[typing]

I’m gonna save Hughie,

even if he doesn’t want me to.

Ready, mon coeur?

Oh.

Enjoy them

before they feel like bendy straws again.

[inhales sharply]

Mon coeur?

[pained breathing]

♪ ♪

[soft chuckle]

[Homelander] Obviously, I didn’t realize

the little bitch was recording me, did I?

No, no. A…

Ashley, I don’t fucking care.

[other line beeps]

You’re the spin doctor, go fucking spin it.

What?

[operator over phone] Sir,

I apologize for disturbing you…

[sighs]

…but you have a call.

He says he’s… Well, he’s claiming to be Soldier Boy.

[stammers]

Put him through.

This really you?

[Soldier Boy] The situation’s changed.

I thought we should have a conversation.

I don’t know who the fuck you think you are,

but you got lucky once because you fucking ambushed me.

Fall 1980,

I get called into Vogelbaum’s lab for an experiment,

some shit about genetics.

I still remember the Penthouse I used.

June. Danielle Deneux,

bush like a Pomeranian.

What?

I beat my meat into a cup.

Turns out…

Vogelbaum made a kid.

Born spring 1981.

A boy.

You know what the bitch of it is?

If they’d have just kept me around,

I’d have let you take the spotlight.

What father wouldn’t want that for his son?

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[applause]

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