94 - Video
[Private]
Hey, Doc.
Thanks.
Seriously. Thank you for illustrating exactly how wrong a plan can go.
[Her voice grows faster and her tone more aggressive as she talks.]
Here I thought that whole mess with the mind control was bad. Here I thought this one was way too ambitious, that I was just getting a free favor by helping you out, but - no. You didn't just fail, you turned everybody into freaking zombies for the weekend. Even the people who were originally alive, somehow, that's - that is really special. And if you'd actually been trying to kill everybody I might consider giving you some credit, but even then it still wouldn't have worked! It's like you simultaneously suck at being charitable and being evil.
I --
You know something?
[A breathless laugh.]
I'm done. I am done with going down on every sinking ship with you and Dr. D and every other member of your loser collective at the wheel. I'm done taking orders from you morons like that lets me off the consequences, like I don't already know exactly what they're gonna be. And I - I have always hated taking responsibility, you know? Heck, a few years ago I just turned around and walked away from everything I'd ever known because I - couldn't do that. Wouldn't. Whatever.
[She's silent for a moment, almost brooding, then gets up from her chair and starts pacing.]
What I'm saying is, I am a huge fan of stuff not being my fault. It has been painfully easy to just drift through life on this dumb tide of other people's bad decisions. But you know what? That's over. Even if I did escape - and I could, the blueprints are in my sock drawer, I totally could - but even if I did, what then? Run away so I can latch onto some other [fingerquotes!] 'genius' with a terrifying big-plans-to-common-sense ratio? No. No no no no no. I would rather step up right now than even consider demeaning myself for a paycheck from one more of you idiots.
[She stops and stares at the camera, hands on her hips.]
I have finally realized that I am better than that. Am I making myself clear? I deserve better.
And if I have to go out and get it for myself, fine. It's not like I ever wanted much from life, you know? I don't want to rule the world or whatever. Even when I was a hero: I wanted to be rich, and I wanted a reputation. I wanted people to run when they saw my face. Kind of hard to do that when you're leading the world's lamest heroes - not much easier when you're tagging along after the world's lamest villains. Maybe --
[Another pause, and she sits down, slowing her breakneck pace. She's talking to herself now, not to the communicator.]
Maybe if I -
[She's silent for a few moments, and drums her fingernails against her desk once.]
I need to think about this.
[Abruptly, she leans over and switches off the communicator.]
[Private to Prefect]
Why did you stay here after you graduated? I mean, I get that the Factory isn't necessarily a place you'd wanna go back to, but...you've got buddies who've left, right? Other worlds you could've gone to. Why stay?
[Private to Tim]
I'm not gonna ask if the offer's still open, because...the situation's moved on, and it's not like I need your stamp of approval on whatever interdimensional transport visa this is gonna need.
But I'm asking as a friend. If I went to Gotham - not even necessarily Gotham, but your world - after I was done here, would that be...unmanageably weird for you?
[Private to the Admiral]
If I - who am I kidding? - when I graduate...what happens then? If I want to go someplace else, can you make that happen? Not just send me there but, like, fix my documentation so it says I got a degree from a university that actually exists in that world. I don't really want my first step to have to involve forgery and/or identity theft
...
What if I wanted to visit home before I left? Could you make that happen? I know Prefect did his little BFF tour before he came back here, so I'm guessing it's doable. Maybe that was like a bonus package for new Wardens though.
[Private to Kirk]
I quit quitting. [She doesn't sound drunk, exactly, but there's an uncharacteristic lightness of tone that suggests she's either a few shots down or in a fabulous mood. Yeah, probs the former, however did you guess.] Come have a drink, celebrate your rediscovered lease on life. I'm still working out this whole 'moderation' thing.
Hey, Doc.
Thanks.
Seriously. Thank you for illustrating exactly how wrong a plan can go.
[Her voice grows faster and her tone more aggressive as she talks.]
Here I thought that whole mess with the mind control was bad. Here I thought this one was way too ambitious, that I was just getting a free favor by helping you out, but - no. You didn't just fail, you turned everybody into freaking zombies for the weekend. Even the people who were originally alive, somehow, that's - that is really special. And if you'd actually been trying to kill everybody I might consider giving you some credit, but even then it still wouldn't have worked! It's like you simultaneously suck at being charitable and being evil.
I --
You know something?
[A breathless laugh.]
I'm done. I am done with going down on every sinking ship with you and Dr. D and every other member of your loser collective at the wheel. I'm done taking orders from you morons like that lets me off the consequences, like I don't already know exactly what they're gonna be. And I - I have always hated taking responsibility, you know? Heck, a few years ago I just turned around and walked away from everything I'd ever known because I - couldn't do that. Wouldn't. Whatever.
[She's silent for a moment, almost brooding, then gets up from her chair and starts pacing.]
What I'm saying is, I am a huge fan of stuff not being my fault. It has been painfully easy to just drift through life on this dumb tide of other people's bad decisions. But you know what? That's over. Even if I did escape - and I could, the blueprints are in my sock drawer, I totally could - but even if I did, what then? Run away so I can latch onto some other [fingerquotes!] 'genius' with a terrifying big-plans-to-common-sense ratio? No. No no no no no. I would rather step up right now than even consider demeaning myself for a paycheck from one more of you idiots.
[She stops and stares at the camera, hands on her hips.]
I have finally realized that I am better than that. Am I making myself clear? I deserve better.
And if I have to go out and get it for myself, fine. It's not like I ever wanted much from life, you know? I don't want to rule the world or whatever. Even when I was a hero: I wanted to be rich, and I wanted a reputation. I wanted people to run when they saw my face. Kind of hard to do that when you're leading the world's lamest heroes - not much easier when you're tagging along after the world's lamest villains. Maybe --
[Another pause, and she sits down, slowing her breakneck pace. She's talking to herself now, not to the communicator.]
Maybe if I -
[She's silent for a few moments, and drums her fingernails against her desk once.]
I need to think about this.
[Abruptly, she leans over and switches off the communicator.]
[Private to Prefect]
Why did you stay here after you graduated? I mean, I get that the Factory isn't necessarily a place you'd wanna go back to, but...you've got buddies who've left, right? Other worlds you could've gone to. Why stay?
[Private to Tim]
I'm not gonna ask if the offer's still open, because...the situation's moved on, and it's not like I need your stamp of approval on whatever interdimensional transport visa this is gonna need.
But I'm asking as a friend. If I went to Gotham - not even necessarily Gotham, but your world - after I was done here, would that be...unmanageably weird for you?
[Private to the Admiral]
If I - who am I kidding? - when I graduate...what happens then? If I want to go someplace else, can you make that happen? Not just send me there but, like, fix my documentation so it says I got a degree from a university that actually exists in that world. I don't really want my first step to have to involve forgery and/or identity theft
...
What if I wanted to visit home before I left? Could you make that happen? I know Prefect did his little BFF tour before he came back here, so I'm guessing it's doable. Maybe that was like a bonus package for new Wardens though.
[Private to Kirk]
I quit quitting. [She doesn't sound drunk, exactly, but there's an uncharacteristic lightness of tone that suggests she's either a few shots down or in a fabulous mood. Yeah, probs the former, however did you guess.] Come have a drink, celebrate your rediscovered lease on life. I'm still working out this whole 'moderation' thing.