GUEST: NY Supreme Court Justice Mark C. Dillon

At Camp Lehigh, Dr. Abraham Erskine stands firm beside Colonel Phillips, his voice steady. “He is the clear choice.”

Phillips scoffs, his face creased with disbelief. “When you brought a 90-pound asthmatic onto my army base, I let it slide. I thought, ‘What the hell.’ Maybe he’d be useful to you, like a gerbil. I never thought you’d pick him.”

Peggy Carter’s sharp command cuts through the air as recruits switch to jumping jacks. “Up.”

Phillips gestures at Steve Rogers, struggling but persistent. “You stick a needle in that kid’s arm, it’s gonna go right through him.”

“Come on, girls,” Peggy snaps, pacing before the recruits.

Phillips shakes his head. “Look at that. He’s making me cry.”

Erskine’s gaze remains fixed. “I am looking for qualities beyond the physical.”

Phillips’ voice rises, exasperated. “Do you know how long it took to set up this project? All the groveling I had to do in front of Senator What’s-His-Name’s committees?”

“Brandt. Yes, I know,” Erskine replies calmly. “I am well aware of your efforts.”

“Then throw me a bone,” Phillips presses. “Hodge passed every test we gave him. He’s big, he’s fast. He obeys orders—he’s a soldier!”

“He is a bully,” Erskine counters, unflinching.

Phillips grabs a grenade, yanking the pin. “You don’t win wars with niceness, Doctor. You win wars with guts.” He hurls it toward the recruits. “Grenade!”

The men scatter in panic, but Steve dives onto the explosive, curling over it. “Get away! Get back!” he shouts, his voice raw with urgency.