(PERSON COUGHING)
(GRUNTS SOFTLY)
(PERSON COUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
-So annoying. -WOMAN 1: That’s what I’m talking about.
WOMAN: Oh, my gosh. We missed you so much.
ELLIS: Love you all.
(ENIGMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(POLICE SIRENS BLARING IN THE DISTANCE)
(SNIFFS)
(DOG BARKING FAINTLY)
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
(MUFFLED VOICE ON TV)
(KNOCKING RAPIDLY AT DOOR)
(DOOR UNLOCKING)
Are you in trouble?
(ELLIS CLICKS TONGUE)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV)
All these came for you, and one of ’em has a notice to appear.
So, what’s that all about?
ELLIS: (MUMBLING) I don’t know.
(IN NORMAL VOICE) Smells good in there.
Why are you here?
Ma, I need my birth certificate.
INEZ: Why?
I wanna be a Marine.
(DOOR LATCHING)
(MAN SPEAKS ON TV)
(DOOR UNLATCHING)
(TELEVANGELIST SPEAKING ON TV)
TELEVANGELIST: If you hear me, gimme an amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
TELEVANGELIST: Hallelujah! Glory to God!
(TELEVANGELIST CONTINUING IN BACKGROUND)
Hmm, no. Wait, hold on.
ELLIS: Really, Ma?
INEZ: Sit your ass down, right here.
(SCOFFS) Marines.
Sure.
Okay.
Hmm.
(ELLIS CHUCKLES)
INEZ: No, no, no.
(INEZ SNICKERS)
(ELLIS EXHALES)
ELLIS: You have no idea how hard these past five years have been.
(EXHALING SOFTLY)
Ma.
You always said I would hit a wall.
-(TAPPING) -Hey.
Something has to change.
INEZ: (SCOFFS) What about your lifestyle?
(LIGHTER CLICKS)
I need you to help me.
Please.
I made peace with losing you.
(SCOFFS)
Never mind.
(DRAWER OPENING)
INEZ: This little...
piece of paper.
It’s all I have left of...
the dream I held for you.
If you don’t come back the son I gave birth to,
consider this certificate void.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(SOFT ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(WATER FLOWING)
(NEWSCASTER ON TV SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
...two years since President Bush declared victory in the war in Iraq,
the Al-Qaeda insurgency rages on.
At least 30 people have died following an insurgent suicide bomb attack
at a restaurant in Baghdad.
US military leaders struggle to maintain control
-and are requesting... -Hmm.
I wanted to give you this.
It still works.
You see this shit?
REPORTER: And more than 15 men wounded or injured in this attack,
including several American servicemen
who were on patrol there.
Ellis.
From one old queen
to a young one.
You don’t have to do this.
What am I supposed to do?
You’re...
young.
And beautiful. (CHUCKLES)
You’re so, so smart.
You could be anything you wanna be.
Now, you and I both know that’s not true.
I hope to never see you in here again, kid.
And you better not keep in touch. (SIGHS)
MAN 1: What made you sign up for the war, then?
MAN 2: They went and told a nigger if I signed up
they’d give a motherfucker 30 racks.
MAN 1: They gave you a signing bonus?
Ain’t gettin’ rich cuttin’ a nigger around my way,
but they will killing a couple niggers for old Uncle Sam.
Hey, say, man.
-(VIDEOGAME BEEPING) -You gonna eat that?
Oh, yeah.
MAN 1: Oh, man, what’d you get?
MAN 2: It’s almost like they know a nigger. Got my oatmeal cream puff, boy.
-(MEN CHUCKLING) -(VIDEOGAME BEEPING)
You hungry?
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
You’re not?
(RHYTHMIC ELECTRONIC DRUM BEATS PLAYING)
(OFFICERS YELLING)
Let’s move! Come on! What are you looking at?
(OFFICERS SHOUTING)
-Get off the bus! -ROSALES: Move!
If your shirt’s untucked, you will tuck it in.
-Say, "Aye, sir!" -ROSALES: Move!
(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
Let’s go!
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
(MEN SHOUTING) Sir, yes, sir.
(OFFICER IN THE DISTANCE) Let’s go!
(OFFICERS SHOUTING IN DISTANCE)
These are my boys.
Drill Admiral Rosales and Brooks.
Now...
Look down at your feet on my footprints.
This is called the position of attention.
Heels stuck together at a 45 degree angle, knees slightly bent.
My purpose over the next three months is to see that
the strongest of you move forward to join the fight.
ALL: Aye, sir!
I will break you.
I promise.
I’ll be the nightmare that keeps you from closing your eyes at night.
You will think to yourself, "God, does this motherfucker hate me?"
Yes! I hate recruits.
But I love Marines.
ALL: Aye, sir.
-Recruit Ismail. -ISMAIL: Here, sir!
OFFICER: Recruit Franklin.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
(INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION)
(ENIGMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(ELLIS BREATHING SHAKILY)
RECRUIT: Yes, sir!
Have you been convicted of a felony?
Are you a communist?
Are you a homosexual?
Have you recently smoked mari... Do not look at me, recruit!
Have you ever been in a terrorist cell?
-No, sir! -Well, what about 9/11?
(RECRUITS SNICKERING)
Nobody, and I mean nobody, asked you.
On your fucking face, recruit!
Castro!
-Castro! -CASTRO: Here, sir!
(OFFICERS SHOUTING OUT QUESTIONS)
ROSALES: Ever been convicted of a felony?
Are you a communist?
Sixteen, fifteen,
-fourteen, thirteen, ho... -(CHAINS CLINKING)
I know you, don’t I, boy?
Yes, sir!
You served with this recruit’s father in Desert Storm.
Do you have a problem with me, Label?
I don’t have a problem, sir.
This recruit is very chillaxed, sir.
I don’t give a fuck who your father is, recruit.
-You understand me? -Yes, sir!
-Aye, aye, sir! -Aye, aye, sir!
Ever been convicted of a felony? Are you a communist?
Have you recently smoked marijuana, or ingested other narcotics?
Are you in a terrorist cell?
Are you now, or have you ever been a homosexual?
(YELLS) No, sir!
(SOBBING, MUMBLING)
Say, "I love you, goodbye." Hang up the phone.
OFFICER: You! I’m talking to you!
-Hang up the phone. -OFFICER: You’re next!
Hang up the phone. Give me the phone.
Gimme the... Gimme the phone! Gimme the phone!
It’s bullshit they make us guys choose between our girlfriends
-and our moms, right? -(SCOFFS)
Who you calling?
My girl.
Castro.
Ellis French.
ROSALES: Next.
BROOKS: Turn around and go, get out of here!
(MAN TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
BROOKS: (SHOUTING) How was your boyfriend?
Move! Move!
(INEZ ON VOICEMAIL) You’ve reached Inez French.
I’m not available to take your call right now. But if you leave me a message...
OFFICER: You’re done!
Hey, baby. (SIGHS)
I made it to bootcamp...
safe.
I can’t really talk right now, so...
I’ll write you soon.
OFFICER: Next! Hang up the phone. Next!
I’m... I’m just gonna try one more time. She probably stepped away...
ROSALES: You only get one.
-Come on. -OFFICER: Move out! Move your ass!
Come on, asshole!
(STUTTERING SARCASTICALLY) Make your call!
Get your ass up here.
Next!
When you are finished,
put your belongings in the little brown bag.
Write your last form with black marker and line up!
ALL: Aye, sir! BROOKS: Louder!
ALL: Aye, sir!
Don’t you forget that last necklace. I want that chain!
That’s my chain! Don’t forget about it, boy!
This ain’t your uncle’s barber shop.
This is recruit cuts.
You will stand at attention.
That means feet at a 45.
Feet at a 45. And your face,
-and eyes straight front. -(SNICKERING)
(FAINT ELECTRICAL BUZZING)
Couple of best fucking friends.
A regular Zack Morris and A.C. Slater.
Is that what we fucking got here?
Is my name fucking Principal Belding?
Is that my fucking name?
-No, sir! -What’s so funny, recruit?
You think I’m funny? Is this a fucking clown show to you?
Push ups. Say "Aye, sir!"
-BOTH: Yes, sir! -Go, go, go, go!
On your fucking face! Let’s go! Ten!
One, two, three!
One... All the way up! One, two, three!
(BROOKS CONTINUES COUNTING)
(BUZZING)
(BROOKS CONTINUES COUNTING)
(COUNTING FADES AWAY)
(RECRUITS SINGING MILITARY CADENCE)
♪ Mama, why can’t you see?
♪ What this Corps Has done for me?
♪ What this Corps Has done for me? ♪
(ISMAIL CHANTING SALAH)
(PRAYING IN SPANISH)
(ISMAIL CONTINUES CHANTING)
(CHANTING IN ARABIC)
Count off!
-One! -Two!
-Three! -RECRUIT 4: Four.
RECRUIT 5: Five! RECRUIT 6: Six!
RECRUIT 7: Seven! RECRUIT 8: Eight!
RECRUIT 9: Nine! RECRUIT 10: Ten!
-Eleven. -Twelve!
-Thirteen! -Fourteen!
-Fifteen! -Sixteen!
-Seventeen! -Eighteen!
Nineteen!
Lights out!
(SOFT ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
LAWS: Take interval, to the left!
Even numbers to the right!
Move!
French, you’re not gonna fuck up my goddamn formation.
Third squad, hold steady.
You’re the base of this movement.
Third squad, hold tight. That means you, goddamn it!
Aye, sir!
Are you looking to disappoint my Senior Drill Instructor?
On your face, recruit! Everyone! Now!
Caterpillar. Move, move!
Push up!
(RECRUITS SHOUT INDISTINCTLY)
LAWS: I can’t hear you, you little slithering snakes that sound like sissies.
(GRUNTING)
Come on, French. Push up!
(RECRUITS SHOUTING)
LAWS: You have scoliosis? ELLIS: No, sir.
What’s wrong with your back?
ELLIS: Nothing, sir!
Push up!
(RECRUITS SHOUTING)
(DRONING ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
(INHALING)
(EXHALING SHAKILY)
OFFICER: (OVER PA SYSTEM) Battalion PFT is in 15 minutes.
(PA CLICKS)
Here you go.
ELLIS: Thanks.
Hey.
We got this. (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)
MAN: Oh, I put in everything I got.
It’s driving me crazy, man.
Come on, you got it. 92, 93, 94, 95.
Let’s go, Harvey.
(RECRUITS COUNTING DOWN)
Ninety-nine, hundred!
(RECRUITS COUNTING DOWN)
(TRANCE-LIKE MUSIC PLAYING)
OFFICER: Almost there, recruit!
Almost there!
(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
(WHISPERING) Yes, yes.
No worries, man.
I got you on those pull-up bars.
BROOKS: Ready, recruit?
ROSALES: On up, French.
-RECRUIT: Come on, man. -(GRUNTS)
BROOKS: All right.
Go. Go!
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
LAWS: All right.
Harvey trying to make his grandpappy proud.
Harvey, you gonna let French
steal squad leader from you?
HARVEY: No, sir!
BROOKS: Get up there. LAWS: 16,17...
eighteen, nineteen, twenty!
You’re done, recruit. Perfect score.
Unless French here decides he wants to try to tie your ass.
-(ELLIS GRUNTING) -RECRUIT: Come on, dawg.
(GRUNTS)
ELLIS: Oh! (PANTING)
LAWS: To be a good Marine,
means to know thyself and seek self-improvement.
French.
You pushed yourself past your limits today.
Feel proud, recruit.
Harvey.
You’re our squad leader.
Good riddance.
(SHOWER WATER FLOWING)
ROSALES: Wash your right arm right now.
RECRUITS: Aye, sir! ROSALES: Wash your left arm right now!
RECRUITS: Aye, sir!
ROSALES: You eyeballing me, French?
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
Wash your right butt cheek.
And your left butt cheek.
Slower. (VOICE ECHOING)
Here. Let me.
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
HARVEY: You fucking kidding me, French?
BOLES: This nigga got a hard on.
ELLIS: Shit.
ROSALES: Get out of here, French.
(LAWS SCOFFS)
LAWS: French?
You’re gonna be the last one to leave the head. And that’s a direct order.
ROSALES: Senior Drill Instructor,
I respectfully request a moment.
We can’t just leave him here.
LAWS: Request denied.
Carry on, gentlemen.
(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)
Hold him.
(ELLIS GRUNTING, SCREAMING)
Ahh!
(ELLIS SCREAMING)
-Fuck! -(ELLIS WHIMPERS)
(ELLIS SOBBING)
(WEEPING, MOANING)
(SNIFFLING)
(EXHALES)
(SNIFFS)
Look, French. We just don’t feel comfortable with you around us anymore.
LABEL: French, just move already.
Uh, it’d just be...
It’d be easier for everyone, all right?
Go ahead, nigga.
Figure it out, French.
The longer you take, the less time we have to eat.
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
AT&T!
RECRUITS: Reach out and touch someone!
BROOKS: Recruits, reel it up!
Back the fuck up, before I back you up, boy.
LAWS: French, stand still.
Go on, get the fuck off, I say.
Did anyone tell you to get out of line, recruit?
And did anyone tell you to talk, recruit?
Jesus Christ! You must wanna get smoked.
Let’s go, green, let’s go!
Chow’s over.
Nobody eats!
Everybody file out! We’re going to the pit.
Let’s go! Move! Move!
-Say, "Aye, sir!" -RECRUITS: Aye, sir!
(ALL SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)
ROSALES: Move! Move!
LAWS: This generation...
You can’t stand still to save your life, can you?
He asked you a question, recruit!
Sir!
This recruit can’t stand still
when his fellow recruits are pushing him around, sir.
Halt.
Squat.
-Squat! Say, "Aye, sir!" -Aye, sir!
(FLY BUZZING)
LAWS: Squat there and feed the sand fleas.
ROSALES: Forward march.
Platoon, halt.
(VOICE ECHOING) Feel it, French. Feel it, feel it.
(FLY CONTINUES BUZZING)
Don’t you shake. Did I tell you to shake?
-(FLY BUZZING) -(SLAPS)
LAWS: Eat it, French.
What, sir?
Did you just ask him a question?
-Back in formation, French. -ELLIS: Aye, sir!
BROOKS: This ain’t a lounge show! Move, French, go!
Faster! Faster!
Forward march!
ROSALES: Left, right, left.
Double time march!
BROOKS: Faster!
(SNAPS FINGERS)
LABEL: Aye, sir!
(CLICKS TONGUE) I notice you don’t have much to say.
You can talk, can’t you?
Sir, this recruit hates public speaking, sir.
(LAWS GRUNTS)
Hand me your weapon, recruit.
Aye, sir.
(CLICKING)
All clear, sir.
I don’t like your voice.
Aye, sir!
Received, sir!
(ELECTRONIC MUSIC PLAYING)
ROSALES: Lights! Lights! Lights!
ALL: Aye, sir!
(BROOKS SHOUTING)
(INAUDIBLE)
ROSALES: Push!
Keep those weapons two inches above the deck. Two inches!
ALL: Aye, sir! ROSALES: Two inches above the deck.
ALL: Aye, sir!
ROSALES: Pain is not an excuse for lack of discipline.
In war, there is no time to be hurting.
-ALL: Aye, sir! -Pain...
ALL: Is weakness leaving the body.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
RECRUIT 1: Like that.
RECRUIT 2: Inspection, arms.
RECRUIT 1: Three...
-(CLICKING) -RECRUIT 1: Four...
Then push up. Five...
...six, seven.
-Well done. -Aye, sir.
-BROOKS: Go from the top. -Thank you, sir.
RECRUIT: One, tick-tick two, tick-tick three,
tick-tick four, tick-tick five, tick-tick six...
Wipe that smile off your face.
Warrior face.
(GUN CLICKING)
If you’re lucky enough to see combat,
why is this weapon your best friend, recruit?
Because it’s the thing that protects the marine to my left and to my right, sir.
Inspection, arms.
One, tick-tick two, tick-tick three,
tick-tick four, tick-tick five,
tick-tick six, tick-tick seven.
Thank you, sir.
Zip it, French.
(GUNS CLICKING)
(EXHALES)
(GASPS)
(EXHALES)
BROOKS: Light! Lights! Lights!
ALL: Aye, sir!
LAWS: (VOICE ECHOING) This is the final stage of swim qualification.
You are to save a drowning man.
A drowning man is the most dangerous.
He will fight you, even as you try to save his life.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)
-(MUFFLED MOANING) -(WATER SPLASHING)
(ROSALES GASPING)
LAWS: French.
You better open your fucking eyes, or I’m gonna smoke your ass.
(ROSALES PANTING)
(COUGHING)
ROSALES: Okay.
-(ELLIS COUGHING) -BROOKS: Back up, back up.
Come on.
(HACKING)
(GASPING)
(INHALING RAGGEDLY)
What did you think was going to happen?
Stop whispering, French!
Speak like you got a goddamn dick.
Who do I report this to? Sir?
Just who the fuck you think you’re talking to, recruit?
Look.
You can go and report everyone for...
what you think happened here today.
But the only person you’re gonna hurt...
is yourself.
ROSALES: Gimme your keys.
Come on.
Come on. We’re leaving.
LAWS: Why the fuck aren’t you doing your pushups?
ROSALES: You don’t have to say anything.
You wanna report it, I got your back.
You’ve worked so hard.
You’ve come this close.
(SCOFFS) Next few weeks are gonna breeze on by. I promise.
Few weeks?
In the next few...
In a few weeks, I’ll probably be dead.
(KEYS TURNING)
ROSALES: Boot camp is supposed to break you down.
I’m here to build you up.
It’s the question...
every Marine asks themselves.
"Am I good enough to be here?"
I think you’ve proven that you are.
The real question is...
why do you wanna be here?
I wanna be a Marine.
That’s not good enough, French.
Why did you work this hard if you’re just going to quit?
I’ve been raising myself since I was 16.
Twenty-five now.
My mom...
she won’t even talk to me.
Most of my friends are dead, or in jail.
The streets was gonna kill me no matter what, so...
if I die in this uniform...
I’m a hero.
Somebody.
Not just another...
homeless faggot.
(KEYS TURNING)
(SEAT BELT ALARM BEEPING)
(SEAT BELT CLASP CLICKING)
What would you guys eat right now,
if you could have anything to eat?
Shit, come on, nigga. All of it.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
BOLES: Aw, man, I’d probably get me one of them, uh...
One of the Big Mac heart attacks from McD’s.
Okay.
A bag of them fries from Wendy’s.
The little cherry slushies from, uh...
CASTRO: 7-Eleven. BOLES: 7-Eleven. (CHUCKLES)
7-Eleven. 7-Eleven, fuck, yeah.
-(CHUCKLING) -That’s trash.
ISMAIL: Yo, why would you leave McDonald’s for fries?
That is true. McDonald’s does have the best fries.
Nah, Burger King has the best fries.
BOLES: Boy, you gonna crack us all.
This nigga says Burger King.
Yo, I don’t... I don’t understand.
Are we... Are we gonna pretend like Laws isn’t a fucking psycho?
I don’t understand how we can let him get away with this.
I don’t know how you guys don’t see that.
-I don’t get it. -CASTRO: Look.
Unless you have somewhere better to be, just shut the fuck up.
I got a kid on the way.
So the sooner we wrap this shit up,
the sooner I can take care of my people.
-Shit. -ELLIS: I’m with Boles.
Wendy’s fries are better than McDonald’s.
(ALL CHUCKLING)
-I knew I liked that nigga. -CASTRO: Yeah.
That’s what I’m talkin’ about, boy. Black power! Yeah?
BROOKS: Shut your cockhole screws,
you mothers of American tit-suckers!
Mail call! In line! Now!
Hey, birth defect Kyle.
Eat that shit, Kyle.
-Hey, birth defect Rocky. -HARVEY: Oh, shit.
Oh, I love my brother.
-CASTRO: Yo, what’d you get? -Got some titties.
Oh, shit, I want the one with the ass.
Hold on, nigga, I heard "titties".
(CHUCKLES) Here you go.
This is you.
I need me one of them Asian ones with the little tight pussies.
There’s no ass? You didn’t get any ass?
There you go. There she is.
Aw, they got the bitches suckin’ on each other’s titties and shit.
-(CHUCKLING) -These are wild.
Anything for me?
One something for you. One something special.
Let me see.
Oh. (CHUCKLES) That’s right.
You got duty, French.
Get your cover, and report.
Aye, sir.
(WATER DRIPPING)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
(MAN PANTING, MOANING)
(MAN MOANING IN PLEASURE)
Ahh! The fuck!
-(GRUNTING) -(GASPS)
(GASPING)
-Fuck. -(MAN GRUNTS)
(GROANING)
MAN: ♪ Where I come from
ALL: ♪ It’s cornbread and chicken
♪ Where I come from A lot of front porch sittin’
♪ Where I come from Tryna make a livin’
♪ And workin’ hard to get to Heaven
♪ Where I come from ♪
-Hey. All right. -Hey.
I did not know you work out, boy.
Yee-haw.
Man.
For a second,
I thought French actually grew a pair,
and was gonna turn you in.
Yo... what did you say to him?
Because I’m with Brooks.
I half expected to be spending the night in the brig. (CHUCKLES)
(EXHALES)
You’re not upset, are you?
You and French are just bosom buddies now, huh?
I took an oath to make the weak strong.
So did you.
LAWS: Make them strong?
My job is to make them invincible.
Indestructible.
There was no war on terror when we were coming up.
We went over to Desert Storm.
Thought we were hot shit.
Winning the war in, what? Two weeks?
Oorah!
Ten years later,
here we are.
Nothing to show for it.
Except 3,000 dead Americans,
and the largest breach in national security
in the history of the United States.
Our job is not to make Marines.
It’s to make monsters.
You really think we can turn that faggot into a monster?
(BROOKS CHUCKLES)
You know, when I first got this assignment, I looked up to you.
You’d seen more combat than anyone I knew.
I thought you were a real hero.
Now I know you’re just a bully.
I fucking hate bullies.
You watch your fucking mouth, Rosales.
I have picked up my buddy’s guts on foreign soil
so that no one else has to.
I got my four confirmed kills.
If French earns the right to be a Marine on my watch,
he’s gonna be one bad motherfucker.
Just like me.
ROSALES: ♪ A left, right, left
RECRUITS: ♪ A left, right, left
ROSALES: ♪ A left, right, left
RECRUITS: ♪ A left, right, left
(YODELING)
(RECRUITS YODELING)
(ROSALES YODELING)
LAWS: Tell your fellow recruits the fundamentals of a good shot.
HARVEY: Aye, sir.
All right, recruits.
What we want to do, is get ourselves down
into a good and comfortable prone firing position.
In the crevice of your shoulder,
eye down the sight.
It’s all about breathing.
(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)
My grandfather told me that we got to name our rifle
after our first loves.
Mine’s named Mary Agnes.
LAWS: But just because you give your weapon a name,
doesn’t mean that you’ll pull the trigger
when the enemy’s downrange.
Get your ass up.
Get your ass up and put the gun down. Get up!
Set up as target.
Your enemy is going to look a lot like this.
Take it in.
And do not let this uniform fool you.
LABEL: This recruit refuses to train, sir.
BROOKS: Excuse you?
-This recruit refuses to train, sir. -Excuse you?
-This recruit refuses to train, sir. -BROOKS: Excuse you?
This recruit refuses to train, sir.
-Insubordination will not be tolerated. -LABEL: Aye, sir.
You join the Mothers of America, Label?
Is that it?
A Marine is built to obey commands.
Recruit Ismail is part of our platoon, sir.
You taught us to never aim our weapons
at something we do not intend to shoot.
(SNIFFLES)
I will not pretend to shoot him.
All right.
This recruit...
BROOKS: Get your ass up, and get back over here.
Now! Faster!
-Say, "Aye, sir!" -ISMAIL: Aye, sir!
BROOKS: Get your foot up.
Get back in fucking position, Label.
Yes, sir.
BROOKS: Fire!
Now, open your Bibles to Hebrews, Chapter 13.
The Kingdom of God,
is just like your life here.
There is a chain of command, just like here.
There is a code of justice...
of his creation.
We must be thankful for those
that help us avoid moral incapacity.
In the same way that we are thankful
to our drill instructors,
who teach us how to live in honor,
courage,
and commitment.
Let us pray.
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.
(ISMAIL SOBS SOFTLY)
-(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) -(ISMAIL SNIFFLING)
Ismail?
ISMAIL: Leave me alone, French.
(SNIFFLES)
-Ismail... -Leave me alone, French!
Oh, no, no, no.
(CONTINUES CRYING)
Come on, come on.
No, no, no, no, no, no. Come on.
-(SOBBING) -Right here, right here.
Breathe, breathe...
(ELLIS EXHALES)
-Come on. -(BREATHES DEEPLY)
(BOTH BREATHING DEEPLY)
What’s wrong?
(SNIFFLES) It’s just...
I was just thinking...
No matter what I do, it doesn’t even make a difference.
Whenever Laws looks at me,
he just sees another one of the guys who tortured his friends.
I just want it to stop.
Okay.
Come here.
It’s all right.
Does this make me gay?
If you have to ask... (CHUCKLES)
(MUFFLED) I just want to go home.
(SOBS)
(SOBBING)
If we leave,
they win.
(DOOR OPENS)
Question.
This recruit requests knowledge.
-This recruit requests knowledge. -Sir.
This recruit requests knowledge, sir.
BROOKS: What?
What happens if you’re not Christian?
Like, do I even have to be here?
Because these recruits are not Christian.
Sir.
The order states that troops are either involved
in spiritual betterment, or troop readiness.
So, does that mean these recruits can leave?
You’re either worshipping, or you go back to the squad bay.
I thought you were sick of moving.
There... There is no one else!
I...
I love you.
I know.
That’s... that’s a lie.
I’ll come see you after every single training cycle.
Stop yelling.
Why does everything have to be about fucking sex with you?
Fine. You know what? Come here.
Come here, and be fucking miserable.
I don’t give a shit! Just stop being such a fucking bitch!
Hello?
(SCREAMS IN FRUSTRATION)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
ELLIS: Sir?
You okay, sir?
It’s okay.
(SIGHS)
It’s gonna be okay.
(GATE CLANGS)
(HURRIED FOOTSTEPS)
All right, you shitbirds,
don’t say I never did anything for you.
Most movies made about Marines are just bullshit.
ALL: Aye, sir!
Jarheads...
this is what it was like
for your senior drill instructor during Desert Storm.
So...
Sit back and enjoy your milk and motherfucking cookies.
ALL: Thank you, sir.
(VIDEO PLAYING)
(ON TV) Yeah!
You know what? Boy don’t got no kind of stroke in this movie, man.
(LAUGHTER)
I’ll tell you, as soon as I get home,
I’ma tear that thing up, man.
(LAUGHTER)
Recruit Boles,
if you don’t stop acting a fool and pay attention,
this movie could save your life.
-Aye, sir. -Besides,
anybody who talks about pussy
half as much as you,
probably a virgin anyhow.
(LAUGHTER)
(DRILL CADENCE)
(TICKING)
(CADENCE CONTINUES)
This is weapons qualification day.
Half of you will shoot on the fire range,
the other half will pull targets in the pit.
If you do not pass,
you will be processed out.
-Yes, sir. -Move!
You’re my guy, eh, Charlie?
Yes, sir.
DRILL INSTRUCTOR: Make ready!
RECRUITS: Aye, sir!
-Tuck your feet in. -Aye, sir.
Butt of the rifle against your shoulder.
Sight in.
Breathe real easy.
Nice and slow.
-Remember, smooth is fast. -Aye, sir.
DRILL INSTRUCTOR: You may fire when your targets appear.
Target!
-(RIFLE CLICKS) -(LOUD GUNSHOTS)
(GUNSHOT)
-(BULLETS PELTING) -(FIRING CONTINUES)
(GUNSHOTS)
-(BULLETS PELTING) -(FIRING CONTINUES)
DRILL INSTRUCTOR: Cease fire! Cease fire! Abort!
Show clear.
(BOARD CREAKING)
(THUDS)
(DISTANT DRILL CALLS)
He hit, Harvey. I can see the mark.
HARVEY: That’s funny.
I didn’t see, or hear anything.
How about you, Castro? Did you see, or hear anything?
If he hits the target, he gets the point.
Why the fuck do you care so much, Ismail?
French... French, you’re shooting target seven, right?
Look, I was pulling eight all morning,
and you’ve been shooting mostly in black, okay?
Harvey’s fucking you on purpose.
HARVEY: Too bad, French.
Maybe you should try the Navy instead.
The Marines are the men’s department of the Navy.
Castro, mind your business.
Aye, squad leader.
ISMAIL: That’s bullshit, Harvey.
I saw you cheating with my own eyes.
-And you can shut the fuck up, too, Saddam. -Fuck you!
Oh, Daddy and Grandpappy teach you how to shoot targets, too?
-You’re a fucking joke, Harvey. -You...
Hey! Hey! Hey!
-You back it up. Back it up! -Aargh!
Come on, come on.
ELLIS: There’s no way I shot 300 rounds
and only got 70 points.
No way.
That’s right. He’s been in the black all practice week.
HARVEY: That’s a serious charge, French.
LAWS: Harvey.
Did you do it?
-Is Osama bin... -Ismail.
-My name’s Ismail. -(SPITS)
LAWS: Is he lying?
ISMAIL: Castro saw, too.
Sir, this recruit thinks
that maybe he was tired.
Maybe it wasn’t on purpose, sir.
They should kick your ass out for cheating.
-And your faggot ass shouldn’t even fucking be here. -Enough!
Senior drill instructor Laws, this is your platoon,
but you are on my firing range.
According to the order,
if there’s tampering,
he rates another opportunity.
French,
stay here and shoot again.
-LAWS: Get in my lane, French. -Come on, man.
-Move. -Let’s go, French.
(GUNSHOT)
Count off!
RECRUIT 1: One. RECRUIT 2: Two.
RECRUIT 3: Three. RECRUIT 4: Four.
RECRUIT 5: Five. RECRUIT 6: Six.
RECRUIT 7: Seven. RECRUIT 8: Eight.
RECRUIT 9: Nine. RECRUIT 10: Ten.
RECRUIT 11: Eleven. RECRUIT 12: Twelve.
Lights!
ALL: Lights, lights, lights! Good evening, gentlemen.
(LEVERS SHUT)
(SCATTERED FOOTSTEPS)
Hey!
(TORCH SWITCH CLICKS)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
What is it, French?
Sir, this recruit needs some help.
Get in here.
Sir, this recruit has written home for the past few weeks now,
and my mother hasn’t responded.
I’m worried something may have happened to her, sir.
I’m begging you. May I please...
please try her at work, sir?
(SIGHS)
I can get smoked for this.
(LINE RINGING)
INEZ: You’ve reached East Jersey State Prison.
This is Officer French.
Ma.
Ellis.
They kicked you out, didn’t they?
No.
I’m good.
I’m doing real good.
You get my letters?
Boy, you know not to call me at my job with this damn nonsense.
Ma, you coming to my graduation?
What? I don’t... I don’t... I don’t know.
Please...
come to my graduation.
-I... I gotta go, okay? -Wait.
I love you, Ma.
(PHONE HANGS UP)
(MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYING)
(FAINT DRUM BEATING)
LAWS: Somehow, you have made it to the final test.
RECRUITS: Aye, sir!
LAWS: The Crucible
is a time-honored tradition
that thousands of Marines before you have gone through.
And it is my last opportunity
to rid my corps of your sad and mediocre generation.
RECRUITS: Aye, sir!
LAWS: Succeed,
and you are assured to be a Marine!
Fail, and you will be processed.
What in the entire fuck, French!
How did you manage to fag up something as simple as war paint?
ELLIS: Sir!
This recruit does not know how not to piss you off.
Sir.
Ready... step!
RECRUITS: Step together!
Ready... face!
RECRUITS: Face together!
(GOSPEL MUSIC PLAYING)
LAWS: Let’s pray. RECRUITS: Aye, sir.
LAWS: Lord...
gives us life,
so that we can kill the enemy.
And God loves Marines,
because Marines keep us free.
Dear Father, who art in heaven,
please give us clear vision,
and a clean line of sight,
that we might smite multiple tangos.
We understand,
for every life we take,
a life is spared somewhere in the world.
Heavenly Father,
please keep our weapons clean,
and our chambers free from debris of any kind,
that we might better protect the Marine to our left and our right.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
RECRUITS: Amen!
-On your feet! -Aye, sir.
Carry on.
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
(GRUNTS)
(CHEERING)
(GRUNTS)
(PANTS, GRUNTS)
(GRUNTING)
-(SMACKS) -(GRUNTING)
(GRUNTS)
(ELLIS GROANS)
(GRUNTS)
(ELLIS MOANS)
Should’ve just stayed the fuck down, French!
Go! Go!
I’m right here, bitch.
(GRUNTING)
(SMACKING)
(STRUGGLING)
Fuck him up, French!
(SMACKING)
(MOANING)
Whoo. (LAUGHS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(CRACKLING)
Read ’em and weep, boys.
3521 Motor T.
That’s funny, I was fixing up cars with Jiffy Lube before I signed up,
and I’m gonna be, uh, fixing them up in my cammies.
-(LAUGHTER) -There it is.
What you got, French? What MOS?
Um, 4671, combat camera.
What’s that?
Making movies and taking pictures for the Marine Corps.
-Hollywood! -Oh, shit!
-That’s cool, man. -Maybe I wanna be an actor now.
-(FAINT LAUGHTER) -What about you, Boles?
Uh... Infantry.
Probably gonna have me killing a couple of your cousins.
(GASPS, EXCLAIMING)
Killing is my specialty, so...
I got combat correspondent. So I’ma be a journalist.
I might need a photographer, French.
-ELLIS: Okay. -Come on.
Carson Daley looking motherfucker.
-(LAUGHTER) -Nothing.
Yeah. All right. What about you, Ismail?
I’m going to be a language interpreter.
-Language interpreter? -(LAUGHS)
(SHOWER RUNNING)
What are you doing up?
Get dressed and wait for me outside.
(YELLS) Go!
You really know how to fuck everything up, don’t you?
You’re not the first of your kind here.
And you won’t be the last.
If we got rid of every gay person in the military,
there would be no military.
You have to be willing to sacrifice anything
to protect the man to your left,
and to your right.
I helped you, because it’s my job to make Marines.
Gay, straight, black, white, it don’t matter to me.
Disappear, French.
(SIGHS)
(CRYING)
(SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING)
LAWS: Attention on deck!
(STAMPING)
Good morning, sir.
Platoon 2014 is ready for inspection.
Congratulations, Gunny.
Your recruits have passed inspection.
Attention on deck!
(STAMPING)
Parade... rest!
(MARCHING BAND PLAYING)
Platoon... halt!
(MARCHING STOPS)
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
-Welcome to 2nd Battalion graduation day. -(APPLAUSE)
(DISTANT CHEERING)
You should be very proud...
but I must warn you...
that couch potato, baby fat, and bad attitude’s gone.
What stands in front of you today
are modeled from...
a perfect exhibition...
...of the United States Marines.
(DISTANT CHEERING)
Today isn’t just about them.
-(CLICKS) -(WINDOW ROLLING)
It’s about you, too.
(DOOR LOCK CLICKS)
(SPEECH CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
The challenges that face them
are the greatest this force has ever seen.
Our enemies are tireless in their pursuit to destroy freedom.
And so, must our corps be tireless in fighting for it.
These young men and women will need your letters of support.
They’ll need a sympathetic ear.
The American people are divided,
and your unconditional love
will be the fuel
that will drive our Marines
to defend each and every American citizen.
(CROWD CLAPPING)
Congratulations, 2nd Battalion,
and welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.
Oorah!
-Oorah! -(APPLAUSE, WHISTLING)
-Oorah! -(LOUD CHEERING)
(MOUTHING)
Ooh Lord, he did it!
(CHUCKLING) You better go ahead, boy. Oh!
Look at you.
How do you feel?
-I’m hungry. -(LAUGHS)
I need a little nap.
Are you hungry?
My treat.
(SMACKS LIPS) Okay.
-Oh, you... You look damn good, baby. -(CHUCKLES)
-Thanks, Ma. I’ll meet you... I’ll meet you over there. -Okay.
-(SHRIEKS) -(ELLIS CHUCKLING)
I don’t know why I pay for stuff that I could...
make better at home.
Does this lobster look right to you?
I think it’s fake.
This is imitation.
Ma, there’s no such thing as imitation lobster.
Boy, if there’s imitation crab, there can be imitation lobster.
And this is it.
Just enjoy it. It’s on me. Come on.
Should have got the salad.
(SIGHS) So...
Where you off to next?
Um...
I got about a month until I have to report.
So...
I’m just gonna get a room somewhere.
Maybe get something close to you...
so I could see you.
I got a lot of stories to tell you.
Hmm.
INEZ: Yeah...
You should just come on home.
Not gonna charge half as much as a hotel.
You know you could use some good home cooking.
What do you say?
I don’t want to put you out.
It’s all good.
Baby...
it’s no bother.
Yeah...
I better get you home.
Ooh, all them young, pretty little things.
All them girls. They’re going to be lined up around the block
trying to get a look at my Marine son.
You’re gonna have the pick of the litter.
Ma...
Boot camp didn’t make me straight.
You got a lot of shit to say.
If I were to repeat what you just said,
they’d beat the uniform off of you.
Keep playing with me.
You make me lose my damn appetite.
ELLIS: You can’t smoke in here.
-(LIGHTER CLICKS) -Ma.
-You can’t smoke in here. -Boy!
You are out of your rabid ass mind!
You can’t hide in plain sight.
I don’t know why you even try.
LAWS: Is...
everything okay, Private French?
Gunnery Sergeant, please ignore her.
This boy is gayer than two left shoes,
and everybody can see it.
Y’all had no business letting him in here.
Ma’am, that’s not for me to ask, or for him to say.
And here, all he is to us is our Marine.
RECRUIT: Marines!
Oorah!
Oorah, baby. (LAUGHS)
Oorah!
-Oorah. -Oorah.
ALL: Oorah!
Oorah!
-Oorah! -(RECRUITS BANGING TABLES)
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah. Oorah.
Whoo.
Oorah. Oorah. Oorah.
Ma, (YELLS) stop!
(INEZ SNIFFLES)
Really, Ma?
(INEZ SNIFFLES)
(BREATH TREMBLES)
(LIGHTER CLICKS)
(ELLIS EXHALES)
I was 16.
A 16-year-old girl with nobody.
I could have left you at any doorstep.
I was like, "No." (SCOFFS)
"I’m gonna raise my child."
What about me?
Hmm?
What about what I want?
I am never...
giving up on us.
You belong to me,
as much as I belong to you.
(PAPER RUSTLING)
Write me a letter.
Whenever you’re ready.
Or don’t.
It’s up to you.
(INEZ SNIFFLES)
I will love you
to the day that I die.
But I can’t love what you are.
(INEZ SNIFFLES)
(EXHALES)
(DOOR OPENS)
Hey, Devil Dog.
Thank you for your service.
(SIGHS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)