The Inspection (2022) Movie Script
1
(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?
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 PFis 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?
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.
-Oorah.
-Oorah.
ALL: Oorah!
Oorah!
-Oorah!
-(RECRUITS BANGING TABLES)
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
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)
(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?
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 PFis 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?
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.
-Oorah.
-Oorah.
ALL: Oorah!
Oorah!
-Oorah!
-(RECRUITS BANGING TABLES)
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
Oorah. Oorah.
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)