I wake up each morning With your sweet kiss on my mind
The early morning sun shining through
Your gentle touch Like a warm summer breeze
Seems to haunt my mind
Your mother said you had to leave school today, Raymond.
Said you had another one of your episodes.
Your mother wants to bring you to the doctor. She thinks it's your nerves.
But we know doctors are for someone who's sick.
- Are you sick? - No, sir.
Concentration, focus, discipline.
If you have those, you don't have time for nerves.
No more episodes.
Discipline
is your anchor.
You know what gives focus and discipline?
A mission?
A man needs a mission.
Sink or swim.
Succeed or fail.
The choice is yours.
You will pass my swim week, or I will sink you myself.
Your score today depends on how long you last.
Keep your body still, or I will pull you out of my pool.
It's called the Dead Man Float. Head down, dumb shit.
- Sorry, sir. - You think this is a joke, bubble boy?
You fail more than two events during swim week and you are sunk.
Get out! Let's go.
There. Underneath them.
Don't drink my pool water, dumb shits.
- Ever tried making a joke around him? - Do you understand?
I can't stand that silver star peacock shit.
Just 'cause he's seen action.
Well, if Recon Rambo is such a superstar,
why did he leave the deep end for the kiddie pool?
- Drill Instructor. - ...using his technique.
We're not a sewing circle.
- We will demonstrate. - Aye, senior.
- Davis, out. - I'm watching you.
Good morning, ma'am.
Got some rocks out there, Sergeant.
Yes, ma'am.
Haven't gotten your reenlistment paperwork yet.
I was expecting it last week.
Should I be concerned?
No, ma'am.
- You better know how to float. - Just haven't gotten to it yet.
Sooner to it, sooner through it.
Sir, yes, sir!
Carry on, Sergeant. And sign that paper.
Aye, ma'am.
- Pay attention, goddamn it! - Sir, yes, sir!
Breathe! Focus! And float!
What's happening over here?
Sir, I'm maintaining equilibrium, sir.
Bullshit. You're cheating. Out.
- Uh, sir. I-- - What the fuck did I just say?
You fail! Out of my pool!
When I say you're done, you're fucking done.
On line with the rest of the losers.
If I see movement, I'll pull your ass out!
You wanna eye-fuck everybody? Get your sorry ass out of my water.
You fuck up a wet dream!
I know you miss that giant-ass Mo or whatever,
but you gotta get out of that funk.
- Sir, yes, sir! - It's heavy. No wonder you're sinking.
He was my friend.
Gotta learn to float on your own.
My older brothers almost drowned me when I was four.
- I've been scared of the water ever since. - I'm not scared of water.
You can either float or you can't.
How am I responsible for fucking bone density?
Got a dense bone?
Shut up, Hicks.
Hey, you failed one event. Dog, you can't be perfect all the time.
Hey...
You fail!
One.
Two.
Three. Four.
Five.
Hey, yo, chill out.
- They're gonna thrash you. - Straighten the fuck up, recruit!
What the fuck are you doing?
Someone better dive deep and retrieve your lost mind, boy.
- He's shaking in his boots! - You're a fucking disgrace!
Face that wall! Keep your hands on your head! You're done today!
Get on the wall!
Stop being a fucking spaz, bro.
You ever seen him like that before?
Um...
I don't know.
Sometimes he kinda freaks out when he makes a mistake.
He's, uh, not as good at failing as I am.
Do you need help dressing, recruit?
Sir, no, sir!
Well, what do we have here? Still fucking up, hey, Bento?
Drill Instructor Knox.
Your platoon squared away, Drill Instructor?
Platoon 2033! Outside!
Where's your guidon, shit skin?
McAffey. Sick bay.
Get yourself unfucked.
We got inspection tomorrow.
Aye, sir.
How do you feel now, Raymond?
Better, sir.
That's right.
The mission steadies the mind.
Yes, sir.
You can relax now.
I told you, sir, I'm fine.
Someone thinks otherwise.
Wait there, recruit.
What are you in for?
You're
a girl.
Mm-hmm.
Don't pitch a tent over it.
Chlorine?
Swim week, right? So, what happened?
You can't swim?
I can swim.
I can fucking...
You know, swimming is doing something. Floating is nothing.
- It's stupid. It's a stupid test. - So you sank, huh?
- Oh. - You're one of those guys who has to be perfect all the time.
You're probably tight. In your hips? Gotta hike 'em up.
What? No, my hips are not...
Come on. You're a lead ball.
I can tell from here. You're tight.
No, it's discipline.
It's an anchor.
Well, there you go.
Anchors weigh you down.
So, what's wrong with you?
I got my ass handed to me by some poison sumac.
The situation under my cammies is fantastic.
Ew, don't picture it.
- How long have you been here? - I don't know. Like, six hours.
Tell them you're lightheaded, they'll give you a popsicle.
I don't want a popsicle. I want to get back to my platoon.
So go.
If there's nothing wrong with you, why don't you just leave?
What?
Just get up and walk out?
Or are you "anchored"?
Fine.
I will.
I'll go.
Right now.
McAffey!
You're clear.
- Take this back to your senior. - Aye, sir.
I'm...
I'm Ray.
Pop those hips, Ray.
Get in here before you drown.
Sir, this recruit requests permission to show the drill instructors he can float.
Are you asking your senior drill instructor
for a do-over, recruit?
Sir, this recruit was not at his best, sir.
By all means.
Let's stop everything so that you can be at your fucking best!
You know, you come in here with your swinging dick,
thinking you know the score 'cause you've always been number one.
But you throw one obstacle in your way, and you fold like fucking tissue paper.
No second chances in combat. Get the fuck out.
Aye, sir.
Let's do rounds.
Incoming! Perez!
I don't wanna see a foot out of place!
You took McAffey off fire watch?
Yes, sir!
Thought he could use a good night's sleep? Maybe a little tug before bed?
Help him relax?
If you ever abuse your post again, then I will fuck your shit up.
You wanna help your friend?
Let him sink.
Hey.
I need your help.
With what? You're kicking ass in swim week.
It's only because my mom forgot me at the YMCA pool for thousands of hours.
I'm good in the water.
I'm worried about Ray.
Look, I get you wanna help your friend.
But my advice? Just keep floating.
I know. Every man for himself.
Okay.
But hypothetically, okay,
if you wanted to create an opportunity for someone to rise to the occasion...
Like, be a hero. Unify the group.
Any ideas?
Well, Comrade Trotsky, I'd say you just described a war.
So, you wanna help me?
To start a war?
I think I'll pass.
Ugh, I'm still gonna need help though.
Who would be crazy enough? It's...
Navy.
I wanna bomb your submarines
You don't do anything for me...
Beefburger, no tomato. Order up.
You were sometimes hard to find
It's 150.
You wanted the hour.
All right.
Looks like you got yourself a lawyer.
So, you're a Marine, I take it?
What gave it away?
Tell me about your situation.
My reenlistment's up, and I need to make a decision.
If I'm gonna stay in or...
or...
It was three months ago.
I was stationed in Guam, Apra Harbor.
And, uh...
...things got fucked up.
I'm gonna need more than that.
You know what they call it
when you leave the Marines?
Separation.
Do you know what it feels like to be given a purpose
when you never had one?
To live for something bigger than yourself?
You don't just...
You don't just walk away from that.
No, you don't.
So... tell me.
What happened in Guam?
Psst.
Holy God, you have a snake?!
Oh, hell no.
What happened to every man for himself?
Just making sure he doesn't land you in the brig.
Quiet. You wanted to talk? What's up?
Okay. You know Sergeant Knox? That psycho DI that punched out Ray?
I heard McKinnon say that he got reassigned to the platoon next door.
- Don't you think he deserves trouble? - You wanna kill him?
What? No. Man, what?
- I thought that's where he was going. - No, I won't... You thought I...
Look, okay, I wanna start a rivalry with Knox's platoon.
Stir some stuff up.
You know, like, give our platoon a reason to retaliate.
- Sort of like a-- - An excuse for war?
Yeah.
Yes, that.
So you do wanna kill him?
No. Hicks, nobody dies.
A prank. That's all.
Oh.
Okay. You wanna start a war with a rival platoon.
You know what everybody loves? Toilet paper.
You know what they hate? When there is no toilet paper.
Tomorrow, everybody will wake up, and holy shit on a stick...
- There's no toilet paper. - When they ask what happened...
We say recruits from Knox's platoon snuck in through the head and stole it.
Well, you say it.
It happened while you were on fire watch.
Everybody's gonna hate you.
Come on, pack your bags
Clear the floor...
Step out through the open door...
This is it, recon.
No turning back now.
Semper fi, motherfucker.
...a new house, down by the sea
Get to the place we were meant to be
Idiots got yourselves robbed?
You're telling me you just let them dog fuckers from next door
mosey on in here and sashay on out with your TP?
They distracted this recruit, sir.
I have never seen such a sorry, weak-ass, pathetic excuse
for a fire watch in my entire life.
On your fucking face! Push!
How are you gonna pass your inspection
if you can't even protect your goddamn toilet paper?
So, what happened? How many guys came at you?
I don't know. It was, like, five?
They came in through the head and said they needed a first aid kit.
And then, while I was getting it, the rest of them took all the TP.
The worst part is,
when they said they transferred Knox, they did. Next door.
Robinson, move it!
Step up!
Knox is their DI.
Thirty-three!
- How do you know? - Being a scribe has its perks.
Stay in line. Float.
Sit on the deck! Left hand, left feet!
You know what? He fucked with the wrong platoon.
Sit up! Get those backs straight!
We're taking our shit back.
Heads up, you pencil dicks!
You're lying to your best friend.
I'm helping, and it's working.
Plus, Ray's not gonna sit this one out.
He's always saying, "A man needs a mission."
Uh-huh. Yeah. You know what they're always saying around here?
Honor, courage, commitment. You think all this lying's honorable?
Well, two out of three.
...on the edge.
You think you know what you're doing? Well, we're about to find out.
Your first inspection is a big fucking deal.
When Captain Fajardo walks in,
she will see every single one of you locked and cocked. Make me proud.
Sir, yes, sir!
Pair up. Last looks!
Check your buddy like his life depends on you.
- Hey, wrong time to make a mess. - I fuckin' lost something.
So a little psyop is coming together.
Pay a visit to Knox's platoon, take back our TP. You in?
- Yeah. - Sign my ass up.
We'll be in and out in a couple minutes.
- Could use a lookout. - Wouldn't miss it.
How about you? You in?
Nah, I'm good.
Looks like you got yourself a war.
Looks like you have an Irish pennant.
On line!
Platoon!
Atten-hut!
Company commander on deck!
Platoon 2032 ready for inspection, ma'am.
Let's find out, Senior Drill Instructor.
How was swim qual this week, recruit?
Getting better, ma'am.
You do have to let it go, recruit.
I remember you. You had a rough start in pugil sticks.
What does the red stripe on the dress blue signify?
Ma'am, the red stripe on the dress blue trousers
is to commemorate the courage and tenacious fighting of the men
who fought in the Battle of Chapultepec in September 1847, ma'am!
Doesn't matter where you start, recruit, but where you end up.
That's one way of doing it, recruit.
What's the muzzle velocity on the M16?
Thirty hundred. I mean, thirty-one hundred. I mean...
Recruit means 3,100 feet per second, ma'am.
Are you excited to fire this weapon, recruit?
Recruit thinks so, ma'am.
Your weapon needs cleaning, recruit.
Nothing but snakes in my house!
Disrespect my Corps, live in filth!
Now clean your shit up!
Have you seen my photo of my wife?
You mean this?
Dude, that's my grandma.
Yo, what do we have here?
"Hicks is either a demented genius or a mass murderer."
"Either way, he fucks his cousins."
Oh, here we go. "Somebody better put a life alert on Santos's ass
'cause that motherfucker needed a cane and an oxygen tank
on the Confidence Course."
We doing story time now?
Why don't we hear from whoever it is
who seems to think so little of this piece-of-shit platoon?
Whose is this?
Guess we'll have to keep reading.
It belongs to this recruit.
Well, come on up, superstar.
Better to hear it directly from the horse's ass.
Go on, recruit.
Read.
"Ochoa's a short bus reject."
"Cannot believe he found a chick to fuck him."
"A lid for every pot, I guess."
"Slovacek."
"Mr. Big Dick No Balls."
"Room temp IQ."
"McKinnon."
"My guess is he proves a saying."
"Those who can't, teach."
"Cope."
"Definitely not Marine material."
"Kind of faggy."
"But at least he's read a book."
Seems Recruit Nash thinks this platoon is a disgraceful bunch of fucking fuckups
who don't deserve to wear the uniform.
Can't say I disagree.
Also, this is her third wedding!
I would rather not spend the time or the money
because she can't live without love.
Oh, Mom, please.
Mm.
I have to go. Love you.
Sí.
Yes.
Sí, I do. Bye.
Come.
Uh, a word, ma'am?
Where is our red folder, Sergeant?
That's what I, uh...
With all due respect, ma'am,
I decided not to reenlist.
Family need you back on the farm?
Nothing like that, ma'am.
Then what?
You got a family, Sergeant?
No, ma'am. This is it.
Just not sure I see a future here.
I think it's time to move on.
You don't see a future here?
You?
Silver Star, Recon, commendations out your ass. No future?
This place was built for you, Sergeant.
If I had your opportunities, I'd be the goddamn commandant.
You're a Marine.
The kind I'm trying to make here.
Or was I wrong about you?
Sorry to let you down, ma'am.
Hey.
Nobody took it seriously.
So stupid.
I feel like a fool.
- I thought he was my friend. - Screw him.
I'm your friend.
Come with us tonight.
We'll take back our TP, get our revenge. You'll be the hero.
Everybody will forget all about this.
Ray...
I'll leave the hero stuff to you.
I'll wake you up.
We got a mission.
Wanted to see me, sir?
You know what that is?
No, sir.
It's called a guidon.
Every platoon in boot camp gets one. You march behind it.
The soul of your platoon.
That was given to me by my senior drill instructor
when I graduated.
I was the Honor Man.
But I keep it there as a reminder that I almost washed out of boot camp.
Thought too much. Let things get to me.
I think maybe you get that from me.
You can't let anyone see that. Understand?
You gotta show that you are stronger
than whatever is in your head.
Gotta lock it up.
Overcome.
Cam.
Yo. We gonna do this?
I can't find Cope.
I'm gonna go check the head.
You wanna come or not?
Hey.
Let's go.
Cope's MIA. It's now or never.
Hey.
You guys need a hand?
Fuck off, Nash.
You're really mean.
Has anyone seen Sullivan?
Get in.
In.
Fire watch is making his rounds to the racks. Now's our chance.
- Can you grab the TP? - Me and the chamaquito will do it.
Looks like a party.
Hicks. No, we're good.
I can be lookout.
All right, fine.
Do not fuck this up.
Eyes on the prize, Daddy-o.
You thought you wouldn't get caught?
Sir, this recruit knows this doesn't look good.
The drill instructor might see this as an act of sabotage,
but, sir, this was also an act of loyalty.
Did I tell you to stop?
Look at you, smiling like a doofus.
Two minutes ago, you were bawling like a little bitch.
No, I wasn't.
I ain't judging. I'm just saying.
This place will make you cry out your asshole.
If you don't cry at boot camp, you ain't doing it right.
I just thought it would be different. You know?
Like what, Coney Island?
No. It's just...
I didn't think it'd be so lonely here.
You wanna know about lonely?
You're supposed to be here 13 weeks, right?
But because of my fucking knee, I've been cycled back three times already.
I've been here for six months.
I should be banging my wife right now.
But if I wash out, I got two kids who need shit.
What happens to them?
So you're lonely.
We all are.
Boys grab how it should be.
Men deal with what is.
I've gotta get one more thing.
Just... wait here. Okay?
The hell are you doing?
Leaving a love note.
Oh shit.
Go! Go!
What the...
Hicks, are you naked?
Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.
Okay.
Sir, that's all, sir.
Will the drill instructor allow this recruit to explain?
Sir, this recruit doesn't have many friends.
But this recruit is fiercely loyal to the one that he does have.
And this recruit's friend needed a boost.
Isn't that what semper fidelis means, sir?
Don't you spit the Corps' words back at me to cover your ass.
What order did I specifically give you?
The drill instructor told this recruit to let him sink.
Then why did you disobey my order?
Sir, permission to speak freely?
I would rather fail than see him fail.
You don't think you deserve to be here?
The drill instructor told this recruit he didn't belong here.
So, you're gonna let some asshole run you out of here?
Doesn't matter what I think.
Matters what you fucking think.
So you're gonna surrender when things get tough?
Hm?
You're gonna turn your back on your brothers?
On your duty?
Your country?
What kind of man do you wanna be?
Do you wanna be a Marine or not?
Yes, sir.
I can't fucking hear you.
Yes, sir!
- I said, do you wanna be a Marine? - Yes, sir!
- Do you belong here? - Yes, sir!
- Willing to fight for it? - Yes, sir!
Do you wanna be a Marine?
Yes, sir!
Then stop thinking of yourself as less than.
Claim your fucking place.
Put all this shit back in the dumpster.
Sir?
Unless you want me to tell the platoon what you did.
No, sir.
Thank you, sir.
You assholes see something missing?
Where the hell is your guidon?
What do we have here?
Something from the lost and found, sir.
Those recruits lost it.
These recruits found it, sir.
Hm.
Give him one!
Kill!
Sir!
This recruit has a request, sir.
This uniform, designed to trap air...
All right.
You can fucking float.
Now get out of my pool.
You in the service, hon? 10% discount.
Hm. Bet they don't like to see you coming.
- What can I get you, Navy? - Just a coffee, please.
Yes, ma'am.