Why do you wanna be a Marine, Cameron?
Uh...
Um, for... freedom.
Um, because of freedom and America.
I... I just... I wanna be all I can be.
Yeah. That's the Army.
No one can change your life except for you.
And my life needs a change, sir.
I wanna be somebody else.
Actually, that isn't the start of the story.
We should go back. More like, here.
It's a boy.
That's when the journey starts.
Becoming a man.
Trouble is, what does that actually mean?
What if you're not who everybody says you're supposed to be?
Where do you go for guidance?
Your family?
You have to be more masculine.
My loving mother, Barbara.
Yeah, don't be such a dumb pussy, pussy.
And my supportive brother, Benjy.
Okay, maybe not my family.
So then, what are you supposed to do if you're different?
What if you're just a Cancer with Aries Rising
who happens to love Wilson Phillips?
Don't you know, things can change
Is that any reason to get your head shoved in a toilet?
Asking for a friend.
Keep him out of graduation, please.
Class of 1990, time to line up.
Everybody's gonna be there, right?
All right, so maybe I don't know how to be who everyone expects me to be.
But I have found a way to cope.
See, I've always felt like two people.
There's the person that everyone else sees,
the one with his head in a toilet,
and then there's the person I am on the inside,
the one who knows what I really think and how I really feel.
That voice is... the angel on my shoulder.
And honestly, sometimes the devil.
But the more I try to ignore him, the louder he gets.
You hold on for one more day
It's you and me, babe. Forever.
What do you want me to do?
I want you to get some goddamn self-respect
and say sayonara to this shit.
Stop being afraid, and just be yourself.
Look, today's the first day of the rest of our life.
And our place is out there somewhere.
It has to be.
Anywhere is better than this.
Yeah, but where?
And that's when Ray called.
My best friend.
My only friend.
Ray went off to the Air Force Academy,
so I was surprised when he came back a few months later.
It was something about his eyesight.
Talked it over with my dad. I'm gonna do what he did.
The Marines?
Ooh, looks like summer camp.
Wait, what's the buddy system?
It says if you join with a friend, they keep you together.
What?
It's illegal to be gay in the military?
I know.
It's messed up, but that's their policy.
Order 43!
I mean, besides me, who else knows that you're gay?
I mean, nobody, but, like, I could go to jail?
Look, I'm sure that there's tons of stuff that you'd rather do anyway.
Like what, Ray? I... I can't afford college.
We're moving again.
My only other option is Bismarck,
which my mom now calls the "Paris of the Prairie."
Come on, you're smart. You can do anything.
- You just need something to aim for. - Forty-four!
A vision
of who you wanna be.
To compete, you've got to be strong.
To win,
you've got to be smart.
Maybe you can be one of us.
The few. The proud.
The Marines.
Wow.
Which brings us back to here.
My life needs a change, sir.
I wanna be somebody else.
Son, boot camp is a machine that turns boys into men.
In 13 weeks, you won't even recognize yourself.
Are you sure you're ready for that?
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies You're so self-satisfied
I don't need you...
- Long trip? - Sorry?
...break free...
Was it a long trip for you to get here?
Oh, uh, not really, no. I'm... I'm from New Orleans.
- Hm. - Well, most recently.
I've moved, um, twelve times in the last ten years, so...
You a military brat too?
Oh, no. My mom just likes to flee the consequences of her actions.
Right.
I'm Cameron Cope.
John Bowman.
On behalf of the commanding general of this base,
I hereby welcome you to Marine Corps Recruit Depot,
Parris Island, South Carolina.
Now get the fuck off my goddamn bus!
- Oh dear. - Move!
Yes, this camp sucks! Find a pair of yellow footprints...
Stand on them now! Find a foot! Get on those yellow footprints!
What the fuck are you looking for?
You better get your ass on a pair of yellow footprints now!
- Tighten up, string bean! - Too slow.
Do not move!
Do not breathe!
I am your Senior Drill Instructor, Staff Sergeant McKinnon.
You will call me "sir."
Do you understand?
Yes, sir!
You will begin everything that you ever say with "sir."
Do you understand?
Sir, yes, sir!
You are one person to me, sent to me by some asshole
that got you to sign a paper
and thinks that I could turn you into Marines.
But all I see is a pile of shit!
- Are you telling me... - Eyes forward!
...that my Marine Corps is now a pile of shit?
Sir, no, sir!
Did I tell you to answer me?
- S-s-- - Then shut the hell up!
Holy shit!
Drill instructors, they sent us a bunch of fucking degenerates.
This is Drill Instructor Sergeant Knox and Drill Instructor Sergeant Howitt.
They are my assistant drill instructors,
but I may have them quit
because what I see before me
is a collection of fuckups, jerk-offs, and fat bodies.
When I call your name, you say, "Sir, here, sir!"
Aaronson.
Sir, here, sir!
Baker.
Sir, here, sir!
- Cope. - I know that there is pain, but you...
I said Cope!
And you break free Break from the chains
Someday, somebody's gonna make you Wanna turn around...
Get up! You better fill the goddamn hole.
This is Recruit McAffey. I've arrived safely at Parris Island.
I have arrived safely at Parris Island. Please do not send...
You will have three attempts to contact your next of kin.
You will read what is on the script and only what is on the script.
This is Recruit M-Mason.
I have... arrived... safely...
Oh my fucking God! Can you not read?
Hurry it the fuck up, you ginger shit!
Do not send any food or bulky items to me in the mail.
Send tobacco and rolling papers, or I'm gonna fucking kill somebody.
I love you, baby. I'm gonna make you so proud.
God, I miss you so bad.
Holy tits! We got us a good one!
What did your senior drill instructor tell you?
You're my bitch now for the next 13 weeks.
So on your face! Now get down! You're gonna push up and count it down!
Next four!
Sit your ass down! Sit down before I knock you down!
Free haircut, boys. Say goodbye, white snake.
- No more pantyhose! - Look at the door!
Move out! Get your ass out of my chair! This ain't no beauty parlor!
Next four! Asses in the chair now!
- Exit! Out of your chair! - Move!
Next four in here! Move! Get right in the chair.
Move! Move! Move!
Look straight ahead.
Do not move unless the barber moves you. Put a finger on a mole if you have one.
Goddess on the mountaintop
Burning like a silver flame
The summit of beauty and love
And Venus was her name
Wow!
She's got it
Yeah, baby, she's got it
I'm your Venus
I'm your fire, at your desire
What the fuck are you doing?
You two wanna get nasty with each other? You can scrub my shit cans.
Move! Now!
I told you.
"Lock it up." I know.
I'm sorry.
Chow time is over in ten, nine,
five, two, zero.
Grab your trays! Off your fat asses! Move!
Move!
This is not a day at the beach! Keep playing with me!
Why are you wasting my Marine Corps chow?
This may be your last goddamn meal, and you're skinny as hell.
Find that shit you threw away and eat it, maggot. Find it!
Faster! Get your ass out the door!
I ain't waiting on you!
- I said eat it! - Move it!
- Eat it! - Faster! Faster!
Don't you fucking puke, recruit.
You will keep that shit inside. You hear me?
Now get out! Hurry up!
Three.
Six.
- Look at this skinny little girl. - Small!
Everybody get a bag!
Extra large!
Jesus Marine Corps Christ!
I don't think an extra large pair of skivvies will cover your fat ass!
Move it, Happy Meal! I ain't waiting all day for you!
...your nasty body!
What are you waiting on, Tito? We ain't at a fucking concert!
This ain't the Jackson 5. Move it!
Seven!
Eyes forward!
Faster!
Hurry up!
Hey. You seen another pair of boots? They were right here.
Sorry.
Move, maggot!
Hey. There were boots right here. Where'd they go?
Where are your boots, recruit?
You were given two of the finest pair of boots in the world!
Where are your boots, dumb shit?
When I say fall out,
you will enter my house in an orderly manner.
You each will find a bunk,
drop your seabags,
and stand on line.
Do you understand?
- Sir, yes, sir! - Fall out!
- I said move it! - Move! Move your ass!
What the fuck are you doing? I said move!
You move like molasses! Step it up!
Not mine, fuckup.
Hey. Take the one across from me. I can keep an eye on you.
Okay.
Hey, cool. Bunkies.
I'm watching you, you little shit.
You do not wanna be the weakest link.
How can you defend your country if you cannot even make a rack?
Oh, sorry.
Faster! Faster! Pick one!
Close quarters.
Yeah.
Tighten that shit up!
- You call this a rack? - "Slov-chick."
- Sir! - What kind of Polack name is that?
Sir, it's Czech, sir.
- It's Polack if I say it is. - Not just slow, it's sloppy.
Why do you wanna be a Marine, Polack?
- Marines is better than prison, sir. - Not if you piss me off, Polack.
Whatever you fucked up on the outside stays on the outside, understand?
Yes, sir.
And I expect you to bounce a quarter off it
like Jody's bouncin' off your girlfriend back home!
Eyes on your own shit!
Square that shit away!
What do we have here?
Get your ass on line!
- Why do you have three pairs of boots? - Sir, I found an extra pair of boots, sir!
Who the hell is I? What were you told? What are you?
Sir, this recruit is a recruit, sir!
Senior Drill Instructor, this sticky-fingered asshole
took a pair of boots that do not belong to him.
This is what I am talking about.
Recruit Hicks just got all you assholes killed.
Get on line! On your faces...
Wipe that slimy grin off your face! Get on the deck!
One!
Down!
Up!
Two!
Where in hell did you learn to do that?
Sir, this recruit learned it at the Air Force, sir.
Do you think the Air Force is better than the Marine Corps, recruit?
Sir, no, sir!
What the hell is that?
Is that a bento box?
He says he learned it in the Air Force, Drill Instructor.
How the fuck do you have a name like that with a face like this?
Actually, spare me that filthy story.
From now on, your name is Bento. You got that, Recruit Bento?
Sir, yes, sir!
Get your ass off me!
You better straighten up!
Have you seen your brother?
Mm-mm.
Where did he say he was goin'?
I'm going to boot camp.
Benjy, turn it down.
No, I'm just a wee bit behind this month, but the check is in the mail.
What is that? Like a club?
It's the Marines. I told you. And I'm leaving today with Ray.
- So, when will you be home? - I don't know. Maybe never.
Oh my God. He's always so dramatic. Fine.
Just stop for milk.
Skim.
Or 1% if they have it.
This is Recruit Cope. I have arrived safely at Parris Island.
Please do not send any food or bulky items to me in the mail.
I will contact you in seven to nine days by letter with my new address.
Thank you for your support. Goodbye for now.
The fuck are you looking at, faggot?
Hey. Ray. Ray, hey. Hey.
- What? What's wrong? - I made a mistake.
I have to get out of here. This is not like summer camp.
This is just like everywhere else, but it's worse.
Ah, dude, you gotta chill out. It's...
It is just the first day. It is... it is day one.
We've only been here for one day?
Cam.
Look, it's always hard at the start for everybody, not just you.
At least you don't have a racist breathing down your neck.
Yeah.
I am surprised Knox knows what a bento box is.
I told you it was gonna be rough.
Yeah, but I thought that you meant like mud and some bug bites
and wearing the same underwear two days in a row.
And there are no stalls in the bathroom.
Isn't that illegal? How am I supposed to poop?
Didn't you watch Full Metal Jacket, like I said?
I was going to, and then there was a Golden Girls marathon on.
I know. I'm such a Rose.
You just gotta keep going.
Lines! Lines! Move your ass!
On the line!
- Get the fuck on line! - Wake up, Marines!
Let's go!
Right now, you shits! On the fuckin' line!
Holy shit, Ochoa! Don't you point your little pocket pistol at me!
No one wants to know about your nasty, dirty dreams.
Wake up, peckerwoods!
Move it, ladies!
Four minutes to shit and shave!
- Ain't shit, shave and shower. - Look pretty, assholes! Let's go!
Give me your shaving cream.
Thought we weren't supposed to know each other.
Doesn't matter.
Keep it moving!
After the strength test, you'll be gone.
Get the fuck out of my hair!
Faster! Faster!
I ain't waitin' on you! Move it!
Fuck.
What's the matter? You got sensitive skin?
I got my skin.
Why the fuck aren't you moving faster?
I am going to PT every last fucking one of you!
Move it, ladies! Get it done.
Is that how they shave on your planet?
Move it! This is not a day at the beach!
I got moms to fuck tonight! Move!
Like that.
But if things get bad...
like that.
Today, you will take my initial strength test.
Only those who pass my test will remain in my platoon. Fall out!
Faster! Move this way!
Air Force, huh?
- So, what are you doing here? - Air Force was too easy.
Used to know this kid in my old neighborhood.
Family owned this shitty diner.
He had to do everything perfect.
Grades, sports... Fucking top of the class and shit.
Night before he's supposed to go to college,
burns down the diner with his parents inside.
No shit. Swear to God.
Why are you telling me this?
You remind me of him.
Dude, our honeymoon?
Nonstop.
Like, do not disturb. Know what I mean?
Yeah.
What about you? Got a girl?
She dumped me.
I think maybe that
she's a communist.
See what you got, Bento.
I said move it! Quit lollygagging!
Somebody wants it!
I ain't tired yet! You tired?
What, you want a speed race?
- What was that? - It's my twin brother.
Every man in my family has joined the Marines since the Civil War,
and I'm not gonna be the one to break tradition.
We got this. Right?
Yeah, totally.
Uh, but, hey,
what did McKinnon mean?
"Only those who pass remain"?
You gotta pass or you get dropped. They saved the hardest test for last too.
After the run, it's pull-ups.
You gotta do three, or you're out.
- Out? - Yeah.
- Really? - Uh-huh.
Like, all you have to do is not do three pull-ups?
Eighteen! Nineteen!
All right, put your dicks away.
Left, right, left, right, left.
You got this.
No, I don't, Ray.
I told you. I made a mistake.
This is my chance.
Your chance to what?
Let's go, ladies! Give me three or you're out of my platoon.
Move!
Hurry up!
Shut up, recruits! Give this recruit the chance to get up there.
Get up on that bar, you fat piece of shit.
Go!
Come on, get up!
One.
Let's go, Cam!
- Come on! - Come on!
Come on, Cam! Yes!
Yes, Cam!
- Two! - You got this!
Is that all you pussies got?
You got this, Cam!
I can't do it, man.
- Come on, come on, come on. - Do it.
Come on, Cam! One more!
Pack your bags, fatty!
One more!
Come on.
Bowman, you can do this! Get up! Come on, man!
Hey!
Nobody's packing bags, okay?
One more! You're not going home.
I can't do it, man.
You can!
- I can't. - Together.
Okay, ready?
- Let's go! - Okay.
Yes!
Come on! Come on! Yes!
Yes! Let's go!
One more.
One more, Cam! Let's go!
Dude.
Listen up.
In my Marine Corps, we do not scream like little girls at the beach.
We do not say, "Hooray."
We say, "Oorah!"
- Now let me hear it! - Oorah!
- Again! - Oorah!
Out-fucking-standing!
All right, now let 'em hear it!
Oorah, oorah, oorah, oorah, oorah, oorah!
Marines bring out the best in you.
It's not gonna be easy,
but it will be worth it.
What do you say, kid?
Are you the recruiter who took my son?
I'm sorry, ma'am, you're gonna have to... wait.
I wanna know who's responsible for stealing my child.
- I wanna speak to that person. - Be with you in just a minute.
Now, right here.
Yeah, right. He'll send you to college.
Just give him your life.
Ma'am?
Your schtick does not work on me, sweetheart. Okay?
I'm in sales too. So don't tell me that you're just looking for a few good men.
You're filling quotas. These aren't boys to you.
They're numbers.
Cannon fodder for whenever this country needs a good distraction.
Well, they are people's sons.
My son!
My favorite son!
And you've just taken him from me.
What's your son's name, ma'am?
Cameron Cope.
Cope?
And he's too small and too weak to be of any use to the military.
Oh.
Yeah.
Yeah, I remember now.
He said he wanted a change.
A change? Why? What change?
No. No, no, no. I don't think so.
Uh, no. I... I resent that.
I resent the implication that it has something to do with...
Well, believe me, I get your concerns,
but I saw something in your son.
A determination.
I see now where he gets his, uh, tenacity from, Mrs. Cope.
Ms. Cope.
Mr. Cope is...
Oh.
Well...
But you're right.
I got a quota to fill.
Get all kinds of kids.
Delinquents, junkies, fat bodies, jerk-offs.
Excuse my language.
Some really screwed-up cases you wouldn't believe.
Should I wait outside or...
But your son was different. He had what we were looking for
because someone had already given it to him.
Only the best mothers
can make Marines.
I can, uh... I'll come back.
Sure. Tomorrow. Take one of these.
Now, are we feeling better?
Are you sure my son is in good hands?
He is having the time of his life.
We got a busy day, asshole!
Or does Princess think she deserves a bubble bath?
This ain't no glamour shower.
Keep it moving!
Do not stop under the faucet.
Wash your nasty bodies.
Tighten up! Asshole to belly buttons, recruits.
- Touch me again, I'll kill you. - Sorry.
Hello again.
Time's up, ladies. Showers off. Let's go.
When you enter my armory, you will not speak.
You will take the rifle that's handed to you.
If I catch one of you touching your goddamn rifle
without being told to do so,
I will snap your head off
and shit down your neck.
Is that understood?
Sir, yes, sir!
You will fill out the identification card as you have been instructed.
You will then surrender said card and be issued a rifle.
Next recruit.
- Here. - Next recruit.
Let me do it. I got your back.
Next recruit.
What are you smiling at, Bento?
Oh, you're making eyes at your girlfriend.
So you wanna be the leader, huh? Air Force?
You slant-eyed fuck.
- Drill instructor! - Clear this room!
- Clear this room! Clear this room! - Clear this room!
Let's go! Move! Move!
Let's go!
Move! Let's go!
Now! Let's go!
This weapon must always be secured when it is not in your hands.
On my command,
retrieve your cable and padlock and secure your weapon as instructed.
Go!
Holy shit! Look what we got here!
You're gonna be on the Mount Rushmore of fuckups, you dumb shit!
Goddamn brutal magazine well, dumbass!
- Hey. - Better secure my rifle!
Now thread the cable through. No. Other way, other way.
Jesus Christ, boy. Up and around!
I feel sorry for your girlfriend if you can't take a small-ass thing
and put it in a big-ass hole.
Hurry up! Hurry up!
Company commander on deck!
Get your asses at attention!
Move it, you shitheads!
- Company commander's present! - At attention!
Straighten up!
Good afternoon, ma'am.
We have a serious problem, Senior Drill Instructor.
- Aye, ma'am. - Carry on.
When I said we'd find our place,
I was thinking New York or San Francisco.
But this...
this is lovely.
I ruined everything.
Ray could be gone.
It's because of me.
And if Ray is not safe here, there's no way I'm gonna make it.
Stupid faggot.
Hey.
Don't do that.
Don't ever do that.
Hey.
Y-you're alive.
Yeah, dummy. I'm alive.
Hey, guess what?
- Knox is gone. - What?
Heard some officers talking. He's not coming back.
Hey, I told you, we're gonna finish this.
No, I... almost ruined everything.
I'm... I'm gonna leave. I'm gonna tell them I lied.
Wh-what are you talking about?
Ray.
I don't belong here.
You belong as much as anyone.
Besides...
maybe I need you here too.
Yeah.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Well, guess we're stuck here now.
I'm scared.
Well, you're probably not the only one.
Yeah, but I'm the only one who has to hide.
You think you're the only one here who's hiding something?
I mean, that look in the shower.
I know.
Nash.
I was like, "What is happening?" Wait, no. See? This is why. I...
- Come on. - No, I mean it. I have to lock it up.
You mean lock me up.
Never.
I still don't know how to do this.
Yes, you do.
Hold on for one more day
I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day
And you break free from the chains
Yeah, I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day
And you break free, break from--
Get up!
Cock-a-doodle-doo, turd birds!
Get your lazy asses up!
- Wake the fuck up! - Move!
Platoon 2032.
This is Drill Instructor Sergeant Sullivan.
He is your new drill instructor.
Drill Instructor Sergeant Sullivan.
Take charge of these recruits and carry out the training schedule.
Aye, Senior Drill Instructor.
- What is your name, recruit? - Sir, Recruit Cope, sir!
When I say, "Go,"
you will grab your rifles,
get back on line, and stand at the position of attention.
Go!
Now we're gonna play a little game called "96."
When I say, "90,"
you will hold out your rifles at a 90-degree angle
in front of your disgusting bodies.
You will hold them at 90 degrees till I say, "Six."
Then you may lower your rifles six degrees away from said bodies.
Understand?
Sir, yes, sir!
Ninety.
In my Marine Corps,
we locate, close with, and destroy the enemy.
And that starts right here, right now.
And make no mistake,
the enemy is not next to you.
The enemy is not in front of you or behind you.
The enemy is inside of you!
Six.
Ninety.
Some of you have lived in weakness all your miserable lives.
Six.
Ninety.
Some of you have never been tested,
but I will push you until you break!
Six!
Some of you think that you're invincible.
Ninety!
But you're about to get crushed!
Some of you have no idea what you're capable of
because you're too fucking lazy to find out!
And some of you...
some of you know that you should never have stepped foot here at all.
Six.
And my job...
Ninety.
...is to make you into men.
Six.
And then...
Ninety.
...if you survive all that...
Six.
...into Marines!
Ninety!
Time to kill the enemy.
- Run away - Run away
- Run away from here - Run away from here
- Run away - Run away
- Run away from here - Run away from here
Run away all alone
Run away from fear
Run away from sadness
Run away from tears
Run away from home
From the wife and kids
From the cats and the doggies
Run away to forgive
Run into the light
- Run away from here - Run away from here