Boots (2025) s01e04 Episode Script

1
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 ♪
[MUSIC FADES]
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?
- [YOUNG RAY] No, sir.
Concentration, focus, discipline.
If you have those, you
don't have time for nerves.
No more episodes.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
Discipline
is your anchor.
You know what gives
focus and discipline?
A mission?
A man needs a mission.
[SIGHS]
[MCKINNON] Sink or swim.
[GASPS]
[MCKINNON] 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.
- [BLOWING BUBBLES] 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.
[HICKS GASPS]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[TROPICAL MUSIC PLAYS]
[DISTANT VOICE SHOUTS]
- [MCKINNON] There. Underneath them.
- [GASPS]
[HOWITT] Don't drink my
pool water, dumb shits.
- Ever tried making a joke around him?
- [INSTRUCTOR] 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.
- [INSTRUCTOR] using his technique.
We're not a sewing circle.
- [INSTRUCTOR] We will demonstrate.
- Aye, senior.
- [SULLIVAN] Davis, out.
- [INSTRUCTOR] 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?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
No, ma'am.
- [MCKINNON] You better know how to float.
- Just haven't gotten to it yet.
Sooner to it, sooner through it.
[RECRUITS] Sir, yes, sir!
Carry on, Sergeant. And sign that paper.
Aye, ma'am.
- [INSTRUCTOR] Pay attention, goddamn it!
- [RECRUITS] Sir, yes, sir!
[HOWITT] 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!
[HOWITT] You wanna eye-fuck everybody?
Get your sorry ass out of my water.
- You fuck up a wet dream!
- [MUSIC FADES]
[SPEAKS SPANISH]
I know you miss that
giant-ass Mo or whatever,
but you gotta get out of that funk.
- [RECRUITS] 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?
- [TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
- Got a dense bone?
- Shut up, Hicks.
- [LAUGHTER]
Hey, you failed one event. Dog,
you can't be perfect all the time.
[SLOVACEK] Hey
You fail!
[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]
[GASPS]
One. [EXHALES HEAVILY]
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!
[HOWITT] Get on the wall!
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[MUSIC FADES]
[RECRUIT] Stop being
a fucking spaz, bro.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
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.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
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?
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[KNOX] Platoon 2033! Outside!
Where's your guidon, shit skin?
[MCKINNON] McAffey. Sick bay.
Get yourself unfucked.
We got inspection tomorrow.
Aye, sir.
[MUSIC FADES]
How do you feel now, Raymond?
Better, sir.
That's right.
The mission steadies the mind.
Yes, sir.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[MEDIC] You can relax now.
[RAY] I told you, sir, I'm fine.
[MUSIC STOPS]
Someone thinks otherwise.
Wait there, recruit.
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
[HIGH-PITCHED TONE DRONES]
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
[WOMAN] What are you in for?
[TONE FADES]
[RAY] You're
a girl.
Mm-hmm.
Don't pitch a tent over it.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[SNIFFS]
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. [CHUCKLES]
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.
[FUNKY MUSIC PLAYS]
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.
[BOTH LAUGH]
- 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.
- [MEDIC] McAffey!
- [MUSIC STOPS]
You're clear.
- Take this back to your senior.
- Aye, sir.
I'm
I'm Ray.
Pop those hips, Ray.
[CHUCKLES]
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!
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
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.
[MUSIC FADES]
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.
[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYS]
So, you wanna help me?
To start a war?
[CHUCKLES]
I think I'll pass.
Ugh, I'm still gonna need help though.
Who would be crazy enough? It's
[RECRUITS] Navy.
[MUSIC STOPS]
I wanna bomb your submarines ♪
You don't do anything for me ♪
[MAN] Beefburger, no tomato. Order up.
You were sometimes hard to find ♪
[WOMAN] It's 150.
You wanted the hour.
All right.
Looks like you got yourself a lawyer.
So, you're a Marine, I take it?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
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
[EXHALES]
things got fucked up.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
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?
[MUSIC FADES]
[HICKS] Psst.
Psst.
[WATER GURGLES]
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.
- [SIGHS]
- [ENGINE RUMBLES]
["WHEN THE RAINBOW COMES" PLAYS]
Come on, pack your bags ♪
Clear the floor ♪
[LAUGHTER]
Step out through the open door ♪
[LAUGHS]
[MAN] 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 ♪
[MUSIC STOPS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
- [BANGING]
- [HOWITT] 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?
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
So, what happened? How
many guys came at you?
[SIGHS] 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.
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
The worst part is,
when they said they transferred
Knox, they did. Next door.
[SULLIVAN] Robinson, move it!
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- [HOWITT] Step up!
Knox is their DI.
Thirty-three!
- How do you know?
- Being a scribe has its perks.
- [WHISTLE BLOWS]
- [INSTRUCTOR] Stay in line. Float.
[KNOX] Sit on the deck!
Left hand, left feet!
You know what? He fucked
with the wrong platoon.
[KNOX] Sit up! Get those backs straight!
We're taking our shit back.
[KNOX] Heads up, you pencil dicks!
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[MUSIC FADES]
[YELPS]
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.
[INSTRUCTOR] 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.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
So a little psyop is coming together.
Pay a visit to Knox's platoon,
take back our TP. You in?
Yeah. [SPEAKS SPANISH] 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.
[MCKINNON] On line!
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
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.
[EXHALES]
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.
[TENSE MUSIC CRESCENDOS]
- [SNAKE SQUELCHES]
- [GASPS]
Your weapon needs cleaning, recruit.
[MCKINNON] Nothing but
snakes in my house!
[YELLS]
Disrespect my Corps, live in filth!
Now clean your shit up!
[OBJECTS CLATTER]
[DOOR SLAMS]
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."
[LAUGHTER]
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."
[MCKINNON] We doing story time now?
[SNAPS FINGERS]
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.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
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."
[MUSIC STOPS]
"But at least he's read a book."
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
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.
[MUSIC FADES]
[IN SPANISH] 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.
- [KNOCKING ON DOOR]
Mm.
I have to go. Love you.
Sí.
Sí, I do. Bye.
Come.
[DOOR OPENS]
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?
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
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?
[SIGHS]
Sorry to let you down, ma'am.
[RECRUITS EXCLAIM]
[MCKINNON YELLING INDISTINCTLY]
[BUGLE PLAYS]
[MUSIC STOPS]
[RAY EXHALES]
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
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
I'll leave the hero stuff to you.
I'll wake you up.
We got a mission.
Wanted to see me, sir?
[MUSIC FADES]
You know what that is?
No, sir.
[GRUNTS SOFTLY]
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.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
[RAY] Cam.
[SANTOS] Yo. We gonna do this?
I can't find Cope.
I'm gonna go check the head.
[MUFFLED CRYING]
[MUFFLED CRYING]
You wanna come or not?
Hey. [SPEAKS SPANISH]
Let's go.
[RAY] Cope's MIA. It's now or never.
Hey.
You guys need a hand?
Fuck off, Nash.
You're really mean.
[MUSIC STOPS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC RESUMES]
Has anyone seen Sullivan?
[MUSIC FADES]
Get in.
In.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]
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.
[HICKS] Looks like a party.
- [MUSIC STOPS]
- Hicks. No, we're good.
I can be lookout.
- All right, fine.
- [SPEAKS SPANISH]
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.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
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?
[OCHOA] 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.
[SPEAKS SPANISH]
[SPEAKS SPANISH]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
I've gotta get one more thing.
Just wait here. Okay?
The hell are you doing?
Leaving a love note.
Oh shit.
Go! Go!
[GROANS]
What the
[MUSIC STOPS]
Hicks, are you naked?
Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[RAY] Okay.
[MUSIC FADES]
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!
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
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.
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
[CAMERON CLEARS THROAT]
Thank you, sir.
[BUGLE PLAYS]
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.
[MCKINNON] Hm.
Give him one!
[RECRUITS] Kill!
Sir!
[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYS]
This recruit has a request, sir.
[INSTRUCTOR] This uniform,
designed to trap air
All right.
[GASPS]
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.
[CHUCKLES]
- [WAITRESS] What can I get you, Navy?
- Just a coffee, please.
Yes, ma'am.
[MUSIC FADES]
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS]
[MUSIC FADES]