Boots (2025) s01e06 Episode Script

1
[CLOCK TICKS]
Lights, lights, lights!
- Get up!
- [WOMAN 1] What you waiting on?
- [WOMAN 2] Get up!
- [WOMAN 1] Let's go! Hurry it up!
- [WOMAN 2] Get up! Let's go!
- [WOMAN 1] Let's go!
[WOMAN 3] Hey, get this.
Ashford came back from medical.
- Said a kid died last night.
- Bullshit.
Seriously. One of the male recruits.
How?
Heard the kid went Full Metal Jacket.
Shot himself in front of everyone.
Where'd he get the bullet?
Snuck it off the
range. Under his tongue.
Or up his butt.
I heard it happened while
they were watching a movie.
[GRUNTS] No way.
[GRUNTS] Nobody watches
movies at boot camp.
What platoon?
[RECRUIT] 2032.
Happened while they were on the range.
Did you say 2032?
That's my old platoon.
Where my brother is.
Wonder if it was him.
If your brother was dead,
they would've told you by now.
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[SERGEANT] All right, you beached
whales! You've made it this far!
If you wanna cycle back
into a training platoon,
pay me my 54 sit-ups!
Move!
[SCOFFS] Whoever the poor bastard was
at least he found a way out of here.
[RECRUITS] Marine Corps!
[PERCUSSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]
[MUSIC STOPS]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
[MAN] How did this happen?
A young man, married, with
his whole life ahead of him,
entrusted to us, didn't
even make it to the fleet.
And now he's gone.
So walk me through it.
[MUSIC STOPS]
How the hell did you manage to
IT a recruit to death, Sergeant?
You and the platoon
enjoying blockbuster night?
General, Recruit Ochoa shot range high
and was rewarded a phone call home.
Upon completing his call,
he exited the duty hut
to rejoin the platoon.
And that is when he
flipped my popcorn and
told me to "fuck off," sir.
I responded with incentivized training,
and when Recruit Ochoa
pushed himself too hard,
I ordered him to stop
multiple times. Sir.
Why was Sergeant Howitt on
duty two nights in a row,
in direct contradiction
with proper duty rotation?
General, I excused Staff Sergeant
McKinnon for the birth of his child,
and Sergeant Sullivan was
answering questions for NCIS.
Is there some other way this platoon
could be more of a clusterfuck, Captain?
General, Sergeant Howitt
has been a model Marine
here and at his previous command,
including being named
"NCO of the Quarter."
That and the coroner's
pending medical review
are the only reasons you're
not in the brig, Sergeant.
Until further notice, you're
suspended from the drill field.
Aye, sir.
Dismissed.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
[MCKINNON] Losing a brother
is not normal for recruits,
but it is inevitable for Marines.
You will learn this lesson here
or in combat.
You will put this in your pack.
You will carry it, and you will move on.
Now is the fight after the fight.
You will keep going.
You will not hesitate.
You will not look back.
You will do it for the
brother to your left and right.
If you cannot,
you put his life in
danger and your own.
The chaplain will be made available.
Anyone need to see the chaplain?
Nobody needs a little
extra Jesus in his life?
Tomorrow, you start "mess
and maintenance" week,
performing support duties on base.
You will be in service
of my Marine Corps.
You will shovel shit.
You will shovel chow.
You will go where you are needed.
You will do it with
speed, volume, intensity.
You will lock your shit
up and do your duty.
Do you understand?
Sir, yes, sir!
[MUSIC STOPS]
Let us pray.
God, country, Corps, kill!
Recover!
Move!
Carry on.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
What do you think we should
- Waste not, want not
- Back the fuck up.
[CHUCKLES]
No one touches this.
[SULLIVAN] Scribe.
[MUSIC FADES]
Break the platoon down
into three working parties.
Also, Ochoa's unused hygiene goods,
you disperse amongst the platoon.
The rest of his gear, you collect.
That's it. Leave.
Si [SIGHS]
Spit it out, Cope.
Sir.
This recruit is wondering if
the platoon's gonna do anything
for Ochoa.
Close my hatch.
[DOOR CLOSES]
Sit.
First person you ever saw die?
Yes, sir.
Having a hard time keeping focused?
Replaying things he said and did?
Things you said and did?
Yes, sir.
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS]
We've all got something to carry, Cope.
Can't carry ghosts.
That shit's too heavy.
You trust me on that.
You are not responsible
for someone else's weakness.
You are responsible for your own,
and that's what you came here to kill.
You have to bury your old
self, become your best self.
Out.
[MUSIC FADES]
[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
[MUSIC STOPS]
[GASPS FOR AIR]
Ah, f
That all you got, Maitra?
- Break your chokehold all day long.
- Why don't you choke on my nuts?
You coming out tonight?
Can't.
I got plans.
Motherfucker!
Never tell me shit.
- Who is she?
- [LAUGHS]
If tell you ♪
If I tell you now ♪
Will you keep on ♪
Will you keep on loving me? ♪
If I tell you ♪
If I tell you how I feel ♪
Will you keep bringing
out the best in me? ♪
[MUSIC CONTINUES QUIETLY]
The sweetest taboo ♪
[CHUCKLES]
What you doing, Creepy?
The sweetest taboo ♪
I'm on fire watch.
You're relieved.
There's a quiet storm ♪
Now come here.
like this before ♪
There's a quiet storm that is you ♪
There's a quiet storm and it
never felt this hot before ♪
Giving me something that's taboo ♪
Sometimes I think you're
just too good for me ♪
You give me the sweetest taboo ♪
That's why I ♪
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
- [SULLIVAN] Lights, lights, lights!
- [MUSIC STOPS]
Get your lazy asses up
on the line right now!
- Wake the fuck up!
- [MCKINNON] Get up!
I don't care if you're
having a dirty dream
or you fucking pissed the bed.
[MCKINNON] One, two, three!
[RECRUITS] Pull!
[RECRUITS STRAIN]
[SULLIVAN] Pull it!
[RECRUITS] Oorah!
[SERGEANT 1] There you go, recruit!
Goddamn, we got a gardener here with us.
You did good at the range.
Not bad for Tiny Tim.
I'm sorry I said that.
The stuff about Sullivan
and the dumpster, that was messed up.
[SERGEANT 1] Keep going.
Sharpshooter though.
[SERGEANT 1] Let's go! Make Daddy proud.
I saw the rifle range board.
They took Ochoa's name down,
moved you into first place.
That's what you wanted, right?
- To be number one?
- Yeah, but not like that.
And it's not that I want to be.
I have to be.
Pressure just builds up, you know?
That's what happened at the pool.
I know.
What you don't know is that's why
I failed out of the Air Force Academy.
[SERGEANT 1] Let's go!
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
You said you left the Air
Force 'cause of your eyesight.
I had one of my attacks
when I was out there.
Couldn't pull myself back in time.
They said I wasn't fit.
Afraid I would freak out
in the cockpit or something.
That's the whole truth.
[NASH] I know it's fucked up, but
But nothing.
Howitt would've never fucked with
those big-ass double-wide white boys
the way he did with Ochoa, and
that shit ain't going unchecked.
You think I'm not pissed about this?
Oh, I don't know. You haven't
said shit about it either way.
I'm not trying to stir stuff up
when I don't know all the facts.
[SANTOS] Gonna preach about facts?
Don't act like you didn't
hear the racist shit
coming out of Howitt's mouth.
[SERGEANT 2] Work quickly, recruits!
[SANTOS] We gotta lock it up 'cause
our brothers' lives depend on it.
Tell that to the
brother who already died.
Man, I'm saying be smart.
You looking out for other people now?
I'm a grown-ass man, motherfucker.
I don't need to dial it down.
You need to step it the fuck up.
If he said that to me,
I would've fucked him up.
You saw Ochoa. Flipped Howitt's popcorn.
The hell was that?
I don't know. Maybe he's got that,
uh, like, split personality thing.
- Like Two-Face.
- It's the saltpeter.
The what?
Saltpeter. Stuff they put in our food
to keep our dicks from getting hard.
- Screws with your brain.
- Bullshit. [GASPS]
Yeah. Bullshit.
Think about it. When's the
last time you woke up with wood?
Fuck that. This morning.
Get the fuck out of here.
I can get hard right now.
Watch me. Right now.
[HOWITT] Get back to work.
Were you ever gonna tell
me about the Air Force?
Probably.
Eventually.
Okay, I'm not saying
lying to you was right,
but I trusted you with my secret.
Why couldn't you trust me with yours?
I don't know.
[SULLIVAN] Parade rest!
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[MCKINNON] Listen up, recruits.
Medical report confirms
that Ochoa died from a
preexisting heart condition
he did not disclose to the Corps.
Drill Instructor Sergeant
Howitt will be rejoining us.
[SPEAKS SPANISH]
[MCKINNON] Lock that shit up!
Everyone on their faces, now!
Drill Instructor Howitt
is one of us, understood?
[RECRUITS] Sir, yes, sir!
His lawful orders will
be obeyed, understood?
Sir, yes, sir!
- Begin!
- One, two, three!
One! One, two, three! Two!
One, two, three! Three!
- One, two, three!
- [MUSIC FADES]
[JOHN] Yeah, so I'm down to 238 pounds.
If I pass the next PFT, I get
to go back to regular training.
Me too. Releasing me from Crip.
That's great, man.
Yeah, from purgatory to hell.
You know, O'Shea says that
I might be able to go
back to my old platoon,
which is what I thought I
wanted, but I kept imagining
what it would be like to,
like, look Cody in the eye.
Or to shiv him in the neck.
Maybe I should just let it all go.
Personally, going back to somebody
who's been an asshole to me
and making them see how
much better I am without them
is basically the reason to go on living.
Yeah, but what about just
being free of it all, you know?
I'm just I'm done crying over a
brother that I lost a long time ago.
I don't need his apologies,
and I don't need his approval.
I'm just gonna rise above it, and
I'm gonna be the bigger person.
The next time that I see Cody,
I'm gonna look at him and say,
"Cody, I wish you well."
"Everything that happened in between us
is water under the bridge. I'm done."
John?
Holy shit.
Fuck you, Cody!
Bowman! Move your fat ass!
Move! Move!
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[WATER SPLASHES]
The fuck, dude?
What?
Why is everybody being
a little bitch today?
Saltpeter in the food.
Now we gotta deal with
Howitt coming back for more.
We're just gonna let
him kill somebody else?
My dad once waited ten years
to get back at this
dude for robbing my mama.
Caught his ass slipping one day,
beat him with a baseball bat.
Pendejo got what was
coming to him, and so will Howitt.
Howitt didn't kill Ochoa.
They're putting shit in our chow.
Heart defect, saltpeter, case closed.
Yeah? I'm about to reopen it.
- Guys.
- Bro, I'm just stating facts.
Come on.
We all saw what happened.
It's science, dude.
I got this.
- [MUSIC STOPS]
- You were saying?
- [CAMERON SIGHS]
- What?
The night before Ochoa died,
I found him in the head.
He was in pain.
He begged me not to tell anyone
because he wanted to shoot,
but what if all this happened
because I didn't say anything?
Cam.
How could you have known?
There's no way. It's not on you.
What the fuck? Get off your ass!
What if it is though?
I mean, he was my bunkie. I
barely said two words to him.
I was afraid everyone
was gonna come after me
the way they went after him.
Then Sullivan says you
can't be responsible
for someone else's weakness,
only your own. So then why?
Why do I feel responsible?
What if it's my weakness
that's the problem?
What if that's why I couldn't
help Ochoa? What if
Should've been a fistful of shit,
you tulip! Back to fucking work!
[LAUGHTER]
- Oh.
- [RECRUIT 1] Hey, guys.
- Chill out. Lock it up.
- [CHUCKLES]
[ROARS]
[SLOVACEK] You fuckin' lock it up!
Bring it, motherfucker!
Let me have it! Come on!
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYS]
Here we go! ♪
No ♪
No way ♪
No one ♪
Gonna ♪
Stop, now go! ♪
[GRUNTS]
- [HICKS LAUGHS]
- [SLOVACEK] Take this, fuckers! [LAUGHS]
- Whoo!
- Hey, Santos! Santos, no!
No! Dick, no! No!
Conversation ♪
The world is loaded ♪
It's lit to pop and
nobody is gonna stop ♪
[GRUNTING]
No ♪
[NASH] Hey, break it up!
[SANTOS GRUNTS]
Hey, come on!
That's enough!
Hey! No!
Come on!
No way ♪
Enough!
[MUSIC STOPS]
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[CHAPLAIN] "A time to
love and a time to hate,
a time for war
and a time for peace."
And so, Lord, we carry these
words with us today and every day.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
[RECRUITS QUIETLY] Amen.
Say, "Amen!"
- [RECRUITS] Amen!
- Amen.
PT showers, and then we drill
until you can no longer stand.
[ALL SIGH]
[MCKINNON] Fall out!
- [SULLIVAN] Cope.
- Sir!
Get Ochoa's gear back to CIF.
Aye, sir.
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYS]
I wasn't trying to
preach at you back there.
You're right.
All this shit is fucked up.
But if I'm honest
all I could think about
is the look on Ochoa's face when
he heard what I wrote in my book.
Howitt's an asshole.
Fact.
Shit, I could blame him.
But I'm more pissed at myself.
["ANGEL OF MERCY" PLAYS]
Oh, I should have seen it coming ♪
Guess I could have stayed awake ♪
Always some damn fool mistake ♪
Keeps me falling in this place ♪
Change is sometimes for the better ♪
If a man can keep his head ♪
Well, at least that's what I've read ♪
Can't believe all that is said ♪
Oh, you angel of mercy ♪
Won't you have me as a friend? ♪
Sir!
nothing but the end inside ♪
Can this recruit ask a favor?
Take me high above the canyons ♪
Through the midnight blues and grays ♪
- [SIGHS]
- [INNER VOICE] You've been avoiding me.
Trying not to think so much.
- It's sad.
- Then be sad.
It is sad. You are sad, so just be sad.
I I can't, okay?
Not here.
Why? Because that would be weak?
[SCOFFS] Wouldn't want that.
After all, "you're only
responsible for your own weakness."
Quoting Sullivan now?
Spreading his wisdom?
He had a good point.
Huh. And, uh, all his talk
about burying your old self,
is that a good point too?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[SULLIVAN] Cope!
You on a Sunday stroll?
What did I tell you about ghosts?
Some lessons you gotta
learn the hard way.
Move it.
Aye, sir.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYS]
Semper fi, motherfucker.
[WILKINSON] No. Don't touch it.
- [SULLIVAN] Let me see yours.
- [WILKINSON] Mine feels great.
- Shut up. Let me fucking see.
- Don't fucking touch it.
- You're a tough guy.
- Don't
[WILKINSON] This is stupid.
We're Marines.
We got tattoos.
We needed something to
commemorate our service.
[MUSIC FADES]
To life
after the Corps.
You know, like you said a few weeks ago.
I know what I said.
And I know what you said.
Told me to fuck off with all
my talk about getting out.
- Doesn't sound like me.
- I'm serious, Bobby.
I'm not talking about getting
out tomorrow. I'm just
I'm just saying I've been thinking.
Just takes me a little longer
'cause I'm not an officer.
[WILKINSON] That's not fair.
I know what this is.
It's once a week in a shitty motel
room until we go our separate ways.
And then maybe maybe
I'll see you somewhere else in
the fleet, and that'll be fine.
[MELANCHOLY MUSIC PLAYS]
[SULLIVAN] You know, for
an intelligence officer,
you're pretty slow on the uptake.
What do I have to do?
Get a tattoo that says
"I love you"?
[MUSIC FADES]
My Marine Corps was founded in a bar.
If you're old enough to go to war,
you're old enough to
have some kickin' chicken.
- [RECRUIT 1] Ain't no way he's serious.
- You think we should?
[RECRUITS MUTTER]
All a bunch of pussies.
Fuck it.
Hold up.
For Ochoa.
We lost our secret weapon
and didn't know it.
Ochoa's bunkie gets first shot.
[EXHALES] That's okay.
Put some hair on your chest.
- [RECRUITS CHUCKLE]
- [CAMERON COUGHS]
Oorah.
Oorah!
- [RECRUIT 2] Ochoa.
- [RECRUIT 3] To you, Ochoa.
Oh yeah.
["A BETTER WAY" PLAYS]
Are you sure we can't fix you a plate?
No. No, thank you, Portia.
I'm sorry to just drop by.
Well, we're glad to have you.
[FAJARDO CHUCKLES]
Well, I'm going to give
her big brother a bath.
Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh, sh.
[FAJARDO] How you holding up?
I just keep thinking
about Ochoa's parents.
Twelve years in the Corps.
Never lost one of my guys.
and shattered ♪
I lost two Marines in the fleet.
That's how I feel ♪
Doesn't get easier.
They stay with you.
In my heart today ♪
Are those the Montford Point Marines?
[MCKINNON] Mm-hmm.
[FAJARDO] Trailblazers.
[MCKINNON] My granddad was a
stretcher bearer at Iwo Jima.
Oh shit.
My family's been in the Corps
since they let Black people in.
He saw the elephant for sure.
Combat.
- Oh.
- Civil War expression.
Must have slept through that class.
[MCKINNON CHUCKLES]
How'd it go with the general?
Oh, you know. He's gonna fit
me with a pair of cement boots,
throw me to the bottom of the Pentagon.
[MCKINNON] Mm.
I'm a good swimmer.
First woman to lead a male
company on Parris Island.
[MUSIC STOPS]
Only took 215 years and
a congressional mandate.
Really thought I had a shot this time.
To make a change.
It'll come.
Maybe with her.
[MCKINNON] Maybe.
[CHUCKLES]
[MCKINNON] Howitt was on
duty two nights in a row
because of some investigation
I still don't know about.
You picked Sullivan,
put him in my charge.
I'm flying blind here.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
They're investigating whether
or not Sullivan is gay.
A recruit is dead
because the brass's biggest
concern is who's putting what where?
The man's got a Silver Star.
Yeah, let's hope that's
enough to save him.
What are they saying out
there? That it's my fault?
Semper fi, brother.
Semper fi.
- [MUSIC FADES]
- [SLOVACEK] Come on, come on.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey. For the kisses we've snatched
and the snatches we've kissed.
- [HICKS] Woo! [LAUGHS]
- [SLOVACEK] You drinking that?
Asked if we could keep this.
Wasn't sure what to do with it, but
Can I have it?
Yeah.
[SLOVACEK] Whoa!
He should have been in our packs, Cope.
[NASH] Hey, y'all.
Hey, y'all. Guys.
What does this guy want?
I just wanna say I'm sorry
for all the dumb shit
I wrote in my book.
Diary.
[LAUGHTER]
- Shut up.
- [RECRUIT 1] Diary!
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYS]
I'd be proud to fight beside
every single one of you.
- Most of you.
- [RECRUIT 2] Amen, brother.
- [LAUGHTER]
- [RECRUIT 3] All right. We love you, Nash.
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYS]
Damn it.
Guys, that's the last of it.
Lucky for you, I got a little
concoction I've been fermenting.
What's in it?
Patented formula. Cough syrup,
rubbing alcohol, and secrets.
A little something I call "Jesus Juice."
Nope, I'm good.
Tastes like licorice.
[LAUGHS]
- How much of that has he had?
- As much as he needs.
Okay, I think Yeah.
Yeah.
Come on.
Anybody else?
- [RAY LAUGHS]
- Come on.
[RAY LAUGHS]
[LAUGHS]
- [MUSIC FADES]
- Can I say something?
And it's not just because
of the Jesus Juice.
- Okay, yeah. Sure.
- No, I'm serious.
I just I just wanna let you
know that I meant what I said.
That I needed you here too.
I did.
I do.
You're the best friend I ever had.
I should've told you the truth, and
instead, I, um
I did what my dad told me to.
[LAUGHS] Why
why am I even here?
I mean, why are you?
- [CAMERON] Okay, hold on. Ray.
- Oh my God.
- God, you're in this shit because of me.
- [CAMERON] No.
Oh fuck. Oh shit. I'm so sorry, Cam.
- I'm so fucking sorry.
- Ray, stop.
Listen to me. Listen.
Sullivan's right.
[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYS]
You're not responsible for me.
You don't have to be
sorry. I'm not sorry.
You know, we're here,
and we're changing.
And it hurts, but it's good.
Because we're killing our old
selves so we can be our best selves.
We are the champions, my friends ♪
Buh-buh-buh ♪
And we'll keep on
fighting till the end ♪
Buh-buh-buh ♪
We are the champions ♪
[MALE SINGER] No time for losers ♪
'Cause we are the champions ♪
We are the champions, my friends ♪
Come on. Sing it, Maitra.
You on the rag?
[MALE SINGER]
fighting till the end ♪
Look, I heard some scuttlebutt.
I was out with some of the boys
last night, and your name came up.
[CHUCKLES]
You been working out with that
major? What's his name? Wilkinson?
Once or twice.
- Shouldn't be hanging out with that guy.
- Why? 'Cause he's an officer?
No, 'cause he's a faggot.
You hang out with a
dude like Wilkinson
[UNEASY MUSIC PLAYS]
they could get the wrong idea.
[SCOFFS]
[INTRIGUING MUSIC PLAYS]
[MUSIC FADES]
What's all this?
Called in a favor.
Got some strings pulled.
What, you're leaving?
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
You were right about that Wilkinson guy.
Came on to me.
You believe that shit?
Fucking faggot officer.
Not sticking around for that.
Gotta know when to move on.
Where you going?
[MUSIC FADES]
Home.
[SULLIVAN] Two, three, and four ♪
- Marine Corps! ♪
- Army, Navy was not for me! ♪
- Marine Corps! ♪
- Air Force was just too easy! ♪
- Marine Corps! ♪
- I'll be a Marine till the day I die! ♪
Marine Corps! ♪
Motivated and semper fi! ♪
Marine Corps! ♪
One, two, three, and four! ♪
Marine Corps! ♪
One, two, three, and four! ♪
- Marine Corps! ♪
- Army, Navy is not for me! ♪
Marine Corps! ♪
[SULLIVAN] Air Force
is just too easy! ♪
Marine Corps! ♪
[SULLIVAN] I'll be a
Marine till the day I die! ♪
- Marine Corps! ♪
- Motivated and semper fi! ♪
- [RECRUITS] Marine Corps! ♪
- [SULLIVAN] One, two, three, and four! ♪
[RECRUITS PANTING]
["LUV DANCIN'" PLAYS]
You must be Cope.
Looks like we're bunkies.
I've been watching you, boy ♪
The way you move is
doing something to me ♪
That sexy body of yours, baby ♪
I dream about it
every day of the week ♪
Yeah, yeah ♪
This ain't the first
time I've seen you ♪
I've been wanting you
for quite some time ♪
But tonight ♪
Is the night ♪
That I'm gonna make you mine, baby ♪
You've got me luv dancin' ♪
You've got, you've got ♪
You've got me luv dancin' ♪
You've got me luv dancin' ♪
You've got me ♪
♪
You've got me luv dancin' ♪
Whoa, whoa ♪
Oh, ooh ♪
Whoa, whoa ♪
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
- Oh ♪
- Oh ♪
Whoa, whoa ♪
Ooh, don't even try to escape it ♪
[MUSIC FADES]