Boots
Genre: Military comedy drama
Created by: Andy Parker
Season 1 – Episode 2
Stars: Miles Heizer, Max Parker, Vera Farmiga, Liam Oh, Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, Angus O’Brien, Dominic Goodman, Kieron Moore, Nicholas Logan, Blake Burt, Rico Paris
Episode title: The Buddy System
Original release date: It premiered on Netflix on October 9, 2025
Plot: A training exercise strains Cameron’s bond with Ray and forces brothers John and Cody to unpack the family baggage they brought to Parris Island.
* * *
Boots – S01E02 – The Buddy System | Full transcript
[“What We All Want” plays]
♪ This wheel spins, let me off ♪
♪ It’s not for lack of trying ♪
♪ Can’t put my finger on it ♪
♪ You can’t help being hard up ♪
♪ Can’t trust the god we trusted ♪
♪ Don’t think that’s any insurance ♪
♪ Could I be happy with something else? ♪
♪ I need something to fill my time ♪
Kill.
[music fades]
[whistle blows]
[upbeat music plays]
[all] One!
Two!
Three!
I’m telling you, he knows about me.
You’re overreacting.
How could he know?
Because you should have seen that look.
He could’ve killed me with his eyes.
[Ray] Did you see the jump wings on his uniform?
That means that he’s Recon. Covert ops.
If he wanted to kill you, you’d be dead.
You always know just what to say.
[McKinnon] Nash! Slovacek!
McAffey! Bowman!
Step forward.
[whistle blows]
Not you.
You.
[whistle blows]
These are your squad leaders.
Take your problems to them.
I don’t wanna see your ugly faces.
If my squad leaders fail to perform, they will be replaced.
Understand?
[recruits] Sir, yes, sir!
[McKinnon] Fall out!
[whistle blows]
I’m just saying, things could be different here.
We could be helping each other.
I don’t need your help.
[whistle blows]
[John] I got you through biology and senior English.
It’s not all pullups and flutter kicks here.
What happens when they quiz you on the Pacific Theater, and you don’t know Iwo Jima from Guadalcanal?
Yeah, for you, more like “waddle” canal.
[whistle blows]
[grunting]
In one-on-one combat, only you can save your life.
The pugil sticks exercise will simulate rifle and bayonet combat.
Red is the knife of your bayonet.
Red is dead!
[McKinnon] That is what you came here to do.
You came here to kill.
Now take that bayonet and shove it through your partner’s skull!
Now let me hear you say it!
“Kill! Kill! Blood makes the grass grow.”
[recruits] Kill! Kill!
Blood makes the grass grow.
Blood makes grass grow?
I think maybe it’s a slogan.
Cameron, “Earn money for college.”
That’s a slogan.
This is… It’s PE with body bags.
They’re training you to murder.
[Howitt] Go for the head!
This ain’t your mama’s piñata.
[recruit] Kill!
[Cameron] No. No, no. See?
It… it’s fine. It’s a game.
We’re having fun.
I mean, I guess if you take away the bloodlust, it does feel a little like American Gladiators.
Oh my God. Remember Nitro?
[music stops]
Ow!
Hey, put your helmet on.
[McKinnon] Rodriguez.
Things like that gonna get you killed.
Just mirror whatever I do, okay?
Okay.
[Ray grunts]
Okay, keep your arms up a little higher.
Harder.
That was harder.
Put some muscle into it.
All right.
[recruits] Oorah!
[McKinnon] Strike first, strike fast.
[recruits] Sir, yes, sir!
[McKinnon] Now get in there!
So, where you seen action?
Were you in Nicaragua, or were you Far East?
Wherever my country needed me.
Classified, right. Mm.
I’ve been thinking about moving over into Recon myself.
Good morning, ma’am.
Good morning, ma’am.
Gentlemen.
Fine day for a fight.
[both] Yes, ma’am.
[company commander] Carry on.
Tell you one thing you wouldn’t have to put up with over in Recon.
Only company on Parris Island with a female CO.
Believe that shit?
Some asshole’s always trying to change the Corps.
Why we got to be the guinea pigs?
Captain Fajardo can keep shit from rolling downhill.
That’s all that matters.
I think it’s pronounced Fahardon.
[whistle blows]
[rock music plays]
[recruits shouting]
[grunting]
[recruit 1] He ain’t shit!
[recruit 2] Get him!
Kill!
[McKinnon] Doc!
Take him out.
Where do they take him?
Sick bay and then the CRIP platoon.
You don’t wanna get stuck there.
It’s purgatory.
[Nash] Kill!
Try not to get injured.
[whistle blows] Let’s see some brotherly love! Move!
[rock music continues]
Wish me luck.
[music stops]
[thunder crashes]
[gentle music plays]
[young Bowman] John.
John.
What’s wrong, Cody?
I’m scared.
Come on.
[thunder crashes]
[recruits shouting]
[Cody] You want it, bitch?
[Cody yells]
Pick your stick up!
That’s right. Finish him off.
[applause] Kill!
Switch lines, quick.
What?
That way, you can fight me.
If you stay in this one, you gotta fight Ivan Drago.
[whistle blows]
[McKinnon] Taylor and Moore, let’s go!
All right, get in there.
[Cameron] Hey, switch places with me?
Why? What do I get?
What do you want?
Someday, and that day may never come, I will ask you to do a service for me.
Yeah, sure. Okay.
[Howitt] I wanna see mouthpieces flying. You understand?
[whistle blows] Get your ass in there, recruit!
[whistle blows]
What the hell are you waiting for?
[shrieks]
What the fuck?
[rock music plays]
[grunting]
So, what’s his story?
Anything I need to know?
Most of his record’s redacted.
Parts I read were good.
Last post was Guam. Why’d he leave early?
You ever drawn Guam as a duty station?
Guy’s got three Commendations for Valor and a Silver Star.
He’s a fuckin’ killer.
[McKinnon] Mmhmm.
Always the same with these Recon guys.
I think you’re Marine enough for him, Staff Sergeant.
[grunting]
Kill!
[Howitt] Get in there, limp bodies.
[music fades]
[recruits shouting]
Come on!
[exhales]
[whistle blows]
[grunting]
[Ray] Kill!
Hold!
[whistle blows]
[Cameron grunts]
Is that the best that you can do?
Sir, no, sir!
Do you wanna stay squad leader?
Sir, yes, sir!
Then show me!
There will be no mercy!
There will be no weakness! Do you hear me?
[recruits] Sir, yes, sir!
Kill!
[whistle blows]
[Ray yells]
[Cameron groans]
[recruits shouting]
[Ray] Kill!
That was a fucking love tap.
One of you is going home in a body bag!
Which one is it gonna be?
Now open up that fucking chainsaw, and let it rage!
[recruits] Yeah!
[recruit 1] Go on, kill him!
[recruit 2] Do it! Do it!
[groans]
[recruit 3] Kill him!
[Cameron] Sorry.
[Ray grunts, yells]
[rock music plays]
[Ray grunts]
Break his ass!
Let’s go!
[recruit 4] That’s it!
[cheering]
Rah! Oorah!
[tense music plays]
Yeah!
[cheering]
[breathes heavily]
[music fades]
[Howitt] Move it, clown dicks! Let’s go!
Hey, you okay?
What was that?
You knocked me halfway to Mexico.
I didn’t have a choice.
Hey, you saw.
Sullivan was breathing down my neck.
McAffey, duty hut, now.
[Howitt] Let’s go, Wilson!
Damn smiley meal.
Friend smacked you pretty good.
Hit looked bad.
[Howitt] Don’t act like a bag of soup!
Oh, no, it’s… it’s fine.
Ray just… he always tries his hardest.
You guys join together?
Yeah.
There’s your first mistake.
Buddy system is a lie just to get you to sign up.
And once you’re here, it’s every man for himself.
Uh… no, Ray has my back.
Um… so, um…
What about you? Were you just born strong, fearless, and a master at pugil sticks?
[laughs] No. I’m a reservist, man.
After this, it’s back to Howard, you know?
Gotta get some form of service on that bio.
Right. College, yes.
Cool.
Um…
You, um… you got a girlfriend back there or…
[Howitt] Squad leaders!
Get your ass in the duty hut, now!
Move!
Get on line, turd stains!
Turns out some of you dipshits got people who care about you!
What are you eye-fucking me for?
Sir, this recruit is expecting a letter from his wife, sir.
Why? So you can beat your little taquito to it?
Your wife, recruit, is currently getting drilled by your brother, your cousin, and your dog in the back of a Ford Topaz!
Now on your face and push, and quit looking me in the eye until I say stop!
Aye, sir!
Bowman!
Aw, that’s sweet.
You can share your toys and wipe each other’s asses.
This recruit joined first–
I don’t give a fuck about some bitchin’ brother bullshit.
As far as I’m concerned, you are one person.
From now on, you shit, shower, and shave together!
Double fucking cherries! Got that?
Sir, yes, sir!
Sir, yes, sir!
Now, which one of you dipshits is John?
Sir, this recruit, sir!
Looks like Mama loves you best.
Stop, idiot!
Harris, you heard from Susan?
I’m sure it’s for both of us.
[Howitt] Nothing for you, Ramirez.
Nobody loves you.
[man] Any fucking time. Any fucking…
I swear to Christ, Ruth!
[Ruth] Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Wait.
Shoes on. Four miles.
I’m coming too.
The hell you are.
What do you think, Cody?
Does John deserve a shot?
No, sir.
Tell his fat ass.
You don’t deserve it.
[somber music plays]
[music fades]
[Howitt] Nathan!
No mail?
Oh, no. Uh, yeah, my family’s not really the corresponding type.
[Howitt] Martinez!
But, uh, hey, is… is Ray still in there?
Yeah.
[Howitt] Lopez!
Sullivan’s having a word.
Gonna go hit the showers. Coming?
Oh, I’ll… yeah, I’ll see you in there.
[Howitt] Taylor!
[tense music plays]
What’s going on?
[Howitt] All right, Wilson.
[McKinnon] Cope!
[Howitt shouts indistinctly]
Sir, recruit Cope reporting as ordered, sir!
What took you so long? Get in here!
This the one?
[music fades]
[Howitt] Scrawny little fucker.
Better get some meat on those damn bones, or it’s double rats from now on.
Understand?
Sir, yes, sir!
[McKinnon] You’re my scribe. Got that?
Records, logs, whatever we need.
Someone calls “scribe,” you hop in here and wag your bushy little tail. Got it?
Sir, yes, sir!
Scribe assigns fire watch.
Hourlong shifts, lights out to rise and shine.
Everyone gets a watch, even you.
So don’t get cute.
Shut your ears. Do your work.
Aye, sir!
[McKinnon] Who’s on your shit list, Sergeant?
Well, that Ochoa kid is one overeager beaver.
And Hicks is a fucking nutjob.
Who you got eyes on?
They all look like shit to me, Staff Sergeant.
[tense music plays]
[McKinnon] Move to your rack!
Prepare to mount!
[recruits] Prepared to mount! Aye, sir!
[McKinnon] Ready! Mount!
Adjust!
Ready!
Sleep!
Good night, 2032.
[recruits] Good night, sir!
Shut up, 32. You’re asleep.
[tense music continues]
[music fades]
[Cameron] Hey, Ray.
Hey.
Cam, what time is it?
0300. It’s your turn for fire watch.
Look, I assigned us consecutive shifts so we can finally talk.
You what?
Yeah, I’m scribe now, apparently.
So, what’s going on?
What did Sullivan say?
Okay, but don’t freak out.
I’m not allowed to talk to you anymore.
What?
Why? What about the buddy system?
Sullivan says if I help you in any way, he’s gonna make it worse for both of us.
A lot worse.
See? He knows.
He has it out for me. He knows.
Sh! Don’t freak out.
You said you wanted me to stay here so we could do this together.
I know.
So the buddy system is a lie.
And our friendship’s over.
And I’m gonna die alone.
Cam, stop. Listen.
Sullivan has a point.
[somber music plays]
If I go easy on you, how’s that gonna help either of us out in the long run?
In the long run?
I’m trying to live through tomorrow.
You will, okay? You can.
Look, you are still my best friend, but I have to obey the DIs.
Sullivan thinks I could be Honor Man.
That means that you are the top recruit in the whole platoon.
I have to stay squad leader if I wanna have a shot.
So that’s what this is about.
No.
No, I’m saying…
My dad won Honor Man when he was in boot camp.
Do you know how huge that would be for me?
If I could do one thing that would make him proud?
Right.
I don’t wanna stand in your way. I get it.
I want you to be squad leader and Best Man.
Honor Man.
Whatever.
I… I also wanna live.
We were gonna do this together.
We are doing it together.
Just on our own.
[upbeat music plays] [recruits] One, two, three, four…
[Sullivan] Pick it up, ladies!
[recruits] Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Yo, Bento. Nice hit yesterday.
Don’t call me that.
Chill, bro. It’s a compliment.
You should try that hit against a man next time though.
Not that little bitch you brought along to make you look good.
If I see a man around here, I’ll let you know.
What kind of buddies are you two anyway?
He suck you long time?
Silence on my track!
Did you get any mail?
I got a letter from the missus.
She went out dancing, but the DJ was playing all Madonna, and she’s way more into Whitney.
But the letter I’m really waiting for, coming any day now, bro, know what it’s gonna say?
That I’m gonna be a dad.
‘Cause I know me and her made a baby, dude. I know.
And nobody’s gonna mess with that kid.
Know why?
Because his dad’s gonna be a Marine.
That’s why.
You want kids?
I’m gonna hang back.
Hey! Mo, dude!
Good hit yesterday.
Did you get any mail?
You better move your ass!
Move your body!
[music stops] [Cameron] Hey, how’s it going?
You are so lucky you came with a buddy.
Oh yeah, super lucky.
It’s messed up, though, the way your brother’s treating you.
I didn’t join just to follow him.
I wanted to do this on my own.
[Cameron] Totally.
Who needs a buddy anyway?
Hey, do you want to partner up for sit-ups?
Happy Meal!
Why aren’t you with your brother?
Sir, he’s too fast, sir!
What are we gonna do about that, you pig-shaped marshmallow?
You better move your ass, goddamn it! Push it!
[Howitt grunts]
[chuckles]
Now, this is what we call “adapt and overcome.”
We got uneven squads now, Drill Instructor.
Well, what are we gonna do about that, Drill Instructor?
You!
Fourth squad, now!
Go! Now!
Faster! Faster!
Faster, move it! Move your ass!
Cover and align! Cover and align!
Adjust your nasty body!
Squad leader, if you don’t get this recruit in line, it’s on you.
It’s on your ass! You hear me?
Sir, yes, sir!
[whistle blows]
[recruits in distance] …eight, nine, ten.
[Howitt] Fall out! Move it!
Move that cheesecloth, goddamn it!
Let’s go!
[rock music plays]
Move it! Move it!
[groans]
[Sullivan] For your final test this week, you will run my obstacle course.
In the next two days, you will become a master at clearing my wall.
You will clear my wall like this.
♪ Her glance hit me like lightning… ♪
[grunts]
I said feet up!
♪ Dirty hair and a laugh that’s mean… ♪
Get your feet up! Motivate your squad!
♪ She’s fast, she’s lean… ♪
Get over, or I’ll throw you over.
♪ …frightening, she’s fast… ♪
[Howitt] You look like a bunch of fucking idiots!
♪ She’s frightening… ♪
I said no contact.
Aye, sir!
Eyes on your own squad!
Sir, yes, sir!
[grunts]
[Sullivan] Every swinging dick will do this with the same measure of precision.
[grunts]
Come on. Get the fuck over.
Come on! Come on!
[music fades]
Why’s my name on fire watch?
Um, I–
Take it off.
Everyone does fire watch, man.
Don’t make me tell you again.
[bangs table]
[Howitt] Move it, ladies!
All right, you dangle dicks!
It’s fine.
[sighs]
Heads up. Slovacek’s gunning for your boy.
You heard me?
What do you want me to do about it?
I thought y’all were tight.
I have my orders.
[scoffs quietly]
[melancholy music plays]
[Sullivan] Get ready for lights out.
[Cody] The fuck are you even doing here?
Why couldn’t you let me have one thing for myself?
[music stops] I can do this.
How do you figure?
I used to have to drag your ass off the couch just to do your daily walks before Dad got home.
And now you wanna be a leatherneck?
He’s gonna drag you down, bro.
My whole life.
You know what the joke was in our town?
Shut up, Cody.
See, nobody could believe we were actual twins, right?
Because look at him.
I said shut up.
Our dad told everybody that we used to be triplets.
But, uh, John ate the other one.
[laughs] Fuck you, Cody.
[Mr. Bowman] You’re fat! You’re lazy!
Just like your brother!
What happened?
You know what happened, John.
You gained three pounds this week, so Dad gave me this.
Look, I’m gonna do better next week.
I’m done being responsible for your fat ass.
I wanna be as far away from you as possible.
Look, you don’t mean that.
That is Dad talking.
I wish I never had a brother.
Cody.
[Howitt] Lights out in two minutes, ladies!
[farting]
Anytime one of you shitheads farts, you all will respond with “Navy!” [farts] [recruits] Navy!
[Howitt] Outdamnstanding!
Why is my dog off his leash?
Sir, this recruit requests a chance to do this on his own.
Sir, this recruit also requests a chance to do–
Shut the fuck up, you knuckleheads!
You are conjoined. Understand?
Like them goddamn Siamese freaks with two spleens and the one heart or whatever the fuck.
Now get in! Both of ya!
Move it, asshole!
In!
Spooned each other in the womb, didn’t ya?
When I say you’re one Bowman, I mean one Bowman!
Come here, tubby. Stop moving.
[somber music plays]
Now snuggle up, butter butts!
Lights out, ladies!
[tense music plays]
[music stops]
[gasps] What?
Calling in my favor.
[Cameron exhales] You’re doing my fire watch.
Night, buttercup.
[tense music plays]
[sighs]
[sighs]
Hey.
Hey.
I’m sorry. It… it’s just…
It’s your turn for fire watch.
What’d I say?
Wake me up again, I’ll bury you, faggot.
[tense music continues]
[John] Psst. Hey. Cope!
[music stops]
I’ve gotta pee.
Oh, okay. Um…
Do you want me to untie you?
No. No, no.
What if Howitt comes out and sees us?
Only make it worse.
Okay.
What do you want me to do?
[door opens]
Oh my God. So now, on top of everything, you are the chambermaid too?
Is there no end to the humiliations you’ll put up with?
[John] Thanks.
Would you mind? Could you hold the bucket?
Oh, sure.
[urine trickles]
Thanks, man.
I’m sorry about this.
Nah, it’s okay.
It’s not fair what they’re doing to you.
It’s not much different than being at home.
And you got a bum deal too.
Hey, things will turn around.
How?
You just gotta show ’em.
You know, like McKinnon said, “Only you can save your life.”
I just gotta show everyone I can do this.
I’m gonna beat him tomorrow on the O-course.
[somber music plays]
I’m all done.
Thanks.
But what if…
What if it doesn’t turn around?
What if this is just how it is?
That’s not an option for me.
[Cameron’s inner voice] Not for us either.
What do you want me to do?
Wake. Slovacek. Up.
I can’t. It’s suicide.
Listen to me.
Let me go.
We can’t let Ray protect us for the rest of our life.
Yeah, I know.
Wake him up!
He’ll break me in half.
That right there is every bully who’s ever hit us, mocked us, stolen our lunch, or put our head in a toilet.
If we don’t stand up to him here and now, we’re doomed, and you know it.
I thought you came here to change.
[tense music plays]
[gasps] The fuck?
You’re fucking dead!
[Slovacek roars]
[grunts] Fucking dead!
Get off him!
I’ll take you too, bitch! Fuck you.
[McKinnon] Hey, what the goddamn hell?
Asshole!
[Slovacek grunts]
[music fades]
[Slovacek yells]
Enough!
[Slovacek breathes heavily]
Into my pit, all of you, now!
You take away my sleep, I take away yours.
We will do this all night long.
So enjoy those sand fleas.
What’s all this?
Scribe threw piss on the Polack.
[chuckles]
Always the little ones you gotta watch out for.
[McKinnon] You will leave that shit behind.
We are one big, green fucking family.
I can’t believe you did that.
That was awesome.
[McKinnon] Light green.
Dark green. And everything…
But now he’s gonna kill me.
[rock music plays]
[recruits] Oorah!
[McKinnon] Today, you will run my obstacle course, start to finish.
This is what you trained for all week.
If you manage to reach the top of my rope, you will slap that log and yell my favorite word.
What is that word?
[recruits] Kill!
[McKinnon] Fall out!
[Howitt] Welcome to hustle-up day, motherfuckers!
Eyes on the back of his gray.
Get your ass in line!
Stop playing fucking pattycake.
[McKinnon] Every 15 seconds, you will be released in pairs.
[whistle blows]
[“Blue Monday” plays]
[Howitt] Get over that bar, creep!
[grunts]
Faster!
[whistle blows]
Get up there!
Get your skinny, ugly body over the bar!
[whistle blows]
[whistle blows]
♪ How does it feel… ♪
May the best brother win.
♪ To treat me like you do… ♪
[McKinnon] Who’s next?
[whistle blows]
♪ When you’ve laid your hands upon me… ♪
Move it! Up! Move!
[Howitt] Don’t break my fucking bar!
[McKinnon] All right. Push!
♪ I thought I was mistaken… ♪
Go, Happy Meal!
[McKinnon] Next. Keep it going.
♪ Tell me how do I feel? ♪
All right.
[Howitt] Let’s go!
♪ Tell me now, how do I feel? ♪
[McKinnon] Move! Move! Move!
♪ Those who came before me… ♪
[Howitt] Let’s go, Marshmallow!
[Sullivan] Get your head out of your ass and your boots on that bar!
[McKinnon] This does not look like survival.
♪ They’ll turn away… ♪
[Howitt] Get your little string-bean ass down that plank!
♪ …find it so hard… ♪
[McKinnon] Move!
♪ …what I need to say… ♪
Go!
Could you get any fucking slower?
[McKinnon] Come on! More effort!
[Howitt] Let’s go!
[McKinnon] Let’s go!
[Howitt] This ain’t nap time!
Wake the fuck up!
[groans]
Kill!
[Howitt] Over here!
[McKinnon] Run like you wanna stay alive.
Get over that wall, let’s go!
[suspenseful music plays]
[chuckles]
[recruit 1] Kill!
[grunts]
[recruit 2] Kill!
[breathes sharply]
[grunts]
[recruit 3] Kill!
[recruit 4] Kill!
[recruit 5] Kill!
[Cody] Kill!
[Slovacek grunts]
Kill!
[Slovacek grunts]
I told you, pack your trash.
Stayin’ up.
Kill!
[recruit 6] All right!
Hell yeah, Cameron!
[recruit 6] Let’s go! Whoo! Come on!
Let’s go! Woohoo!
[indistinct encouragement]
[strains]
[grunts]
[Ray] Kill! Let’s go!
Oh, shit!
[music stops] [body thuds] [recruits gasp] John!
[Ray] Oh shit!
John?
[McKinnon] Hey, make a hole!
Turn around, the other way, all of you!
Call him in!
[Sullivan] Doc! Stretcher!
Turn around, recruit.
[somber music plays]
Hey, stay down. Don’t move.
[coughs]
[Howitt] Stay down, recruit.
You’ll be all right. Come on, look at me.
[medic] Okay. Make a hole, make a hole.
All right, I got his legs.
Injured recruit was in your squad?
Sir, the recruit–
Fail! Fail! Fail! Fail!
You did not prepare your men for this mission!
Is it because you were distracted, recruit?
You are no longer my squad leader.
You… completed my obstacle course in sufficient time.
You’re my new squad leader.
[music fades]
[McKinnon] PT showers, let’s go!
What?
[McKinnon] Move! Busy day.
Move it! Move it! Too slow, recruits!
Ray, I’m so sorry.
What? I didn’t even want…
[“You’re All Talk” plays]
This is going great.
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ You like to talk ♪
♪ But what do you say, yeah? ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ You like to talk
And act that way, yeah ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ Why do you say ♪
♪ Things that you don’t mean? ♪
♪ Talk about things
That you’ve never seen ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ How can you be such a tease?
You know you never tried to please ♪
♪ One girl in your whole life
So take a walk ♪
♪ Baby, you’re all talk ♪
♪ Baby, you’re all talk, yeah ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ You think you got it all
You wear those clothes ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ You think you’re so great ♪
♪ You turn up your nose ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ So show it off, babe ♪
♪ Oh, but don’t you see? ♪
[music fades]
