Boots – S01E07 – Love Is a Battlefield | Transcript

Boots
Genre: Military comedy drama
Created by: Andy Parker
Season 1 – Episode 7
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: Love Is a Battlefield
Original release date: It premiered on Netflix on October 9, 2025

Plot: The platoon grapples with the cost of being a marine. Capt. Fajardo brings Staff Sgt. McKinnon up to speed. The mess hall lives up to its name.

* * *

Boots – S01E07 – Love Is a Battlefield | Full transcript

[indistinct chatter]

[cutlery taps against glass]

Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?

[chatter continues]

Attention on deck!

Oh!

What can I say?

I’m currently a drill instructor.

[laughter]

Uh, my command gave me time off to be here.

Couldn’t miss this.

Could we get a round of applause for the beautiful couple? Please.

[cheering]

So, uh, the first day of boot camp, I saw Rob Maitra walking around with his chest puffed out like the commandant.

[laughter] And I thought, “Look at this prick.”

[laughter]

But then I got to know him, and my first impression was correct.

[laughter]

You know, the two of us have been through it.

I’ve saved his life, and he’s saved mine.

And as Marines, it’s hard to find the balance between the lover and the warrior.

[pensive music plays]

Rob makes it look easy.

And when you serve alongside someone long enough, you’d do anything for them.

Even if you might regret it.

[music fades]

[“Here And Now” plays]

♪ One look in your eyes ♪

♪ And there I see ♪

♪ Just what you mean to me ♪

♪ Here in my heart ♪

♪ I believe ♪

♪ Your love is all I’ll ever need ♪

♪ Holding you close through the night ♪

♪ I need you ♪

♪ I told you, homeboy

You can’t touch this ♪

♪ Yeah, that’s how we livin’, you know… ♪

Hi.

[bartender] I’ll be right with you both.

That’s fine.

[man] Another shot, please.

♪ Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics ♪

[Wilkinson] Who knew she could sing?

[water splashes]

[pensive music plays]

Did you like my song?

[Wilkinson] Song was nice.

But your speech…

Warriors and lovers, huh?

So, which one are you?

See, you didn’t listen.

Oh, I was listening.

I could be both.

They always make you choose.

You made your choice.

There was no choice.

Here you got all these medals, telling everyone what a brave, badass warrior you are.

But that doesn’t tell me what I need to know.

Where’s the one that tells me you know the first thing about love?

[Maitra] Yo, Sully! Get in here!

[“U Can’t Touch This” resumes]

[woman] Come on. Come dance. You promised.

I’ll be there in a minute.

♪ …groove to this

Then you’re probably dead ♪

♪ So wave your hands in the air

Run your fingers through your hair ♪

♪ This is it for a winner

Dance to this, you’re gonna get thinner ♪

♪ Move, slide your rump

Just for a minute, let’s all do the bump ♪

♪ Bump, bump, bump

Yeah, you can’t touch this ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Look, man, you can’t touch this ♪

♪ You better get hype, boy

‘Cause you know you can’t touch this ♪

♪ Ring the bell, school’s back in ♪

♪ Break it down! ♪

[inner voice] Admit it, Cameron.

He’s delicious. Guess dreams do come true.

Even in boot camp.

I feel nothing. I’m a warrior.

My heart is a cold, dead stone.

[inner voice] You can’t lie to me.

Better wake up and smell the Aqua Velva ’cause he’s here, he’s queer–

We don’t know that.

Like how we “knew” about Nash?

No, this is different. Okay, this isMy worst nightmare.

Hey, listen to me.

You’ve never had a real, true, honesttogoodness, intheflesh crush your whole damn life.

Is boot camp the best place to pop that cherry?

Probably not, okay?

But you are gonna wave the white flag, surrender, and enjoy it.

[upbeat music plays]

[McKinnon] Camouflage! Cover!

Concealment!

[music stops]

During combat skills training, you will learn how to save your lives in combat.

How to move stealthily in enemy terrain.

How to conceal yourselves.

And by the end of the week, how to defend yourselves in hand-to-hand combat.

Warriors only have two choices.

Kill or be killed.

Maybe she’s born with it.

Maybe it’s Maybelline.

Paint those faces, ladies.

Yo, I got an offer for you.

I got a bag of Utz chips left over from CRIP.

A dollar, but I only take quarters.

Deal.

Why’s it gotta be quarters?

Gotta call your sister, tell her how good she was.

[scoffs] Bro, my sister would eat you for breakfast.

Fuck off.

I was gonna say–

I’ll do it myself.

I got a problem.

Well, I know the feeling.

Close your eyes.

Ever since Hicks’s Jesus Juice, stomach’s been getting worse every day.

I don’t know what to do.

[Howitt] Smear it on thick!

Hey, Hicks.

What did you put in that juice, man?

Honor, courage, and commitment, motherfucker.

Maybe I should go to sick bay.

My new bunkie, Jones, I’m pretty sure he’s, uh, “like” me.

I’m, like, 99.9% sure.

[sighs] Oh God.

I think he knows that I know.

What do I do?

Just ignore him, right?

Pretend he doesn’t exist?

But then how do I do that when he sleeps right on top of me?

Cam–

I know, I know.

The filthy mind, it goes right there too.

[sighs] You gotta help me.

Tell me to lock it up.

[music stops] [recruits groan] [recruit] Man down!

[laughter]

We should go again.

[man] Are you sure?

Yeah.

[tense music plays]

You’re next.

[music fades]

Huh?

Marriage, dummy. You’re next.

[Sullivan chuckles] Well, if it can happen to an ugly fucker like you…

[laughs]

About time.

Remember, um, that major on Guam?

What was his name? Wilkinson.

So you were right.

That faggot ass came sniffing around after you popped smoke, looking for you.

Yeah. It was just like you said, so I took care of it.

[tense music plays]

Oh yeah?

What did you do?

I reported his ass.

‘Cause he’s an officer, he thinks he can get away with that?

No. So dropped a dime. Glad you told me.

[woman] Oh, hey. Look, it’s Rob.

[Maitra] Oh boy. Mother-in-law.

[music fades]

My man.

Hey, seriously, why do you need quarters so bad?

Yo. Cornfed, shaving cream, 50 cents.

Low, low prices.

I got shaving cream. Titty mag, take that?

Fuck out of here.

That’s eight quarters at least. Putico.

Hey, yo, what about you, hoss?

Give you a quarter to suck my dick.

When Cornfed does it for free?

[Slovacek chuckles]

[tense music plays]

[Jones] What you doing?

You’re not supposed to be in here.

Oh, he speaks.

Been here a week.

You’ve hardly said two words to me.

You can’t be in here.

You ever check these drawers?

Are you… Get out of there, man.

Howitt will kill us both.

Werther’s. My grandma loves these.

You think Howitt crochets too?

What?

Why are you in here, shittard?

Sir, this recruit was readying the squad bay trash for disposal.

The scribe was busy, so this recruit took it upon himself to get the garbage.

Out. Both of you.

[upbeat music plays]

[music stops]

Today is land navigation training.

You will traverse this course with a partner, only using a map and compass.

Each set of coordinates will lead you to the location of an ammo can with a letter on it.

Record the letters.

Report back to your DIs.

Good to go?

Sir, yes, sir!

[McKinnon] Pair off.

[intriguing music plays]

[recruit] You and me, man.

Wanna pair?

[music fades]

[Ray] It’s you.

[woman] Hi, Ray.

[Ray] Wait, what…

How…

Wait, what?

Did I die?

Am I dead?

You did. It was tragic. So young.

But I ended up in heaven.

Pretty sure in heaven, you don’t crap yourself on the way in.

[Ray] Oh, did I?

I did that?

We gotta stop meeting like this.

Who’s Harlan?

In your sleep, you kept saying, “Fuck you, Harlan.”

Oh. He’s, um, um, my dad.

You call your dad “Harlan”?

[sighs] I call him “sir.”

So you’re close.

Military?

Mm. Marine.

Three tours in Vietnam.

He was a… a tunnel rat.

[Ray grunts softly]

Damn.

Bet he’s all sunshine and rainbows.

In my heaven, you don’t have to talk about the things you don’t wanna talk about.

What happened to you?

I got a scrape that got infected, and now they have to cut my leg off.

I’m kidding.

They’re giving me antibiotics.

[upbeat music plays]

But even if they did cut it off, it’s not stopping me.

I’m gonna finish this shit.

You wanna stay here that bad?

I wanna be a Marine that bad.

Why?

We got it pretty good here.

Might as well defend it.

And if I’m going to serve, I’m gonna serve with the best.

[Ray] I knew it.

You are an angel.

Please shut up.

So, what about you? Why are you here?

I think I drank poison.

I mean the Marines.

I think I drank the poison.

[music fades]

The next one should be about 20 yards due west.

Let’s play a game.

Six more coordinates to find.

Come on. Truth or dare.

How often do you jerk it at boot camp?

What? I… I…

I don’t. So never.

Never? This whole time?

[Cameron] No.

[Jones] No wonder you’re wound up so tight.

[Cameron scoffs] No, I’m not.

Oh, there it is.

My turn.

Truth.

What…

I don’t know.

What made you join the Marines?

I was living with my ex, and it ended badly, so I said, “Fuck it.”

Went to the mall, got a jumbo-sized pretzel, and signed a four-year contract.

Wow. That sounds, uh, kind of rash.

Yeah.

You should have seen my recruiter though.

He was stunning.

[intriguing music plays]

Let’s find these coordinates.

Dude, quit dragging your ass.

I gotta take care of something.

Meet you back at the rendezvous in half an hour.

Half an hour? What the hell are you…

Yo, what if I run into a DI?

Tell him I gotta take a hard shit.

Santos!

What the hell?

It looks like you’re going to be a phlebotomist who lives in Kmart with ten kids and…

[both laugh]

…and drives a Pinto.

But you’re married to Cindy Crawford.

So that’s a win.

It’s a win.

[music stops] I can’t believe you’ve never played MASH.

It’s probably a good thing.

I’d play it over and over again till I got it right.

You don’t like mistakes, huh?

[laughs] No. Do you?

Can’t hate something you don’t believe in.

Okay, that’s like saying you don’t believe in… in water or rocks.

They exist.

All right, they exist.

But it’s not like there’s one correct version of your life.

You’re the one who said you had to be a Marine.

I said that I want to be a Marine because I love it.

But if I can’t, then I’ll just find something else that I love.

[scoffs] What? No, that’s…

You can’t just…

That’s not how you plan your life.

You have to have a mission.

[somber music plays]

Is that what Harlan says?

[woman] More rest. Less chatter.

[Cameron] Okay, fine. Truth.

Why’d you go through my file?

Anything interesting?

[music fades]

Whatever you wanna know, it’s not in there.

So, what do you wanna know, recruit?

You know, if you don’t answer, I get to keep asking.

So, what’s it like for you?

Being gay in boot camp.

Uh…

I mean, what are you…

[pensive music plays]

Exhausting.

[music fades]

[chuckles] [upbeat music plays] God, I know. Boot camp is so gay.

[Jones] So fucking gay.

[Cameron] Calling our shirts “blouses.”

[Jones] Telling us to “mount.”

[Cameron] Or showering 500 times a day.

And the dicks.

And the dicks.

Yes.

The only thing the Marines don’t supply us with is lube.

[laughs] Totally.

Er…

Wait, what’s lube?

What’s lube?

Yeah, I don’t…

Have you never…

Oh, um, I…

So you’re, like, new-new.

Uh…

Your buddy Ray? Does he know?

Yeah, he’s the only person that I’ve ever come out to, but I can talk to him about anything, so…

Yeah, but he’s straight, so not everything.

Yeah.

I’ve actually never talked to anyone about this stuff before.

[music stops]

Wait. I have to ask you something.

How do you do it? It’s like…

I don’t know.

You have this confidence or something.

Like, okay, yesterday.

How did you know what to say to Howitt?

Like, I knew you were bullshitting, and I believed you. [chuckles] [Jones] It’s simple.

No matter where you are, act like you belong.

All this is… is just a game.

You mean, like, boot camp?

[Jones] I mean, like, life.

But especially boot camp.

All that, like… [chuckles] …macho warrior bullshit.

You just gotta learn how to play the game ’cause that’s how you beat it.

Otherwise, you end up like Sullivan.

Wait, what?

[suspenseful music plays]

[marine 1] Give me a hand over here?

[marine 2] What do you need?

[marine 1] Looks like it’s welded on.

[coins jangle]

Shit.

[music stops]

Afternoon, sir!

[pensive music plays]

Cameron, of course Sullivan’s a closet case.

He’s practically a neon sign.

Think about what you just told me.

First, he tries to destroy you.

Then he swoops in as your mentor?

You don’t need a compass for that.

He wants you to be as miserable as he is.

Okay, what if he’s just trying to help me?

Help you do what?

You don’t need him.

Let’s make a deal. It’s you and me, okay?

[chuckles]

[McKinnon] Move it! Let’s go!

[Sullivan] You two!

[music fades]

Fly away.

[Jones] Aye, sir!

Have a good time in the woods, Cope?

No, sir.

You’re not enjoying my program?

No, sir. Uh, yes, sir. I like…

This recruit likes the drill instructor’s program, sir.

Then get back to it.

Aye, sir.

[McKinnon] Thought you’d get away with that shit?

Take a stroll, do whatever you fucking please?

You got some big, hairy cojones on you!

Sir, this recruit–

Did your senior drill instructor ask you for an explanation?

This recruit’s daughter heard on the news that a recruit died on Parris Island.

She’s been having nightmares, sir.

Thinks it was her dad.

This recruit attempted to call her to let her know he’s okay.

I will be happy to call your daughter personally, recruit, and inform her that her father is not only alive, he is an insubordinate, undisciplined, delinquent motherfucker who is this close to washing out!

Drill instructor, this recruit has earned himself a trip to the pit.

Aye, senior.

You heard your senior drill instructor!

Move it!

Move your ass! Move!

Move, motherfucker!

Fucking Blue Falcon!

Who the fuck do you think you are?

Semper I?

Move your ass! Get out!

Get your ass to the pit, recruit!

Fucking get out!

Looks like Sullivan’s occupied.

[Sullivan] Get out!

[gentle music plays]

[music fades]

Where did she–

She’s better. And so are you.

Time to go.

[“Black Velvet” plays]

♪ Mississippi

In the middle of a dry spell ♪

♪ Jimmie Rodgers on the Victrola up high ♪

♪ Mama’s dancing

With baby on her shoulder ♪

♪ The sun is setting

Like molasses in the sky ♪

♪ The boy could sing, knew how to move ♪

♪ Everything ♪

♪ Always wanting more ♪

♪ He’d leave you longing for ♪

♪ Black velvet

And that little boy’s smile ♪

♪ Black velvet

With that slow southern style ♪

♪ A new religion

That’ll bring ya to your knees ♪

♪ Black velvet if you please ♪

♪ Up in Memphis

The music’s like a heatwave ♪

♪ White lightning

Bound to drive you wild ♪

♪ Mama’s baby

Is in the heart of every schoolgirl ♪

♪ “Love Me Tender”

leaves ’em crying in the aisle ♪

♪ The way he moved, it was a sin ♪

[music stops]

[gasps] Jones!

Are you asleep?

Oh my God.

Now, which one of you scum cunts pissed in my shower?

One of you little fucking chihuahuas missed your weewee pad.

Hey, you’re back.

Late last night.

You okay?

Yeah. I have so much to tell you.

Me too.

You will clean your shit up.

Hey, did I do anything weird in my sleep last night?

No.

What do you think of the new kid?

Who, Jones?

He’s got a mouth on him, but I think he’ll make it.

Hm.

Cope.

That’s the one that surprises me.

If you’d told me at the start he’d still be here, I wouldn’t have believed you.

Might have got him as far as we can.

Can’t see him doing shit in the fights this week.

Don’t got the kill in him.

[tense music plays]

I’ll get him there.

[music stops]

How do you learn to kill?

How do you find what it takes to take a life?

A warrior finds the rage inside!

A warrior must embrace the kill!

Now, who’s feeling brave?

Cope.

[tense music plays]

I will now demonstrate on Recruit Cope how to use an opponent’s body weight against them.

Recruit Cope will strike first.

I said Recruit Cope will strike first.

[groans]

[recruits] Oh!

[Sullivan] This is what you don’t wanna be!

A victim!

If you can’t find the kill inside, it’s the end of the line.

[“The Passenger” plays]

And one! Hit ’em hard from the getgo!

One, two.

And it was the same girl.

I mean, what are the odds?

And the way that she was talking about her life, I realized I don’t know if I’ve ever loved anything the way she does.

You know, I’m telling you, it was meant to happen.

Suck less! And one!

♪ And I ride and I ride… ♪

You’re saying you spent all day with a living, breathing chick, a hot one, with no DIs around, and you didn’t find a way to slip her one?

[sputters] It wasn’t like that.

W-We had a connection.

Yeah, a therapy session about your daddy issues. Real romantic.

And one!

What was I supposed to do?

Take her to some broom closet?

A broom closet wouldn’t even come close to topping the list of weird places I’ve gotten freaky.

Church basement.

♪ I stay under glass… ♪

Principal’s office.

♪ I look through my window so… ♪

This wasn’t about some hookup.

All right, Romeo, what’s her name?

[laughs]

Don’t let him get in your head.

It’s all part of his game.

Eyes up.

[music fades]

He’s right though.

Shoulders back.

[sighs] I mean, “the kill inside.”

Who am I kidding?

[Jones] You know what I think?

You’ve got just as much rage as the rest of us, Cope.

Maybe more.

There you go.

[Sullivan] Jones.

With me.

Show me your form.

[McKinnon] Strike first, strike fast.

Jab.

I know your secret. Cross.

I know you want out. Jab.

That’s not a secret, sir.

Everybody wants out of boot camp.

Not like you do. Cross.

You were at CRIP platoon under observation for a sleep disorder. Jab.

Medical couldn’t confirm whether it’s real or if you’re faking.

This recruit isn’t faking it, sir.

Hook, cross.

[tense music plays]

Hook, cross. Hook, cross.

You want a medical discharge? Hook.

I can get you one. Cross.

But first…

I got an assignment for ya.

What did Sullivan say?

He’s gonna mess with us.

That’s what he does.

Fuck Sullivan.

Lights out in two minutes.

[inner voice] Something’s off.

Yeah, something’s always off.

It’s boot camp.

You know what I mean.

More Sullivan mind games.

Just like Jones said.

Yeah, Jones.

Mr. Everything’s-a-game.

Problem with games, Cameron, is there’s a winner and a loser.

[music fades]

[knocking on door]

[door opens]

Ma’am?

[Fajardo] Sergeant.

I know it’s after hours, but I wanted you to hear it from me.

Major Wilkinson has been arrested and charged with those… violations of the UCMJ.

[somber music plays]

[Fajardo] I meant what I said.

If this bullshit comes back around, we will deal with it.

We have recruits to train.

I can’t have you dropping your pack.

I need you locked in.

Understood, ma’am.

Sorry to have to make a house call.

Appreciate you taking the time, ma’am.

I’ll see you in the morning.

Oorah.

Duty hut. Now.

[tense music plays]

Dial nine first.

[gentle music plays]

And listen, bonehead, if things go south on that call, you talk to me before you do anything fucking stupid.

Yes, sir.

[telephone dial whirs]

[telephone dialing tone]

[woman speaks Spanish]

[speaks Spanish]

[speaks Spanish]

[woman speaks Spanish]

[sniffs]

Hey.

[music fades]

[door opens]

Hey, Sullivan. You good?

Get these fuckers up.

Oh, hey, man. You been drinking?

[clattering]

[Sullivan] Attention on deck!

Raise your hand if your body hurts.

Raise your hand if you’re bruised or you got a black eye.

[bunks creak]

Pain, gentlemen, is weakness leaving the body.

So you enjoy that pain.

[pensive music plays]

Because you’re on your way to becoming warriors.

Because once you’re baptized a warrior, it is your first, your last, and always.

It is your one true love.

Nothing else lasts.

[sniffs] A warrior is always ready.

One day, you’re gonna be at a bar, and some asshole is gonna give you shit and try to pick a fight just ’cause you’re a Marine.

And that is why you always order your beer in a thick glass mug.

And you grip that handle tight, and you crack that mug over his fucking head.

Because a warrior doesn’t always strike first, but he damn well strikes last!

Now let me hear my favorite word.

[recruits] Kill.

[breathes deeply]

Good night, warriors.

This is how it’s gonna be.

[music stops]

We will match you with an opponent.

Loser will PT until they are paired with another fighter.

That’s all you.

Let me see your kill!

Good to go?

Sir, yes, sir.

[upbeat music plays]

[recruits grunting]

Quite a… performance last night.

You, uh, all right?

Never better.

[recruits grunting]

Stop. You’re winding up on every move.

If I do this, am I gonna know what you’re doing?

Do it again.

[music stops]

[laughs]

You okay?

[Cameron] Yeah.

Hey, uh, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but you were right.

Sullivan’s messing with us.

He’s gonna make us fight.

I told you.

He wants us to kick the shit out of each other. That’s his plan.

Let’s not give him the satisfaction.

Okay, what do we do?

We make our own plan.

Nobody’s gonna believe I can kick the shit out of you.

This isn’t Karate Kid.

All you have to do is not look like a chump.

[intriguing music plays]

You strike first.

Get a good shot to my face.

I’ll look like I’m mad.

I’ll throw a right hook.

You drop. Nice and clean.

I can’t pull the punch. He’ll know.

Then don’t.

I can take it.

Just be careful with my eyes.

They’re pretty.

You and me, remember?

[music fades]

[whistle blows] [recruits shout] Let’s go! Come on!

Cope.

Jones.

Come on! Let’s go, Cam!

[shouting continues]

[recruit 1] Yeah!

Fuck him up!

[recruit 2] Fuck him up, Jones!

Kill.

[shouting continues]

[Ray] Let’s go, Cope.

[suspenseful music plays]

[recruit 3] Yeah, let’s go!

[groans]

Come on, Cam. Let’s go!

[Cameron] That’s not what you said.

It’s not a big deal.

Don’t be a faggot about it.

Some of you are weeds in my field.

Kind of faggy.

My mission is to rip out those weeds.

If there are no faggots in my Marine Corps, then why are you still here?

[suspenseful music crescendos]

[tense music plays]

Let’s go! Fuck! Whoo!

Whoo!

Come on, Cam! Let’s go.

[dramatic music plays]

Give the recruit a chance to defend himself.

Cam.

[grunts]

[grunts] Cam, stop!

Enough!

[music fades]

[recruit 4] No! Stop it!

All right, show’s over. Move out!

[grunts]

Doc, over here now!

That’s enough.

[tense music plays]

[medic] Recruit, you hear me?

[Howitt] It’s over.

Move.

That was not training.

[music fades]

[somber music plays]

[telephone dials]

Fajardo.

Uh, hello, Captain.

[Fajardo] Sullivan?

Uh, sorry to bother.

Uh…

Um…

I needed to ask you something about the investigation.

It was the tattoo, wasn’t it?

That’s why she wanted to, uh… to see it. [sniffs] Sergeant…

They were the same.

Aaron and I had the same tattoo, ma’am.

Do you understand?

They were the same.

That’s none of their damn business.

And it’s none of mine either.

Uh, yes, ma’am. Sorry to bother.

[Fajardo] Do you have a ride home?

[Sullivan] All squared away, ma’am.

[exhales]

[sniffs]

[exhales]

[exhales]

[somber music continues]

[exhales]

Guess you’re a warrior now.

♪ …do with you… ♪

[woman] Hi!

♪ You know you broke my heart ♪

♪ And that was just the start… ♪

Fuck are you looking at, jarhead?

♪ …what I should do for you ♪

♪ I tell you ♪

♪ I don’t feel ♪

♪ No big deal ♪

♪ No big deal ♪

[music fades]