Private Benjamin Page #3

Colonel Clay Thornbush.

Welcome...

...to the Biloxi, Mississippi

Basic Training Center.

The backbone of the U.S. Army.

You have two company commanders

to lead you through basic.

Capt. Doreen Lewis,

a 5-year veteran...

...here at Fort Biloxi,

of Alpha Company.

And a newcomer to the family...

...Captain William Wooldridge,

Bravo Company.

Here, we turn out

the best-fed, best-trained...

...soldiers, but it doesn't come easy.

It does not happen overnight.

You must have the strength...

...the self-discipline,

and mental stamina necessary...

...to meet the standards

of the United States Army.

The next 6 weeks will be the test.

It'll be hell...

...but you'll be glad you did it.

Move it!

Left, right! Left!

I thought it would be

a few leg lifts, a little stretching...

...maybe a disco class, you know.

You're not real talkative,

are you, Soyer?

We run them out...

...and we march them back.

Then about twice a week,

I spring a surprise inspection on them.

That's good Army.

Keeps them on their toes.

- Got one more question.

- Shoot.

Are you busy Friday?

Look out, Gianelli!

I can't take anymore.

They've broken me.

- I'm quitting.

- Girl, you can't quit this Army.

I can. The recruiter told me

quit anytime I want.

Jesus, you still believe

your recruiter?

It's only for 3 years.

Company halt!

Move it, Benjamin!

I don't want to see you stop running

unless you collapse, faint or puke!

I have never looked

worse in my life!

Has anybody ever died from basic?

Excuse me.

I think you took my blanket.

This is my blanket.

You gave it to me.

- I don't think I did.

- Maybe you just forgot.

Maybe you got brain damage.

Okay, I gave it to you.

By mistake.

- I want it back, okay?

- Take it.

Where are you going?

Home.

We're going to have to

do this again real soon.

How about every Friday night?

I'm going to set you free, Doreen.

Captain Lewis, ma'am,

we've got trouble.

My hair!

Benjamin, you are not fit

to wear that uniform!

No sh*t!

What do you want from me?

I didn't ask her to punish everybody!

You think I like schlepping

in rain all day and night?

Just keep marching, Benjamin!

My name is Judy! J-U-D-Y...

...and I'd like somebody

to call me by my name.

Hey, Judy!

I took my life in my own hands.

I made a mistake.

I'm sorry. I'll never do it again!

I want to wear my sandals!

I want to go out to lunch.

I want to be normal again.

Would you please

just shut up, Benjamin!

God! Never in all my born days

met such a whiny...

...candy-ass as you!

I don't want to be in the Army!

But we do, okay?

We can't afford any more trouble

on account of you.

I thought you and I

could be friends, but you're...

- Forget it!

- What? I'm what?

You're the most

insensitive person I've ever met.

That is so untrue!

I never go to someone's

home empty-handed!

People love me!

Platoon, halt!

Fall out!

To the day room...

...on the double!

They didn't tell me it was you.

Hi, Mom.

Hi, Daddy.

Sit down, Judy.

I was...

...going to call, but I wasn't

feeling very good.

Eight days.

Our daughter disappears...

...for eight days without a single word.

We thought you were kidnapped.

The FBI was looking for you...

...when some stranger calls...

...telling us how fine you are

and that you'd enlisted in the Army.

We tried to figure out why.

Personally, I think you've gone

temporarily insane.

That's what we told everyone.

We said that you had a collapse...

...and that you were in a mental home.

People think I'm in a mental home?

What should we say?

That you're in an Army barracks

in Mississippi with a bunch of...

- What?

- I don't know what!

That's why I don't like it.

How could you do this to your parents?

Haven't we done enough for you?

Given you everything you wanted?

Did I get you a car on your sixteenth

birthday? Did I get you into college?

Did I bail you out of your first

marriage to that schmuck? Did I?

Relax.

I am relaxed!

Why are you punishing us?

Maybe you hate us.

I don't hate you,

I love you.

You know your Aunt Kissy

is living with us now.

Why?

Because you mother's had a

nervous breakdown, that's why!

You were never a smart girl.

We're all going to stop pretending now.

You are obviously incapable

of making your own decisions.

Starting tomorrow,

I do not let you out of my sight.

I don't care how much you cry.

The Benjamins!

Captain Lewis.

It is so good to meet you in person.

Thank you.

Captain Lewis said we could

take you home, darling.

I'm sorry that things just

didn't work out here for Judy.

She's a hard worker.

She's very... popular...

...with all the other girls.

We are sad to see her go.

If you sign here on the dotted line,

you're as good as home, young lady.

Right there.

Here, darling. Here you are.

Come on, take it.

No, thanks.

Think I'll stay.

Mom.

Daddy.

All right, knock it off!

Break it! Let's go!

Welcome to the Biloxi War Games,

the Super Bowl of Basic Training.

Simulated combat will test

your skills and courage.

Captain Wooldridge will lead

the red team. Captain Lewis...

...the blue team. I will be observing

the exercises from the air.

Good luck.

And fight proud!

Fight proud!

Thompson, Hike...

...Katz, Byron...

...Richter!

Your objective is to capture and blow

up Red Team's communication center.

Beware, mine-fields are out there.

Most of them are inert...

...but some are ert.

Take off!

Private Winter!

You'll serve as Captain Lewis'

aide-de-camp.

Sir. Yes, sir!

Team "C"!

Gianelli, Glass...

...Moe, Benjamin...

...Soyer!

Your objective is to

guard this area here.

Excuse me, Drill Sergeant,

what is that area?

That's the swamp.

Swamp?

Take off!

If you can't read that map,

why don't you just say it?

You're supposed

to be the point man!

Benj pointed me in the wrong direction!

- What am I, Magellan?

- What are we going to guard, algae?

Let's just go straight north.

- We came from the north!

- Let's go south.

Wait! Relax.

If we can't get back by tomorrow...

...they'll send a search plane.

We have enough bodies

to spell "help"?

Let's go.

The first time I ever did it...

...was on an overnight hike

with my Bible class.

We're talking Laemil Lefebvre,

my preacher's son.

I'd never done nothing

in my life before. Nothing!

And he just climbed right smack-dab...

...in the middle of my sleeping bag,

and I was scared.

Not to mention the fact

that his daddy, the preacher...

...was right over there,

just about ten feet away.

How was it?

Quiet...

...but very nice. Very nice!

I had an orgasm once.

But I was alone.

I guess you must have been alone.

Once...

...when I was with my first husband,

I got to this place...

...that was kind of nice and tingly.

I don't know if it was official.

I mean, I don't know

if this was an official...

...orgasm, you know.

But I counted it as one for five years.

How many times

have you been married?

Twice.

The first time for six weeks...

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