\*\*Marines Swofford and Fergus reassembling their guns\*\*

Swofford: Done.

Fergus: Done.

Swofford: Again.

\*\*Both marines disassemble their rifles\*\*

Swofford: Again.

\*\*Both marines reassemble their rifles\*\*

Swofford: Done.

Fergus: Done.

\*\*Swofford places his rifle in his left hand\*\*

Swofford: (says while facing Fergus) How many is that, Cortez?

Cortez: 26 in a row.

Swofford: (says to Fergus) What would you say if I told you I was gonna kill you for fucking me over like that?

Fergus: I already told you, it was an accident.

Swofford: An accident… right. Like when this trigger slips.

\*\*Fergus looks to his left for a brief moment\*\*

Swofford: ‘Course your nice little Mom and Dad are where?

Swofford and Fergus: Cottonwood Falls.

Swofford: That’d be sad, they wouldn’t have a little boy to be sending fucking cookies to. I’ll say it was an Accidental Discharge. I might even spend some time in the Brig, but I’ll end this fucking waiting.

\*\*Swofford picks up a magazine\*\*

Swofford: And I’ll know what it’s like to kill a man.

\*\*Swofford puts the magazine in his rifle and cocking it, before pointing the rifle at Fergus\*\*

Fergus: What are you doing?

Swofford: I’m in the firing position, known as the sitting position. After the prone position, it’s the platform most likely to enable a marine to kill his target. His target being a human, generally an enemy but sometimes a friend or friendly. We call this friendly fire or friendly fucking, or getting friendly fucked.

Fergus: Come on Swoff, it was your watch. It was Christmas Eve and I was just sitting there, thinking about home, that’s it.

Swofford: What do you think, Cortez? Do you think I’ll accidentally kill your homeboy from boot camp?

Cortez: Sure, you’ll kill him, accidents happen.

Swofford: You don’t see shit, right?

Cortez: I don’t see shit. This ain’t even my tent. A matter of fact, I ain’t even here, Swoff. (Cortez walks out of the tent, as

Swofford stands up still pointing the rifle at Fergus)

Swofford: (very quietly) Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh.

Fergus: (very shaky and quiet voice) What’re you doing, man..?

Swofford: The M16A2 service rifle is a lightweight, air cooled, gas operated, magazine fed shoulder weapon. It fire’s a 5.56mm ball projectile, muzzle velocity 2800 feet per second. This is my rifle. Repeat after me. Repeat after me.

\*\*Fergus struggling to say it\*\*

Swofford: Repeat after me!

Fergus: This is- this is my rifle…

Swofford: There you go… that’s right..

\*\*Fergus crying\*\*

Swofford: Say the fucking words!

Fergus and Swofford: There are many like it…

Fergus: …but this one is mine.

Swofford: Without my rifle, I am nothing, say it you fucking idiot!

Fergus: Nooo…

Swofford: This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine!

\*\*Fergus in hysterics\*\*

Fergus: W-without my rifle, I am nothing.

Swofford: This is my-

\*\*Fergus interrupts him by crying\*\*

Swofford: Shhh-ut the fuck up! Shut the fuck up!

Fergus: I can’t! I can-

Swofford: SHUT THE FUCK UP AND REPEAT AFTER ME!

Fergus: Without me I am…

Swofford: THIS IS MY RIFLE. THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT. WITHOUT ME MY RIFLE IS NOTHING. FUCKING SAY IT! REPEAT AFTER ME! REPEAT AFTER ME!! WITHOUT MY RIFLE I AM NOTHING.

Fergus: I am nothing! I am nothing!

Swofford: (raises his finger up to his lips) Shh shh, shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up. Shut the fuck up. Get up.

\*\*Swofford forces Fergus to stand up by grabbing his shirt, and makes Fergus point the end of the rifle in his mouth\*\*

Swofford: Fucking shoot me! SHOOT ME IN THE FUCKING FACE!!

Fergus: I don’t want to!

Swofford: DO YOU FUCKING SEE HOW HARD IT IS!? YOU SHOOT ME IN THE FUCKING FACE, YOU FUCKING F\*GGOT!!

Fergus (in full blown hysterics): I DON’T WANT TO!

Swofford: FRIENDLY FUCKING FIRE!!! SHOOT ME YOU FUCKING PUSSY!!!

Fergus: NO!

\*\*Swofford slams the rifle into the ground while it is still in Fergus’ hand\*\*

Swofford: Fuck! Fuck…

(Video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L6OyGyvUtU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L6OyGyvUtU))