The 24th

You boys

have dishonored our nation.

and betrayed your oath to protect the people of this country.

What do you have to say for yourselves?

Men of the 24th Infantry,

this is Texas.

And we have a great opportunity here.

While we're overseeing the building of Camp Logan,

we will also be building our legacy,

a legacy, if proven worthy,

that will carry us all the way to the shores of France.

Let's go! Let's go!

First Sergeant Hayes,

take command.

Sir.

Home sweet home, boys.

Order, arms!

Fall out!

You gonna get a taste, boy.

I talked to the cleaner,

the Colonel said we're going to France.

- Oh, yeah. - Yeah.

- Yeah, we're going to France. - Uh-huh.

Yeah, while we're out here digging the shitting hole.

That's the 24th honor.

We fly to Philippines but not France.

Well, this is the war to make the world a safer democracy.

And we're not part of that democracy.

How you talk like that? You talk better than white folks.

He's a fancy talking nigger. Didn't you know that?

Yeah, he's a joker.

And he has already been to France.

- Now, hold on now, you've been to France? - Yes, sir. That's right.

You better tell me about that.

- What do you wanna know? - Then why'd you join the army, boy?

- Same reason as you, friend. - Oh, hell no.

See I joined 'cause the judge said

I go to the army or I go to jail.

I had no choice.

But you're so goddamn smart.

What in the shit is you doing here?

Oh, he's smart, Walker, he know the fancy words.

You shut 'em tunnel lips, pickaninny,

before I come over there and shut 'em.

I'm no better than you.

But in here, you think you is.

- Now, hold on now, Walker. - I want to serve my country

and raise the image of the colored man.

You can't raise me nowhere, boy.

I've got this raisin'.

- Hey! Hey! - You put that down, you put that down now.

Damn it, Walker, leave him be.

I'm just messing with him.

If I wanted to use it, I'd have slashed your face already, boy.

Come on then.

I'm just messin' with you, boy.

Getting friendly with you 'cause I don't know you.

Getting familiar.

What's your name?

- Boston. - Walker.

Mulatto bastard.

Attention!

Hey!

Get out that hole.

Get your asses cleaned up.

Curfew!

Sorry, Captain.

- What happened to your eye? - Had an accident, Captain.

Mmm-hmm.

- Get your black ass back inside, soldier. - Yes, Captain.

You can walk down the Champs-Elysees

hand in hand with whoever.

Everybody's equal there.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

You ever get with one of them French white gals?

White and colored, both.

- Come on! - Mmm-hmm.

Boston, you something.

You know, but why didn't you stay there?

It's not home.

Do you talk that Frenchie?

I know you know something.

Oh, what's that?

It means, "There's no love like the love of a brother."

Hmm. I like that.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

- All right. - I'm learning.

...a move for the brothers, right?

- Say it again. - Close.

Yes, I got it.

You think you're getting to know him.

Look like you needed a drink with that sandwich, boy.

Just be glad I didn't shit on him.

Is someone there?

Oh, you wanna get your head cut.

Oh, Lord!

Oh, you scared?

You look like you've seen Medusa.

Where... Where you coming from?

- Oh, it's a story... - Ah, let me tell it.

Okay, go on.

- That's the whole story. - Now, listen, now you tell it wrong.

Tell him what happened.

Listen, so, look.

- I had me a gal, all right? - Okay.

Everything was going good, all right?

I was giving her my best move, all right.

And then, all of a sudden, she just goes down to the ground.

Hey, I thought she dropped something.

All of a sudden she puts her whole mouth

- on Mr. Johnson. - All right, now.

Fucking piranha or what...

Goddamn Dracula.

Whoa, whoa, wait, wait... She bit you?

Yeah, I mean, almost.

What else was she doing down there? I had to push her off.

Why you laughing?

- I'm sorry. - You know what? Fuck you both.

I don't think she was trying to bite you.

What? Then what the hell was she doing down there?

Well, that's not gonna happen now, you see, 'Cause you pushed her off.

What?

- That's right. - Hey, let's get some...

- Hold on now, I didn't know you could do that. - Too late!

No, we gotta go back, I gotta get that.

Uh-uh, let's go, bring yourself. - No, hold on now.

Three cents.

Here.

Oh, ain't that some shit.

Ain't no seats left.

Three cents.

Hold that car.

Hold that car.

Will if it ain't the fancy nigger.

You know, I'm just now getting out that hole Sarge put me in 'cause of you.

You ain't gonna be talking to me, boy?

Oh, you fancy and deaf, huh?

Three cents.

Come on back here.

Shit.

Walker?

Walker, what the hell are you doing?

What does it look like I'm doing? Sitting in my goddamn seat.

You better stand your ass up and come on back here with the rest of us.

Come on back here, boy's room, sit on my lap, come on.

- You want me to sit on your lap? - Move behind the screen.

There ain't no room, man.

Get back with the others.

Look, I'm a soldier here on assignment.

I'm headed back to camp.

I paid my money.

Now just go ahead and drive this machine.

Oh, shit.

Officer Cross.

- Need some help here. - Walker...

- Stop being stubborn. Come on. - Stop worrying so much.

- This one right here, Officer. - We're trying to help you.

Y'all get off.

Get where you belong.

I'm a soldier in the U.S. Army.

I sit where I wanna sit.

Shit!

Sir...

Don't you ever talk back to a white man.

Yo! Stop!

Drop it, big buck.

You mean as about as much to me as a gnat.

So get off before I swat ya.

Okay, come on, come on, Boston...

Let's go, let's go, come on.

Come here, boy.

You're a soldier, huh?

You ain't nothing but a nagger in a fancy getup.

Jim Crow's the law.

Respect it.

Sorry for the trouble, folks.

Private William Boston,

you have an impressive background.

It's says here in your file you recently graduated from the Sorbonne

- in Paris, France. - Yes, sir.

It's a fine school.

I'd like to recommend you

for Colored Officer Training School in Des Moines, Iowa.

I think with your credentials you'll do very well there.

- No, sir. - No?

Why, Private?

Well, sir,

I joined the army to be of service to my country

and my race.

Your only allegiance is to your country, Private.

Of course, sir.

However, sir, my intent

is to constructive with the other men of color, sir.

Well, that's a lot of hard work, Private.

Officers are excused from that kind of manual labor.

Is that what drove your commission, Captain,

escaping manual labor?

I admire service over ambition.

So, we'll leave it at that.

You were with Private Walker last night.