The bond of friendship between a worldly-wise Army Master Sergeant and his naive worshiper.
Sentemental military comedy revolves around two contemporary army buddies, Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter (Jackie Gleason), a smooth operator, who supply Sergeant Eustis Clay (Steve McQueen) idolizes and hopes will join him as a civilian in a private business enterprise. Clay endeavors to be a player in the military, just like Slaughter, but it seems as though Clay still has a lot to learn from his mentor. They are joined by Tuesday Weld as a shrill dizzy blonde teenager named Bobby Jo Pepperdine and Tony Bill as bumbling Private First Class Jerry Meltzer, McQueen's screwball sidekick.—alfiehitchie
Eustis Clay is a Supply Sergeant at a US Army base in the American south. Eustis is looking to his future when he will soon be decommissioned, as a civilian when he plans to make his proverbial millions as he comes up with one hair brained scheme after another, some of those schemes for the seed money needed to start that money making business. With any of those current schemes, Eustis will often employ the more than willing assistance of somewhat naive Pvt. Jerry Meltzer. The one thing Eustis has determined is the company name: Maxwell Slaughter/Eustis Clay Inc. Overweight and in middle age, Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter is the person to who Eustis looks up to the most, and as such Eustis is trying to convince him to join him in the world outside the military. Wiser than Eustis, Maxwell humors him in truly enjoying their friendship which entails each having the other's back in almost every situation, in knowing that Eustis' schemes have no chance of success, and in being a career military man meaning he has no intention of joining Eustis in business, even if the schemes were viable. To help convince Maxwell sooner than later seeing to his own imminent exit from the military, Eustis believes a girlfriend for Maxwell could help nudge him in that direction. Of the many women around the base that Eustis knows, who he chooses as that girlfriend for Maxwell is eighteen year old high school senior Bobby Jo Pepperdine, who, despite being a proverbial good girl, has had her fair share of military men boyfriends even older than Maxwell. Eustis' formal introduction of Maxwell to Bobby Jo has unintended consequences for them all, especially as two MPs, Sergeants James Priest and Fred Lenahan, have long had it out for Eustis.—Huggo
Sergeant Eustis Clay (Steve McQueen) cannot wait to finish his peacetime service and move on to bigger, better things. He is a personal favorite of Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter (Jackie Gleason), a career soldier who is considerably brighter than Eustis, but enjoys his company and loyalty. Slaughter is wired into all the perks, back channels and supply sources an Army base can provide, and they all filter through his nearly autonomous cabin hub. Clay becomes involved in a number of schemes and scams, including one in which he will sell tickets for soldiers to watch Private Jerry Meltzer (Tony Bill) purportedly run a three-minute mile. He inconveniences Slaughter more than once, and in one case has a traffic mishap requiring him to be bailed out of jail. Determined to tempt Slaughter with the joys of civilian life before his hitch is up, Clay fixes him up on a date with a much younger woman, not-too-bright Bobby Jo Pepperdine (Tuesday Weld). At first, Slaughter is offended, but gradually he sees another side of Bobby Jo, finding they have a mutual fondness for crossword puzzles. Clay and Slaughter golf together and begin to enjoy the good life. One night, Clay is devastated to learn of the death of his dog Donald. A pair of hated rivals use their status as military policemen to lure Clay into a barroom brawl, where he is being beaten two-against-one before Slaughter angrily comes to his rescue. Together, they win the fight, but the middle-aged, overweight Slaughter collapses from the effort. Hospitalized, Slaughter delights Clay by suggesting they leave the Army together and go live on a tropical isle, surrounded by blue seas and beautiful girls. But Slaughter dies. A changed man, Clay re-enlists in the Army with a new sense of purpose.
M/Sgt. Maxwell Slaughter (Jackie Gleason) is a "lifer" NCO ("three-up, three-down") at a typical Army base. He has a private office in Special Services, where a drink machine dispenses bottle-soda when struck in the right place. Sgt. Eustis Clay (Steve McQueen) ("three-up") is a supply sergeant, whose specialty is providing preferred underwear ("drawers, cotton") for those who offer him favors. Eustis' mentor and preferred company is Sgt. Slaughter. Eustis fantasizes about ideas that will make he and Maxwell millions. Maxwell's role is to listen quietly and enjoy Eustis retelling the same fantasies. Neither can wait to separate from the Army. Eustis states with his ideas and Maxwell's brains, they will become millionaires. The plot involves Eustis evading an MP (Ed Nelson) who suspects Eustis of rotating mattresses in various locations to avoid being accused of misappropriating govt. property. One evening, Eustis invites Maxwell on a blind date with a high-school coed (Tuesday Weld), young enough by many years to be Maxwell's daughter.
Eustis also has a date, and the four of them patronize a nightclub, which goes somewhat o.k. Another day, the same four go on a foursome golf date. They enjoy it until a private (Tony Bill) Eustis knows runs across the fairway to tell him his dog is ill. Eustis runs off to take a phone call, where he is told his dog ("Donald") is dead. Eustis is devastated and none of Maxwell's well-worn truisms comfort Eustis.
That night, Eustis is sitting in a bar and mourning Donald. The MP who is pursuing Eustis over mattress issues is in the bar with another MP, and they are off-duty. They pick a fight with Eustis who defends himself well, but is outnumbered. When it seems Eustis is nearly done for, Maxwell appears and he is not in a good mood. He immediately involves himself in the fight with the two MPs and disposes of them both. Eustis recovers and goes to Maxwell, who now is not looking well. They talk and Eustis assures Maxwell that everything is o.k. Maxwell accepts Eustis' assurances with grace. The next day, Eustis goes to the hospital to visit Maxwell and finds him in bed and awake. They discuss their usual fantasies and make laughter. They assure one another that all is well and that Maxwell will return to work after a brief stay in the hospital. A few days pass and Eustis learns that Maxwell has died. Eustis is again devastated. Eustis had two actual friends in this world and they are both dead. Later, Eustis walks out of an office. A sign on the bldg. reads, "RE-UP". Eustis has extended his enlistment. Eustis meets the private he knows. Eustis and the private discuss the passing of Maxwell, that Eustis has "re-upped", and how his life has changed with the loss of Maxwell.
Eustis walks over to Maxwell's office, which is being emptied of all furniture. He walks in, and absent-mindedly slaps the drink machine while passing by; the machine obediently responds by unloading a bottle of soda. Eustis, surprised at first, walks back to the machine, picks up the bottle, and opens the cap. He walks to a window facing the street, where movers are loading the final pieces of Maxwell's furniture. The movers close-up the van, climb in the cab and drive away. As they are about to leave, the viewer's perspective changes. From the outside of the building, we watch Eustis as he stares at the van. We see the reflection of the van in reverse on the window where Eustis is standing. As we see the reflection of the van pulling away from the curb, we observe Eustis. He stares out the window until the van disappears. Eustis, sitting in Maxwell's chair, rotates away from the window with the drink in his hand. We see Eustis' head and the arm holding his drink. Slowly, Eustis lifts his arm to take a swallow from the bottle, and we see his arm uplifted. Eustis then drops his arm on the chair.
