Lone Star (1996)

Chandra Wilson: Athena

Quotes 

• [a black colonel talks to a black private busted for drug use] 

  Delmore Payne : With your attitude, Private, I'm surprised you want to stay in the service.

  Athena Johnson : I do, sir.

  Delmore Payne : Because it's a job?

  Athena Johnson : Outside... it's... it's such a mess. Um... It's...

  Delmore Payne : Chaos. Why do you think they let us in on the deal?

  Athena Johnson : 'Cause they got people to fight - Arabs, yellow people, whatever. Might as well use us?

  Delmore Payne : It works like this, Private. Every soldier in a war doesn't have to believe in what he's fighting for. Most of them fight just to back up the other soldiers in their squad. They try not to get them killed, they try not to get them extra duty, they try not to embarrass themselves in front of them.

  [He leans forward and straightens her uniform jacket and cap] 

  Delmore Payne : Why don't you start with that?

  Athena Johnson : Yes, sir.

  Delmore Payne : [salutes]  Dismissed.

  Athena Johnson : [surprised]  ... Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.