Information
| Year: | 1992 |
| Rating: | 7.6(63433) |
| Listed in: | Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Directed by: | Rob Reiner |
| Actors: | Tom Cruise Jack Nicholson Kevin Bacon Kiefer Sutherland Kevin Pollak Demi Moore |
| "In the heart of the nation's capital, in a courthouse of the U.S. government, one man will stop at nothing to keep his honor, and one will stop at nothing to find the truth." | |
Cast
| Directed by | |
|---|---|
| Rob Reiner | |
| Actors | |
| Tom Cruise | as Lt. Daniel Kaffee |
| Jack Nicholson | as Col. Nathan R. Jessep |
| Kevin Bacon | as Capt. Jack Ross |
| Kiefer Sutherland | as Lt. Jonathan Kendrick |
| Kevin Pollak | as Lt. Sam Weinberg |
| James Marshall | as Pfc. Louden Downey |
| J.T. Walsh | as Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson |
| Christopher Guest | as Dr. Stone |
| J.A. Preston | as Judge Julius Alexander Randolph |
| Matt Craven | as Lt. Dave Spradling |
| Wolfgang Bodison | as Lance Cpl. Harold W. Dawson |
| Xander Berkeley | as Capt. Whitaker |
| John M. Jackson | as Capt. West |
| Noah Wyle | as Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes |
| Cuba Gooding Jr. | as Cpl. Carl Hammaker |
| Lawrence Lowe | as Bailiff |
| Joshua Malina | as Tom |
| Oscar Jordan | as Steward |
| John M. Mathews | as Guard #1 |
| Aaron Sorkin | as Man in Bar |
| Alex Wexo | as Guard #2 |
| Frank Cavestani | as Agent #1 |
| Jan Munroe | as Jury Foreman |
| Ron Ostrow | as M.P. |
| Matthew Saks | as David |
| Harry Caesar | as Luther |
| Michael DeLorenzo | as Pfc. William T. Santiago |
| Geoffrey Nauffts | as Lt. Sherby |
| Arthur Senzy | as Robert C. McGuire |
| Cameron Thor | as Cdr. Lawrence |
| David Bowe | as Cdr. Gibbs |
| Gene Whittington | as Mr. Dawson |
| Bernard Madrid | as Interrogator |
| Actresses | |
| Demi Moore | as Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway |
| Maud Winchester | as Aunt Ginny Miller |
Movie info
| Languages: | English |
| Filming dates: | 21 October 1991 - 30 January 1992 |
| Budget: | USD 40,000,000 |
| Gross: |
Worldwide - 96,000,000 USD (except USA) |
| Plot: | The facts: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Gitmo as it is known - based marines Lance Corporal Harold Dawson and Private Louden Downey assaulted Private William Santiago in the middle of the night, which included stuffing a rag into his mouth, Santiago who died shortly thereafter of respiratory complications. Special Judge Advocate Counsel Lieutenant Joanne Galloway believes Dawson and Downey were just following orders, as part of the marine's unofficial "code red" where there is self policing within the ranks, and that there was no intent of murder. Galloway, a naive lawyer who seeks fairness and justice at all cost, wants to be assigned the case but she has no trial experience. Instead, the military assigns Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee to be Dawson and Downey's counsel. Kaffee is a lightweight lawyer who also has no trial experience and has a history of taking, as Galloway refers, the path of least resistance by plea bargaining regardless of his clients' guilt/innocence and their wants. Galloway becomes co-counsel in the case. The two, with their assistant Lieutenant Sam Weinberg, have to decide what to do, not an easy task considering their differing views on law and what is best for all including themselves. They do believe Dawson and Downey's story that they were following unofficial/official code red orders, but are uncertain if their case is winnable, especially against the marine machine run by Gitmo's Colonel Nathan Jessep. |
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Tags
Original Soundtracks
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"HOUND DOG" Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Performed by Willie Mae Thornton Courtesy of MCA Records "TIMBER I'M FALLING IN LOVE" Written by Kostas Performed by Patty Loveless Courtesy of MCA Records "NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME" Written by Earl Forest & William G. Harvey Performed by Jimmy Cotton Courtesy of Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company By Arrangement with Warner Special Products "ALL I WANT TO DO" Written by UB40 Performed by UB40 Courtesy of Virgin Records Limited / A&M Records "The Stars and Stripes Forever" (uncredited) (1896) Written by John Philip Sousa "Semper Fidelis" (uncredited) Written by John Philip Sousa |
Goofs
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Continuity: When Kaffee meets Galloway for the first time, Kaffee's apple switches hands, and the stain on his shirt disappears. Continuity: Throughout Lt. Kaffee's first meeting with Lt. Commander Galloway, the stain on Kaffee's shirt appears and disappears. Continuity: When Kaffee meets Galloway for the first time, his cap is tucked under his left arm as he enters her office, but then it later switches to under his right arm. Continuity: When Kaffee meets Galloway for the first time, Kaffee's second button from the top is unbuttoned when he first walks in. After he sits down, it is buttoned. GEOG: After the first day of testimony, the plot segues to Kaffee's apartment at night by showing a sunset over Washington. However, the shot angle - from the Iwo Jima Memorial looking towards the Washington Monument and the US Capitol - looks to the east and therefore is looking at a sunrise. Continuity: After a day of testimony, Kaffee's briefcase switches hands twice between shots. Continuity: The rear view mirror in Kaffee's car when Markinson is in the back seat. Crew: When Kaffee gets into his car and Markinson is sitting in the back seat, set lights are visible in Markinson's glasses in the close-ups. CHAR: Lt. Col. Markinson commits suicide with a Beretta M92, 9mm pistol, albeit chrome-plated, a concession to his rank. The US Military has never issued chrome or nickel-plated sidearms to officers. In court later, Lt Kaffee describes the caliber as ".45". The Beretta 92 series is only chambered for 9mm rounds. DATE: In one of the scenes in Kaffee's apartment he is watching a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles. The game is won at the end by the Orioles. This actual game took place on June 17, 1991, and was when the Orioles ended the Twins 15 game winning streak during that season, even though the movie was supposed to take place in September of 1992. Another game Kaffee watched on TV between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, where a home run tied the game at 10, occurred on May 23, 1991, a game San Diego eventually won 11-10 in 12 innings. Continuity: In Kaffee's apartment when Galloway and Weinberg are about to leave, the door is opened twice. Revealing mistakes: In the last courtroom scene, after Col. Jessup has struggled with the Marine in an attempt to get at Kaffee, you can clearly see stage makeup smeared on his shirt collar and tie. Continuity: Col. Jessup's tie after trying to attack Danny and fixing his uniform. (See also Mars Attacks! (1996).) Continuity: When Captain Ross calls McGuire to the stand in the courts-martial, Ross is moving toward the central podium between the counsels' tables. When Ross is giving McGuire the oath, however, he hasn't moved toward the podium at all, but is still behind the table. Continuity: While Kaffee is in his apartment, with Galloway and Weinberg, playing basketball, he throws the ball into the basket, and it does not drop. Then, a minute later, the ball drops twice. Continuity: Jessup lowers his cigar twice between shots without apparently having had time to return it to his mouth as he has dinner with Kaffee et al in Cuba. Continuity: In the bar, Kaffee is holding his beer bottle in his right hand as he leaps up to call Capt. Ross a lousy softball player. However, as he calls out the insult, the beer bottle is now in his left hand. Continuity: After Kaffee has entered a plea for the two marines, Weinberg and Galloway both turn and are facing him. But in the close-up we see Galloway facing forward with only her head turned toward him and then we see her turn again. Continuity: When Weinberg is asking Dawson about shooting at his mirror, his arms are crossed over his chest. Moments later they are by his side, but he does not have enough time to lower them. Continuity: As Kendrick testifies, we often see the back of his head. When Kaffee asks about Dawson's latest report, Kendrick's hair is much longer. SYNC: When Galloway confronts the drunk Danny about why he asked for the transfer order from Jessup, on the line where she mentions the Pentagon, what she is saying obviously does not match up with her lips. Continuity: When Lt. Kaffee and Lt. Weinberg go to question PFC Downey and LCpl Dawson there is a camera of some sort mounted on the wall in the corner (visible in the shot in which Kaffee is standing with his back toward the corner). In the next shot of the corner, when Weinberg is in the same position, the equipment has disappeared. Continuity: When they are examining the closet in Santiago's room, Kaffee runs his fingers across the camouflage uniforms in the close-up and they are moved out of place. The next shot shows Kaffee at the closet, but everything in the closet is perfect. Continuity: Kaffee leaves his office after his secretary tells him to say "hi" to Castro, and he and Galloway are talking outside as they walk to his car. He gets out his keys and unlocks the car door, but when he climbs inside the car and closes the door, the window obviously is already rolled down. Fact errors: When Kaffee is looking up recent telephone calls from the Marine base, you can see they're dated 1992. 6 September 1992 (when the crime took place) was on a Sunday not a Friday. SYNC: After Jessup says, "I have been promoted up through the chain with greater speed and success than you have," you can see from behind he is still speaking but with no dialog (widescreen version). Continuity: The night before the first day of trial Kaffee opens the door to let Weinberg and Galloway out of his apartment. As they walk to the door Weinberg opens the door again, but it had already been opened. Continuity: When Lt. Col. Markinson is dressing in his uniform prior to his suicide, he inserts the end of the belt into the belt loop without going under the left side of the buckle. In the mirror though, the belt is under the left side of the buckle. Fact errors: The doctor testifies that "lactic acidosis occurs when the body burns sugar instead of oxygen". The body always metabolizes sugar, but in the absence of oxygen, lactic acid builds up as a waste product and is toxic (=lactic acidosis). Fact errors: As he is leaving after questioning his client, Lt. Kaffee turns and says to Dawson, "Whatever happened to saluting an officer when he leaves the room?" whereupon Dawson stands up and shoves his hands in his pockets. While Dawson's behavior would be considered disrespectful to a senior officer, Marines never salute indoors or while uncovered, although other branches of the service may salute indoors under certain circumstances. Such circumstances would include official reporting to one's commander, such as for counseling. In any case, Dawson is a prisoner and therefore not allowed to salute anyone under any circumstances. Continuity: When LCDR Galloway sets down her cover in the Captain's office, her cover reverses positions. Continuity: When Kaffey talked to Ross in the bar about Markinson and took his first drink of beer it was obvious, by the level of liquid in the bottle during the drink, the bottle was not full and was drank from previously. Continuity: McGaffey pulls into the parking lot at Markinson's hotel and it is more of a motel - rooms having outside entrances. When he goes to Markinson's room, it is clearly a hotel - rooms with inside entrances. Miscellaneous: When they are in Court, the clock on the wall doesn't change time throughout the movie. It always shows 3:34 and the second hand doesn't move. It always shows between 12 and 1 and 7 and 8. Continuity: After Kaffee's walk with Wienberg and his baby, while discussing their forthcoming trip to Cuba, Kaffee leaves to get into his car, his shirt tail is in and out. Fact errors: SPOILER: In a court-martial, the senior member of the panel (jury) announces the verdict, not the military judge. After a guilty verdict of any charge, the trial continues into the sentencing phase, with the prosecution and usually the defense presenting evidence and then both sides arguing. The sentence is determined by the panel, not the military judge. Fact errors: There is no such thing as "conduct unbecoming a Marine" under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The closest thing to it is what is known as a "general Article 134 violation," which does not carry a dishonorable discharge as a possible punishment. CHAR: Kendrick is outranked by Ross but never addresses him as "Sir" during his testimony. While it's possible that his disdain for Kaffee would cause him to lose his military bearing on cross-examination, it's highly unlikely that he would fail to acknowledge Ross's rank. Revealing mistakes: When Captain Ross returns to his desk after questioning Corporal Barnes, you can see him lift The Marine Corps Guide for Sentry Duty so that Lt. Kaffee can grab it from his hand. Continuity: When Kaffee is reading the inventory of Santiago's belongings during the trial, he refers to "three khaki shirts." Earlier in the film, when in Santiago's room, there are five khaki shirts hanging on the rod. Fact errors: Kaffee is a Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2) after being in the Navy for nine months. A JAG officer who is a direct commissionee comes in the military as an O-2 and is promoted within six months. After nine months, Kaffee certainly would be a Lieutenant (O-3). Continuity: In the final court scene, when Jessep tells Kaffee to call him Colonel or sir before returning to the stand, the camera is on Kaffee's back showing him pouring a glass of water then lowering his arm. The next view is from the front of Caffey and his arm is raised again pouring another glass of water. Continuity: The scene where Kaffey is in his office getting ready to go to Cuba, a shot is used twice. Before we go in the office, a shot of the building is shown and various uniformed people are seen walking. In the far left you can make out Kaffey's car pulling away. After Kaffey and Galloway leave the office and walk to his car (which is now parked on the right), that outside shot is used again. Kaffey pulls away and drives off to the left. You will notice this is the same shot as used before, just timed differently. Fact errors: When Kaffee asks Dawson what a Code Red is, and Dawson replies "Sir?", Kaffee retorts with "Don't answer me like I just asked you to clean the latrine". Members of both the Navy and Marine Corps would refer to a restroom/bathroom as a "Head", not a "Latrine". Latrine is an Army term. Continuity: Kaffey leaves his office after his secretary tells him to say "hi" to Castro, and he and Galloway are talking outside as they walk to his car. He gets out his keys and unlocks the car door, but when he climbs inside the car and closes the door, the window obviously is already rolled down. Fact errors: In 1992 the Navy no longer offered or expected a salute indoors. As the Marine Corp is a division of the Navy, Dawson and Downey would have known this and never offered a salute to Kaffee or anyone else. Also, a salute would only be offered to the highest ranking officer present, unless the lower ranked officer spoke directly to someone even lower ranked than themselves. PLOT: Lt. Kaffee is chasing Jo down the street in his car in the rain, yet no one considered that he is drunk and driving the streets of Washington, DC after polishing off the better part of a pint of Jack Daniels. Behavior unbecoming an Officer in the United States Navy. Continuity: In the scene where Dawson and Downey go into Santiago's room, they put tape around his mouth in a anti clockwise turn, with the camera close up on Santiago. In the next scene, the camera is on Santiago's side, with Dawson and Downey putting the tape on again anti clockwise around Santiago's mouth, therefore you can clearly see that the tape was put around Santiago's face twice. Continuity: At the end of the movie, when the two marines stand to hear the verdict, the long shot shows them to have about a foot difference in height. Move to close-up and they are a few inches different. The long shot once again shows the larger height difference. Continuity: When Colonel Jessep is being charged with the crime near the end of the film, Captain Ross asks Colonel Jessep if he understands his rights "that I have read," but it was clear the he didn't read those rights but merely recited them. FAIR: In the airport scene at Guantanamo, when Cpl. Barnes arrives to pick up Naval officers Kaffe, Weinberg, and Galloway as they are getting off of the airplane, Barnes fails to don his cap (or cover, in military terminology), come to attention and salute the officers. Most military branches don't allow members to wear covers around aircraft as they tend to fly off heads and may damage aircraft propellers or engines. If anything, Barnes should just come to attention and acknowledge the officers and then wait for a "carry on" or "at ease." Continuity: After Kaffee says "I want the truth!" the reverberation of his voice in the courtroom cuts off abruptly when the shot switches to Jessup giving his retort. Continuity: When the Marines begin their rifle twirling drill, they have their bayonets fixed to their rifles. Halfway through the drill, the bayonets are at their sides in sheaths affixed to their belts. Yet they are never seen removing the bayonets. Fact errors: When Lt. Kaffee begins his court room questioning of Col. Jessop, he notes that the Jessop is wearing his "Class A dress uniform". However, he is actually wearing his Class A service uniform. His Class A dress uniform would be his dress blues (similar to the uniform Lt. Col. Markinson is wearing when he commits suicide in the hotel). Continuity: Kaffee once refers to Dawson as a "Corporal," when in fact, he is a Lance Corporal (one rank below a Corporal). In the Marine Corps, a Lance Corporal is never addressed as a Corporal. Fact errors: The group depicting the Marine Silent Drill Platoon in the opening credits are shown wearing Class B Dress Blues. This is the standard, and most well-known Marine Corps dress uniform, featuring ribbons on the left chest, Marksmanship Badges, and blue trousers. While the Silent Drill Platoon, as Marines, would be authorized to wear this uniform, they only wear Class A Blue-White Dress uniforms when performing. Fact errors: Throughout the movie, 7 or 8 marines are seen in dress uniforms. All wear expert rifleman badges - a statistical impossibility since only about 1/3 of marines earn that rating. |
Quotes
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Kaffee: Is the colonel's underwear a matter of national security? Kaffee: And don't wear that perfume in court, it wrecks my concentration. Galloway: Really. Kaffee: I was talking to Sam. Kaffee: Maybe, if we work at it, we can get Dawson charged with the Kennedy assassination. Galloway: Why do you hate them so much? Lt. Weinberg: They beat up on a weakling, and that's all they did. The rest is just smokefilled coffee-house crap. They tortured and tormented a weaker kid. They didn't like him. So, they killed him. And why? Because he couldn't run very fast. Kaffee: You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor. Capt. Ross: Danny! Great job today. The redirect on Barnes. Kaffee: I have Markinson. Capt. Ross: Where is he? Kaffee: Motel room in North East with six federal marshalls outside his door. Take a sip of your drink. [to waitress] Kaffee: I'd like a beer please. The transfer order that Markinson signed is a phony. Jessup's statement that the 6am flight was the first one off the base is a lie. We're checking the tower chief's log. In the mean time I thought we'd put the Apostle John Kendrick on the stand and see if we can't have a little fun. Capt. Ross: Alright. I have an obligation to tell you that if you accuse Kendrick or Jessup of a crime without proof then you're going to be subject to a court martial for professional misconduct and that is something that's going to be stapled to every job application that you ever fill out. Markinson's not going to stand up, Danny, he's a crazy man! Now, I'm not telling you this to intimidate you I'm being your lawyer here. Kaffee: Thanks a lot, Jack. And I want you to know that I think the whole fucking bunch of you are certifiably insane. This code of honor of yours makes me want to beat the shit out of something. Capt. Ross: Don't you dare lump me in with Jessup and Kendrick just because we wear the same uniform. I'm your friend and I'm telling you, I don't think your clients belong in jail but I don't get to make that call! I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice and my client has a case! Now I want you to acknowledge that the Judge Advocate has made you aware of the possible consequences of accusing a Marine officer of a felony without proper evidence. Kaffee: I've been so advised. Capt. Ross: You got bullied into that courtroom, Danny, by everybody. By Dawson. By Galloway. Shit, I practically dared you. You got bullied into that courtroom by the memory of a dead lawyer. Kaffee: You're a lousy fucking softball player, Jack! Capt. Ross: Your boys are going down, Danny. I can't stop it anymore. Kaffee: Lieutenant, in your opinion was Private Santiago a good Marine? Lt. Kendrick: I would say he was about average. Kaffee: Lieutenant, you signed three Proficiency and Conduct reports on Santiago and in all three reports you indicate a rating of below average. Lt. Kendrick: Yes, Private Santiago was below average. I did not see the need to trample on a man's grave. Kaffee: Well, we appreciate that but you are under oath now and I think as unpleasant as it may be we'd all just as soon hear the truth. Lt. Kendrick: I am aware of my oath. Kaffee: Lieutenant, these are the last three Pro-Con reports you signed for Lance Corporal Dawson. Dawson received two marks of exceptional, however, on this most recent report dated June 9th of this year he received a rating of below average. It's this last report I'd like to discuss for a moment. Lt. Kendrick: That would be fine. Kaffee: Lance Corporal Dawson's ranking following the school of infantry was perfect. Records indicate that more than half that class has been promoted to full Corporal while Dawson has remained a Lance Corporal. Was Dawson's promotion held up because if this last report? Lt. Kendrick: I'm sure it was. Kaffee: Do you recall why Dawson was given such a poor grade on this last report? Lt. Kendrick: I'm sure I don't. I have many men in my charge, Lieutenant. I write many reports. Kaffee: Lieutenant, do you recall an incident involving a PFC Curtis Bell who had been found stealing liquor from the Officer's Club? Lt. Kendrick: Yes, I do. Kaffee: Did you report Private Bell to the proper authorities? Lt. Kendrick: I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant, the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer Colonel Nathan R. Jessup and the Lord our God. Kaffee: At your request, Lieutenant, I can have the record reflect your lack of acknowledgment of this court as a proper authority. Capt. Ross: Objection. Argumentative. Judge Randolph: Sustained. Watch yourself, Counselor. Kaffee: Did you report Private Bell to your superiors? Lt. Kendrick: I remember thinking very highly of Private Bell, of not wanted to see his record tarnished by a formal charge. Kaffee: You preferred that it be handled within the unit. Lt. Kendrick: Yes, I most certainly did. Kaffee: Lieutenant, do you know what a Code Red is? Lt. Kendrick: Yes, I do. Kaffee: I want the truth! Col. Jessep: [shouts] You can't handle the truth! Kaffee: [seeing Markinson in the back seat of his car] Jesus Christ! Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: You left your door unlocked. Kaffee: You scared the shit out of me. Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Just keep driving. Kaffee: Are you aware that you're under subpoena? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Yes. I'm also aware that the lives of two Marines are in your hands. If there were something I could do about that I would but since I can't the only thing I can do is help you, Lieutenant. Kaffee: Was it a code red? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Yes. Kaffee: Did Kendrick give the order? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Yes. Kaffee: Did you witness it? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I didn't need to... Kaffee: Did you witness it! Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: No. Kaffee: Then how do you know? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I know. Kaffee: Yeah, you know shit. Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: He was never going to be transferred off that base. [Kaffee turns the corner and stops the car] Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Jessep was going to keep him on the base. He said he wanted him trained. Kaffee: We've got the transfer order its got your signature on it. Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I know. I signed that the morning you arrived in Cuba five days after Santiago died. Kaffee: I'm going to talk to the prosecutor. I'm going to get you a deal some kind of immunity and in about 4 days you're going to appear as a witness for the defense and you're going to tell the court exactly what you just told me. In the meantime I'm going to get you into a motel room and we're going to start from the beginning. Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I don't want a deal and I don't want immunity. I want you to know that I am proud neither of what I have done nor what I am doing. Kaffee: Alright, let's get two. Lt. Sherby: Sorry! Kaffee: Nothing to be sorry about, Sherby, you just look the ball into your glove. Let's try it again. Shootin' two! Lt. Sherby: Sorry! Kaffee: Sherby, you gotta trust me, you keep your eyes open and your chances of catching ball increase by a factor of 10. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: Kaffee. Kaffee: Let's try it again. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: Kaffee! Kaffee: Dave you seem distraught. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: We were supposed to meet in your office 15 minutes ago to talk about the McDermont case. You're stalling on this one. We get this done right now, or I mean it, Kaffee, I'm going to hang your boy from a fuckin' yardarm! Kaffee: Yardarm? Sherby, does the Navy still hang people from Yardarms? Lt. Sherby: I don't think so. Kaffee: Dave, Sherby doesn't think the Navy hangs people yardarms anymore. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: I'm going to charge him with possession and being under the influence while on duty. You plead guilty I recommend 30 days in the brig with loss of rank and pay. Kaffee: It was oregano, Dave. It was 10 dollars worth of oregano. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: Yeah, but your client thought it was marijuana. Kaffee: My client's a moron that's not against the law. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: Kaffee, I have people to answer to just like you do. I'm going to charge him. Kaffee: With what? Possession of a condiment? Lieutenant Dave Spradling: Kaffee... Kaffee: Look, Dave, I tried to help you out of this but if you ask for jail time I'm going to file a motion to dismiss. Kaffee: You won't get it. Kaffee: I will get it. And if the MTD is denied I'll file a motion in limine seeking an evidentary ruling in advance and then I'm going to file against pretrial confinement and you're going to spend the next three months going blind on paperwork because a Signalman Second Class bought and smoked a dime bag of oregano. Lieutenant Dave Spradling: B misdemeanor 20 days in the brig. Kaffee: C misdemeanor 15 days restricted duty. Galloway: Where is he? Kaffee: Downtown Lodge on the Northeast side. Galloway: I want him guarded. Kaffee: That's probably a good idea. Anyway he also says that... Galloway: My name is Lt. Commander Galloway, my clearance code is... Kaffee: Clearance code? I don't have a clearance code. Do you have a clearance code? Lt. Weinberg: Danny! Kaffee: Anyway, he also says that Jessup's lying about the transportation off the base. Jessup says the 6am flight was the first one off the base, Markinson says there was a flight that left seven hours earlier. [to Galloway] That was impressive. Did you get what I said about the flight? Galloway: Yes. Sam, when a flight takes off there's got to be some kind of record kept, right? Lt. Weinberg: Yeah, you need the tower chief's log from Gitmo. Kaffee: Get it. Galloway: We're gonna win. Kaffee: Joe, let's not go crazy about this. We don't know who Markinson is we don't know what the log book's going to say. You just concentrate on Downey and I'll talk to Ross and let him know where we're at. Kaffee: [Kaffee has just asked why Santiago hadn't packed despite being due to be transferred in a few hours after the time of his death. Jessop smirks] Is this funny, sir? Col. Jessep: No, it isn't. It's tragic. Kaffee: Do you have an answer to the question, Colonel? Col. Jessep: Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these the questions I was really called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me that you have something more, Lieutenant. These two Marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill. [Kaffee hesitates, dumbfounded] Col. Jessep: Do you have any more questions for me, Counselor? Judge Randolph: Lt. Kaffee? [pause] Judge Randolph: Lieutenant, do you have anything further for this witness? [Jessep defiantly gets up to leave the courtroom] Col. Jessep: Thanks, Danny. I love Washington. Kaffee: Excuse me. I didn't dismiss you. Col. Jessep: I beg your pardon? Kaffee: I'm not finished with my examination. Sit down. Col. Jessep: Colonel! Kaffee: What's that? Col. Jessep: I would appreciate it if he would address me as Colonel or Sir. I believe I've earned it. Judge Randolph: Defense counsel will address the witness as Colonel or Sir. Col. Jessep: [to Judge] I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here. Judge Randolph: And the witness will address this court as Judge or Your Honor. I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel. Col. Jessep: [Judge dismisses the jury after Jessep's revelation on the stand about the Code Red] What is this? What's going on? I did my job, I'd do it again! [stands up defiantly] I'm gonna get on a plane and go on back to my base. Judge Randolph: You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's... guard the Colonel! [MPs take post] Captain Ross? Col. Jessep: What the hell is this? Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent. Any statement you make... Col. Jessep: I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime? This is funny. That's what this is. This is... [turning to Kaffee and lunging at him]... I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You fucked with the wrong Marine! Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep! Do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you? Col. Jessep: [contemptuously] You fuckin' people... you have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son. Kaffee: Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer, and an officer in the United States Navy, and you're under arrest you son of a bitch. [glares at Jessep] The witness is excused. Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: [voice over, as we see Markinson putting on his full class A dress uniform. It is his suicide note] Dear Mr. and Mrs. Santiago, I was William's executive officer. I knew your son vaguely, which is to say I knew his name. In a matter of time, the trial of the two men charged with your son's death will be concluded, and seven men and two women whom you've never met will try to offer you an explanation as to why William is dead. For my part, I've done as much as I can to bring the truth to light. And the truth is this: Your son is dead for only one reason. I wasn't strong enough to stop it. Always, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Andrew Markinson, United States Marine Corps. [puts pistol in his mouth, we hear a gunshot as the scene changes back to the courtroom] Kaffee: Lt. Kendrick, was Lance Corporal Dawson given a below average rating on this last report because you learned he had been sneaking food to Private Bell? Capt. Ross: Object! Judge Randolph: Not so fast. Lieutenant? Lt. Kendrick: Lance Corporal Dawson was given a below average rating because he had committed a crime. Kaffee: A crime? What crime did he commit? Lieutenant Kendrick? Dawson brought a hungry guy some food... what crime did he commit? Lt. Kendrick: He disobeyed an order! Kaffee: And because he did. Because he exercised his own set of values. Because he made a decision about the welfare of another Marine which was in conflict with an order of yours he was punished. Isn't that right. Lt. Kendrick: Lance Corporal Dawson disobeyed an order! Kaffee: Yeah, but it wasn't a real order, was it? I mean it's peace time. He wasn't being asked to secure a hill or advance on a beach head. Surely a Marine of Dawson's intelligence can be trusted to determine, on his own, which are the really important orders and which orders might, say, be morally questionable? Lieutenant Kendrick? Can he? Can Dawson determine on his own which orders he's going to follow? Lt. Kendrick: No, he cannot. Kaffee: A lesson he learned after the Curtis Bell incident, am I right? Lt. Kendrick: I would think so. Kaffee: You know so don't you, Lieutenant. Capt. Ross: Object! Judge Randolph: Sustained. Kaffee: Lieutenant Kendrick, one final question. If you had ordered Dawson to give Santiago a code red... Lt. Kendrick: [Interrupting, exasperated] I SPECIFICALLY ORDERED THOSE MEN NOT TO TOUCH SANTIAGO! Kaffee: ...would it be reasonable to think he would have disobeyed you again? Capt. Ross: Lieutenant, don't answer that! Kaffee: You don't have to, I'm through. Capt. Ross: Lieutenant Kendrick, did you order Lance Corporal Dawson and Private Downey to give Willie Santiago a code red? [Kendrick initially refuses to answer, sensing he's been caught lying] Lieutenant Kendrick! Did you... Lt. Kendrick: No, I did not! Capt. Ross: Corporal Barnes, I hold here the Marine Corps Outline for Recruit Training. You're familiar with this book? Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir. Capt. Ross: You've read it? Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir. Capt. Ross: Good. Would you open it up to the chapter that deals with code reds, please? Cpl. Barnes: Sir? Capt. Ross: Just flip open to the page of the book that talks about code reds. Cpl. Barnes: Well, sir code red is a term that we use, I mean, just down at Gitmo, I really don't think that... Capt. Ross: Ah, we're in luck then. Standard Operating Procedures, Rifle Security Company, Guantanamo Bay Cuba. Now I assume we'll find the term code red and its definition in that book. Am I right? Cpl. Barnes: No sir. Capt. Ross: Coporal Barnes, I'm a Marine. Is there no book. No pamphlet or manual, no regulation or set of written orders or instructions that lets me know that, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform code reds? Cpl. Barnes: No sir. No book, sir. Capt. Ross: No further questions. [as Ross walks back to his table Kaffee takes the book out of his hand] Kaffee: Corporal would you open this book up to the part that says that where the mess hall is. Cpl. Barnes: Well, Lt Kaffee, that's not in the book either, sir. Kaffee: You mean to say the entire time you've been at Gitmo you've never had a meal? Cpl. Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir. Kaffee: Well, I don't understand. How did you know where the mess hall was if it wasn't in this book? Cpl. Barnes: I guess I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir. Kaffee: Thanks. No more questions. Kaffee: Jack? Jack! They were given an order. Capt. Ross: I'll be right back. I'll be right back. Galloway: How long have you known about the order? Capt. Ross: I didn't. Who's this? Kaffee: She's Joe Galloway. She's Downey's attorney. She's very pleased to meet you. Capt. Ross: What exactly are you accusing me of, Commander? Galloway: How long have you known about the order? Kaffee: Jack didn't know about the order because if Jack did and he didn't tell us Jack knows he'd be violating about 14 articles of the Code of Ethics. As it is, Jack's got enough to worry about because, God forbid, our clients should decide to plead not guilty and testify for the record that they were given an order. Capt. Ross: Kendrick specifically told those men not to touch Santiago. Kaffee: That's right and then he went into Dawson and Downey's room and specifically ordered them to give Santiago a code red. Capt. Ross: That's not what Kendrick says. Kaffee: Kendrick's lying. Capt. Ross: You have proof? Kaffee: I have the defendants. Capt. Ross: And I have 23 Marines who aren't accused of murder and a Lieutenant with 4 letters of commendation. Kaffee: Why did Markinson go UA? Capt. Ross: You'll never know. Kaffee: You think I can't subpoena Markinson? Capt. Ross: You can try but you won't find him. You know what Markinson did for the first 17 of his 26 years in the Corps? Counter intelligence. Markinson's gone, there is no Markinson. Look, Danny, Jessup's star is on the rise. Division will give me a lot of room on this one to spare Jessup and the Corps any embarrassment. Kaffee: How much room? Capt. Ross: I'll knock it all down to involuntary manslaughter, two years they'll be home in six months. Galloway: No deal, we're going to court. Capt. Ross: No, you're not. Galloway: Why not? Capt. Ross: Because you'll lose and Danny knows it. And Danny also knows that if it does go to court then that means I'm going to have to go all the way. His clients are going to get charged with the whole truckload. Murder. Conspiracy. Conduct Unbecoming. And even though he's got me by the balls out here Danny knows that in a court room he loses this case. You see, Danny's an awfully talented lawyer and he's not about to let his clients go to jail for life when he knows that they could be home in six months. That's the end of this negotiation. I'll see you tomorrow morning at the arraignment. Lt. Weinberg: Alright, then, what do you suggest we do? Galloway: I say we hit Jessup with the phony transfer order. Lt. Weinberg: A transfer order without a witness. Kaffee: We have a witness. Lt. Weinberg: A dead witness. Kaffee: And in the hands of a lesser attorney that might be a problem. Lt. Weinberg: Look at this, last night he's swimming in Jack Daniels and today he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. Kaffee: I'm getting my second wind. Sit down, both of you. [Sees that they are already sitting] Kaffee: Good. Jessup told Kendrick to order the code red, Kendrick did and our clients followed the order. The cover-up is not our case to win we have to get Jessup to tell the court members that he ordered the code red. Lt. Weinberg: And you think you can just get him to say it? Kaffee: I think he wants to say it. I think he's pissed off that he has to hide behind all this. I think he wants to say that he made a command decision and that should be then end of it. [Starts imitating Jessup] Kaffee: He eats breakfast 300 yards away from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill him. And nobody's going to tell him how to run his unit least of all the Harvard mouth in his faggoty white uniform. I need to shake him, put him on the defensive and lead him right where he's dying to go. Lt. Weinberg: That's the plan? Kaffee: That's the plan. Lt. Weinberg: And how are you going to that? Kaffee: I have no idea. I need my bat. Lt. Weinberg: What? Kaffee: I need my bat. I think better with my bat. Where's my bat? Galloway: I put it in the closet. Kaffee: You put it in the closet? Galloway: Well, I was tripping over it. Kaffee: Don't ever put that bat in the closet. Kaffee: Private Downey, one last time, why did you go into Santiago's barracks room on the night of September 6th? Downey: A code red was ordered by my platoon commander Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick, sir. Kaffee: Thank you. Your witness. Capt. Ross: Private, on the week of 2 September the switch log has you down at post 39 until 1600, is that right? Downey: I'm sure it is, sir, they keep that log pretty good. Capt. Ross: How far is it from Post 39 to the Windward barracks? Downey: It's a ways, sir. It's a hike. Capt. Ross: How far by jeep? Downey: Ten, fifteen minutes. Capt. Ross: Ever have to walk it? Downey: Yes, sir. That day, sir. Friday. The pick up private. That's like what we call the guy who drops us off and picks us up at our posts, also because he can get girls in New York City. Well, pick up comes driving up and, bam, a blow out right at 39 with no spare so we had to double time it back to the barracks. Capt. Ross: And if it's ten, fifteen minutes by jeep I'm guessing that it would have to be at least an hour by foot, is that right? Downey: Pick up and me did it in 45 flat. Capt. Ross: Not bad. Now private, you testified earlier that your assault on Santiago was the result of an order that you received in your barracks room at 1620, is that right? Downey: Yes, sir. Capt. Ross: But you just said that you didn't make it back to the Windward barracks until 1645. Downey: Sir? Capt. Ross: Well, how could you be in your barracks room at 1620 if you didn't make it back to the Windward barracks until 1645? Downey: Well, you see, sir, there was a blow out. Capt. Ross: Private, did you actually ever hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red? Downey: Well, Hal said that... Capt. Ross: Private, did you actually ever hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red? Downey: No, sir. Galloway: Your Honor, I'd like a recess to confer with my client. Capt. Ross: Why did you go into Santiago's barracks room that night? Galloway: The witness has rights! Capt. Ross: The witness has been read his rights, Commander! Judge Randolph: The question will be repeated. Capt. Ross: Why did you go into Santiago's barracks room that night? Downey: Hal? Capt. Ross: Did Lance Corporal Dawson tell you to give him a code red? Downey: Hal? Capt. Ross: Don't look at him! Downey: Hal? Dawson: Private, answer the captain's question! Downey: Yes, captain, I was given an order by my squad leader Lance Corporal Harold W. Dawson, United States Marine Corps and I followed it! Judge Randolph: [reading the verdict] Lance Corporal Dawson, Private First Class Downey: On the charge of murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a United States Marine, the members find the accused guilty as charged. The accused are hereby sentenced to time already served, and you are ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps. This court martial is adjourned. Bailiff: All rise. [the courtroom clears; Downey is baffled and afraid, and speaks to Dawson] Downey: What does that mean? Lt. Weinberg: You've heard her. My daughter said a word. She said, "Pa." Kaffee: She was pointing to a mailbox, Sam. Lt. Weinberg: That's right. She pointed to the mailbox as if to say, "Pa, look, a mailbox." Galloway: Hi there. Kaffee: Having any luck in getting me replaced? Galloway: Is there anyone in the command that you don't either drink or play softball with? Kaffee: Commander, I... Galloway: Look, I came to make peace. We started off on the wrong foot. What do you say? Friends? Kaffee: I don't think... Galloway: I went and saw Downey this afternoon. I brought him some comic books he had been asking for. This kid, Kaffee, I swear, he doesn't know where he is. He doesn't even know why he's been arrested. Kaffee: Commander? Galloway: You can call me Joanne. Kaffee: Joanne? Galloway: Or Joe. Kaffee: Joe? Galloway: Yes? Kaffee: If you speak to a client of mine again without my permission, I'll have you disbarred. Friends? Galloway: I had authorization. Kaffee: From who? Galloway: Downey's only living relative, Ginny Miller, his aunt on his mother's side. Kaffee: You got authorization from Aunt Ginny? Galloway: I gave her a call like you asked. She's a very nice woman we spoke for nearly an hour. Kaffee: You got authorization from Aunt Ginny. Galloway: Perfectly within my province. Kaffee: Does Aunt Ginny have a barn? We can hold the trial there. I can sew the costumes. Maybe his Uncle Goober can be the judge. Galloway: I'm going to Cuba with you tomorrow. Kaffee: And the hits just keep on coming. Lt. Weinberg: Cmdr. Galloway, Lt. Kaffee is considered to be the best litigator in our office. He successfully plea bargained 44 cases in 9 months. Kaffee: One more and I get a set of steak knives. Lt. Weinberg: "I strenuously object?" Is that how it works? Hm? "Objection." "Overruled." "Oh, no, no, no. No, I STRENUOUSLY object." "Oh. Well, if you strenuously object then I should take some time to reconsider." Kaffee: You and Dawson, you both live in the same dreamworld. It doesn't matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove! So please, don't tell me what I know, or don't know; I know the LAW. Galloway: You know nothing about the law. You're a used-car salesman, Daniel. You're an ambulance chaser with a rank. You're nothing. Live with that. Kaffee: Oh, spare me the psychobabble father bullshit. Galloway: I'm sorry, I should have called first. Kaffee: No, I was just watching a ball game. Come on in. Galloway: I was just wondering how you would feel about my taking you to dinner tonight. Kaffee: Are you asking me out on a date? Galloway: No... Kaffee: It sounded like you were asking me out on a date. Galloway: I wasn't. Kaffee: I've been asked out on dates before, and that's what it sounded like. Galloway: Do you like seafood? I know a good seafood place. Col. Jessep: You see Danny, I can deal with the bullets, and the bombs, and the blood. I don't want money, and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that faggoty white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some fucking courtesy. You gotta ask me nicely. Galloway: But my feeling is that if this case is handled in the same fast-food, slick-ass ' Persian Bazaar manner with which you seem to handle everything else, something's gonna get missed. And I wouldn't be doing my job if I allowed Dawson and Downey to spend any more time in prison than absolutely necessary, because their attorney had pre-determined the path of least resistance. Kaffee: Wow... I'm sexually aroused, Commander. Col. Jessep: So how is your dad, Danny? Kaffee: He passed away seven years ago, sir. Col. Jessep: Don't I feel like the fucking asshole? Kaffee: Not at all sir. Kaffee: Whoa. Hold it. We gotta take a boat? Barnes: Yes, sir. To get to the other side of the bay. Kaffee: Nobody said anything about a boat. Barnes: Is there a problem, sir? Kaffee: No, no problem. I'm just not that crazy about boats, that's all. Galloway: Jesus Christ, Kaffee, you're in the Navy for crying out loud. Kaffee: Nobody likes her very much. Barnes: Yes, sir! Col. Jessep: What do you wanna discuss now? My favorite color? Kaffee: I get sick when I fly because I'm afraid of crashing into a large mountain, I don't think Dramamine'll help. Lt. Weinberg: I've got some oregano, I hear that works pretty good. Kaffee: Jack Ross came to see me today. He offered me the 12 years. Lt. Weinberg: Hey, that's what you wanted, right? Kaffee: Yeah, and I'll take it. I guess, you know, I'll take it. Lt. Weinberg: So... Kaffee: It took about 45 seconds he barely put up a fight. Lt. Weinberg: Danny, take the 12 years it's a gift. Kaffee: You don't believe their story, do you? You think they ought to go to jail for the rest of their lives. Lt. Weinberg: I believe every word of their story and I think they ought to go to jail for the rest of their lives. Kaffee: I'll see you tomorrow. Lt. Weinberg: Okay. Don't forget to wear the whites tomorrow. Very hot down there. Kaffee: I don't like the whites. Lt. Weinberg: Nobody likes the whites but we're going to Cuba. You have Dramamine? Kaffee: Dramamine keeps you cool? Lt. Weinberg: No, Dramamine keeps you from throwing up you get sick when you fly. Kaffee: I get sick when I fly because I'm afraid of crashing into a large mountain I don't think Dramamine will help with that. Lt. Weinberg: I got some oregano I hear that works pretty good. Kaffee: You know, Ross said the strangest thing to me just before I left. He said that the platoon commander Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick held a meeting with the men and specifically told them not to touch Santiago. Lt. Weinberg: So? Kaffee: I never mentioned Kendrick. I don't even know who he is. What the hell. I'll see you tomorrow. Capt. Ross: Dan Kaffee. Kaffee: Smilin' Jack Ross. Capt. Ross: Welcome to the big time. Kaffee: You think so? Capt. Ross: Let's hope for Dawson and Downey's sake that you practice law better than you play softball. Kaffee: Unfortunately for Dawson and Downey I don't do anything better than I play softball. I'm out of here Janelle! Janelle: Bye! Kaffee: See you when I get back from Cuba. Janelle: Say hi to Castro for me. Kaffee: Will do. What are we looking at? Capt. Ross: They plead guilty, we drop the conspiracy and conduct unbecoming. Twenty years they're home in half that time. Kaffee: I want twelve. Capt. Ross: Can't do it. Kaffee: They called the ambulance, Jack. Capt. Ross: I don't care if they called the Avon lady. They killed a Marine. Kaffee: Rag was tested for poison. Lab report, autopsy all say the same thing, maybe, maybe not. Capt. Ross: The Chief of Internal Medicine for the Guantanamo Bay Naval Hospital says he's sure. Kaffee: What do you know about code reds? Capt. Ross: Oh, man. Are we off the record? Kaffee: You tell me. Capt. Ross: Look, I'm going to give you the 12 years. Before you get yourself into any trouble tomorrow I think you should know that the platoon commander, Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick held a meeting with the men and specifically told them not to touch Santiago. Kaffee: We playing hoops tomorrow night? Capt. Ross: Do we have a deal? Kaffee: I'll talk to you when I get back. Kaffee: Anyway, since we seem to be out of witnesses, I thought I'd drink a little. Galloway: I still think we can win. Kaffee: Then maybe you should drink a little. Galloway: You get him on the stand and you get it from him! Kaffee: We get it from him! Oh! Okay! We get it from him. [turns to Sam as if he were Jessup on the stand] Kaffee: Colonel Jessup, isn't it true that you ordered the Code Red on Santiago? Lt. Weinberg: Look, we all... Kaffee: [interrupts with game-show buzzer sound] eeehhhhh! Time's up! What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants, it's a life time at exotic Fort Leavenworth! And, for defense counsel Kaffee, that's right, it's a court martial! Yes, Johnny! After falsely accusing a highly decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lieutenant Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching... typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Globbo School for Women! Thank you for playing "Should we or should we not listen to the advice of the galactically stupid!" Kaffee: Oh, I forgot. You were sick the day they taught law at law school. Kaffee: Lt. Kendrick... can I call you Jon? Lt. Kendrick: No, you may not. Kaffee: Have I done something to offend you? Lt. Kendrick: No, I like all you Navy boys. Every time we've gotta go someplace and fight, you fellas always give us a ride. Capt. West: Commander Galloway, why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee. Galloway: Thank you, sir, I'm fine Capt. West: Commander, I'd like you to leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back Galloway: Certainly, sir. Kaffee: Excuse me, sorry I'm late. Capt. Whitaker: That's alright, Danny, I know you don't have a good excuse, so I won't force you to come up with a bad one. Kaffee: Thank you, sir. Capt. Whitaker: The first one's for you. Seems you're moving up in the world, you've been requested by Division. Kaffee: Requested to do what? Capt. Whitaker: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A Marine corporal named Dawson illegally fires his weapon over the fence line and into Cuban territory. Kaffee: What's a fence line? Capt. Whitaker: Sam. Lt. Weinberg: A big wall that separates the good guys from the bad guys. Kaffee: Teacher's pet. Capt. Whitaker: PFC William Santiago threatens to rat on Dawson to the Naval Investigative Service. So, Dawson, and another member of his squad PFC Louden Downey, go into Santiago's barracks room, tie him up, force a rag down his throat. An hour later Santiago's dead. The attending physician says the rag was treated with some sort of toxin. Kaffee: They poisoned the rag? Capt. Whitaker: No according to them. Kaffee: What do they say? Capt. Whitaker: Not much. They're being flown up here tomorrow. Then Wednesday at 0600 you're taking a transport down to Cuba for the day to find out what you can. In the mean time, go meet with Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway of internal affairs. Any questions? Kaffee: That flight to Cuba, was that 0600 in the morning? Sir? Capt. Whitaker: It seems important to Division that this one be handled by the book so I'm assigning co-counsel. Any volunteers? Lt. Weinberg: No! Capt. Whitaker: Sam. Lt. Weinberg: Sir, I've got a stack of papers on my desk about a mile high. Capt. Whitaker: Help Kaffee out on this. Lt. Weinberg: Doing what? Kaffee will have this finished in about four days. Capt. Whitaker: Doing various administrative things. Backup. Whatever. Lt. Weinberg: In other words I have no responsibilities whatsoever. Capt. Whitaker: Right. Col. Jessep: There is nothing on this earth sexier, believe me, gentlemen, than a woman you have to salute in the morning. Promote 'em all, I say, 'cause this is true: if you haven't gotten a blowjob from a superior officer, well, you're just letting the best in life pass you by. Col. Jessep: Take caution in your tone, Commander. I'm a fair guy, but this fucking heat is making me absolutely crazy. Col. Jessep: I run my unit how I run my unit. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I eat breakfast 300 yards from 4000 Cubans who are trained to kill me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash your badge, and make me nervous. Lt. Weinberg: Why do you like them so much? Galloway: Because they stand upon a wall and say, "Nothing's going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch." Galloway: Tell your friend not to get cute down there, the Marines at Gitmo are fanatical. Lt. Weinberg: Fanatical about what? Galloway: About being Marines. Barnes: I've got some camouflage jackets in the Jeep, sirs, I suggest you both put them on. Kaffee: Camouflage jackets? Barnes: Yes sir, we'll be riding pretty close to the fence line. The Cubans see an officer wearing white, they think it might be someone they'd wanna take a shot at. Kaffee: Good call, Sam. Galloway: Are you planning on doing any investigating, or are you just gonna take the guided tour? Kaffee: I'm pacing myself. Dawson: We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. But I believe I was right sir, I believe I did my job, and I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so I can go home in six months... Sir. Galloway: I don't think you're fit to handle the defense. Kaffee: You don't even *know* me. Ordinarily it takes someone *hours* to discover I'm not fit to handle a defense. Kaffee: Why does a Lieutenant Junior Grade with nine months' experience and a track record for plea bargaining get assigned to a murder case? Would it be so it never sees the inside of a courtroom? Dawson: Do you think we were right? Kaffee: It doesn't matter... Dawson: DO YOU THINK WE WERE RIGHT? Kaffee: I think you'd lose. Dawson: You're such a coward, I can't believe they let you wear a uniform. Kaffee: So this is what a courtroom looks like. Lt. Kendrick: I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant: the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I am aware of are my commanding officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, and the Lord our God. Capt. Ross: Who is this? Kaffee: She's Joe Galloway. She's Downey's attorney. She's very pleased to meet you. Lt. Kendrick: Pfc. William Santiago is dead, and that is a tragedy. But he is dead because he had no code. He is dead because he had no honor, and God was watching. Kaffee: This is a sales pitch. It's not going to be won by the law, it's going to be won by the lawyers. Kaffee: Whatever happened to saluting an officer when he leaves the room? [Dawson stands up and shoves his hands in his pockets] Kaffee: Did you assault Santiago with the intent of killing him? Dawson: No, sir. Kaffee: What was your intent. Dawson: To train him, sir. Kaffee: To train him to do what? Dawson: To train him to think of the unit before himself. To respect the code. Kaffee: What's the code? Dawson: Unit. Corps. God. Country. Lt. Weinberg: I beg your pardon? Dawson: Unit. Corps. God. Country. Sir. Kaffee: The government of the United States wants to charge you two with murder. And you want me to go to the prosecution with unit, corps, God, country? Dawson: That's our code, sir. Kaffee, Lt. Weinberg: It's a code. Kaffee: We'll be back. You guys need anything? Books, papers, cigarettes, ham sandwich? Dawson: Sir, no thank you, sir. Kaffee: Harold, I think there's a concept that you'd better start warming up to. Dawson: Sir? Kaffee: I'm the only friend you've got. Col. Jessep: [to Lt. Kendrick] John, you're in charge. Private Santiago doesn't make 4646 on his next Proficiency and Conduct Report, and I'm going to blame you. And then, I'm going to kill you. Galloway: I'm going with you to Cuba tomorrow. Kaffee: And the hits just keep on coming. Kaffee: You're Aunt Ginny? Aunt Ginny Miller: Uh-huh. Kaffee: I'm sorry, I was expecting someone older. Aunt Ginny Miller: So was I. Downey: What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong. Dawson: Yeah, we did. We were supposed to fight for the people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willie. Col. Jessep: Walk softly and carry an armored tank division, I always say. Kaffee: [just seconds before the trial starts] Last chance. I'll flip you for it. Bailiff: All rise. Capt. Ross: Too late. Capt. Ross: Your honor, it's become obvious that Lt. Kaffee's intention this afternoon are to smear a high ranking Marine officer in the desperate hope that the mere appearance of impropriety will win him points with the court members. Now, it is my recommendation, sir, that Lt. Kaffee be reprimanded for his conduct and that this witness be excused with the court's deepest apologies. Judge Randolph: Overruled. Capt. Ross: Your honor... Judge Randolph: Your objection is noted. Galloway: Lieutenant, how long have you been in the Navy? Kaffee: Going on nine months now. Galloway: And how long have you been out of law school? Kaffee: A little over a year. Galloway: I see. Kaffee: Have I done something wrong? Galloway: No, it's just that when I petitioned division to have counsel assigned, I was hoping that I'd be taken seriously. Kaffee: No offense taken, in case you were wondering. [upon first meeting] Galloway: You're the attorney division assigned? Kaffee: I'm lead counsel, and this is Sam Weinberg. Lt. Weinberg: I have no responsibilities here whatsoever. Kaffee: Cutie-pie shit will not win you a place in my heart, Corporal, I get paid no matter how much time you spend in jail. Dawson: [contemptuously] Yes sir, I know you do, sir. [first lines] Drill Master: Forward, march! [last lines] Capt. Ross: I'll see you around campus. I gotta go arrest Kendrick. Kaffee: Tell him I say hi. Capt. Ross: Will do. Pfc. William T. Santiago: P.S. In exchange for my transfer, I am willing to provide you with information concerning... Col. Jessep: [reading Pfc. Santiago's letter to the NIS] information concerning an illegal fence-line shooting that took place the night of August 6th... [shouts] Col. Jessep: Who the fuck is Pfc. William T. Santiago? Kaffee: This your signature? Dawson: Yes, sir. Kaffee: You don't have to call me "sir." [to Downey] Is this your signature? Downey: Sir, yes, sir. Kaffee: You certainly don't need to do it twice in one sentence. Col. Jessep: Hmmmm... transfer Santiago. Yes, I'm sure you're right. I'm sure that's the thing to do. Wait a minute, I have a better idea. Let's transfer the whole squad off the base. Let's... On second thought, Windward! Let's transfer the whole Windward Division off the base. John, go on out there get those boys down off the fence, they're packing their bags. Tom! Tom: Yes, sir! Col. Jessep: Get me the President on the phone right away. We're surrendering our position in Cuba! Tom: Yes, sir. Col. Jessep: Wait a minute, Tom, don't get the President just yet. Maybe we should consider this a second. Dismissed, Tom. Maybe, and I'm just spit balling here, maybe, we have a responsibility as officers to traing Santiago. Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see to it that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I'm certain I remember reading that somewhere once. And now I'm thinking,Col. Markinson, that your suggestion of transferring Santiago, while expeditious and certainly painless, might not be, in a matter of speaking, the American way. Santiago stays where he is. We're gonna train the lad! Kaffee: The only thing I have to eat is Yoohoo and Cocoa Puffs, so if you want anything else bring it with you. Kaffee: Why does it seem like you're always trying to give me your resume? Galloway: [pauses] Because I want you to think that I'm a good lawyer. Kaffee: [when Galloway insists on investigation instead of an instant uninformed plea-bargain] Commander, do you have some sort of jurisdiction here that I should know about? Galloway: My job is to make sure that you do your job. I'm Special Counsel for Internal Affairs, so my jurisdiction's pretty much in your face. Galloway: [crisply, after Kaffee's risen prematurely to leave] You're dismissed. Kaffee: [pause] I always forget that part. Kaffee: Colonel, the 6am was first flight off the base? Col. Jessep: Yes. Kaffee: There wasn't a flight that left seven hours earlier and landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 2am? Judge Randolph: Lieutenant, I think we've covered this, haven't we? Kaffee: Your honor, these are the tower chief's logs for both Guantanamo Bay and Andrews Air Force Base. The Guantanamo log lists no flight leaving at 11 pm and the Andrews log lists no flight arriving at 2 am. I'd like to submit these as defense exhibits Alpha and Bravo. Judge Randolph: I don't understand; you're submitting evidence of a flight that never existed. Kaffee: Oh, we believe it did, sir. Dawson: Permission to sp... Kaffee: [cutting him off, loudly annoyed] SPEAK! Jesus! Kaffee: Oh, now I see what you're saying. It had to be Professor Plum in the Library with the candlestick. Kaffee: Colonel, Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red because *that's* what you told Lt. Kendrick to do! Capt. Ross: *Object!* Judge Randolph: Sustained! Kaffee: And when it went bad, you cut these guys *loose!* You coerced the doctor... Capt. Ross: Your honor! Kaffee: You doctored the log book!... Capt. Ross: *Damn it, Kaffee!* Judge Randolph: *Consider yourself in Contempt!* Kaffee: *Colonel Jessep, did you order the Code Red?* Judge Randolph: You *don't* have to answer that question! Col. Jessep: I'll answer the question! [to Kaffee] You want answers? Kaffee: I think I'm entitled. Col. Jessep: *You want answers?* Kaffee: *I want the truth!* Col. Jessep: *You can't handle the truth!* [pauses] Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to. Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red? Col. Jessep: I did the job I... Kaffee: *Did you order the Code Red?* Col. Jessep: *You're Goddamned right I did!* Kaffee: This code of honor of yours makes me wanna beat the *shit* outta somebody. Kaffee: Lieutenant, do you know what a code red is? Lt. Kendrick: Yes, I do. Kaffee: Have you ever ordered a code red? Lt. Kendrick: No, I have not. Kaffee: Lieutenant, did you order Dawson and two other men to make sure that Private Bell receive no food or drink except water for a period of seven days? Lt. Kendrick: That is a distortion of the truth, Lieutenant, Private Bell was placed on barracks restriction, he was given water and vitamin supplements and I can assure you that at no time was his health in danger. Kaffee: I'm sure it was lovely for Private Bell. But you did order the barracks restriction. You did order the denial of food. Lt. Kendrick: Yes, I did. Kaffee: Wouldn't this form of discipline be considered a code red? Lt. Kendrick: No. Kaffee: If I called the other 478 Marines from Guantanamo Bay to testify would they consider it a code red? Capt. Ross: If it please the court, the witness can't possibly testify as to what 478 other men would say. Now we object to this entire line of questioning as argumentative and irrelevant badgering of the witness. Judge Randolph: The government's objection is sustained, Lieutenant Kaffee, and I would remind you that you are questioning a Marine officer with an impeccable service record. Capt. Ross: Thank you, Your Honor. Tom: Joanne, why don't you get yourself a cup of coffee. Galloway: Thank you, sir, I'm fine Tom: Joanne, I'd like you to leave the room so we can talk about you behind your back Galloway: Certainly, sir. Kaffee: Excuse me, sorry I'm late. Capt. Whitaker: I'm sure you don't have a good excuse, so I won't force you to come up with a bad one. Kaffee: Thank you, Isaac, that's nice of you. Capt. Whitaker: Sit-down, this first one's for you. You're moving up in the world, Danny, you've been requested by Division. Kaffee: Requested to do what? Col. Jessep: Matthew, sit, please. [Lt. Markinson sits] Col. Jessep: What do you think of Kendrick? Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Nathan, I don't know that... Col. Jessep: I think he's kind of a weasel, myself. But he's an awfully good officer, and in the end we see eye to eye on the best way to run a marine corps unit. We're in the business of saving lives, Matthew. That's a responsibility we have to take pretty seriously. And I believe that taking a marine who's not yet up to the job and packing him off to another assignment, puts lives in danger. [Lt. Markinson begins to stand] Col. Jessep: Matthew, siddown. [he sits] Col. Jessep: We go back a while. We went to the Academy together, we were commissioned together, we did our tours in Vietnam together. But I've been promoted up through the chain of command with greater speed and success than you have. Now if that's a source of tension or embarrassment for you, well, I don't give a shit. We're in the business of saving lives, Captain Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer. Capt. Ross: Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Anthony Rodriguez, what exactly were these guys going to testify to? Kaffee: Unless I'm mistaken, they were going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything. Capt. Ross: Strong witnesses. Kaffee: And handsome too, don't you think? Kaffee: [Stops Dawson as he is leaving the courtroom] Harold. Dawson: Sir? Kaffee: You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor. Dawson: Ten-hut! [salutes] .There's an officer on deck. Galloway: Hey, Kaffee... Kaffee: I know what you're going to say - You don't have to. We've had our differences. I said some things I didn't mean; you said some things you didn't mean, but you're happy I stuck with the case. And if you've gained a certain respect for me over the last three weeks... well, of course, I'm happy about that. But we don't have to make a whole big deal outta that - you like me? I won't make you say it. Galloway: I was just going to tell you to wear matching socks in court tomorrow. Kaffee: OK! Good tip! Kaffee: Were you able to speak to your friend at the NIS? Lt. Weinberg: Yeah, she said that if Markinson doesn't want to be found, then we're not gonna find him. She said I could be Markinson and you wouldn't know it. Kaffee: Are you Markinson? Lt. Weinberg: No. Kaffee: I'm not Markinson... that's two down. What? Lt. Weinberg: I was wondering, now that Joanne's in on this, I was just wondering if you still needed me. Kaffee: They were following orders, Sam. Lt. Weinberg: An illegal order. Kaffee: You think Dawson and Downey knew it was an illegal order? Lt. Weinberg: It doesn't matter what they knew. Any decent human being would have refused. Kaffee: They're not permitted to question orders. Lt. Weinberg: Then what's the secret? I mean, what are the magic words? I give orders every day nobody ever follows them. Kaffee: Sam, we have softball games and marching bands. They work at a place where you have to wear camouflage or they might get shot! I need you. You're better at research than I am and you know how to prepare a witness. Galloway: [Galloway arrives] I have medical reports and Chinese food. I say we eat first. [pause, Weinberg is pondering] Galloway: What? Lt. Weinberg: You got any Kung Pao chicken? Kaffee: Alright, here's our defense. Intent, no one can prove there was any poison on the rag. Code reds, they're common and accepted in Guantanimo Bay. The order, A, Kendrick gave it, B they had no choice but to follow it. That's it. Lt. Weinberg: What about motive? Kaffee: We're a little weak on motive they had one. Galloway: Just because a person's got a motive doesn't mean that they're guilty. Kaffee: Relax, we'll deal with the fence line shooting when it comes up. In the meantime let's start with intent. I don't know what made Santiago die, I don't want to know. I just want to prove that it could have been something other than poison. Joe, talk to doctors find out everything there is to know about lactic acidosis. Sam, find out who else was in the emergency room that night... Col. Jessep: Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son? Kaffee: No sir. Col. Jessep: Ever served in a forward area? Kaffee: No sir. Col. Jessep: Ever put your life in another man's hands, ask him to put his life in yours? Kaffee: No sir. Col. Jessep: We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear? Kaffee: Yes sir. Col. Jessep: Are we clear? Kaffee: Crystal. |
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