A Few Good Men Quotes
Neo military lawyer Kaffee defends Marines accused of murder; they contend they were acting under orders.
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]
Col. Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to.
Col. Jessep: *You want answers?*
Kaffee: *I want the truth!*
Col. Jessep: *You can't handle the truth!*
[pauses]
Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's 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 Goddamn right I did!*
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]
Col. Jessep: You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I'm entitled to.
Col. Jessep: *You want answers?*
Kaffee: *I want the truth!*
Col. Jessep: *You can't handle the truth!*
[pauses]
Col. Jessep: Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's 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 Goddamn right I did!*
Downey: I don't understand... Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red.
Galloway: I know but...
Downey: Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red! What did we do wrong?
Galloway: It's not that simple...
Downey: What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!
Dawson: Yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.
Galloway: I know but...
Downey: Colonel Jessup said he ordered the Code Red! What did we do wrong?
Galloway: It's not that simple...
Downey: What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!
Dawson: Yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.
Capt. Ross: Corporal Barnes, I hold here the Marine Outline for Recruit Training. You're familiar with this book?
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Have you read it?
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Good. Would you turn to the chapter that deals with code reds, please?
Cpl. Barnes: Sir?
Capt. Ross: Just flip to the page of the book that discusses code reds.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, well, you see, sir code red is a term that we use, I mean, just down at Gitmo, I don't know if it's actually...
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 correct?
Cpl. Barnes: No sir.
Capt. Ross: No? Corporal Barnes, I'm a Marine. Is there no book. No manual or pamphlet, no set of orders or regulations 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 turn to the page in this book that says where the mess hall is, please.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
Kaffee: You mean to say in all your time at Gitmo you've never had a meal?
Cpl. Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Kaffee: I don't understand. How did you know where the mess hall was if it's not in this book?
Cpl. Barnes: Well, I guess I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
Kaffee: No more questions.
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Have you read it?
Cpl. Barnes: Yes, sir.
Capt. Ross: Good. Would you turn to the chapter that deals with code reds, please?
Cpl. Barnes: Sir?
Capt. Ross: Just flip to the page of the book that discusses code reds.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, well, you see, sir code red is a term that we use, I mean, just down at Gitmo, I don't know if it's actually...
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 correct?
Cpl. Barnes: No sir.
Capt. Ross: No? Corporal Barnes, I'm a Marine. Is there no book. No manual or pamphlet, no set of orders or regulations 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 turn to the page in this book that says where the mess hall is, please.
Cpl. Barnes: Well, Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
Kaffee: You mean to say in all your time at Gitmo you've never had a meal?
Cpl. Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Kaffee: I don't understand. How did you know where the mess hall was if it's not in this book?
Cpl. Barnes: Well, I guess I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
Kaffee: No more questions.
Galloway: You put him on the stand and you get it from him!
Kaffee: Oh, we get it from him! Yes! No problem! 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: Listen, we're all a little...
Kaffee: [interrupts with game-show buzzer sound] eeehhhhh! I'm sorry, your time's run out! 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 follow the advice of the galactically stupid!"
Kaffee: Oh, we get it from him! Yes! No problem! 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: Listen, we're all a little...
Kaffee: [interrupts with game-show buzzer sound] eeehhhhh! I'm sorry, your time's run out! 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 follow the advice of the galactically stupid!"
Kaffee: How's it going, Luther?
Luther: Another day, another dollar, captain.
Kaffee: You gotta play them as they lay.
Luther: What goes around comes around.
Kaffee: Can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Luther: At least I got my health.
Kaffee: Well, then you got everything... See you tomorrow, Luther.
Luther: Not if I see you first.
Luther: Another day, another dollar, captain.
Kaffee: You gotta play them as they lay.
Luther: What goes around comes around.
Kaffee: Can't beat 'em, join 'em.
Luther: At least I got my health.
Kaffee: Well, then you got everything... See you tomorrow, Luther.
Luther: Not if I see you first.
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]
[puts pistol in his mouth, we hear a gunshot as the scene changes back to the courtroom]
Capt. Ross: Hey, 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.
Kaffee: The transfer order that Markinson signed is a phony. Jessup's statement that the 6am flight was the first available is a lie. We're checking the tower chief's log.
[to waitress]
Kaffee: I'd like a beer, please.
[to Ross]
Kaffee: 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 any crime without proper evidence 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 hold up, Danny, he's a crazy man! Now, I'm not telling you this to intimidate you I'm being your lawyer here.
Kaffee: Oh, thanks, Jack. And I want to tell you 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 decision! I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice and my client has a case! There you go. 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 everyone. 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: 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.
Kaffee: The transfer order that Markinson signed is a phony. Jessup's statement that the 6am flight was the first available is a lie. We're checking the tower chief's log.
[to waitress]
Kaffee: I'd like a beer, please.
[to Ross]
Kaffee: 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 any crime without proper evidence 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 hold up, Danny, he's a crazy man! Now, I'm not telling you this to intimidate you I'm being your lawyer here.
Kaffee: Oh, thanks, Jack. And I want to tell you 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 decision! I represent the government of the United States without passion or prejudice and my client has a case! There you go. 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 everyone. 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.
[In the film edited for TV on NBC dubbed in the Modified Version. Judge Randolph dismisses the jury after Jessep's revelation on the stand about the Code Red]
Col. Jessep: What the hell is this? Colonel, what's going on? I did my job. I'd do it again. 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.
M.P.: Yes, sir.
[MP's take to the post. And Col. Jessep find out what's going on]
Judge Randolph: Captain Ross.
Col. Jessep: What the hell is these?
Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent; Any statement you make may be used against you in a trial by court-martial or in other judicial or administrative proceedings. You have the right to consult with a lawyer prior any further questions. This lawyer may be a civilian lawyer retained by you at your own expense...
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...
[Turning to Kaffee and lunging at him. But the MP's restrain Colonel Jessep]
Col. Jessep: ... I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and puke into your dead skull, you messed with the wrong marine!
Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
[Contemptuously]
Capt. Ross: You friggin' people. You have no idea how to defend the 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]
Kaffee: The witness is excused.
[Colonel Jessep calms down, taking a deep breath to cool off, bend down and grab his hat on the floor, and MP's taken Colonel Jessep away into custody]
Col. Jessep: What the hell is this? Colonel, what's going on? I did my job. I'd do it again. 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.
M.P.: Yes, sir.
[MP's take to the post. And Col. Jessep find out what's going on]
Judge Randolph: Captain Ross.
Col. Jessep: What the hell is these?
Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent; Any statement you make may be used against you in a trial by court-martial or in other judicial or administrative proceedings. You have the right to consult with a lawyer prior any further questions. This lawyer may be a civilian lawyer retained by you at your own expense...
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...
[Turning to Kaffee and lunging at him. But the MP's restrain Colonel Jessep]
Col. Jessep: ... I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and puke into your dead skull, you messed with the wrong marine!
Capt. Ross: Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
[Contemptuously]
Capt. Ross: You friggin' people. You have no idea how to defend the 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]
Kaffee: The witness is excused.
[Colonel Jessep calms down, taking a deep breath to cool off, bend down and grab his hat on the floor, and MP's taken Colonel Jessep away into custody]
Lt. Weinberg: Alright, 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'd be a problem.
Lt. Weinberg: Look at this, last night he's swimming in Jack Daniels and now 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 isn't our case - to win Jessup needs to tell the court members that he ordered the code red.
Lt. Weinberg: And now you think you can get him to just say it?
Kaffee: I think he wants to say it. I think he's pissed off that he's gotta hide from this. I think he wants to say that he made a command decision and that's the end of it.
[Starts imitating Jessup]
Kaffee: He eats breakfast 300 yards away from 4000 Cubans that 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 it? 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: I was tripping on it.
Kaffee: Don't ever put that bat in the closet.
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'd be a problem.
Lt. Weinberg: Look at this, last night he's swimming in Jack Daniels and now 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 isn't our case - to win Jessup needs to tell the court members that he ordered the code red.
Lt. Weinberg: And now you think you can get him to just say it?
Kaffee: I think he wants to say it. I think he's pissed off that he's gotta hide from this. I think he wants to say that he made a command decision and that's the end of it.
[Starts imitating Jessup]
Kaffee: He eats breakfast 300 yards away from 4000 Cubans that 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 it? 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: I was tripping on it.
Kaffee: Don't ever put that bat in the closet.
Kaffee: Lieutenant Kendrick, 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, but 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 after the school of infantry was perfect. Records indicate that more than half that class has since been promoted to full Corporal while Dawson has remained a Lance Corporal. Was Dawson's promotion held up because of 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.
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, but 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 after the school of infantry was perfect. Records indicate that more than half that class has since been promoted to full Corporal while Dawson has remained a Lance Corporal. Was Dawson's promotion held up because of 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: Alright, let's go, let's get two.
Lt. Sherby: Sorry!
Kaffee: Nothing to be sorry about, Sherby, you just look the ball into your glove. 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 thing. 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 hang people from 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: 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 to obtain an evidentary ruling in advance and after that 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.
Lt. Sherby: Sorry!
Kaffee: Nothing to be sorry about, Sherby, you just look the ball into your glove. 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 thing. 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 hang people from 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: 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 to obtain an evidentary ruling in advance and after that 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.
Kaffee: [seeing Markinson in the back seat of his car] Jesus Christ!
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: You left the 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 all 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.
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 get you a deal some kind of immunity with the prosecutor 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. Right now 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.
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: You left the 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 all 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.
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 get you a deal some kind of immunity with the prosecutor 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. Right now 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.
Galloway: Hi there.
Kaffee: Having any luck in getting me replaced?
Galloway: Is there anyone in this command that you don't eat or drink or play softball with?
Kaffee: Commander, I...
Galloway: Listen, I came to make peace. We got off on the wrong foot. What do you say? Friends?
Kaffee: I don't think...
Galloway: By the way, I brought Downey some comic books he was asking for. The 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 where?
Galloway: Downey's closest 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. Very nice woman we spoke for about 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.
Kaffee: Having any luck in getting me replaced?
Galloway: Is there anyone in this command that you don't eat or drink or play softball with?
Kaffee: Commander, I...
Galloway: Listen, I came to make peace. We got off on the wrong foot. What do you say? Friends?
Kaffee: I don't think...
Galloway: By the way, I brought Downey some comic books he was asking for. The 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 where?
Galloway: Downey's closest 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. Very nice woman we spoke for about 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.
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 through 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: 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 through 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.
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 a Marine that 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? After all, it's peace time. He wasn't being asked to secure a hill or advance on a beachhead. I mean, 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: Is it reasonable to think he would've 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]
Capt. Ross: Lieutenant Kendrick, did you...
Lt. Kendrick: No, I did not.
Capt. Ross: Thank you.
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 a Marine that 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? After all, it's peace time. He wasn't being asked to secure a hill or advance on a beachhead. I mean, 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: Is it reasonable to think he would've 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]
Capt. Ross: Lieutenant Kendrick, did you...
Lt. Kendrick: No, I did not.
Capt. Ross: Thank you.
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.
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.
Galloway: I'm sorry to bother you, I should have called first.
Kaffee: No, no, I was just watching a ball game. Come on in.
Galloway: I was wondering if... how'd 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.
Kaffee: No, no, I was just watching a ball game. Come on in.
Galloway: I was wondering if... how'd 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: [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]
Col. Jessep: 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]
Judge Randolph: 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]
Col. Jessep: ... 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]
Kaffee: The witness is excused.
[stands up defiantly]
Col. Jessep: 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]
Judge Randolph: 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]
Col. Jessep: ... 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]
Kaffee: The witness is excused.
Capt. Ross: Why did you go into Santiago's 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.
Galloway: Your Honor!
Capt. Ross: Why did you go into Santiago's room that night?
Downey: Hal?
Capt. Ross: Did Lance Corporal Dawson tell you to give Santiago a code red?
Downey: Hal?
Capt. Ross: Don't look at him!
Dawson: 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.
Galloway: The witness has rights!
Capt. Ross: The witness has been read his rights, Commander!
Judge Randolph: The question will be repeated.
Galloway: Your Honor!
Capt. Ross: Why did you go into Santiago's room that night?
Downey: Hal?
Capt. Ross: Did Lance Corporal Dawson tell you to give Santiago a code red?
Downey: Hal?
Capt. Ross: Don't look at him!
Dawson: 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.
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 jurisdiction's pretty much in your face.
Galloway: My job is to make sure that you do your job. I'm Special Counsel for Internal Affairs, so jurisdiction's pretty much in your face.
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.
Kaffee: Wow... I'm sexually aroused, Commander.
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.
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.
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: See you tomorrow.
Lt. Weinberg: Don't forget to wear the whites. Very hot down there.
Kaffee: I don't like the whites.
Lt. Weinberg: Nobody likes the whites but we're going to Cuba. You got 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'll help.
Lt. Weinberg: I got some oregano I hear that works pretty good.
Kaffee: You know, Ross said the strangest thing to me right before I left. He said that the platoon commander Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick had 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. Nah, what the hell. I'll see you tomorrow.
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: See you tomorrow.
Lt. Weinberg: Don't forget to wear the whites. Very hot down there.
Kaffee: I don't like the whites.
Lt. Weinberg: Nobody likes the whites but we're going to Cuba. You got 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'll help.
Lt. Weinberg: I got some oregano I hear that works pretty good.
Kaffee: You know, Ross said the strangest thing to me right before I left. He said that the platoon commander Lieutenant Jonathan Kendrick had 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. Nah, what the hell. I'll see you tomorrow.
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.
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.
[In the film edited for TV on NBC dubbed in the Modified Version. Kaffee seeing behind him is Markinson in the back seat of his car. Kaffee gasped]
Kaffee: Oh, jeez!
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: You left the door unlocked.
Kaffee: You scared the hell 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 all 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 zilch.
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: Jessup was going to keep him on the base. He said he wanted him trained.
Kaffee: We've got the transfer order it's got your signature.
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I know. I signed that the morning you arrived in Cuba 5 days after Santiago died.
Kaffee: I'm going to get you a deal some kind of immunity with the prosecutor 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. Right now 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: Oh, jeez!
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: You left the door unlocked.
Kaffee: You scared the hell 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 all 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 zilch.
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: Jessup was going to keep him on the base. He said he wanted him trained.
Kaffee: We've got the transfer order it's got your signature.
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: I know. I signed that the morning you arrived in Cuba 5 days after Santiago died.
Kaffee: I'm going to get you a deal some kind of immunity with the prosecutor 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. Right now 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.
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 both going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Capt. Ross: Strong witnesses.
Kaffee: And handsome too, didn't you think?
Kaffee: Unless I'm mistaken, they were both going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Capt. Ross: Strong witnesses.
Kaffee: And handsome too, didn't you think?
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.
Kaffee: We'll work out of my apartment 7 o'clock, Joe before you come over tonight pick up a carton of legal pads half a dozen boxes red and black pens half a dozen boxes, Sam get a couple desk lamps, I need you to start on preliminary medical profile, and Joe we need all the proficiency and conduct reports on Dawson, Downey and Santiago.
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.
Judge Randolph: Overruled.
Capt. Ross: Your honor...
Judge Randolph: Your objection is noted.
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, didn't you? 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 now questioning a Marine officer with an impeccable service record.
Capt. Ross: Thank you, Your Honor.
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, didn't you? 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 now questioning a Marine officer with an impeccable service record.
Capt. Ross: Thank you, Your Honor.
Galloway: Where is he?
Kaffee: Downtown Lodge on North East.
Galloway: I want him guarded.
Kaffee: That's probably a good idea. Anyway he also says that...
Galloway: My clearance code is 411527273. Thank you.
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 said the 6 was the first flight out Santiago couuld have left on. Markinson says there was a plane that left seven hours earlier.
[to Galloway]
Kaffee: 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. I'm going to talk to Ross and tell him where we are.
Kaffee: Downtown Lodge on North East.
Galloway: I want him guarded.
Kaffee: That's probably a good idea. Anyway he also says that...
Galloway: My clearance code is 411527273. Thank you.
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 said the 6 was the first flight out Santiago couuld have left on. Markinson says there was a plane that left seven hours earlier.
[to Galloway]
Kaffee: 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. I'm going to talk to Ross and tell him where we are.
Col. Jessep: Matthew, sit down, please.
[Lt. Col. Markinson sits]
Col. Jessep: What do you think of Kendrick?
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Nathan, I don't think that my opinion of Kendrick has any...
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 quite up to the job and shipping him off to another assignment, puts lives in danger.
[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, Lieutenant Colonel Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer.
[Lt. Col. Markinson sits]
Col. Jessep: What do you think of Kendrick?
Lt. Col. Matthew Andrew Markinson: Nathan, I don't think that my opinion of Kendrick has any...
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 quite up to the job and shipping him off to another assignment, puts lives in danger.
[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, Lieutenant Colonel Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in front of another officer.
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 prosecutor 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.
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 prosecutor 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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!*
Capt. Ross: Your honor!
Kaffee: You doctored the log book!...
Capt. Ross: *Damn it, Kaffee!*
Capt. Ross: *Object!*
Judge Randolph: Sustained!
Kaffee: And when it went bad, you cut these guys *loose!*
Capt. Ross: Your honor!
Kaffee: You doctored the log book!...
Capt. Ross: *Damn it, Kaffee!*
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 a round of his weapon over the fence line and into Cuban territory.
Kaffee: What's a fence line?
Capt. Whitaker: Sam.
Lt. Weinberg: A big wall separating 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. Dawson, and another member of his squad PFC Louden Downey, go into Santiago's barracks room, tie him up, stuff a rag down his throat. An hour later Santiago's dead. The attending physician says the rag was treated with some kind of toxin.
Kaffee: They poisoned the rag?
Capt. Whitaker: Not 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 catching a transport down to Cuba for the day to find out what you can. In the meantime, go see 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: Work with Kaffee on this.
Lt. Weinberg: Doing what? Kaffee will have this done 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.
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 a round of his weapon over the fence line and into Cuban territory.
Kaffee: What's a fence line?
Capt. Whitaker: Sam.
Lt. Weinberg: A big wall separating 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. Dawson, and another member of his squad PFC Louden Downey, go into Santiago's barracks room, tie him up, stuff a rag down his throat. An hour later Santiago's dead. The attending physician says the rag was treated with some kind of toxin.
Kaffee: They poisoned the rag?
Capt. Whitaker: Not 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 catching a transport down to Cuba for the day to find out what you can. In the meantime, go see 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: Work with Kaffee on this.
Lt. Weinberg: Doing what? Kaffee will have this done 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.
Pfc. William T. Santiago: P.S. In exchange for my transfer off the base, I am willing to provide you with information about...
Col. Jessep: [reading Pfc. Santiago's letter to the NIS] information about an illegal fence-line shooting that took place the night of August 2nd...
[shouts]
Col. Jessep: Who the fuck is Pfc. William T. Santiago?
Col. Jessep: [reading Pfc. Santiago's letter to the NIS] information about an illegal fence-line shooting that took place the night of August 2nd...
[shouts]
Col. Jessep: Who the fuck is Pfc. William T. Santiago?
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 the 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: Look, I don't care if they called the Avon lady. They killed a Marine.
Kaffee: Rag was tested for poison. The autopsy, the lab reports, 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. 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 still playing hoops tomorrow night?
Capt. Ross: We got a deal?
Kaffee: I'll talk to you when I get back.
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 the 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: Look, I don't care if they called the Avon lady. They killed a Marine.
Kaffee: Rag was tested for poison. The autopsy, the lab reports, 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. 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 still playing hoops tomorrow night?
Capt. Ross: We got a deal?
Kaffee: I'll talk to you when I get back.
Galloway: How you feeling?
Kaffee: I feel Jessup is going to have his hands full today
Galloway: Listen, when you're up there today if you feel like it's not going to happen if you feel like his not going to say it don't go for it you could get in trouble I'm special counsel for internal affairs and I'm telling you, you can get in a lot of trouble
Kaffee: You're not suggesting I back off from the material witness?
Kaffee: I feel Jessup is going to have his hands full today
Galloway: Listen, when you're up there today if you feel like it's not going to happen if you feel like his not going to say it don't go for it you could get in trouble I'm special counsel for internal affairs and I'm telling you, you can get in a lot of trouble
Kaffee: You're not suggesting I back off from the material witness?
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, 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'm just wondering, now that Joanne's in on this, you know, 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? Huh, what are the magic words? I give orders every day nobody 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 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 they're guilty.
Kaffee: Relax, we'll deal with the fence line shooting when it comes up. For now, let's start with intent. I don't know what made Santiago die, I don't want to know. I just want to show 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...
Lt. Weinberg: Yeah, she said that if Markinson doesn't want to be found, 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'm just wondering, now that Joanne's in on this, you know, 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? Huh, what are the magic words? I give orders every day nobody 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 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 they're guilty.
Kaffee: Relax, we'll deal with the fence line shooting when it comes up. For now, let's start with intent. I don't know what made Santiago die, I don't want to know. I just want to show 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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 tomorrow.
Kaffee: OK! Good tip!
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 tomorrow.
Kaffee: OK! Good tip!
Kaffee: Is your father proud of you?
Lt. Weinberg: Don't do this to yourself
Kaffee: I'll bet he is, I'll bet he bores the shit out of the neighbors and relatives, "Sam's made Law Review, his working on a big case right now, his arguing, his making an argument
Lt. Weinberg: I ever tell you I wrote a paper about your father in college?
Kaffee: Yeah
Lt. Weinberg: One of the best trial lawyers ever
Kaffee: Yes, he was
Lt. Weinberg: If I were Dawson and Downey and if I had to choose between you or your father to represent me in this case I'd choose you any day of the week and twice on Sunday, you should've seen yourself thunder away at Kendrick
Kaffee: Would you put Jessup on the stand?
Lt. Weinberg: No
Kaffee: You think my father would?
Lt. Weinberg: With the evidence we got, not in a million years, see here's the thing and there's no way of getting around this, neither Lionel Kaffee nor Sam Weinberg in lead counsel for the defense on the matter of the U.S. versus Dawson and Downey would you put Colonel Nathan Jessup on the stand, so there's only one question, " what would you do?"
Lt. Weinberg: Don't do this to yourself
Kaffee: I'll bet he is, I'll bet he bores the shit out of the neighbors and relatives, "Sam's made Law Review, his working on a big case right now, his arguing, his making an argument
Lt. Weinberg: I ever tell you I wrote a paper about your father in college?
Kaffee: Yeah
Lt. Weinberg: One of the best trial lawyers ever
Kaffee: Yes, he was
Lt. Weinberg: If I were Dawson and Downey and if I had to choose between you or your father to represent me in this case I'd choose you any day of the week and twice on Sunday, you should've seen yourself thunder away at Kendrick
Kaffee: Would you put Jessup on the stand?
Lt. Weinberg: No
Kaffee: You think my father would?
Lt. Weinberg: With the evidence we got, not in a million years, see here's the thing and there's no way of getting around this, neither Lionel Kaffee nor Sam Weinberg in lead counsel for the defense on the matter of the U.S. versus Dawson and Downey would you put Colonel Nathan Jessup on the stand, so there's only one question, " what would you do?"
Judge Randolph: [Judge Randolph reading the verdict] Lance Corporal Dawson, Private First Class Downey.
[Two defendants rises]
Judge Randolph: 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.
[Bangs the gavel]
Bailiff: All rise.
[the courtroom clears; Downey is baffled and afraid, and speaks to Dawson]
Downey: What does that mean?
[Two defendants rises]
Judge Randolph: 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.
[Bangs the gavel]
Bailiff: All rise.
[the courtroom clears; Downey is baffled and afraid, and speaks to Dawson]
Downey: What does that mean?
Kaffee: Private, I want you to tell us 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.
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 correct?
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: About 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 at our post and picks us up, also because he can get girls in New York City. The pick up private got a flat sir, right at 39, he pulled up and bam, a blow out 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 it must be a good hour by foot, is that right?
Downey: Pick up and me did it in 45 flat, sir.
Capt. Ross: Not bad. Now, you've said that your assault on Private Santiago was the result of an order that you received in your barracks room at 1620, am I 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, if you didn't make it back to the barracks room until 1645, how could you be in your room at 1620?
Downey: Well, you see, sir, there was a blow out.
Capt. Ross: Private, did you ever actually hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red?
Downey: Well, Hal said that...
Capt. Ross: Private, did you ever actually hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red?
Downey: No, sir.
Galloway: Please the court, I'd like to request a recess in order to confer with my client.
Downey: A code red was ordered by my platoon commander Lieutenant Jonathan James Kendrick.
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 correct?
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: About 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 at our post and picks us up, also because he can get girls in New York City. The pick up private got a flat sir, right at 39, he pulled up and bam, a blow out 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 it must be a good hour by foot, is that right?
Downey: Pick up and me did it in 45 flat, sir.
Capt. Ross: Not bad. Now, you've said that your assault on Private Santiago was the result of an order that you received in your barracks room at 1620, am I 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, if you didn't make it back to the barracks room until 1645, how could you be in your room at 1620?
Downey: Well, you see, sir, there was a blow out.
Capt. Ross: Private, did you ever actually hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red?
Downey: Well, Hal said that...
Capt. Ross: Private, did you ever actually hear Lieutenant Kendrick order a code red?
Downey: No, sir.
Galloway: Please the court, I'd like to request a recess in order to confer with my client.
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?
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: Hmmmm... transfer Santiago. Yes, I'm sure you're right. I'm sure that's the thing to do. Wait, I've got 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 and 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. 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 for 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 that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I'm certain that I read 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!
Tom: Yes, sir!
Col. Jessep: Get me the President on the phone. 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 for 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 that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I'm certain that I read 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!
