A Few Good Men

Jessep goes back to the stand. JESSEP (continuing) What would you like to discuss now! My favorite color? KAFFEE Colonel, the six a.m. flight, was the first one off the base? JESSEP Yes. KAFFEE There wasn't a flight that left seven hours earlier and landed at Andrews Airforce Base at 2 a.m.? RANDOLPH Lieutenant, I think we've covered this, haven't we? KAFFEE gets the two log books from his table as well as the piece of paper that SAM scribbled on. KAFFEE Your Honor, these are the Tower Chief's Logs for both Guantanamo Bay and Andrews Airforce Base. The Guantanamo log lists no flight that left at eleven p.m., and the Andrews log lists no flight that landed at 2 a.m. I'd like to admit them as Defense Exhibits "A" and "B". RANDOLPH I don't understand. You're admitting evidence of a flight that never existed? KAFFEE We believe it did, sir. (glancing at the paper, then motioning to the AIRMEN) Defense'll be calling Airman Cecil O'Malley and Airman Anthony Perez. They were working the ground crew at Andrews at two a.m. on the seventh. ROSS Your Honor, these men weren't on the list. Rebuttal witnesses, Your Honor, called specifically to refute testimony offered under direct examination. If you looked closely at JESSEP, you could see a drop of sweat. RANDOLPH I'll allow the witnesses. JESSEP This is ridiculous. KAFFEE Colonel, a moment ago -- JESSEP Check the Tower Logs for christ's sake. KAFFEE We'll get to the airmen in just a minute, sir. A moment ago said that you ordered Kendrick to order his men not to touch Santiago. JESSEP That's right. KAFFEE And Kendrick was clear on what you wanted? JESSEP Crystal. KAFFEE Any chance Kendrick ignored the order? JESSEP Ignored the order? KAFFEE Any chance he just forgot about it? JESSEP No. KAFFEE Any chance Kendrick left your office and said, "The 'old man's wrong"? JESSEP No. KAFFEE When Kendrick spoke to the platoon and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him? JESSEP Have you ever spent time in an infantry unit, son? KAFFEE No sir. JESSEP Ever served in a forward area? KAFFEE No sir. JESSEP Ever put your life in another man's hands, ask him to put his life in yours? KAFFEE No sir. JESSEP We follow orders, son. We follow orders or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear? KAFFEE Yes sir. JESSEP Are we clear? KAFFEE Crystal. KAFFEE speaks with the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you're about to drop your opponents KAFFEE (continuing; beat) Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Perez: If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would he be in danger, why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base? And JESSEP has no answer. Nothing. He sits there, and for the first time, seems to be lost. JESSEP Private Santiago was a sub-standard marine. He was being transferred off the base because -- KAFFEE But that's not what you said. You said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger. JESSEP (pause) Yes. That's correct, but -- KAFFEE You said, "He was in danger". I said, "Grave danger". You said -- JESSEP Yes, I recall what -- KAFFEE I can have the Court Reporter read back your -- JESSEP I know what I said. I don't need it read back to me like I'm a damn -- KAFFEE Then why the two orders? (beat) Colonel? (beat) Why did you -- JESSEP Sometimes men take matters into their own hands. KAFFEE No sir. You made it clear just a moment ago that your men never take matters into their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel? Everyone's sweating now. Everyone but KAFFEE. JESSEP You little bastard. ROSS Your Honor, I have to ask for a recess to -- KAFFEE I'd like an answer to the question, Judge. RANDOLPH The Court'll wait for answer. KAFFEE If Kendrick told his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Jessep is looking at O'MALLEY and PEREZ. KAFFEE (continuing) Colonel? JESSEP says nothing. KAFFEE (continuing) Kendrick ordered the code red, didn't he? Because that's what you told Kendrick to do. ROSS Object! RANDOLPH Counsel. KAFFEE will plow through the objections of ROSS and the admonishments of RANDOLPH. KAFFEE And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose. ROSS Your Honor -- RANDOLPH That'll be all, counsel. KAFFEE You had Markinson sign a phony transfer order -- ROSS Judge -- KAFFEE You doctored the log books. ROSS Damnit Kaffee!! KAFFEE I'll ask for the forth time. You ordered -- JESSEP You want answers? KAFFEE I think I'm entitled to them. JESSEP You want answers?! KAFFEE I want the truth. JESSEP You can't handle the truth! And nobody moves. JESSEP (continuing) 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. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can 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. (beat) 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 there. (boasting) We use words like honor, code, loyalty... we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. (beat) 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 I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I'd prefer 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're entitled to. KAFFEE (quietly) Did you order the code red? JESSEP (beat) I did the job you sent me to do. KAFFEE Did you order the code red? JESSEP (pause) You're goddamn right I did. Silence. From everyone. RANDOLPH, ROSS, the M.P.'s, they're all frozen. JO and SAM are likewise. JESSEP seems strangely, quietly relieved. KAFFEE simply takes control of the room now. KAFFEE Please the court, I suggest the jury be dismissed so that we can move to an immediate Article 39a Session. The witness has rights. Silence. RANDOLPH looks to ROSS. RANDOLPH Lt. Ross? ROSS is frozen. He doesn't know what to do. KAFFEE (as a friend) Jack. ROSS looks at KAFFEE, then JESSEP, then nods his head "yes" to RANDOLPH. RANDOLPH The Sergeant at Arms will take the jury to an ante-room where you'll wait until further instruction. The SERGEANT AT ARMS begins leading the JURORS out of the room. JESSEP What the hell's going on? No one will say anything until the jurors are out of the room. JESSEP (continuing; to captain) Captain, what the hell's going on? I did my job. I'd do it again. Now I'm getting on a plane and going back to my base. RANDOLPH M.P.'s, guard the prisoner. The M.P.'s are tentative. They've never heard a marine colonel referred to as "the prisoner" before. They sure as hell have never been asked to guard one. ROSS Guard the prisoner. JESSEP What the hell -- ROSS Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent. Any statement you do make can be used against you in a trial by court-martial or other judicial or administrative proceeding. You have the right... ROSS continues reading JESSEP his rights, over -- JESSEP I'm being charged with a crime? I'm -- that's what this is -- (to Ross) Marine! (Ross keeps going) Marine!! (Ross is doing his job.) I'm being charged with a crime? I'm -- that's what's happening? This -- I'm -- this is funny, you know that, this is -- And JESSEP lunges at KAFFEE, and KAFFEE would be dead but for the three M.P.'s who've leapt in to restrain JESSEP. SAM and JO have come to their feet and stand behind KAFFEE. JESSEP (continuing; to Kaffee) I'm gonna tear your eyes right outta your head and piss in your dead skull. You fucked with the wrong marine. ROSS is done reading JESSEP his rights. ROSS Colonel Jessep, do you understand those rights as I have just read then to you? JESSEP I saved lives. That boy was -- there was a weak link. I saved lives, you hear me? The courtroom is silent from Jessep's outburst. Jessep shakes his head. JESSEP (continuing) You fuckin' people. (beat) You have no idea how to defend a nation. (continuing; to KAFFEE) All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people in danger. Sweet dreams, son. KAFFEE Don't call me son. (beat) I'm a lawyer, and an officer of the United States Navy. And you're under arrest you sonofabitch. KAFFEE stays on JESSEP a moment longer, then remembers -- KAFFEE (continuing) The witness is excused. The M.P.'s start leading JESSEP out, and KAFFEE notices DAWSON. And DOWNEY. And ROSS. who are watching a man in a marine colonels uniform be led away in handcuffs... KAFFEE takes a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes some sweat from his hands. He takes a deep breath as we