All language subtitles for JAG S06E20 - To Walk On Wings-eng

Two miles out, FLIR looks clear.

- Drop zone is off the nose.
- So is the sun.

Nacelles coming back.

Nacelles passing 45 degrees.
Air speed slowing to 120 knots.

Starting descent.

Let's go, Marines. Move, move.

What do you think now,
congresswoman?

I think little boys
never outgrow their toys.

Twenty feet at 15 knots.
Gusts picking up.

- Let's get in and out.
- Ramp clear.

- Deploy jumpers, sergeant.
- Jumpers away.

- Hold.
- What's going on back there?

Two to go, major. Go.

We hit the water.

It's a stretch to even call it a mishap.

A corporal with a headache,
a sergeant with a sprained ankle.

Congressman with whiplash.

National Security Subcommittee
wanted to observe a training exercise.

You ever say no
to Congresswoman Latham?

Not when she's got my budget
in her hands.

The aircraft was kissed by a swell,

then immediately powered up
and got out of there.

But it's an Osprey
so it made the front page.

We're getting a bum rap, A.J.
A pilot would understand that.

- Commander, you flew F-14s.
- Yes, sir.

Then you're aware
of the history of that aircraft.

Eight of the first 11 crashed, sir.

One shot itself down
with its own Sparrow missile.

There are bugs to iron out,
new systems to learn.

Does that mean it was defective
or dangerous?

- Any aircraft is potentially dangerous.
- Exactly.

Leonard,

I think you'll find that
Colonel MacKenzie

and Commander Rabb
are well aware

of the Marines' stake
in the Osprey Programme.

Don't worry.

I will keep my nose
out of your investigation.

- And I look forward to your report.
- Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

You have 3,000 hours in 46's
and 53's with no mishaps.

One Osprey is worth a squadron
of those old birds, commander.

I just wish we'd had them
in Mogadishu and Sierra Leone.

But even though you have had
two mishaps in the Osprey?

One was a gyro wired wrong.

- Never happened again.
- And this time?

No excuses, sir. I was a ham fist.

Pretty damn embarrassing
with the whole world watching.

No mechanical problems,
systems failures?

Human failure, sir. Mine.

You fell below drop altitude.

I was trying to maintain 10 to 15 feet
for the helocast,

and the wind was gusting,
jumpers were a little slow getting out.

I didn't see that big swell coming,
commander.

Yeah, you're lucky you didn't drop that
bird on those Marines treading water.

- Yes, sir.
- You're gonna have to appear

before a Human Factors board,
possibly a FNAEB.

- You could be grounded.
- I know, sir.

Major, a lot of people blame
their aircraft, their ground crew...

Hell, their high school
French teacher.

Not Marine pilots, commander.

Tiner? Starting your own law library?

No, ma'am.
Just trawling for essay ideas

for my Intro to Admiralty Law class.

You wouldn't be trawling
through the file U.S. V. Ballard,

the one that Lieutenant Singer's
been demanding ASAP?

- Sorry, ma'am.
- Careful, Tiner.

There's a phrase
that the admiral's very fond of using:

"On your own time."

Yes, ma'am.

Tiner, in here yesterday.

- Bring a pad of paper, a thick one.
- Aye, sir.

Go.

Great.

Max Asher's the best pilot
in the squadron, ma'am.

But maintaining low altitude
in gusty winds over water,

whether it's a helo or an Osprey,
it's like standing on a bowling ball

juggling a dozen eggs blindfolded.

So you're saying it wasn't pilot error?

Pilot and co-pilot error, ma'am.

It's my job to monitor distance
above the water.

If the winds were gusting,

why didn't Major Asher
scrub the mission?

Conditions were Sea State 3,
within our capabilities.

Anything else
affect pilot performance?

Glare from the sun,

but there frequently is
when it's low on the horizon.

Any mechanical failures?

- No, ma'am.
- Hydraulics, avionics, anything?

No excuses, ma'am.
We just put it in the water.

Ma'am, I hope no one knocks
the airframe for our foul-up.

Well, this isn't about the Osprey,
captain.

Well, respectfully, ma'am,
it sure as hell is.

Hope that congressman's
doing okay, sir.

His neck's a little sore,
but his mouth still works.

We need all the friends in Congress
we can get, sir.

Wouldn't worry about it.

Congressman Fetzer's never met
a weapons system he didn't like.

Well, what about that other one?
The woman?

Well, was Major Asher's aircraft
equipped with a flight-data recorder?

Two of them, in fact, ma'am.

An engine-diagnostics unit
and a crash-survival memory unit.

A CSMU
would have been overwritten.

Yes, sir.
It's on a seven-and-a-half-minute loop.

Did you download
the performance data from the EDU?

No, sir. They outflew that box too.

They were only 30 minutes
from New River.

Well, Major Asher
flew Corporal O'Dell

to the Naval hospital at Portsmouth
for a medical test.

- What were his injuries?
- It turned out he was okay, sir.

- Hey.
- Hi.

- I thought you were in court today?
- I was.

- It's 1730.
- Oh, my gosh.

- What you doing in here?
- Oh, I couldn't concentrate out there.

Tiner's doing
his Post-It Note inventory.

When does a conviction
become final?

Well, it depends.
Was there a general court-martial

where a discharge was awarded?

Sure.

Well, then after the appellate review
is either waived or completed

and the punitive discharge is executed.
Why?

Senior Chief Litrell
was convicted of stealing $3,000

from the commissary at Norfolk.

He spent 2 years in the brig and
he lost all of his retirement benefits.

- Too bad. Somebody you know?
- No, the court-martial was in 1976.

But doesn't that seem a little weird
to you?

I mean, look at this guy's career.

Achievement Medal, Navy Com.
He made chief in less than 12 years.

- So?
- So why'd he do it?

- For the money?
- For $3,000?

He was gonna make master chief
in 2 months.

He had no financial problems.

Why throw his career away
for something stupid?

What, you have to be a seaman recruit
to do something stupid?

In '93, there was an acting
Secretary of the Army

who got caught shoplifting at a PX.

I happen to think
that Senior Chief Litrell was innocent.

- And what's your proof?
- Well, for one, that.

A member
of the volunteer fire brigade?

Well, that makes no sense.
Look, Harriet.

You've discovered a criminal
who has acted out of character.

Big surprise.

What are you gonna do,
reopen up the case?

I mean, come on, Harriet,
you're no Erin Brockovich.

It didn't come out
the way that I wanted it to.

Well, lieutenant,

I'm sure you'd like
to have your office back.

Harriet.

- How'd you find out? It's a secret.
- In this office?

Tiner's in charge of security.

- Gunny's in charge of planning.
- Great, I'll alert a bail bondsman.

- Don't tell Mic.
- Isn't a bachelor party kind of retro?

We're kind of retro.

Colonel, commander?
The admiral's waiting.

Coming.

Enter.

Sir.

- Congresswoman Latham.
- Colonel. Commander.

Congresswoman Latham
is interested in your investigation,

and not just
because she got her feet wet.

- You wanna kill the Osprey?
- Put it out of its misery.

Vice President Cheney had
the right idea two administrations ago.

Now you and your committee
are gonna try to do it?

The pilots admit error.

There's no evidence
the Osprey failed in any respect.

The Marines want that aircraft
so much, they might be...

How should I put it?
- Blind to the Osprey's defects.

Conditions were difficult.

I was there.
It wasn't particularly hazardous.

Ma'am, Major Asher was flying
into the sun. The wind was gusting.

Are you suggesting the Osprey

can only operate in the shade
on a day without a breeze?

I play golf in tougher conditions.

Congresswoman Latham,

I'm suggesting
that the aircraft be judged

by people who understand
the fundamentals of flight.

What Commander Rabb meant
was that we are confident

Congresswoman Latham will be fair
in judging all the evidence.

Good. Then you shouldn't have
a problem turning over your files.

- No problem at all.
- Easier than I thought.

Congressman Fetzer's
asked for our files.

At the same time,
he asked Colonel MacKenzie

to assist the committee.

The MV-22 Osprey
combines the speed and range

of a fixed-wing cargo plane
with the vertical lift of a helicopter.

It can do everything a CH-46 does
and do it better.

Amphibious assault, combat search
and rescue, med-evac, special ops.

It flies higher, faster
and farther than the 46

and carries three times the payload.

If we had the Osprey in Vietnam,

there'd be fewer names on The Wall.

If we had it 20 years ago,

we could have rescued every hostage
in Tehran without refuelling.

No disaster in the desert.

General Onichimoski,

the Osprey has managed
to have plenty of disasters right here.

That's an overstatement,
madam chairman.

There have been four
Class-A mishaps.

"Mishaps" seems like
such a euphemism for 30 fatalities.

Over ten years, ma'am.

Let's talk about this past year,
general.

What caused
last December's fatal crash?

Investigation's not complete,

but it would appear
as a hydraulics failure.

And the fatal crash
last April in Arizona?

Human factors, ma'am. The pilot
descended too rapidly and lost lift.

Same thing could have happened
in a conventional helicopter

had the pilot
made the same mistake.

I guess that explains the expression:

"Aircraft manuals
are written in blood."

I'm an aviator, ma'am.

I've flown Sea Knights,
Sea Stallions,

just about every helo
in Marine Aviation.

So I know from experience
how well the Osprey stacks up

against any of them.

Overall, general,

how would you characterise
the Osprey's safety record?

Good, sir.
Particularly for a new aircraft.

Despite the crashes?

Military aviation will never be risk free,
ma'am, no matter what the airframe.

Two months ago, two Black Hawk
helicopters collided in Hawaii.

Six soldiers were killed.

Last month, a C-23 Sherpa
crashed in Georgia,

killing 21 National Guardsmen.

And no one is suggesting
grounding those aircraft.

Black Hawks and Sherpas
are tried and proven. The Osprey isn't.

Never will be
if it's not given the chance.

The investigation has cleared
the aircraft in the most recent mishap,

as Colonel MacKenzie can attest.

The pilot signed a statement
taking full responsibility.

Does he also assume responsibility
for taking the long way home?

Overwriting
the engine-diagnostics unit?

An injured Marine
needed assistance.

Did he?

I usually have a client pegged
inside of 15 minutes.

But when I defended
Senior Chief Litrell,

I couldn't figure him out at all.

- How do you mean, sir?
- The prosecution's case was thin.

Some nearsighted mechanic spots him
leaving the commissary at 3 a.m.

From a distance in the dark.

I was a pretty green JAG lawyer,
but I thought I could win that one.

All Senior Chief Litrell had to do
was step up and defend himself.

But he didn't.

Did he actually confess?
I mean, to you?

Looks like someone's forgotten
about attorney-client privilege.

I never did ask the reason
for your interest in this case.

After reviewing the case file,
I came to the conclusion

that Senior Chief Litrell
was completely innocent.

Completely innocent?

You're not wearing the mill rind.

You're not an attorney, are you?

No, sir. I work in office admin.

Well, thanks for the input.

Nothing like criticism from a secretary
to keep you on your toes.

I didn't mean to mislead you, sir.

I'm sure you didn't.

Mr. Slater, do you think he did it?

No.

Then why
wouldn't he defend himself?

Only thing I could think of
was he was protecting someone.

- Who? Why?
- He had a boot camp buddy.

Petty Officer Graf. They were tight.

Graf worked part-time
at the commissary,

and he had a juvenile record
for burglary.

I looked it up.
Litrell wouldn't let me go there.

The senior chief
had an exemplary record.

It still doesn't make sense
that he was convicted.

There was one other thing.

He was supposed to be honchoing
delivery of supplies

to the Amphib base that night,
but he never showed.

He refused to tell anyone
where he was.

Even his attorney.

You still here? Bobbi Latham
doesn't like to be kept waiting.

Do you know who she's calling
as an impartial weapons analyst?

William Markey.

Naysayer of the FX Fighter,
slayer of the A-12.

If he had his way, we'd still be
arming our troops with crossbows.

They'd come in under budget.

What kind of a person becomes
a civilian-defence analyst anyway?

Kind of guy who wants to make
a name for himself by killing weapons.

- So how impartial is he?
- He does his homework, Mac.

- Scores solid points.
- So do I.

The hydraulics are problematic.

There's a documented risk
of vortex ring state,

and the tiltrotor technology
raises many unanswered questions.

In sum, Mr. Markey?

Given the high cost
and the uncertainty over safety,

the Osprey programme
should be deferred

in favour of updating the CH-46

for the Marines' medium-lift assault
requirements.

Mr. Markey, do you know why
the aircraft is called the Osprey?

Because Edsel was taken?

Because like the bird,

it has a spectacular ability to fly,
to hover and to dive.

Well, there are a lot less expensive
ways to accomplish these things,

but with proven technology.

Madam chairman,
I'm not sure I have the knowledge

to debate a GAO weapons analyst.

Since when did lack of expertise
silence you, Harold?

So I've asked Colonel MacKenzie
to enquire in my behalf.

The CH-46
dates from the Vietnam War,

doesn't it, Mr. Markey?

Yes, but it's reliable.

Well, when it was new,
it had numerous mishaps, didn't it?

- Some.
- More than 40 in its first 5 years.

- Yes.
- What about UH-1 helo, the Huey?

About the same number.

In fact, Mr. Markey, aren't mishaps
common with new aircraft?

- Unfortunately, yes.
- And that's been an accepted risk

of new technology for as long
as there's been military aviation.

- Yes.
- So when the first B-17

and the first B-29 crashed,
the programmes weren't shut down.

- Boeing made improvements, correct?
- Yes, but...

Enough to carry out bombing missions
over Germany and Japan

and to help win World War II?

But that was wartime, colonel.

In peacetime, our society has
much less tolerance for the loss of life.

When should we prepare for war,
Mr. Markey?

I'm not sure I follow you.

If we wait for the shooting to start,
won't it be too late?

- How did it feel, Gunny? Really.
- It hurt, Tiner. Really.

Commander, you were shot once,
weren't you, sir?

- It hurts.
- See?

- How's the planning going?
- We should do something

- very special for Mr. Brumby, sir.
- Like deport him?

What do they do in Australia
when a bachelor takes a fall?

I don't know, but I'm sure mass
quantities of alcohol are consumed.

Get him drunk
and watch him box a kangaroo.

I don't think Brumby
would find that too humourous.

He wouldn't find what
too humourous?

Nothing.

There's a Marine
waiting in your office.

Thank you, Tiner.

- At ease, corporal.
- O'Dell, ma'am.

I was one of the jumpers
on Major Asher's flight.

This morning, I got a subpoena
to testify before Latham's committee.

O'Dell.
You were one of the casualties.

I wouldn't call it a casualty, ma'am.

I just saw stars for a few seconds
when the plane hit the water.

- My head smacked the bulkhead.
- You weren't injured?

Not really, ma'am.

But Major Asher insisted on flying me
to the Naval hospital at Portsmouth.

He just wanted to be sure
you were all right.

Well, ma'am,

I told the major I've been hit harder
playing touch football.

You put the inspector general's
quarterly report in the May tickler

instead of April,
causing the IG to call personally

asking where the hell it was.

You forgot to reserve
the conference room for a meeting

with the Czech delegation,
so we had to meet in mess hall.

They weren't crazy
about the Tater Tot Casserole.

I forget anything?

I confused the costume party
with Senator Hatch's reception, sir.

Let's not talk about the costume party,
okay?

Let's talk about something important.

Something important enough, sir,

for me to screw up absolutely
everything for this past week?

Sir, I ran across a file
involving a Senior Chief Litrell.

He was convicted of stealing $3,000
from the commissary at Norfolk.

In 1976.

I don't think he did it, sir.

Lieutenant,

your job is not to second-guess a...

What, 25-year-old court-martial?

Your job is to make sure

that everything runs smoothly
between this office and the Pentagon.

Starting right now, you will dedicate
100 percent of your time

and effort to your job.

- Is that understood?
- Yes, sir.

Good. Dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Lieutenant?

Sir?

Of course, if you wanna pursue
the enquiry on your own time...

Thank you, sir.

Major Asher,
you have the right to an attorney.

I don't need to hide
behind a mouthpiece, ma'am.

- No offence.
- None taken.

You wanna tell me about that wild
goose chase to Portsmouth?

I had casualties on board, ma'am.

Any reason
why Sergeant Grieco's sprained ankle

couldn't be treated in sick bay
at New River?

I'm sure it could have been, ma'am.

Congressman Fetzer didn't even
complain about his neck, did he?

I guess it started hurting the next day,
ma'am.

Then why the detour
to the hospital in Portsmouth?

Why not to the nearest
medical facility?

Corporal O'Dell
had a possible concussion.

Portsmouth
is better equipped for that.

I'm on your side,
but I gotta have the truth.

You've got it.

I put that bird in the water,
I hurt that marine.

They train us
to treat head injuries seriously.

Corporal O'Dell
says he wasn't injured.

He was trying to hang tough.
He was definitely woozy.

I thought it prudent for him
to get a CAT scan.

According to the corporal, he needed
a candy striper with a bottle of aspirin.

He's a good Marine, ma'am, but
he's not a board-certified neurologist.

Let me ask you directly, major.

Did you fly to Portsmouth
out of concern for Corporal O'Dell

or because you wanted
to override the EDU?

Why would I do that, ma'am?

To erase data
that might reveal a systems failure?

To protect the Osprey programme?

Is that what Congresswoman Latham
is gonna say?

She's gonna say whatever it takes
to kill the Osprey.

I just hope you haven't helped her.

The long-tortured flight of the Osprey
may be nearing its end.

Not only are there safety
and reliability questions,

but now there are questions
of a possible cover-up of mishap data.

Congresswoman,
what's the evidence of that?

A mishap occurred on a recent flight
on which I was a passenger.

The pilot
apparently went to great lengths

to make the flight-data recorder
unavailable to investigators.

Do you expect criminal charges?

My committee will subpoena
the pilot to testify,

though I wouldn't be surprised
if he took the Fifth.

It would surprise me.

No proof that major Asher
intentionally overwrote the data.

Now that she's taken it to the press,
she's gonna have to prove it.

Osprey can survive a mishap,
but tampering with data?

Assume that Major Asher
did what she claims he did.

- What was his motive?
- To save the Osprey?

Because he believes
it is a valuable aircraft.

Sounds like a defence lawyer's
closing arguments. Are you?

He wanted a lawyer
with knowledge of aerodynamics.

Hi, Mr. Litrell?

- Yes?
- I'm Lieutenant jg Harriet Sims,

and I was wondering
if I could talk to you for just a second.

- Am I being drafted?
- No, sir. I'm from JAG.

And if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to
you about what happened at Norfolk.

In or out, folks. AC is running.

Honey,
this is Lieutenant Harriet Sims.

She's here to talk about Norfolk.

Well, where are your manners, David?
Invite the lieutenant in.

- Come in.
- Thank you, sir.

We were sitting down to lunch.

- Have you eaten?
- Sorry, I could come back.

Oh, no, please.
Honey, set another place.

I'll go put another burger on the grill.

- You have a lovely home.
- Thank you.

When you're a Navy wife,
you learn to make do with a little.

I'll be right back.

You said
you wanted to talk about Norfolk.

I assume you don't mean
the harbour festival.

No, sir.

I recently came across
your case file,

and I don't believe
you took the money.

I'm afraid the judge believed differently,
lieutenant.

Well, sir, reading your file,

it seems that
you were a little less than truthful

about your whereabouts
that evening.

I was never anything but truthful.

They asked if I stole the money,
I said no.

They asked if I knew
who stole the money, I said no.

They asked me about
my whereabouts, I said I couldn't say.

And I couldn't, and I can't.

Major Slater,
your attorney, seems to think

you were protecting your friend,
Petty Officer Graf.

Slater's a moron.
Tom Graf didn't take that money.

He was a completely honest man.

I was planning
on talking to him next.

You better keep that conversation
in the planning stages, lieutenant.

Tom died 12 years ago.

We truly appreciate your concern,
but you're talking about something

that happened
when your bike still had a banana seat.

It's over.

- Sir.
- Have a seat, major.

Report from the December
Osprey mishap:

A hydraulic line
on the left nacelle ruptured.

Pilot pressed the reset button
exactly the way he was supposed to.

Produced a software anomaly
which sent the aircraft

into an uncontrollable pitch roll
and yaw.

Software did that, sir?

Marine Corps has ordered
a review of the entire system.

It's really piling up, isn't it, sir?

I'm sure if Congresswoman Latham's
heard about it,

she's already making her stiletto
even sharper.

- What do you suggest I do, sir?
- Listen to them.

Don't try to outthink them.
Yes, sirs and no, sirs.

Don't be defensive
You're not on trial.

Not yet.

Major, I can ask for limited immunity
before your testimony.

It's the prudent thing to do.

And then it would look like
I'm hiding something.

Without it, anything you say
can be used against you

by the FNAEB or a court-martial.

They'd really try to ground me, sir?

It's up to you, major.
You want me to ask for immunity?

No, sir.

Major Asher,
you've been given the oath,

which means any false statement
could be subject to criminal penalties.

My client is a Marine officer
and does not need to be told

- the meaning of an oath, ma'am.
- Good.

Major Asher will fully and truthfully
explain the cause of the mishap

and why he acted
the way he did, ma'am.

Candour from the military.
How refreshing.

Or he could simply make a statement
to his commanding officer

and this committee
could go about its primary business

of giving press conferences.

Perhaps the major would like
to make his statement unimpeded

by his counsel or the committee?

On March 17th,
I was aircraft commander

of an MV-22 Osprey
on a demonstration helocast mission.

We had a crew of three.

Six jumpers and
two Congress members as guests.

Other VIPs and news media were
watching from a nearby Naval vessel.

And what happened, major?

We converted
from fixed-wing to vertical mode

about 20 miles offshore
and descended

to between 10 to 15 feet.

The jumpers started out
the rear ramp.

All systems were operating properly
until the engine-exhaust gas temp

- started going up.
- What would cause that, major?

Ocean spray through the intake.
Salt coats the compressor blades

and reduces the airflow
into the engines.

So your engine overheated?

No, ma'am. I powered down a bit
and the temp never redlined.

When you powered down,
did it cause you to hit the water?

Not directly,
though we descended a few feet.

Why didn't you just pull up
and get out of there?

There were only two jumpers
to go by that time, ma'am.

I thought I could make it, but the wind
was kicking up a line of swells

- and we got kissed by one of them.
- Kissed?

There was no damage to the aircraft
and the injuries were minimal, ma'am.

What were weather conditions,
major?

Clear. Wind was out of the west
about 20 knots.

Swells of about 5 feet.

And we were heading west,
as I recall.

- Into the setting sun.
- That's correct.

Just like landing, you always
try to helocast into the wind.

Did the sun make it more difficult
to judge your distance from the water?

There was a glare, ma'am,
and when the larger swell came at us,

I didn't see it in time.

- But your engines didn't stall?
- No, sir.

Or suffer power loss?

None felt or indicated
on instruments, sir.

But you can't confirm that, can you,

without the data
from the engine-diagnostics unit?

- No, ma'am.
- Major,

did you take the scenic route home
in order to overwrite the EDU?

No, ma'am. In order to obtain
medical treatment for my crew.

Couldn't they have been
adequately treated on your base?

Portsmouth is a larger hospital,
ma'am,

and I chose to err
on the side of caution.

That seems to be out of character
for you, major.

With all due respect, ma'am,
that's uncalled for.

I apologise, commander.

In fact,
let me compliment your client.

I understand that he has
a very distinguished record as a pilot.

His CEPs are routinely
the best in his squadron, ma'am.

And yet he wasn't able to control
the Osprey during the manoeuvre?

Congresswoman Latham, he allowed
minimum contact with the water.

Even when he says
there were no mechanical problems?

- That's correct, ma'am.
- The Osprey performed perfectly,

yet the best pilot in the squadron
flew it into the Atlantic Ocean.

Which is it, major?

Is the Osprey
mechanically unreliable,

or is it impossible to fly?

We have an aircraft
capable of mythic feats,

and we're being nibbled to death
by the bean counters

and the naysayers
and the news media.

Colonel, we're taking a beating
over the Osprey hearings.

I'm aware of that, sir.

Congresswoman Latham

has made Major Asher
look deceptive.

The Congresswoman is good
at playing to the press, sir.

The major is good
at flying helicopters.

Today's editorial in the Times

calls for the court-martialing
of Major Asher.

- For what, sir?
- Obstruction of justice.

Conduct unbecoming.

Offending the tender sensibilities
of the editorial writers.

There's no evidence against him,
general. Only allegations.

Which gain credibility
with every news broadcast.

Winston Churchill said,
"A lie travels around the world

while the truth
is putting on its boots."

We need to put our boots on,
colonel.

Hot chocolate?

If you're here to give me grief about
my little crusade, you can get in line.

Harriet, I take you seriously.

If it seems like I don't, I'm sorry.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up
in work here,

I forget about what's important.

Bud, I don't know why
you should take me seriously.

Even the guy that I'm trying to help
wants me to leave him alone.

I don't believe that.

Bud, I didn't join the Navy
to push paper.

And lately,
it just seems like that's all I'm good for.

Harriet, listen to me.
I didn't marry a paper pusher.

I married a woman who lights up
a room just by walking into it.

You're the only person I know
that can talk to anybody

and make them feel good
about themselves.

You shouldn't have to feel like this.

Petty Officer Thomas Graf?

Figured you could use a hand, so I ran
a search on your prime suspect,

but please don't get too excited.

It's bad news.

Graf couldn't have
anything to do with the theft.

He was training
in radar countermeasures that night

at Dam Neck.

Sorry.

Got any cups?

"Graf, Petty Officer Thomas.
Died March 6, 1989,

myocardial infarction,

leaving behind his loving wife
of 27 years, Amanda."

Sometimes the ends
justify the means,

but never when the ends
are unjustified.

People can differ on whether
saving the Osprey is justified or not.

Mac, I can't believe you're standing up
for a pilot who showed bad judgement,

flew negligently
and intentionally destroyed evidence.

Or two out of those three.

I'm surprised you noticed
what position I was taking

when you were playing
to the press gallery all day.

And you? Grandstanding
for your Marine buddies?

"Did the sun
make it more difficult?"

Do you know why I agree with my
Marine buddies about the Osprey?

Group think, colonel,
the scourge of the military.

Has it ever occurred to you
that you might be wrong about this?

No.

I think Major Asher lied
about what caused the mishap.

I don't believe that.

Mac, there's technology
that can recover erased data

from the flight recorder.

If one of those engines
so much as burped,

I'll see to it
that the Osprey never flies again.

Pleasant to work on one of these
where there hasn't been a crash.

What are the chances
you can restore data?

That I don't know, colonel.

They're still trying to recreate
the missing 18 minutes

on Nixon's Watergate tape.

But that's old technology.

Unscrambling iron oxide particles
on a magnetic medium.

So you have a better chance?

Well, with unlimited resources
and unlimited time.

Well, what about with what you have
and a few hours?

I'll see what I can do.

All right, the recording
was compressed on a digital signal.

It was overwritten as it assigned
a different address on the disk.

My job is to recreate
the original sequence.

So are you on the team
rooting I can or hoping I can't?

There.

Damn, if this were an EKG,
the patient would be brain dead.

Or maybe not.

- Is that it?
- Well, there is something.

- What is it?
- Colonel,

you'll be one of the first to know.

But now if you'll please excuse me.

Mr. Litrell?

Lieutenant Sims.
Know much about transmissions?

- I know where you were, sir.
- Excuse me?

The night of the robbery.
I know where you were.

I spent 2 years in prison.

Then I made a new life
and put it behind me. Why can't you?

You spent 2 years in prison
for something you didn't do.

It's not your business.

You couldn't have stolen the money,
sir.

You were with your wife that night,
only she wasn't your wife then.

She was the wife of your best friend,
Amanda Graf.

Her husband was out of town,
and that's why you didn't report

for your scheduled duty.

- What do you want?
- It's not what I want, sir.

You need to come forward.

- No.
- David.

Maybe it's time.

It'll never be time.

You can clear your name, honey.

Amanda, we had an agreement.

For Tom.

I'll be right in.

Thank you for your concern,
lieutenant.

If this could stay between us.

Tom Graf is gone.
This can't hurt him.

And your country owes you
25 years of back pay.

Lieutenant, you don't understand.

I'm not keeping the secret
to protect Tom.

He's not the one who had the affair.
Amanda did.

I won't have people
thinking of her like that.

I'm not too late, am I?

Commander, you missed the flight,
but you can watch the playback.

We've loaded the simulator
with all the data, sir.

Wind, payload, saltwater intake.

Of course, in the simulator,
I knew it was coming.

Yeah, well you're still 10 feet
above the water.

Doesn't leave you
a lot of time to react, major.

That may be the first kind word a
fighter jock's ever had for a helo pilot.

I'm sure a few said thank you
when you fished them out.

They always said to me,
"What took you so long?"

- Yeah.
- Okay,

here's where the engine temp
started rising.

I powered down a bit.

Descended below 10 feet.

Here comes the big swell.
Powering up.

You avoided it.

Well, like I said, commander,
I knew it was coming.

And the computer's not simulating
the glare from the sun.

I remember once in Capodichino
on final approach,

I had to turn into the setting sun.

I didn't see a transmission line.
Severed it with my landing gear.

Knocked out power to half of Naples,

damn near burned down
the NATO Officers' Club.

You're just trying
to make me feel better.

You knew the prevailing winds.

Why'd they fly you
into the setting sun, anyway?

Major?

We didn't have a choice,
commander.

- Tiner, where is lieu...
- Good morning, admiral.

Your notes from the meeting
with the joint chiefs.

And I've scheduled interviews
with the top five yeoman candidates

for Thursday afternoon
and Friday morning.

Cleaners put a rush on your
dress whites. They'll be ready at 1330.

Don't lose the ticket, sir.

Lieutenant?

- Yes, sir?
- Whatever happened

about the Litrell case?

It was a dead end, sir.
I guess I was wrong.

I'm sorry to hear that,
but taking the initiative like you did,

- it was good to see.
- Thank you, sir.

Maybe next time I'll get it right.

I affected the data recovery

with harmonic
magnetoresistive microscopy.

Meaning?

High-resolution sensors
mapped the magnetic fields,

which allowed me to rebuild
the original erased signals.

So you were able to reconstruct
the engine performance data?

- Among other things, yes.
- And what did you find, Miss Belotti?

There were no engine anomalies

other than a slight rise
in exhaust gas temperatures.

Not even a burp
or a small loss of power

- right before impact with the water?
- No, ma'am.

All systems were operating
within normal parameters.

I assume you have some questions.

I don't think any are necessary,
madam chairman.

It would seem Major Asher
told the truth.

He flew his aircraft into a rising swell.
The Osprey can't be blamed.

I think the data merely answered
a question I posed yesterday, colonel.

The Osprey may not have been
defective in this case,

but if Major Asher,
the best pilot in the squadron,

can't handle this plane,
then who can?

Thank you, Miss Belotti.

Perhaps Major Asher can speak
to that, madam chairwoman.

He's already had his say.

Do I hear a motion to call the question
on continued funding?

Well, I'd like to hear
all relevant testimony before I vote.

Very well.
Major has a brief statement.

- You're still under oath, major.
- I'm well aware of that, ma'am.

I want you all to know that the aircraft
I was flying hit the water

because I let it go too low,
and I didn't see a swell coming.

We've heard this all before,
commander.

Major, why didn't you
see the swell coming?

Drop zone is off the nose.

So is the sun.

It was a sunny day. Old news.

Major, would you ordinarily

have scheduled a mission
to fly into the setting sun?

No, sir.
We go out of our way to avoid it.

- And why didn't you this time?
- We were late taking off.

And why was that?

Because Congresswoman Latham
was two hours late getting to the base.

So now it's my fault?

Without me,
you would have taken off earlier?

No, ma'am. The mission
was scheduled for your orientation.

Without you, there would be
no point in taking off.

- Well, you could have explained.
- What would you have said then?

That the Osprey can only fly
in the shade?

That people play golf
in tougher conditions?

- Well, if it's true...
- Ma'am,

when Marines schedule a mission,
even during combat,

they get to decide
what time they go in.

Because the enemy doesn't demand
a dog-and-pony show

to suit the convenience of politicians
and the media.

Commander, I thought your client
accepted responsibility for this mishap.

There's plenty to go around, ma'am.

Major Asher
was in a challenging situation

hovering 10 feet above the water
looking directly into the sun

trying to accomplish his mission and
get out of there as fast as he could.

But he was delayed,

by me.

I was excited to be there.

What do you think now,
congresswoman?

I think little boys
never outgrow their toys.

Drop zone clear. Jumpers away.

Sergeant, how about a shot
with me and the boys?

Hold. Sir, you shouldn't be
out of your harness.

- Oh, come on, sarge, just one.
- Trying to get a photo

for your campaign brochure,
Harold?

- Sir, sit down.
- What's the harm?

Two to go, major. Go.

I will not shirk my responsibility
in the mishap, major.

- If I hadn't delayed you...
- So now he's responsible?

Commander, is there anyone else
you'd like to blame?

Yes, ma'am. The critics.

For demanding that military hardware,
even the newest,

perform flawlessly
with zero tolerance for error.

The media for its sensationalism,

exaggerating every mishap
to the dimension of tragedy.

And Congress, ma'am, for not listening
to those who know this aircraft best:

The people who fly it.

You wanna kill the Osprey programme
to save their lives.

They're telling you
that they're willing to risk their lives

because they believe
that this aircraft is important

to the defence of our country.

I believe Congresswoman Latham
wanted to call the question.

Is that still the case?

Unless our chair
wishes to hear more testimony?

That won't be necessary.

Those in favour of continued funding
for the MV-22,

please signify
with a showing of hands.

Looks like the Osprey
lives for another day.

Major, I want to wish you luck
and Godspeed.

And if you ever invite me
for another ride, I'll be on time.

Yes, ma'am. And if you give it
the opportunity, so will the Osprey.

This hearing is adjourned.