Original subtitles

the best you'll ever see

Here to nuke? I died.

Five perfect inspections in a row.

Everybody's going in town tonight.

Not me.

You're not. No way.

In the last 24 hours, I've cleaned two latrines, policed the parade grounds,

an obstacle course, and painted the flagpole.

My back is killing me. What used to be simple little blisters on my hands and

feet are now... Bleeding sores. Now, as much as I hate this little bunk, when I

lay my head on this pillow, it will not move until morning.

Ted Hunt!

Gentlemen, there will be no night on the town tonight. This platoon will be in

full field gear at 1800 hours, ready for a little speed march.

Did you have any idea that he was going to run?

No, of course I didn't.

Where is he, Nancy?

Don't you think I'd tell you if I knew?

I swore I'd never get involved with a soldier, and I never should have.

You can't just fall out of love.

Hello?

I've got to go.

Yes, but... All right.

Are you Nancy Lamont?

Yes. We're looking for private use.

He's absent without leave.

Do you know where he is?

No. Have you heard from him?

No. A warrant's out for his arrest, ma 'am.

Now, what could happen to you for aiding and abetting a fugitive?

I told you I don't know where he is.

Check the bedroom.

Just a minute.

Sergeant Marcy, do you have a search warrant? Mind your own business, miss.

okay, Charlene. No, it's not okay.

Either you show me your warrant or you get out.

Or you'll do what?

Get me the police.

Emergency.

Let's go.

Thank you, Charlene.

Who was that on the phone?

Just a friend. It was Chris, wasn't it?

Did he tell you where he is?

Nancy, Chris is in very serious trouble.

What if they can't find him?

Don't kid yourself.

You've simply got to tell me where he is.

He'll ruin his life.

Hello, Chris.

Nancy. Yep.

I kind of halfway figured.

Well, she's a bright girl.

She cares for you.

She'd rather see you lead a full life than an empty one or no life at all.

I really screwed up this time, didn't I?

Oh, you panicked.

Yeah.

Yeah, I panicked.

Parker didn't show up. I mean, let's face it, I don't have a chance.

And I'll tell you something else.

I'm scared to death.

The old man was right.

I never will put it together.

Well, your father wasn't always hot stuff.

He got his hands on a little money and used it to make more money. He was

good at that, but he wasn't always hot stuff.

He had to kind of grow into it like everybody else.

You know, sometimes you look at a person and you think that

person was always what you're looking at.

And that's not necessarily so.

I mean, just take me.

I wasn't always a lawyer.

I wasn't always successful.

I was once just a little brown -headed kid.

And like all the other little kids I knew, I was just trying to do what I was

supposed to do and stay out of trouble.

But sometimes I'd miss. Sometimes I'd miss pretty bad.

I spent two years in fourth grade.

You don't have to tell that around too much.

Private Hughes, with the appropriate government issue, then escort him to

I'll inform General Connors he's been taken into custody. That he turned

in. And inform your men to keep their hands and batons off him. He'll be well

taken care of, sir.

Uh, Major, I'd like to bounce a couple things off you and just take a look.

You know, I saw in the coroner's report that Lieutenant Walters had a jagged cut

across his hand.

One that could not have been caused by a bayonet. Did you notice that?

Yes, sir.

How do you think he got it?

I have a famous idea.

Well, did you see anything in that room that could have caused a cut like that?

No.

I think Private Hughes is being framed for Lieutenant Walter's murder.

That would take quite a lot of doing, sir.

Well, take Private Hughes' bayonet, for instance. It's a murder weapon.

Isn't it possible that somebody took it out of his footlocker?

Kill Lieutenant Walters and then put him back?

Possible, but unlikely.

Not in front of a whole platoon of men.

Well, don't all bayonets look pretty much the same? Yes, sir.

Well, then someone could have switched the bayonet that was in Chris's

footlocker with the murder weapon, say, at the time his footlocker was searched.

All that means is that it wasn't a frame.

How's that?

Because I'm the one who searched Private Hughes's locker. Oh, well, so much for

theories.

Unless, of course, we discovered that you had a motive to kill Lieutenant

Walters. I didn't. Good.

Good.

Because as I recall, you don't have an alibi either.

I'll see you, Major.

Looking for Sergeant Parker.

Yeah, he's not here.

When do you expect him?

Oh, in about 30 days.

He went on leave this morning.

He went on leave?

He's supposed to testify in the Chris Hughes case.

He's my star witness. Hell, he's my only witness.

I'm sorry.

You know where he went?

Yeah. I talked to Sergeant Parker yesterday, and he never said one damn

about going anywhere.

Now, I want to know who arranged this leave and how it was processed so

Listen, I don't have to answer any of your questions. I don't even know who

are. My name's Ben Matlock, and you'll answer my questions here or in front of

General Connors.

Well, Parker was due leave.

Parker asked for leave, and I gave Parker leave.

Here, I'll process the paperwork myself. Go ahead, take a look.

Record is two hours and 17 minutes, and there'll be weekend passes if you break

it.

Move them out.

And hit!

Hey!

Level time!

Hut!

I think it happened. Bobby died out here with Walter. They picked something else

and tortured us.

This is where it happened. Same place, same drill, same everything.

God, I twisted my ankle. Here, I'll give you a hand. No, you go ahead. Go ahead.

I'll catch up.

Go ahead.

Evening, Danny.

Hey, Mr. Medlock.

Oh, mister, huh?

I think we know one another well enough. Now call me Ben.

Okay, Ben. I got another hot flash for you.

Yeah?

Poker game in the back room. Same guys, just like nothing ever happened.

Old habits are hard to break.

Especially the bad ones.

Danny, is there anything about what happened that you didn't tell the

investigating officer? Anything that you or he may have dismissed as

insignificant or immaterial?

No, I don't think so.

You mind going over it one more time?

Well... About closing time, the Hughes kid busts in here, looking like he just

crawled out of the woods.

Which, in fact, he had.

Anyway, I tried to stop him from going in the back room, but he was real

determined.

I was cleaning up, just like I am now, so I thought, what the hell? Who cares?

just wanted to go home.

Then what happened?

Well, I heard a lot of yelling, and a bunch of scuffling like a fight was

on. Then everything got real quiet.

About a minute later, the kid left.

About two minutes later, so did I.

The men in the back room just kept playing cards?

Yeah.

What?

I do remember something.

When I clean up, I like to scrub the bar down real good.

So I take off the ashtrays and I stack them over there.

But when I came back to work the day after the killing, there was one ashtray

right there.

Anything in it?

Yeah. A butt of a cigar and some ashes.

Any of those guys smoke a cigar?

As far as I know, Captain Campbell, sometimes Major Hamilton.

Hey, Danny, scotch on the rocks.

So much for getting out of here.

You go on home.

I'll tell him you left.

Hey, thanks.

Who's winning?

He is.

Four -handed poker.

Can't build up much of a pot.

Can't play high -low or any split games.

One of our regulars dropped out.

You know, one of the most puzzling things about Lieutenant Walter's murder

that little black book.

Why would the murderer bother to take the record of...

Who owed what to whom in a nice innocent poker game?

Who's keeping track now that Lieutenant Walters is gone?

I am.

What, did you just zero everybody out and start over?

We just took up where we left off.

We had a pretty fair idea of who owed what to whom.

I'm not much of a poker player. I mean, once in a while.

In games that I've seen, you just put your money down at the beginning and...

Pick up whatever's left at the end. I never heard of players running tabs.

We're friends.

I'm sure you are.

I just never heard of that. Running tabs on a poker game.

It's strange.

It's very strange.

Yeah, I've seen you in here before.

That's right.

Come on over to the table. I'll buy you a drink.

Well, that's very nice of you, but not just now, okay?

You don't want a drink?

Thanks anyway.

Is this seat taken?

Oh, damn.

No.

Look, I'm sorry I'm late.

I know you're just in time. I've been under attack.

Well, I can see why.

Here's to new friends.

Friends.

I thought you weren't thirsty.

What's it to you?

Come on, my money's as good as his.

Take your hands off me.

You heard her.

Hey, just get in line, Jack.

Back off.

No problem.

Okay, hey, okay.

I hope she's worth it.

You okay?

Yeah.

That's a hell of a ride.

Yeah, I'm okay, I think.

Good.

Look, I'm sorry about... Oh, no, no, it's not your fault.

I'll tell you what.

There's a nice... little diner down the street.

The least I could do for my hero is to buy him a cup of coffee.

I'll tell you my hard luck stories and you can tell me yours.

Good news.

We went on field exercises last night with Lieutenant Lynch. He took us to the

same place Walters used to take him. So when I heard that, I doubled back. You

know what I saw?

I saw Lieutenant Lynch and two civilians unloading packages out of a four

-wheeler and hiding them in the truck.

Now, when we were going back to the post, I heard Lynch say something about

had to stop off at the supply depot before taking the truck back to the

pool.

I couldn't follow.

I had to go on guard duty. Ben, this platoon sergeant loves to hate me. What

in the packages?

I don't know.

Well?

All right, I'll find out. But, Ben, I have not slept in 36 hours.

I don't think we can wait.

All right.

Supply depot.

Tonight.

I'd like a rum and whatever color you've got.

How are the tennis lessons going?

I just want a drink, okay?

Miss Campbell, I'm glad you could make it.

How have you been?

Not so great, thanks to you.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I really am.

At the time, I had no idea you required so much medical attention for broken

bones and contusions.

I've never understood why a woman stays with a man who beats her.

I've never understood why a woman stays with a man who didn't.

You're a real piece of work, Miss Campbell. Your husband abuses you. You

affair with a man that everybody in the next ten miles despises.

He was nice enough to me.

Why did your husband and the others play cards with him?

Did he have any other friends?

Civilian friends?

He had no friends, period.

Except you.

I guess I was enough.

And your husband really didn't know?

What do you think?

Come on.

Let's go.

Would you please excuse me?

It must be time for my tongue lashing.

Let's ship this stuff.

And it's got to go out tonight.

Soldier, which one of you is Johnson?

I am.

I'm Lieutenant Hudson.

Don't you salute a superior officer?

Yes, sir.

Sergeant says he wants to see you over at the motor pool on the double and take

your buddy with you.

But, sir... Soldier, I just gave you an order. Now both of you move it on the

double.

You move, you're dead.

I heard

some

talk in the mess hall. What kind of talk in private?

Something about shipping cocaine.

Who was stalking?

I don't know. Just some guys, sir.

So you took their word for it, snuck into the depot, impersonated an officer,

and started tearing open boxes?

Yes, sir.

Do you think I'm an idiot, private? Do you?

No, sir.

Think again.

Let's start all over again.

That is.

This man released immediately.

We caught him trespassing and destroying property, sir.

He's an associate of Mr. Matlock's. He was placed on this post undercover.

Why was I not informed of this, sir?

You just were.

For your information, I wasn't impersonating an officer. I am an

First Lieutenant Tyler Hudson, 283 -243 -245, United States Army Reserves.

They're shipping cocaine out of the supply depot.

It's uncut. It's high grade.

I tasted it. I saw it. I can't prove it. And I guarantee you, whatever was there

is long gone by now.

Damn.

How you doing with the hearing?

Hearing's over.

Court -martial starts tomorrow.

That answer your question?

Major Hamilton, I show you the government's exhibit number four and ask

you recognize it.

Yes, sir, I do.

That's my tag, my initials.

Well, counsel for the defense has already stipulated that this is the

that killed Lieutenant Walters.

Major, would you please tell the court where it was found?

In Private Hughes' footlocker. Thank you. No further questions.

Who found this bayonet in Private Hughes' footlocker, Major?

I did.

Did you have a check for fingerprints?

Yes, sir. None were found.

None on the blade?

That's right. How about the hand?

None there either.

Didn't that strike you as odd?

It didn't strike me at all, sir.

I mean, why would Private Hughes wipe his fingerprints off his bayonet if he

going to put it in his footlocker?

Objection calls for speculation.

Let me put it this way.

Doesn't the fact that the bayonet was found in Private Hughes' footlocker with

no fingerprints suggest that someone other than Private Hughes put it there?

Objection. That's the same question.

Sustained. No further questions.

I call Sergeant Owens to the stands.

Yes, sir. I work in the supply depot.

And where were you on the night of January 11?

In the depot. I remember because there was a big shipment that was due out on

the 12th, and there was a lot of paperwork that needed to be done.

Just how late did you work?

Until about 2245. That's when Colonel McRae came in and relieved me.

You had to walk past the officer's club to get to your car that night, is that

correct? Yes, sir.

And as I was passing by, I heard this door slam. That's what made me look up,

and I saw Private Hughes come out of the building, and, well, he was running

away.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Sergeant Owens, you dropped out of school to join the Army,

is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Now, when you send out a big shipment, like you did the night of the murder,

what kind of paperwork's involved?

Oh, uh...

Transmittal letters and documents have to be prepared.

Inventories revised.

Telexes have to be sent to the bases receiving the materials. That sort of

thing. That sounds complicated.

You do it by yourself?

Yes, sir. I'm just about the only one on the base that can.

I think that's terrific.

No further questions.

What was that all about? I think I'm on to something.

Sir, the government rests.

Is the defense ready, Mr. Matlock?

We call Colonel McRae to the stand.

You left the poker game and went back to the supply depot to relieve your

assistant, Sergeant Owens. Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

Was anybody in the supply depot with you after Sergeant Owens left?

No, sir. I was alone.

Your Honor, at this time... Mr. Matlock.

Major Orlando, surely you can't object to these papers before you even know

they are.

Mr. Matlock, in the military court, the judge is addressed as sir, not your

honor. Oh, excuse me, sir.

Sir, at this time, defense would like to introduce into evidence these telex

messages that were sent from the supply depot here at Fort Simpson on the night

of January 11th.

Now, will you read?

times these telex messages were sent?

According to the time codes, 2247, 2258, 2308, and 2315.

Who sent them?

That's not indicated.

Well, you just told us that you were in the supply depot alone at the times

indicated on these messages, so I guess that must mean that you sent them.

I suppose so. Did you send them?

Yes, I sent them.

Defense exhibit B.

is a Telex machine.

Actually, it is the Telex machine from the supply depot that was used to send

those messages.

All set and ready to go.

Colonel, why don't you just come over here and show us how you sent them?

I just typed them.

Sure looks more complicated than that to me. Don't be modest. Just step down,

come over here, and show us how.

I can't.

I don't know how the telex works.

Someone else must have sent the messages. I don't remember.

Oh, yes, you do.

Sergeant Owens sent those messages, didn't he?

No, no, he'd already gone.

Oh, he hadn't. He didn't leave the supply depot at 2245. He was there at

until 2315, wasn't he?

No. Which means he could not have seen Private Hughes leave the officer's club

at the time of the murder, could he?

What's higher, Colonel, straight or flush?

Straight. Full house or four of a kind?

Objection. Relevancy.

Colonel McRae has told us that he was playing poker with the victim less than

hour before the murder.

Now, Your Honor, excuse me, sir.

That fact alone makes this line of questioning relevant.

Overruled. Thank you.

That is what you said, isn't it, Colonel? That you and three other men

playing poker with Lieutenant Walters in a back room of the officer's club?

Yes.

In a room with a wall mirror.

A person playing poker at that table could have seen the hands of one, maybe

of his opponents.

I've got to tell you something, Colonel.

That's some strange game.

No further questions.

No further questions.

Colonel McRae, you're dismissed.

Sir, I'd like to request a brief recess at this time for a consultation with an

associate.

Ten minutes.

I can't do it.

What do you mean you can't do it? Jim Lynch is my friend.

Jim Lynch is a witness. He's got to take the stand. I don't care what your

relationship is.

Charlene, you're a professional. I'm asking you to keep faith with our

You know what profession I feel like I'm in right now.

All right, I'll question you. But you've got to be there for details.

I'll do it.

Charlene, I know how you feel.

But as lawyers, we've got to defend that boy.

Is the defense ready?

Sir, defense calls Lieutenant Lynch to the stand and my associate Charlene

Matlock requests it.

Call Lieutenant Lynch.

Lieutenant Lynch.

Lieutenant Lynch, you knew the victim, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

In fact, you served together during the invasion of Grenada, isn't that so?

That's correct.

Isn't it true that Lieutenant Walters was blackmailing you for cowardice under

fire?

No, absolutely not.

And that he was forcing you to participate against your will in certain

activities?

That's ridiculous.

I know that you confided in me out of friendship and that you never expected

things you told me to go any further.

I have no idea what you're talking about. Jim, if you don't testify, my

going to put me on the stand and force me to tell what you said.

Did

Lieutenant

Walters force you to participate in certain criminal...

Yes.

Would you please tell the court what these activities were?

Lieutenant... Lieutenant Walters would purchase large amounts of cocaine, which

he then distributed through army channels.

Was there anybody else involved?

Colonel McRae, Major Hamilton, Captain Campbell, Sergeant Owens, two civilians,

among others.

I'm just...

How did the scheme work?

Lieutenant Walters or I would take a platoon out on maneuvers where we would

secretly meet with the two civilians.

They would provide us with the cocaine, which we would then take back to the

supply depot.

And Colonel McRae would then make sure that it got to our contacts at posts

throughout the country.

And weren't the poker games that you five took part in really just business

meetings? A way of getting together to place orders and exchange large sums of

money without arousing suspicion?

Yes. And wasn't the little black book that was taken when Lieutenant Walters

killed actually a record of these drug transactions?

Yes. Isn't that why he was murdered?

Because of the drug trafficking?

I have no idea. I left early on that evening, so I wouldn't know about that.

Where did you go after you left?

To a bar.

I was there until about one.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

No further questions.

Sergeant, place this man under arrest.

Colonel McRae, Major Hamilton, Captain Campbell, and Sergeant Owens are to be

placed in arrested quarters.

This court is recessed until 0900 hours tomorrow.

Well, what do you think?

Nice piece of work.

We're not close to an acquittal yet, are we?

Not yet.

Not yet?

Not yet.

But there's an old rule in the drug game.

Follow me.

My

husband's

not home.

I know.

I believe he's busy not answering questions over at the post.

I came to see you.

Why don't you go in and watch TV?

Mommy will be in in a few minutes, okay?

Beautiful little girl.

Yes, she is.

Sometimes I think she's the only reason I bother getting up in the morning.

She's also the reason you dropped a divorce, isn't she?

What divorce?

The one you filed two years ago.

It may not be public knowledge, but it is public record.

Bill demanded custody.

Swore he'd get it.

Captain Campbell, a wife beater.

No one within a hundred miles would believe that, so I backed off.

And you got even by having an affair with a man he hated.

That is the way it started.

What do you mean?

Mrs. Campbell, you've visited Lieutenant Walter's grave three or four times a

week.

That's not an act of vengeance. That's an act of love.

I really loved him.

Some information has come to my attention that leads me to believe

Your husband killed him.

Hi, Jim.

I hear you've been granted immunity.

Yeah, I've just given the CID my statement.

What happens now?

Dishonorable discharge.

I'm sorry.

Actually, it feels kind of good.

Don't tell me more than this. Just tell me you got the bank records.

I got them.

This court will come to order.

Mr. Matlock, next witness, please.

Sir, we call Captain William Campbell to the stand.

I understand that you and Major Hamilton and Lieutenants Lynch and Walters and

Colonel McRae were all in a back room of the officer's club on the night

Lieutenant Walters was murdered. Is that correct?

Yes, sir.

And I understand that all of you...

were engaged in a conspiracy to buy and sell cocaine. Is that correct?

On the advice of my attorney, I regretfully and respectfully decline to

on the constitutional grounds protecting my rights against self -incrimination.

Sir, at this time, I'd like to enter into evidence these bank records.

Maybe you can answer this question for us, Captain.

This is a copy of a statement of one of your savings accounts. Is that correct?

Yes, sir. And on January 12th, you deposited $15 ,000.

Is that correct?

Yes, sir. Where'd the money come from?

On the advice of my attorney, I regretfully and respectfully decline to

answer... Sir?

At this time, I'd like to enter into evidence...

The bank records of Major Hamilton, Lieutenant Lynch, Colonel McCrae.

As you can see, over the past six months, each of these three men have

exactly $300 ,000.

I call your attention now to the deposits made on January 12th.

Each of the other three conspirators deposited $7 ,500.

You deposited $15 ,000.

Why did you get twice as much?

I declined to answer.

You know what I think?

I think you got 7 ,500 just like the others.

But then you took Lieutenant Walter's share as well because you're the one who

killed him.

Objection. Counsel is arguing the evidence.

Sustained. Just examine the witness, please, Mr. Madlock.

Yes, sir. You smoke a cigar, don't you, Captain?

Yes.

You smoked one...

That night in the back room, did he? I don't know. Probably.

And you smoked another one at the bar after everyone left.

I don't think so, Mr. Matlock.

You smoked a cigar while you waited for Major Hamilton to return with a certain

bayonet.

And you left the butt of that cigar in an ashtray on the bar, didn't you?

No.

Once you had the bayonet, you went back into that room.

Where Lieutenant Walters was finishing his bookkeeping.

You went into that room and you killed him.

You stabbed Lieutenant Walters to death with that bayonet, didn't you?

None of that is true.

You know, there are a couple of things about this case that are really

I mean, the coroner said that Lieutenant Walters... had a raw abrasion on his

hand that was not caused by the bayonet. Now, how do you suppose he got that?

I haven't the faintest idea.

And the blood on the seat of the overturned chair indicates that

Walters was sitting with his back to the door when he was stabbed. He should

have fallen forward.

But his body was found on the floor facing the door. How do you suppose that

happened?

I haven't the faintest idea.

I do.

See, I think Lieutenant Walters...

was stabbed in a seated position.

And as his killer turned to leave, with his last breath, Lieutenant Walters rose

up and grabbed the man from behind.

You know what he grabbed?

Not the faintest idea.

The thing that cut his hand.

The chain.

The chain that holds the dog tags.

Isn't it true that on January 14th, you had your wife?

Take a gold chain to a local jeweler for repairs.

According to this work order, this gold chain that ordinarily

holds your dog tag. I had a chain fixed.

What does that prove? Nothing.

But if Lieutenant Walters pulled this chain so hard that he broke it and cut

hand, I'll bet you've got a pretty good cut on your neck as well.

You mind opening your shirt for us?

Yes.

Yes, yes, I do mind.

You can open your shirt here.

Or the MPs will open it for you back at the stockade.

We drew straws for it.

Colonel McCray and Major Hamilton are just as guilty as I am.

Sir, in light of this new evidence and testimony, defense moves for a

The court looks favorably on your motion.

Major Orlando, any objections?

No, sir.

No objections.

The charges against Private Hughes are dismissed.

Came through for me.

Why don't you give your father a call?

Why would I do that?

Show him the army met a man out of you.

Might set a good example for him.

Thank you.

Oh, thank you, Charlene.

Well, I guess I don't have to ask who won.

Tyler? There's an old tradition we jailhouse lawyers like to practice after

winning a particularly difficult case. There is?

Oh, yeah.

Give me...