All language subtitles for JAG.S06E08.A.Separate.Peace.Part.2.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-Panda_track3_[eng]

Previously on
JAG...

The informant claims
that August 12th, 1968,

you participated
in the murder of
innocent civilians

in the village
of Tan Dien.

Admiral Boone
was evasive, sir.

There were too many
"I don't recalls."

Some questions he didn't answer.

What really happened that night?

It's been rumored
that Harry Drax

lost his sense of perspective.

[Rabb]
What's that?
CIA-speak for killing babies?

I'm not sure that there were
45 innocent civilians

in all of Vietnam.

Admiral, we have confirmation.

There are reports in Vietnamese
military archives.

Do you have anything credible?

An eyewitness, maybe?

Why did you wait 30 years
to come forward?

[man] I'm dying of TB, Colonel.

It's my last chance
to set things right.

-Were there any other Americans
with Harry Drax?
-Yes.

When did you next see
Lieutenant Boone?

-After he'd joined in
the killing.
-[gunshots]

[Coffin]
I saw him use this little kid
as a human shield.

He was shooting into hooches.

It was like he'd lost his mind.

[yelps]

[opening theme music playing]

[announcement]
Weapons control,
stand by. Weapons control,
stand by.

[Ops officer]
Launch the drone.

[CIC]
Drone launched.

-[Ops officer]
The range is hot. Clear to fire.
-Okay.

[CIC]
Target acquired.

Communicate the COMEX signal.

Aye, sir.

CIC, this is the flag bridge.
Send COMEX.

[CIC]
Bridge, CIC, COMEX confirmed.

Missile's good.

CIC reports the drone destroyed,
Admiral.

Signal
Gettysburg
Bravo Zulu.

Aye, sir.

Excuse me, Admiral.

Sir, a personal message
from Admiral Nash.

He asked that you read
and respond ASAP.

Captain Weldon,
I've been relieved as
Commander of Battle Group Ten.

Admiral Nash has
designated you my
interim relief,

pending the arrival
of a new commander.

You're to acknowledge
by return message.

Aye, aye, sir.

-Admiral, I'm sorry--
-Don't.

Acknowledge receipt of message
to Admiral Nash.

Aye, aye, sir.

Captain Weldon

is your acting
Battle Group
Commander.

[Sec Nav]
The prosecution
of Admiral Boone

is a public relations nightmare
for the Navy.

Does anyone know
how many flag officers

have been court-martialed
in Naval history?

Does anyone care
to hazard a guess?

Two, sir.

Well, very good,
Mr. Roberts.

Retired Rear Admiral Hooper
was found guilty

of conduct unbecoming
and forfeited his pension.

Admiral-select Green,
sexual harassment
and fraternization,

was acquitted
by the members, sir.

Do you see any compelling reason

to add Tom Boone's name
to that list?

It's not my decision, sir.

Then how the hell
did we get here?

Sir, the evidence
led us to believe

Admiral Boone violated
Article 118,

the unlawful killing
of a human being.

And Admiral Boone

was not helpful in providing
himself with a defense.

All right,
tell me who does what.

MacKenzie prosecutes, Roberts
second chair, Rabb defends.

I don't doubt your skills
as a lawyer, Rabb.

I don't trust your
judgment outside
the courtroom.

Can you assure me, that at
all times, you will consider

the good
of the service?

No, sir, Mr. Secretary,

I can't give you
that assurance.

His duty is to his client, sir.

Right now, I don't give a damn
about his client.

Tom Boone's finished.

It's the Navy
I care about.

Commander, if you get
too aggressive

or too creative
or too cute

and it reflects poorly
on the Navy,

then I will cut you off
at the knees.

[Rabb] You'll be sitting
second chair.

Does the Admiral know?

He's approved the choice.

You won't regret
this, sir.

I'm going to work
night and day--

Save me the infomercial,
Lieutenant.

Mac's case hinges on the
testimony of one witness...

Lieutenant R.C. Coffin.
Now, here's what
we know about him.

He was honorably discharged
from the Air Force in '72.

Seventeen air medals.

Worked as a telephone lineman
in Kansas.

Winter, 1989, he inadvertently
touched a live wire.

He's been on disability
ever since.

No immediate family.
Gunny!

-Check criminal history, if any,
medical records.
-Yes, sir.

I need the names of every man,
woman and child who lived

near the village
of Tan Dien

Long An Province,
Vietnam, in 1968.

Check military records,
AID records

uh, task force,
reports on full accounting--

Check with the
Catholic Church.

In 1968, there
were still French
missionaries

and doctors
working in Vietnam.

Well, what am I looking for,
sir?

A witness, somebody who knows
what happened there.

We're not
the only one interested.

Stuart Dunston at ZNN
called an hour ago.

How the hell do they know?
We just found out
we were going forward.

Sir, beats me.

I know Stuart.
Let me see what
I can find out.

Yeah, well, I know ZNN, too,
Lieutenant. Don't trust him.

Don't worry, sir.
I won't tell
Stuart anything...

at least nothing
that's true.

Get right on that, Gunny.

Aye, sir.

-What are you offering?
-For a plea of guilty
on Article 118

Admiral Boone's confinement
at Leavenworth
will be capped at five years.

He'll forfeit all pay
and allowances while confined

and will be dismissed
from Naval service.

There'll be no retirement,
no honors, no pension.

It's more than fair, Harm.

-[scoffs] If he's guilty.
-I believe he is.

Tell me again--
why are you bringing charges

against Admiral Boone?

Because it's what
the law required.

Or, given your dislike
of Admiral Boone

it's what you require.

Well...
I thought that went well.

-Tell her no.
-[Rabb] You should hear what
she has to offer, Admiral.

Why, are you afraid
you can't provide me
with a good defense?

No, sir, but it tells us

how good the Colonel
thinks her case is.

-Go ahead.
-Time served capped at five
years in Leavenworth.

Dismissal from the service
and loss of pension.

Given your rank
and years of service

and assuming you live at least
another 30 years, sir,

the loss of pension
would equal a fine
of over $2 million.

So what does that tell us?

She can show motive.
You expressed a desire

to avenge the death
of your Squadron Commander.

-Correct.
-Opportunity, you were

within the vicinity of Tan Dien
on the night in question.

Correct.

She has an eyewitness.

-Lieutenant Coffin?
-The Colonel's
case depends

upon the credibility of
Lieutenant Coffin's testimony.

Then she has no case.

So far, Lieutenant Coffin
checks out, sir.

Not the man I knew.

Most of the time he had his nose
buried in a bottle.

You dig deeper.

Admiral, I'll need
to know the history

between you
and Lieutenant Coffin, sir.

Does he have an agenda?
Is he holding a grudge?

I have no idea what motivates
the man, Commander, then or now.

Sir, in his statement,
he's accused you

of the cold-blooded killing
of his cook

a woman named Nguyen Kim Tam.

Her name is listed
in the report of
casualties, sir.

Sir, I need to know
what happened there.

Are you asking me if I'm guilty?

No, sir, but I need to know
what happened at Tan Dien.

Well, I need
to keep my own counsel.

Admiral, you need
to defend yourself.

No. That would be your job,
Commander.

Admiral Boone, how do you plead
to the charge

and specification
against you?

To the charge
and specification,

-not guilty, Your Honor.
-Noted.

Commander Rabb,
questions or challenges

for members of the panel.

I have questions
for Admiral Spencer.

Some of them are personal, sir.

Admiral Spencer,
please come forward.

Admirals, you
are excused from
the courtroom.

Go easy.

Admiral Spencer,

seven years ago, sir,
your wife was picked up

for driving
under the influence of alcohol

at Norfolk Naval Station.

It was never proven that my wife
was driving erratically.

Is it true, sir,
that Admiral Boone

first noticed
your wife driving erratically,

flagged down base security
and led them to her?

It is a fact that Admiral Boone

led base security on what
I considered a wild goose chase.

Did you have words
with the Admiral
about the incident?

It's nothing I'd care to repeat,
Commander.

Your Honor,
in light of Admiral Spencer's
refusal to answer my question,

I challenge him for cause.
Undue bias.

[judge]
So ordered.

Two years ago, was Admiral Boone
the president
of a selection board

that blocked the promotion
of your Chief of Staff?

-He was.
-What was your reaction
to that, sir?

I informed Admiral Boone
he'd made a mistake in judgment.

Were those
your exact words, sir?

I told him he was a horse's ass.

Judge Sebring,
I challenge Admiral MacPhee
for cause. Undue bias.

So ordered. You may step down.

Counsel.

Commander Rabb,

how many admirals
do you intend to question?

-All of them, sir.
-[judge] I'd like to remind you

that we need to
seat a panel
of at least five members.

Understood, Captain.

That would be difficult to infer

from your aggressive line
of questioning.

You can stand back.

Please call in
Admiral Rockerly.

Admiral Rockerly, were you
on the short list
of candidates

for command of
the Sixth Fleet?

I was.

And yet Admiral Boone
was chosen over you.

-He was.
-What is your opinion

-of that decision, Admiral?
-I should've gotten the fleet.

Your Honor, I challenge Admiral
Rockerly for cause. Undue bias.

Your Honor, I'd like
to question the admiral.

Proceed.

Admiral Rockerly,
isn't it natural

that you would consider yourself
the best candidate?

-Correct.
-Do you harbor personal animus
against Admiral Boone?

-[Rockerly] No.
-Can you decide the case
on the facts and the evidence?

-I can.
-What does an oath
mean to you, sir?

When I swear an oath,
I follow it to the letter.

Your Honor, I ask that you deny
Commander Rabb's challenge.

The challenge is denied.
Admiral Rockerly,

you've been
selected.

Welcome aboard.

[Singer]
I make it one favorable,
four neutral, two against.

I don't think we made a friend
of Admiral Rockerly,

and since he's senior member,
he'll be president.

[knocking on door]

Enter.

Sir.

-Admiral Boone, sir.
-Carry on, Gunnery Sergeant.

Commander, so far,
inquiries into Vietnam
have led to nothing.

Only seven villagers survived,
including one child.

They were relocated
and the village
was never rebuilt.

What about
the surrounding area?

Well, in 1968,
a French missionary named

"Father Yves Chabrol" had
a mission

near the village
of Tan Dien.

-Were you aware of him, sir?
-No.

He died in Arles, France,
in 1978

due to complications
of malaria.

Who else was there
with him

-at the mission?
-Two nuns, ma'am.

Sister Emelie
and Sister Danielle

of the Petites Soeurs
de l'Assumption.

They never made it back
to France.

They were hacked to death
by the Vietcong.

Now, there are reports
that a Marine deserter

a Corporal Owen Branson

was living in or near
the village
about that time.

Did you know him, Admiral?

No.

Where is he now?

He's dropped out of sight.

Find him.

[Sims] Sweetie, wake up.

Come on.

Wake up.

Did you get any sleep
at all last night?

I was sleeping
until you woke me up

to ask me
if I was sleeping.

I'm talking about real sleep.

In bed, with me.

Why don't you
call in sick?

No. There's nothing wrong
with me, honey.

You're exhausted.

They can go one day
without you.

Besides that,
what could possibly
be so important?

Well, for starters,
I have to be in court

in 43 minutes.

Bud, I could really use
the time.

[water sloshing]

How long is this
gonna go on?

Until we find out why
our baby daughter died.

I'm gonna go the hospital
as soon as I can

and start asking
questions.

How is that going to help?

You can't fix
what happened, Bud.

We'll talk about this later.

Good morning.

Prosecution will present
eyewitness testimony

that on the night
of August 12th, 1968,

then-Lieutenant Thomas Boone

was guilty of inhumane acts
against the civilian population

of the village of Tan Dien,
South Vietnam.

We will demonstrate
that he was motivated

by the desire to avenge

the brutal death
of his commanding officer

at the hands
of Vietcong irregulars,

whom, he believed, used
the village of Tan Dien

as a hiding place.

We will prove that among others

he murdered a woman
named Nguyen Kim Tam

in violation of Article 118

of the Uniform Code
of Military Justice.

All of the admirals on this
panel served in Vietnam.

I would ask
that the members put aside

their feelings about the war
and about Admiral Boone

who's had a long
and brilliant career.

This case must be judged
on the evidence

introduced here at trial.

The crimes charged may be old

but the concept
of accountability is timeless.

Thank you.

[whispers]
I underestimated her, Harm.

She'd cut your throat
on a dark night

and not think twice
about it.

Oh, she'd think about it, sir,

then she'd do it.

Your Honor,
I would like to reserve
my opening statements

for the beginning
of the defense case, sir.

[judge] Fine. Prosecution,
call your first witness.

[MacKenzie] General Parker, was
Lieutenant Boone attached

for temporary duty
to your staff at USMACV?

-[Parker] He was.
-Did he review reconnaissance
photographs?

-He did.
-Do you recall an occasion

where Lieutenant Boone saw
a photograph of a female

holding up the severed head

of his commanding
officer?

There was
such an occasion.

Was this the photograph?

[Parker] Yes.

[MacKenzie] Where was this
photograph taken?

Five miles from
the village of Tan Dien.

When was it taken?

August 9th, 1968.

What was Lieutenant Boone's
reaction to that photograph?

He was, and rightly so,
enraged.

Did he express
any particular sentiment

in regards to the female
in that photograph?

He wanted her dead.

Was Lieutenant Boone
in the village

on the night of August 12th,
1968,

the night
of the massacre?

I have no knowledge
of that.

[MacKenzie] Was he in Saigon?

[Parker] No, he'd been
assigned to fly

in Long An Province
with a Forward Air Controller.

General Parker, in 1968,
were you aware that atrocities

-had taken place in Tan Dien?
-No.

In that year did you see
Vietcong propaganda leaflets

that accused two unnamed
American pilots

of war crimes
at Tan Dien?

I recently reviewed
the facts in the case.

I did see such a leaflet.

Why did you not act
on that information?

I chose not to believe
the charges.

Sir, did you disregard
the charges

against Lieutenant Boone
because you thought

the Vietnamese life
was of no value?

I did not.

No further questions.

General Parker, did you question
Lieutenant Boone

about his alleged involvement

in what took place
at Tan Dien on August 12th?

I felt it was my duty
to ask.

How did
the lieutenant respond, sir?

That he had no part in what
allegedly happened in Tan Dien.

[Rabb] Did you believe
the lieutenant, sir?

-[Parker] Without question.
-[Rabb] Why?

In war... men see things
they should never see.

But there was
a difference

between us and them,
Commander.

The men under my command
did not kill women and children.

Your Honor, please request
General Parker to limit

his responses
to the questions asked.

He's your witness, Colonel.

And I am interested
in what the general has to say.

-Overruled.
-What is your assessment
of Admiral Boone, sir?

Objection.
Calls for an opinion.

Overruled.
It's a proper question.

Admirable Boone was and is

an officer of the highest
personal integrity.

-An honorable man.
-[Rabb] Thank you, General.

No further
questions, sir.

You may step down.

Sir.

[judge]
General Parker...

I would expect
a senior officer to respect

the rules of conduct.
This is a courtroom,
not an officer's club.

Your Honor, this officer should
not be on a trial here.

That will be enough.

-[kid speaking indistinctly]
-[crying]

Raise your right hand.

Robert Carroll Coffin,
do you swear to tell the truth

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth

-so help you God?
-I do.

Please be seated.

Lieutenant Coffin,
were you stationed

at Tan Son Nhut Air Base
in 1968?

-Yes, ma'am.
-Did Lieutenant Boone fly
as your observer

in the province of Long An
from August 7th

-to August 13th, 1968?
-Yes, he did.

[MacKenzie]
What was your mission?

To call in fire
on enemy targets.

Where did you put
your aircraft down

on the night of August 12th
of that year?

On a dirt strip adjacent
to the village of Tan Dien.

[MacKenzie] What happened
in the village that night?

A lot of innocent folks
got killed.

Were they South Vietnamese
civilians?

Yes, ma'am.
Mostly old men and women

and children too young to fight.

-Who was responsible
for these killings?
-[Coffin] The P.R.U.

The South Vietnamese Provincial
Reconnaissance Unit.

-Yes, ma'am.
-Lieutenant Coffin,

why was that village targeted
for attack by the P.R.U.?

I don't know, ma'am.
I just know what I saw.

-Who led the attack?
-Harry Drax.

He worked for the agency.

[MacKenzie] How do you know he
worked for the Central
Intelligence Agency?

I flew Drax on covert missions.

Lieutenant Coffin,
were you acquainted

with a young Vietnamese woman
named Nguyen Kim Tam?

Sh...

She was my cook...

when I lived at the village.

This is the report of those
killed during that attack.

Do you see her name
on this list?

Yes.

It's a damn shame.

Is the woman in this photograph
Nguyen Kim Tam?

-Yes.
-[MacKenzie] Lieutenant,

did you see who killed Tam?

Him.

[gunfire]

He was holding a child
as a human shield.

Tam was running to hide
when Boone shot her.

[gunshots]

[MacKenzie]
Let the record reflect

that Lieutenant Coffin
identified Admiral Boone

as Nguyen Kim Tam's killer.

This is Stuart Dunston
reporting live

outside of JAG Headquarters.
Commander Rabb.

I'd like your
thoughts on the
Boone court-martial.

Who do you feel
is winning so far?

Is that really your question?

I've noticed that
the admiral doesn't
smile a lot.

Have you ever
seen him smile?

It's Stuart, right?

Stuart,
you're an idiot.

Back to you, Jim.

Well, that sucked.
Loren!

What about you?

I'll talk to you
off the record, Stuart,

but you have
to share.

[Tiner]
Mr. Reynolds called

from the police impound lot,
sir.

He said the paperwork
is in place.

You can pick up your car
tomorrow, Admiral.

Well, that's excellent, Tiner.

Tiner, exactly how long
has this taken?

Seven weeks, three days
since your car was stolen, sir.

If you like, I'll drive out
to Loudoun County

and pick it up myself.

Thank you, Tiner, do that.

-Carry on.
-Aye, sir.

[Rabb] Lieutenant Coffin,
what time did the incident

at Tan Dien occur?

The killing started
about midnight.

[Rabb] Were there streetlights
in Tan Dien?

Hell, that damn village
didn't have a street,

much less, a light.

Any other type
of illumination?

A few oil lamps
and cooking fires.

Well, then,
how can you be sure

it was Lieutenant Boone
you saw shoot Nguyen Kim Tam?

'Cause I knew him
pretty good by then.

[Rabb]
Lieutenant, there were
12 to 15 members

of a P.R.U. death squad
fighting there that night.

In the dark, in the heat
of a pitched battle

how can you be sure
it was Admiral Boone you saw?

Could have been any one
of 15 men.

-In fact, Lieutenant--
-Objection,
badgering the witness.

Sustained.

It's okay, Judge.
He's just sore 'cause

-he can't shake me.
-Speaking of shaking,
Lieutenant.

In October 1989, were you
treated for acute alcoholism?

Yes.

Did you have delusions
at this time?

How would I know?

I'm sorry, ma'am,
I missed it.

[Rabb]
Your medical report indicates

periods of delusion.

Then, I guess I did, sir.

You still drink, Lieutenant?

Now and then.

Only beer.

The hard stuff
will kill you.

[Rabb]
So, now and then

do you still suffer
from delusions

about
what happened in Vietnam?

[MacKenzie]
Objection, Your Honor.

This information was not
disclosed to the prosecution.

[Rabb]
I just got it an hour ago, sir.

[judge]
I will allow

your line of questioning,
Commander. Continue.

When you were treated
for alcoholism,

Lieutenant Coffin,
did you suffer from delusions

-about what happened
in Vietnam?
-Objection, asked and answered.

The witness is not competent
to testify on this one point.

-"Just this one point"?
-Objection, pejorative.

Sustained.
One more remark like that

and I'll hold you
in contempt.

I apologize, sir.

Your Honor
I'd like the court's
permission to have

Lieutenant Singer
continue this cross.

Objection, Your Honor.
Double-teaming.

[judge]
This one's my call.

Lieutenant Singer,

you may proceed.

Lieutenant Coffin,
you waited 30 years

to come forward
with your story.

-Well, you see--
-[Singer] Lieutenant Coffin,

wait for the question.

Could the timing
of your coming forward

be related to a $50,000 payment
from ZNN

for your story
of alleged atrocities?

[Coffin]
It's not that simple.

-Yes, or no?
-No.

You're asking the court
to believe

that there's no relation
between your payment

and your sudden burst
of conscience?

Objection. Counsel's badgering
the witness.

Sustained.

Did you bring a baseless charge
against Admiral Boone

on the eve
of his major promotion

to increase the value
of your story?

-Objection, badgering.
-Sustained.

Lieutenant Coffin,
how can you explain the payment?

I've got T.B., ma'am.

I owe a lot of people money
who are taking care of me.

Most of them, for nothing.

I just wanted to pay my debts--
all of them.

Including this one.

No further questions.

[knock on door]

[Rabb] Harriet.
Hey.

-I should go.
-[Rabb] No, no, no.

Come on in.

I should have phoned--
you're busy.

I'm just wrapping it up.
Come on in, please.

-Oh, I should go.
-Give me your jacket.

No.

Damn it.
I'm sorry.

I'm... I'm sorry.

He can't deal
with the loss?

I know I should be
stronger for him

and for A.J.
but I just can't.

Hey, you just
lost your baby.

Somebody you were
prepared to love

the rest
of your life.

You're supposed
to be sad.

When baby A.J. was born,

he took his first breath

and he reached his
little arms out to me...

it was like he was
reaching for me.

And that's when I knew
that my baby boy was perfect.

And then they placed him
in my arms

and I never wanted
to let him go.

I never got
to hold Sarah.

She was born

and I just saw her
for one quick second.

Her eyes were open...

and she looked right at me.

And then they took her away.

Harm, she died
in the other room

without me there.

She was a person.

I lived with her
for nine months.

She had a name.

[judge]
Since the prosecution
has rested,

the defense may now
present its case.

Thank you, Your Honor.

These baseless charges
come from a delusional man

who was paid $50,000
for tainted testimony.

In war, taking the lives
of innocent non-combatants
is reprehensible.

But the defense will show
that then-Lieutenant Boone

was not responsible
for the terrible occurrences

that took place at Tan Dien.

He had absolutely
no command authority

over those who are responsible.

He had no ability to direct
or prevent what happened there.

The killings were the work
of South Vietnamese

Provincial Reconnaissance Units
under the direction

of an agent from the Central
Intelligence Agency.

Admiral Boone
has laid his life on the line

and served his country
with brilliance and distinction

for over 35 years.

Do not make him
the last Navy casualty

of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Webb, what
position do you hold

with the Central
Intelligence Agency?

Deputy Director of Operations,
Counter-Intelligence Center.

[Rabb] And what position
did your father Neville Webb,

hold with
the agency in 1968?

Chief of Station, Saigon.

Head of the Phoenix Program?

Yes.

[Rabb] Have you recently
reviewed

confidential files
from that time

concerning the incident
at Tan Dien?

-[Webb] Yes.
-Objection, Your Honor.
Hearsay.

Your Honor, under
Military Rules of Evidence 803,

sub-section eight.

"Reports prepared by
a public official

are admissible if prepared
within the scope of his duty

and made at the time
of the event."

[MacKenzie] Your Honor,
due to portions of the record

still being classified
the documents themselves

will not be entered
into evidence,

so we'll be forced to rely
on the witness' memory.

The witness can refer
to the file at any time, sir,

to refresh his memory.

I'll allow the testimony.

Mr. Webb,

according to
this official file,

who led the rain on Tan Dien
the night of August 12th, 1968?

Harry Drax,
the agent in charge.

What were his orders?

To remove suspected
infiltrators from
the village.

Did he follow
these orders?

Agent Drax went
beyond their scope.

[Rabb]
What were his actions?

Agent Drax gave orders
to the soldiers

under his command
to shoot on sight.

Why did he give those orders?

-Objection, calls
for speculation.
-Sustained.

Mr. Webb, what was
the stated objective

of the Phoenix Program?

To wipe out the Viet Cong
infrastructure in the South.

If a civilian were suspected
of collaborating with

or harboring
a Viet Cong soldier,

-were they given a trial?
-[Webb] No.

Did Lieutenant Thomas Boone
participate in the killings at
Tan Dien?

I've reviewed the confidential
report, Commander.

His name is not mentioned there.

Thank you, Director Webb.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

Mr. Webb, what happened
to Harry Drax

the night of
the incident?

He was killed in action.

Well, then, who filed
the confidential report?

Ellis Burke, the field officer
in Long An Province.

Why is Mr. Burke not here
to testify today?

Mr. Burke is on
a spiritual retreat in Tibet.

We were not able
to locate him.

An unscheduled trip he left for
three hours before

he was to receive a subpoena
to testify.

-Objection, facts not
in evidence.
-Sustained.

Members will disregard
the statement.

[MacKenzie] Mr. Webb, you've
testified that
Lieutenant Boone

was not mentioned
in the confidential report.

Well, is it possible

that he participated
in the atrocity

but that his name
was omitted from the report?

I see no reason
to believe that.

But is it possible?

It's highly unlikely.

Our reports
are thorough.

But you can't say for sure.

No.

[woman] Hey.

Saw you on TV last night.

At least you didn't slug
Stuart Dunston.

How's the trial going?

Oh, still too close to call.

How is Clayton Webb?

Ah. Did the best with what
he had to work with

but I still need more.

Have you been to Warrenton?

No, but I hear it's nice.

Oh, they have
a lovely bar there.

The Dew Drop Inn.

The marine deserter
you're looking for...

uh, Corporal Owen Branson?

He runs the bar.

Branson goes under the name
of Jed Howell.

What will I do without you?

[Rabb]
I need to speak with you,
Corporal.

I, uh, I got a new name...
a new life.

And what I did
was a long time ago, all right?

Not for Admiral Boone.

My wife doesn't know anything
about my past, Commander.

I got three kids.
I don't want them to
know I was a deserter.

Look, I'm not interested
in what you did, corporal.

I'm interested in what you know
about the massacre at Tan Dien.

"Tan Dien."
Not a damn thing.

Come on, Corporal
you lived right outside
of the village.

You must know something about
what happened there.

No.

You know,
I could subpoena you.

We can talk about this
in court

or you can come clean
with me here.

What do you want to know?

What part Americans played
in the massacre.

Look, I hate the damn
Marine Corps.

I came out of that jungle
on my own.

They found me guilty
of desertion.

And they damn near put me
in prison for 20 years.

If I knew anything...
anything...

I would damn the Americans
who were there.

I would tell you.

You can count on it.

[telephone rings]

Webb.

[Rabb]
Webb, there's something
I need to know.

Singer, I really do
appreciate your help

getting my car back.

Glad to be of use, sir.

There it is.

What the hell is this?

A bullet hole, sir.

Tiner.

[Tiner] Actually, sir, there
would appear to be
six bullet holes.

Six?

Yes, sir.

Of varying
calibers, sir.

Detectives in
the Narcotics Division

borrowed your car
from the impound lot

for a drug sting
that went south.

Your vehicle was involved
in a shoot-out, Admiral.

A shoot-out?

We can sue, sir.

[Boone] Harm.

Morning, sir.
Thank you.

Admiral, I need you
to take the stand.

Why?

Because Mac's made her case.

If you don't take the stand,

the members will think
you have something to hide.

Your silence
will convict you, Admiral.

-I can live with that.
-No, you can't, sir.

Admiral, this is the last chance
you have to tell your story,

to persuade the members
you're not guilty, sir.

You don't know my story.

No, sir, I don't
know your story.

But this is it.

You won't get another
opportunity.

I call Admiral Thomas Boone
to the stand.

Raise your right hand.

Admiral Boone, do you
swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth
and nothing but the truth

-so help you God?
-[Boone] I do.

Please be seated.

Good morning, Admiral Boone.

Sir, on August 12th, 1968,

in the village of Tan Dien,

did you kill the woman
known as Nguyen Kim Tam?

Yes.

Did you
recognize her, sir,

as the woman who held up
the severed head

-of your Squadron Commander?
-Yes.

Did you have
any other reason

to believe that she was
Vietcong, Admiral?

Agent Drax had identified her
as such.

-[Rabb] When?
-Just before the incident.

Did you kill Nguyen Kim Tam
to avenge the death

of your Squadron Commander, sir?

Yes.

She was the enemy.

[gunfire]

The PRU troops were shooting up
the village.

There was a little girl
standing in the line of fire.

She was just standing there.

So I grabbed her
and carried her to safety.

I put her under a hooch.

Go, go, go.

When I saw Nguyen Kim Tam,

I recognized her
as the same woman

who had been holding
the decapitated head

of my squadron commander.

[Rabb] Why haven't you
come forward before, sir?

Because that wasn't
the end of it.

The PRU were murdering innocent
women and children.

[crying]

[Boone] Cease fire!

They're non-combatants.

Now put your weapon down.

[automatic gunfire]

Interfere again,
and I'll kill you.

Ban di!

Call it off.

No halfway measures.

Drax.

[gunshot]

[Rabb] Why didn't you speak up
years ago, Admiral?

I had killed an American
in cold blood.

-Did you kill any
non-combatants, sir?
-No.

Did you use a child
as a human shield?

-No.
-Is it fair to say, Admiral,

-you saved that child's life?
-On that night, yes.

Did you kill anybody else
in the village?

-No.
-Do you regret

killing Harry Drax, Admiral?

I regret that it was necessary,
but I would do it again.

Commander, do you have
any further questions?

Not of this witness, sir.

And I would request, Your Honor,
that Colonel Mackenzie

reserve her cross-examination
of Admiral Boone.

Colonel?

Your Honor,
I'd like to know why

Commander Rabb is requesting
this of the government.

I call Harry Drax to the stand.

Commander,

have you lost
your mind?

Sir, who are you?

Thirty years ago my name
was Harry Drax.

-Your Honor, we have no way
of knowing this.
-It's him.

Commander Rabb,
I don't need to remind you

that Mr. Drax is not
on the witness list.

I didn't know for sure
if it was him, Mac.

Not until just now.

Your Honor,
I know I should, but...

I have no objection.

Admiral Boone, you are excused,
subject to recall.

Mr. Drax, take the stand.

You're gonna kill
someone, Admiral,
do it right.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth

and nothing but the truth
so help you God?

-[Drax] I do.
-[MacKenzie] Be seated.

Agent Drax
are you responsible

-for what took place
at Tan Dien?
-I was.

Why did you order the village
destroyed, Mr. Drax?

We had a war to win.

-Any regrets?
-[Drax] My only regret

is that we didn't kill them all.

If we'd fought
the whole war that way,

Vietnam would be
a democratic country right now.

What part did Admiral Boone
play in all this, Mr. Drax?

None.

The Admiral doesn't have
the stomach for killing.

[Rabb] Well, he shot you.

In the back.

You hold a grudge?

Damn straight I do.

You came out as
Corporal Owen Branson.

[Drax] The war was
unpopular back home.

I was an embarrassment.

I got a new name.

The last thing Neville Webb
wanted was for Tan Dien

to become another My Lai.

Where is
Corporal Owen Branson now?

[Drax] The Vietcong
killed him.

Why are you here in this
courtroom now, sir?

I draw a nice pension
from the agency.

I was told it would go away
unless I came here today.

Did Admiral Boone
kill any non-combatants?

No.

Is he responsible for
what took place at Tan Dien?

No.

Did he save the lives
of any non-combatants?

A few.

But it doesn't matter much,
one way or the other.

Oh, I think maybe it does.

[indistinct chatter]

Bud, you okay?

No, sir.

I'm making a lot
of mistakes, sir.

I really let the colonel
down on this one.

Hey, you've had a lot
on your mind.

That's no excuse, sir.

I, uh,

I heard that
Harriet talked to you.

She did.

I'm really sorry
about that, sir.

Hey, Bud, she spoke to me
because she can't talk to you.

You know,
I was her second choice.

It's you she wants.

[sighs] Bud, I don't know
what it's like to lose a child.

But I do know
what it's like

to lose the woman
you love.

Don't let one
cost you the other.

[Singer] Excuse me, sir?

They're coming in.

Thank you.

You may publish your findings.

Rear Admiral Thomas Boone,
United States Navy,

this court finds you

on the charge and specification
of violating Article 118

of the Uniform Code
of Military Justice...

premeditated murder...

Not guilty.

[judge] Members, thank you
for your services.

-This court is adjourned.
-[gavel bangs]

-Thank you, Lieutenant.
-Congratulations, sir.

Congratulations, Tom.

Thanks, John.

-Congratulations.
-Thank you.

Well, you damn near lost
the case, Commander.

Well... I had
a very difficult client, sir.

Yes, you did.

So what happens now, Admiral?

Take my pension.

My time's passed, Harm.
It's your time now.

Thank you.

Sir.

[closing theme music plays]