Original subtitles

Stork Four, D.Z. Romeo Three.

I have winds at

nine knots, 35 degrees.

Roger that, D.Z. Romeo Three.

Approaching initial point.

Outboard personnel... stand up!

Hook up.

-MARINE 1: One hook! -MARINE 2:Two hook!

-MARINE 3: Three hook! -MARINE 4: Four hook!

-MARINE 5:Five hook! -Check static lines.

Check equipment.

Stand in the door.

D.Z. ROMEO THREE: Winds holding at nine knots.

Drop zone is up.

You're clear for the drop.

STORK FOUR: Uh, negative, D.Z. Romeo Three.

We are short.

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Go!

Stork Four, D.Z. Romeo Three.

I have two in the water. Repeat, two in the water.

[ opening theme music playing]

[ crowd cheering]

[ bell rings]

ROBERTS: Come on, Sarah!

Come on, kick her butt!

[ cheering]

Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up!

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

Wait!

To your corners.

You go to yourcorner, hormone.

[ crowd jeering]

Come on, mate.

CROWD [ chanting]: Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic!

Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic! Mic!

[ gasps]

[ takes deep breath]

[ sighs]

[ chuckles]

[ elevator bell dings]

Hey, thanks.

Morning. Where are you going?

Uh, conference room. I'm meeting with the defendant

on the parachute mishap case.

Plea bargain?

Depends on his attorney.

Oh, that's right. You haven't squared off

against young Lieutenant Roberts yet,

have you?

No.

You want some advice?

Sure.

Watch out for his "aw, shucks,

I've got a lot to learn" routine.

You ought to know.

[ chuckles]

What?

Have you been in a fight?

A fight?

No. Why?

Looks like you got a bruise under your left eye.

Newsprint.

May I?

Sure. Sorry.

-Mm-hmm. -[ elevator bell dings]

Morning, Commander.

Good morning, sir.

Morning... hey, Bud, how's the jaw doing?

Oh, great.

Got the wires off last week.

Had Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes last night.

SINGER: Harriet's eating for two.

He's eating for four.

I think it's nerves.

ROBERTS: It's the first time Colonel

MacKenzie and I are opposing each other.

SINGER: I don't think

she's that tough to beat.

Do you, Commander?

That kind of thinking can lose you cases,

-Lieutenant. -The colonel took a long

time drafting the charges.

I'm just glad to get started.

Now, why would she delay drafting the charges?

Psyche us, probably.

Commander.

Good morning, sir.

Good?

Commander, it is beautiful.

You know, th-that could be

part of your problem, Rabb.

You don't take time to appreciate

what life has to offer.

Tiner.

Sir?

If a Dr. Walden calls,

put her through immediately.

Aye, aye, sir.

New haircut?

Yes, sir. Uh, two weeks ago.

Nice.

Is he being jolly?

It would seem so, sir.

[ wry chuckle]

I did everything by the book, Colonel.

Same as my previous 107 jumps.

MacKENZIE: Yet the fact remains, Senior Chief,

you were the jump master

and you sent five brand-new jumpers

out the door of that aircraft

800 meters short of the drop zone.

You're lucky only two went in the lake.

They were both picked up by a fishing boat.

One of them is in the hospital on a respirator.

They weren't supposed

to land in water.

Jump light was green, ma'am.

So you say.

ROBERTS: With all due respect,

Colonel, I think this "dereliction of duty" charge

is about finding a scapegoat.

That's a pretty cynical position, Lieutenant.

I'm surprised to hear it coming from you.

I don't mean to be cynical, ma'am,

but if there's fault for this mishap

it should be shared with the air crew,

the drop zone ground team,

the parachute safety officer...

The JAGman investigation looked there, Lieutenant.

They concluded the fault lies

with Senior Chief Petty Officer Bracken, your client.

They concluded wrong, ma'am.

I take it you're not interested

in negotiating at this time.

No, ma'am.

Very well, Lieutenant.

See you in court.

See?

Not so tough.

TINER [ distorted]: There are a couple of kickboxers

here for you, sir.

Shall I bring them in?

Whatdid you say?

I said there are a couple of big boxes here, sir.

It looks like a new set of the U.S. Code.

Oh, uh... take them to the library, Tiner. Thanks.

Yes, sir.

Are you okay, Commander?

I'm fine. Thanks.

Uh, close the door on your way out, all right?

Aye, sir.

[ door closes]

[ phone line ringing]

[ recording]: It's Renee.

I can't or won't come to the phone, so, talk.

[ machine beeps]

Hey, it's Harm. Remember me?

Listen, the, uh, weather has been really beautiful lately,

and, uh... I was thinking about taking a walk

around Madison Manor Park tomorrow about noon.

If you're not doing anything...

All right.

Bye.

CAPTAIN COLLARD: Bracken was jump master.

He's responsible for

his men's safety.

My job as pilot was to deliver the parachutists.

-Who gives the authorization to jump? -The navigator.

She coordinates with the drop zone team on the ground.

When we're at the release point

she switches the ready light from red to green.

Did your navigator hit the switch?

Ma'am, I went over all of this with the JAG investigator

and the mishap investigation team.

Go over it with me one more time, Captain, if you don't mind.

We agreed beforehand

to let the ground team make the call--

for training purposes.

But when they radioed the go-ahead,

you ignored them. Is that common?

It happens. We felt it was too early.

And we did notswitch the ready light to green.

Senior Chief Bracken says you did.

Well, he's mistaken, ma'am.

Are you saying that Bracken,

an experienced jump master,

sent five rookie jumpers out on a whim?

I don't know what he was thinking, ma'am.

Could there have been a malfunction

in the ready light circuitry?

Anything's possible.

All I know is, no one on my crew

gave the authorization to jump.

That's your position?

Look, Colonel...

I'm an Air Force pilot assigned to a Navy squadron.

If I mess up, it looks bad for the Air Force.

I did not send those jumpers out.

Captain Collard,

I think you'll make an excellent witness.

I'll be in touch.

[ door closing]

Commander, you're, um...

Well, you seem to have a fairly active social life.

Well, I would hardly

call it active, sir.

Well, there's Ms. Petersen

and before that, there was, uh...

Lieutenant Parker

and before that was-- I forget her name--

the high-strung one with the kid.

Annie. Uh...

where is this leading, sir?

Um...

where do you take a, um... female companion

for a romantic weekend these days?

A weekend, sir?

Yes.

Well, uh...

sailing in the Virgin Islands can be nice, sir.

Uh, the beaches of Antigua are quite stunning.

It would really depend on what you're looking for.

Hmm.

Been a while, has it, sir?

Yeah.

Hmm.

Thank you, Commander.

That'll be all.

Yes, sir.

[ door opens and closes]

[ phone line ringing]

RECEPTIONIST: Good morning. Doctor's office.

Dr. Walden, please.

She's in with a patient right now.

Um, yes. Would you tell her that...

Uh, never mind. I'll...

I'll call back.

-PETTY OFFICER: The jump light was green. -You saw it?

-The light was green, ma'am. -Did it flash green briefly or stay on steadily?

I couldn't say. The Senior Chief

gave me the tap. I was out the door.

Okay. What happened during your descent?

Well, I was bicycling my legs

to get the twist out of my chute lines

when me and Seaman Comstock nearly collided.

That's when I saw the water coming up fast.

Did you know it was gonna be a water jump?

No, ma'am-- not with 75 pounds of gear

and 65 pounds of parachute.

What did you do?

Well, once I knew I was getting wet

I jettisoned the gear, then I went in.

Next thing I know, they were

pulling me onto a boat.

And Comstock?

When they fished him out

his gear was still strapped to him.

He was all blue.

Before Senior Chief Bracken sent you out

did he act in any way out of the ordinary?

I mean, did he seem nervous, upset, unfocused?

He seemed okay to me, but this being my first jump

I wasn't paying too much attention

to the Senior Chief's mood.

Will there be anything else, ma'am?

'Cause I have my next jump in about two hours. I'd like to prepare.

All right, Petty Officer Scaline. Good luck.

Thank you, Colonel.

GALINDEZ: Colonel.

Message for you, ma'am.

Thanks.

Has anyone else seen this, Gunny?

No, ma'am.

Colonel.

Seaman Comstock developed

acute lung inflammation.

He basically suffocated to death at 14:05 this afternoon.

I'll be recommending to Admiral Defarre

that an additional charge be brought against your client:

involuntary manslaughter.

ROBERTS: Morning, sir.

Morning.

Seaman Comstock died.

I heard.

That's why Colonel MacKenzie

delayed filing the charges.

Once evidence is introduced into the court-martial

the government can't expand the charges.

Double jeopardy rule.

It's a standard prosecution tactic, Bud:

Delaying when the victim's recovery is in doubt.

It's not something

we like to use, obviously.

Prosecutors can stall

until the statute of limitations runs out.

Bear in mind, Bud, if the members are sitting

on the fence it can backfire on you.

They're less likely to convict on a more serious charge.

ROBERTS: But if the members do convict, the penalty is much worse.

Are you listening, Senior Chief?

"Much worse." Yes, sir.

So, what am I looking at?

Dishonorable discharge,

loss of pay and allowances,

ten years confinement.

That's worst case.

The government still has to prove culpable negligence.

He was just a kid.

He trusted me.

Damn it.

Why didn't he cut loose his gear?

It was an accident, Senior Chief.

It wasn't your fault.

Yeah, maybe it was, maybe it wasn't.

What are you talking about?

The night before...

I was out drinking till pretty late.

Before a scheduled jump?

I wasn't originally on the schedule.

The guy who was supposed to go up had an eye infection.

Lieutenant called me as a last-minute replacement.

Did you tell the lieutenant

you'd been drinking the night before?

No. He called, I went up.

If I was drunk, I wouldn't have gone.

Did you have a hangover?

Slight.

ROBERTS: "Slight"?!

Did anybody see you drinking?

I was at a bar, sir.

I didn't see anyone I knew.

So, nobody knows about this but us?

Right.

And Captain Miller.

Who's Captain Miller?

Flight surgeon on the mishap investigation team.

Look, he told me anything I said was confidential.

Couldn't be used against me.

What? Was he lying?

No, he wasn't lying, Senior Chief.

Information gathered during a safety investigation

cannot be used in court.

Did you tell Captain Miller anything else?

No, ma'am.

Good. Don't.

ROBERTS: We can't advise him

not to speak to the Mishap Board.

Legally, we could, but morally...

We can advise him to shave his head

and cluck like a chicken

if it means avoiding ten years in Leavenworth.

Do I have to remind you who's running this defense, Lieutenant?

No, but I am not just your briefcase carrier, Lieutenant.

And I didn't become a lawyer

to lose cases.

There's a greater good to be considered here,

like preventing future mishaps.

Youconsider the greater good.

I'll consider the good of our client.

CHEGWIDDEN: And it's always good

to have a healthy exchange of opinions.

-Admiral. -Sir.

But, uh, ultimately

the final decision rests with the officer in charge.

Anybody disagree with that?

-No, sir. -No, sir.

As you were.

I'm sorry if I was out of line, Bud.

You're first chair.

It's all right.

Let's just forget about it.

But I wasserious.

I want to win.

I want usto win.

So do I.

MILLER: I have a patient consult to attend, Colonel.

This won't take long, Captain.

I read the mishap investigation report.

Part "A" only, sir-- non-privileged, factual data.

I have a few questions.

Such as?

Well, C-130s are a pretty rocky ride

but your report makes no mention of air sickness.

That's 'cause there was none.

Can I assume that there were no other psychological

or physical problems with the participants?

You can assume what you like, Colonel.

So, there were problems?

Nothing that I can share.

Sir, my job is to ensure that wrongdoers

don't endanger anyone else in the future.

And my job is to determine causes of mishaps

so they can be prevented in the future.

If I share information with JAG

no one will talk to safety inspectors again,

will they?

Probably not, sir.

Concerning Senior Chief Bracken, I suggest that you do...

what you normally do when you prosecute.

[ door closes]

I didn't think you'd come.

I don't talk to strangers.

Well, let me introduce myself, then.

I'm Commander Harmon Rabb.

Mmm... I knew a Harmon Rabb once...

but you're not him.

The man I knew wouldn't humiliate me in public.

It was a cross-examination.

You were a prosecution witness.

I was defending my client, Renee.

At the expense of our friendship?

I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

You would do it again

if the situation came up, wouldn't you?

I don't know.

Probably.

Yeah.

You're a real piece of work, Rabb.

[ chuckling]

What?

Oh...

When you were grilling me on the stand

I kept picturing you naked.

Oh, yeah?

[ chuckling]

You want to have dinner tonight?

I can't.

But how about tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night's good.

You just have to promise me

that you're going to cross-examine me afterward.

[ both laughing]

[ knock on door]

Enter.

I ran Senior Chief Bracken

through the computer, ma'am.

A D.U.I. in 1988.

Yeah, most likely it doesn't mean anything,

but if he still drinks...

Do you know any bars in Norfolk?

A few, ma'am.

Let's find out if Bracken knows any.

Aye, ma'am.

Excuse me, Admiral.

Dr. Walden returned your call, sir.

Is she on the line?

No, sir. She said she's between patients

and she'd call you back later.

Tiner, next time, keep her on the line.

Yes, sir.

MacKENZIE: Lieutenant White,

you examined the C-130 aircraft

subsequent to the incident, correct?

Yes, ma'am.

As aircraft maintenance officer, that's my job.

Please tell the court what you found

with regard to jump ready lights.

I found the ready lights fully operational.

So, no frayed insulation, open wires,

stuck relays, intermittent connections?

No, ma'am.

Fully operational.

The pilot and the flight crew testified that they did not

switch the light from red to green, so how

could the green light have been on?

It couldn't.

Assuming they're telling the truth.

Move to strike the last part

of that response, Your Honor.

The members will disregard the witness's comment

on the truthfulness of the flight crew.

Don't editorialize, Lieutenant.

Sorry, sir.

No further questions.

Lieutenant, can you say with absolute certainty

that the lights were working properly

at the time of the mishap?

No, not with absolute certainty.

I wasn't there.

Thank you.

No further questions.

Lieutenant, you may step down.

Your Honor, the government calls Captain Eric Miller

to the stand.

-Objection. -Objection.

Your Honor, sidebar.

Approach.

Your Honor, Captain Miller's a member of the Aircraft

Mishap Board that investigated this incident.

He cannot testify.

Sir, he can't divulge

privileged information or express opinions,

but I intend to restrict

my questioning to factual matters only.

Such as?

Height and weight, clothing, type of equipment,

-working environment. -Your Honor, no.

No?

I mean, if it please the court,

the privileged status of information acquired

by the Aircraft Mishap Board is

one of its most important tools in getting...

I know the purpose of safety investigations, Lieutenant.

Colonel, I'm going to allow you to call

Captain Miller, with the proviso that you

restrict your questions to part "A" of the report--

non-privileged information

-only. -Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir.

Please state your name, rank

and duty station for the record, sir.

Eric Miller, Captain, United States Navy

assigned to the Naval Safety Center.

Before I allow Colonel MacKenzie

to begin her questioning-- much of the information

that Captain Miller derived from the mishap investigation

is privileged.

The members will draw no inference

should he refuse to answer certain questions.

Proceed, Colonel.

Thank you, sir.

Captain Miller, can you describe

the state of mind of parachutists

before their first jump?

There's fear, of course,

and an eagerness to do well

and an intense focus of mind and energy.

On?

The door, the outside.

It's a pretty intense experience?

Oh, yes. Blood tests performed after a jump

indicate high levels of adrenaline.

Did you perform blood tests on the mishap participants?

-Yes. -And urinalysis tests?

Yes.

Would those tests expose

say, drug or alcohol use on the part of the defendant?

Objection.

ROBERTS: Begging the court's pardon,

the defense withdraws its objection.

JUDGE: Withdrawn. Proceed.

Yes. The tests I performed would reveal substance abuse.

Thank you. No further questions.

No questions, Your Honor.

You humiliated me in there.

Look, Colonel MacKenzie couldn't go anywhere

with that substance-abuse questioning and she knew it.

By objecting, you made it look

like we were trying to hide something.

And now the members are suspicious,

which is exactly what she wanted.

I underestimated her.

Or overestimated yourself.

Either way, it won't happen again.

RABB: Did you read it?

[ soft rock playing]

MacKENZIE: I glanced at it.

It was open to the page.

Unauthorized disclosure

of a mishap investigation report

is a criminal offense, Mac.

I don't intend to disclose anything.

Well, you can't use the information it contains

or evidence derived from that information.

Yeah, fruit of the poisonous tree, I know.

[ timer dings]

[ sighing]: oh, man.

Smells good.

Lasagna?

Yeah, vegetarian.

Renee strikes me as more of a meat-eater.

Look, what if Bracken is acquitted

and another jumper dies because of him?

Wh-What do you want me to say?

That makes it okay to break the rules?

Any idea who might have put it in your car?

[ sighs]

Nothing I can substantiate.

[ knock on door]

Hi.

Hey.

Ooh, am I interrupting something work-related?

No.

Just wrapped that up.

Mmm, something smells good.

Are you leaving already?

Yeah. Court tomorrow.

Um, thanks for the input.

Well, for what it was worth.

Good night.

Night.

[ door opens and closes]

Your friends don't like me much, do they?

What makes you say that?

Well, for one thing

because you don't deny it.

Well, because I don't think it's important.

Well, it certainly is.

I mean, that is...

if, you know, we're going to have

any kind of future together.

Are we going to have a future together?

I don't know yet.

But why don't you go put on something more comfortable

and we can discuss it.

Okay.

[ soft chuckle]

GALINDEZ: I went to half the bars in Norfolk

looking for someone who might have seen Bracken drinking.

And?

No joy, ma'am.

Colonel, what would you like me to do now?

Carry out your original order, Gunny.

Meaning, check the rest of the bars.

If that was your original order.

Yes, ma'am.

MacKENZIE: Did you see the light go green?

I did not. No, ma'am.

Then why did you jump?

I got the tap, so I went.

Your witness.

Was this your first jump, Petty Officer Pascone?

Yes, sir.

Pretty exciting.

Oh, yes, sir. Definitely, sir.

Yeah-- heart racing, adrenaline pumping.

Absolutely, sir.

What were you thinking right before you went?

I was thinking, God, let me get through this

without messing my pants, sir.

[ amused chuckling]

Were you looking at the ready lights?

Well, I glanced at them,

but, mostly, I was looking outside

at where I had to go

and at the jump master, of course.

Senior Chief Bracken.

PASCONE: Yes, sir.

So, it's possible that you didn't see the green light

because you weren't looking.

I guess that's true. Yes, sir.

Petty Officer, would you jump with Senior Chief Bracken again?

Definitely-- anywhere he leads

I would gladly follow, sir.

ROBERTS: Thank you.

No further questions.

Chegwidden.

WALDEN: We make contact at last.

I wasn't about to quit.

Me, neither.

I wanted to thank you for the other night.

I had a wonderful time.

So did I.

And it's Iwho should be thanking you.

Listen, um...

I was thinking...

if you're interested

maybe you'd like to go somewhere for a weekend...

Um... Antigua, maybe?

I don't know, A.J.

Uh, y-y-you know what?

You're right.

Um, I t... I totally understand.

It's way too soon...

Antigua's nice but a bit touristy.

How about the Virgin Islands? St. John?

St. John is good.

[ chuckling]

[ footsteps approaching]

[ knock on door]

Enter.

GALINDEZ: Excuse me, ma'am.

I may have found what you're looking for.

Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie,

this is Krista Berrin.

She was with Senior Chief Bracken

the night before the mishap.

-Really? -BERRIN: Oh!

Well, I wasn't withhim. I mean, we had a few drinks.

-That's all. -She identified him

from the photo I passed around, ma'am.

Uh, when you're done, I'd be happy to drive Ms. Berrin home.

Thank you, Vic.

I'll-I'll be outside, ma'am.

Please have a seat, Ms. Berrin.

[ heavy sigh]

Did the guy do something wrong?

'cause I don't want to get anybody in trouble, okay?

Right, uh... did you know Walter Bracken before that night?

No. I mean, I'd seen him come into the bar before

but we never spoke or anything.

Some guys, it...

takes a little while to...

get up the courage...

you know?

[ chuckling]

But he had "the courage" that night?

Well, he'd been drinking.

Objection.

Move to strike.

On what grounds?

The government elicited testimony from this witness

-unlawfully. -What?!

[ whispers]: The mishap report.

How else could she know?

Your Honor, the defense requests

an Article 39-A hearing.

JUDGE: Why?

ROBERTS: To present arguments

for suppressing testimony from this witness.

Approach.

Your Honor, the testimony of this witness--

indeed, all evidence relating to the defendant's drinking

the night prior to the mishap-- is inadmissible.

Why?

Because the information may have been obtained improperly

from a privileged source.

Colonel?

The evidence was notobtained improperly, Your Honor.

The members are excused.

What privileged source, Lieutenant?

Part "B" of the Mishap Investigation Report.

Do you have any evidence to support this allegation?

No, sir.

But I will gladly accept the word

of Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie.

JUDGE: Colonel MacKenzie...

did you ever see the contents of Part "B" of the

Mishap Investigation Report?

Yes, Your Honor, I did.

But I discovered the witness

through an independent inquiry.

It was carried out by Gunnery Sergeant

Victor Galindez, under my orders

given beforeI saw the report.

Your Honor, the appearance of impropriety alone...

Thank you, Lieutenant. And this independent

investigation was motivated by...?

A D.U.I. conviction on the defendant's record.

From 12 years ago--

a bit of a stretch.

-Sir. -JUDGE: Colonel MacKenzie--

did you do anything to spur your investigation on

after you saw

-the privileged report? -After a preliminary search

Gunnery Sergeant Galindez asked me if he should continue.

I told him to carry out my original order.

Does defense counsel have anything to add?

Yes, sir. We'd like to renew our objection

to any mention of the defendant's drinking.

The prosecution's case has clearly been compromised.

JUDGE: Colonel MacKenzie,

this court can't be sure, uh--

I don't even believe that you can be sure--

that your decision to continue with your investigation

wasn't precipitated by improper access

to privileged material.

The objection is sustained.

All evidence regarding

the defendant's drinking is suppressed.

Staff Sergeant--

ask the members to return, please.

SINGER: With Bracken's drinking suppressed

there's nothing between us and the finish line.

Then why do I feel so lousy?

You're a lawyer-- get over it, Bud.

Right, Commander?

What happens in the courtroom stays in the courtroom.

Now, how do you know that Colonel MacKenzie

got her information from the Mishap

Investigation Report, anyway?

Well, it's the only place that she could have, sir.

Lauren figured it out

before I did.

She did?

There's got to be a way

to win cases without destroying your friends.

Colonel MacKenzie's far from destroyed.

CHEGWIDDEN: Acquiring a confidential document?

Using privileged information to prosecute a defendant

who was told that the information

would notbe used against him?

What in the hell were you thinking?!

Sir, I planned my investigation and my case before I read the report.

Then why look at it?

To confirm my suspicion that the defendant was guilty.

What the hell difference does that make?

Y-You're a prosecutor, not a juror.

Sir, my instincts told me that the defendant was hiding something.

When I saw the information regarding his drinking the night before

I knew I was right.

My prosecution was valid.

So, if, uh, you had been wrong you would've just quit the case and gone home?

No, sir. Absolutely not.

I assure you, Admiral, I was already on track.

Nothing I saw affected my handling of the case.

At ease.

Captain Delario doesn't believe you.

He's filed a complaint

charging you with misconduct and breach of ethics.

From Captain Delario's point of view, I understand.

But do you believe me, sir?

Pardon?

I would like to know if the Admiral believes

my contention that I did nothing improper.

Mac, I don't know what I believe at this point.

Sir, maybe I should... sir, maybe it would be best

if I removed myself from the case.

Oh, you already have. Effective immediately

Commander Rabb's trial counsel.

Yes, sir.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

[ door opens and closes]

SCALINE: Like I told the JAG officers and the safety people,

the light was green.

What was your position in the jump lineup?

Third, sir.

Behind Cortez and Comstock.

What is your height, Petty Officer Scaline?

Five-nine, sir.

Five-nine...

and Petty Officer Cortez is five-eleven.

Seaman Comstock was six-one.

You were wearing parachutes, rucksacks and helmets, yet you

were still able to see the green jump light standing behind

two large, heavily- outfitted men?

Yes, sir.

They didn't obstruct your view?

Objection. Asked and answered.

Sustained.

Move on, Commander.

The plane was flying south.

The sun was shining in through the port side window.

Isn't it possible that what you thought was the green jump light

was actually the reflection of the sun through green glass?

Now, think carefully,

Petty Officer Scaline.

I think the light was green, sir.

You thinkor you're sure?

I'm sure.

Would you jump again with Senior Chief Bracken?

Anytime, sir.

Well, I admire your sense of loyalty,

Petty Officer Scaline. No further questions.

Sir, got a minute?

Sure.

What would you say to dereliction of duty

through culpable inefficiency,

three months confinement?

I'd say no.

But I'll run it by Admiral Defarre.

As the convening authority, it's his decision to make.

Yes, sir.

Senior.

Al. Hey, thanks for the help in there.

I really appreciate it.

You think it's going okay?

Yeah, yeah, I think so.

Good, good.

Listen, Senior.

The light was green, right?

What are you talking about?

You saw it yourself.

You just said so.

Well, I thought I did. I...

Maybe it was the sunlight, I don't know.

I was just going off of what you were saying.

No, it was green.

It had to be.

You're not even sure.

Oh, man.

You got a problem, Scaline?

It's just that some of the guys were saying you were hung over.

I didn't want to believe it.

Listen, the Navy's trying to stick it to me.

That pilot? Just covering his ass.

And my life is on the line here.

Well, Comstock's life was also on the line.

You think I'm happy about Comstock?

I've got to live with that.

Now I do, too.

That's right. Washington to Sydney.

When does that arrive?

Uh, okay, what's the fare?

Yeah. Wh-Why don't you go ahead and book it. I can always cancel.

Good. Thank you. [ hangs up phone]

Thought you might like to know closing arguments are tomorrow.

Thanks. I think I'll pass.

Probably wise.

Taking a trip?

Yeah, I'm taking a few days leave and going to Australia.

Oh, Brumby know you're coming?

Not yet.

Going to surprise him. Hmm...

You would love that,

wouldn't you? Me catching him with some Sheila.

Flagrante delicto.

Yousaid it, not me.

Mic is not like that.

He's a good man, Harm.

You might want to come to terms with that.

Well, if he's good for you, then I'm all for it.

But...?

Are you going to see Brumby,

or you just trying to get away from here?

Maybe a little bit of both.

[ knock on door]

GALINDEZ: Excuse me, ma'am?

Uh, sir, Admiral Defarre on the line for you.

Thanks, Gunny.

Duty calls.

-SINGER: Listen to me. -ROBERTS: I am listening.

SINGER: We can win! We don't have to plead it out!

-I heard every word. -[ door closes]

I have a counteroffer from Admiral Defarre.

Yes, sir.

Negligent homicide-- failure to use due care.

Dishonorable discharge,

forfeiture of all pay and allowances,

three years confinement.

Sir, I'd say that's not good enough.

You're lucky to get that.

I tried to dissuade him from making any kind of an offer.

But it was a training mishap-- an accident.

Sometimes they just happen.

As you yourself suggested, a reflection of sunlight.

Or one drink too many the night before.

Sir, the drinking's inadmissible.

I'm not introducing evidence, Lieutenant.

I'm talking about the truth.

Your client was in no condition to be running a jump.

One year confinement, sir.

Three. The offer's on the table.

Take it or leave it.

You guys love to play

your lawyer games, don't you?

Easy, Senior Chief.

Someone dies during training, someone gets court-martialed.

Preferably at the lowest level of the chain, right, Commander?

Isn't that how it works?

If you had performed your duty, Senior Chief,

nobody would be being court-martialed

and nobody would have died.

I performed my duty, sir.

The jump light was green.

I don't give a damn what color the jump light was

or if it was a malfunction or if it was a burst of sunlight.

The safety of those jumpers

was your responsibility, Chief.

I did my job, sir.

Your job was not to rely on an 89-cent light bulb.

You should've stuck your head out the door.

You should've looked for hazards.

And I suppose you just might have done that

if you hadn't been

too sick from a hangover.

Seaman Comstock was 24 years old, Chief.

He had a lot of life left to live.

It was a senseless, needless death.

And if I had my way

you'd do the ten years and then some.

I'll tell that to the members

and they'll agree with me.

Senior Chief.

Commander.

I'll do the three, sir.

But you're wrong about me.

I don't think so.

[ woman speaking indistinctly over P.A.]

Oh, here.

-Thanks. -No problem.

-Oh, I can carry it down for you. -Oh, thank you very much.

-Sure. -I always plan to pack light.

I never seem to manage it.

-It's those "what ifs." -Right.

You seem to do well.

Oh, training. Marine Corps.

The man I'm traveling with is Navy.

We're sneaking off to the islands for the weekend.

Oh, that sounds romantic.

One hopes. Where are you headed?

Australia, to see my... friend.

He's-He's in the Navy, too-- Australian Navy.

What is it about Navy men?

They're so... vigorous.

Oh, speaking of.

-Hi. -Admiral Vigorous.

Colonel?

Chegwidden, sir.

[ nervous laughter]

[ knocking]

You wanted to see me, sir?

Come in. Close the door.

Lieutenant, somebody gave

Colonel MacKenzie

a copy of the Mishap Investigation Report.

I realize that.

Hmm. Now, I don't know

who put that report in the Colonel's car

and I hope that I never find out,

because if I do, I will personally

destroy that individual's career.

Are you accusing me, sir?

No, I'm warning you, Lieutenant.

Don't let your ambitions overtake your capabilities.

You can go.

May I say something, sir?

Go ahead.

I'm aggressive, and I'm an overachiever.

I know that about myself, and I don't pretend otherwise.

I realize I'm the brunt of snide comments and jokes among the office staff,

but I can't change who I am.

However, I'm not a thief nor a liar.

Short of that, I'll use whatever means necessary to achieve my goal.

Which is?

To be the first female Judge Advocate General,

sir.

[ closing theme music playing]