Original subtitles

[ seagull screeching]

MAN [ over P.A.]: You are in a restricted area.

Stop your engine. I repeat: stop your engine.

[ speaking Arabic]

They're not stopping, sir.

Panther Strike, this is Sparrow 0-2-2.

The intruder is not responding.

Request authorization to engage.

MAN 2 [ over radio]: Sparrow 0-2-2, Panther Strike.

Put a few rounds across their bow.

MAN 1: 0-2-2, Roger.

You heard the man.

Let's get their attention, Rigatti.

Aye, aye, sir.

[ bullets splashing in water]

RIGATTI: They're running, Lieutenant.

They could be carrying explosives.

Stop them. Take out their rudder.

Aye, sir.

[ men shouting]

They're not going anywhere now.

[ shouting in Arabic]

MAN 1: Are those RPGs?

Take them out, Rigatti.

I don't think so, Lieutenant.

Those RPGs appear to be fish, sir.

[ theme music playing ]

She's a sweet ride, Petty Officer.

So I hear.

And congratulations, sir.

Eight touch-and-goes. Not bad.

Coming back tomorrow?

No, that's it for me.

I'm back at JAG tomorrow.

Thanks. Sir.

Hey, Commander.

If that lawyer stuff doesn't work out for you,

you should consider flying for a living.

MACKENZIE: Whoa.

Oh, I am so sorry about that, ma'am.

Let me get these...

...for you.

Thank you.

Um, next time turn your signal on

before you enter a lane, Lieutenant.

That's good advice, ma'am.

Colonel. Maybe you could tell me

where I can find General Cresswell's office?

I'm the new guy.

MAYFIELD: Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi,

you're charged with using your weapon

to illegally commandeer a vehicle from an Iraqi citizen.

Yeah.

Like I said, ma'am, I took the car.

MACKENZIE: But for a legitimate military purpose.

Right.

Our platoon leader, Lieutenant Revere,

his vehicle blew a head gasket.

He needed transportation.

And you couldn't wait for a vehicle from the motor pool?

You ever in a combat zone, ma'am?

You know how long it takes to requisition anything?

A set of wheels-- forget about it.

Excuse me.

Still looking for General Cresswell, Lieutenant?

No, ma'am, I found him.

He sent me here. I'm your co-counsel.

You must be Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi.

I'm Lieutenant Vukovic.

Sir. How you doing?

Lieutenant.

Lieutenant.

Okay, so, you were on the road

between An Nasiriyah and Al Kut.

That's correct.

Then all of a sudden this SUV comes barreling around a curve.

He wasn't supposed to be there anyway.

There was a curfew.

We stopped him and took the car.

At gunpoint.

The guy was a little shy about giving up his ride.

Under the AOR op-order,

civilian property can be confiscated for military use.

Under exigent circumstances,

if a receipt is issued to the owner.

What were the circumstances, Gunnery Sergeant?

We had information about weapons and explosives

in a house in the Ghazaliya section of Baghdad.

The kind of stuff they use to kill our guys.

It was time- sensitive intel.

We had to act that night.

Lieutenant Revere needed transportation ASAP.

And you wanted to give the guy a receipt, right, Gunny?

Absolutely, sir.

But a crowd was gathering.

Things were getting ugly. Real ugly, sir.

And the Lieutenant ordered you to take the civilian's car.

No, sir.

Excuse me?

Lieutenant Revere never ordered me to take the vehicle.

That was my own idea.

CRESSWELL: He just finished a tour of duty

as a JAG aboard theStennis.

I'm going to keep him here for a while.

Sir, has Lieutenant Vukovic ever tried a case before?

His first week aboard the carrier,

he infiltrated a gang that was running a gambling operation.

When he took them down, they said they'd come after him.

You know what he answered?

"Don't keep me waiting, fellas."

Yes, sir, very audacious.

In other words, no courtroom experience.

He's got something better, Colonel.

He's got a fire in the belly.

We need that around here.

Work with him.

Unless you're afraid you can't handle him.

I've had to handle a lot tougher than him, sir.

[ knocking on door] Enter.

Commander.

How was Fentress?

Well, I finished my field qual, sir.

Congratulations.

Yeah, 16 carrier traps, and I'm F-18 qualified.

You might get your chance sooner than you think.

Thank you, Colonel.

Thank you, sir.

Gentlemen.

Tell him.

An Iraqi fishing boat in the Persian Gulf

got too close to the Al Basra oil terminal.

A Huey shot them up.

They were trying to take out an oil rig?

There were no explosives aboard.

They appear to be innocent fishermen.

The Iraqi government has filed a complaint with our embassy.

Anyone hurt?

No, but the boat's stern

was pretty well demolished.

I offered Commander Turner

the JAGMAN investigation,

but he thought you might be a better choice.

You'd have to spend some time aboard a carrier,

John F. Kennedy.

Well, if that's what you, uh, want, sir,

I'd be happy to go.

I thought you might.

That'll be all, gentlemen.

Thank you, sir.

Commander Rabb.

Assuming they're foolish enough

to let you fly one of their airplanes,

good luck on your carrier quals.

Thank you, sir.

MAN: Iraq exports

almost two million barrels of oil daily

on the world markets.

The revenue provides more than four-fifths

of the income needed by the Iraqi government

for reconstruction.

Insurgents want to cripple Iraq's economy

by disrupting oil flow.

On land, they go after the fields,

refineries, pipelines.

At sea, the offshore terminals.

Which they tried to hit last April.

Luckily, they didn't succeed.

After they sabotaged the northern pipeline to Turkey,

these terminals here in the south

are the main gateway.

You shut one down...

And it would bring our economy to a standstill,

not to mention

what it would do to world oil prices.

But I interrupt.

Not at all.

Commander Rabb, this is Colonel Fadil Najjar,

of the Iraqi 12th Commando Battalion.

This is Commander Rabb, Navy JAG.

Pleasure.

Colonel.

I see you are also an aviator.

Very impressive.

Colonel Najjar is on board

to learn command and control systems.

He has a master's degree in Engineering from MIT.

Also very impressive.

Thank you.

I agree with Captain Abraham.

There may be no other place

where your forces have greater strategic importance

than here in the Gulf.

And yet...

the fishing boat

was at the very edge of the exclusion zone,

sailing away from the terminal, when your people fired on it.

What was it doing there?

Fishing, perhaps.

Or trying to see how close it could get to the oil rig

before it was stopped.

If so, you were right to shoot at it.

But if not, you destroyed the property

and endangered the lives of innocent Iraqi citizens.

Our intent is to protect the property and lives

of law-abiding Iraqi citizens.

That's why we authorized firing warning shots across the bow.

But not at the boat?

No, Commander, not at the boat.

NAJJAR: If I can help your investigation in any way, Commander,

please just ask.

You should know, sir,

if I find out the pilot ordered firing in error,

I'll recommend the appropriate disciplinary action.

However, I will not go after anyone

out of political expediency.

Nor would I ask you to.

But I do urge you to resolve this matter quickly.

Why is that?

To dispel this nasty rumor that your Navy feels threatened

by fishermen armed with mackerels.

Commander.

MAN: Contemplating the magnificence

of American military jurisprudence?

I come here to think sometimes.

And here I am disturbing you.

You're not disturbing me.

Assalamu alaikum, Sheik al-Hassan.

And to you, peace, my friend.

Thank you, Petty Officer.

You're welcome, sir.

Is she, uh, available?

I could use a second wife.

Soriah would kill you.

Please, sit.

Thanks.

How are you?

These days, how could I be?

I was sorry to hear about your accident.

It was no accident.

Our helo was shot down by a SAM.

It's a pity.

We worked well together, rebuilding our legal system.

And I appreciated your help.

And now I seek your help in return.

Punish the man who took my son's car.

You want vengeance.

I want justice.

Azzam should not have been on the road that night.

And he shouldn't have been driving recklessly.

But to threaten a man's life and take his vehicle,

that's unpardonable.

The marine will be tried, fairly.

Gordon, you know me to be a man of my word,

and I'll tell you...

if your marine is not punished, there will be consequences.

Is that a threat, Suhaib?

That depends.

On?

On how much your government values my continuing friendship.

GUTIEREZ: They ignored our commands to stop.

What if they didn't understand your commands?

Even if we go with "the fishermen were

total idiots" theory, sir,

they smartened up real quick

when we fired shots across their bow.

They were 500 yards from the terminal

and heading the opposite direction

when you shot up their boat.

We're not here just to shoo away terrorists, sir.

We're here to capture them or kill them, if need be.

What made you think they were terrorists?

I wasn't sure.

That's why we just took out their rudder.

Sir, I'm sorry I damaged the fisherman's boat,

but not as nearly sorry as I'd be if they came back

one night and blew up a tanker.

In the two weeks I've been here,

this is the second case I'm prosecuting

that I'd rather defend. Why?

Because I don't think Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi is culpable.

I believe Lieutenant Revere ordered him to take the car.

Well, what did the lieutenant say?

He died when the vehicle in question hit a roadside bomb.

If Genuzzi's taking the heat

to protect his lieutenant's reputation,

how do I go after him?

With great zeal.

That's your job.

I'm wondering if it's too late.

To plea bargain?

No, sir... to switch sides.

RABB: Shouldn't Lieutenant Gutierez have waited for authorization

before firing, CAG?

Technically, yes,

but they weren't responding to commands to stop.

Well, it's not like they were going to outrun the helo.

They violated our exclusion zone.

I'd have done the same thing in the lieutenant's place.

Wouldn't you?

I thought so.

Anything else I can help you with, Commander?

Uh, actually, sir, there is.

I need to, uh, complete my F-18 carrier quals.

You want me to put you on the CQ flight schedule?

If at all possible, sir.

Well...

I appreciate your initiative, Commander.

Oh, thank you.

As I appreciate the initiative in all my officers.

Are we talking about Lieutenant Gutierez, CAG?

I'm talking about every pilot in my air group, Commander...

including Lieutenant Gutierez.

Our schedule's tight.

Qualifying a JAG officer

is not high up on my list of priorities.

We'll see.

[ speaking Arabic ]

[ whispering]

[ speaking Arabic] Are you Jamal Sharif, the fisherman?

Yes.

[ greeting in Arabic]

I am Colonel Najjar. May we talk to you?

Who is this man?

An American. A Navy lawyer. A good man.

Please sit.

[ in English] Please sit.

Mr. Sharif, do you speak English?

A little.

I'm investigating the men who shot up your boat.

I'd like to ask you a few questions, please.

What were you doing so near the oil terminal?

I was looking for fish.

I have no interest in oil.

You didn't know you were in a no-go zone?

[ speaking Arabic] You were in a forbidden zone.

I know nothing about the forbidden zone.

Why didn't you stop when the Americans signaled you?

Who knew what they wanted?

You speak English.

I am a fisherman who cannot fish.

Who will pay for my boat?

You know that terrorists want

to take out the oil terminals.

I am not a terrorist.

Swear it on the souls of your children.

I swear.

I was driving

about 70 when I came around a corner...

Excuse me.

You mean 70 kilometers per hour,

which is about 45 miles per hour.

AL-HASSAN: Yes.

There were two Humvees coming the other way.

The road was narrow, so I swerved

to avoid hitting them.

They turned and chased me.

And did you try to get away?

No. I stopped.

They caught up to me,

told me they were taking my car.

I said no.

That man pointed a rifle at me.

Let the record reflect

that the witness is pointing at the accused.

AL-HASSAN: My prayer rug was in the back seat.

My grandmother had made it for me.

It was destroyed later

when the car blew up.

Did Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi explain to you

why he needed your vehicle?

"Official military business."

And you protested.

Of course.

Loudly?

AL-HASSAN: Yes.

And while you were protesting,

did a large crowd gather to watch?

Some people came, yes.

And these people were angry like you, weren't they?

Yes, because it was unjust.

They only stopped me because I'm an Iraqi

and they... wanted

to teach me a lesson.

So if Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi had stayed

to give you a receipt, there might have been trouble,

correct?

Receipt? What good is a receipt?

You can't drive a receipt.

There would have been no trouble if they had

left me alone to start with.

You send 130,000 troops to Iraq.

Why can't you send an extra car?

No further questions.

"Within the context

"of potential attacks on oil distribution,

"the serious consequences of such attacks,

"and the suspicious behavior

"of the fishing vessel,

"Lieutenant Gutierez acted

"in a reasonable manner

"consistent with rules of engagement.

"I therefore see no reason

to initiate administrative or punitive action."

Thank you, Commander, for your diligence and timeliness.

I'll send a copy to General Cresswell immediately, sir.

Very well. That'll be all, Lieutenant.

Aye, aye, sir. Thank you.

And thank you, Commander.

Lieutenant.

Captain, I would also like to recommend

the Navy reimburse Jalal Sharif

for the damage done to his boat.

It is the man's livelihood, sir.

I'll have my XO look into it.

Anything else? RABB: No, sir.

Commander Rabb.

CAG.

Well, I heard you ruled it was a valid engagement.

Yes, sir.

I'm sure Lieutenant Gutierez is relieved.

I know I am.

I don't like losing a good man.

Understood, sir.

Hey, how 'bout tomorrow

we get you suited up and into a jet?

You'll man the VFA-45's spare

at the 1400 launch.

Stay in pattern for the recovery

and get your traps.

Sound okay? Yes, sir.

CAG, I'd like to clarify something, sir.

Oh, and, uh, since you're doing CQ,

your bird won't have any missiles,

but you will be flying "fammo":

full of ammunition.

CAG, this was a completely objective evaluation.

I based my findings strictly on the evidence.

As opposed to what?

You're getting preferential treatment

because you did an outstanding job,

not because I approved of your findings.

Understood?

Yes, sir.

Good. Let's get some chow.

Can we talk?

About what?

About Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi.

What about him?

15 years of honorable service in the Marine Corps--

I don't think he deserves to spend

the next 15 in the brig.

You don't. What do you think?

Dishonorable discharge, one-year confinement.

For armed robbery? Get serious.

For carrying out his lieutenant's orders.

He said Lieutenant Revere didn't order him

to take the vehicle.

Well... I actually believe

that he was fibbing about that.

Oh, well, establishing your client as a fibber

doesn't do a whole lot to convince me

of his good character.

Didn't you ever tell a lie, Lieutenant?

What's going on?

Your co-counsel offered me a deal.

Excuse me.

Who authorized you to plea-bargain?

I think we're losing, ma'am.

Oh? Based on what?

The looks on the members' faces

while you were questioning the kid.

Football scholarship to Rutgers.

Quarterback.

And then you what, blew out your knee?

Tore my rotator cuff.

BA in History, OCS,

surface warfare qualification,

sixth in your class at Dickinson School of Law,

18 months as a JAG aboard the John C. Stennis.

All those accomplishments,

and yet you learned nothing about the chain of command.

I apologize to the colonel if I overstepped my authority.

I meant no disrespect.

Sounds like you've had some practice saying that.

I'll plead the Fifth on that one, ma'am.

This isn't a joke, Lieutenant.

You're second chair-- you do nothing

without my knowledge and my consent.

Are we clear?

Crystal.

I do nothing without your complete consent.

RABB [ over radio]: Tower, 1-0-6...

Gear down. Pilot, Rabb.

Roger, 1-0-6. Clear for landing.

Bring it in.

That's eight, Hammer. You got time.

You got one more in you?

Roger that, Paddles.

ENGLER: 1-0-6, Panther Strike.

How's it going, Hammer?

Pretty good, pretty good.

I think I'm ready for the real thing.

Well, here it comes.

We have an unidentified aircraft approaching the oil terminals.

Roger that, Panther Strike.

1-0-6, both of our combat air patrol planes are responding

to an SOS near Khark Island.

It'll take them ten minutes to reach the site.

You can be there in three.

Vector me in.

How's your fuel, 1-0-6?

3,000 pounds.

That should do.

Take angels two.

Buster.

1-0-6. Wilco, out.

Panther Strike, 1-0-6.

I'm joined up.

The aircraft is a Cessna single-engine.

Pilot and co-pilot appear

to be unconscious.

Are they alive?

Hard to say, Panther Strike.

ENGLER: They're flying too low for anoxia.

Could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Or they could be playing possum.

If they continue on their present course,

they'll hit the oil rig in approximately 60 seconds.

RABB: Maybe I can shake 'em up.

I don't know what you did, but it didn't help.

30 seconds to impact.

I'm going to try something else.

I'm going to try lifting their wing.

They're heading away from the platform.

Nice work, Hammer.

Stay with 'em. Aye, aye, sir.

Wait.

Damn it! They're still on course.

They must be on autopilot.

Ten seconds to impact.

Five seconds.

Pieces of the plane are scattered

over two square miles of deep ocean.

Even if there were remains, we'd never find them.

I'll say this for you, Commander, you're thorough.

Perhaps too thorough.

The airplane that you shot down

was carrying Hakim Ma'mun,

our Deputy Minister of Economy.

He was flying out to view the platforms.

Well, he would have had to file a flight plan, no?

They did.

The radio tower lost contact shortly after takeoff.

We had no way of knowing that was Ma'mun's plane.

Gentlemen.

CENTCOM is not pleased.

Neither am I.

First we shoot up a harmless fishing boat,

then we blow a deputy minister out of the sky.

Skipper, if Rabb hadn't shot that plane down,

they'd have hit the platform, or crashed into the sea.

Now, either way they're dead.

There's a difference between

crashing into the sea due to a mishap

and getting show down by the US Navy.

Commander, you're grounded,

relieved of your duties, pending a full investigation.

[ softly]: Aye, aye, sir.

I'll call General Cresswell

and ask him to send out another JAG officer.

I hope he has a good supply.

Colonel MacKenzie.

Sheik al-Hassan. Sabah alkhair.

Sabah alnur.

Assalamu alaikum.

Walaikum assalam. Wa barakatuhu.

Shukran.

You speak Arabic with a charming accent.

It's not American.

No, it's Farsi.

Unusual. But then I perceive you are an unusual woman.

You know, I was hoping I would get a chance to talk with you.

Isn't that unethical?

You might sway me in favor of your client.

I have a feeling, when it comes to women,

that you are the one

who does the swaying, Sheik al-Hassan.

You flatter me too much.

But I enjoy it. Go on.

I'd like you to ask for clemency for Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi.

Why should I?

Because he never intended to hurt your son.

He was only trying to do his job,

to help the Iraqi people.

The Iraqi people have a civilization

that's centuries older than yours.

Yet you are an occupying force.

Do you have any idea how humiliating this is?

I think I do.

Then you must understand.

Tribal values are deeply ingrained.

Transgressions cannot go unanswered.

Yet forgiveness is the noblest revenge.

[ chuckles]

That's a woman's argument.

Yet simple enough that even a man can grasp.

Touché.

[ Man over P. A. giving orders ]

Well, well, I figured they'd send you.

Good to see you. Good to be here.

Well, now that we're done lying to each other...

RABB: The aircraft was bearing down on that oil platform

like it was aiming for it.

Can you confirm that?

The only way to confirm it, Sturgis,

would have been to let it happen.

What steps did you take?

The occupants appeared to be unconscious,

so I, uh, flew under their aircraft,

and I hoped the turbulence would jostle them awake.

But it didn't?

No. So I pushed them off course.

Well, they snapped back on course.

Oh.

They were flying out to look at oil rigs.

The autopilot was probably locked on that location.

Nothing sinister about that.

Sinister or not,

if they'd hit the platform, they'd have damaged it

and killed people on board, including Americans.

Now...

you say they seemed unconscious.

Is it possible they were dead?

Well, I know that one of them wasn't.

How do you know?

I saw his lips moving.

Like he was talking?

Or praying.

For God to save his life.

Or for God to bless him as a martyr.

TURNER: So you never gave the order to fire?

ENGLER: There were only five seconds left.

It was the only course of action Rabb had to take.

And he took it without proper authorization.

He saved an oil terminal.

Last time I looked,

the Navy called them rules of engagement,

not suggestions for engagement.

You know, when you first got here,

I thought you might be for Rabb,

being a fellow JAG.

I guess I don't have to worry about that, huh?

Thank you for your time, CAG.

Commander?

Do you ever step outside the box?

Not if I can help it, sir.

MACKENZIE: Sheik al-Hassan,

was your son injured by the accused?

Not physically, no.

And were you compensated for the vehicle taken?

Financially, yes.

But how do you compensate for violating

a man's sovereignty and dignity?

Especially when you claim to be bringing freedom?

Do you know Major General Fenhall,

Commander of the First Marine Division?

Yes.

In fact, you two are friends, are you not?

I believe I have that honor, yes.

Your Honor, relevance?

Colonel? Your Honor,

confiscating Mr. Azzam's vehicle was a military necessity

for which ample damages were paid.

The government is wrongfully pursuing a prosecution

simply because Mr. Azzam's father, Sheik al-Hassan,

is an influential tribal leader

Your Honor... whom the government is trying to appease.

Do you want to lodge a motion alleging

improper referral of charges, Counselor?

No, ma'am, not at this time.

Then I suggest you stick to the facts at hand.

Any more questions?

MACKENZIE: Just one.

Sheik al-Hassan,

do you believe

that ruining a man's career

and sending him to prison for 15 years

will restore your sovereignty and your dignity?

Your Honor...

If I may respond.

Colonel MacKenzie,

if the sergeant had approached my son in a civilized manner,

shook his hand, or greeted him in my language,

as you greeted me this morning,

and proposed a transaction between two equals,

I would say let him go free.

But he didn't do these things.

He was brutal and insulting.

Now, if America is to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis,

you must start by punishing those that violate our rights

and our dignity.

CRESSWELL: The government is going after Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi

to appease Sheik al-Hassan?

I admit it sounds a bit desperate.

You think?

I don't to tell you your job, Colonel...

No, I will tell you your job.

Try the case on its merits.

Leave the government's motives out of it.

[ phone rings] Yes, sir, I've generally found

that works, well, too, but...

Yes?

Thank you, Coates.

Commander.

I see.

Very well.

Thank you.

Turner recommends that Commander Rabb be charged

with negligent homicide.

Now, what were we saying?

Hey, Sturgis.

Harm.

I see you read my report?

Oh, yeah.

It was factual, thorough and unbiased...

until your conclusion.

I call it as I see it.

No, you call it as you'd like to see it.

What does that mean?

Means you saw an opportunity to take me down,

and you went for it.

You shot down

a civilian aircraft with an Iraqi official on board.

Without authorization.

You want me to sweep that under the rug?

No. I want you to consider the context

and put your personal feelings aside.

I made a fair and unbiased assessment.

Personal feelings had nothing to do with it.

You let your animosity toward me get in the way of your judgment.

That's a lie,

and it's insulting.

Well, it's as insulting as being accused of murder.

[ chuckles]

I'm not having this conversation with you.

Yeah?

Don't do that.

You've had a problem with me since you came to JAG, Turner.

Be a man, admit it.

Yeah. I got a problem with you, Rabb.

You're arrogant, condescending and jealous.

But that didn't affect my findings.

Jealous of what?

You couldn't stand it that SECNAV chose me

for acting JAG over the great Harmon Rabb.

All right, I do admit it.

But I lived with it.

Lived with it, my eye.

You tried to undermine my authority

every step of the way.

When I needed your support, what did I get: sarcasm,

disrespect.

Well, if you weren't such a tight-assed, pompous,

sanctimonious prig, Turner,

you would have had support.

You're your own worst enemy.

Yeah, maybe so.

But I'm not the one facing an Article 32.

[ clears throat]

Coronel.

NAJJAR: Best friends make the worst enemies.

Is that the Koran?

John Wayne.

I've learned something about our fisherman, Sharif.

Would you like to hear it?

Yeah. What is it?

Two strangers visited his boat

the night before the helicopter shooting.

And when they left, Sharif threw up over the side.

You don't think he was seasick.

I think he was terrified.

So much so that he agreed to use his boat

to test the oil terminal security.

Any idea who those men were?

No, but they spoke Arabic with Jordanian accents.

Zarqawi's men?

Possibly.

Taking out an oil platform

would be a tremendous victory for them.

And no doubt they'll keep trying.

A man came to me and said the Navy would pay for my boat.

We changed our minds.

Let the Jordanians who hired you pay for your boat.

[ speaking Arabic ] Don't deny it. We know the truth.

They said they would kill me

and my family if I did not help them.

They're going to kill you anyway, you know too much.

Your only hope is to help us capture them.

No. I cannot.

We'll pay you more than you could earn

in a lifetime of fishing.

Die like a beggar or live like a sheik.

You will protect my family?

I'll do my best.

I'm putting you on the stand.

You have to tell the members why you took the car.

Have a seat.

Yes, ma'am.

Now this time, I want you to tell the truth.

I been telling the truth, Colonel.

Cut the crap, Genuzzi.

We know Lieutenant Revere ordered you to take that SUV

and you'll say it in court.

No, sir.

Gunny...

Ma'am, the Lieutenant saved my butt.

More than once. Other guys, too.

I won't badmouth him.

I'm sorry.

Do you want to go to the brig?

I grew up in reform schools.

If I need to do brig, I can do brig.

You're a real tough guy, huh, Gunny?

That's right, sir.

I'm a tough guy.

You think that's what the lieutenant would want?

You doing time for him?

No, ma'am, he wouldn't.

He was a good guy.

That's why I'm doing this.

[ knocking]

Enter.

I beg pardon for interrupting.

May I have a word with you, please?

[ speaking Arabic]

Sharif is complaining that his boat was damaged.

He says he can't fish.

His family will starve.

They are saying that his life

and the lives of his family are not important.

To die for Jihad is to be blessed forever.

Come on, make the offer.

Patience, Commander.

Sharif proposes to borrow a boat,

fill it with explosives and blow up a tanker,

if they pay his wife 100,000

American dollars.

What's going on?

I don't know.

Do they suspect a wire?

I don't think so.

Maybe they're thinking it over.

[ speaking Arabic through radio ]

Wait.

They agree.

All right, we got them. Let's move.

Get down!

[ shouting]

[ rapid gunfire]

Cease fire! Cease fire!

Hold your fire!

[ speaking Arabic ]

[ speaking Arabic ] He was an innocent fisherman!

He did you no harm.

He did you no harm.

I should shoot you like a dog. You son of a syphalitic whore!

Colonel!

That's not the way.

Colonel.

Back here.

They cut his throat.

Hakim Ma'mun.

The Deputy Minister.

He never was on the plane.

This must be his pilot.

These animals butchered them

and took the plane.

You were right to shoot it down.

Sorry, Colonel, I was on my way

to the parking lot when I got your call.

Someone you should meet.

My name is Paul Revere.

My son was Lieutenant Jonathan Revere.

I'm very sorry for your loss, sir.

I'm Lieutenant...

I know who you are, young lady.

I've seen you in court.

Mr. Revere has something to say.

It's not what I have to say,

it's what my son has to say.

Jonathan wrote me this letter

two days before he died.

"My ride quit on me today.

The bitch..."

Excuse the language.

"...busted an axle going over a pothole.

"But don't worry,

"I'll have another soon.

"I told Gunny to liberate one

"from an Iraqi citizen.

"It's for a good cause.

"We're trying to defend these people

against insurgent attacks."

There's more, but it's personal.

Sir, I'm real sorry about your son.

He was an outstanding Marine.

I know what you're trying to do, young man,

and I thank you for it,

but there's no need to protect my son's good name.

If he ever needed protection

he's beyond it now.

But, sir...

What you need to do is tell the truth,

or I'll get up in court and tell the truth for you.

That's what Jonathan would do.

Put me on the stand, ma'am.

I'll tell it like it happened.

You might not have to say anything.

Lieutenant?

I'll recommend reducing the armed robbery

to wrongful appropriation.

But that's all I can do.

CRESSWELL: Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi

pled guilty to wrongful appropriation.

And what will be the sentence?

Maximum punishment is dishonorable discharge,

forfeiture of all pay and allowances,

two years' confinement.

Will that satisfy you?

The trial was fair,

the admission of guilt proper,

justice was done.

I am satisfied.

Good.

Anything else I can do for you?

Yes.

Commute the sentence.

I have no desire

to see this young man punished any further.

I'll pass your request on to General Hunter.

I'll get right on that, sir.

Very well.

Got a minute, Colonel?

Of course, sir.

I'll let you go now, sir.

Thank you for your time.

Once again, I'm sorry for your loss.

Bye.

I, uh, I wanted to congratulate you two

on the way you handled the Genuzzi case.

Well, the credit all goes to the colonel, sir.

She put up a terrific defense.

No, actually, we were losing.

That is until you brought in Lieutenant Revere's father.

It was you who brought him in, wasn't it?

Yes, ma'am.

I know I should've told you...

CRESSWELL: Don't apologize.

It saved Gunnery Sergeant Genuzzi

from doing 15 years in the brig.

Yes, sir.

Well, I just wanted to say, outstanding job, both of you.

Keep up the good work, Lieutenant.

Maybe we'll keep you around.

Shut the door, Lieutenant.

That was a brilliant move,

bringing in the older gentleman.

Thank you, ma'am.

Except that it wasn't Lieutenant Revere's father.

I was just on the phone with his father--

his real father--

the one who lives in Albuquerque.

Did you think I wouldn't check?

Do I strike you as being that stupid?

Who's the guy you brought in?

An actor with the Arena Stage Company.

The phony letter was a nice touch.

Ma'am, we both know that Lieutenant Revere

ordered Genuzzi to take that vehicle.

All I did was get at the truth.

Lying and deception for truth-- what a concept.

Whatever works. Wrong.

What you did was unethical,

fraudulent and totally despicable,

not to mention lousy lawyering.

It got an innocent man off the hook,

and that's good lawyering.

And what would you have done if Genuzzi

still wouldn't tell the truth?

Would you put your actor on the stand

and have him perjure himself?

No. I wouldn't do that.

Well it's nice to know you have some scruples.

Ma'am, I understand you're angry...

Don't, Lieutenant.

You may have a few street smarts,

but you are nowhere in my league.

No, I don't guess that I am.

What's that supposed to mean?

Well, it's just that I've heard,

you're not afraid to push the envelope yourself.

Yeah, that's right.

And it cost me, the same way it'll cost you.

Pull a stunt like that again and I will have you

up in front of the Rules Counsel.

I may do that anyway.

That'll be all.

You know why you won't have me

in front of the Counsel, Colonel?

Because you like what I did.

Don't bet your career on it.

You staying?

Got a few hours left of flying time.

Don't worry, I got you some company for the ride home.

Jalal Sharif.

Commander Sturgess Turner.

You died in a shootout.

Yes, but I feel very good now.

We had to fake his death

in order to protect his family from retaliation.

Soon they will join me in America.

We will live a peaceful and prosperous life.

God willing.

Well, it turned well. I'm glad.

Yeah, I believe you.

I guess we're still swapping lies, huh?

I guess so.

[ theme music playing]