Original subtitles

[man] Seahawk tower, this is one-two-seven.

Hornet, four-point-five requesting final approach.

Roger, one-two-seven. Continue for final approach. Call the ball.

Petty Officer Schecket, set tension for a Hornet.

Aye, sir.

Set tension for a Hornet, Chief.

Set tension for a Hornet. Aye.

[bell rings]

[loud whirring]

I need a reading.

Set, Chief. We're go.

Pri-fly, we're go.

[man] Seahawk this is one-two-seven.

Hornet, ball, four-point-three.

One-two-seven, Hornet, Roger, ball.

Fouled deck!

[gasps]

[man] We got two men down!

[alarm blaring]

[theme music playing]

[Singer] You'll find my report quite thorough, sir.

I'm not disputing your attention to detail, Lieutenant Singer.

I just happen to disagree with your findings.

A man was killed when that arresting wire snapped, sir.

Another was seriously injured.

Are you under the impression, Lieutenant,

that this is the first time a tragedy like this

has befallen a carrier during flight operations?

No, sir. I just want to know why it happened on this carrier.

You know why.

The Boatswain's Mates were removing foreign object debris.

A broken piece of launching rail that should have been removed

prior to the landing of the second F-18.

An arresting wire that shouldn't have broken

snapped while trapping a plane that should have been waved off.

In a perfect world, Lieutenant Singer,

every piece of FOD would be removed prior to the next landing.

Every trap would be like clock work and no one but the enemy

would experience casualties. But we do not live in that world.

Had those Boatswain Mates not acted

you'd be investigating the loss of an aircraft now

and God knows how many fatalities.

I am aware of that, sir.

You want to cut to the chase, then?

Save me some reading, what is it you're after?

For one thing, I want to court-martial all the personnel

that had a hand in putting those men in that position

in the first place.

You have got to be kidding?

I assure you, sir, I am quite serious.

Who exactly are we talking about here?

Your landing signal officer, sir. Your air boss.

The arresting gear department chief. The LSO's assistant.

The arresting gear operator petty officer.

The pri-fly lens operator.

-The... -That's enough.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I gave due consideration to these recommendations, sir.

I said that's enough.

[sighs] Aye, aye, sir.

[gasping]

Lieutenant?

I'm fine, sir.

You don't look fine.

Go down to sick bay, have yourself checked out.

Really, sir, it's not necessary.

That's an order, Lieutenant.

[sighs]

Aye, aye, sir.

[Roberts] And once Dr. I've-got- nothing-but-time-on-hands

puts the paperwork through

I'll be back at JAG just like old times.

Only without the leg, you know.

[Coates] Congratulations, sir.

I know you'll pass the P-E-B.

You're not standing and typing again?

[Roberts] What do you take me for, Coates? A man possessed?

[Coates] Sir, sit down.

[Roberts] Hey, Coates, I gotta go.

-Hey, sweetie. -Hi, honey.

You're wearing yourself out. Now, come to bed.

I recall a time

when you would do anything to get me off that coach.

You have less than a week to relax

then you're going to be standing on that leg every single day.

That's why I need the practice.

When you come home exhausted every night, you're going to wish you had

a little more of the sack time.

Oh, I can't wait to come home tired from a hard day's work.

[slight chuckles]

Let's go.

Did you take the Nutty Buddy out of my desk?

No, ma'am.

Excuse me, ma'am. Lieutenant Singer,

your dress uniform, taken out at the waste, ma'am.

Uh, Coates, could you get that for me, please?

Yes, ma'am. Thank you.

Is there something else?

No, ma'am.

I've had a good appetite since the sea sickness stopped.

Must be the salt air, ma'am.

[Chegwidden] Lieutenant Singer is a competent investigator, Captain.

She's just a little too eager to prove it sometimes.

[Johnson on phone] I wouldn't disagree, sir.

So, what's your take on the mishap?

This is Lieutenant Singer's first cruise.

Her maritime inexperience has her chasing shadows on this one, sir.

Understood. Second opinion's on its way

to work alongside the Lieutenant, not to replace her.

Thank you, sir.

There is another matter concerning the Lieutenant, Admiral.

Um... I understand. I'll, uh... I'll look into it.

-Tiner, have Rabb and MacKenzie come see me. -[Tiner] Aye, sir.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

[chuckles]

Were those lunch reservations hard to get?

Easily canceled.

I'll make it up to you.

Forgiven and forgotten, A.J.

You're awfully understanding

for a woman that's been stood up once this week already.

I've know since I met you that if this was going to work,

I'd have to let go of my day planner every once in a while.

[chuckles]

Besides, having you when I get you

means more to me than some lunch reservation.

Well, they do say patience and wisdom go hand in hand.

Oh, that they do.

Bye.

Bye.

You know, sometimes it's good for me

not to know where I'm going to be at 12:15 everyday.

[sighs]

[Sims] No, no, wait-wait till you see this.

It's bath time.

Little A.J. loves the water.

[Manetti] A natural for a naval carrier, Lieutenant.

-[Sims] Yes, ma'am. -Oh, oh, is that A.J.'s little namesake?

-[Sims] It is, ma'am. -Oh, would you please call me Meredith?

Meredith Cavanaugh, this is Lieutenant Commander Tracy Manetti.

-Tracy. -[Manetti] Ma'am.

-So, how is Bud? -He's great.

The doctors cleared him for limited duty

and the informal physical evaluation board should be meeting soon.

Well, that's wonderful. Oh.

-Yeah. -Unfortunately Bud's taken to eating standing up.

He's trying to be too ready too soon.

Mmm. His enthusiasm is bit much, is it?

Yes. And I just think that he should rest.

Well, let me put my mind to it.

A little sit-down activity for the good Lieutenant.

Oh, that's not necessary.

Oh, well, that's the least I can do.

I could see the concern on your face, Harriet.

-Commander. -Nice to meet you, ma'am.

Ciao.

Lieutenant Singer has made her report, Commander.

I want the facts verified.

What she's asking for will cripple that ship.

Her timing couldn't be worse.

To court-martial seven essential air department personnel

in the midst of a wartime deployment

in the Persian Gulf is unheard of.

I mean... I... I want justice served

but not at the expense of national security.

-Is that clear? -Aye, sir.

Now, on to a more delicate issue.

Colonel, you will accompany the Commander to the Seahawk

to investigate Lieutenant Singer herself with the utmost discretion.

-To investigate what, sir? -Captain Johnson has charged Lieutenant Singer

with conduct unbecoming.

While I don't want to believe it

I have to allow for the possibility

that the Captain is being vindictive.

Well, that's certainly one way

to get rid of a squeaky wheel, sir.

Captain Johnson suspected that Singer might have a health issue

so he ordered her to see a medical officer who confirmed it.

She's three and a half months pregnant.

Now, that's roughly the amount of time she's been aboard the Seahawk.

There is no way medically to tell whether she conceived here

before she left, or aboard the ship.

Hence, the conduct unbecoming.

That's a hell of a black eye for JAG.

Has one asked the Lieutenant who the father is, sir?

Certainly if it's not someone aboard the Seahawk,

this whole matter can be dispensed with.

She's been asked repeatedly.

She refuses to name the father or discuss the incident.

If she got herself pregnant aboard that ship, it'll damn sure be the end

of her naval career.

[Rabb] All I'm saying is

an officer should be taken at her word.

What word? All Lieutenant Singer will say

is that she didn't conceive aboard ship.

-That's all that matters. -She's provided her CO nothing

in the way of evidence.

Well, how do you prove a negative?

With a name, Commander.

I'm surprised you're defending her, Harm.

Somebody has to. Sounds to me like

you've already made up your mind.

I'm approaching this investigation with an open mind.

Yeah, I'm sure you are, Colonel.

I don't fault her for finding herself in this predicament.

It's her refusal to aid in her own defense

-that makes me wonder. -Wonder what?

Wonder if she's guilty.

[man] Prepare for landing.

-Ma'am, sir. -Lieutenant.

I understand congratulations are in order, Lieutenant?

Here's the file from my investigation, sir.

Thank you. We'll go over this later.

I'm going to report in to the Skipper.

Yes, sir.

-Colonel. -Commander.

I would like to stop by the legal office, Lieutenant.

I think we should talk.

Yes, ma'am.

[MacKenzie] You feeling okay, Lieutenant?

Feel like Hester Prynne, ma'am.

No one's come to pin the scarlet letter on you.

-Seems that way, ma'am. -Perhaps if you'd been more forthcoming

with Captain Johnson.

Ma'am, the condition I now find myself in

was a result of activities

that occurred before I deployed.

Therefore, they do not fall into the category

of conduct unbecoming.

Name the father

and you're off the hook.

With all due respect, ma'am

that is none of the Navy's business.

Is there some reason you're afraid

to identify the child's father?

My motives for wanting privacy should be obvious, ma'am.

I mean, look what I'm being put through.

You're compounding the problem, Lieutenant, by remaining silent.

Can you answer as to why you've kept this a secret for so long?

-I can't, ma'am. -Can't or won't?

Does it matter, Colonel? I know I could have handled

the entire situation with a little more...

Clarity.

Professionalism.

-Welcome aboard, Colonel. -Thank you, Petty Officer.

At ease.

How's Lieutenant Roberts doing, ma'am?

I know he was approved for limited duty.

He's doing well. I'll let him know that you asked.

Thank you, ma'am.

Why don't you relax, Lieutenant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Petty Officer, would you give us a moment?

-Aye, aye. -Thank you.

Lieutenant, when I asked how you were feeling, I didn't mean just physically.

If you're not comfortable talking to me

-I can arrange... -No, ma'am, it's fine.

Captain Johnson is pursuing this in retaliation

for the report I filed after the flight deck mishap.

He wants to exonerate men for taking a life

while persecuting me for giving one.

That's a bit melodramatic, Lieutenant.

It's not a crime to be pregnant, Colonel.

No, but it is to get that way aboard a Naval ship.

That offense is rarely prosecuted, ma'am.

The Captain's going by the book, no leeway.

Much the same way you always have, Lieutenant.

[Rabb] How many traps were on that number three wire

before it broke, Captain?

-[man] Captain on the bridge. -Eighty-one.

Does that include the heavy landing

by the Super Hornet right before the incident?

Yes, Commander, and the off-center arrestment

that took place an hour before that.

The log book on that cross-deck pendant

did not indicate a problematic amount of strain.

Although, as you know, the numbers

we're dealing with here are based on averages.

On the odds that every arresting wire

has exactly the same tensile strength.

Yes, sir.

You've taken these risks yourself, Commander.

You know it's not an exact science.

Sometimes it's a matter of chance

which is why we build in safety factors.

You don't believe Lieutenant Singer's experienced enough

-to understand that, sir? -No, Commander, I do not.

I think Lieutenant Singer is lashing out

at anyone who happened to be in close proximity

to what happened that night.

Prior to this incident, Captain, what has been the nature of your dealings

with Lieutenant Singer?

Standard issues.

Clarifying the legality of shipboard operations,

handling legal assistance issues

such as wills for officers and enlisted.

To tell you the truth, Commander,

prior to this incident, Lieutenant Singer

had not appeared much on my radar screen.

She was efficient and she kept to herself.

So you were satisfied with her performance as your JAG?

Yes, Commander. I would say she was well-suited to her job.

-How was her behavior outside of the job? -Well, obviously, Commander,

Lieutenant Singer has not conducted her personal affairs

aboard this vessel as one would expect of an officer.

But that has nothing to do with the accident investigation

-if that's what you're suggesting. -Not at all, Captain.

You're the convening authority aboard this ship, sir.

You have the right to question the findings

-of your Judge Advocate. -I would do the same thing

if Lieutenant Roberts were still my carrier JAG.

Although I suspect he would have exercised

the necessary self-restraint

to avoid scandal aboard my vessel.

Yes, sir.

This accident investigation and Lieutenant Singer's lapse of judgment

in her personal behavior are mutually exclusive.

One in no way affects the other.

I think it's a good idea. I just don't think Shakespeare

is Lieutenant Roberts' cup of tea.

Shakespeare is an acquired taste.

-I'm glad you understand. -But one cannot acquire new tastes

unless one samples a bit of the unknown every now and again.

Now...

these plays are probably on par with some of your legal briefs.

Passionate...

all-consuming...

something one could lose oneself in,

preferably while in the seated position.

Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do.

I just don't want Lieutenant Roberts

to think that I'm...

You're?

Well, some people, I'm not saying myself,

but some people equate Shakespeare

with a certain level of, uh...

Snobbery.

I was going to say snobbishness.

Look, Bud likes comic books

and Star Trekand action films.

I don't want to give him the impression

that I don't think that's good enough.

I think you may be underestimating

the Lieutenant's intellectual curiosity.

And I'm not sure if you realize how often you talk about Bud.

He's a big part of your life, A.J.

Now, I'm just asking to let me be a little part of Bud's life.

[Cooper] I've been through all this with Lieutenant Singer, Commander.

I'll grant that you're asking the question in a less accusatory tone.

-Petty Officer, call Air Ops. Get the air plan. -Aye, sir.

No prejudgments here, Commander.

I'm sure the Lieutenant's got reams of paper down in the legal office.

Well, I'd rather hear it from you. You were there.

I tried cooperating with you lawyers once.

Look where it got me.

You're an aviator. You've seen a flight deck firsthand.

You have to know that 100% isn't possible.

Accidents happen.

Accidents do happen, Commander,

and that's what I'm here to determine.

[man] Sir, we've received an advised air plan.

Then subpoena me, Commander. It's going to take a bigger gun than you

to get another interview out of me.

Petty Officer, call CIC. Advise we're up and ready for Night Ops.

[man] Aye, aye, sir.

Commander Cooper, I'm about as unbiased an ear

as you'll find right now

so I strongly suggest you reconsider

your willingness to participate in this investigation.

As you were. Petty Officer Coates, I need a moment of your time.

Yes, ma'am.

You've been in the same legal office

-as Lieutenant Singer since she got here. -Yes, ma'am.

So you know who she's been seeing?

-Seeing, ma'am? -Interacting with?

Who's spending time with the Lieutenant?

Giving her special attention?

To be honest, ma'am, no one.

[jet engine roaring]

Permission to speak freely, ma'am?

-That's why I'm here. -From what I know

about the Lieutenant, the way she was at JAG...

she seems to be living up

to the same pattern as before.

All work and no play?

Makes Loren a very dull girl.

-Petty Officer Coates. -Sorry, ma'am.

When the Lieutenant wasn't seeing clients,

she was reading up on maritime law.

She wanted to excel, ma'am.

To make herself indispensable to the Captain.

Instead she ended up a thorn in his side.

She can't help herself, ma'am.

Do any of the Lieutenant's clients stick out in your mind?

-It's a big ship, ma'am. -Put together a list for me

of those she saw when she first reported aboard.

Just the male clients, ma'am?

You know?

I've suspected for a month now, ma'am.

I didn't think it was my place to point it out to anyone.

Remind me not to let my guard down around you, Petty Officer.

Look, Chief, Lieutenant Singer's report lists you as an eyewitness.

-Where were you at the time of the incident? -Right here, sir, at my job.

So you didn't actually see anything?

-[loud thud] -That's correct, sir.

You've never experienced a trap from down here, have you, Commander?

So that's about what you heard going on overhead that night?

Yes, sir, that would be it, sir.

Your statement to Lieutenant Singer

was a little more detailed than that, Chief.

Yes, sir, it was.

You're afraid to talk to me, aren't you?

I stand by what I already put to paper, sir.

Sir, my memory of the events leading up to the mishap is sketchy.

Well, that's not what you told Lieutenant Singer

a week ago when you made your statement.

Well, I'm sure that statement is a better telling

than I could muster now, sir.

You've been comparing notes with Commander Cooper.

What makes you say that, Commander?

Because I'm tripping over the party line, Lieutenant.

I'm sorry you think so, sir.

Look, Connelly, We're both aviators.

We know what the guys in those planes

owe to you here on the deck.

It's a dangerous job. Sometimes people get hurt

and sometimes it's nobody's fault.

This isn't a witch hunt.

I'm not interested in prosecuting anybody

who doesn't deserve it.

Sir, I don't think you're going to find

much cooperation aboard this ship.

-Why is that, Lieutenant? -Because we tried to do the right thing

after this happened, sir

and now we're facing court-martials.

I don't dare speak to you

because I don't want to incriminate the guys

that Lieutenant Singer hasn't mentioned on her list.

[sighs] Frankly, sir, the Lieutenant has turned all your witnesses

into suspects.

Nine interviews so far and I can't find anyone who likes her

let alone who would... you know.

Does that give you any reason to believe that maybe she isn't guilty?

What's with your continued defense of Lieutenant Singer?

Come on, Mac. For all her failures in the being human department ,

-I don't doubt her intelligence. -Meaning?

She's too smart to risk her career.

A momentary lapse. Passion over reason.

You put in the time, law school, the bar, would you throw it all away?

No, Harm, I wouldn't. Women in the service work far too hard

to endure the fallout of a scandal like this.

If she's guilty, I want her charged.

Well, I've interviewed all personnel involved in the incident...

except you.

You were on the weather deck the night those two men went down, Lieutenant.

-Yes, sir. -So, that makes you a witness.

I guess it does, sir.

Lieutenant, have you ever seen anything like this before?

A car accident, any situation where injuries occurred?

Nothing on the order of that night, sir.

You realize Lieutenant, in these kind of conditions,

this high-stress environment, mishaps do occur.

Of course, sir. I've done dozens of accident investigations myself.

Sir, I know what you're suggesting

and my discomfort for having been there

has not affected my findings.

Well, if you say so, Lieutenant, I believe you.

Commander, my lack of combat exposure

is not influencing my ability to see the facts.

Too many highly trained air department personnel

made minor errors that ultimately resulted in disaster.

That's correct, Lieutenant...

Sir?

...technically

but I don't believe that any of these mistakes

taken individually, rise to the level of dereliction.

-I disagree, Commander. -Well, now you see

how perceptions can differ, Lieutenant.

The law is black and white, sir.

But life aboard a deployed carrier is not, Lieutenant. It's unpredictable.

You don't think I know what unpredictable is, sir?

All right, Lieutenant, I'll bite. When exactly did your life

-take this turn? -As I've said before, sir...

I conceived this child prior to boarding this ship.

How prior?

Are you helping Colonel MacKenzie

with her investigation, sir?

No, Lieutenant, I'm not.

Then may I be excused?

[phone ringing]

Commander Rabb. What affords me the honor, sir?

-I'm just a little homesick. -[chuckling]

Why don't I believe that a seagoing aviator like yourself

misses this place one darn bit?

Am I that transparent?

Like cellophane, Commander.

What is it you desire?

Commander, I need a favor.

It's a personal one ...

but I'm going to have to ask you to keep it to yourself.

I am the Sphinx, sir.

Lieutenant Loren Singer.

A legend in her own time, sir.

Listen, you think you could chase down

exactly what she was up to

about, uh, you know, a week or so

before she left for sea?

Am I looking for anything in particular, sir?

Personal details, people she might have interacted with.

I think you'll know what I'm looking for when you find it.

Do youknow it, sir?

Well, I wouldn't want to lead you

down the wrong path, Commander.

Aye, aye, sir. I'll let you know what I dig up.

-Petty Officer Tiner. -Commander Manetti.

You know, I am so sorry to have missed the pleasure

of Lieutenant Singer's acquaintance.

-Did you know her very well? -As well as anyone, Ma'am.

When was the last time you saw the Lieutenant?

The day before she left, Ma'am. We had a going away party for her here in the office.

Do you know where she was headed after that, Petty Officer?

I think she said she was going to see Lieutenant Roberts out at Bethesda.

Lieutenants Roberts and Singer were close?

Close? [chuckling]

-No, Ma'am. -[Chegwidden] Tiner?

[Tiner] Yes, sir? If that's all, ma'am?

Yes, Tiner; thank you kindly.

Would you, uh, drop these off at Lieutenant Roberts' on your way in tomorrow

and tell him he's under no obligation to actually read these books.

Yes, sir.

I should have listened to the man's advice.

-Lieutenant Roberts, sir? -No, Shakespeare.

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be."

As the middleman in this deal, I'm both.

-Dismissed. -Aye, sir.

[MacKenzie] Sir, I haven't come to my final conclusion yet

but thus far, I haven't been able to locate

a single man aboard who seems likely

to be the father of Lieutenant Singer's baby.

I see.

Sir, if you could give me a reason to believe

that such a man exists...

I don't happen to think

this is the second coming, Colonel.

The man obviously exists.

Can you point to anyone who was close to the Lieutenant, sir?

Uh, no, Colonel, I cannot.

Sir, what led you to make these charges against Lieutenant Singer?

My gut feeling, Colonel, and it used to be infallible.

Yes, sir; I'm not questioning your instincts.

I could frankly use your guidance on this, sir.

I have nothing of interest to add

in the matter of Lieutenant Singer's pregnancy.

Captain, you do still want the situation investigated?

Finish your interviews, Colonel. If nothing pops up, you can close the case.

Sir, I have to ask. Are you softening your stance on the case

because you think that maybe you didjump to a premature conclusion?

No, Colonel, I'm simply a man with bigger issues right now

than your pregnant Lieutenant.

With all due respect, sir, I think at this point, she's your Lieutenant.

That's easily rectified. I'll have her orders cut.

Take her off my ship.

-You're dismissed, Colonel. -Aye, aye, sir.

-[Roberts] Commander Manetti. -[Manetti] Good morning.

Wow. Well, uh, it's, it's awful nice of you to come out and...

bring me fruit, Commander.

-Well... -Thank you.

Uh, considering that we hardly know each other.

Well, we best get to know one another.

I hear we're going to be working together.

-Yes, Ma'am. -I wonder, Lieutenant ,

what can you tell me about Lieutenant Loren Singer?

Ma'am?

Did you spend much time with her

after you... uh...

-After I came back from the Seahawk? -Yes.

I-I know that she was excited about her deployment. She came by the hospital

-so we could talk about it. -Did you talk about anything else?

No, Ma'am.

Lieutenant Singer can be a very single-minded person, ma'am.

So I've heard. If you were Lieutenant Singer

and you wanted to give yourself a nice, big sendoff to sea

where would you go?

Oh, uh... I don't know.

Uh, Benzinger's, I guess.

That's where we go to celebrate wins.

And commiserate losses?

Yes, ma'am.

I get it.

What's all this about, Ma'am?

I have no idea, Lieutenant.

[both chuckling]

[doorbell ringing]

Um, would you mind?

Oh, sure, of course. [laughing]

Good morning, Lieutenant.

-Tiner. -Commander Manetti.

Am I interrupting something, Ma'am?

-Ma'am? -No, Lieutenant.

You know, I try never to miss an opportunity

to shut up, and this seems like a dandy time.

Good day, gentlemen.

-Thank you, Ma'am. -You're welcome.

-Ma'am. -Bye-bye.

What can I get you?

A little early in the day, thanks.

You have a big military clientele here, do you not?

Proud to serve those who serve.

Very good.

Have you ever served this lieutenant?

Yeah, she's come in before.

With those JAG lawyers. Always in a group.

She looked, uh, kind of like a tag-along, you know?

Like no one really wanted her there.

-Anyway, it's been months. -Well, she's at sea.

Is there anything else you can tell me?

Uh, last time she was in, she was with a guy.

Sandy hair, kind of nondescript.

You get a name?

No, but I was happy to see her happy.

Just how happy was she?

I don't think I follow.

Well, happy as in "Let's talk baseball"

or happy as in "You're sweeter than a Moon-Pie"?

Oh, the latter, I guess. They sat right back there in the corner.

Eyes on each other all night.

The Lieutenant's a nice-looking gal when she's out of uniform.

That she is.

-Much obliged for your help. -Sure.

Commander Rabb, please.

I'm at the end of the road, Harm.

You sound disappointed.

Not at all.

You sure?

Harm, I'm sure.

Lieutenant Singer goes back to shore duty

and the reputations of JAGs everywhere are redeemed.

Who's going to replace her, anyway?

You're looking at her.

Temporarily.

[phone ringing]

JAG office, Commander Rabb.

Oh... um, hang on a second.

Did you need some privacy?

Yeah, would you mind?

No, not at all.

What did you find?

Yeah, Benzinger's, I know it.

No, I think I know just who the bartender means.

Thanks for the legwork, Commander.

Your men aren't doing much to aid in my investigations.

Can't blame them, Commander. Lieutenant Singer blew through here like a hurricane.

Took what confidence the men had in the investigative process with her.

I understand that, sir, but the wall of silence I'm coming up against

only lends credence to what Lieutenant Singer suspected.

There were mistakes made, sir, and if I can't get any explanation as to why

culpable negligence isn't out of the question.

Commander, I am humbled to have to say

that you have taken me by surprise.

-Sir? -I expected you to come out here

and undo Lieutenant Singer's report without hesitation.

Your failure to do so has given me reason to believe

that I may have been overzealous in my defense of my men.

Skipper, I don't intend to make my recommendations against you, sir.

Commander, you were failing to understand my point.

Even the men who like me would tell you that I've become a son of a bitch to work for.

I jumped to the conclusion that my men were innocent

the same way I assumed Lieutenant Singer was guilty.

Mistakes I wouldn't accept from an officer under my command

and errors I will not accept from myself.

I am topped out in my career, Commander.

But those men you and Lieutenant Singer want to court-martial

still have mileage left to theirs

and I fully intend to see them travel it.

I take full responsibility for what happened to those men.

That's it, no argument.

Now, if you'll excuse me

I'm going to make one last trap

before I leave the Navy.

-One last trap, huh, Captain? -That's right, Commander.

The Battle Group Commander will have my request for retirement tomorrow.

I, uh, thought about our talk, sir.

Commander Cooper and Lieutenant Connelly, they're officers, sir.

They're going to do fine out in the world.

The career enlisted, like myself...

I need the Navy, sir.

I'm ready to play ball. It's worth the risk to me.

All right, Chief.

You can start by telling me precisely what you were doing that night.

We were nonstop.

The Dixon meter indicated a heavy landing

prior to the accident.

I should have requested down time

to take the number three wire out of service.

Why didn't you?

I thought at the time

that we were okay. I-- Everything had been reset

and we were ready for the next trap, but...

It's no excuse, though, sir.

I knew the arresting wire was strained.

I guess I...

I guess I didn't want to be the one who held things up.

[Connelly] I did some asking around about you, Commander.

You've got quite an impressive flight record.

I know you've experienced a catastrophic accident firsthand, sir.

And I also know you stood up and took the blame for it.

I had to stand up, Lieutenant. My RIO was killed in the mishap.

So, you understand why I can't let Chief Kafenhaus

accept responsibility for something that happened

on my flight deck, sir.

Convince me otherwise, Lieutenant.

We just landed heavy.

I wanted to check Petty Officer's flight log

to make sure we were still good on that number three wire.

That's a little irregular, isn't it?

Yes, sir, but I should have checked the deck

before looking back at the Hornet but we were crunched for time.

You didn't see the Boatswain's Mate running out to retrieve the FOD?

No, sir. I also didn't do a visual inspection on the arresting wire.

I trusted the numbers instead of eyeballing the thing like I should have.

Well, you thought the wire would hold up.

Well, that didn't help me sleep at night, sir.

Just make sure your report takes the weight off the chief.

I'm an officer and I was the LSO that night.

If anyone can be held responsible for what happened, it's me.

[Cooper] I have no intention of letting a junior officer

and an enlisted man fall on their swords over this.

Well, why don't you walk me through

what happened up here that night, Commander.

We were sometimes having less than ten seconds to identify aircraft.

The ACLS address for a rhino

is one digit off from that of a straight Hornet.

Rhino being a Super Hornet?

Yeah. We were doing EMCOM recoveries at night,

radio contact to a minimum to maintain covertness.

So, your crew misdialed an aircraft to the tune of four tons.

I'm aware of that, Commander.

The same thing's happened before without such dire consequence.

Look, Cooper, there were a lot of mistakes made.

A man died down there. I'm just trying to find out where the buck stops.

I had to make a split-second decision whether to wave that Hornet off.

I made the wrong one.

[man 1] Sir, we've got a situation.

Excuse me, Commander.

[man 2] Seahawk, this is four-seven-six Hornet.

Low state, zero-point-six-five.

Four-seven-six, Roger, low state.

[man 2] Zero-point-six-two miles. We're losing fuel.

Four-seven-six report final approach.

We'll get you down in one piece.

[man 2] Fuel's bleeding out fast, boss.

Zero-point-five-eight and decreasing.

Fly the ball four-seven-six.

Set tension for Hornet.

[man] Aye, aye, sir.

[Cooper] Steady as she goes.

Incoming Hornet. Low state.

Wave off is not an option. Set those engines.

I need a reading, Petty Officer.

-We're go, Chief. -Pri-fly, we're go!

[man 2] Four-seven-six on final.

Zero-point-four, ball.

Four-seven-six Hornet.

Roger, ball.

You're looking good.

Bring her in.

[man 2] Zero-point-two, on fumes. I'll fly-over and eject.

Negative, four-seven-six. You got enough fuel.

Just stay with your bird, fly the ball.

[Connelly] You're too high, four-seven-six.

Ease your nose over just a little.

That's it.

Good, good.

Bring her down easy.

You got it.

[cheering]

[hangs up]

Ma'am?

Oh, you must be Bud?

-Yes, ma'am. -Well, congratulations

on your triumphant return to the office.

Well, thank you, ma'am.

I, uh, wanted to return your books

before I got busy with work.

I'm so glad you came.

I've got a whole seven minutes

-until my next class. Sit down. -Uh, thank you, but I can't.

I'm kind of in the middle of something back at home.

In fact, these plays inspired me.

Now, I know all the stories, like, um... Macbeth.

That's the classic "Dagger of the Mind."

Uh, Star Trek,episode.

-Oh. -Yeah, and, uh, let's see...

The Tempest.

That's "Requiem for Methuselah."

And, of course, Hamlet

is "Conscience of the King."

Yeah, the one where Captain Kirk

plays the prince and Kodos plays Claudius.

-Really? -Mm-hmm.

I didn't know.

You are a dear for making that connection for me.

And, a fellow of infinite jest of most excellent fancy.

Huh.

See, that's why I got to get home because I'm working

on this fan-fic for this Trekker web-zine.

Now, it's based on Richard III.

But I'm calling mine

Picard III.What do you think?

You know something, Bud?

You may have stumbled on to a most unique teaching aid.

[Johnson] Let's get on with it, Commander.

Aye, sir. All right,

at 2355, a Tomcat makes an off-center trap.

The LSO's Petty Officer writes it up as normal.

Now, the log entry error is not the soul cause

of this mishap, however.

At 0105, an F-18 Super Hornet

radios in requesting final approach.

Pri-fly misdials the aircraft as a Hornet, not a Super Hornet.

That's a weight differential of 8,000-plus pounds.

Not sufficient force, all things being equal

to damage the arresting wire to the point of breakage.

But it did damage the wire to the point of breakage, Commander.

The off-center trap and the heavy landing

added the equivalent of 15 traps to that wire.

That still put the trap volume below

the 125 recommended by the Navy for regular usage.

That cross-deck pendant should still have been able

to withstand another ten to 20 traps.

I think we're all aware of that, Commander.

[Rabb] If you'll bear with me, Captain. Now, in the resting gear room ,

Chief Kafenhaus realizes they've had excessive run-out.

The cross-head pulley ran out to 184 inches.

Now, regs recommends in-depth inspection at 185 inches.

Chief Kafenhaus was still operating

within Navy guidelines as were you all.

Collectively, you're all responsible for what happened on deck.

But no one person is to blame.

We'll be filing an amended report

stating there's insufficient evidence

to recommend an Article 32 hearing in this case.

Now, that's it, Skipper.

[sighs]

You're all dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Commander Rabb, you can stay.

Who was that show intended for?

We're all involved, Skipper.

Nobody deserves to be court-martialed

for what happened aboard the deck, sir.

It was an accident.

And certainly no officer need resign over it.

Will you accept these findings, Skipper?

Commander, I have found that arguing with attorneys

is rarely a winning proposition.

And I don't believe it's too late

to reconsider my hasty retirement.

Thank you.

Sir.

We're all going to miss you on terra firma.

We'll be at Norfolk in two weeks, Harm.

I think you can hold the fort until then.

What are you up to?

What do you mean?

All the secrecy, the private phone calls...

What aren't you telling me about Lieutenant Singer?

Mac, Lieutenant Singer risked a court-martial

to keep her life private.

I have to respect that.

Chivalry is not dead.

Colonel. Commander.

Good luck, Lieutenant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Let's hit it.

I haven't been able to get ahold of my brother in Russia.

I assume you're having the same problem.

It's no concern of mine, sir.

Sergei's the father ,

isn't he, Lieutenant?

Look, Lauren, you drove him to the airport.

I have a witness who saw you two cuddling together at Benzinger's the night before.

You've been spying on me?

Why didn't you tell us?

Because, Commander, two weeks later and no one would have known.

[man over intercom] Stay by for take-off.

Known what?

I'm having an abortion, sir.

[loud blast]

[closing theme music playing]