Original subtitles

I hate this part.

Duncan, you only pass your PRT because you have to leave it up here once in a

while. And be quick about it. The ship can't afford to have the radar down for

long. You know what they say.

Can't rush precision.

I know what else they say. The cable guy's always late.

Sir, ma 'am, Captain Astley to Greenfield. Lieutenant Jurgensen, Combat

Information Center Divisional Officer.

Staffing on my watch, I'm afraid.

You have someone on the app, ma 'am?

Petty Officer D 'Amato. She was Steven Duncan's work partner.

Finishing up what he started.

We're all playing maintenance safety system procedures being followed?

Every one of my staff claims so, Commander.

You believe him?

I don't know why they'd lie, sir.

Man is dead. That's the reason enough for some people.

I'm going to take a look up top.

Follow me, ma 'am.

Repairs to the radar array can only take place when the power is turned off.

Once that's happened, the technicians are supposed to affix a tag -out sheet

the console so everyone will know that the repairs are in progress.

For some reason, the tag -out sheet for this test wasn't in place at the time of

the accident. Can you say for certain that there ever was a tag -out sheet on

the radar console?

Yeah, the log record will prove a tag -out sheet was issued, ma 'am. It takes

three signatures to authorize the kind of work we were doing that day, leading

to your communications technician, a guy we call Second Man, and myself.

I saw the tag -out sheet on the console.

Apparently, ten minutes later, it was gone.

And Stephen Duncan was dead.

Yeah.

Eddie, Officer D 'Amato?

Yes, sir.

I'm investigating Stephen Duncan's death.

I know you were with him at the time. I'd like to hear your take on what

happened. Sir, Stephen Duncan and I were repairing a casualty to the radar

array, so the power was off. The radar is shut down while repairs are being

performed. That's right, Commander.

These AN Spitz 49 long -range units run at 360 kilowatts.

You don't want them starting up unless you're a safe distance away.

So how do you know it's shut down now?

I don't, sir.

I just have to trust that the guys in CFC are trying not to get me killed.

Um, have a seat.

Coat, um... You ever been married?

No, sir.

Are you a... a romantic?

It's my wedding. It's coming up in May, but... With this Commander

Irons business, I'm up to my... Eyeballs, I know, sir. And Meredith,

the same way.

I'd love to help, sir.

Well, no, I can't... Ask me to work on it during duty hours, I know, sir. But I

will pay. I wouldn't hear of it, sir.

I'd be honored to help, free of charge.

And, sir, I won't disappoint you.

I can't believe I'm going to miss the dance this year.

This year of auto -remediation is going to be tougher than I thought.

You having second thoughts about agreeing to it? Oh, no way.

I'm still better off than these guys.

My little sister's not too happy about it, though.

She started her freshman year at Bowie State, and up until all the honor board

business, she was going to be my date, so... I'll take your sister to

Thanksgiving dance.

Come on, look, we can't fraternize with female midshipmen that haven't been off

campus in months.

Give me a civilian girl.

Besides, I need a dick. Come on, set us up.

Yeah, all right.

She'll want to meet you first.

All right.

All right, give me her number.

I'll call after class.

I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Hi, ma 'am.

Do you have a moment? I'm on my lunch hour.

Uh, sure. Sure, Jennifer. What, uh...

What's all this?

Well, I spoke with three different dressmakers.

They agree that for your figure, this would be the most flattering style.

That looks like a parade float. May I suggest toasted almonds.

Jennifer, when A .J. said that you were helping... But ma 'am, this will match

the groomsman's cummerbund.

Uh -huh. And exactly how many groomsmen are we talking about?

Well, for a formal military wedding in Annapolis, ma 'am, you probably

go if you were in 12.

Huh.

Petty Officer Atwood, you were the second man on the repair that killed

Duncan? Yes, ma 'am. How do you explain that while you knew radar array repair

was happening, you stood by while Petty Officer Farrier turned on the microwave

unit to initiate a test? I didn't know what Petty Officer Farrier was planning

to do, ma 'am.

I assumed everyone in the division could see the tag -out sheet on the console.

Except Petty Officer Farrier, apparently.

I saw the tag -out sheet there earlier, ma 'am.

But if Petty Officer Farrier says it wasn't there, then it wasn't there, ma

This was not her fault.

I assume that's Petty Officer Farrier.

Yes, ma 'am.

Petty Officer?

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? Yes, ma 'am. I know my

rights and I waived them.

Where exactly were you when Seaman Duncan was killed?

High -power output test, ma 'am. Had you ever run that test before? Yes, ma 'am,

many times.

To the point where you'd become overconfident? No, ma 'am. I think I

healthy respect for how dangerous array maintenance can be.

Everybody here does.

But you never thought to ask the other technicians if it was safe to proceed.

That is in the protocol, ma 'am. When the radar repair is in progress, there's

supposed to be a tag -out sheet on the control console.

It wasn't there, ma 'am.

So Lieutenant Jorgensen is doing ten things at once in this?

Second man operating four tests simultaneously. Was there any one person

job it was to watch that tag -out sheet?

You know, I couldn't believe it when Kevin called me. You know, in high

he never would have set me up.

Protective big brother, huh?

Yeah. He was worse than our mother.

I mean, it's not my place to say this, but maybe after your dad died, he felt

like he had to step in.

You're pretty insightful.

The guy's my best friend, Kat. I mean, I know he cares about his family.

No, I know that he does it all out of love. I know that. But, you know, I'm

a little girl anymore.

He doesn't need to take care of me like that.

Oh, gosh. My roommate locked herself out again.

Guess you gotta go, huh?

No, it's not an excuse.

You know, you make me wish I didn't have a 7 o 'clock lecture tonight.

The significance of Jacob Reese to the labor movement. Wow.

You a business major? I'm a pre -law.

But I don't bite.

So, listen,

are you going to be around tomorrow?

Oh, I'm going to D .C. to see my brother.

But I'll be back around 5 or 6.

You know, I'd like to get together if you want.

I want.

Bye. Okay.

Picture this.

And post it on.

Well, uh... Looks like a cantaloupe blown up by a... Landmine, sir?

This is what Meredith wants?

Sir, I've taken the liberty of creating a checklist.

Checklist? I mean, what the hell do you need? The bride and the ring?

Sir, getting married can be very complicated.

Oh, getting married is simple.

Staying married is very complicated.

Sir, I think you'll find that a lot is expected of the modern bridegroom. For

instance, who have you named as your best man?

Well, I haven't given that much thought yet.

I'm sure you've at least considered the bridal shower, sir.

Co -ed is the new catchphrase for that.

You do have your prenuptial agreements in place, sir?

Petty Officer Yates, your only task at the time of the incident was to make

your co -workers knew repairs were being done to the radar.

I thought I had, sir.

Tag -out sheet was here at 0820. But it wasn't here at 0830 when I commenced my

test. The test wasn't scheduled until 1010.

What were you doing in here at 0830?

Sir, I thought I was helping by getting it out of the way early.

Where were you, Petty Officer Yates, at 0830?

I was here, sir.

There was just so much going on.

In the midst of our regular operations, we had gear -tooth damage to the

mechanical linkage on the array.

The ship was blind in the water without its radar.

Everything just had to be fixed so quickly.

This is ridiculous.

The tag -out sheet has got to be here, so... Right.

Tag out sheet for repairs to the radar array.

See, I told you I'd put it up.

It might have fallen.

Should have stayed at the console, Petty Officer Yates.

Yes, ma 'am.

So what happens to me now?

You neglected your primary responsibility, Petty Officer, and a man

Just like old times, you know, me and you, sea duty.

We had to get out of Washington more often.

Well, it sounds to me like you got out of Washington plenty when you were off

playing spy.

You'll never tell me what you were doing with the CIA, will you? I can't imagine

Clay brings his work home with him.

I thought we decided to travel light, leaving the baggage behind.

I left my baggage in Paraguay.

And some deep, dark secret you left stateside, but all respect to privacy on

that one.

Well, I guess there is a first time for everything.

Excuse me, sir?

Ma 'am?

I heard you were leaving.

Well, we're filing the incident as accidental and recommending lessons

Nothing we found warrants a dereliction of charge. Did you reconsider, sir?

You had your man. You just let him off the hook.

Petty Officer Yates. Yes, sir.

The thing you don't know is that this happened before.

A few weeks ago.

A tag out sheet fell off? Yes, ma 'am. When Petty Officer Yates was previously

conducting radar array maintenance.

Just that...

Last time, no one happened to be on the port top, so no one got hurt.

Sir, ma 'am, if you'll excuse me, I'm on duty in ten minutes.

Go ahead, Petty Officer, but make yourself available. We might want to

you later.

Yes, ma 'am. We're the Fantail standby to launch helo.

We're the Fantail standby to launch helo. Our flight's leaving.

There'll be another one tomorrow.

Hold, hang on, hang on a second, hang on.

Hey, come in. It says, when do you knock?

Hey, listen, these people are used to traveling on luxury tour buses. I can't

tell them that they have to potty in a bucket on the back of a C -130.

Hey, Mikey. Hey.

It's like living with Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. How are you?

Good. Harry's been working with the USO putting together this Christmas show in

Iraq, squeezing it in on coffee breaks and after hours, kind of cutting into

quality time.

Hey, will AJ do that? Yeah, before he went off to his play date.

Do you believe that between teasing the new baby and wandering away from the

babysitter, he's actually learning how to spell?

You should ask him to help with my homework.

Are you having trouble keeping up with your studies?

I was kidding.

Good. Just because it's tough keeping up your grade, you know, semester after

semester like you have been.

It's getting tougher.

Second year.

And a social life.

You know, I met a girl.

Uh -huh.

Freshman at Bowie.

Pre -law?

Mikey, you know that I'm proud of your accomplishments, but you know that

not always the most... The most what?

The most mature.

Is a girl a place you ought to be focusing all your energies right now?

relax. We've been on, like, one date.

Besides, maybe it'd be a little more mature if you stopped calling me Mikey.

How about Mike?

You know, I'm 21 years old now, bud.

Okay.

Mike, this house is mute testimony to the difficulties of balancing a work

with a personal life. Yeah, okay. Hey, lunch in five, guys?

Listen, if you send me a press kit, then I can get some buzz started on this

thing.

When did Harriet start talking like Carson Daly?

It's been a slow progression.

My workload is nuts, too. I mean, we've had this problem at Jaguar, having to

retry all these old cases.

No matter how much you might want it, You can't have it all, Mike.

In the office on a Saturday, A .J.? It's just me. Sorry, ma 'am.

I had to come into the office because there's a wait for the phone at my

I share an apartment with three other girls.

Ma 'am, can I put you on hold for a second?

Jagoffs, Petty Officer Croaks.

Commander Rabb is out of the country, which is why you couldn't reach him at

home. I can take a message.

Miss Grace.

Got it.

Thank you.

Dr. Cavanaugh, I'm so sorry.

Uh, what is it you need, Jennifer?

Well, I have a menu to show you. You know how the Admiral loves French food.

Well, I do, but... I can drop them by your house on my way home.

Uh, no.

Uh... I'm sorry, Jennifer. Today is not a good day. I'll call you, okay?

Okay. Bye, ma 'am.

What can you tell me about Petty Officer Yates?

He's not the most popular guy, I guess, but I don't spend enough time in the CIC

to get involved in their politics.

What about the second man, Petty Officer Atwood?

He's mouthy, kind of a blowhard.

You ever hear him mouth off to Petty Officer Yates?

Yeah, I caught Atwood and Yates at each other's throats a few times.

Over anything in particular?

Petty Officer Atwood accused Petty Officer Yates of shirking, being a

sir.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe he knew something like this was bound to happen.

Excuse me.

Have you ever known Petty Officer Atwood and Petty Officer Yates to argue?

Nothing beyond a spat here or there, ma 'am. Were you aware of a previous

incident where the tag -out sheet went missing during radar repairs?

I knew about the missing notice when it happened last time.

Petty Officer Yates left the console during the test.

Petty Officer Atwood found the tag -out sheet on the floor.

Doesn't it seem strange to you that the same mishap would befall the same sailor

twice in a month?

What are you suggesting, ma 'am? Do you think it's possible that someone

sabotaged the tag -out sheet so that Petty Officer Yates would get the blame?

I can't imagine that, ma 'am. Can you imagine anyone in this division

intentionally making Petty Officer Yates look incompetent?

Petty Officer?

Ma 'am, can we step in here?

Ma 'am, no one would have to stage anything to make Petty Officer Yates

incompetent. The day of the accident, he left the radar console so he could go

and have a cigarette.

In the middle of his watch?

Oh yeah, and it's not the first time either.

Pack a day, ten minutes, a cigarette, you do the math.

He's absent more than he's present, and a lot of being listed are getting tired

of covering for him.

Well, Bud says you've been really busy.

Yeah, well, I shouldn't complain.

Some of these headliners that the USO have booked for this tour play 200 dates

year, and they still find time to volunteer.

So, Bud and I are just going a little bit crazy right now, that's all.

You know, what was it like when you first met?

I mean, you're both still working, Bud was in law school.

How did you find time for each other?

Well, it was...

although we were bending the rules just a little bit. Why are you asking all

these questions?

Thinking about going to Corton?

I like this girl.

How serious is it?

We just met.

Well, you must think there's a possibility of it being serious, but you

be asking all these questions.

I mean, I could see myself spending time with her, sure.

But Bud doesn't think I can handle my class load and the personal life at the

same time.

But he still thinks of you as a little kid.

Yeah, he mentioned that.

I was just looking out for you, that's all.

By turning me into a monk?

Not that, I mean, I wasn't thinking about that.

About what?

What did you think I was thinking?

About sex.

Hey, stop.

About sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. Harriet, please.

All work and no play makes for a pretty dull guy.

And Bud knows that. So if you like this girl and she likes you, don't let Bud

convince you not to see her.

Deep down, that's not what Bud wants anyway.

Thought we'd find you out here.

What's that, sir?

At ease.

Process of elimination, Petty Officer Yates.

At how many places aboard this ship can you take a smoke break without being

seen?

You'd be surprised at how creative you can get.

Smoking calms me down, Colonel Commander.

I can't get through the day without it.

Apparently, you left your workstation in the middle of radar maintenance just to

have one. Twice.

Actually, to tell the truth, ma 'am, it was more than twice.

Yeah, your nasty little habit got a man killed.

Don't think I don't feel like crap about it, ma 'am. It's not good enough, Petty

Officer. Not by a mile. We're reversing our original findings. We're

recommending you be brought up on a charge of dereliction of duty.

And involuntary manslaughter.

Manslaughter? While you were out here killing yourself, another man died.

Excuse me, ma 'am.

Here are the cases that Commander Imes argued against Commander Minetti.

sealed, and delivered.

Thanks, bud.

This one shouldn't take long to put to bed.

A petty officer with a monkey on his back and no excuses?

He was out smoking when he should have been monitoring a tag -out sheet.

Sounds like an open -and -shut dereliction case, ma 'am. Forget that. I

this guy for involuntary manslaughter.

He's shown culpable negligence and a reckless disregard for human life.

Satisfies the standard.

under the most expansive interpretation, ma 'am. Petty Officer Yates is weak,

bud. His lack of self -discipline resulted in a fatality.

You seem to be very emotional about this case, ma 'am. Not at all. I have never

felt more analytical.

Thanks for your help with my retrial motions, and please tell Harriet that

sorry for keeping her husband at night.

She barely noticed, ma 'am. Her work with the USO has taken up most of her

time.

It's only till Christmas, bud.

I know.

Thanks, ma 'am.

Hey,

bud, I need you to pick up the boys at the babysitter. I'm going to be late

again tonight. Little AJ's having such a hard time. Could you? I'm going to be

working late, too, honey.

Honeymoon insurance.

I don't think I need insurance in that department.

Sir, you really should consider... I love Meredith, but this whole thing is

way out of control.

That'll be all.

Yes, sir.

Manor.

Sir, a girl called for you on Saturday, said she couldn't reach you at home.

Thank you.

Uh, Admiral, did you read the memo I put with Petty Officer Yates, Paul?

Yeah. Admiral, I've agreed to dereliction of duty charge, but Mac will

nothing to do with it. She's after this guy with a vengeance.

So, what do you think the colonel's problem is with your nicotine -addicted

client? I think you just hit the nail on the head, sir.

Do you have a second, ma 'am?

Sure.

Is that for the admiral's wedding?

Yeah, Meredith asked me to help plan it.

Wow, they must think a lot of you, Jennifer, to trust you with their

doesn't feel that way, ma 'am. They're both becoming very uncooperative.

Well, most men don't get excited about flowers and place cards. Most women are

afraid to force the issue.

That is why it's up to you to drag the admiral, kicking and screaming if

necessary, into the kind of connubial bliss that Meredith wants, but is afraid

to ask for.

Another skirmish in the battle of the sexes, ma 'am? For his own good.

Married men live longer.

Ma 'am.

Thank you.

Grace Aviation. Hey, Maddie.

Harm, I tried to call you. Your secretary said you were out of the

Yeah, I was on a ship all weekend, and I don't have a secretary that was any

officer called.

Where were you?

In the Med.

In the Mediterranean Sea.

That's nice.

What's wrong?

Just...

You live a pretty fast life, Harm.

Don't being my guardian sort of slow you down?

Well, maybe I'm ready to slow down.

This court thing is sure taking a long time.

You're not... Changing my mind? No.

And look, Maddie, if we're going to be a family, you're going to have to stop

doubting me.

Little fake, huh?

Mikey!

Yo. Got in late last night?

Since when are you the dead mother?

Since never.

Just don't see you much anymore.

Bro, I had a 6 a .m. drill this morning, and you were asleep when I left.

As I know, you're not waiting up Warren about me.

You been seeing Cassie?

Yeah, yeah. She's here about, uh, three times now.

Well, I guess I haven't had time to tell you.

Look, she's only 18. She's still a kid.

You set us up. Just for the dance. Why don't you expect you guys to go behind

back? Behind your back? Hold up.

Are you asking me to dump your sister?

If you were my friend, you wouldn't have gotten this involved with her in the

first place.

Cap.

Kev.

Article 92 of the UCMJ provides that a person is derelict in his duties when he

willfully or negligently fails to perform a duty imposed by standard

procedure. Now, I don't believe that even the defense will dispute that Petty

Officer Yates willfully and knowingly violated standard operating procedure

he left his appointed place of duty during radar repairs to smoke a

Evidence will establish the accused dereliction of duty.

The UCMJ further defines manslaughter as a death that results from an act or

omission by the accused, which constitutes culpable negligence.

The government will show that when the accused abandoned his station for

personal reasons, his culpable negligence was a direct cause of a

death. And a petty officer Yates should also be found guilty of involuntary

manslaughter.

The CDC and at least a dozen research scientists have issued statements to the

effect that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine or heroin.

Every year in this country, defendants are found not guilty or are convicted of

lesser crimes based on their having been under the influence of narcotics at the

time their offenses were committed.

Additionally, mental defect or disease is considered an extenuating

in virtually every jurisdiction.

Addiction is informally recognized by the medical community as a disease.

It is the defensive contention that Petty Officer Yates exhibited a lack of

mental responsibility at the time of his actions based on an uncontrollable

addiction to nicotine and should therefore not be held criminally

for the fatal accident aboard the USS Gilchrist.

Thanks for driving down here.

I don't think I came all this way just to see you, dude.

But, um, actually, I was hoping to speak with Kevin.

You know, he's been really strange with me on the phone, you know, like, remote.

So I'm just gonna wait here until he gets out of class.

And I think something's bugging him.

Yeah, we're bugging him, Cassie.

He told you that?

I thought he wanted me to be happy.

Happy on his terms.

I'm gonna find someone as special as you.

I don't know, maybe I feel the same way.

You really think I'm special?

I think you already know that.

Hey, hey, hey!

I knew this was gonna happen. I left you a note.

I got your note.

Hey, this is family business, okay? My family. Yeah, and I'm part of this

too, Kevin.

And I'm old enough to make my own decisions. And you know what? If you

lighten up on this big brother crap, you're gonna have to find yourself

sister because I'm over it.

Kev. Kev!

Where you going?

That's just grown, Kev. You just leave her alone.

She's trying to make something of herself. She can't afford to be getting

involved. Getting involved or getting involved with me?

Have it any way you want.

Go ahead, say it.

I'm not good enough for your sister.

Dad, I don't plan to go to law school or medical school.

I'm just a career sailor who's going to drag her from one base to the next. Go

ahead, Kevin.

Say it.

Don't have to say it.

Petty Officer Atwood, how often did Petty Officer Yates use maintenance and

periods as a chance to take a cigarette break?

More often than not, ma 'am. Petty Officer Atwood, do you ever know someone

a bad habit?

I guess I'm what they call a chocoholic, ma 'am. Do you eat chocolate when

you're supposed to be working?

No, ma 'am. They don't allow food in with the equipment.

But as a chocoholic, by definition, you are addicted to chocolate.

Your Honor. It's a means to a permissible end, Your Honor.

Get me there soon, Counselor. Well, just as Petty Officer Atwood controls his

desire for a candy bar while on the job, an alcoholic can decide not to take a

drink. It is possible to deny one's addiction for the greater good.

Petty Officer Yates abdicated responsibility willingly.

He decided to leave his workstation to cater to his desires. He is therefore

culpable for his actions, nicotine addiction or not.

Would you agree, Petty Officer?

Aside from counsel testifying, the witness is not a substance abuse expert.

Not asking for an expert opinion.

A drunk drinks to self -medicate. Victim or perpetrator?

Victim until that same drunk gets behind the wheel of a car and kills someone.

Counsel. Yeah, I'm sorry, Your Honor.

There's nothing more annoying than a reformed addict.

How dare you?

Both counsel is a sidebar now.

It's part of the defense of goading the witness.

Sounded to me like defense was goading prosecuting counsel.

You think you can use my alcoholism in a sympathy bid for your chain -smoking

client? Addiction is a disease, Colonel.

Addiction can be controlled. Mind over matter.

Guard, get an ambulance.

You complain about not feeling well? He looks sick, but I thought it was pre

-court jitters.

Nicotine patches.

Looks like your addict just OD'd.

Hey. Petty Officer Yates is recovering from his nicotine overdose.

Your client is still using his drug of choice, Commander.

If he wants to impress me, he can quit cold turkey.

Oh, like you did?

Twice? You can't understand unless this thing has a hold of you, sir.

I would... panic if I couldn't smoke.

My pulse would race and my hands would shake.

I needed it like I needed air, sir.

Your witness.

Petty Officer Yates, how many cigarettes have you had today?

None, ma 'am.

I've actually quit.

No patches, no gum.

I've learned my lesson. If I'm going to quit this thing, I have to find the

strength within myself without relying on substitutes.

So you can control your addiction when you choose to, like when you're standing

trial in a smoke -free facility.

It's strange how you can conquer this demon of yours when it's your freedom on

the line, not just another sailor's life.

Argumentative. Sustained.

Tell me about what happened just before you abandoned your workstation on the

day Seaman Duncan died.

I remember sitting there, and I was thinking that I have to get through

Petty Officer Atwood was already on my case for taking too many breaks.

So you decided to show up for work, huh?

What, do you think you're a teamster, Yates?

You didn't think Petty Officer Atwood was justified in his complaint?

You don't understand, ma 'am. It wasn't just the smoking.

It was something else.

You and Petty Officer Atwood didn't get along. You want to tell me why?

It's the fraternization, ma 'am.

Hey, Anna.

Hey, Mark.

You okay?

It was no big deal. It was just a fling.

We ended it right away, stayed friends.

But Petty Officer Atwood was just hard on me after that.

Just can't do it.

Sorry, Anna.

Come on, Farrier.

We're trying to do a job here.

You're such a stickler for the rules.

You wouldn't stop glaring at me.

I just... I needed a cigarette.

City Officer Farrier is the one who initiated the radar test that killed

Duncan.

Yes, that's right, ma 'am.

There you go.

Requested room reassignment.

If you want to be ready, you want to get approval?

Kevin, this is stupid.

It's not worth losing a friend over.

You know, you're not the first person to tell me it's not easy to have a

personal life when you're in school.

My brother gave me the same lecture you gave Cassie. You know what I figure?

The two guys I respect can't both be wrong.

Just shut up, okay?

I blew it with Cassie.

I shouldn't have said those things to you or her.

Man, you just want what's best for her. So do I. Then try and make her happy. I

can't.

Because I took you at your word, and I broke it off with Cassie.

And now she's mad at both of us.

Are

you

following me, coach?

Just a little, sir.

Hoping for some insight.

I'm planning the Admiral's wedding.

Well, that's a losing proposition.

I'm finding that, sir.

They don't agree on things, and they're shooting the messenger.

Let me tell you something, petty officer.

Someday, some guy is going to fall madly in love with you, buy you a ring, and

ask you to marry him. I hope so, sir.

You'll spend the equivalent of a down payment on a house, on a party, that

friends will all go to out of obligation. You'll wake up the next

15 toasters, a champagne hangover. You'll look at the lump next to your

you'll go, oh, my God.

I could have bought a house for the amount of money I spent to tie myself to

this for the rest of my life.

Have your relationships been going badly, sir?

The mysterious Miss Grace, perhaps?

I know it's none of my business, but she sounds so young.

You get the same caveat about marriage from Colonel McKenzie.

Actually, sir, the Colonel seemed very sentimental about matrimony.

Really?

Well, how unlike her.

Maybe she met someone who changed her mind.

Excuse me, sir.

I decided for once I'd give your client the benefit of the doubt.

Did a little follow -up on Petty Officer Anna Farrier.

Never mind that she started the test early. She wasn't even supposed to be on

duty at the time of the accident.

Now, I wonder what she would say about Petty Officer Yates' assertion that

relationship was no big deal.

A woman scorned is a force of nature. You ought to know.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

You can work side by side with someone every day and still not know what

thinking. I could say the same of you.

A jab in there.

It was below the belt.

You're right.

And, uh, I'm sorry.

Truce?

Yeah.

What was the nature of your relationship with Petty Officer Yates?

We were co -workers, sir.

Beyond that?

There was nothing beyond that. You are under oath, Petty Officer Ferrier.

Petty Officer Yates and I had dated while on the Gilchrist, sir.

Against regulations.

What are your career plans, Petty Officer Ferrier?

I hope to continue my education after the Navy, sir.

Study electrical engineering.

That's a lot to put on the line for a fling, isn't it?

A fling, sir?

Your relationship with Petty Officer Yates.

I mean, you both knew you'd be disciplined if you were caught.

But you were willing to risk it all for a meaningless fling. Commander. A romp,

a grope, a few quick... Stop it.

Sir.

It was more than that to you, wasn't it, Petty Officer Ferrier?

It was everything to me, sir.

But Petty Officer Yates didn't share those feelings, did he?

What were you doing in the CIC at the time of the incident?

I told you, sir, I was trying to get things out of the way. You were angry.

felt used.

You knew Petty Officer Yates would be there. You knew there'd be an

to discredit him by removing the tag -out sheet. I was there because I wanted

see him, just to see him, not to sabotage the repairs.

You'd removed a sheet before.

Unfortunately, the only one who noticed was Petty Officer Atwood.

Desperate for others to know, you thought you'd turn the radar on.

Maybe you didn't even know that Seaman Duncan would be on the half -mast at the

time. You were just so determined to get even with the man who had broken your

heart. It's not true. I didn't do it. Then who did?

Who else has motive to want to have Petty Officer Yates removed from the

Gilchrist? One tag -out sheet missing is an accident. Two sounds to me like

deliberate sabotage. And the only one who has motive, Petty Officer Farrier,

you.

It started out as a friendship sort of thing. I would cry my eyes out about

Miles and he'd listen.

Then it started getting scary.

He would follow me.

He was watching me all the time.

Who were you talking about?

You asked me who I thought would have a reason to want to get rid of Miles and

it wasn't me because I still loved him.

It was Petty Officer Atwood, sir.

He thought that if it weren't for Miles then maybe he and I would...

How do you know that?

Because when I was called to stand witness, he told me.

And then he threatened to hurt me if I told the truth.

Mr. McRoberts.

I've got a surprise for you.

I bought the dress before you dumped me. I didn't.

You look... You look amazing.

The dance doesn't start for another three hours, so I figured you two might

to get some dinner first.

You're not angry?

Kevin explained to me that he's the one that I should be angry with. And for

whatever reason, she's decided to forgive me.

Well, I can have my dress uniform on in 15 minutes.

Okay. But look, it's just a dance. It doesn't mean that we're an item.

We're students first, and we should just take it slow.

Right. The slower, the better.

For all of us.

Come here.

We need to talk, AJ.

And I'd like you to stay, too.

I don't want it, AJ.

I don't want a big wedding.

Well, you don't. I thought I didn't.

What? But you're the one who's been picking out antebellum dresses and

restaurants. Well, I thought that's what you wanted. Me?

I... I was so honored, sir, when you asked me to plan your wedding. I guess I

just got carried away.

Well, Meredith and I want to...

To be our wedding few close... Close friends. I know. I'm... I'm sorry. I

just... I want it to be perfect.

Oh, and it will be, Jennifer.

Yes, ma 'am.

Better go tell the caterer we won't be feeding... 200. Gotcha.

Dismissed. Aye, aye, sir.

Well, you know, there's something else I wanted to talk to you about, A .J., now

that you've... Mentioned it?

It's not about the honeymoon, is it? No.

The drama department at the University of Bologna is doing a student -produced

series of the Italian plays, and I have been invited to attend.

Oh, that's great. When?

It's over Christmas.

I know we talked about this being the first Christmas together as a... as a

betrothed couple.

You know, there's no way I can...

Get away to go with you.

I know, which is why I'm asking you to give me your blessing to go by myself.

Well, don't need my permission.

I know that, too.

But maybe I... I want it.

Sweetie?

I just got off the phone with the Marine liaison in Baghdad.

He says based on concert grosses, the show we're putting together would be

over $700 a seat if it were a civilian gig.

Did you just say gig?

And then he asked me to call his wife and tell her how much he misses her.

All he wants to do is be home with his family.

I feel the same way, honey.

So do I, bud.

Get your coat.

Let's go home.

Your retrial cases can wait till tomorrow.

Petty Officer Atwood confessed to sabotaging the tag -app sheet. I prefer

charges. He's being moved to D .C. to await trial.

This whole court case pretty much proves your point, doesn't it?

I don't know about how badly things turn out when co -workers cross the line.

It wouldn't happen if they just ain't good friends.

Well, hey, good friend. What do you say to a platonic bowl of pasta?

I'd love to, but I'm having dinner with Clay.

Hey, there.

You coming?

I'll get the next one.

No, you couldn't have called at a better time.