All language subtitles for JAG - 08x03 - Family Business.SAiNTS.English.updated.Addic7ed.com

Shut up!

Go to hell!

Put it down!

She's dead, son.

Mom.

Oh, no.

Have a seat.

- Gunnery Sergeant Akers?
- Yes, sir.

I'm Commander Rabb.

I've been detailed
as your defence counsel.

Yes, sir.

You admitted to killing your wife?

In self-defence, yes.

What's your story?

She was drunk, sir.

She tried to slash me
with a chef's knife.

I shot her once in the shoulder
to try and stop her,

but she came at me again

unh, and cut me
trying to protect myself.

The second time I shot to kill.

Bullet through the neck
severed her carotid artery.

Yes, sir.

You were armed at the time?

Pulled a weapon out of the drawer,
sir.

Had you registered the weapon

- with the provost marshal's office?
- No, sir.

You didn't try to disarm
your wife first?

- No, sir.
- Why not?

Marie and I had been down this road
before, sir.

In '99, she broke my hand
with a garden trowel.

Last year she threw boiling water
at me, scalding my chest.

This was my last stand, sir.

Did you report these incidents?

No, sir.

Clearly a mistake, but I was taught that
you keep family business to yourself.

You have a 10-year-old son?

Yes. Tommy.

Did your wife ever attack him?

Yes, sir.

Did you report that?

My second mistake, commander.

Where was he at the time
of your wife's death?

In his room, sir.

Did he witness any of it?

Uhn-uhn, just the aftermath.

Can he corroborate
any of the other incidents?

No, sir.
He wasn't there for either of them.

You're really not giving me
much to work with here, gunny.

Yes, sir. I know.

And for that, I am deeply sorry.

No one should have to clean
this mess up except for me.

Lieutenant Singer,
your itinerary, ma'am.

Thank you, Tiner.

- Something else?
- I wanted to congratulate you, ma'am.

You'll do well on the Seahawk.

Yes, I will.

Anything further I can do
to expedite your departure, ma'am?

- Are you being friendly or eager?
- Just trying to help, ma'am.

Not at the moment, Tiner.

Well, if you think of anything,
ma'am, I'm available.

Lieutenant Singer,
you going somewhere?

Yeah,
the lieutenant has been transferred

to a carrier in the Arabian Sea.

I'm sorry to hear that.

No, it's a good thing.

For Lieutenant Singer.

It's a billet for hot runners.

Well, uh, I wish you the best.

Thank you, Sergei.

I honestly believe you do.

Why don't you like her?

Oh, I don't dislike her.

She's actually very Russian in spirit.

Her determination
is hiding her feelings,

which are deeper
and more complicated than you think.

Well, so long as she keeps them
in a place you can't get to, little brother.

Harm, you make me sound like a baby
who needs to be watched.

I am experienced enough
to choose what is best for me.

Yeah, you are. You are.

So long as you don't choose her.

- You insult me, Harm.
- Sergei.

- Go to your meeting.
- Hey, hey, hey, little brother.

Hey, take it easy. I wouldn't trust her
with anybody I care about.

I'll see you Friday.

You're not mad at me, are you?

I can get over it.

Nice of you to join us, commander.

Sorry I'm late, sir.
Have a seat.

Ahh, the colonel has reviewed
the Article 32 report

on Marie Akers' homicide.

She'll be representing the government
at the gunnery sergeant's court-martial.

Anything you care to discuss?

The gunny will be pleading
not guilty, sir. Self-defence.

She's 5'2", Harm.
The gunny is 6'1 ", 185.

Half of all spousal abuse victims
are male.

Oh, and how many
of them are Marines?

Irrelevant.
I'm pushing for premeditation.

- What?
- Outside of this office, please.

Sorry, sir.

Sir.

- You're reaching.
- A potential capital case.

- You wish.
Heh.

NCIS determined the blood splatter
from the gunny's wounds

- were inconsistent with self-defence.
- I read the report.

The blood on the floor is a mixture
of the gunny and his wife's.

How anyone could draw a definitive
conclusion from that, I'll never know.

Harm, I have reason to believe
the Gunny is capable

of planning and executing a murder.

- Your evidence?
- To be revealed.

- Mac.
- I'll accept life without parole.

I'm not dealing
until I know what I have.

What you have
is a dead man's hand.

Someone spike your cereal,
colonel?

No, I'm just feeling good in general.

What's your secret?

I had a vision last night.

- Uh-oh!
- Mm-hm.

I walked in the office, looked around
and there was Lieutenant Singer.

Do I really wanna know this?

She was on that middle monitor,

standing on the deck
of the Seahawk, heh.

Loren.

Uh...

Come in.

- Everything okay?
- Yeah.

Good.

- Thanks for coming.
- You're welcome.

I assume it's to pick my brain
about the Seahawk?

I need specifics, Bud.

Well, uh, Petty Officer Coates
is an excellent legalman.

She'll serve you well,
if you treat her well.

Are you suggesting I won't?

Oh, last Christmas you accused her
of stealing your jewellery.

I'll leave my jewellery at home.

Anything else?

Yeah, don't take any hikes
in a minefield.

So what's new at JAG?

The president's accepted
SECNAV's resignation.

Oh, maybe you should reconsider this
billet and throw your hat into that ring.

In due time, Bud.

Rehab going well?

Yeah, uh...

I'm making a little progress
each and every day.

Yeah, too little.

The lieutenant's not quite
with the programme yet.

Lieutenant Loren Singer,
this is my new roommate,

Marine Corporal Shawn Stiles.

Lieutenant.

Your roommate's enlisted?

We've gotten crowded around here.

- Back from the war, corporal?
- Oh, a few months ago.

I reinjured myself.
Got a little ambitious.

- Ma'am.
- Heh, ma'am.

Lt. Roberts is assisting me
with my lapse in protocol.

I'm helping him
to get his ass back home.

That's pretty sloppy, sir.

You want to keep that baby smooth
and tapered.

- It'll get all tore up in the prosthesis.
- I'm trying, corporal.

Why don't you call the nurse, dawg?
Give yourself a break.

Did you just call him dawg?

Oh, heh, forgive me, ma'am.

I'll tell you what, if I mess up again,
you have my permission

to subject me to harsh
and relentless discipline.

Bud needs you.

I've talked to him. He sounds fine.

Talking to him on a phone
isn't the same as seeing him.

I don't wanna see him like that.

So, what, you're just gonna avoid
Bud for the rest of your life?

No, I'll see him when he gets his...

- Prosthesis?
- Oh, God.

It makes me sick
just to think about it.

Come on, Dad, you were in Vietnam.
You must've seen plenty of amputees.

I was not in Vietnam.
I was off the coast on a ship.

The only time I ever saw pants
without legs in them

was when they were folded up
on a supply shelf.

He needs you.

Mikey, I went to that hospital.

I got as far as the elevator doors.

And what stopped you?

I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know.

I don't wanna talk about it.

You must be Tommy.

I'm Commander Rabb.
I'm your dad's lawyer.

Pleased to meet you.

Family Services told me
you were staying here with your aunt.

Tommy, we're gonna need
to talk about some difficult things, son.

And I need you to tell me
what you remember

about the night your mom died.

I can't talk about that.

You're gonna need to try, Tommy,
okay?

I can't.

My father told me not to talk to you.

You told your son not to talk?

Can't help. He didn't see anything.

I don't want him testifying.

Gunny,
you have no other witnesses.

Tommy's already traumatised,
commander.

Putting him on the stand
will only make it worse.

- If he saw his mother attack you...
- He didn't.

- Well, if she abused him...
- Commander, I killed his mother.

The least I can do is protect him
from reliving it.

Tommy wants to testify.

Heh, wouldn't you if you know
it could save your father, sir?

If Tommy doesn't take the stand,

there's a good chance
he's gonna grow up without you.

Is that what you want?

No, sir. Of course not.

That's why I need you to help me
find a way out of this

so I don't have to use my son.

You all right?

- So far.
- There it is.

Look at it. That's your future.

No wheelchairs, no crutches.

What's next?

You put some weight on it, so I can tell
where the fit should be adjusted.

Can we get him up on the bars?

Thanks.

- Ready?
- I think so.

One small step for man,
a giant leap for one-legged attorneys.

- Is it gonna hurt?
- Time to find out.

Just ease down slowly
and if it hurts, push back up.

- Nothing to prove.
- Okay.

Here goes.

- Damn.
- A little less weight this time.

It's a process.

Okay.

Drop premeditation.

- And we'll take 10 years confinement.
- Forty.

Mac, I'm trying to give the boy
his father back.

Give him his mother back
and I'll drop everything.

A life sentence
translates to 20 years

without even a remote possibility
of parole.

I can take that.

Under that scenario, the boy's 30
when his dad gets out of prison.

I feel for the kid, Harm,
but his future is not my responsibility.

That's your M.O., always working out
the fatherless-boy thing.

Well, I could say the same thing
to you about female victims.

I deserved that.

Here.

So we're going to trial.

I'm sorry.

At ease.

I need two things from you, gunny.

The names of anyone
who may have witnessed your wife

being verbally abusive
while intoxicated.

Oh, I can do that, commander.
Marie was a public drunk.

Excellent. I wanna try to build
a pattern of behaviour,

see if we can establish in her
character the potential for violence.

Sounds like a plan, sir.

Next, I want to talk
to friends or relatives,

anyone who can speak
to your patience and self-control,

- especially in presence of your wife.
- Yes, sir.

We need to show
that this event was an aberration,

that you were a man
at the end of a long, painful journey.

The members have got to see
that given the years of spousal abuse,

you had no other recourse
but to act the way you did.

Do you want them now, sir?

- What?
- The character witnesses.

I can give you five
off the top of my head.

Uh, Bourbon straight up,

and a shot of your finest vodka
for this young man here.

You think I don't know
what's good for you.

What, expensive drinks?
- Come on, I'm kidding.

Loosen the bolts a little bit, brother.
You've been this way for months.

- Do you know why?
Yeah, I know why.

It's the immigration thing.
Thank you.

That's part of it.

That's a big part of it.
I know how important it is to you.

Look, DNA tests were inconclusive.

We'll just have to find another way
to establish your citizenship.

- How?
- You go through the process

like every other immigrant.

That would take time.

I know. You're in a hurry.

Not anymore.

I'm wanting to go back to Russia,
Harm.

After what you went through
over there?

- That was in Chechnya.
- Come on.

You don't wanna go back there.

It's a disaster over there.

I already looked into it.

I can fly helicopters
for a Moscow shuttle service.

I thought you liked it here.

When I'm not Ionely,

which is a lot of the time.

I'm sorry.
I'II, uh, pop by more often then.

I don't think
it would make a difference, Harm.

Even when you do pay attention,
you try to protect me too much.

That's my job. I'm the oldest.
That's what I'm supposed to do.

It's not working for me, brother.

I'm going back.

We may not be able to be friends,
but we stay brothers forever, yes?

Look,
I don't wanna change our friendship.

I don't think
you know what you want.

Come on, join me.

Come on, lieutenant.

Give me two more.

No, corporal, that's it.

Lieutenant Carpenter's looking
for three times around the floor daily.

Yeah, well, today she gets one.

Come on, man. I do five.

Pardon me for not feeling humbled.
Aah!

Look, losing that spleen
is gonna slow you down, sir,

but that doesn't mean
that you should use it as an excuse.

No lectures, Stiles, come on.

I'll tell you what, sir.

You give me two more, and I'll tell you
about my night with Halle Berry.

You had a night with Halle Berry?

No, but when it happens, heh,
I'll tell you all about it.

Where do you get off
being so upbeat, huh?

I was the only survivor
of a helicopter crash, I owe myself.

And if you want to see me
dragging my ass around here

so that you can feel better
about giving up on your rehab,

- it ain't gonna happen.
- Sir.

Whatever, lieutenant.

You lost a leg.

Doesn't that get to you?

I'll give up the other if it means
you never ask me that again.

You're just not dealing with it,
is that it?

I'm just not putting it in my brain, sir.

I don't know if that's even possible.

And that, sir,
is why you can only go around once.

Hey, Stiles,

does your father support you?

Yes, sir. But he's 3,000 miles away.

Then don't talk about my attitude
because our experiences are different.

Major Satalino, you were

Gunnery Sgt. Aker's
company commander?

It was in the fall of '97.

Do you remember an incident
involving the gunnery sergeant?

Gunnery Sergeant Akers
had just made sergeant.

He was assigned to my company.

Did he fit in well?

He was on the serious side, ma'am.

He'd caught the interest
of Sergeant Gerard,

our company wiseacre.
He liked to mess with the men.

- Mess with them how?
- Practical jokes, pranks.

Did he play pranks on the sergeant?

He put a garden snake
in his gear bag.

Had everyone there
when he opened it.

How did the sergeant react?

Well, he said little at the time, ma'am.

But that Saturday night

he laid in wait outside the NCO Club
for the sergeant.

They scuffled.

Sergeant Akers
broke Sergeant Gerard's collarbone.

Object, Your Honour.
Gunnery Sergeant Akers

- is not on trial for this incident.
- It goes to pattern, Your Honour.

Charges weren't even filed
at the time, sir.

I think it's relevant, commander.
Overruled.

Major, did you have further occasion
to discipline Sergeant Akers in 1998?

- I did, Ma'am.
- Would you please tell us for what?

The sergeant was charged
with assaulting his wife.

Why the hell didn't I know you'd been
charged with hitting your wife?

It was handled in-house, sir.
It's not even in my service record book.

Well, it's a matter of public record now,
gunny.

- I'm sorry, sir.
- I don't want your apologies.

I want your cooperation.

Do you have any idea what
Col. Mackenzie is trying to do there?

She's trying to establish that you, not
your wife, is the one prone to violence.

Sir, it was a one-time thing.
We were just...

What about the fight
with Sergeant Gerard?

- I told you about that.
- Yeah, but you didn't tell me

it happened three days
after the initial incident.

It suggests premeditation.

It tells the members you're capable of
holding a grudge and plotting revenge.

So, what does this mean, sir?

It means the death penalty
just came into play.

It's unlikely.

But there's not a lot of sympathy
out there for wife-beaters.

I didn't beat Marie, sir.

I want you to level with me, gunny.

Tell me everything.

You can start by telling me
why there was no punishment.

Mitigating circumstances,
commander.

Elaborate please, major.

An onlooker testified
that Sergeant Akers' wife was drunk

and resisting his efforts
to take her to the car.

Did the then sergeant strike her
with a fist or an open hand?

Open hand, sir.

A slap?
- Correct, sir.

Major, why was there no judicial action
taken?

I don't condone a Marine
slapping his wife, commander,

but the couple had a 6-year-old boy.

No prior record
of domestic violence.

And given the circumstances,

I felt that counselling
was the most appropriate response.

And did they engage in counselling?

For a time, sir.

Please tell us, major,
why did they stop?

That was Mrs. Akers' choice.

Apparently she dropped out of AA.
She started drinking again.

Thank you, major. Nothing further.

So raise your beverages
in honour of Lieutenant Loren Singer

henceforth known
as the belle of the Arabian Sea.

Hear, hear.
- It's been a great sendoff.

Thank you. You've all been...

Lieutenant?

- What's this, sir?
- That is a going-away gift.

- Thank you, sir.
- You're welcome.

I have two for you, actually.

You asked me before
to conceal the fact

that you lied about being
a Jew during the Maars case.

And I've decided to do so.
You have nothing to worry about.

I appreciate it, sir.

You are now Jewish
as far as I'm concerned,

as long as you act accordingly.

- You're gonna hold me to it, sir?
- Every chance I get.

Whatever turns you on, sir.

Go ahead and open it.
It's called a mezuzah.

It goes on the outside
of your quarters.

You're serious about this,
commander?

Wait until Hanukkah.

I think you will make
a great carrier JAG, Loren.

- Thank you.
- I have to head out.

I have to go see my husband.

Don't forget to stop
and smell the jet fuel.

Hmm.

Your bags all packed, lieutenant?

- I'm not leaving till Tuesday, ma'am.
- Right.

Lieutenant,
I, uh, have a meeting to attend.

- I'm sorry I can't stay for the party.
- Yeah, me too.

I just want to say good luck and,
uh, knock them dead out there.

- I know you will.
- Heh, he means that figuratively.

I know what it means, ma'am.

Thank you for the sentiment.

Oy, you forget
how busy this place can be.

- There's no more cake?
- Your stuff, lieutenant.

Tiner, where's the admiral?

On the phone in his office, ma'am.

Can I take this to your car?

I'm capable of taking it myself.
Thank you.

Good luck, lieutenant.

- Sergei.
- Leaving already, lieutenant?

The party's over.

Then I'm glad I caught you.

I came to say goodbye.

That was nice. Thank you.

- Where are you going?
- Home.

Can I help you with that?

Would you, please?

Did you speak to Tommy,
commander?

As requested,
I visited him at his aunt's house.

- Was he cooperative?
- No.

He smelled shrink
the moment I introduced myself.

This is a smart 10-year-old.

Did he talk to you at all?

Enough for me to make an analysis,
commander.

The boy is in conflict.

He isn't saying, but I suspect that
it's related to the death of his mother.

Did he tell you his father refuses

- to allow him to testify?
- Yes.

And that goes back
to my suspicions.

Tommy's behaviour
concerning his father

suggests a submissive relationship.

Well, he's dependant on his father.

Seemingly.

Are you sure
that he is not just worried

about losing the only parent
he has left?

He's afraid of something
a lot more terrifying than that, sir.

What? His father's wrath?

A strong possibility.

So you're suggesting
that Tommy may have information

that could be damaging
to the gunny's case?

Infer what you will, sir.

Yeah, but why would Tommy tell me
he wanted to testify, then?

It gets him off the hook.

The boy is able
to satisfy his father's demands

without drawing undue suspicion.

Of course
you're getting a prosthesis.

Not everyone can handle it.
Well, you're not everyone.

No, I'm missing a spleen as well.

Look, why push it?

Why don't I just use the crutches?

Not at JAG, you won't. How are you
gonna sell that to the Navy?

I probably can't.

Then you have no choice
but to just stick it out.

I could become a civilian.

Look, there's no medical boards,
no physical readiness test outside.

I could be what I am.

A man without a leg.

In the Navy, I'm a man
who has to pretend he has a leg.

It's ridiculous.

Sweetheart, you're just frustrated.

Do you want me to feel good
about myself?

Of course.

Then stop pushing me to do something
that's beyond my abilities.

You've always been this way
and it's time for you to stop.

I'm sorry,
this isn't very discreet of us.

It's nothing I haven't heard before,
ma'am.

So this goes on a lot?

Stiles.

Yes, sir. Silence it is.

Why are you ordering him
not to talk?

This is his room too.
Why are you acting this way?

What has happened to you?

Wow, look at that.
That's got to be 270 if it's a yard.

Here, try to beat that one.

You have time to drive golf balls,
but you don't have time to visit Bud.

Are you afraid your old man
can still outdrive you?

I'm afraid my father cares
more about his golf game

than about his own son.

Hey, watch your mouth
or I'll tee you up.

Dad, Bud's been home
for over a month.

- He needs your support.
- What's the matter?

- He doesn't have a crutch?
- I can't believe you said that.

Yeah, well,
that's why I won't go see him,

because I'll say something like that
or something worse.

Now, lay off.

Nice slice.

That's no slice.
That's a swooping fade.

When I was a kid, you could get away
with telling me something like that.

But now, I see that for what it is.

A hacker's slice.

Damn you.
You see what you're making me do?

You've always been a hacker,
haven't you, Dad? And not just at golf.

You know,
I never talked to my father that way.

And neither will you.

What would he do?
Slap you upside the head?

Right. That's gonna happen to you
if you don't shut up.

- When's it end?
- What?

Slapping sons
instead of loving them?

Miss Akers, I'm Commander Rabb.
I'm your brother's attorney.

Are you the one that spoke to Tommy
the other day?

Yes, ma'am. I did.

Do you realise
how much you upset him?

Well, it wasn't my intention
to upset him, ma'am.

I'm trying to help your brother.

- Is Tommy afraid of his father?
- No.

They have a great relationship.

Close?

What does this have to do
with Joe's defence?

Well, he won't let me talk to Tommy.

He's trying to protect him.

Joe loves that boy.

He calls every day
and asks about his mood,

his school, his wound.

Tommy has an injury?

Did your son recently
have stitches, gunny?

Sir?

Tommy was treated for a wound
on his back

at Saint Steven's hospital
two hours after you were arrested.

Yeah,
when he saw his mother dead,

he fell back and he cut himself
on the corner of the counter.

Yeah, that's what he told them
at the ER.

So then what's the problem, sir?

Well, the problem is we rechecked
the blood analysis on the knife.

We found not only yours and Marie's,
but we also found Tommy's.

Means that Tommy didn't fall back
against the corner of the counter

and cut himself, did he?

He was cut with the knife.

So now the only question is why you
and he are both lying about it.

I didn't stab Tommy with the knife.

Don't even try to tell me
his mother did it.

Because if she had,
it would be a more justifiable reason

to kill her than self-defence.

Commander, you got this all wrong.

- Show me where.
- I can't, sir.

- Tommy can, though, can't he?
- I told you to leave him out of this, sir.

Explain the knife wound to me.

I already did, sir.

He got slashed
defending his mother,

- didn't he?
- No, sir.

- Did you beat your wife?
- No, sir.

- Tommy?
- Never.

I don't believe you, sergeant.

I don't believe a word you've said.
I don't believe it was self-defence.

I don't believe
you didn't stab your son.

I would never hurt Tommy. Never.

Everyone has their breaking point.
That night was yours, wasn't it?

Tommy tried to protect his mother.

You slashed him.

He ran out of the kitchen.
She came at you.

You shot her in the shoulder.
She came at you again.

This time you put a bullet
in her neck.

And then you slashed your own arm
to support your story.

Sounds like you just made
the prosecution's case,

sir.

You too?
Yeah, yeah.

Hey, Bud.

Hey, I figured you'd be in rehab.
I went there first.

I've been looking everywhere.

- Good to see you, sir.
- You too.

Uh, the rehab's not really happening,
sir.

You had a setback?

I don't wanna talk about it, sir.

How are things with you?

I'm a little confused, Bud.

I have to be honest with you.
This isn't just a hospital visit.

I was hoping you'd feel like
doing a little brainstorming.

Uh...

What's going on?

Well, I'm defending a Marine
accused of killing his wife.

He claims it was self-defence
and, hmph, I don't believe him.

If you don't believe him,
how do you convince a jury?

The whole case troubles me, Bud.
I just can't fit this guy with the crime.

His account, sir?

He claims his wife came at him
with a knife.

He shot her in the shoulder.
She came at him.

He fatally shot her through the neck.

I guess I'd have to ask
if he really wanted it to kill her,

why would he shoot
in the shoulder first?

Well, maybe he was nervous.

He's a Marine, sir.

If you reverse the scenario
and he shot her in the neck first,

why would he shoot in the shoulder?

Maybe to make it appear as though
he shot her in the shoulder first?

Well, that would support the claim
of self-defence.

But you don't think it was?

I don't know what I'm thinking, Bud.
There's so many...

So many things.

Is there anybody else
that could be involved in this, sir?

There is a God, Bud.

- You know how I know?
- How, sir?

Because he only took your leg.
He didn't take your head.

Get well quick.

I got one question for you, Tommy.

Did your dad fire both shots
at your mother?

No, sir.

Is your aunt home?

Yes, sir.

Let's go talk to her, all right?

Hey, Stiles.

Stiles, wake up.

Lieutenant,
your face just replaced Halle Berry's.

Sorry.

Are you here to offer me
a cold one, sir?

No.

Then can I please get back
to the hot tub?

No.

- Sir...
- Look, you were right.

I am a dawg. A bad dawg.

Say again, sir?

My attitude stinks.

I owe you an apology.

That's cool, sir.

Look, if anyone visits,
I'll be down in rehab.

Without the corpsman?

What are you planning to do there,
sir?

Obedience training.

No, lieutenant...

Oh, man.

Mikey.

Dad.

Come on, son. Try again.

Are you okay, Tommy?

Yes, sir.

We're gonna talk about the night
your mother was killed, Tommy.

We need you to tell us
what you remember about that night.

Well, I finished up my homework.

And I went into the kitchen
to see if dinner was ready.

Was it?
No, sir.

Mom was drinking.

Mom,
when's dinner gonna be ready?

- We're gonna eat when I'm ready.
- But I'm hungry.

Shut up!

- Mom, please. Stop drinking.
- Go to your room.

- No.
- Go to hell!

How did you respond to that?

I told her to go to hell.

You go to hell.

You wanna really see some
pain, huh?

- Put that down.
- Mom, please.

Put it down.
- No. No, please.

- Do you really wanna feel some pain?
No, stop.

Put it down.

Thank you, Tommy. You can
wait outside with your aunt now.

I had just come home.

You saw your son
shoot his mother?

Yes, sir. I saw him pull the trigger.

How did you react, gunny?

I immediately put him in his room.

Uh, he wanted me to call 911,

but I told him that wasn't necessary,

that his mother
only had been grazed

and he should stay in his room
while I calmed her down.

Was it true?
Had he only grazed her?

No, sir.

Her carotid artery had been severed.

She died instantly.

Take us through what happened next,
gunny.

I wiped Tommy's fingerprints
off the handle of my pistol

and then I slashed my forearm
with the chef's knife.

To make it appear as though
your wife had attacked you?

Yes, sir.

I cried out in pain

so that Tommy would hear it

and then I lifted Marie
into a sitting position

and shot her in the right shoulder.

Tommy heard the shot.

He came out and I told him

that she had come at me
with the knife

and that I had to shoot her.

Why did you do all this?

Why?

To protect my son, sir.
Isn't that obvious?

So he wouldn't have to go
through his entire life

knowing he'd killed his mother.

Will the accused
and counsel please rise?

You may publish your findings.

Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Akers,
United States Marine Corps,

this court-martial
finds you on the charge

and specification
of premeditated murder, not guilty.

May I say before we adjourn,

this verdict may exonerate you
from punishment, gunnery sergeant,

but you have not,
in the opinion of this court,

behaved in a manner worthy
of a United States Marine.

In that regard,

I'm recommending that the convening
authority take appropriate action

in connection with your unauthorised
possession of a firearm.

Further, I'm directing
that you return to counselling

through the Navy's
Family Advocacy programme.

I trust with their assistance

you can provide the support Tommy
needs to overcome this tragedy.

Court's adjourned.

How can I thank you, sir?

Take good care of your son.

That's all I ever wanted to do, sir.
Thank you.

Tommy. Oh, are you okay?

- Let's go home.
Nice work, counsellor.

- Fathers and sons, Mac.
- Yeah, that's life.

Mothers and daughters,
brothers and sisters.

Brothers?

I'm supposed to take Sergei
to the airport.

Hey, brother. I'm sorry I'm late.

Look, if we leave now we can make it.
Throw it in the back.

It's fine, Harm. I found another ride.

- Oh, come on, Sergei.
- It's fine. We can say goodbye here.

Look, don't go. Please?

I feel responsible.

Hello, sir.

Lieutenant.

Hi, Loren.

Harm,

I'll miss you, my brother.

And that is all you need to know.