JAG (1995–2005): Season 10, Episode 6 - One Big Boat - full transcript

(thunderclaps)

Trim the main!

Wallace! Steuben!
Starboard rail!

Aye, aye, sir. Aye, aye, sir.

Secure your tethers!

What are you doing, Midshipman?

Adjusting the outhaul, sir!

Secure it and get
back to your station!

Aye, aye, sir!

Head up, Dupree!

No, don't bear away!



Gybing!

Crew overboard! Starboard side!

Blow the jib halyard!

Aye, aye, sir!

Hold her steady, Dupree!

(spluttering)

I got Huskins, sir.

Come on!

(groaning)

You okay?

Okay... yeah, I'm okay, yeah.

Where's Green?!

Not up here, Skipper!

I'll take the wheel!
Check below!



Aye, aye, sir!

She's not there, sir!

Green!

Green!

Green!

Green!

(thunderclaps continue)

GENERAL CRESSWELL: Naval Academy
Midshipman Emma Green is missing at sea.

She was a member of the
varsity offshore sailing team,

went overboard during
a squall in a training run.

Search is ongoing.

I want you at Annapolis

collecting statements.

Will do, sir.

Commander Roberts will explain

the complicating factors.

Mike was the assistant
officer in charge.

His friend Kevin Dupree
was also on board.

Are they all right?

Physically they're fine,

but they're a little shaken up.

I assume you know
this young man.

Yes, sir. We all do.

Then I trust you'll maintain

a professional and
objective posture.

That's always my intention, sir.

Feel the need to
defend yourself, Colonel?

Just offering my
assurances, General.

You will not be
participating, Commander.

I understand, sir.

I've got something else for you.

Fraternization.

Naval officers in
the same command.

You're dismissed, Colonel.

Aye, aye, sir.

(knocking)

Since when do you knock?

I asked her to, Commander.

Well, hey, Tom.

Uh... come on in.

You guys hungry?

You want coffee?

Uh, no, thanks.

Mattie says you're taking
your vacation tomorrow.

Huh. Yeah, a vacation in hell.

Navy's phasing out
the F-14, so I have

to flight-qualify.

50 hours of hard-deck landings

in an F-18. That's even
before I can carrier-qualify,

and that'll be in a few months.

Well, we wish you well.

So what's on your mind?

Well, I'm going to put
this right on the table.

I have re-petitioned the
court for full custody of Mattie.

May I ask who brought it up?

I did.

Good enough for me, then.

JOHNSON: They've
given us a court date

next week.

Well, you realize I
won't be here then.

Yeah, that's why I,
uh... I brought this.

It's a consent affidavit.

"To waive presence,

"give up guardianship...

and support change of custody."

Well, that, uh,

pretty much sums it up.

(clicks tongue)

Done.

(knocking)

Personal question, ma'am?

How personal?

Is there a problem

between you and
General Cresswell?

Close the door.

Colonel John Farrow.

Does that name mean
something to you?

I remember him from
your murder trial, ma'am.

You were involved in Okinawa?

Yeah. Inappropriately.

General Cresswell was
the Staff Judge Advocate

who recommended Colonel
Farrow be reprimanded.

Wow.

Have you discussed it with him?

Not yet.

Maybe you should, ma'am.

What exactly would I say?

Good point.

Maybe he doesn't
remember the incident.

I found it telling
that he handed you

a fraternization
case in my presence.

Even if he does remember,

do you think that he would
let you know in that way?

It was a hint.

It's his way of saying,
"I'm watching you."

You're feeling
watched, aren't you?

COMMANDER LUNT:
We were on the final run

of a Chesapeake practice
run when a squall blew through.

MacKENZIE: You
weren't able to avoid it?

Well, we charted a
path along its flank,

figuring we'd be
spared the heavier stuff.

It shifted into us
at the last moment.

Why take the chance
in the first place?

I don't, as a rule, run
from weather, Colonel.

A storm is as close
to battle conditions

as anything they'll experience

outside a warship,

a good test of a
sailor's skill set.

What skills are we talking
about, Commander?

Sailing at the Academy

is as much about
leadership training

as anything taught here.

We stress good seamanship,

self-reliance, and
a responsibility

for mission
accomplishment and crew.

Yeah. And how do you feel this
benefited Midshipman Green?

Colonel,

I haven't slept in 22 hours.

I take this loss very seriously.

Do you often sail at night?

For regattas.

We have a Newport-
Bermuda race coming up.

Here she is.

How did Midshipman
Green go over?

Don't know. No
one saw it happen.

She should've been hooked
onto a jack line with a tether.

In fact, at the time,

we were rescuing
another crew member

who was, fortunately,
properly secured.

What happened?

Midshipman Huskins
went overboard.

Midshipman Roberts
was the first to respond.

(groans)

Crew overboard! Starboard side!

I bumped into Midshipman
Green as I was trying to get over

to where Midshipman
Huskins went in.

(thunderclap)

(panting)

She wasn't tethered.

That was the last
time I saw her.

Do you know where she was going?

No. It's weird, ma'am.

It's like she was running
away from the rescue.

So you're assuming
she unhooked herself?

It's hard to imagine
why she would, Colonel.

The wind was over 40 knots

and there's no way of
maintaining stable footing,

but I don't know what
else it could have been.

D-rings are
designed not to fail.

Maybe her jack line broke.

It was in one piece.

Then I don't know, ma'am.

It's hard to believe
it even happened.

(bells toll in distance)

What's your opinion
of Commander Lunt?

He's everything I've ever
wanted to be in an officer, ma'am...

Caring, conscientious,
unbelievable motivator.

He had us so well trained,

we could have
sailed into a whirlpool.

No one lost it, not
even for a second.

Does that include
Midshipman Green?

I don't know.

Did you ever doubt
Commander Lunt's decision

to test the weather?

No, ma'am. I welcomed it.

Given that the
commander appointed you

Assistant Officer in Charge,

do you feel you can
be objective about him?

How well do you
know me, Colonel?

We can't play that card, Mike.

There's a risk it'll
taint the proceedings.

As far as this
investigation goes,

we have no prior relationship.

And can that work?

Would you feel more comfortable

speaking with another attorney?

No, ma'am. It's okay.

Then please,
answer the question.

I am judging the
commander honestly, ma'am.

It wasn't his fault.

I'm to blame for Midshipman
Huskins going overboard, ma'am.

I was bearing away
when I should have

been steering into the wind.

Why did that happen?

Commander Lunt gave
me a correct order, ma'am.

I just heard him wrong.

Could that be a
consequence of poor training?

Colonel, you have no idea
how bad that squall really was.

It would have wiped
out most crews.

Eight of us made it
through because of the way

we were trained.

But why would you even
want to be tested that way?

The squall's
intensity wasn't clear

from the radio reports, ma'am,

and it didn't look that
bad from where we sat.

Was there any dissent?

What's your sense
of Mike's relationship

with Commander Lunt?

He respects him.

To what extent?

What are you suggesting?

Look... I'm not sure
whether Commander Lunt

was inspiring his crew
or brainwashing them.

Do you have
evidence of the latter?

Nothing definitive,
but both Mike

and Midshipman
Dupree seem reluctant

to discuss even the possibility

that Commander Lunt
could be negligent.

Well, I've avoided
discussing the case

with Mike, but he certainly has

mentioned Commander
Lunt in the past.

This competitive sailing program
is very, very important to him.

When you say "important"...

Well...

he's kind of obsessed with it.

(sighs)

Permission to come aboard, sir.

Granted.

At ease.

How are you, sir?

How are you?

I'm... okay, sir.

Look, Commander, what
happened was terrible.

But it's important you know
we all stand behind you, sir.

Thank you, Midshipman.

I'll need it.

Colonel MacKenzie
recommended an Article 32 hearing

to the convening authority.

I've been charged
with dereliction of duty.

SENTRY: Sir!

MacKENZIE: We have no proof...
ROBERTS: Mike, do not go in there.

MIKE: I need to talk to her.
ROBERTS: Michael, listen to...

Colonel, Commander, I
apologize for the intrusion.

What is it?

Ma'am, could we talk
about your recommendation

for an Article 32?

Go ahead.

Why'd you do it,
Colonel? Because I felt

the circumstances
warranted further investigation.

Commander Lunt did not
endanger any of us, ma'am.

It was a series of bad breaks.

And you're turning
one tragedy into two.

Watch your tone.

If you feel so
strongly about it,

talk to Commander Turner.

I'll be representing
Commander Lunt.

If you want to
testify on his behalf.

Oh, I do, sir.

I just don't understand
how it got this far.

A young woman is
missing at sea, Midshipman.

If you were her father,

you wouldn't be
asking that question.

But you're already
assuming guilt.

TURNER: And I'm
not, so calm down

and rein yourself
in, Midshipman.

Sir, the other
members of the crew,

I should direct them to you?

If they want to testify on
the commander's behalf, yes.

Oh, they do, sir.

MacKENZIE: Have
you talked to all of them?

I know how they feel, ma'am.

Talk to them.

DUPREE: What do
you want me to do?

The Colonel asked
me a direct question.

I had to answer it honestly.

And what did she ask you?

You know what?
You need to back off.

After all that Commander
Lunt has taught us

about being responsible
parts of a bigger entity,

where A serves
B, which serves C...

I know the concept, Mike.

Then why are you
testifying against him?

I'm not; I'm just recounting
what I remember.

For the prosecution.

Look, I'm one month out
of honor mediation, Mike.

I got to do the right thing.

The right thing?

You mean screwing
over the commander.

Not if he's innocent.

That is so naive.

He's being scapegoated
and you know it.

By who, huh?

Oh, I don't know; by the higher-
ups, the Academy administration,

anyone who's in a position to
pay a price for what happened.

You have no
evidence of that, Mike...

MAN: Aye, sir!

Look, after what you and
I went through a year ago,

the last thing you
should be asking

is for me to ignore
my obligations.

(sighs)

♪ ♪

(thunder rumbles)

He just signed it...

you know, as if it were my
homework or something.

Like he didn't even
give it a second thought.

I bet a million thoughts

were racing through
his mind at that moment.

He just didn't want to
make it hard for you.

It was hard anyway.

You think he's hurting?

I think he's happy for you

and that makes whatever
else he's feeling tolerable.

Yeah, but he doesn't
have to pretend.

I want him to be honest with me.

You can tell him that
when he comes back.

(sighs) I... I don't even
know if I'm going to be here.

My dad wants me to move
in with him as soon as I can.

It's not like you
won't be seeing Harm.

Yeah, I know.

But, you know,
it'll be different.

For you and me, too.

How do you feel about that?

I'm going to miss this.

♪ 'Cause she's crossing
over this time... ♪

MacKENZIE: Midshipman Dupree,

on the day your boat
sailed into the squall,

were you confident
about taking it on?

Yes, ma'am,

but our intention
was to sail past it.

It took us on.

Did the commander ever mention

he considered you his
best racing team in years?

More than once, ma'am.

Were you ready to
go to the wall for him?

I'd have to say I was, ma'am.

What about Midshipman Green?

GREEN: Coast Guard
transmission, Skipper.

Severe weather broadcast.

LUNT: Read it to me.

"Squall developing
ten miles west

"of St. Michaels, moving west

"at 15 knots with
maximum sustained winds

of 40 knots, gusting to 50."

LUNT: All eyes starboard.

That's what stands
between us and home.

And, given our
current rate of speed,

we could slide past
it in 15 to 20 minutes.

Hit those outer-edge gusts,
we'll be rocket-powered.

What do you say?

(all shouting)

GREEN: Sir, would
this have anything

to do with breaking
the course record?

More like standing tall

in the face of the enemy.

I'm only five-one, sir.

There isn't anything out
there that you can't handle.

With all due respect, Commander,

we don't know exactly
what's out there.

Are you opposed, Midshipman?

No, sir.

Did you feel Midshipman Green

was acting against
her better instincts?

Objection.

The midshipman has not
presented his qualifications

as a mind reader.

I'll rephrase.

Was her attitude
enthusiastic or guarded?

I have to say guarded, ma'am.

MacKENZIE: And were you
trying to break the course record?

DUPREE: We were
on target, ma'am.

MacKENZIE: Would
avoiding the weather

have made that unlikely?

Yes, ma'am.

And when you
were in the thick of it,

were you still convinced it
was the wise thing to do?

I wasn't thinking about anything
but getting through it, ma'am.

Thank you.

No more questions.

Did you want to break
this record, Midshipman?

We were all
excited about it, sir.

And did you feel

that Commander
Lunt was manipulating

or forcing you to do this?

No, sir.

Um, his big quote always is:

"The best way to
serve each other

is to take responsibility
for your own choices."

TURNER: What was
Midshipman Green's chief duty?

She was the navigator, sir.

And did she have

the sailing abilities
of the others?

She wasn't being asked to do
the same things we were, sir.

TURNER: Did she
help with the rescue?

Not that I can recall, sir.

TURNER: Thank you.

We'll recess until 1330.

(gavel bangs)

(phone rings)

(sighs)

Sir.

Midshipman Green's parents

were just in to see me.

They're concerned their
daughter is being portrayed as,

among other things, a
self-absorbed slacker.

Based on what, sir?

Did you bring out her concerns
about sailing into weather?

Yes, sir.

It's critical to my case.

Did you make it seem like
she wasn't a team player?

Her opposition was noted,
sir, but it was also made clear

that she went along
with the rest of the crew.

The defense raised
competence questions.

Maybe you should talk
to Commander Turner.

I have.

These people are in hell.

Let's be careful.

I thought I

was, sir, but...

When I.. when I
was in Okinawa...

there was, uh... there was
vocal opposition from those

who were opposed to a
U.S. presence on their soil.

In my opinion, their
complaints, in light

of the previous world
war, were unworthy.

It wasn't until I
interviewed a local woman

whose daughter had been
raped by American servicemen

that I made a vow
never to accept

the pain of innocent people
as payment for justice.

That's certainly not
happening here, sir.

If there's confusion about...

Stop.

Stop.

We're just talking.

Carry on.

(sighs)

TURNER: Thank you,
Commander Roberts.

Mike...

I need to talk to
Commander Turner.

Just hang on.

I-I want to find out
what's going on in court.

No one's telling me anything.

That's because, up
until a few minutes ago,

there was nothing to tell.

Something happen?

We just got word
from the Coast Guard.

They recovered
Midshipman Green's body.

(birds singing)

MR. GREEN: My daughter Emma
was remarkable in many ways,

but one characteristic
stood out.

She was not comfortable
with her weaknesses

and spent much of her short
life trying to overcome them.

This may come as a
surprise to some, but Emma...

had a fear of the water.

Took all of her courage
to learn how to swim,

so you can imagine our surprise
when she announced to us

that she was going
to be a Naval officer.

By the time that she
decided to take up sailing,

we just shrugged our
shoulders and nodded our heads.

There's nothing more you can do

but marvel at a spirit
that irrepressible.

This is the time for me
to admit my great fear...

That this special human being

was lost... in pursuit of...

an irrelevancy.

(Mrs. Green sobbing)

Mr. Green, Mrs. Green,

please accept my condolences.

I guess there's
nothing more I can say.

No, there isn't.

Right.

Thanks.

What did the colonel want?

Something going on?

Sir, I've got a class.

Permission to leave?

Granted.

What was that about?

I guess I'm the one
to have to tell you, sir.

Midshipman Huskins
has just volunteered

to testify for the government.

Colonel. Sir.

Do you eat breakfast?

Yes, sir.

Thursday, downstairs, 0800.

Just you and me.

An "Aye, aye, sir," is
what I'm looking for.

Aye, aye, sir.

Midshipman Green's
autopsy report.

Death by drowning.

No contusions.

Three crushed fingers
on her right hand. Huh.

Any thoughts on what that means?

Uh, not yet. You?

There was a tussle,
an attempt to hurt her.

You have someone in mind?

No.

Nice try.

(sighing)

Mattie!

Uh, Colonel, um, I
know you're busy,

but I was hoping we
could talk for a minute.

Yeah, of course. Um, come on in.

I actually, uh, feel
kind of weird about this.

Why?

Because I don't
know you that well.

But Harm does, and
this is really about him.

Both of us, actually.

Do you know that he
signed an agreement

letting my dad petition
the court for custody?

No.

Well, the hearing was
this morning, and the court

ruled in our favor; I'll be moving
home by the end of the week.

Congratulations.

Is... Harm okay with this?

I'm not sure.

That's why I-I hope
he had talked to you,

'cause when we told him about
it, he seemed like he was great,

but I... I couldn't get
what he was really feeling.

Hmm. I think I can
help you with this.

Um... Harm is
invested in you, but he...

he's always felt you needed
to reconcile with your father

in order to grow.

In other words, he's
at a place in his life

where he doesn't need to possess
someone in order to love them,

and the reason for that is you.

See, you may not realize
it, but by being in his life,

you have actually taught him
how to love unconditionally.

Does that... mean
he won't miss me?

Mm, he'll miss you.

Can you do me a favor?

Sure.

Can you look after him for me?

You know, make sure he's not
too sad too much of the time?

Of course.

That's great.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Anytime.

Mattie.

About us not knowing
each other so well...

Let's change that.

(gently): Don't do this.

Stay out of it, Roberts.

Look, I know you're upset,

but trashing the commander
isn't gonna solve anything.

No, we shouldn't have been
anywhere near that squall.

I was next to you
when he proposed it.

You cheered louder than anyone.

You think being the
commander's boy

makes you his
enforcer or something?

Come on, guys, look,
this is not at all cool, okay?

Listen, I just want to
know why this is happening.

She changed her mind.

Did you have
anything to do with it?

What?

You talk to the others, too?

I'm going to let that go, Mike,

because I still
consider you a friend.

But if you don't like
crewmates pointing fingers,

then set the right example,

'cause this is doing nothing
but dishonoring Emma.

Listen, Kevin, I have never...

Okay, Mike, come with me.

Bud, I'm talking.

My office.

You embarrassed me in there.

Just shut up.

Sit down.

Unacceptable, Mike.

I don't care how much you
support this Commander Lunt,

you are out of line.

Do you want to be accused of

trying to influence
the proceedings?

No, I'm just trying...

Then control yourself!

Tell me about the relationship
between you and the commander.

What is he to you?

He's my sailing instructor.

I think he's a father figure.

I have a father.

That's being generous.

Sounds like your
problem, not mine.

You treat this guy like God.

I know he's got
limitations, Bud.

What are they?

You should do some real
serious thinking about this, Mike.

Hey, Kevin has father issues,
too, but he's on the other side.

Kevin's father is dead!

He knows that
life is transitory.

Your father, he's dead inside.

You know that life
is disappointing,

so you embrace someone
that won't let you down,

even when he does.

I understand what
you're saying, Bud, I do,

but I don't think the commander
has let any of us down.

He provides the lessons.

It's up to us to learn them.

MacKENZIE: Were you ready for
what you encountered, Midshipman?

We thought we were, ma'am,

but conditions were way more
intense than anyone expected.

How did that make you feel?

Manipulated, ma'am.

The commander was always
pushing us to go beyond our limits,

and I bought into it,

thinking that he would
never put us in danger.

Had Commander Lunt prepared
you for this type of challenge?

I think this was the
preparation, Colonel.

Your witness.

Midshipman...

were you at your station
prior to going overboard?

No, sir.

I was amidship at the mast.

I was adjusting the outhaul.

Isn't that the reason you
were struck by the boom,

because you were
out of position?

I was struck by the boom

because I was focused
on the task at hand, sir.

Did you ask Commander Lunt

for permission to
leave your station?

No, sir.

But your accident sent
the crew into rescue mode,

isn't that correct?

Yes, sir.

A consequence of which was

the disappearance
of Midshipman Green.

MacKENZIE: Objection! No
proof has been presented that

the midshipman's disappearance

was in any way
related to the accident.

Sustained. Do not do that in
this courtroom, Commander.

Yes, sir. No more questions.

We're in recess. One hour.

(gavel bangs)

Commander...

I'm sorry about
Midshipman Huskins, sir.

I thought I was teaching

the principles of
leadership and teamwork.

You are, sir.

Then why am I seeing
dissension and whining?

I don't know, sir.

I've failed you, that's why.

No, Commander.

It's just the circumstances.

Well, I'm about to change them.

I just instructed
Commander Turner

to inform the Hearing Officer

that I will not be
contesting the charges.

Commander... excuse me, sir.

Have you spoken to the
Hearing Officer yet, sir?

On my way. Don't do it.

Commander Lunt
has reversed himself.

No, talk to him.
I'm serious, sir.

What changed his mind?

I argued that you hadn't even
presented his defense yet,

and that he should let the
process take care of itself.

I made that same argument.

He wasn't biting.

Did you beg, sir?

(sighs) He likes you.

I just want him to understand
how much support he has.

That seems to be falling apart.

We're just one of many crews
he's trained, Commander.

(elevator bell
dings, doors open)

Hey.

What are you up to?

Trying to get through the
day without you harassing me.

Got any more classes?

No, I'm done.

Me, too.

Hey, want to take a ride?

Where?

Visit Emma.

TURNER: Lieutenant Slattery...

you were involved
in the Academy's

Varsity Offshore Racing Program.

'99 to 2000, sir.

And were you trained
by Commander Lunt?

I was, sir.

In bad weather?

Twice.

How was the experience?

Wet, sir.

(scattered laughter)

Was it challenging?

Extremely, sir. But valuable.

In what way?

Well, sir, our crew
was the most successful

in Naval Academy history.

We won all our races,
and set the course record.

The record this crew
was trying to break?

Yes, sir.

You're a Navy SEAL?

Proudly.

Where'd you earn those medals?

Mostly in Afghanistan, sir.

Do you believe you'd be
the officer you are today

if Commander Lunt
hadn't been in your life?

No, sir.

And every member of our crew,

all of whom are still
serving their country,

feel the same way.

Objection.

Let's get confirmation on
that, shall we, Your Honor?

I'd like to ask the former
crewmates of Lieutenant Slattery

to please stand in
support of his statement.

Think we let her down?

I hope not.

You know, she was the
smallest person on the boat, Kev.

Someone should've
been watching out for her.

I was the closest.

Nah, you were at the helm.

Yeah, but if she unhooked
herself, I should've noticed.

We're all responsible.

While Huskins
was getting rescued,

one of us should've stayed
back to monitor things.

Maybe that's what
Emma was doing.

Problem is we don't know
enough about what happened

to be able to ask
the right questions.

Can't argue with that.

It was crazy out there, Mike.

Nothing went as planned.

Yeah, even Huskins
was unhooked awhile.

Yeah, I know. She ran
past me, went belowdeck.

Do you know why?

No. You?

There's a question.

Can we help you, Midshipmen?

Sir, ma'am.

We were wondering if we
could have a bit of your time.

TURNER: Why?

We have some thoughts, sir.

Prior to Midshipman
Huskins going overboard,

did you see her talking
to Commander Lunt?

I did, sir.

Could you hear what
they were discussing?

No, sir.

(thunderclap) I was
amidship on the port rail.

The squall was intense.

TURNER: What happened next?

MIKE: Huskins released
herself from the jack line, sir.

Commander Lunt heard
breakage belowdecks, sir.

He was concerned that the
instruments would be damaged,

ordered me to go stow the items.

I had to unhook
to go down there.

It took about a minute,

and then I came back
up and reattached.

Do you remember closing
the companionway hatch?

Thinking back, sir...

I'd have to say no.

(thunderclap) We were
about to trim the sails

and I was in a hurry.

TURNER: When you went below
to check for Midshipman Green,

was there water down there?

About an inch and a half, sir.

And, upon entering,

was the companionway
hatch open or closed?

(thunderclap)

DUPREE: It was closed, sir.

TURNER: Closed? Yes, sir.

It was battened down and
secured until I opened it.

But Midshipman Huskins
recalls not closing it.

My recollection of the
moment is clear, sir.

You're back early.

Moving out, huh?

I saw some of your
stuff down below.

Yeah, my dad's on his way.

Court granted him custody, huh?

Yeah, I'm moving
back to the old house.

You don't have any of
my stuff in there, do you?

(laughs quietly)

You, uh, pass your quals?

First phase.

That's great.

(sighs)

Let's not say good-bye.

There's-There's no need to.

When am I going
to see you again?

You say when.

This weekend?

Saturday?

Okay. Done.

Um...

I should give you
this now, then, I guess.

What is it?

Don't open it until later.

Pick you up at 11:00 sharp.

Your Honor...

based on the previous
testimony of the crew,

one can create
a logical scenario

of what happened to
Midshipman Emma Green.

When Midshipman Huskins left
the companionway hatch open,

water rushed in.

Had this condition
been left unattended,

belowdecks could have filled up

and the boat would
have foundered.

Someone, however, noted this

and took care of it.

(thunderclap) Crew
overboard! Starboard side!

(panting)

(indistinct shouting)

MIKE: Hold on, Huskins!

(cries out)

(groaning)

TURNER: This would explain

Midshipman Green's
three crushed fingers.

Also entered into
evidence, Your Honor,

is the forensics report,

which indicates a
depression in the hatch

that matches the ring
she wore on her right hand.

One can assume,
therefore, that at the time

Midshipman Green was
returning to her station,

she would've lacked the
gripping power necessary

to prevent the storm from
forcing her over the side.

So I ask this question:

Was anyone at fault?

Or, despite this tragedy,
didn't the circumstances

test each of these
individuals in a way

that encouraged their
responsibility to each other?

Wasn't Midshipman
Green, in fact,

exhibiting the kind
of responsibility

that Commander Lunt has
been teaching all these years?

If I may quote

G.K. Chesterton:

"We are all in the same
boat in a stormy sea...

"and we owe each other

a terrible loyalty."

Sir. Colonel.

(sighs)

Been instructed
to eat more fiber.

Do you think I spend my
time judging you, Colonel?

(sighs)

Sir, when you were
stationed in Okinawa...

I recommended
reprimanding a senior officer

for having relations with a
junior in his chain of command.

Yes, sir.

I assumed you learned
your lesson at the time.

It has no effect on
my opinion of you.

Then, sir, why
do I feel it does?

You're a Marine, Colonel.

A good one, I think.

But you've been spending too
much time with Naval officers,

and, unfortunately, their
culture has rubbed off on you.

The condition,
however, isn't permanent,

and I expect you to overcome.

Consider that a
vote of confidence.

I will, sir.

And trust that others trust you.

That's it?

No.

There's a bottle of maple
syrup on the table behind you.

Want to pass it this way?

(sighs)

Although the idea of
challenging students

in uncontrolled circumstances
remains an open question,

I find there is
insufficient evidence

to support the charge
of Dereliction of Duty.

Therefore, I have concluded

this case does not
warrant court-martial

and I will recommend
the charge be dismissed.

This court is adjourned.

(gallery murmuring)

(mutters)

Will you wait just a minute?

At ease, gentlemen.

Congratulations, Commander.

I'm proud of you two.

Not because you
aided the defense,

but because you did it together.

Thank you, sir.

That said, you should know

I've decided to
submit for retirement.

Sir?

Midshipman Green should
not have had to sacrifice herself

to prove me right.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I need to tell my family.

(indistinct conversation)