JAG (1995–2005): Season 3, Episode 14 - Father's Day - full transcript

Tiger Six, this is Tiger Two.

We are out of formation. Over.

Tiger Two, say position. Over.

Position unclear.

Over.

Come right.

Hotel 86.

Golf 16.

I said right,

damn it!

Sorry, Gunny.



Do you have friendlies
in sight? Over.

Negative. We have
lost the battalion. Over.

Field is crawling with armory.

Where are they... downtown DC?

State nature of
difficulty, Tiger Two. Over.

Driver's disoriented.

Over.

Who's at the controls?

Corporate Wetzel, sir.

This is Captain Arliss.

Driver has three
years experience.

You tell him to wipe the
scum from his eyes. Over.

Tiger Six, we seem
to have a new position

on dominant terrain.



I've had enough of his crap.

Something ahead. Over.

Sir, I think they... Do
you hear me, Gunny?

Sir!

Get out of here!

(soldiers shouting
commands at once)

Following in his
father's footsteps

as a naval aviator,

Lieutenant Commander
Harmon Rabb Jr.

Suffered a crash while
landing his Tomcat

on a storm-tossed
carrier at sea.

Diagnosed with night blindness,

Harm transferred to the Navy's
Judge Advocate General Corps

which investigates, defends
and prosecutes the law of the sea.

There, with fellow JAG
lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie,

he now fights in and
out of the courtroom

with the same
daring and tenacity

that made him a
top gun in the air.

CHEGWIDDEN: The
Quantico Command has seen fit

to recommend
court-martial proceedings

against Marine tank
driver Daryl Wetzel,

for dereliction of duty
during war games.

Apparently, he got lost

and rammed his unit
commander's tent.

(both laughing)

Anyway, the Corporal's
admitted negligence.

I want you to defend him.

(both laughing)

Did somebody get hurt, sir?

No. No.

RABB: But, Admiral, I still have

the McCarty murder
on the docket.

Commander, do you see
yourself above certain cases?

No, sir.

Admiral, I'm a senior
attorney. Why me?

You don't expect to be
treated with favoritism

or special
dispensation, correct?

Yes.

I've been sensing
among the staff a certain

cavalier attitude toward
boiler plate cases.

Since I have never
met a, uh, defendant

with that perspective,
it has me concerned.

Corporal Wetzel deserves
no less an advocate

than anyone else.

I acknowledge that, sir.

Good. Good.

Then this should be a test
of your senior attorney skills.

Excuse me, sir.

Morning, Major.

I was just briefing
the Commander here

on a dereliction of duty case

due to culpable...

Inefficiency.

Is the Commander in the
Admiral's dog house, sir?

Why would you say that?

Well, considering there
are bigger fish in the pond,

I assumed...

I tried to warn you, ma'am.

Yeah, next time,
scream it in my ear.

I haven't defended a
case of dereliction of duty

since my first year in JAG.

ROBERTS: Is he
serious about this budget?

Yes, Bud.

Low level cases
equal no funding.

Yeah, but sir, we barely
have enough money

for two of us, let
alone the three of us.

Well, the Admiral
apparently thinks

Harm and I are spoiled.

You're expected to make it work.

Me, ma'am?

Bud, why don't you
call our new client

and I'll look into
his service record.

Yes, sir.

WETZEL: Marie and I have
been separated for two months.

I moved into the barracks.

She's still in base housing.

We met when I stopped

to change her flat.

She, she was an exotic dancer

so she wasn't wearing very much.

I liked her looks.

But I married her
to straighten her out.

Problem is she's, uh...

she's too twisted to care.

Ma'am, uh, would
you like a seat?

Uh, no. I'm fine, but
thanks for asking.

We, we have a year-old son,

Sean.

Marie got sole custody of him

because she was breast-feeding

and she was able to...

to hide her drug
use from the court.

I've been trying to get
that decision reversed.

The appeal is on Friday.

Now I know she's
worried about it.

So when the neighbors

called up and said
she was packing the car

I beat it over there.

She was trying to
abscond with your child?

Sir, if I didn't stop her, I'd
never see my son again.

That upset me.

All day long, I kept thinking

she was going to try
something like that again.

Who's the attorney
representing you

in the custody
hearing, Corporal?

That's why I blew the exercise.

I-I-I couldn't concentrate.

I'm pleading myself, ma'am.

I... I can't afford one.

What's your argument?

The safety of my son, sir.

She doesn't know
how to raise an infant.

Corporal, you admit that, uh,

you weren't paying attention

and that your actions

endangered the, uh,
Unit Command, correct?

I don't lie, sir.

RABB: Your
offense carries with it

a three-month incarceration.

Well, I'm afraid that
wouldn't work for me, sir.

Any brig time, that...

that'd jeopardize my chances
of regaining custody of my son.

MARIE: He's lying
about the drugs.

That's just Daryl's way of
trying to take Sean from me.

Judge threw it out 'cause
there wasn't no evidence.

(Sean cries out)

Why did you and Daryl break up?

We don't get along.

Sean, you stop that right now.

I mean it.

I'm sorry.

He's usually not like this.

And it had nothing to
do with the drug issue?

No.

I told you, that's him lying.

I wouldn't do stuff like that.

I got a baby to care for.

Excuse me.

When was the last time
the baby was... uh, changed?

Well, I was just about to

when you rang my bell.

What are you asking
me these questions for?

I'm not the one

who's in trouble here.

Ma'am, we're just trying to
get a handle on Daryl's situation.

Yeah, well, talk to Daryl, okay?

I got a situation of my own.

Uh, were you trying to
leave town with the child?

No. See, see, he's crazy.

I was just taking him
over to my mama's.

You were seen packing the car.

Yeah, well, we were
going to stay the night.

Look, Daryl is just flipping out

because his life is
falling apart, okay?

I love this baby
more than anything.

And no one can care
for Sean better than I can

and no one ever will.

Anything else?

General, Corporal
Wetzel's problems stem

from his wife's custody
of their one-year-old child.

The Corporal's
problem's been addressed

at two prior Article
15 proceedings.

The chronic tardiness he claimed

was due to his wife's
neglect of their child.

The drunk and disorderly

was because the
forfeiture of pay

made it hard for him
to provide for his family.

He's overdrawn on
his excuse account.

MACKENZIE:
Corporal's trying to secure

custody rights of his son, sir.

After he's served his time.

Incarceration would seriously
hamper his chances, General.

I won't do it.

You have children, sir?

I'm going to assume that
question was not an attempt

to manipulate my
feelings, Commander.

Because if it was,

you're either desperate

or stupid,

and neither will
play in this room.

The military

takes a beating every
time it gets involved

in the private lives
of its personnel.

Wetzel's case is already news.

I've had to give access
to all media interests

to avoid a backlash.

All the more reason
to avoid a trial, sir.

I actually like the Corporal.

He's the most polite
young man I've ever met.

That's why we were there
for him from the beginning.

The base chaplain is counseling.

CAAC got involved

after the last incident

but I will not reward a
man for having a messy life.

Every Joe with a sad story

would be in here
looking for a ticket out.

Aren't you going to ask
for a change of venue?

You would consider that, sir?

I'll send the Corporal

T-A-D to Parris Island.

You get an objective hearing.

I avoid headlines
in the Navy Times.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, and, Commander,
just so you know,

my wife had three miscarriages.

Sorry, sir.

MACKENZIE: Oh, we have a go.

Trial begins at Parris Island

Monday of next week.

Hey, Bud, book us a flight.

I'm sorry, sir.

Budgetary restrictions
won't allow that.

We'll hop a transport.

I already checked, ma'am.

There's not another one
scheduled for three weeks.

This is ludicrous.

How can we be expected to perform
a competent job without the means?

I'm gonna have a
word with Chegwidden.

Proceed, Commander.

Admiral...

Sir.

Fire-damaged carrier,
unauthorized trip to Haiti,

a bullet-riddled freighter,

and a lawsuit from the
Bradenhurst Corporation...

All of these have literally
exploded our budget.

All of these occurred
on your watch.

Your... point, sir?

Humor me, Commander.

Just one case.

Bring in one case as budgeted.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

It's a, uh, two-day drive, sir.

(sighs)

We leave Friday.

Talk to me in my office.

Corporal needs help
with his custody hearing.

Don't go there, Mac.

Don't go there.

You can't separate
the issue from the man.

Mac, I agree with you.

Corporal Wetzel
is getting a raw deal

but his personal life is an
economy-sized can of worms.

All right,

but whatever we do
has got to be detached.

He needs a civilian attorney.

You thinking of quitting again?

I know someone
who'll do it pro bono.

This is Dalton Lowne.

Dalton, Lieutenant
Commander Harmon Rabb.

Pleasure.

MACKENZIE: Dalton is...

I know who Dalton is, Mac.

I haven't been
living under a rock.

It's just that you two
have never really met.

Nice suit.

Thanks.

Dalton feels he can help.

He got his start in family law.

Really?

A misspent youth?

That's funny, yeah.

No judge will grant custody

to a man who might
be serving time,

so I'll want to ask
for a continuance

till after the court-martial.

Really?

Well, that's
certainly a way to go.

Doesn't do much
for our case, but, uh...

Sounds like you've
already given up.

What Harm meant...

RABB: Thank you, Mac,

but I generally work
without an interpreter.

Military law, Mr. Lone...

Lowne.

Is somewhat less pliable

than the civilian variety.

Cases like Corporal
Wetzel's leave little room

for creative defense.

Now, that said,

no one, in this room
anyway, is backing off

of the challenge.

So you go

for your continuance

and, well, we'll do
whatever it is we do.

Look, I didn't mean to suggest

that you weren't
approaching this...

And I wasn't taking
offense, Mr. Lowne.

Listen, why don't we
discuss this over dinner?

Good idea.

Let me make a call.

I know the maitre
d' at Le Jardin.

You know, I was thinking
more along the lines

of Ho's Organic Noodle House.

Okay, hey...

we could do that, too.

WETZEL: So, I
won't be testifying?

Today's hearing is about
procedure, Corporal.

Lawyers and judges
talking to one another.

How do you know the
judge will postpone?

Trust me, Daryl,
this is simple stuff.

There he is. Corporal Wetzel!

Yes, ma'am.

Just how do you plan on
raising a child in the brig, sir?

Excuse me. You are...?

Jill Waddington
from Here and Now,

the news magazine show.

Ms. Waddington,
where's the news?

It's a story on child
custody cases in the military.

Each branch is being examined,

to get its take on the issue.

Well, the Corporal's issue

is not for the taking.

I'd like to respond to this.

The reason I'm being

court-martialed is
because my wife...

Have you abused
your wife, Corporal?

No. No, ma'am.

Even when you were
drunk and disorderly?

WETZEL: Well, ma'am...

see, that happened off-base.

The abuse happened off-base?
Is that what you're saying?

Excuse me?!

The Corporal's confused
by your question.

I think I understood his answer.

See if you understand
this: Back off.

And who are you two?

Batman and Robin.

What just happened?

RABB: You were
ambushed, Corporal.

That is a no-no,
Daryl. Yes, sir.

From now on, you
let me do the talking.

And I am perfectly
equipped to handle the press.

I noticed.

That's a little aggressive,
don't you think?

Hey, I'm Batman.

Therefore, as we believe
matters of Marine Corps discipline

should not intrude upon
these issues involved here,

we would like to request

postponement of
the custody question

until after the
Corporal's military trial.

JUDGE: I'm inclined to agree.

Does opposing counsel
have an objection?

JUDGE: Mr. Tobey?

Your Honor, I, uh...

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

I seem to have
misplaced something.

JUDGE: Do you object to

a postponement?
TOBEY: No, Your Honor.

JUDGE: In that case...

As long as my client's safety

can be insured
during that period.

LOWNE: Your Honor, Corporal
Wetzel poses no danger...

Your Honor, I have an affidavit

from a Mr. John
Bagdasarian, a UPS driver...

TOBEY: I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I don't know what that is.

Sorry... there.

Now, Mr. Bagdasarian

witnessed Corporal
Wetzel pushing and shoving

his estranged wife

Marie, outside of her home.

He also notes

he was screaming

and that her son Sean,
who was in the car

at the time,

was hysterical and traumatized.

Now, that happened on a date

not authorized
for child visitation.

So if the hearing's going
to be delayed, Your Honor,

I ask the court to
grant a restraining order

against Corporal Wetzel
during that period of time.

Your Honor, Corporal Wetzel

was simply trying
to prevent his wife

from absconding with their son,

as is evidenced
by this affidavit

from a neighbor,
Mrs. Jean Kisco.

Mrs. Kisco,

aware of Marie
Wetzel's intentions,

warned the Corporal,

who arrived
understandably upset.

I accept the
argument, Counselor.

Nonetheless, given
the antipathy that exists

between the two
parents, any visitation

is likely to set off
similar fireworks.

For the sake of the child,

I'll grant a temporary
restraining order against

Corporal Wetzel

until his military charges
have been resolved.

(gavel bangs)

Who is that guy?

His name is Mark Tobey, sir.

He advertises on TV.

He used to be one of the
top civil rights advocates.

We just studied one of his cases

in my tort seminar.

Oh, yeah? He's pretty sharp.

(conversing indistinctly)

I don't know what to say, Daryl.

I'm terribly disappointed.

I'll make it up to you somehow.

Well, if I get convicted, sir,

I go to the brig
without seeing my son.

Let us worry about
that, Corporal.

All you need to
do is to trust us,

pack your bags and
be ready to go at 1300.

Yes, sir.

We're not going to let you down.

Thank you, ma'am.

I got to go.

MARIE: screaming like a madman

and pushing me like that?

So you consider...

Corporal?

MACKENZIE: Now don't
worry, we'll take good care of you.

Once we're in the courtroom,

make sure you speak
only when spoken to...

ROBERTS: Cool!

A Quantum Leap convention!

What in the name of God is
a Quantum Leap Convention?

Well, the guy who
created Magnum, P.I...

It was a rhetorical
question, Bud.

I don't want to push my luck.

Just happy they had
one room available.

(sighs)

No, that episode was...

No, Sam and Al... I
remember this one...

You do this to me every year...

MAN: No, you didn't even know.

It was the first edition of
the Quantum Quarterly.

WOMAN 3: So, you understand
that, in "Mirror Image,"

the bartender was
the leaping Sam...

Hey.

Hi.

I need support.

I'm sharing a bed with Bud.

Well, there's a Bible
in the nightstand.

Listen, um...

about Dalton Lowne...

Harm, don't.

There's tension between us.

Um, I, uh, might be
feeling a little resentful.

Why?

Well, th-that's a good question

and, uh...

you know, it's probably
because, if, uh...

well, if I were a
civilian, I would be him

and I might be feeling
a little competitive.

There, I said it.

An apology.

I'm impressed.

I've been working on myself.

(laughing)

Don't tell anybody.

(laughing): Okay.

Can I have that olive?

Yeah, sure.

You know, that's your
food budget for the day.

(chuckling)

Might be funny
if it wasn't true.

Any ideas on a defense angle?

Hmm, extenuation and mitigation.

Yeah, it's not much, is it?

Even with this new venue,

our only shot is to play
to the jury's emotions

and, uh...

argue against brig time.

Mac,

you're getting too
personally involved.

The tougher it goes

the more he's
going to turn to you.

You're his attorney,
not his rescuer.

Is that why you
hardly ever talk to him?

Call it "tactical reserve."

Harm, there are times
when military protocol

gives us an excuse to
avoid human interaction.

Hey, when you boil it down,
every branch of the service

is concerned with the
same three principles:

Discipline, discipline
and discipline.

You know it,

and I, for one, don't
think it's a bad thing.

Nobody wants to go into battle

with someone who
doesn't have his mind

completely on
accomplishing the mission.

Thought I recognized
those voices.

We must've got here

before y'all did.

What is that... That
Cobb salad, ma'am?

I had that.

It's good.

Yeah.

Everything all right, Corporal?

Yes, sir.

Staying positive.

I know Sean and I are going
to be together soon, so...

That's the attitude.

You keep your chin up.

I can't be any other way, ma'am.

It's my nature.

See, I was raised
by my Grandma Bea,

the finest woman
I have ever known.

She taught me many great things.

The best of which is

uh... "If you can't find a
path through the wilderness

you go on and make your own."

I want to teach that

to my son one day.

Well, that'll be good
advice, Corporal.

I'm going to call it a day.

Ma'am... are you staying?

RABB: Major and I

have to get our
beauty sleep, Corporal.

You may want to take
that advice yourself.

It's another four
hours to Parris Island.

SERGEANT: G'night, sir.

Good night.

Sleep well, Corporal.

Thank you.

Very well, sir, ma'am.

MARIE (on TV): I just can't
trust Daryl after what he did...

Let's go, Corporal.

SERGEANT: Where
you going, Corporal?

A madman and
pushing me like that.

WADDINGTON: Do you
consider your husband dangerous?

MARIE: Especially to Sean.

WADDINGTON: What is your
position on visitation rights?

MARIE: I don't think he
should ever see him again.

Far as I'm concerned,

Daryl's not Sean's
father no more.

He's just the guy who
made me pregnant.

(sportscast playing on TV)

Trouble sleeping, Corporal?

Recently, Sarge.

You want me to get the light?

No, I got it.

Night, Sarge.

Night.

(grunting)

(sighs)

Something you want
to share, Lieutenant?

I'm sorry, sir, I thought
you were sleeping.

You're kidding, right?

I was just thinking
about Harriet.

Oh, she's so warm.

She's like a little radiator.

Sometimes I'll lay
right next to her.

I want to curl up and just

live there forever.

You know what I mean, sir?

Is there a point to this, Bud?

I don't really
think there is, sir.

(sighs)

(snickering)

I'm sorry.

It's just you don't have to
worry about me or anything.

I'm not like a creeper.

I'll stay on my side of the bed.

I mean, even if I was asleep,

I'm pretty sure I
could tell the difference

between you and Harriet. I mean,

you're big and hard and she's...

You love her, Bud?

Oh, yes, sir.

Very much so.

That's nice.

You have issues?

No.

It's perfect.

(snorts): No relationship
is perfect, Bud.

Well, this one is.

(chuckles): Yeah,
okay, if you say so.

Good night.

Good night.

Is that your foot, Bud?

Sorry, sir.

WOMAN: Oh! Oh, that's him!

WOMAN 2: Oh, is that his car?

WOMAN: Oh, yeah!

MAN: It's Don Bellisario.

Great to see you.

Can I have your
autograph, please?

MAN 2: That's the
guy that created...

Hello, there.

WOMAN 2: Hi!

BELLISARIO: It's
great to be here.

MAN: So nice to meet you.

WOMAN: Oh, I'm honored!

MAN: Nice you could make it!

WOMAN: Oh, thank you!

MAN: Is there no end in sight?

MARIE: Bye, baby. Call me later.

Come on, Sean.

Come on, we're home.

Thanks.

See you later.

(Sean fussing)

Hey, buddy!

(tires screeching)

(sighs): Almost home.

Mrs. Wetzel?

Hi, I'm Art Scher,
Channel 9 News.

We're here to do
a local follow-up

on the Here and Now
military custody story.

What?

Oh, my God.

What am I wearing?

Oh, no, no, no, you look great.

(flustered): Oh, uh, oh, my God!

All right, well,
just... can I...

You know, can I
at least, you know

touch up my face or something?

You don't need it.

You really don't need it.

It's really fine; it's fine.

Okay, well...

Come on, baby.

Let's get you inside.

There you go.

Okay, well, what do
you want to know?

Let me just get you out here,

we'll have a nice simple
background, okay?

It's a rental.

There's no sticker.

SCHER: Now that this story is
in the public eye, can you tell us

what it's been like for you?

Uh, well, um, some
guy named Louis wants

to take pictures of
me or something.

Do you know anything about that?

Uh, no, I don't.

'Cause I won't do anything
that's not in good taste.

How's your son holding up?

Has he been
affected by it at all?

He seems pretty cool.

He doesn't sense the tension?

Why don't you
judge for yourself?

Hey!

Daryl!

Oh, my God! Who... who's that?

He's got my baby!

Is that your husband,
Mrs. Wetzel?

Daryl, come back here!

Sean!

Oh, my God!

He's got my baby!

GENERAL: We found the
car before he could get to it,

so we know that
he's still on the base.

Sir, I would ask when
you find the Corporal

that you use restraint.

His intentions are not bad, sir.

His wife would disagree.

I know his actions
appear irrational...

Lose the understatement,
Commander.

The Major and I both believe

the Corporal is
of sound mind, sir.

The Corporal's been through

a very frustrating period, sir.

That's why the poor judgment.

He's gone over the edge, Major.

You two are making him
sound like all he needs

are two aspirin and
a good night's sleep.

That's not what
I'm trying to say.

The Corporal is not the
only one on this planet

with problems, and I, for one,

am damn tired
Excuse me, General.

Of him shoving his in my face.

Sir! What is it?

Sir, if I were you, I'd get your
face out of the way of this one.

Everyone, clear!

Where's the baby?!

Get this.

(cooing happily)

He's headed for the gate, sir.

That can't happen.

Get some bodies down here! Sir!

What are you doing, Corporal?

You don't want to
be around here, sir.

Where's the baby?

Safe... from the
abuse of the world.

Talk to me.

I'm not a story!

Do you understand?!

What do you want from us?

I'm not a story,
sir, I'm a person.

RABB: Corporal!

We are live now with Art Scher

at the Quantico
military facility

where a Marine
Corporal has kidnapped

his one-year-old son and
commandeered a tank.

Who are we seeing
out there, Art?

That would be Lieutenant
Commander Harmon Rabb,

one of the Corporal's
military attorneys.

He's been trying to
reason with his client

for the past 10 minutes.

What about a motive?

The Corporal apparently has had

episodes of alcoholism
and spousal abuse.

Then there must be
quite a bit of concern

for that child's safety.

There is, John.

There is profound concern.

You see that? Yeah.

See that, Sean?

That's the "look up" scope.

Want to see?

Yeah, that's the
"look up" scope.

Now...

look.

Want to see?

Look, look.

Yeah.

Sean.

You're going to hear
about this one day.

People will...

they're going to be saying...

"your daddy... he's a good guy.

"So mannerly.

"What was going on in his head?

Must have snapped."

What I want you to tell them...

If you can remember...

Is that I loved you enough

to make sure
everyone knew, Sean.

I loved you.

That and they really
ticked your daddy off.

Slick move, sir.

You're a tough nut, Commander.

You can leave out
the tough part, sir.

Is Sean okay?

I don't know, Mrs. Wetzel.

Tactical radio, sir.

We're switching
to his frequency.

GENERAL: We can
speak to him directly

over the vehicle's
communication system.

I don't think he's interested
in communicating, sir.

Son...

this is General
Albanese speaking.

You are to surrender
yourself and the child.

SCHER: John, the
commanding General

is now making an attempt
to contact the Corporal.

Corporal, you're
endangering yourself...

your son...

and the personnel on this base.

Corporal Wetzel,
secure that vehicle.

John, something is
definitely happening.

Damn! Corporal...!

Whoa.

I got a bad feeling about this.

Corporal Wetzel,
acknowledge your presence.

ROBERTS: I hate to
say it, sir, but this looks

like a budget breaker to me.

(soldiers shouting indistinctly)

What is it with
those helicopters?

It's what passes for
entertainment these days, Bud.

Be thankful civilian helicopters
aren't allowed over the base.

We got a bead on what's next?

Sir, with 120,000 pounds
of steel beneath him

I say the Corporal's in the
position to pick and choose.

We're sending in
a team with C-4.

We're gonna pop that hatch.

General, there's
a baby in that tank.

General, I have an idea,

if you're willing to
wait a few hours.

I am not.

Sir, unless your
plan is foolproof,

you may be in the
unfortunate position

of explaining to
the American people

why that baby was injured.

Mrs. Green, I'm Lieutenant
Commander Rabb.

You're very tall.

Well, I didn't
mean to be, ma'am.

You're from the South.

I'm Charleston born
and Charleston bred

and when I die, I'll
be Charleston dead.

(chuckles)

General.

General Albanese,
this is Beatrice Green,

the Corporal's grandmother.

You can call me Bea.

We appreciate you coming, Bea.

Is there anything
we can get for you?

Blessings from above.

We very much want

to help your grandson, ma'am.

Daryl experiences
things very deeply...

Too much, sometimes.

Ma'am, you push this button

so that you can speak to him

and release it so
we can hear him.

Daryl?

This is Grandma Bea.

Hello, Grandma.

How are you?

Well...

I'm a little busy at the moment.

Sean okay?

Yeah, Grammie.

He's doing fine.

He's seen better days.

You sound tired.

I am.

I am, a bit.

There anything you want to
say about what's going on?

Yes, ma'am, there is.

See, I'm not just a Marine

and I'm not just a father.

I'm a Marine who happens
to be a father and I...

I don't love my country
any less than I do my son.

I don't understand why

I got to choose
between the two, ma'am.

That's it, Gram.

Will you give the child up?

You know I will.

For Sean's sake, yeah.

He just needed someone

to listen to him.

Gram?

I-I want to give him to you.

I want you to take care of Sean.

Ma'am, tell him to open
the hatch, climb down

and walk towards us.

No, sir.

No. No, General.

You send my grandma out to me.

Daryl, I can't get
up on that thing.

I'm sorry, Grammie.

It's not going to
be any other way.

I love you.

(laughs)

Okay, you sit tight, now, fella.

Grandma's gonna come see you.

Wanna see Grandma?

Corporal.

Talk to him, Daryl.

I don't blame you for
your distrust, Corporal.

I haven't been there for you,

and for that I apologize.

I want to talk to my grandma.

I'm your only shot.

Can you promise me Marie
will not get my son Sean?

I'll do my best.

You have to promise me, sir...

It's out of my hands.

Well, I got nothing
left to say to you.

Daryl!

Come on, give him up.

What do you have for
all your efforts, Daryl?

More trouble, and less hope.

Thanks for the
reassuring words, sir.

You're in deep, Daryl...

but together...

we can work something out.

I'm staying here.

They're just gonna come for you.

He's got a sidearm with him.

(rifle cocking)

(various marksmen
communicating over radio)

I'm not worried about that.

What are you going to do, Daryl?

Kill yourself?

Well, sir, I don't see
much of a future for myself.

Listen to me, man.

How can you say
that you love your son

and then deny him your presence?

My son?

My son's not going to know me.

I'm gonna be behind bars.

Hey.

He'll know what you did for him.

That much I can promise you.

(Sean crying inside tank)

GENERAL ALBANESE: He goes
for his sidearm, take your shot.

(Sean screaming inside tank)

All right, sir.

All right.

(sobbing)

It's all right.

Hey.

RABB: Mac fill you in?

LOWNE: Yeah, you
want me to represent

Wetzel's grandmother
in a new custody hearing.

Nice tie. Uh, thanks.

Yeah, Wetzel will be
out of town for a while.

Leavenworth?

Not much we can do about that.

So what kind of a
sentence are you expecting?

MACKENZIE:
Looking for a pretrial

that limits confinement
to five years.

That's some goal, concerning
the number of offenses.

You're not giving up,
are you, counselor?

Touche.

You in?

After what happened,
the judge will be

inclined to side
with the mother.

Our only shot is to
prove that she's unfit

so we'll need some
hard evidence for that.

Let's do it.

Where's the evidence?

Your Honor,

Mrs. Green, a widow
for some 30 years,

has dedicated her
life to raising children.

She was a licensed
foster parent for nine years,

prior to the untimely
passing of her daughter

and her son-in-law,

whereupon she raised Daryl.

There is simply
no one better suited

to providing young Sean Wetzel
with the support that he needs.

Mr. Tobey?

Your Honor,

Corporal Wetzel is not exactly

a poster boy for
good upbringing.

Now, besides, in two trials,

no one has provided
a shred of evidence

that Marie Wetzel here

is incapable of
raising her own child.

LOWNE: In the first trial,

Corporal Wetzel
made allegations,

unsubstantiated at the time,

that Marie Wetzel was
an unrepentant drug user

and that this behavior

inhibited her ability
to care for their son.

I'd like Your Honor
to consider this video

shot by the Channel
Nine news team.

(rock music blaring
over car radio on TV)

MARIE (on TV): Bye, baby.

Call me later.

Come on, Sean, honey.

Come on.

MARIE: See ya later.

The man in the Camaro
is Gary William Stadler.

Now, Commander Rabb
and Major MacKenzie

were given permission
to scan the raw footage

for possible evidence.

When they did a background
check on Mr. Stadler,

they discovered that he
was in the county lockup,

awaiting trial on charges

of possession with
intent to distribute

crystallized methampetamine.

This affidavit,
signed by Mr. Stadler,

will show that he was providing

Marie Wetzel with the
drug for the past three years.

JUDGE: Mr. Tobey,

your response?

GREEN: Now, we're
going to get through this.

Everything's going to be fine.

Mr. Scher!

I was under the opinion
that television news

had forgotten how to serve us.

I thank you for
proving me wrong.

Well, uh, Commander Rabb

deserves the credit
for that, ma'am.

It was his idea to
check the footage.

I'm grateful for that,
and I'm grateful to you

for not making snap judgments

against my grandson.

It's not his nature to
be irrational or violent.

RABB: Mrs. Green.

Your great-grandson, ma'am.

Ma'am, the Marine Corps
supports the Corporal's rehabilitation.

General Albanese
himself has offered

to monitor his counseling
while he serves out his time.

You put yourself at
risk for Daryl and Sean.

I guess you must know
what it means to be a parent.

Well, ma'am, I...

I know what it
means to be a son.

Yes... I think you do.