JAG (1995–2005): Season 3, Episode 16 - Chains of Command - full transcript
During air ops aboard a carrier a woman enlisted air-traffic controller makes a serious mistake; no casualty results. The command master CPO calls her to his office for counseling; she then alleges that he offered her favorable treatment in exchange for sexual favors. Harm, Mac, and Bud investigate; the matter goes to trial. Harm and Bud prosecute, and Dalton and Harriet defend. Personal histories catch up into the present, and a witness makes personal confessions while on the stand. Dalton violates both ethics and a personal trust; Mac dumps him. Bud and Harriet have a bumpy ride. The three musketeers form an impromptu vocal trio at a nearby bar.
Panther Tanker, this is
Firefighter One-Three-Two.
I'd like the usual.
One-point-five, if you please?
MAN: Sorry, One-Three-Two.
All I've got to give
away is 800 pounds.
Damn! I'll be sucking
fumes on final.
PILOT: Marshall, this is
One-Three-Two. Low state.
The tanker doesn't
have any giveaway.
How in the hell did that happen?
I don't know, sir.
You know the tanker's
supposed to report
back overhead with 5,000
pounds of giveaway fuel.
You've got less than a thousand.
I'm sorry, sir... I got busy
taking the fighters
in the no-fly zone.
PILOT: This is Firefighter
One-Three-Two.
Bingo fuel. I need priority.
You got it, One-Three-Two.
Paddles, are you up?
Boss, this is Paddles. I got it.
He's a keeper.
One-Three-Two, this is Paddles.
We've got a pitching deck.
Hold the gear until I tell you.
Call the ball.
Damn! Port engine
just flamed out.
This is One-Three-Two. Ball.
Single engine. Low state.
Paddles, keep an eye
this guy... in a few seconds,
he's going to be outside
the ejection envelope.
I'll call the gear.
Come on, baby,
don't fail me now.
Okay, give me the gear now!
Flame out.
Flame out!
(men cheering) One-Three-Two,
you owe me a case
of primo Scotch.
(panting)
He made it, sir.
You're relieved of duty,
Petty Officer Douglas.
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: Petty Officer
Second Class Flannery Douglas
is an air traffic controller
stationed on the Seahawk.
She made a mistake
during operations
in the Persian Gulf
after a near ramp strike...
Attention on deck! As you were.
Command Master Chief
requested that you report to
him below decks in his office.
Petty Officer Douglas claims
Command Master
Chief asked for sex
in exchange for his help.
What kind of help, sir?
He offered
to go to her division
officer and recommend,
rather than writing her up,
and sending her
to Captain's Mast,
he'd restrict her
liberty and give her
extra military instruction.
Well, that way it'd be
kept off her record book.
Sir... are we talking about
Master Chief Sullivan.
You know him? Well, yes,
Admiral. We, we questioned
the Master Chief during
the Crossing-the-Line
incident, sir,
if you'll remember.
Mmm. Well, the Master
Chief does not deny
that he requested
to meet with her.
He claims he
merely counseled her
on her professional performance.
He felt that, uh,
the pressures of life at sea
were impacting her work.
How do you want us
to proceed, Admiral?
Well, even the suspicion
of misconduct has to be
taken seriously, Major.
Check out their stories.
Find out if the Master
Chief was using his position
for sexual or other favors.
Dismissed.
SIMS: You probably
want to see this,
and I have the other
one on my desk.
MacKENZIE: Oh, right,
well, could you show me that?
WOMAN: JAG Headquarters...
Search warrant procedures.
Huh.
Toilet paper's
always special, Bud.
Sir...
How's that going to help me
on my criminal procedure exam?
Toilet paper's always
special... Two prongs,
Aguilar, Spinelli.
The rules for obtaining
a search warrant based
on an anonymous tip.
Right. Right.
Better pack your bags, Bud.
Ma'am? We're
leaving for the Seahawk
in two hours, three minutes.
My exam's next week, ma'am.
You'll be back
in plenty of time.
The Seahawk.
"Toilet paper's
always special." Hmm?
We met on the Seahawk, Bud.
Oh, right.
Have you seen my crim pro notes?
Sometimes, you're such a goop.
MAN: Master Chief
Sullivan's record is spotless.
RABB: Well, how
long have you known
the Master Chief, Captain?
For ass long as I've been
skipper of the Seahawk.
Four months, three days, sir?
Correct.
And in all this time,
you've had no reason
to doubt his judgment
or his integrity?
Master Chief's a good friend
to all enlisted personnel...
Men and women.
If anyone came to
him with a problem,
he generally
found a way to fix it.
ROBERTS: Captain
Ross retired one year short
of 30 years.
He tendered his
resignation on Friday,
was a civilian by Monday.
I heard he'd been
selected for Rear Admiral.
If he stayed in the
service a little while longer,
he could have been a Battle
Group Commander by now.
So why did he get
out so suddenly?
Personal reasons.
Wanted more time at home.
I know how he feels.
Listen, Mac, why don't
you talk to the Air Boss?
Bud and I will check
personnel files. How, uh...?
That's easy, ma'am.
We're on the 0-2 Level now.
All you got to do is
take the ladder well
up to the Flight Deck Control.
Talk with the Flight
Deck Control Officer
or the Fly-One or Fly-Two P.O.
to see if he's up
either in the Pri-Fli
or down in the hangar deck.
Yeah, sounds about right.
O-Two...
MAN: She was responsible
for seeing to it that
the tanker held on
to 5,000 pounds
of fuel for recovery,
but she gave it all
away to the fighters
over the no-fly zone.
We damn near lost
this F-14, ma'am.
It landed short.
Caught the number one wire.
Damn near snapped the nose gear.
Tell me how you really feel
about Petty
Officer Douglas, sir.
Okay. She would never
have made it on the ship
if she weren't
first-rate, Major.
Once on board, her
record was excellent,
until she screwed up, ma'am.
Did the Command Master Chief
attempt to intercede
on her behalf?
No.
What would you have
done if he'd come to you
and asked that you
forget about the incident?
I would have
listened to his advice
and then made up my mind.
Did he often intercede
on behalf of enlisted personnel?
He chose his times carefully.
That's why when
he did, I listened.
The Master Chief
always played it straight.
The enlisted men
and the officers
liked and respected him, ma'am.
No one saw this coming.
DOUGLAS: What can I say?
I screwed up big time.
We got busy chasing the bad guys
across the no-fly zone
and I gave away too much fuel.
It can get pretty
busy in Pri-Fli.
That's no excuse, sir.
How do you like carrier
life, Petty Officer Douglas?
How do I like sleeping
18 to a compartment?
Sharing a communal shower?
The smell of jet
fuel everywhere?
I love it, ma'am.
No problems adjusting?
Plenty.
But I'm handling it.
Any problems at home?
Plenty.
That's why I'm here.
What happened
after the F-14 landed?
The Command Master
Chief asked to see me, sir.
The Air Boss is writing
you up for dereliction of duty
and sending you
up to Captain's Mast.
Yes, sir.
Do you think that's fair?
I guess.
It's your tail on the
line here, Douglas.
Yes or no.
A lot of things happened
all at once, Master Chief.
I could have done better.
What are you
going to do about it?
The decision's not up to me.
Well, Douglas, what
if I was to tell you
that your fate is in your hands?
That you can take
charge of your life.
I don't understand,
Master Chief.
I want you to think about
something, Douglas.
What would it be worth to you
to make this go away?
You would...
you would talk to the Air Boss,
make this... disappear?
I could.
But then the
question would be...
What do I get in return?
I'd been in Pri-Fli
for seven hours.
I'd just made a mistake
that would end my career.
So I took the Master
Chief up on his offer.
What do you mean?
I had sex with him, ma'am.
The next morning,
I talked to a friend and I
was disgusted with myself.
So I decided to come clean.
Um... I'm...
I'm going to be honest
with you, Petty Officer.
This is going to
be a tough case.
It's basically your
word against his.
Sir, if he did this to me,
then he did it to other women.
You can bank on that.
SULLIVAN: Ma'am,
I've got 28 years in.
In two more years, I max
out my retirement pay.
You think I'm going
to throw that away
by doing something stupid?
Getting a little head of
yourself, Master Chief.
We're just here to
ask a few questions.
No, a thing like this,
no matter how it ends up,
people are going to
think I did something
that I didn't do.
If the complaint is false,
do you have any idea
why Petty Officer
Douglas would file it?
Yeah. By blaming me,
she could avoid the
trouble she was in.
Why don't you tell
us what happened,
Master Chief?
I was, uh...
I was counseling her on
her professional performance.
(knocking)
Enter.
Leave the hatch open, please.
Petty Officer Douglas reporting
as ordered, Master Chief.
At ease, Douglas.
We need to have a talk.
After tonight's incident,
it's obvious that you're
not paying attention
and your work is suffering.
Yes, Master Chief.
The next time the
other ladies go on liberty
to have a few brews,
you will remain on board
and brush up on your procedures.
I can do that in my
spare time, Master Chief.
As of now, Douglas,
you have no spare time.
I'm going to lay
it on the line here.
The last time you came back
at the expiration of liberty,
you stumbled on the quarterdeck,
you were three
sheets to the wind
and you failed to salute
the national ensign.
It's been a hard time
for me, Master Chief.
Well, don't make it worse!
Look...
Knock it off before
you ruin your career.
This ship is a small community.
Word gets out, it can affect
your performance evaluation.
MacKENZIE: Petty Officer
had a problem with alcohol?
Major, the average age
of the crew on the
Seahawk is 21 years old.
Like a lot of young sailors,
she just didn't
handle it very well,
ma'am.
Thank you, Master Chief.
Wait. What happens now?
We go back to
Washington, sort this out.
You know, it's a funny thing.
I spent my entire career
protecting enlisted
men from officers,
and now, in the end,
the only one I can't protect
is myself.
This is by the
book, Master Chief.
Major, I'm not some
green seaman recruit
you're talking to.
I know how this works.
That book you're talking about
was written by
politicians and lawyers.
Sure, they throw a few
rights to the accused,
but you and I both know
that once you're accused,
your career is basically over.
Look, Master Chief, we
don't have an ax to grind.
Oh, no?
I remember you, Major.
You're the one that
busted my chops
on the Crossing-
the-Line ceremony.
You're the one that told
me that I just didn't get it.
I think you people most
definitely have an ax to grind.
"You people"?
Women.
SULLIVAN: Commander,
the Navy's going to hell.
Petty Officer
Douglas is the reason
that women don't belong.
Back in the old days, it was
considered bad luck to bring
a woman on board; if
you ask me, it still is.
In the old days, it was
considered acceptable
to castrate the village pervert.
If you ask me, it still is.
RABB: She claims
it was coercion, sir.
If she had sex
with the Master Chief,
he promised to keep
her out of trouble.
There are no witnesses, sir.
Both parties to the complaint
have exemplary records.
Petty Officer Douglas
claims that other women
were harassed by
the Master Chief,
but we haven't discovered
any corroborating evidence.
We're checking with the
Inspector General's Office.
Major, you and the
Commander will prosecute.
Who will be defending, sir?
Well, there's been
a complication.
The Master Chief
has waived his right
to military defense counsel
and hired a civilian lawyer.
That was fast.
(phone buzzes)
What, Tiner?
Oh... all right, send him in.
How is everyone today?
Dalton, this isn't a good time.
Sure it is. Where do you
want to start, Admiral?
You're the Master
Chief's lawyer?
Got a problem with that?
MacKENZIE: I can't
believe you didn't tell me.
This my case.
No, this is the
Master Chief's case.
Just work with me, Sarah.
Dalton, I'm the
investigating attorney.
You know I can't
represent the accused.
How did you get this case?
I was approached.
By whom?
You know I can't tell you that.
Then it looks like we
have nothing to talk about.
So, I guess this means
dinner's out of the question, right?
(sighs)
I think we should stay
at arm's length, Dalton.
Right now, I need to square
things with the Admiral.
(sighs)
MacKENZIE: You're removing me?
Pillow talk, Major.
Sir, I do not share a pillow
with Dalton Lowne,
and even if I did,
I would not talk about the case.
Oh, I'm sure you
wouldn't, Major.
Uh, the Major is famous
for her discretion, sir.
Major, there can't even be
an appearance
of a conflict of interest.
(sighs)
You're excused.
Yes, sir.
You need help with this case?
RABB: No, sir. Bud
and I can handle it.
Uh, Admiral...
Lowne bills out at
$500 an hour, sir.
Where would a Master Chief get
that kind of money?
I guess the Master
Chief's got a trust fund
we don't know about.
Hmm.
You know, this Lowne...
Surely the Major
could do better.
(chuckling)
Yeah.
(grunts slightly)
Harriet! Sir?
Mr. Lowne has requested
that you handle clerical duties
on the Master Chief
Sullivan court-martial.
Bud, we need to
see Captain Ross.
He still live in the same place?
Far as I know.
Set up a time.
Yes, sir.
Well, we are going to
be on opposite sides, Bud.
Well, at least you won't have
to work with a goop.
What's that supposed to mean?
ROSS: I'm going to
disappoint you, Harm.
I have nothing but praise
for Master Chief Sullivan.
He always played it by the book.
So you have no
idea, at all, Skipper,
why Petty Officer Douglas
would claim he harassed her?
The same reason they all do.
You-you lost me.
Well, then I'll give
you a case in point:
Lieutenant Isaacs.
She couldn't cut it.
She made up some charges
against the Master Chief.
It cost Isaacs her life.
Well, Skipper, Lieutenant
Isaacs is the exception.
I mean, most women have
done very well in the Navy.
The ones that didn't,
it's the easiest
thing in the world
to make up some charges.
Got your attention.
What's on your mind, Commander?
Well, sir, I...
I'm just a...
a little surprised.
I... I never suspected
this side of you.
In your tenure as
Captain of the Seahawk,
you have an excellent record
for promoting women
and securing them good billets.
I'm retired, Commander,
so I get to say whatever I want.
When I was in the Navy,
I did it the Navy way.
Now, the brass wanted
to bring the women along,
so I did my damnedest to comply.
I didn't like it then,
and I don't like it now.
So you have no reason at all
to believe that
Master Chief Sullivan
would have misused his position?
No.
Master Chief Sullivan
has contacted me
and asked that I serve
as a character witness.
He's an old friend, Commander,
and a valued colleague.
Now, what is happening to him...
This unsubstantiated accusation
of an unhappy woman...
Is a damn shame,
and you wonder
why I chose to retire.
I'm Victoria Ross.
It's a pleasure to
finally meet you, ma'am.
I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb.
This is Lieutenant,
J.G., Roberts.
Ma'am.
We're sorry
to have disturbed
your afternoon.
I knew your father, Commander.
Yes, ma'am, I know.
And although I... I may not
agree with my husband's tone,
I passionately believe
in what he's saying.
War is a man's calling.
There's no way that
women belong on warships,
and shame on the Navy brass
for giving in on that issue.
LOWNE: You can't be serious.
RABB: That's the best I'm
prepared to offer today, Counselor.
Well, my client is not prepared
to spend even
one day in the brig.
Well, unfortunately,
that may not be
your client's choice.
We reduce the charge,
with good behavior, he's
a free man by Christmas.
I can win this case on
the merits, Commander,
but I'd like to spare the
Navy the embarrassment.
If we go to trial, it's
going to be a war.
Hmm.
What's your offer?
All charges against
the Master Chief
are dropped immediately.
He retires honorably
with full benefits.
Additionally, Petty Officer
Douglas is prosecuted
to the full extent of the UCMJ
for filing a false report.
See you in court.
(sighs)
RABB: Josh's birthday is
coming up in three weeks,
and I'm wondering if
you can cut him loose
for a weekend. I'd...
Don't say "no" now.
Just think about it, all right?
(knocking on door)
Yeah, um, someone's at the door.
I got to go,
uh, but I really think we
should get together soon.
Okay, you know what?
I'll call you later.
Okay, bye.
Congresswoman Latham.
Commander.
Hmm, nice.
Come in.
Mind if I, uh, have a seat?
Make yourself at home.
Well, I can't say that
I'm surprised to see you.
You think I'm here because
the victim's a woman?
Well, you are the
champion of women's rights.
I'm also serving on the House
Armed Forces Committee.
You know, it's given
me a new appreciation
of what military
means to American life.
Look, I know we've
had our disagreements,
but I've never lied to you.
Oh.
She the one you were
telling me about?
Yeah.
Hmm.
You finally tell her
how you felt about her?
Yes. I took your advice.
Oh. How's it going?
Well... conflicting lifestyles.
Really.
Look...
this case has the potential
of causing great
harm to the Navy.
I know who's paying
Dalton Lowne's legal fees.
Lane Black... he's the founder
of the National
Patriots Foundation.
Lane Black?
Wow. Now, why would Lane
Black hire a big-time lawyer
to defend a small-time sailor?
'Cause he's going
to try everything
within his power to prove
that women do not
belong in the military.
(humming)
You're peeking.
(huffs)
Come on.
You were peeking.
Hey, don't be a jerk.
Don't call me a jerk or a goop.
It really ticks me off.
Hey. Hey, just because
you can't handle
the pressures of law school
doesn't mean you
should snap at me.
Look, Harriet, I got a
lot riding on law school.
Not everybody can be born
with a silver spoon
in their mouth.
Don't be such a baby.
Whatever.
(knock at door)
(knocking)
Be right there.
I called...
seven times.
Eight.
(folds phone)
I came here to argue my case.
You know I can't
talk about that.
My case.
Okay, so correct
me if I'm wrong,
but according to the UCMJ,
the accused has the
right to a civilian attorney
if he wants one, right?
Yeah.
Would you deny
the accused the right
to pick a good
lawyer to defend him?
Of course not.
Would you stand in
his way? Absolutely not.
Okay, so when the Master
Chief came to my firm
and I was assigned the case,
what was I supposed
to do, walk away?
You didn't solicit his business?
I'm not an ambulance
chaser, Sarah.
I just do my job.
I knew you were going
to be angry about this,
but that's between us.
My duty is to the Master Chief.
I know you got
something to say about this
and I want to hear it,
but I also want to get something
to eat 'cause I'm hungry,
so I was thinking maybe
I could take you to dinner.
I won't be easy on you.
I wasn't expecting you to be.
I need 20 minutes.
I'm not going anywhere.
So where do you
want to go tonight?
Uh, your choice.
Jean Louis.
Wow. You don't come cheap.
Hey, you make $500 an hour.
I think you can afford it.
All right, Jean Louis it is.
ROBERTS: Sir, may I
speak with you for a moment?
RABB: Sure, Bud.
Uh, not here.
In your office, so that
no one can overhear.
RABB: Well...
Sir, I contacted 63 women
who were onboard the Seahawk
when Master Chief Sullivan
was Command Master Chief.
All of them deny that
they were approached
for sex by the Master Chief.
What about the list Petty
Officer Douglas gave us?
Two of them, they're
out of the service.
We don't have a
good address on them.
Two others, who
are on active duty,
denied every being approached,
and the fifth,
which is a reservist,
says that she will not
come forward voluntarily.
Her name is, uh, Jane Klee.
She reportedly filed a complaint
against the Master Chief
and then later withdrew it.
Immediately following,
Captain Ross found her
a plum assignment
at the Pentagon.
Well, it looks like sleeping
with the Master Chief
is a great career booster.
Mm-hmm.
(knock at door)
Oh, Lieutenant Roberts,
good to see you again.
Congresswoman, it's a pleasure.
Bud, we're in
court this afternoon,
so, uh, have Mac
talk to Jane Klee.
Yes, sir.
Look, I, um, did
a little digging.
Lane Black has hired a
team of private investigators.
They're dredging
up whatever they can
from Petty Officer Douglas' past
and it turns out that...
Well, she does have
a juvenile court record.
They can't get
that; it's sealed.
No, they've paid off some clerk.
Look, Dalton Low is
holding a press con...
Lowne, as in clown.
He's holding a press
conference tonight.
Lane Black wants Petty
Officer Douglas picked to pieces.
How do you get this
information, Ms. Latham?
Bobbi.
Bobbi.
DOUGLAS: That's when
I decided to hell with it.
Have sex with him.
Why didn't you just walk away?
He offered me an
opportunity to save
my Navy career if I
did what he wanted.
Did Master Chief use
those exact words?
He didn't need
to... Everyone knew
how it worked.
Objection. Speculation.
Sustained.
Petty Officer Douglas,
did you ever discuss
Master Chief Sullivan
with any other
women aboard ship?
Objection. Hearsay.
Overruled. You may
answer the question.
Yes.
Did any of these
women indicate to you
that Master Chief Sullivan
had offered to intervene
on their behalf in
exchange for sexual favors?
LOWNE: Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, I am trying to
establish a pattern of conduct.
Commander, if you
have other witnesses
who can provide direct
testimony, call them.
Objection sustained.
Do you have any other questions
for this witness?
No, sir. No further questions.
JUDGE: Court will recess
until tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Klee?
I'm Major Sarah
MacKenzie, JAG Corps.
And I'm in a hurry.
I need to speak with you
about Master Chief Sullivan.
I need to get my kids
to soccer practice.
Dick, Brent,
come on, let's get in the car.
Come on, sweetie.
I know what he did.
You don't know anything.
I know that you were
one of his victims.
Really? Major, if there
is one thing I am in life
it is not a victim.
Please, he doesn't
know anything.
This will destroy him.
Hey.
Hey.
What's going on?
I wanted to go
south on the Beltway.
I must have got turned around.
Oh, by a country mile.
Go down three miles
till you hit the light,
then turn right on Little Falls.
It'll get you to the Beltway.
Sorry to bother you.
Hey, Major,
my wife was in the
service... US Navy.
It's a great life, sir.
(chuckles)
LOWNE (on TV): How
can the Navy bring charges
against Master Chief
Sullivan, an enlisted man,
when they don't bring charges
against officers who have
been accused of same offenses?
I have here
the names of five flag officers
who have been
accused of adultery...
Where the hell
did he get that file?
Three of them were
allowed to retire
without any charges
being filed whatsoever.
So, the question remains:
Are there two standards?
Are enlisted men
held to a higher...
I need a number, Roberta.
Master Chief
Sullivan is the victim
of selective prosecution,
and if this verdict
goes against him,
this list will become public.
One man will not take the blame
for the sins of others.
(sighs)
Gee, I wonder how Dalton
Lowne got ahold of that list.
Well, I had
nothing to do with it.
Really.
Really.
Well, somebody did.
Bud, stop acting like
a spoiled little child.
Don't talk to me like that.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
Oh, but it's all right just
to say whatever pops
into your mind?
I think it's important
when two people
love one another, that
they're honest, yeah.
Well, I don't tell
you everything
that I think about you.
I wish you would.
It might make our
relationship better.
Okay. Um...
I really don't like the way
that you correct me
in front of other people.
Okay, good, and while
we're being honest,
I don't like the fact
that you accuse me of
spying on your cases.
I don't like the fact
that you tease me
about my Star Trek stuff.
And I don't like the
fact that you get jealous
every time a man
just looks at me.
(scoffs)
Y-you know, I really don't like
those silly little
dresses that you wear.
It makes you look
like my grandma.
Your grandma?
Where did you get that list?
Off your desk.
You used me.
Oh, this is not
about you, Sarah.
You go through
papers on my desk...
First of all, the
folder was lying open.
How am I supposed to know
whether you wanted
me to see it or not?
You violated my trust.
Listen to me for a
moment. I have an obligation
to aggressively
represent my client.
Now, what kind of
a lawyer would I be
if I didn't take
advantage of that?
The officers whose names you're
going to reveal have wives and children.
Well, then they should
have thought about that
before they had affairs.
You're going to ruin..
You think I'm going to
release those names?
Yes.
Oh, wow... You know,
you disappoint me, Sarah.
The judge will
never allow those in.
Then why?
Because... because the five men
judging the Master
Chief read the papers.
Maybe I can convince one
or two of them to think twice
before they slam him.
I shouldn't have
come here tonight.
This was a bad idea.
Why don't we just
take some time...
It's over, Dalton.
Don't say that.
It's said.
I'm not going to
let you go, Sarah.
LOWNE: Petty Officer Douglas,
Commander Rabb has done his
best to anticipate my questions,
so this should
only take a minute.
DOUGLAS: That
would be a relief, sir.
It'll be up to this
distinguished panel
to decide whether
the allegations
against Master Chief
Sullivan are true or false.
Your Honor, is counsel
going to ask a question?
Get to the point, Mr. Lowne.
Yes, Your Honor.
Petty Officer Douglas,
prior to January 7, you had had
other interactions with the
Master Chief. Isn't that true?
RABB: Objection. Relevance.
Your Honor, the
prior interactions
go to motivation on the
part of Petty Officer Douglas
in making false allegations
against the Master Chief.
Overruled, Commander.
Petty Officer Douglas, you will
answer Mr. Lowne's question.
Yes.
How many occasions?
Two.
And on one of these occasions,
you returned from liberty late.
Yes.
And isn't it also true
that you told the Master
Chief that you would...
"Do anything to make
the problem go away"?
Yes, sir.
And didn't the Master
Chief tell at the time
that you had to face the
consequences of your actions?
Yes.
And the second time that you had
a personal interaction with him,
you returned from
liberty intoxicated.
Yes, sir.
And what did the Master
Chief do at that time?
He assigned me extra watches.
So, the Master Chief didn't
ask for any personal favors
on either of these
occasions, did he?
No, sir.
Petty Officer Douglas,
three years ago,
you made an allegation
of sexual misconduct
against your
stepfather, didn't you?
Yes.
And despite your allegation,
your stepfather was never
charged with any crime, was he?
No.
Thank you, Petty
Officer Douglas.
The defense has
no further questions
at this time.
I was blindsided in there,
Petty Officer Douglas.
Anything else you
haven't told me?
I've done some things
I'm not proud of, sir,
stuff I'd like to
put in the past.
I didn't think it was relevant.
Didn't think it was relevant?
The fact that you had a problem
for which Master Chief Sullivan
had to intercede is relevant.
The fact that you brought
sexual assault charges
against another man
in the past is relevant.
Close the door, Bud.
It goes to credibility.
My stepfather did
what I said he did.
My mother covered for
him, and the cops decided
I was just a lying
bitch, out to do him dirt.
You believe me?
Yes.
No doubts?
No doubts.
Sir, Jean Klee...
The information
about her promotion...
I cross-referenced
that with the list
that Petty Officer
Douglas gave us.
There's an interesting pattern.
I'm going to need this
list this afternoon, Bud.
Master Chief Sullivan
is a man of
impeccable character.
He did his job in an
exemplary manner.
I never heard a
complaint against him.
He was well respected.
Do you believe the
charges against him?
Objection, Your Honor.
Calls for speculation.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Move on, Counselor.
Thank you, Captain.
I have no further questions.
Captain Ross, you, uh, served
with Master Chief Sullivan
for three years.
As stated.
You never found
fault with his conduct
in all that time.
No.
Did you order
the Master Chief to
keep down the number
of enlisted personnel
brought before Captain's Mast?
Yes.
So you relied
on his judgment.
Yes.
Captain, did you recommend
that 17 female
enlisted personnel
be given special consideration
in transfers and promotions?
I don't recall the number.
Well, what number sounds right
to you, Captain?
It was 17.
Did Master Chief
Sullivan request
that you give these 17 women
their special consideration?
Your Honor, what does
this line of questioning...?
There is a direct causal link
between these
promotions and transfers
and Master Chief
Sullivan's conduct,
and Captain Ross has been
covering that up.
Your Honor... Commander Rabb,
I'm going to order those remarks
be stricken from
the record, and if you
do something like that again,
I will hold you in contempt.
I don't think you have
anything to worry about.
(continues indistinctly)
Good afternoon, Mrs. Ross.
Is that the very best
you can do, Commander?
Blacken the reputation
of a good officer
with unfounded allegations?
You want to take a look at this,
or do you already
know what's in here?
You're a cruel man.
Your husband was a friend
of my father's, Mrs. Ross,
well respected, and
an excellent officer.
Now, why would he resign
one year short of
a full retirement?
To spend time with
me, Commander.
I was a falling-down drunk.
He came home to get me help.
I've been sober
for three months now.
When we were
stationed in Norfolk...
and I was ashamed to go to
the package store for liquor...
Master Chief Sullivan...
would get me booze on the sly.
You destroyed my husband.
Mrs. Ross...
I am not out to destroy you,
but there is a young
girl in that courtroom...
One of God knows how many
women the Master Chief has harmed.
You and I know that...
only I can't prove that unless
someone steps forward...
Someone who knows the truth.
RABB: Your Honor, at
this time, I would like to call
Victoria Ross as a
prosecution witness.
JUDGE: Is the witness available?
Why are you
doing this, Victoria?
I want to start over again.
The only way that's
going to happen
is to tell the truth.
We built a life once.
We can do it again.
We can't build a
new life on a lie.
JUDGE: Overruled, Mr. Lowne.
Commander you
may call the witness,
but tread carefully.
Put me on the stand instead.
RABB: Captain Ross,
you previously testified
that you had no evidence
that Master Chief
Sullivan was soliciting sex
from the female
enlisted personnel
under your command.
Would you like to
change that testimony, sir?
Yes.
Are you willing to describe,
for the members, the
knowledge you have
about the charges brought
against Master Chief?
Yes.
How did you find out
what he was doing, sir?
Several of the women
complained about him.
How did you handle
the complaints?
ROSS: I offered to
transfer them off the ship
into other commands.
RABB: In exchange for what, sir?
Their silence.
Why did you do this, Captain?
My career was at stake.
The Master Chief
was blackmailing me.
I brought a woman
home one night late,
from an embassy
reception in Hong Kong.
She spent the night with
me in my underway cabin...
and the next morning,
the Master Chief caught her
leaving the ship with
the other civilians.
RABB: Did he tell anyone?
ROSS: No.
Did he threaten to
tell your wife, sir?
Yes.
RABB: Why are you
telling me this now, Captain?
Because it weighs
heavily on my
conscience, Commander.
Because I want my wife...
to know what kind of
a man I've become...
and because I have decided
to do the honorable
thing and testify
instead of forcing
my wife to live
in a prison of lies.
Thank you, Captain.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
They've been out a long time.
That's not
necessarily a bad sign.
They have a lot to consider.
They're coming back in.
JUDGE: Captain
Crandall, have the members
come to a decision
regarding these charges?
Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Master Chief Sullivan,
would you and your
counsel please stand?
JUDGE: Captain?
Master Chief Sullivan,
this court finds you guilty
of all the charges
and specifications.
JUDGE: Order! murmuring
All right, order!
JUDGE: This court's adjourned.
What can I get you, sir?
A double bourbon, straight up.
You got it.
Double bourbon,
straight up. Enjoy. Thanks.
Hey.
Hey. How you doing?
Been better.
BARTENDER: Ma'am?
Tonic water with
a squeeze of lime.
This bother you?
It's your drink, not mine.
Okay.
Now, that bothers me.
Huh. Hmm.
(chuckling)
Congratulations.
Yeah.
BARTENDER: Enjoy.
Yep.
So, why don't I
feel good about it?
Because a lot of
people got hurt.
Dalton?
Gone.
Is that a bad thing?
You never liked him.
(chuckling)
I just felt you could do
better, Mac, you know.
I thought he was pretty good.
Well, you're a
good-looking woman.
You're smart.
Of course, you do have a tattoo.
(chuckling)
Every now and then,
I catch you being nice.
Well, keep it to
yourself, all right?
I got a reputation to protect.
(chuckling)
Hey.
Hey, Bud.
Do not order
anything with umbrellas, Bud.
BARTENDER: Can I
get you a cocktail, sir?
I'll take a beer, please.
(jukebox plays "What Becomes
of the Broken Hearted?")
Harriet hates me.
Bud, she's just mad at you.
She hasn't talked
to me in three days.
That's not necessarily
a bad thing, Bud.
Send her flowers.
She ought to send me flowers.
You tried talking to her?
Tell her you're sorry.
Well, I'm not sorry.
I mean...
I'm sorry that it all
went blooey, but...
I've been thinking
about that stuff
for a long time, and it
kind of just popped out.
Hey, Bud, your problem is
you don't know how to fight.
BUD: Oh, and everything
was going so great
and... now... it's not.
Bud, nothing with a woman
is ever great all the time.
Hell, you're lucky if you
get five good days a month.
(chuckling): Oh,
where do I start?!
You know what I'm
talking about, Mac.
I mean, humans
with the opposing sex.
Opposite sex.
BUD: You're really
lucky, Commander.
You got Annie.
No, I don't, Bud.
It's not looking good right now.
All I really have
are, uh, you two.
BOTH: Think how we feel.
(starting to sing
along with the music)
ALL THREE: ♪ What
becomes of the broken-hearted ♪
♪ Who had love
that's now departed? ♪
♪ I know I've got to find
some kind of peace of mind ♪
♪ Baby... ♪
HARM: ♪ Maybe... ♪
(cracking up)
"Maybe"?
(all laughing)
Firefighter One-Three-Two.
I'd like the usual.
One-point-five, if you please?
MAN: Sorry, One-Three-Two.
All I've got to give
away is 800 pounds.
Damn! I'll be sucking
fumes on final.
PILOT: Marshall, this is
One-Three-Two. Low state.
The tanker doesn't
have any giveaway.
How in the hell did that happen?
I don't know, sir.
You know the tanker's
supposed to report
back overhead with 5,000
pounds of giveaway fuel.
You've got less than a thousand.
I'm sorry, sir... I got busy
taking the fighters
in the no-fly zone.
PILOT: This is Firefighter
One-Three-Two.
Bingo fuel. I need priority.
You got it, One-Three-Two.
Paddles, are you up?
Boss, this is Paddles. I got it.
He's a keeper.
One-Three-Two, this is Paddles.
We've got a pitching deck.
Hold the gear until I tell you.
Call the ball.
Damn! Port engine
just flamed out.
This is One-Three-Two. Ball.
Single engine. Low state.
Paddles, keep an eye
this guy... in a few seconds,
he's going to be outside
the ejection envelope.
I'll call the gear.
Come on, baby,
don't fail me now.
Okay, give me the gear now!
Flame out.
Flame out!
(men cheering) One-Three-Two,
you owe me a case
of primo Scotch.
(panting)
He made it, sir.
You're relieved of duty,
Petty Officer Douglas.
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: Petty Officer
Second Class Flannery Douglas
is an air traffic controller
stationed on the Seahawk.
She made a mistake
during operations
in the Persian Gulf
after a near ramp strike...
Attention on deck! As you were.
Command Master Chief
requested that you report to
him below decks in his office.
Petty Officer Douglas claims
Command Master
Chief asked for sex
in exchange for his help.
What kind of help, sir?
He offered
to go to her division
officer and recommend,
rather than writing her up,
and sending her
to Captain's Mast,
he'd restrict her
liberty and give her
extra military instruction.
Well, that way it'd be
kept off her record book.
Sir... are we talking about
Master Chief Sullivan.
You know him? Well, yes,
Admiral. We, we questioned
the Master Chief during
the Crossing-the-Line
incident, sir,
if you'll remember.
Mmm. Well, the Master
Chief does not deny
that he requested
to meet with her.
He claims he
merely counseled her
on her professional performance.
He felt that, uh,
the pressures of life at sea
were impacting her work.
How do you want us
to proceed, Admiral?
Well, even the suspicion
of misconduct has to be
taken seriously, Major.
Check out their stories.
Find out if the Master
Chief was using his position
for sexual or other favors.
Dismissed.
SIMS: You probably
want to see this,
and I have the other
one on my desk.
MacKENZIE: Oh, right,
well, could you show me that?
WOMAN: JAG Headquarters...
Search warrant procedures.
Huh.
Toilet paper's
always special, Bud.
Sir...
How's that going to help me
on my criminal procedure exam?
Toilet paper's always
special... Two prongs,
Aguilar, Spinelli.
The rules for obtaining
a search warrant based
on an anonymous tip.
Right. Right.
Better pack your bags, Bud.
Ma'am? We're
leaving for the Seahawk
in two hours, three minutes.
My exam's next week, ma'am.
You'll be back
in plenty of time.
The Seahawk.
"Toilet paper's
always special." Hmm?
We met on the Seahawk, Bud.
Oh, right.
Have you seen my crim pro notes?
Sometimes, you're such a goop.
MAN: Master Chief
Sullivan's record is spotless.
RABB: Well, how
long have you known
the Master Chief, Captain?
For ass long as I've been
skipper of the Seahawk.
Four months, three days, sir?
Correct.
And in all this time,
you've had no reason
to doubt his judgment
or his integrity?
Master Chief's a good friend
to all enlisted personnel...
Men and women.
If anyone came to
him with a problem,
he generally
found a way to fix it.
ROBERTS: Captain
Ross retired one year short
of 30 years.
He tendered his
resignation on Friday,
was a civilian by Monday.
I heard he'd been
selected for Rear Admiral.
If he stayed in the
service a little while longer,
he could have been a Battle
Group Commander by now.
So why did he get
out so suddenly?
Personal reasons.
Wanted more time at home.
I know how he feels.
Listen, Mac, why don't
you talk to the Air Boss?
Bud and I will check
personnel files. How, uh...?
That's easy, ma'am.
We're on the 0-2 Level now.
All you got to do is
take the ladder well
up to the Flight Deck Control.
Talk with the Flight
Deck Control Officer
or the Fly-One or Fly-Two P.O.
to see if he's up
either in the Pri-Fli
or down in the hangar deck.
Yeah, sounds about right.
O-Two...
MAN: She was responsible
for seeing to it that
the tanker held on
to 5,000 pounds
of fuel for recovery,
but she gave it all
away to the fighters
over the no-fly zone.
We damn near lost
this F-14, ma'am.
It landed short.
Caught the number one wire.
Damn near snapped the nose gear.
Tell me how you really feel
about Petty
Officer Douglas, sir.
Okay. She would never
have made it on the ship
if she weren't
first-rate, Major.
Once on board, her
record was excellent,
until she screwed up, ma'am.
Did the Command Master Chief
attempt to intercede
on her behalf?
No.
What would you have
done if he'd come to you
and asked that you
forget about the incident?
I would have
listened to his advice
and then made up my mind.
Did he often intercede
on behalf of enlisted personnel?
He chose his times carefully.
That's why when
he did, I listened.
The Master Chief
always played it straight.
The enlisted men
and the officers
liked and respected him, ma'am.
No one saw this coming.
DOUGLAS: What can I say?
I screwed up big time.
We got busy chasing the bad guys
across the no-fly zone
and I gave away too much fuel.
It can get pretty
busy in Pri-Fli.
That's no excuse, sir.
How do you like carrier
life, Petty Officer Douglas?
How do I like sleeping
18 to a compartment?
Sharing a communal shower?
The smell of jet
fuel everywhere?
I love it, ma'am.
No problems adjusting?
Plenty.
But I'm handling it.
Any problems at home?
Plenty.
That's why I'm here.
What happened
after the F-14 landed?
The Command Master
Chief asked to see me, sir.
The Air Boss is writing
you up for dereliction of duty
and sending you
up to Captain's Mast.
Yes, sir.
Do you think that's fair?
I guess.
It's your tail on the
line here, Douglas.
Yes or no.
A lot of things happened
all at once, Master Chief.
I could have done better.
What are you
going to do about it?
The decision's not up to me.
Well, Douglas, what
if I was to tell you
that your fate is in your hands?
That you can take
charge of your life.
I don't understand,
Master Chief.
I want you to think about
something, Douglas.
What would it be worth to you
to make this go away?
You would...
you would talk to the Air Boss,
make this... disappear?
I could.
But then the
question would be...
What do I get in return?
I'd been in Pri-Fli
for seven hours.
I'd just made a mistake
that would end my career.
So I took the Master
Chief up on his offer.
What do you mean?
I had sex with him, ma'am.
The next morning,
I talked to a friend and I
was disgusted with myself.
So I decided to come clean.
Um... I'm...
I'm going to be honest
with you, Petty Officer.
This is going to
be a tough case.
It's basically your
word against his.
Sir, if he did this to me,
then he did it to other women.
You can bank on that.
SULLIVAN: Ma'am,
I've got 28 years in.
In two more years, I max
out my retirement pay.
You think I'm going
to throw that away
by doing something stupid?
Getting a little head of
yourself, Master Chief.
We're just here to
ask a few questions.
No, a thing like this,
no matter how it ends up,
people are going to
think I did something
that I didn't do.
If the complaint is false,
do you have any idea
why Petty Officer
Douglas would file it?
Yeah. By blaming me,
she could avoid the
trouble she was in.
Why don't you tell
us what happened,
Master Chief?
I was, uh...
I was counseling her on
her professional performance.
(knocking)
Enter.
Leave the hatch open, please.
Petty Officer Douglas reporting
as ordered, Master Chief.
At ease, Douglas.
We need to have a talk.
After tonight's incident,
it's obvious that you're
not paying attention
and your work is suffering.
Yes, Master Chief.
The next time the
other ladies go on liberty
to have a few brews,
you will remain on board
and brush up on your procedures.
I can do that in my
spare time, Master Chief.
As of now, Douglas,
you have no spare time.
I'm going to lay
it on the line here.
The last time you came back
at the expiration of liberty,
you stumbled on the quarterdeck,
you were three
sheets to the wind
and you failed to salute
the national ensign.
It's been a hard time
for me, Master Chief.
Well, don't make it worse!
Look...
Knock it off before
you ruin your career.
This ship is a small community.
Word gets out, it can affect
your performance evaluation.
MacKENZIE: Petty Officer
had a problem with alcohol?
Major, the average age
of the crew on the
Seahawk is 21 years old.
Like a lot of young sailors,
she just didn't
handle it very well,
ma'am.
Thank you, Master Chief.
Wait. What happens now?
We go back to
Washington, sort this out.
You know, it's a funny thing.
I spent my entire career
protecting enlisted
men from officers,
and now, in the end,
the only one I can't protect
is myself.
This is by the
book, Master Chief.
Major, I'm not some
green seaman recruit
you're talking to.
I know how this works.
That book you're talking about
was written by
politicians and lawyers.
Sure, they throw a few
rights to the accused,
but you and I both know
that once you're accused,
your career is basically over.
Look, Master Chief, we
don't have an ax to grind.
Oh, no?
I remember you, Major.
You're the one that
busted my chops
on the Crossing-
the-Line ceremony.
You're the one that told
me that I just didn't get it.
I think you people most
definitely have an ax to grind.
"You people"?
Women.
SULLIVAN: Commander,
the Navy's going to hell.
Petty Officer
Douglas is the reason
that women don't belong.
Back in the old days, it was
considered bad luck to bring
a woman on board; if
you ask me, it still is.
In the old days, it was
considered acceptable
to castrate the village pervert.
If you ask me, it still is.
RABB: She claims
it was coercion, sir.
If she had sex
with the Master Chief,
he promised to keep
her out of trouble.
There are no witnesses, sir.
Both parties to the complaint
have exemplary records.
Petty Officer Douglas
claims that other women
were harassed by
the Master Chief,
but we haven't discovered
any corroborating evidence.
We're checking with the
Inspector General's Office.
Major, you and the
Commander will prosecute.
Who will be defending, sir?
Well, there's been
a complication.
The Master Chief
has waived his right
to military defense counsel
and hired a civilian lawyer.
That was fast.
(phone buzzes)
What, Tiner?
Oh... all right, send him in.
How is everyone today?
Dalton, this isn't a good time.
Sure it is. Where do you
want to start, Admiral?
You're the Master
Chief's lawyer?
Got a problem with that?
MacKENZIE: I can't
believe you didn't tell me.
This my case.
No, this is the
Master Chief's case.
Just work with me, Sarah.
Dalton, I'm the
investigating attorney.
You know I can't
represent the accused.
How did you get this case?
I was approached.
By whom?
You know I can't tell you that.
Then it looks like we
have nothing to talk about.
So, I guess this means
dinner's out of the question, right?
(sighs)
I think we should stay
at arm's length, Dalton.
Right now, I need to square
things with the Admiral.
(sighs)
MacKENZIE: You're removing me?
Pillow talk, Major.
Sir, I do not share a pillow
with Dalton Lowne,
and even if I did,
I would not talk about the case.
Oh, I'm sure you
wouldn't, Major.
Uh, the Major is famous
for her discretion, sir.
Major, there can't even be
an appearance
of a conflict of interest.
(sighs)
You're excused.
Yes, sir.
You need help with this case?
RABB: No, sir. Bud
and I can handle it.
Uh, Admiral...
Lowne bills out at
$500 an hour, sir.
Where would a Master Chief get
that kind of money?
I guess the Master
Chief's got a trust fund
we don't know about.
Hmm.
You know, this Lowne...
Surely the Major
could do better.
(chuckling)
Yeah.
(grunts slightly)
Harriet! Sir?
Mr. Lowne has requested
that you handle clerical duties
on the Master Chief
Sullivan court-martial.
Bud, we need to
see Captain Ross.
He still live in the same place?
Far as I know.
Set up a time.
Yes, sir.
Well, we are going to
be on opposite sides, Bud.
Well, at least you won't have
to work with a goop.
What's that supposed to mean?
ROSS: I'm going to
disappoint you, Harm.
I have nothing but praise
for Master Chief Sullivan.
He always played it by the book.
So you have no
idea, at all, Skipper,
why Petty Officer Douglas
would claim he harassed her?
The same reason they all do.
You-you lost me.
Well, then I'll give
you a case in point:
Lieutenant Isaacs.
She couldn't cut it.
She made up some charges
against the Master Chief.
It cost Isaacs her life.
Well, Skipper, Lieutenant
Isaacs is the exception.
I mean, most women have
done very well in the Navy.
The ones that didn't,
it's the easiest
thing in the world
to make up some charges.
Got your attention.
What's on your mind, Commander?
Well, sir, I...
I'm just a...
a little surprised.
I... I never suspected
this side of you.
In your tenure as
Captain of the Seahawk,
you have an excellent record
for promoting women
and securing them good billets.
I'm retired, Commander,
so I get to say whatever I want.
When I was in the Navy,
I did it the Navy way.
Now, the brass wanted
to bring the women along,
so I did my damnedest to comply.
I didn't like it then,
and I don't like it now.
So you have no reason at all
to believe that
Master Chief Sullivan
would have misused his position?
No.
Master Chief Sullivan
has contacted me
and asked that I serve
as a character witness.
He's an old friend, Commander,
and a valued colleague.
Now, what is happening to him...
This unsubstantiated accusation
of an unhappy woman...
Is a damn shame,
and you wonder
why I chose to retire.
I'm Victoria Ross.
It's a pleasure to
finally meet you, ma'am.
I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb.
This is Lieutenant,
J.G., Roberts.
Ma'am.
We're sorry
to have disturbed
your afternoon.
I knew your father, Commander.
Yes, ma'am, I know.
And although I... I may not
agree with my husband's tone,
I passionately believe
in what he's saying.
War is a man's calling.
There's no way that
women belong on warships,
and shame on the Navy brass
for giving in on that issue.
LOWNE: You can't be serious.
RABB: That's the best I'm
prepared to offer today, Counselor.
Well, my client is not prepared
to spend even
one day in the brig.
Well, unfortunately,
that may not be
your client's choice.
We reduce the charge,
with good behavior, he's
a free man by Christmas.
I can win this case on
the merits, Commander,
but I'd like to spare the
Navy the embarrassment.
If we go to trial, it's
going to be a war.
Hmm.
What's your offer?
All charges against
the Master Chief
are dropped immediately.
He retires honorably
with full benefits.
Additionally, Petty Officer
Douglas is prosecuted
to the full extent of the UCMJ
for filing a false report.
See you in court.
(sighs)
RABB: Josh's birthday is
coming up in three weeks,
and I'm wondering if
you can cut him loose
for a weekend. I'd...
Don't say "no" now.
Just think about it, all right?
(knocking on door)
Yeah, um, someone's at the door.
I got to go,
uh, but I really think we
should get together soon.
Okay, you know what?
I'll call you later.
Okay, bye.
Congresswoman Latham.
Commander.
Hmm, nice.
Come in.
Mind if I, uh, have a seat?
Make yourself at home.
Well, I can't say that
I'm surprised to see you.
You think I'm here because
the victim's a woman?
Well, you are the
champion of women's rights.
I'm also serving on the House
Armed Forces Committee.
You know, it's given
me a new appreciation
of what military
means to American life.
Look, I know we've
had our disagreements,
but I've never lied to you.
Oh.
She the one you were
telling me about?
Yeah.
Hmm.
You finally tell her
how you felt about her?
Yes. I took your advice.
Oh. How's it going?
Well... conflicting lifestyles.
Really.
Look...
this case has the potential
of causing great
harm to the Navy.
I know who's paying
Dalton Lowne's legal fees.
Lane Black... he's the founder
of the National
Patriots Foundation.
Lane Black?
Wow. Now, why would Lane
Black hire a big-time lawyer
to defend a small-time sailor?
'Cause he's going
to try everything
within his power to prove
that women do not
belong in the military.
(humming)
You're peeking.
(huffs)
Come on.
You were peeking.
Hey, don't be a jerk.
Don't call me a jerk or a goop.
It really ticks me off.
Hey. Hey, just because
you can't handle
the pressures of law school
doesn't mean you
should snap at me.
Look, Harriet, I got a
lot riding on law school.
Not everybody can be born
with a silver spoon
in their mouth.
Don't be such a baby.
Whatever.
(knock at door)
(knocking)
Be right there.
I called...
seven times.
Eight.
(folds phone)
I came here to argue my case.
You know I can't
talk about that.
My case.
Okay, so correct
me if I'm wrong,
but according to the UCMJ,
the accused has the
right to a civilian attorney
if he wants one, right?
Yeah.
Would you deny
the accused the right
to pick a good
lawyer to defend him?
Of course not.
Would you stand in
his way? Absolutely not.
Okay, so when the Master
Chief came to my firm
and I was assigned the case,
what was I supposed
to do, walk away?
You didn't solicit his business?
I'm not an ambulance
chaser, Sarah.
I just do my job.
I knew you were going
to be angry about this,
but that's between us.
My duty is to the Master Chief.
I know you got
something to say about this
and I want to hear it,
but I also want to get something
to eat 'cause I'm hungry,
so I was thinking maybe
I could take you to dinner.
I won't be easy on you.
I wasn't expecting you to be.
I need 20 minutes.
I'm not going anywhere.
So where do you
want to go tonight?
Uh, your choice.
Jean Louis.
Wow. You don't come cheap.
Hey, you make $500 an hour.
I think you can afford it.
All right, Jean Louis it is.
ROBERTS: Sir, may I
speak with you for a moment?
RABB: Sure, Bud.
Uh, not here.
In your office, so that
no one can overhear.
RABB: Well...
Sir, I contacted 63 women
who were onboard the Seahawk
when Master Chief Sullivan
was Command Master Chief.
All of them deny that
they were approached
for sex by the Master Chief.
What about the list Petty
Officer Douglas gave us?
Two of them, they're
out of the service.
We don't have a
good address on them.
Two others, who
are on active duty,
denied every being approached,
and the fifth,
which is a reservist,
says that she will not
come forward voluntarily.
Her name is, uh, Jane Klee.
She reportedly filed a complaint
against the Master Chief
and then later withdrew it.
Immediately following,
Captain Ross found her
a plum assignment
at the Pentagon.
Well, it looks like sleeping
with the Master Chief
is a great career booster.
Mm-hmm.
(knock at door)
Oh, Lieutenant Roberts,
good to see you again.
Congresswoman, it's a pleasure.
Bud, we're in
court this afternoon,
so, uh, have Mac
talk to Jane Klee.
Yes, sir.
Look, I, um, did
a little digging.
Lane Black has hired a
team of private investigators.
They're dredging
up whatever they can
from Petty Officer Douglas' past
and it turns out that...
Well, she does have
a juvenile court record.
They can't get
that; it's sealed.
No, they've paid off some clerk.
Look, Dalton Low is
holding a press con...
Lowne, as in clown.
He's holding a press
conference tonight.
Lane Black wants Petty
Officer Douglas picked to pieces.
How do you get this
information, Ms. Latham?
Bobbi.
Bobbi.
DOUGLAS: That's when
I decided to hell with it.
Have sex with him.
Why didn't you just walk away?
He offered me an
opportunity to save
my Navy career if I
did what he wanted.
Did Master Chief use
those exact words?
He didn't need
to... Everyone knew
how it worked.
Objection. Speculation.
Sustained.
Petty Officer Douglas,
did you ever discuss
Master Chief Sullivan
with any other
women aboard ship?
Objection. Hearsay.
Overruled. You may
answer the question.
Yes.
Did any of these
women indicate to you
that Master Chief Sullivan
had offered to intervene
on their behalf in
exchange for sexual favors?
LOWNE: Objection.
Hearsay.
Your Honor, I am trying to
establish a pattern of conduct.
Commander, if you
have other witnesses
who can provide direct
testimony, call them.
Objection sustained.
Do you have any other questions
for this witness?
No, sir. No further questions.
JUDGE: Court will recess
until tomorrow morning.
Mrs. Klee?
I'm Major Sarah
MacKenzie, JAG Corps.
And I'm in a hurry.
I need to speak with you
about Master Chief Sullivan.
I need to get my kids
to soccer practice.
Dick, Brent,
come on, let's get in the car.
Come on, sweetie.
I know what he did.
You don't know anything.
I know that you were
one of his victims.
Really? Major, if there
is one thing I am in life
it is not a victim.
Please, he doesn't
know anything.
This will destroy him.
Hey.
Hey.
What's going on?
I wanted to go
south on the Beltway.
I must have got turned around.
Oh, by a country mile.
Go down three miles
till you hit the light,
then turn right on Little Falls.
It'll get you to the Beltway.
Sorry to bother you.
Hey, Major,
my wife was in the
service... US Navy.
It's a great life, sir.
(chuckles)
LOWNE (on TV): How
can the Navy bring charges
against Master Chief
Sullivan, an enlisted man,
when they don't bring charges
against officers who have
been accused of same offenses?
I have here
the names of five flag officers
who have been
accused of adultery...
Where the hell
did he get that file?
Three of them were
allowed to retire
without any charges
being filed whatsoever.
So, the question remains:
Are there two standards?
Are enlisted men
held to a higher...
I need a number, Roberta.
Master Chief
Sullivan is the victim
of selective prosecution,
and if this verdict
goes against him,
this list will become public.
One man will not take the blame
for the sins of others.
(sighs)
Gee, I wonder how Dalton
Lowne got ahold of that list.
Well, I had
nothing to do with it.
Really.
Really.
Well, somebody did.
Bud, stop acting like
a spoiled little child.
Don't talk to me like that.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
Oh, but it's all right just
to say whatever pops
into your mind?
I think it's important
when two people
love one another, that
they're honest, yeah.
Well, I don't tell
you everything
that I think about you.
I wish you would.
It might make our
relationship better.
Okay. Um...
I really don't like the way
that you correct me
in front of other people.
Okay, good, and while
we're being honest,
I don't like the fact
that you accuse me of
spying on your cases.
I don't like the fact
that you tease me
about my Star Trek stuff.
And I don't like the
fact that you get jealous
every time a man
just looks at me.
(scoffs)
Y-you know, I really don't like
those silly little
dresses that you wear.
It makes you look
like my grandma.
Your grandma?
Where did you get that list?
Off your desk.
You used me.
Oh, this is not
about you, Sarah.
You go through
papers on my desk...
First of all, the
folder was lying open.
How am I supposed to know
whether you wanted
me to see it or not?
You violated my trust.
Listen to me for a
moment. I have an obligation
to aggressively
represent my client.
Now, what kind of
a lawyer would I be
if I didn't take
advantage of that?
The officers whose names you're
going to reveal have wives and children.
Well, then they should
have thought about that
before they had affairs.
You're going to ruin..
You think I'm going to
release those names?
Yes.
Oh, wow... You know,
you disappoint me, Sarah.
The judge will
never allow those in.
Then why?
Because... because the five men
judging the Master
Chief read the papers.
Maybe I can convince one
or two of them to think twice
before they slam him.
I shouldn't have
come here tonight.
This was a bad idea.
Why don't we just
take some time...
It's over, Dalton.
Don't say that.
It's said.
I'm not going to
let you go, Sarah.
LOWNE: Petty Officer Douglas,
Commander Rabb has done his
best to anticipate my questions,
so this should
only take a minute.
DOUGLAS: That
would be a relief, sir.
It'll be up to this
distinguished panel
to decide whether
the allegations
against Master Chief
Sullivan are true or false.
Your Honor, is counsel
going to ask a question?
Get to the point, Mr. Lowne.
Yes, Your Honor.
Petty Officer Douglas,
prior to January 7, you had had
other interactions with the
Master Chief. Isn't that true?
RABB: Objection. Relevance.
Your Honor, the
prior interactions
go to motivation on the
part of Petty Officer Douglas
in making false allegations
against the Master Chief.
Overruled, Commander.
Petty Officer Douglas, you will
answer Mr. Lowne's question.
Yes.
How many occasions?
Two.
And on one of these occasions,
you returned from liberty late.
Yes.
And isn't it also true
that you told the Master
Chief that you would...
"Do anything to make
the problem go away"?
Yes, sir.
And didn't the Master
Chief tell at the time
that you had to face the
consequences of your actions?
Yes.
And the second time that you had
a personal interaction with him,
you returned from
liberty intoxicated.
Yes, sir.
And what did the Master
Chief do at that time?
He assigned me extra watches.
So, the Master Chief didn't
ask for any personal favors
on either of these
occasions, did he?
No, sir.
Petty Officer Douglas,
three years ago,
you made an allegation
of sexual misconduct
against your
stepfather, didn't you?
Yes.
And despite your allegation,
your stepfather was never
charged with any crime, was he?
No.
Thank you, Petty
Officer Douglas.
The defense has
no further questions
at this time.
I was blindsided in there,
Petty Officer Douglas.
Anything else you
haven't told me?
I've done some things
I'm not proud of, sir,
stuff I'd like to
put in the past.
I didn't think it was relevant.
Didn't think it was relevant?
The fact that you had a problem
for which Master Chief Sullivan
had to intercede is relevant.
The fact that you brought
sexual assault charges
against another man
in the past is relevant.
Close the door, Bud.
It goes to credibility.
My stepfather did
what I said he did.
My mother covered for
him, and the cops decided
I was just a lying
bitch, out to do him dirt.
You believe me?
Yes.
No doubts?
No doubts.
Sir, Jean Klee...
The information
about her promotion...
I cross-referenced
that with the list
that Petty Officer
Douglas gave us.
There's an interesting pattern.
I'm going to need this
list this afternoon, Bud.
Master Chief Sullivan
is a man of
impeccable character.
He did his job in an
exemplary manner.
I never heard a
complaint against him.
He was well respected.
Do you believe the
charges against him?
Objection, Your Honor.
Calls for speculation.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Move on, Counselor.
Thank you, Captain.
I have no further questions.
Captain Ross, you, uh, served
with Master Chief Sullivan
for three years.
As stated.
You never found
fault with his conduct
in all that time.
No.
Did you order
the Master Chief to
keep down the number
of enlisted personnel
brought before Captain's Mast?
Yes.
So you relied
on his judgment.
Yes.
Captain, did you recommend
that 17 female
enlisted personnel
be given special consideration
in transfers and promotions?
I don't recall the number.
Well, what number sounds right
to you, Captain?
It was 17.
Did Master Chief
Sullivan request
that you give these 17 women
their special consideration?
Your Honor, what does
this line of questioning...?
There is a direct causal link
between these
promotions and transfers
and Master Chief
Sullivan's conduct,
and Captain Ross has been
covering that up.
Your Honor... Commander Rabb,
I'm going to order those remarks
be stricken from
the record, and if you
do something like that again,
I will hold you in contempt.
I don't think you have
anything to worry about.
(continues indistinctly)
Good afternoon, Mrs. Ross.
Is that the very best
you can do, Commander?
Blacken the reputation
of a good officer
with unfounded allegations?
You want to take a look at this,
or do you already
know what's in here?
You're a cruel man.
Your husband was a friend
of my father's, Mrs. Ross,
well respected, and
an excellent officer.
Now, why would he resign
one year short of
a full retirement?
To spend time with
me, Commander.
I was a falling-down drunk.
He came home to get me help.
I've been sober
for three months now.
When we were
stationed in Norfolk...
and I was ashamed to go to
the package store for liquor...
Master Chief Sullivan...
would get me booze on the sly.
You destroyed my husband.
Mrs. Ross...
I am not out to destroy you,
but there is a young
girl in that courtroom...
One of God knows how many
women the Master Chief has harmed.
You and I know that...
only I can't prove that unless
someone steps forward...
Someone who knows the truth.
RABB: Your Honor, at
this time, I would like to call
Victoria Ross as a
prosecution witness.
JUDGE: Is the witness available?
Why are you
doing this, Victoria?
I want to start over again.
The only way that's
going to happen
is to tell the truth.
We built a life once.
We can do it again.
We can't build a
new life on a lie.
JUDGE: Overruled, Mr. Lowne.
Commander you
may call the witness,
but tread carefully.
Put me on the stand instead.
RABB: Captain Ross,
you previously testified
that you had no evidence
that Master Chief
Sullivan was soliciting sex
from the female
enlisted personnel
under your command.
Would you like to
change that testimony, sir?
Yes.
Are you willing to describe,
for the members, the
knowledge you have
about the charges brought
against Master Chief?
Yes.
How did you find out
what he was doing, sir?
Several of the women
complained about him.
How did you handle
the complaints?
ROSS: I offered to
transfer them off the ship
into other commands.
RABB: In exchange for what, sir?
Their silence.
Why did you do this, Captain?
My career was at stake.
The Master Chief
was blackmailing me.
I brought a woman
home one night late,
from an embassy
reception in Hong Kong.
She spent the night with
me in my underway cabin...
and the next morning,
the Master Chief caught her
leaving the ship with
the other civilians.
RABB: Did he tell anyone?
ROSS: No.
Did he threaten to
tell your wife, sir?
Yes.
RABB: Why are you
telling me this now, Captain?
Because it weighs
heavily on my
conscience, Commander.
Because I want my wife...
to know what kind of
a man I've become...
and because I have decided
to do the honorable
thing and testify
instead of forcing
my wife to live
in a prison of lies.
Thank you, Captain.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
They've been out a long time.
That's not
necessarily a bad sign.
They have a lot to consider.
They're coming back in.
JUDGE: Captain
Crandall, have the members
come to a decision
regarding these charges?
Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE: Master Chief Sullivan,
would you and your
counsel please stand?
JUDGE: Captain?
Master Chief Sullivan,
this court finds you guilty
of all the charges
and specifications.
JUDGE: Order! murmuring
All right, order!
JUDGE: This court's adjourned.
What can I get you, sir?
A double bourbon, straight up.
You got it.
Double bourbon,
straight up. Enjoy. Thanks.
Hey.
Hey. How you doing?
Been better.
BARTENDER: Ma'am?
Tonic water with
a squeeze of lime.
This bother you?
It's your drink, not mine.
Okay.
Now, that bothers me.
Huh. Hmm.
(chuckling)
Congratulations.
Yeah.
BARTENDER: Enjoy.
Yep.
So, why don't I
feel good about it?
Because a lot of
people got hurt.
Dalton?
Gone.
Is that a bad thing?
You never liked him.
(chuckling)
I just felt you could do
better, Mac, you know.
I thought he was pretty good.
Well, you're a
good-looking woman.
You're smart.
Of course, you do have a tattoo.
(chuckling)
Every now and then,
I catch you being nice.
Well, keep it to
yourself, all right?
I got a reputation to protect.
(chuckling)
Hey.
Hey, Bud.
Do not order
anything with umbrellas, Bud.
BARTENDER: Can I
get you a cocktail, sir?
I'll take a beer, please.
(jukebox plays "What Becomes
of the Broken Hearted?")
Harriet hates me.
Bud, she's just mad at you.
She hasn't talked
to me in three days.
That's not necessarily
a bad thing, Bud.
Send her flowers.
She ought to send me flowers.
You tried talking to her?
Tell her you're sorry.
Well, I'm not sorry.
I mean...
I'm sorry that it all
went blooey, but...
I've been thinking
about that stuff
for a long time, and it
kind of just popped out.
Hey, Bud, your problem is
you don't know how to fight.
BUD: Oh, and everything
was going so great
and... now... it's not.
Bud, nothing with a woman
is ever great all the time.
Hell, you're lucky if you
get five good days a month.
(chuckling): Oh,
where do I start?!
You know what I'm
talking about, Mac.
I mean, humans
with the opposing sex.
Opposite sex.
BUD: You're really
lucky, Commander.
You got Annie.
No, I don't, Bud.
It's not looking good right now.
All I really have
are, uh, you two.
BOTH: Think how we feel.
(starting to sing
along with the music)
ALL THREE: ♪ What
becomes of the broken-hearted ♪
♪ Who had love
that's now departed? ♪
♪ I know I've got to find
some kind of peace of mind ♪
♪ Baby... ♪
HARM: ♪ Maybe... ♪
(cracking up)
"Maybe"?
(all laughing)