JAG (1995–2005): Season 4, Episode 10 - The Black Jet - full transcript

Good day, Lieutenant Roberts.

Good day, Commander.

Is the Major in yet?

Oh, no, sir, not yet.

What are you up to then, mate?

Emergency travel arrangements.

Tehran? Tricky place.

I had an assignment
there some time ago.

Once those Iranian
feathers get ruffled

they're a little
tough to put down.

How did you manage, Commander?



I did a fair job of it, sir.

That's what I understand
from your record.

Major, my office.

Commander Brumby,
why don't you join us?

I want you two on the first
flight to the Persian Gulf.

What is it, sir?

Iranian version of the
Gary Powers incident.

Have you lost a
spy plane over Iran?

Iranians have our pilot.

Major, you'll be lead counsel,

with Commander
Brumby working under you.

Any problems with that?

Can't imagine anything
I'd like better, sir.

Fine with me, sir.



Sir. Thanks, good morning.

Hey, Bud.

Morning, sir.

Hey, where's Major MacKenzie?

She's in the Admiral's office

with Commander Brumby, sir.

Did they ask me to join?

He didn't say, sir.

Oh... what's going on?

We lost an aircraft over Iran,

and they're going to try
the pilot for espionage.

Navy?

Yes, sir.

A Lieutenant
Commander Jack Keeter.

Weren't you at the
academy with him, sir?

Yeah, he was my roommate.

Commander, can I
see you a minute?

Yes, sir.

Bud, will you take care of this?

Aye, aye, sir.

Good morning.

Morning.

You heard?

Yes, sir.

When I became
JAG three years ago,

I gave you the first case
that came across my desk.

Keeter's F-14 went
down in Cuba, sir.

He was working with CIA then.

I assume this is
more of the same.

With Webb involved,

I'd say that's a good guess.

When do I leave, sir?

You don't.

Admiral...

I am assigning the case to Major
MacKenzie and Commander Brumby.

Mac speaks Farsi;
Brumby has operated in Iran.

The Aussies have an
embassy there; we don't.

Admiral, I have known
Keeter for 17 years, sir.

He is my oldest friend.

It's a done deal, Rabb.

You're too close.

With all due respect, sir...

the Admiral was very
close to his daughter,

yet that did not prevent him

from coming to
her rescue in Italy.

Enter.

Excuse me, sir.

I don't mean to interfere,
but for the sake of morale

I was wondering

whether you'd consider

sending Commander
Rabb instead of me, sir.

Commander, do you feel
inadequate to the task?

No, sir.

In fact, I'm sure the Major
and I'd make a knockout team.

But if that was my
mate in jeopardy,

it'd kill me not to
be there for him, sir.

Well, thank you, Commander,

but I'll determine

what's best for morale at JAG.

Understood, sir.

Dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Did you put him up to this?

No, sir, I didn't even know
he had the assignment

until just now.

Of course you didn't.

All right, Commander, you go.

Thank you, sir.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

Rabb...

don't let your friendship
with Commander Keeter

affect your judgment.

No, sir, I won't.

The hell you won't.

I found a few citations

that might prove useful, Major.

Thank you, Commander.

Brumby...

look, I don't hold a grudge.

That's good to know,

since I hung you out to dry

defending Colonel Farrow.

What I'm saying is, I
hope you didn't back out

because you thought
we couldn't establish

a working relationship.

Not at all, it's like
I told the Admiral.

It's Commander Rabb's
messmate's who's in the hole;

he should be the
one to go after him.

I agree.

Besides...

you and I are going to have

a great relationship, Sarah.

I said working relationship.

We believe Iran is
only two years away

from nuclear capability.

Last week, we
received satellite photos

showing a reactor in
the Dasht-E-Kavir desert

may be producing
weapons-grade plutonium.

Since the data was inconclusive,

CIA consulted
Naval intelligence.

SECNAV agreed to
sponsor a recon mission

using the F-117
stealth aircraft.

I thought the Navy abandoned
that program years ago, sir.

That's what everyone
was supposed to think.

It was undergoing
carrier-suitability tests

in the Persian Gulf, 40
miles off the coast of Iran.

It was diverted to
gather infrared pictures

for closer analysis.

The Iranians shot it down?

No.

Lieutenant Commander
Keeter had control failure.

He had to eject.

He was found in the
desert by Bedouins.

He was taken to the police
station, traded for arms.

What's his condition, sir?

According to the Iranians,
sound enough to stand trial.

It'll be a kangaroo court, sir.

Hmm.

Iran is offering an
olive branch here.

Full U.S. consultation
in the pilot's defense.

What's the quid pro quo, Webb?

Maybe they just want
to improve relations.

Yeah, and maybe they just
want to embarrass us further.

Either way, I expect you'll
find out rather quickly.

Any of you familiar with the
punishment for espionage

under Iranian law?

Same as under our law: death.

The plane was
catapulted at 2005.

At 2046, Commander Keeter
shifted into stealth mode.

At 2104, he attempted
to change altitude,

to avoid leaving a contrail.

That's when he encountered

his first malfunction.

The yaw trim stabilizer failed.

Whoa.

He broke radio silence

to inform us

he was having difficulty
controlling the aircraft.

We ordered him
back to the carrier.

Did he go back?

He started to.

Then the second
malfunction occurred:

Automatic roll
stabilization failed.

I thought the flight
stabilization system

had quad redundancy.

It does... if one system fails

there's three more to take over.

He had to have experienced

a drastic computer malfunction.

I'd say.

Okay, Chief, shut her down.

Not bad for your first time.

Commander
Keeter's last radio call

reported losing pitch control

and ejecting over Lake Namak.

Couldn't he have
landed in the desert?

With all three
stabilizing assists out,

that bird flies like
a kite in a twister.

What caused the failures, sir?

We don't know.

Our technicians are trying
to replicate the problem.

So far, no luck.

Hopefully, Commander
Keeter can tell you more,

when you get to Tehran.

Think he could have put her down

in one piece, sir?

Possibly.

Pretty confident.

A good pilot has to be.

But in the F-117

that kind of thinking
can get you killed.

I can't believe my grandmother

used to dress like this.

I remember her as
this cute, little old lady

in leisure suits.

Well, the two
agents following us

seem to think
you look pretty hot.

The Tehran high court
could have prosecuted

Lieutenant Commander Keeter

for committing an act of war,

but have opted instead

to pursue only the
espionage charge.

It's quite strong, Commander.

Oh, that would be
an understatement.

Minister, the distinction
you're making is moot,

since both charges
are punishable by death.

If this were an Iranian
military pilot downed

in, let's say, Texas, I doubt
your government would be willing

to dispense of it with
just a wink and a smile.

But hopefully, your presence
here will help to open

a dialogue between
our two governments.

The best way to do that, sir,

would be to consider this
incident a mutual mistake

and to release Commander
Keeter into our custody.

Iran admits no mistake in
this matter, Commander.

Your country is developing
nuclear arms, sir.

MacKENZIE: The United
States is trying to prevent

a widespread
Middle Eastern crisis.

You're very forward, Major...

for a woman in my society.

Your Farsi is perfect.

Only the trace of
an American accent.

We in the moderate government

are trying to implement change

but there are hard-line
clerics in this country

who do not want
that change to come.

We need something...

to appease these forces:

A trade agreement, perhaps

or release of Iranian assets
in your country... something.

Unfortunately, Minister Nassan,

we don't have
authority to negotiate.

We are here, sir, to assure

that Commander
Keeter is alive and well

and that he stays that way.

I have always enjoyed

the intricacies of
American diplomacy.

I'm no diplomat, sir.

My point exactly.

What the Commander is saying
is that it would be unproductive

to discuss anything until we've
spoken with Commander Keeter.

Well, then, why
didn't he just say that?

I expected to find Commander
Keeter in a hospital.

Oh, his injuries
were superficial.

From his account,

we believe the plane went down

somewhere near Lake Namak.

When we've
gathered all the pieces

we'll be sure and
return them to you.

Oh, a personal correspondence
from Commander Keeter

to his father... I pass it on

as evidence that
we are civilized.

This letter's
been resealed, sir.

Oh, it's Iranian glue.

It never sticks.

Keeter?

Keeter?

Keeter?

You told me his
wounds were superficial.

They are... his vital
signs are all acceptable.

Why is his arm in a sling?

I believe he broke
that when he ejected.

Why wasn't it set?

It's a simple fracture.

Keeter?

Martin.

No, it's Harm.

No.

Martin Baker.

Commander Keeter,
I'm Major MacKenzie.

We're here to help you.

No.

Martin Baker.

I want him in a hospital now,

and I want that
arm set immediately.

He'll be fine in
time for the trial.

Why are you
treating him like this?

He's an accused criminal.

Even accused
criminals have rights.

Not in Iran.

However, as yet another
gesture of goodwill:

The trial will begin
as scheduled,

unless your
government is willing

to discuss other options.

Keeter, we're going to
get you out of here soon...

I promise, buddy.

No Martin Baker.

Room service.

We didn't order anything!

I believe that you
did, Mr. Webb.

May I set up near the window?

As you wish.

This chicken looks good.

It's excellent, madam.

Would sir and madam like
to have dessert after dinner?

We have an
excellent creme brulee.

That would be nice.

Soviet-type listening devices.

I am Sina Kazzari...
Webb sent me.

You work fast. I have to.

You are being
watched by two agents.

Yeah, we spotted them.

Can you get this letter to Webb?

Yes, we are using the
Australian embassy as a conduit.

Encrypted in that letter,
Keeter put the coordinates

to where he landed the stealth.

What?

Keeter's father died

a week after we graduated

from Annapolis, Mac.

This letter isn't

to his dad; it's to us.

And this...

is not an ejection chute.

It's a drag chute
to slow the aircraft

after it lands.

Martin Baker
manufactures ejection seats.

When Keeter kept saying

"no Martin Baker,
no Martin Baker"

he was trying to tell me...

he didn't eject.

He landed the stealth
and walked away from it,

to conceal it from the Iranians.

So there's an F-117
parked somewhere...

somewhere out here.

That's Dasht-E-Kavir.

Dasht-E-Kavir?

It means "big desert."

More coffee?

Hey...

My third-class year
at the academy...

it was all getting to
be too much for me.

I was 19.

I didn't even remember

what my father looked like.

I didn't think I had

what it took to
become a Naval officer.

That doesn't sound like
the Harmon Rabb I know.

Just before Christmas
leave, during finals, I went UA.

Before anybody even
found out I was gone,

Keeter came out, got
me, brought me back.

We'll get him out of this, Harm.

May I pick up your
room service cart?

I delivered the letter to
the Australian Embassy.

You told them Commander Keeter

probably landed in the desert?

Yes, they're trying to locate

the F-117 by satellite.

To destroy it.

They may have other plans.

They would like
you and the Major

to come to the embassy for tea

at 4:00 this afternoon.

G'day, mates.

Somehow I knew you'd be here.

Mr. Webb needed an escort.

That'll be the day.

Good work on
getting that letter to us.

Keeter was able to
encrypt the coordinates

through a special
code we taught him

for just this kind of situation.

So how are you going to
destroy the stealth, Webb?

We're not.

We're going to retrieve it.

Or rather you are.

Oh, no, no, no.

I am here to help Keeter.

The priorities have changed.

Mine haven't.

As a pilot, you've got two

crucial qualifications:
Access and ability.

Harm's never
even flown a stealth.

Neither had Lieutenant
Commander Keeter,

until a month ago.

All you've got to do

is get it off the ground.

The computer's autopilot

will take care of the rest.

The computer is the reason

it's on the ground
in the first place.

The technicians on the Seahawk

believe a heat sink worked loose

from the repeated
carrier landings.

That could have overheated
an integrated circuit

in the flight
stabilization system.

Replacing the circuit

should bring the
system back online.

Yeah, until it overheats again.

By that time, you should be
back on board the Seahawk.

Harm, if you go

I can represent Keeter.

Rabb may need your Farsi skills

to reach the plane, Major.

I'll represent him.

Too risky.

Once we go after that plane

anyone we leave behind
in Tehran will be vulnerable.

So you're going
to sacrifice Keeter.

He knew it was a
dangerous mission.

Is that the going rate
of exchange, Webb...

A man for a plane?

Do you think you're
going to change anything

in the Tehran high court?

His fate's already been decided.

State will do the best it can

to negotiate a
deal after the trial.

You know I'm right.

Progress between our
two countries isn't likely

if your government
executes an American pilot

for taking pictures.

I agree with you
completely, Commander.

But your country seems willing

to sit on its hands

while this incident heads
towards a tragic end.

Harm...

when did you get here?

Two days ago, buddy.

This is our second visit.

Oh, wow...

must have been
really out of it, huh?

You remember Major MacKenzie?

No, wish I did.

How's your arm?

Broken.

Tell the Commander and the Major

of your freely
arrived at decision.

I'm going to plead guilty.

Throw myself on the
mercy of the court.

It's a gesture

that would be meaningful
to my people, Commander.

Keeter, if they've tortured
this confession out of you...

No torture, no pressure.

Sometimes you have
to recognize the truth

and move on...
This is one of them.

Well, I wish you would
have waited to speak to us.

Well, I didn't know
you were here.

Did you give them
my letter to my dad?

Of course.

Did dad get it?

He did.

Then I know I'm
doing the right thing.

If Commander Rabb
flies the stealth out

this is the route
that he'll take?

That's right.

Why not fly to an air base

in Turkey or Saudi Arabia?

Too far.

They can't repair the heat sink

so the new integrated
circuit will overheat.

We believe he can reach the
Seahawk before that happens.

And if he can't?

There's always risks, Roberts.

What about Major MacKenzie?

Or haven't you
thought about that?

We'll get Mac out.

And Lieutenant Commander Keeter?

This conversation
is like deja vu.

Like I told Rabb

state will do the best it
can for Commander Keeter.

I hope Commander
Rabb chooses not to do it.

He'll do it.

Rabb knows that national
security has to come

before the welfare
of any individual.

Mr. Webb, Commander
Rabb lives by a creed:

Duty to his country,
loyalty to his friends.

You're asking him to
choose between the two.

No man should have to do that.

There has to be a better way.

The plan has changed.

Webb has decided to
get both the stealth aircraft

and Commander
Keeter out of Iran.

So the tin man has a heart.

A jeep and supplies...

Including a satellite
radio and GPS receiver...

Will be waiting in the desert at
a rendezvous I've used before.

From there, we will follow

the coordinates Webb
gave you to the plane.

Webb didn't give
me the coordinates.

He hadn't finished
decoding it yet.

What does it matter?

We'll have Keeter with us.

That's right.

Here is

the circuit board
and instructions

on how to insert it.

Well, that's the easy part.

How do we break
Keeter out of prison?

We don't; the Iranians do.

At noon tomorrow

they will transfer Commander
Keeter from Baker Prison

to the Judicial
Ministry Building

for trial.

We rescue him...

here, from the garage.

I wore a tie like this to
my high school graduation

in '81.

Guess Iranians are a
little behind the times.

Live fast, die young...
leave a good-looking corpse.

Whoever said that
first is a frigging idiot.

I'm coming, all right?

Don't push, don't push.

Come on, guys.

Quick! Quick!

You never could

follow orders, partner.

All right, we got
the APU generators,

satellite radio...

GPS receiver.

No weapons.

Maybe Webb didn't want us

to start an international
incident, huh?

Well, we'll use the ones

we got off the guards.

All right, ladies, let's go.

I've got a bird to fly.

Was he always this cocky?

Only around women.

So, you're Iranian?

American citizen, Major.

After the Shah was deposed,

my father was
killed by Khomeini,

and my mother
brought me to the states.

When I joined the agency,

Webb found a way
to plant me in Tehran.

Listen, Kazzari...

Sina, right?

I'm sure this isn't

a typical mission
and, um... thank you.

When I have a job to do,
I see it through to the end

regardless of the consequences.

But... you are welcome.

Your accent... It's
barely detectable.

I set her down 100 miles

from the coast, on a
dry lake bed, about here.

We should be there
by noon tomorrow.

Are you hungry?

Starving.

I think they fed
me camel fodder.

Well, I didn't think
that'd bother you.

I've seen you eat things

out of the back of
the wardroom fridge

I wouldn't even touch.

No guts, no glory.

I figured Cuba would have
cured you of that philosophy.

So, Keeter, you think
that circuit board will last

until I get to the Seahawk?

It started to cook about
30 minutes into my flight

but you should be
on board by then.

If you're not, and she
starts to go, punch out.

You didn't punch out.

Yeah, well, I had miles
of dry lake to land on.

You only have 750 feet of deck.

Don't even think of trying

without the
stabilization system.

I don't want to be a pallbearer.

Well, what makes you think

I even want you at my funeral?

You know, Webb, it
would be nice if for once

you'd spit on your own fire.

It was a Navy aircraft, Admiral.

On a CIA operation.

Authorized by the SECNAV.

I've just about had it
with you using my people

to clean up your messes.

I use them because
they're the best, AJ.

You don't sacrifice your
best on a suicide mission.

I agreed that, if willing

Commander Rabb
could retrieve the aircraft

but not stage some
damn jailbreak!

Time was too short

to run it by you.

I felt we could recover
both the stealth and the pilot.

This, uh... this doesn't
sound like you, Webb.

What aren't you telling me?

You know it all.

Except, sir, how Major MacKenzie

and Lieutenant Commander Keeter

are going to get out.

My man will drive Mac and
Keeter across the Turkish border.

You can't send them across
hundreds of miles of Iran

with an army after them.

They'll never get out!

I did request sending in
the Marines to extract them,

but SECNAV said it would
only inflame the situation

if anything went wrong.

He did?

We'll see about that.

Tiner, get me the SECNAV.

You knew the Admiral

wouldn't go for a ground
extraction through Turkey.

You set him up

to fight your fight
with the SECNAV!

A good operative
never takes a fight

that somebody else is
willing to take for him.

How do you sleep at night?

On my right side.

You might have mentioned
you left it with Bedouins.

I didn't.

What's going on?

Kazzari just insulted him.

These Bedouins think
they own the desert.

We do.

Sir...

I represent the
United States Navy.

We are here to
recover our plane.

It is our plane.

We found it.

That is Bedu law.

What good is this
aircraft to the Bedouin?

It did not say you
could not buy it back

but first, I, Faisal Muhammad,

leader of the Bedu,
would like to offer

the hospitality of my tent

to all but this dog.

Easy, he could
kill us in a second.

Could he and this man
here check the plane over

to see that nothing is missing

that might affect our trading?

As you wish.

Which one is it?

Got to read the
instructions first.

What is it?

Camel milk.

It's delicious.

I'm glad you like it.

Have another.

Looks like a burnt
piece of toast.

Hand me the new one, will you?

These Bedouins are thieves.

They could damage the APU.

Trying to steal
something off it.

I got this.

You watch the jeep.

Look, this plane is

of no value to the
Bedouin; you can't fly it.

Its wings make good shade.

That jeep has a very
powerful generator.

We need it only
to start the plane.

When we leave, it is yours.

That plane is worth $80 million.

We may be nomadic,
but we are not stupid.

What's your price?

One million American
dollars in gold.

That can be arranged.

When I get the gold,
you get the plane.

It could take days
to get the gold.

By then, the Iranians
might find the aircraft.

No gold, no plane.

It is a deal.

What did you say to him?

I offered to stay
behind as collateral.

I am not leaving you here, Mac.

I'll be fine. This is about
commerce, Harm, not about sex.

You were found not guilty
in your husband's death.

What does that
have to do with this?

Well, sometimes people
take risks they shouldn't

when they want to
punish themselves.

I'll pay my dues, Harm,

at the Article 32 hearing.

I'm doing this to
complete the mission.

I'll be fine.

Well?

She's our bird.

What'd you give him?

Promise of a million
dollars in gold,

Mac as collateral
until he gets it.

You'd leave Mac alone with him?

Well, you're going
to be with her.

I always did want
to spend a few nights

alone in the desert
with a beautiful woman.

She'd be safer
alone with Faisal.

Come on, let's get
this bird in the air.

Let's not.

An Iranian armored unit
has been following us

waiting for my
signal to move in.

I had a feeling

breaking Keeter out
was a little too easy.

You should have
acted on your feelings.

Oh, I did.

If this bird isn't
in the air in, uh...

ten minutes, Navy's
going to take it out

with a Maverick missile.

I hope you don't play
poker, Commander.

Look, even if I am bluffing

what does it hurt to stand a
couple hundred yards away?

Nothing.

Good.

Oh, you, uh... probably want me

to take this pistol out, right?

Don't move, either of you!

I forgot, he used
to live in the states.

He's familiar with
the American western.

Yes, I liked them, too.

Except I always thought the
good guy should wear the black hat.

So you can drop your pistol

but don't kick it.

See? He knows that
if I dropped the pistol

kicked it toward him

he'd be distracted

long enough for you to rush him.

Nah, it wouldn't work,

I wouldn't be able to
grab him with my cast on.

I'd have to hit him over
the head with it like this.

You were bluffing about
the Maverick, weren't you?

Only about the time...
We got 20 minutes.

Too bad.

You deprived me the
pleasure of shooting him myself.

He was a double agent.

He signaled the
Iranian army with this.

They should be
here in a few minutes.

Mac, Keeter's going with you.

For what? To protect me?

What, if Keeter was
being held as collateral

would you send me with him?

Yeah. You would?

It's safer than trying

to make it to the
Turkish border alone.

If it'll make you feel
any better, Major...

I'll place myself under
your protection, ma'am.

Strap him onto the
wing, will you, Harm?

Flight Deck, move
out 142 and 200.

Flight Deck, move
out 142 and 200.

Our latest satellite
tracking shows

an Iranian armored patrol
closing in on our people.

If Mac doesn't get
out of this, Roberts...

I know. What do
you mean, you know?

It's his bloody op that
went sour, mate, not yours.

I sort of talked him into
rescuing Commander Keeter.

I see.

Well, don't get your
knickers in a knot, mate.

Mac will be back,
I'm sure of it.

How can you be sure?

I promised I'd take her skiing.

We'll rendezvous in two days...

here, in Turkey, on the coast.

What is this instrument?

It's a GPS.

Tells you where
you are in the world.

Allah and the stars tell me.

I do not need batteries.

Take care, Marine.

You, too, sailor.

Your gold will be at
the rendezvous point

in 48 hours.

Let's do it, Keeter.

May Allah be with you

and my gold!

All right, any last-
minute pointers?

Your stabilizing warning
light comes on, get out.

I mean it, buddy. First
flashing red light, you punch out.

Come on, come on.

Iranians!

Anytime, Keeter.

What's wrong?

It needs to be primed.

Yes!

What's taking so long?

He can't put fuel
into the engines

till they spool up to 18% power.

Yes!

Woman, give me your hand!

Hey!

Shadow, this is Guardian.
You are clear to take off.

Roger, understood.

Seahawk strike, Shadow two-four.

Feet wet.

Roger, Shadow two-four.

We have your transponder.

Seahawk strike,
what's my Charlie time?

We're ready for you now, Shadow.

The computer's
going to land him?

Yeah, if the heat sink
doesn't fry the circuit board.

He could try to land
manually, couldn't he?

Not and live.

Shadow two-four,
state your altitude.

Angels ten, Seahawk,

about seven minutes out.

Commander, you're
about to be the second pilot

to land this bird on a
carrier... you in position?

I'm lined up and in the cone.

To automatically land, you
have to activate two systems:

The ACLS switch
outboard of the throttle

and the autopilot button

on the stick.

Shadow two-four, I'm coupled up.

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Seahawk, I've got a problem.

The yaw trim
stabilizer's malfunctioned.

Get out of there, Rabb.

I'm able to maintain
control with the rudders.

There goes the
roll stabilization.

You're running out of
time! Get out of there!

Not while I have
air under my wings.

Eject, Rabb, eject!

I can make it!

I told you to eject.

I really thought
I could make it.

No one could, Commander.

Tell me... if that
system had failed

when you were
landing two days ago

would you have stuck with it?

Probably.

Then you just learned
a valuable lesson.

MacKENZIE: I doubt it.

Mac! Keeter!

They landed early, sir.

Hey, you weren't
due for 20 minutes.

21 minutes and 15 seconds.

She's been doing
that for two days.

What's your secret?

In English, please.

Nah, it'll lose something
in the translation.

Huh!