JAG (1995–2005): Season 4, Episode 19 - The Adversaries - full transcript

I swear that I will bear
true faith and allegiance

to the Constitution
of the United States

and that I take this
obligation freely,

without mental reservation
or purpose of evasion

and that I will well
and faithfully discharge

the duties of this office on
which I am about to enter.

So help me God.

So help me God.

Congratulations, Lieutenant.

Thank you, sir. Stand easy.

Now that you're a full
Lieutenant, Mr. Roberts,



how does it feel?

Pretty darn good, sir.

I trust that your new
office is satisfactory?

Yes, sir.

Petty Officer Tiner
and I removed

file cabinets and
boxes yesterday.

Good, good,

and, uh, take at
least 15 minutes off.

Get back to work.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, sir, Major,

for all your help and support.

Don't thank us, Bud.

You did all the work.



When's the wet down?

Oh, right.

Uh, attention everybody.

Harriet and I are going
to be throwing a little party

at McMurphy's on Friday,
to celebrate our promotions.

Nothing fancy...
Beer and pretzels.

See you there. Be there.

Well, congratulations,

sir.

My son, a Lieutenant.

Damn.

Hello, Harriet.
How's my grandson?

Oh... fine.

What are you doing here?

In uniform?

I'm here on official business.

The, uh, Navy wants to
court-martial me, Buddy.

I need your help.

There's this guy, Glen Dobie,

a loser.

He owns an electronics store
over on Hampton Boulevard,

near the Norfolk Navy Base.

Anyway, one day, Dobie's
caught selling stolen goods

out of his store, so
what does he do?

He buys himself
immunity from prosecution.

His quid pro quo being...?

Ha. Now we get to the crux.

He tells the prosecutor
that he's got a bigger fish

than himself the government
may be interested in.

You. Me.

Well, what's he accusing you of?

He says while I was
storekeeper on the base,

I involved him in a scheme
to sell Navy-owned TVs

and VCRs on the black market.

Well, did you?

Huh. Buddy, this
guy is a scumbucket.

He'd do anything to
save his own sorry butt,

including putting an
innocent man behind bars.

Well, somebody believed him.

Who's the convening authority?

Captain Gary Lutz.

He's the Supply Systems
Commander at Norfolk.

Hey, I didn't think they
could touch me once I retired.

They can if the Secretary
of the Navy authorizes it.

This is your office?

I got underwear
bigger than this place.

What are they charging you with?

Wrongful disposition
of, uh, military property

and... larceny.

Do they have any evidence? Yeah.

The word of Glen
Dobie, a known criminal.

What about records?

Well, all the paperwork was sent

to the archives four years ago,

and someone must
have misfiled them

because they're all gone now.

All the records disappeared?

Maintenance reports,
purchase orders,

receiving vouchers,
inventory lists?

All gone.

He wants me to defend him.

What did you tell him?

I told him I'd think
about it, ma'am.

Of course, I'm
not going to do it,

even if I could.

That's probably wise.

You know, the weird
thing is, though, sir.

It's the first time my
father's come to me

for any kind of help.

He's probably guilty.

I wouldn't put it past him

to run a scam on the U.S. Navy.

I'm sure he'll get a
competent defense lawyer.

I realize, as a lawyer,

I'm going to have to
defend a guilty client

even ones that I
loathe and despise,

but the question is:

Do I want to start off
with such a shady case

right out of the gate, sir?

Probably not.

Yeah, but then,
on the other hand,

I won't always get a
chance to choose my cases.

No.

No, and I know what you're
going to say, Commander.

I'm a lawyer.

I'm not a judge and a jury.

My job is to uphold
the legal system,

not to judge those
who want my services.

You're right.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you, ma'am.

I think we handled that
rather well, don't you?

Yeah.

But if I don't defend him,

and he's convicted,
what do I tell our son

when he asks: "Why
is Grandpa in jail?"

You'll tell him the truth.

You'll tell him he
did a bad thing.

"Why didn't you help Grandpa?

You're a lawyer."

And if I lose, it's even worse.

Well, Grandpa's in the pokey

because your dad blew it.

You're going to
defend him, aren't you?

Commander Parker?

Hi!

Whew!

Come here.

Hi. Hi.

Dar-lin, this is
Lieutenant Roberts

and Lieutenant, J.G. Sims.

Hi.

Well, it's nice to
meet you, Dar-lin.

I've heard a lot of
nice things about you.

Uh-huh.

Child Protective Services
needed a psychiatrist for Dar-lin

and since the
investigation was under

Naval jurisdiction,
I volunteered.

I think we should get going.

It's very nice to see
you again, Commander.

You, too.

Good to see you.

Come on.

I'm going to show
you some photos.

I want you to tell me if you
recognize anybody, okay?

You know who that is?

Charlie.

He's the one who hurt me

and my sister.

How come you have his picture?

We found his picture
behind a dresser

in your grandmother's house.

Dar-lin, you sure
you don't remember

the rest of his name?

Okay.

Um, I need to speak to Jordan,

but we won't be far, okay?

We found seven
different sets of fingerprints

throughout her
grandmother's house.

We're running them
through the NCI's computer

to see if they come
up with a match.

How long will that take?

It'll take two or three days.

Is she going to be okay?

It's too soon to tell, Harm.

Right now, she
lacks the social skills

you'd expect in
a child her age...

She wets the bed,
she hoards food.

Hell, she's a mess.

I want to continue her therapy.

I'll do everything
I can for her.

I know you will.

I'd like to see her
put up for adoption

as soon as possible.

I have some ideas on that.

Okay.

Defending someone close to you

is never a good
idea, Lieutenant.

I agree, sir, but I feel...

You two don't even get along.

How the hell are you supposed
to defend him properly?

Well, if you gave
me this case, sir,

I would defend him
properly and zealously

as I would any client.

Why do you want this so badly?

I figure if I can handle this,
sir, I can handle anything.

He's my father, sir.

Tiner, send in
Master Chief Roberts.

Master Chief Roberts,
reporting as ordered, sir.

At ease, Master Chief.

You requested Lieutenant Roberts

as your defense counsel. Why?

It's a personal issue
between my son and me, sir.

It's also a JAG issue.

I'd like to hear your reasons.

Sir, um, as you know,

I don't have the best of
relationships with my sons,

and I take full
responsibility for that.

I come from the old school.

Yeah, you turn a boy into a
man by kicking him around a little,

toughening him up.

Well, maybe I was too tough,

but I'm proud of Bud,

of what he's become,

and I want him to
defend me, because, uh...

well... I believe in him.

All right, Lieutenant,
you have the case.

God help you both.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

Aye, aye, sir. Thank you, sir.

Master Chief, a moment.

Don't you hurt that boy.

No, sir.

Because if you do,
you will answer to me

and, Master Chief...

you don't want that.

Understood, sir.

Will there be
anything else, sir?

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

April 13, 1999.

United States v. Master
Chief Bud Roberts.

Present at this meeting are

Lieutenant Bud
Roberts, Glen Dobie,

and Margaret Birnbaum,
counsel for Mr. Dobie.

So you're Big Bud's kid?

That's ironic, huh?

You defending him like this.

Mr. Dobie, you claim

Master Chief
Roberts and yourself

illegally obtained and
sold electronic equipment

belonging to the U.S. Navy.

Correct?

That's right.

He set it up and I
went along with him.

Can you describe in detail

exactly what the
scheme entailed?

Okay, here's how it went down:

Big Bud was
storekeeper on the base.

He bought all the TVs and
VCRs, and kept track of them.

So, what he did was this...

He went around the
offices inspecting the VCRs

and said they were
bad, which they weren't.

Then he confiscated
them, gave them to me

and ordered new ones.

When the new ones came in,
I peeled off the serial numbers

and traded them with the
numbers on the old equipment.

Bud then took the old
VCRs with the new numbers

and put them back
in service as new.

Meanwhile, I took the new
VCRs with the old numbers,

and sold them as new
under the table, at a discount.

Me and him split the profits.

Do you have any proof

of Master Chief Roberts'
participation in this activity?

Hey, proving's not my problem.

That's up to the Navy.

I just give you name,
rank and serial number.

Serial number...
That's a good one, huh?

Is there anything else you need

from my client, Lieutenant?

Yes. I'd like to know

why anyone should
believe your client.

At worst, he's a lying thief.

At best, he's a rat who
betrayed his partner.

We're done here.

You should believe me,
because I'm telling the truth.

I'm sorry I had to
roll on your old man,

but a guy's got to do what
a guy's got to do, you know?

Let's go, Mr. Dobie.

You should believe me
because I'm telling the truth.

Never mind.

Well, look who's here.

How you doing, Glen?

Take it easy, Big Bud.

Come on. Nothing personal.

No, no, nothing personal.

You do the crime,
you do the time.

Come on, take it like a man.

Mr. Dobie... Yeah, like a man.

Take this like a
man, you son of a...!

Stop it. Help! Somebody, help.

Get away from me!

Somebody help!

That's assault and battery!

You're all witnesses!

You're a dead man!

Get your client out
of here, Lieutenant.

File assault charges later.

You're dangerous!

They should lock you up.

I'll show you dangerous, pal!

Stop it, Master Chief.

You're a dead man, Dobie.

You hear me?

Come on, Master Chief!

Lieutenant, I suggest you
get your client under control.

Yes, ma'am.

Hey!

What is wrong
with you? I'm sorry.

Do you think you can settle
everything by hitting? I'm sorry.

Just forget about it. Find
yourself another lawyer.

Hey, I said I'm sorry.
It won't happen again.

He told me about the scam,

and I'm not sure that
I don't believe him.

He's lying, Buddy.

You're lying. Hey, the only
time I had dealings with this guy

is when I was buying
equipment from him.

I thought they were new VCRs.

He scammed me.

Now he's trying to
use me as a scapegoat.

Buddy, you got to believe me.

Please.

All right.

You believe me?

I'll defend you.

But do you believe me?

I'm your attorney,
I'll defend you.

That's not good enough.

I don't care what you
think as my attorney.

You're my son.

You bullied me and Mikey;
you walked out on my wedding,

you don't even call
about your grandchild,

and now you call me your son?

I'm your lawyer.

Settle for that.

And another thing...

While you're
wearing this uniform,

you will address me as "sir,"

not Buddy, Bud or son.

Do I make myself
clear, Master Chief?

Very clear, sir.

Lieutenant?

I've been looking
everywhere for you.

Hello, Commander.

Master Chief.

I just spoke to the Admiral.

It seems we'll be
working this case together.

With all due respect,
sir, I don't need any help.

Well, I'm not here
to help, Lieutenant.

I'm here to prosecute.

Imes and Mattoni
have full case loads,

Brumby's still at Miramar,

Mac's up to her eyeballs

in the McClellan court-martial.

That left me.

I knew it had to
happen at some point...

You know, us going
up against each other.

I just did didn't think
that it would be this case.

I think you should know, Bud,

when I prosecute,
it's no holds barred.

You're trying to psych me, sir.

I know how you operate.

Just trying to get
you ready, Bud.

You're playing in
the big leagues now.

Well, thank you, sir.

I appreciate the admonition.

As you were, Master Chief.

This shouldn't take long.

I only have a few questions.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me, sir...

I've instructed my
client to remain silent.

Any questions you have

kindly address to me.

Hanging on to the
reins a little tightly there,

aren't you, Lieutenant?

Well, it is my case, sir.

Very well.

Your client is accused

of violating Articles
108 and 121...

To which we intend
to plead "not guilty."

Take it easy, Lieutenant.

You're not in court yet.

I appreciate that, sir.

I just want to make sure there
are no misunderstandings.

Well, I'm sure we
all want to dispose

of this case as quickly
as possible, hmm?

If you'd like

to discuss a plea bargain,

I think something
can be worked out.

Sir, your entire case
is based on the claim

of a confessed criminal.

Without corroboration,

his testimony is worthless.

Well...

there'll be
corroboration, Lieutenant.

Schemes as complex
as this always leave a trail.

Somebody always talks.

I understand you

want to make an
impression your first time out.

I think you should consider
your client's freedom, though.

He is looking at ten
years confinement.

I'll take your offer
under advisement, sir.

Well, it's on the table
until 2359 this evening.

After that

it goes to an Article 32.

Gentlemen.

He's sharp.

He's the best.

You're afraid of him.

No, I'm not.

Okay, maybe just a little.

It's just that I've
seen him in action.

It's like Michael
Jordan in the courtroom.

Just when you least expect it,

he sails on by and
takes it to the hoop.

Bud... He's like
a force of nature.

Bud... Bud!

I mean, Lieutenant...

if there's one thing I've
learned in 30 years in the Navy,

it's there's always someone around
who's, who's who's bigger or smarter

or stronger or better connected.

What you've got to do is use
their strength against them.

Well...

How?

You've already
said this yourself.

Rabb is the best around.

He knows that.

That's his weakness.

Now, he'll try to
intimidate you,

to psych you.

Let him believe he's succeeding,

because then, he'll
underestimate you, and then

pow!

You nail him.

Pow?

It's like I told the Admiral...

I believe in you.

Mikey!

Sir, Seaman Apprentice
Mike Roberts reporting, sir!

Hey, you just getting in?

Uh, sir, yes, sir.

About ten minutes ago, sir.

Stand easy.

Thank you, sir.

How was boot camp?

Uh, sir, not bad, sir.

I was trying to call Dad.

Uh, do you know
where he is... uh, sir?

Yeah. As a matter of fact, I do.

Come on.

MacKENZIE: Well,
I see you found him.

Uh, yes, ma'am.
Thank you, ma'am.

Good luck on that case.

Thanks.

Yeah. If you need any help

you know, bounce
ideas off or anything,

you just holler.

Thank you, ma'am.
I think I got it.

Wh-What case, sir?

I'll tell you about
it in my office.

Uh, sir, good afternoon, sir!

Mikey...

Lieutenant.

Sir.

As you were.

How's he doing?

Well, I think he's going
to put up a good fight.

I don't doubt that.

Excuse me, sir.

I have information from N.C.I.S.

They found a match
for those prints.

His name's Charlie Lynch.

He was a petty
officer first class,

and he received an other
than honorable discharge

six months ago.

Can you give me a service record

and last known duty station?

Right here, sir.

Commander, is that
little girl going to be okay?

I think so.

She'll, uh... she'll
stay in a safe house,

until we can place
her with a family.

I couldn't even look at her,

knowing what
happened to her sister.

Sir, I never apologized to you

for overracting to those photos.

I know how much
this means to you

to find this
little girl's killer,

and I should never have
said the things I said to you.

It was entirely my
fault, Lieutenant.

I gave you the wrong folder.

You should never have
seen those pictures.

Nevertheless, I'm
very sorry I hit you.

I understand you tried
to resign over the matter.

The Admiral tore
up my resignation.

That's a good thing.

If everybody resigned
who wanted to hit me,

we'd lose half the Navy.

Hey, look who I've found.

Dad... why are you in uniform?

Never mind me.

What are you doing here?

Don't tell me you washed out.

Uh, no, Master Chief.

Boot camp's over.

I got a week before I report

to O.S. Apprenticeship
School, sir!

What happened to the
combat art program, Mikey?

Turns out I really
like operations, sir...

especially, uh, radar.

Pretty good at it.

I went to a lot of trouble to
get you into that program.

Yes, I know, sir, and I
appreciate it very much,

but, uh, I want to
work on a ship now.

I can always do my art.

Now you sound like a Roberts.

Who would be defending
you now if I was on a ship?

"Defending you"?

For what?

It's a long story.

Hey... how about we tell
him over a steak dinner?

My treat.

Harriet and I have Lamaze.

I'll go.

All right, then.

See you in the morning, Buddy.

Uh, Lieutenant.

It's going to be all right.

Like I told the Admiral...

Now, if you're not
110 percent satisfied,

you bring it back,
okay? Yes, sir.

Mr. Dobie?

Lieutenant Commander Rabb.

JAG Corps.

Shall I, uh, call my lawyer?

Well, you can if you like,
we're on the same side though.

Yeah. That'll be the day.

I'm prosecuting Master
Chief Bud Roberts.

I've read your statement.

I'd like to hear your
side of the story firsthand.

Well, it was like
I said to them...

Uh, Big Bud ran
it and I went along.

You have no evidence to
corroborate this, though. Correct?

Well, I didn't exactly
keep books, no.

Did anybody ever

see you two doing
business together?

Nope.

No. Where did you buy

these new VCRs from, Mr. Dobie?

Some guy. It was
a cash transaction.

How did you get
the U.S. Attorney

to grant you immunity
anyway, Mr. Dobie?

Well, it didn't take
a lot of convincing,

once we offered him
a Navy Master Chief.

My lawyer argued that the
government wouldn't have

any problem making a case...

Not with all the physical
evidence that was around

on the Navy's side.

Are you saying that you
don't have anything on him yet?

You're my first stop.

Well, you'd better get
cracking, Commander.

Otherwise, he's going
to go slip-sliding away.

Hey, Mikey, what are
you doing up so late?

Uh, sir, studying, sir!

You don't have to
stand at attention

and call me "sir" in
my own living room.

Respect for the uniform, sir!

Yeah, well, either call me
"Bud" or I'll have to kick you out.

Yes...

Relax.

How's the case coming?

Aah... I keep wondering
when his real lawyer's

going to show up.

Well, sir, I...

Bud...

is Dad guilty?

At first I thought so,

but now... I don't know.

Then why did you take the case?

I mean, you hate him.

Not that I blame you...

No, no, no. I don't hate him.

It's just that I thought that
if I walk away from him now,

I'd lose my father forever...

and I don't think
I'm ready to do that.

Only now...

Only what?

I'm not sure I can
keep him out of the brig.

Are you thinking of quitting?

I don't know.

Dad's depending on you.

He needs you, Bud.

Major...

Morning, Bud. What's up?

I'm thinking about
dropping the case.

Why?

I should have never
represented my father.

The Admiral was
right. It's a bad idea.

Did you discuss
this with your father?

Yeah, well, Big Bud's looking
out for himself as usual.

Mikey's worried about him,

so he can't be objective.

Harriet says that
she'll support me

with whatever decision I make.

I can't talk to Commander Rabb,

and the Admiral's the one
who warned me about it.

You're the only person
that I can talk to, Major.

If I drop this case,
will you take it?

I don't think that's a
solution, Lieutenant.

What do I do?

You want my candid opinion?

Yes, ma'am.

You fight.

Using whatever legal
means necessary, you fight

and you win.

Rabb is not invincible.

I can't beat him alone, ma'am.

Maybe you won't have to.

MacKENZIE: The "excited
utterance" argument

was used to good advantage
in United States v. Haskell.

But in United
States v. Sullivan,

the defense successfully argued

that the key witness testimony
was totem pole hearsay.

Yeah, but look, all I'm
saying is, if Harm finds

a scintilla of evidence
to support his witness,

your father's going to trial.

So my best...

Good morning, sir. Morning.

Hi.

So my best bet would be a
motion to suppress. Based on...?

Evidence not disclosed
prior to the arraignment.

Okay. Yeah.

How do you feel?

Slightly ill.

That's a good sign.

Mm. Yeah.

All I'm saying is...

Agent Holland, I realize
that it's not my case,

but you've identified
Annie's killer...

Yes, ma'am, I know how it works.

What are you doing to
get him off the streets

before he kills
another little girl?

Well, that's not good enough.

Keep me informed, please.

Commander Rabb,

good of you to join us.

I apologize for being late, sir.

I was unavoidably detained.

By something more
important than this hearing?

A murder investigation,
Commander.

Are you ready to begin?

I'm ready.

Defense?

Ready, sir.

If it please the court...

This isn't a court, Lieutenant.

It's an Article
32 investigation.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

I'd like to move that these
charges be dismissed.

On what grounds?

The government's case

is based solely on the
testimony of a confessed felon.

There's no corroborating
documentation nor eyewitness.

In the interest of saving
the Navy time and money,

I move that these charges

be dismissed forthwith.

While I, uh, applaud
the Lieutenant's concern

for the Navy's fiscal situation,
the move is premature.

We're here to decide if
there's sufficient evidence

for general court-martial.

I submit that the very
lack of documentation

where documentation should exist

is circumstantial
evidence in itself.

I'm sorry, did I
hear counsel right?

Is the Commander implying

that the lack of
evidence is evidence?

If the henhouse is empty,

I say look for a fox.

Motion denied.

This hearing will continue.

Commander Rabb,

two suggestions: be on time

and lose the chicken analogies.

Understood, Commander.

That's it... get
him overconfident.

No problem.

I opened up the VCRs
and checked them out, sir.

What'd you find,
Petty Officer Malaty?

Well, the components inside...

The circuit boards
and the I.C. chips...

They have numbers
stamped on them.

And what do these
numbers tell you?

Among other things,

when the components
were manufactured.

That circuit board, for
example, is early 1991.

And when you
compare those numbers

to the serial number
on the outside?

The serial number's dated 1995.

There's no way that
could be right, sir.

Indicating...?

Someone's tampered
with the serial numbers.

So how many units did
you find in this condition?

27 VCRs, to be exact, sir.

Thank you, Petty Officer.

Yes, sir.

Petty officer Malaty,
can you tell us

who tampered with
the serial numbers?

No, sir, I cannot.

Thank you. No more questions.

Petty Officer, as
base storekeeper,

did Master Chief
Roberts have access

to all equipment on the base?

Yes, sir, he did.

Petty Officer Malaty,
did other individuals

have access to the VCRs as well?

Yes, sir.

No further questions.

The government would
like to call Mr. Glen Dobie

as its next witness, sir.

MacKENZIE: Bud's doing well.

Well, I want to
thank you very much

for helping him, Major.

Well, I just pointed
him in the right direction.

He's doing all the work.

You know, I-I can get
you into the hearing room.

No. No. Not until he asks me.

It'll just make him nervous,

and he doesn't need
any more handicaps.

Harriet, Bud's a good lawyer.

I know. It's just that
he's such a nice guy.

Mr. Dobie, in 1991,
you pleaded guilty

to cashing stolen
Social Security checks,

did you not? I did. I...

I spent 13 months in Petersburg.

So you're a convicted felon.

And three months ago,
the police caught you

trying to cheat sailors out
of their hard-earned pay

by passing off used and
stolen merchandise as new.

Did they not?

They did.

And they offered you a deal.

Bud doesn't have an aggressive
bone in his whole body.

He's not like you and
Commander Rabb... you're tough.

Can I tell you a secret?

Mm-hmm.

My palms still sweat

when I step into a courtroom.

It's true. You don't
have to be mean

to be a good lawyer, Harriet.

Sometimes empathy
and sensitivity sway juries

far more than brute force.

You're a parasite, Mr. Dobie!

A bloodsucking

bottom-feeding scavenger!

Why should anyone believe you?

Objection.

Commander, the defense
is badgering the witness.

Besides, I have a
feeling that Bud's

a lot tougher than you think.

I hope you're right, Major.

Are you going to finish
that salad, ma'am?

Very nice job in
there, Lieutenant.

You were certainly zealous.

Well, thank you, sir.

I was trying to
discredit the witness.

Yeah, I got that.

Listen, I would like to
put an end to this today.

I'll drop the larceny charge

in exchange for one
year confinement.

Commander, if you had a case,

I don't think you'd
be making this offer.

No deal, sir.

All right. I'll see
you at the party.

Is this when he pulls
a rabbit out of his hat?

Is there something
you're not telling me?

Is he going to be able to
pull up a piece of evidence?

A witness? Anything?

Nothing I can think of.

I swear.

Uh... what party?

Ladies and gentlemen,
I'd like to propose a toast

to an excellent human
being and a fine lawyer...

Lieutenant...

Roberts.

Bud Roberts. Hear, hear.

Cheers.

So, Rabb, I hear

you damn near got
gutted in that hearing today.

Admiral, I would rather make
a night trap in 30-foot swells,

than face this man
in a courtroom again.

That's very kind, sir.

Patronizing, but kind.

I wasn't being patronizing.

I was telling the truth.

Uh, I'm sorry, sir, I
misunderstood. I...

Gotcha.

Can I borrow you for one second?

Sure. Excuse me.

Looks like I've got
another lawyer on my staff.

Yes, sir. He's a little green,

but he's come along
real well, Admiral.

I wouldn't underestimate him.

Remember who his teachers were.

Yeah, she did.

So Jordan, what's he like?

Harm? Mmm...

He's a nice guy.

Intelligent, he's funny...
and a good cook.

No, I mean, uh...

what's he like?

You know.

Oh...

Well... what would you say?

Me? D-Don't ask me.

We never...

Oh, come on, don't give us that.

No, it's the truth. All that
time you've been together...

Japan, Russia, the desert...

Nothing happened.

Jordan, you believe
me, don't you?

Oh, of course.

Dear.

You two are bad.

So what is he like?

I'll get you one. One second.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Sorry.

Don't worry about it.

Soda water, please.

Nice party.

Thank you, sir.

You don't have to
call me sir, Harriet.

Call me Harm.

We're out of uniform.

All right.

This is so silly.

I feel like I'm fraternizing
with the enemy here.

Well... in a way, you are.

No. You could never
be Bud's enemy.

Bud's a lucky man.

Thank you... Harm.

You know, I envy you.

You've got this
hot, new romance.

Yeah. Sometimes I
think it'll last forever.

And sometimes, I
think it'll last until...

Until what?

Until you decide you want him.

Jordan... um...

there isn't...

I mean, okay, first of all,

I've had enough
of men for a while.

I mean, for the foreseeable
future, I'm a nun.

'Kay?

And second...

It's not like that
between me and Harm.

We're like... I'm not going
to say brother and sister...

Thank you.

I'm not a threat to you, Jordan.

Believe me.

Look at this place.
This is depressing.

You call this a party?

Excuse me.

Who wants a drink?

You're not going
to do this, Dad.

Do what? Hey, can't a man...

celebrate his son's and his
daughter-in-law's promotions?

Let me have a round,
please, on me. Hi.

Can I buy you a drink?

Dad, stop it. Hey...

Hey, Dad, let's go
get some coffee, okay?

It's okay, Bud. He
didn't mean any harm.

Speaking of Harm, how
you doing, Perry Mason?

You looking for
that conviction, huh?

Another notch on
your gun. Dad...

even if it means sending
an innocent man away.

What innocent man would
that be, Master Chief?

With me, Master Chief.

Admiral... wh-where we going?

Home. Say good night.

I'm not finished
talking to the guy.

Hey, can I stay here tonight?

I don't feel like leaving.

Yeah.

Sure, sure.

Can I buy you a soda, sailor?

Oh, that'd be great.

Quite a show, Bud.

It's not a show, sir.

I wish it were.

You're a good man, Bud.

And you're an honest man.

I'm sorry, but I think
your father's guilty.

Well, that remains to
be proven, doesn't it, sir?

Chock and chain, chock
and chain, helo deck two.

Chock and chain, helo deck two.

As you can see,
this isn't a good time

for a visit, Commander.

We're right in the middle
of a training exercise.

Well, I'll try to make my
stay as brief as possible

and stay out of your hair, X.O.

Chief, this is Lieutenant
Commander Rabb.

He wants to ask
you a few questions.

About what, sir?

Check with me when
you're done, Commander.

Will do, X.O.

Hey, is this one of those
$1,000 pairs of pliers?

I don't buy them, sir.

I just stack them

and track them.

What can I do for you, sir?

You were stationed at Norfolk
Naval Base four years ago?

'93 To '96... yes, sir.

I was there.

Leading chief at the time was
a Master Chief Bud Roberts?

I worked for Master
Chief Roberts, yes, sir.

The chief is facing
a court-martial

for misappropriation
of government property

specifically, VCRs and
other electronic equipment.

It happened around the time
you were serving with him.

Master Chief Roberts
was a good boss, sir.

I understand your reluctance
to inform on your old boss.

I never saw him do
anything wrong exactly.

Well, what did you
see that might have

been suspicious?

One day a civilian came by.

He said he was
there for a pickup.

I called the Master Chief

and when he saw this guy,

he got real agitated.

He hustled him out
of there real fast.

You overhear their conversation?

No, sir.

What'd this civilian look like?

It was four years ago, sir.

He was white, around 30.

I looked out the window
and I saw him get into a van.

It was marked
"Dopey Electronics"

or something like that.

My deal was I give up
Big Bud, I get immunity.

The deal was you
assist the government

in its prosecution, Mr. Dobie.

I never said I'd give
up anybody else.

Well, clearly, sir,

you are an honorable man.

Now, your driver could
be a corroborating witness.

I need to speak with him.

That's not my problem.

Well, I could make
it your problem.

I'll make this store off-limits

to all base personnel.

How about that?

Jerry Kemp... that's all I know.

I paid him under the table.

Where is he now?

I have no idea,

and that's the
God's honest truth.

You know who might
know is Big Bud.

I mean, he brought Jerry to me.

They met in a bar or someplace.

You want me

to locate a witness

who might incriminate my client?

He'll only incriminate
him if he's guilty.

If he's innocent, it
will exonerate him.

Besides being stupid,
that would be unethical, sir.

What is unethical
about the truth?

You want your father to walk
because of insufficient evidence

or you want to clear his name?

You're manipulating me, sir.

Bud, I'm trying to give
you some perspective.

You know, at the beginning,

you said it would
be "no holds barred,"

and I guess this
is what you meant.

I'll think about it, sir.

MacKENZIE: If he doesn't
produce the witness...

Which he shouldn't...

Then he admits
his father's guilty,

and if he does
produce the witness

and his father's convicted,
Bud's responsible.

He's a big boy.

He can handle it.

But can he handle
getting hurt by a friend?

Dobie told Rabb
about Jerry Kemp?

That's right.

I asked you if there would
be any surprise witnesses,

and you said, "no."

This is exactly what
I was worried about.

And you say Rabb doesn't
know where Kemp is?

No. Do you?

Well, yeah, maybe, but I...

Where is he?

Rabb's playing you, you know.

Where is Kemp?

Do you swear the
evidence you give

will be the truth,

the whole truth and nothing
but the truth, so help you God?

I do.

State your name

and occupation.

Jerry Kemp.

Currently between positions.

Where were you employed

in the Spring of 1995, Mr. Kemp?

1995... '90...

not sure.

Didn't you work for Glen
Dobie at Dobie Electronics?

Yeah, yeah, that
sounds about right.

Have you ever seen

the defendant before?

I don't know.

Commander, Mr. Kemp
is non-responsive.

I would like him
declared a hostile witness.

Any objections?

No, sir.

Go ahead, Commander.

I will remind you, Mr. Kemp,

you are under oath.

Did you ever see the
defendant, Master Chief Roberts,

come into Dobie Electronics?

Yeah... yeah.

Yeah, I guess so.

What did he and
Mr. Dobie talk about?

Objection. Hearsay.

Overruled. Witness
will answer the question.

What was the question?

What did they talk about?

Oh, uh... right. I...

I don't remember.

You will answer the
question, Mr. Kemp.

I'll rephrase.

Didn't they talk about stealing

electronic equipment from
the U.S. Navy, Mr. Kemp?

Yes.

Now, you picked up the VCRs

from Norfolk Naval
Base, correct?

Yes.

You took the VCRs

to Dobie's Electronics,

where Mr. Dobie changed
the serial numbers.

Yes.

You then returned the VCRs

to Master Chief Roberts
back on the base.

Yes.

He knew about the
change of serial numbers.

Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Kemp.

No further questions.

Your witness.

Mr. Kemp, what do
you do for a living?

Um...

something to do
with the military?

Actually, you're the
Chief of Naval Operations.

Yeah? Cool.

And I'm your father.

Seriously?

Mr. Roberts...

Roberts: Sir, I can
tell this man anything

and he won't remember it.

He suffers from a disorder
known as Korsakoff's syndrome.

He remembers his
name and the distant past,

but recent events fade
from his memory in minutes.

Why did you answer "yes"

to all of Commander
Rabb's questions?

Well, he looks honest.

You know, I figure he must know.

The condition started
about two years ago.

Defense requests that Mr. Kemp's
medical records be entered

into evidence.

If you knew this

why didn't you say
something earlier, Lieutenant?

He wasn't my witness, sir.

You may step down,

Mr. Kemp.

Sir?

Any other witnesses or
evidence, Commander Rabb?

Not at this time, Commander.

Very well.

Will the defendant please rise?

I find insufficient evidence

to support conviction.

I will recommend that
the convening authority

dismiss these charges.

You did a good job, Buddy.

Good job.

My compliments, Lieutenant,

on a brilliant
diversionary tactic.

Thank you, sir.

I know.

He had a good teacher.

Commander!

Master Chief.

Have you seen my son?

He's in with the Admiral.

Hey, some upset, huh?

David and Goliath
all over again.

You put up a good fight.

Didn't expect to win, did you?

Sir?

Well, that's why you picked

your son as your
defense counsel.

To hedge your bets.

What are you talking about?

You figured if you win, you win.

If you lose, you appeal.

What were you going to claim?

Inadequate counsel?

He was too close, too
emotionally involved?

You were willing to
damage your son's career

to get yourself off
the hook, weren't you?

You going to tell him?

No.

Neither are you.