JAG (1995–2005): Season 6, Episode 15 - The Iron Coffin - full transcript

Lieutenant, give me three
more turns on the screw.

Aye, Skipper. Two-eight turns.

Two more, Lieutenant.

Aye, sir.

Give me three-zero turns.

Skipper...

I hear it, Chief.

Helm, all back full.

All back full, aye.

Helm, right hard rudder.

Right hard rudder, aye.



(alarm sounding)

CHEGWIDDEN:
Ensign Terry Childers

was turned down for
the submarine service.

It's very competitive,
isn't it, sir?

Yes, it is.

But Ensign Childers was
the regimental commander

of Navy ROTC at Purdue.

Finished number
two in last year's class

at Nuclear Power School...

So what's wrong with him, sir?

He's a she.

Congresswoman Latham

got wind of this
alleged violation

of Ensign Childers' rights



and subpoenaed her to testify

before her
congressional committee.

The Civil Rights Act doesn't
apply to the military, sir.

The Constitution does.

Well, there's no equal
protection violation

where there are good reasons

to treat the sexes differently.

And what would those
reasons be, Lieutenant?

Whatever the navy says they are.

Ensign Childers wants

to be a submariner,
but it wasn't her idea

to appear before a
congressional committee.

She asked for our counsel.

You two will represent her

and any other naval personnel.

BOTH: Aye, aye, sir.

You know, I have
never understood

why anyone would
want to be trapped

like some damn sardine
in a can for months on end.

It's the last frontier, sir.

There are female aviators,
ship captains, astronauts,

but no woman has ever served

in even the lowest
position on a submarine.

ROBERTS: Well, isn't it a
more practical matter, ma'am?

I mean, there's no
space for separate heads

and berthing compartments?

England, Canada and
Australia have found room

for women on their submarines.

Norway even has
a female skipper.

CHEGWIDDEN: And in
the Netherlands, male sailors

have shoulder-length
hair and belong to a union.

So, you don't think

women belong on submarines, sir?

What I think doesn't
matter, Lieutenant.

Haven't I made that clear?

That will be all.

BOTH: Yes, sir.

ROBERTS: I guess I'm
just old-fashioned, ma'am.

I respect navy traditions.

Which ones? Flogging?

What about keelhauling, ma'am.

Harriet, the United
States Navy has never

has never keelhauled anybody.

It's a pity. I can think

of a few people
who could use it.

Gunny...

what do you think about
coed submarine service?

I believe women have
a very important role

to play in the
armed forces, sir.

Speak freely, Gunny.

Submarines are very
tight quarters, ma'am.

It would be distracting.

For whom? For everybody, ma'am,

including the women.

They'd be swooning

over some handsome
sonar operator?

After three months
deployed, ma'am...

over the ugly ones.

(sighs)

Sir, how much do you
think it would cost to retrofit

all the submarines
with heads for women

and berthing compartments?

Too much.

I think they should have all-
female crews on submarines.

Sir?

It'd be a heck of a lot cheaper

and they'd smell
a whole lot nicer.

VOLKONOV: What a country...

America!

Your navy must be the
strongest in the world

and smell good, too?

Alex, what are you doing here?

Beautiful office...

beautiful colonel.

I'm defecting, of course.

Alex, what a nice surprise.

This doesn't have anything
to do with my brother, does it?

Sergei's fine...

but the Chechens
won't trade him... yet.

It's good to see you.

I really appreciate
everything you're doing.

Good, because
now I need your help.

CAPTAIN BAXTER: Captain
Volkonov, our hearts go out to the crew

of the Vladivostok
and to their families.

Despite our different uniforms,
all submariners are brothers.

Thank you, Captain.

Were any of the submarines

under your command
within sonar range

of the Vladivostok
when it went down?

I'm sure you realize that
would be classified information.

Captain, perhaps there's
some limited disclosure

you can make that would
not compromise security, sir.

There is not. I'm sorry.

Your submarines
shadow our submarines

in the Barents Sea, everywhere.

It's no secret.

I wish I could help you.

The Cold War is over, sir.

Why do you think

the Soviet Union threw
in the towel, Commander?

Because our lawyers
were smarter than theirs?

Or because our weapons...
Including our submarines...

Have capabilities that keep
the other side guessing?

Captain Volkonov is only
trying to discover some truth

about a terrible
accident, Captain.

You're a good
attorney, Commander.

But who is your client here?

Captain, I'm sorry
we took your time.

MacKENZIE: Captain Baxter?

Good afternoon, sir.

Your yeoman said
you'd be out here.

I'm Colonel MacKenzie.

We spoke about the
congressional hearings.

My lucky day.

Another lawyer.

CHEGWIDDEN: You know the
submarine service, Commander.

They "run silent"
on dry land, too.

Yeah, well, I wondered

if you might put in
a word for me, sir.

Oh, everything's
on a "need-to-know."

Operating depths,
speed of their boats...

how much applesauce
they store in their galleys.

Sir, 110 lives were lost.

The sinking of this
ship is a mystery.

The families need to know, sir.

Well... I know Admiral
Crawford over at SUBLANT.

Maybe he can get them to
loosen their collars a notch.

Thank you, sir.

Alex Volkonov risked his
career to help my brother.

I'm in his debt.

Be careful how you repay
that debt, Commander.

BOBBI LATHAM: Women have
served on Navy support ships for 23 years

and on combatants for seven.

This committee will examine
the navy's glass ceiling

or steel hatch where
submarine service is concerned.

Ensign Childers, we
thank you for coming today

and we look forward
to your testimony.

Thank you, ma'am.

I note that you're flanked

by two navy attorneys.

I hope they don't intend
to gag and shackle you.

Congresswoman Latham, we're
here to represent Ensign Childers

and any other naval witnesses.

LATHAM: Not to make sure

that they toe the
official navy line?

Ensign Childers and every other

service member
is free to express

his or her personal opinion.

Including yourself, Colonel?

I'm a lawyer, Congresswoman.

I don't have personal opinions.

Ensign Childers, you
graduated with honors

in nuclear engineering
from Purdue, is that correct?

Yes, ma'am.

And you were near the top

of your class in the Navy
Nuclear Power School?

Yes, ma'am. What
did they tell you

when you asked for an
assignment to submarine school?

They told me that women
were not eligible, ma'am.

Weren't you offered
an assignment

in nuclear operations
on an aircraft carrier?

What's wrong with that?

Nothing... except
I've always dreamed

of serving on a
submarine, ma'am.

My father served in
the submarine service.

My grandfather died aboard
the Wahoo in World War II,

after it sank 20 Japanese ships.

FETZER: The navy
has never said it intends

to put women on
submarines, has it?

No, it has not, sir.

LATHAM: Lieutenant...

I believe the question
was for the witness.

Sorry, ma'am.

I don't believe so, sir.

FETZER: So when
you joined the navy

you knew there were no
women in the submarine service?

Yes, sir. But you chose

a career in the navy anyway.

I was hoping the navy
would change its policy, sir.

You want to be

the first woman on a submarine?

You want to make history?

I just want to serve.

But not where the navy

chooses to assign you.

Sir, when I was commissioned,

I took the same
oath the men did.

I swore to defend
the same Constitution

and the same country.

All I want is the
same opportunity.

FLAGLER: Admiral
Crawford asked us

to cooperate as far as we can.

We appreciate that, Commander.

I assume since
you're doing the talking

that it was your submarine
following the Vladivostok?

We do on occasion
follow Russian submarines.

Well, we'll take
that as a "yes."

Captain, I assume you
were monitoring screw noise

from the Vladivostok?

If we were there, we
could have done that.

Please, what did you hear?

There was an explosion

abroad the
Vladivostok, and it sank.

VOLKONOV: What
caused the explosion?

You know what
happened, don't you?

Don't answer that
question, John.

VOLKONOV: And we'll take that

as a "yes," too.

Could one of our experts
listen to your sonar tapes?

No.

And you can take that as a "no."

Commander Flagler, exactly
how close was your boat

to the Vladivostok?

I can't answer that.

Maybe we know that.

VOLKONOV: Four days
after the Vladivostok sank,

your boat put in for
repairs at Bergen, Norway.

Did it?

It was visible from the town.

Do you deny it?

If we put in to any port, it
was for routine maintenance.

Not emergency repairs?

Commander, I think
we're done here.

VOLKONOV: What are you
hiding here, Commander?

Captain Volkonov.

If this is some
attempt to shift blame...

Blame may not
need to be shifted.

Alex. Eight years ago,

the American submarine
Baton Rouge collided

with the Russian Tura
in the Barents Sea.

One year later, your Grayling
struck one of our Oscar II.

And two weeks
ago, your Greenville

sank a Japanese fishing boat.

Did your submarine
collide with the Vladivostok?

No, it did not.

Did you kill 110 Russian sailors

and then run away?

You son of a...

Thank you for bringing
Captain Volkonov

up to see us, Commander.

If you ever decide to rejoin
the United States Navy,

give us a call.

You didn't come
here to investigate.

You came to accuse
the United States Navy.

You heard them. They evaded.

They covered up.

You used me to get to them.

You used our friendship.

I am your friend.

But I am also a Russian soldier.

I had no choice.

You were following orders.

I didn't have to be ordered

to find out why 110 of
my fellow Russians died.

Oh, you volunteered
to come here?

You volunteered
to use my friendship.

No. My superiors are aware

of my relationship with you.

They are also aware
that we're making efforts

on behalf of your brother.

Well, I didn't realize that
help came with a price tag.

My superiors thought you
would be happy to assist.

What did you think?

I thought of the dead
men on the Vladivostok.

I owe it to them to do whatever
is needed to find the truth.

As you would do... if the
situation was reversed.

NEWS ANNOUNCER: Russian
protesters took to the streets today

amid claims that an American
submarine may have rammed

the Vladivostok,

causing its sinking and
the deaths of all aboard.

A Russian naval
spokesman criticized

the United States Navy

for refusing to cooperate
with its investigation.

Well, you let the fox into
the henhouse on this one

and with my assistance.

I apologize, sir.

I was unaware of Captain
Volkonov's agenda.

The submarine
service is on a rampage

SECNAV wants an explanation.

Any suggestions?

Sir, if we don't want
to be unfairly blamed

for something we didn't
do, then let's prove it.

The submarine service knows
what happened to the Vladivostok.

There must be a
way to tell the world

without revealing our secrets.

I would have thought
you'd have noticed by now

that they're just a little bit
closed-mouth over there.

Well, they don't
need to be, sir,

if they had nothing
to do with it.

And if they did have
something to do with it?

Well, in any case, they're not
too eager to talk to you anyway.

Did you give satellite photos of
Chechnya to Captain Volkonov?

Unclassified photos, sir.

I mean, the kind of photos

you could pull out of a
world atlas in any bookstore.

Well, Captain Volkonov didn't go

to some damn bookstore
to get them, now, did he?

Commander, there
is an appearance,

one that's being cited
by our submariner friends

that you are trading
favors with a Russian officer

whose mission is
against the interest

of the United States government.

Harm.

I heard about what Alex did.

His duty.

I forgot mine.

No, you didn't do
anything wrong.

I didn't stop to think

what I was doing
because of Sergei.

A brother who's a
Russian sergeant,

a friend who's a
Russian captain?

No wonder Captain Baxter thought

you were holding
a Russian passport.

Yeah, well, so much
for any hopes I had

of joining the
submarine service.

Oh, no, you can still join.

You're a man.

COCHRAN: Women do
not belong on submarines.

It's disruptive,
it's unnecessary,

and it would lead to a
dangerous destruction of morale.

Please explain, Mrs. Cochran.

We're convinced that putting
women with men on submarines

will inevitably upset

the stable family lives
our submariners need.

The "we" you refer
to, Mrs. Cochran,

is the Submarine Wives' Society
in which you're the president?

That's correct.

And exactly why is the
navy providing counsel

for an organization
comprised of civilians?

ROBERTS: Mrs.
Cochran's organization

is highly regarded by the
navy for its pro-family activities.

Thank you for the
testimonial, Lieutenant.

Mrs. Cochran,

do you think a group like yours

could be objective
on this issue?

On this issue

our families' interests and
our country's are the same.

But it seems that you assume
that husbands may break

navy regulations as well
as their marriage vows.

Do you know how
little privacy there is

on a submarine, Congresswoman?

Certainly no less than
on a space shuttle.

I'll worry about that when my
husband becomes an astronaut.

MacKENZIE: The record should
reflect that the navy has rules

against improper behavior

and that most naval
personnel follow those rules.

Rules are fine,
but when I visited

the USS Miami on family
day, I couldn't pass by sailors

without turning sideways
and rubbing against them.

Our husbands are gone from
home for months at a time.

They're vigorous, virile men.

Who can't control themselves?

Mrs. Cochran, do you know what
they call the USS Patrick Henry?

Yes, sir... "the love boat."

I understand that on one cruise

45 women either didn't
deploy or couldn't complete

the cruise because
they were pregnant.

Counsel, is the Patrick
Henry a submarine?

No, ma'am. An aircraft carrier.

So close quarters had
very little to do with it.

Apparently not, ma'am.
Many of the women

became pregnant by their
husbands... on dry land.

Is Colonel MacKenzie
a witness, now?

She's just providing military
background information.

Mrs. Cochran, it seems that
maybe the submariners' wives

should simply have a little
more faith in their husbands.

Have you ever been
married, Congresswoman?

CHEGWIDDEN: Captain,
Commander Rabb suggests

that we rebut the Russian charge

with the truth about
what happened.

Just like that?

That is if it's favorable.

Our submarine did
not ram the Vladivostok.

See for yourself.

Sir?

Here's the Watertown.

Do you see any dents?

RABB: Well, what
about Captain Volkonov's

charge, sir, that you put
in for repairs in Norway.

Not for body work.

Well, then, why not hold a
press conference, Captain?

Tell the world.

Because, as I believe
I mentioned before,

there are issues here
of national security.

Captain, we're both
cleared for sensitive,

compartmented information.

The Watertown was
following the Vladivostok, sir.

Close, but not that close.

It observed the Russian
submarine test fire a torpedo,

a Type-65.

No problem.

It then fired a new
experimental Shkval Two,

which turned 180 degrees

came back and
destroyed the Vladivostok.

Sir, it's my understanding

that all torpedoes have
a fail-safe mechanism

to prevent that from happening.

Not everything
manufactured in Severodvinsk

works the way it's
supposed to, Commander.

Are the Russians not aware

of the problems with
the Shkval Two, sir?

They sure as hell are now.

Unimpeachable intelligence
reports confirm they are aware.

So, the Russians
know we didn't ram them

and they're just playing a game.

And it's working, isn't it, sir?

Russian brass would rather blame

the Americans than themselves.

Admiral, I know
Captain Volkonov.

Sir, I cannot believe
that he's a part of this.

Probably isn't.
He plays the role

of accuser much better if
he doesn't know it's a lie.

Well, Captain,
even if the Russians

don't need to be told, why
not put it out there anyway,

so the rest of the world knows
that we don't go around ramming

foreign ships and running away?

Because how we know what we know

gets into a highly
classified capability, Admiral.

How do women do on
the test the navy uses

to predict success
in the military?

They score higher then men.

And women's reenlistment rates?

Also higher.

So, Captain, your only objection

to not allowing women
to serve on submarines

is a matter of convenience?

Only if you consider

the $5 million it costs
to retrofit a single

Los Angeles-class submarine
for mixed-gender crews

to be a matter of convenience.

Not to mention the
weapons systems

you'd have to
remove from the boat

to accommodate
the women's facilities.

That's correct.

Every cubic inch
aboard a submarine

is already accounted for.

Wasn't that also
true of surface ships

where the navy has managed
to find room for women?

Submarines are different, ma'am.

Evacuating sick or injured
submariners is hazardous,

and if you were
under the polar ice cap,

it's pretty damn
near impossible.

Surfacing also gives
away a submarine's position

and thus its protection.

Let the record
reflect that this applies

to the evacuation of
both men and women.

True, but last time I looked,
men couldn't get pregnant.

Thank you, Captain.

We'll take legislative
notice of that.

Naval regulations require

sending pregnant
women ashore, ma'am.

So, Captain, your objections

to putting women on
submarines are purely practical.

Correct, and I believe
any fair-minded woman

who actually cruised
aboard a submarine

would understand
the reasons for that.

We accept.

Ma'am?

You'd consider Colonel MacKenzie
fair-minded, wouldn't you?

Just tell her when
and where to deploy.

The committee will look
forward to her report.

RENEE: Well, I don't blame
those submariners' wives.

If we were married, I
wouldn't want you locked

in some floating fraternity
house that just went coed.

Renee, it's a question
of trust, I think.

It's a question of propinquity.

Propinquity?

Yes. What is propinquity?

People in close quarters
tend to become... close.

Mm-hmm?

Mm-hmm.

(knock on door)

Hmm-mm. Mm-hmm.

Hmm-mm.

You want to get that?

Yes, I'll get it.

(sighs, clears throat)

You must be Renee.

Captain Volkonov. And
I thought you and Harm

only talked about submarines.

When we were lost in
the Chechen mountains,

facing certain death,
he spoke only of you.

(Renee laughs)

Your friend is a terrible liar.

It's true.

But very romantic.

You want a beer?

Yeah, sure.

Get me drunk...

and I'll tell you
all our secrets.

Maybe even teach
you the sabre dance.

Well, I will leave you
two to save the world.

Bye.

Bye.

It was wonderful meeting you.

I was surprised
to hear from you.

Alex, the Vladivostok
was not rammed

by an American submarine.

Harm... our governments
can fight it out now.

Your government lied to you.

It knows the truth.

It knows the truth,
you know the truth.

Everybody knows
the truth but me?

Actually... yeah.

How do you know
there was no ramming?

I can't say.

You mean you won't.

I can't. I, uh...

I don't have all the details.

So you're taking
somebody's word for it?

And I am to take yours.

Alex, I trust this information.

Your superiors would
not lie, but mine would?

I need you to trust me on this.

I do.

I do trust you.

How would you like
to see it for yourself?

See what?

That Russian
submarines don't sink...

if they are not rammed
by foreign boats.

Our navy is taking some
journalists on a cruise

on another Oscar II submarine.

What is this?

A propaganda stunt?

Please. "Public relation."

And you're inviting
me to go along?

This Captain Baxter thinks

you are a Russian spy.

So, the least I can do for
you is to let you spy on us.

(chuckles)

Morning, Colonel.

Morning. You're here early.

Admiral wanted
to see me at 0700.

Me, too.

You involved in
the submarine trip?

Yeah. Why?

Because I'm a woman.

Hey, Tiner, would you,
uh, take care of this for me?

Sure, sir.

What, did Alex invite you?

Uh, no. Uh, Bobbi
Latham shanghaied me.

Onto a Russian sub?

What the hell are
you talking about?

What are you talking about?

Enter.

You two figure
this thing out yet?

Not quite, sir.

You are going on a Russian sub.

You are going on
an American one.

Admiral, I've already been
accused of disloyalty, sir.

I'm not sure a joyride
on a Russian sub

is going to help matters any.

I can see your point.

Colonel?

I don't want to go either, sir.

Well, you don't want
to go to the last frontier?

Where no woman has ever served

even as the lowliest seaman?

I-I was speaking generally, sir.

This woman really
doesn't like submarines.

(knock on door) Enter.

TINER: Captain
Baxter's here, sir.

Send him in.

I believe you all
know each other.

RABB: Captain.

MacKENZIE: Sir.

I would like you to know, sir,

that this was not my doing.

Despite your closeness
with Captain Volkonov?

I had no idea, sir, that
Congresswoman Latham was

going to use me this way.

Despite your advocacy
in front of her committee?

I never intended...
Sir, this in no way...

All right, all right.

Thank you, Admiral.

Commander, I'm going to expect

a full report on that
Russian submarine:

weapons systems,
morale, combat readiness.

Yes, sir.

And, Colonel...

Sir, Congresswoman
Latham can't order you or me...

No, but she can tie

our next appropriations
request up in knots.

Don't forget to send
me a copy of your report.

I'm sure it will make
for scintillating reading.

Bon voyage.

Uh... yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Captain.

MAN: Radar contact.

Surface craft.

Designate Romeo Three.

Locking on Sierra Two.

Fire torpedo one.

Direct hit.

Damn your torpedoes!

Attention on deck.

At ease, gentlemen.

Bradley, Sandusky...

Colonel MacKenzie wanted
to meet some enlisted men.

Ma'am.

I thought it wasn't customary

to snap to attention
on a submarine.

Uh, it's not, ma'am.

You see, Colonel?

You've already disrupted
our discipline and good order.

Occupational hazard, Commander.

You'd really want to be
a bubblehead, ma'am?

Tell me why I
wouldn't, Petty Officer?

Our watches are
six hours on, six off,

seven days a week, ma'am.

We never know whether
it's morning or night.

We're completely
isolated from home, ma'am.

Right now, we're close
enough to a Russian sub

to hit it with a six-iron.

And half the Russian fleet is over
our heads looking for us, ma'am.

And you love it.

Well, we're family, ma'am.
I've got 120 brothers here.

Well, maybe it's
time for a sister.

COMMANDER: I have great respect

for you as a lawyer, Colonel.

Thank you, Commander.

Last time you were here, we
thought we had a health problem,

you proved we had a murderer.

Well, we figured that
out with your help.

But usually, we don't need
a lawyer on a submarine.

Or a woman?

Well, where is the
submarine, Gunny?

It's in the Barents Sea, ma'am.

And you haven't heard from it?

Well, it's a Russian
submarine, ma'am.

This is the American navy.

Well, don't they have
a radio, or something?

Don't we?

Submarines run silent, ma'am.

Even when there
are women on them?

Hey.

Hey, Mic. Hi, guys.

Oh, Mic, I've got
those two tickets

the Colonel left for you.

Washington Philharmonic.

Oh, beauty.

Shame she's going to miss it.

Mac's out of town, too?

Yeah, on a submarine
in the Barents Sea.

Harm's on a submarine
in the Barents Sea.

Colonel MacKenzie's
on the Watertown.

Commander Rabb's on the Minsk.

In the same sea.

Separated by steel bulkheads

and several million
tons of icy water.

Did you know about this?

I'm only the fiancee.

(laughs)

You like Tchaikovsky?

What do we have, Chief?

Two Russian frigates, Skipper.

Three and six miles away.

The near one's missing a stroke

on its number-three
cylinder, port side.

You can hear that?

We hear a great deal, Colonel.

Petty Officer Grier's listening

to the spherical
sonar array in our bow.

Robinson's got
the towed array...

a string of hydrophones on
a cable trailing from our stern.

What about that petty officer?

Trestman's our opera fan.

He's listening to Pavarotti.

Right now, we're concentrating
on the Russian sub.

Con's keeping us in her baffles.

Is that the Minsk?

That's what you're
listening to, ma'am.

Seven-bladed screw,
pretty distinctive sound.

I gather it's because Commander
Rabb is aboard the Minsk

that you requested my
boat for your field trip?

Or did you think we might have
another psychopath onboard?

All else being equal, Commander,

I thought I might as
well keep an eye on him.

Well, unless you're
telepathic, Colonel,

he's not even going
to know you're here.

MAN: Regulations
call for daily allotment

of 2,400 calories
per crew member.

But we found way to
deliver 2,600 without

increasing galley storage space

by devising denser foodstuffs.

Sit down, gentlemen.

This is public relations?

Russian public relations.

This cheese...

is from goats.

Captain, we were led to expect

we'd be seeing more of the boat

than the galley and the mess.

You will.

Next, we'll go to the
berthing compartments,

which have been reconfigured

for practical hobbies,

for morale and recreation.

18 cubic meters
are allotted for tai chi

and, uh, other
physical regimens...

My editors...

were promised I would
see the torpedo room.

Perhaps later.

And the reactor.

Off-limits, but you will all
have your photographs taken

in helmsman's chair.

REPORTER: Commander Rabb...

what's an American
naval officer's reaction

to what you've seen so far?

The cheese looks good.

MAN: Isn't it odd,
being here, Commander,

when the United
States is paying Russia

to dismantle its
submarine fleet?

Gentlemen, this is not my tour.

Only obsolete submarines
are being dismantled.

Our Akula and Oscar
IIs are at full capability.

Except for those stuck
in the ice at Murmansk?

Not true.

Captain Volkonov?

Don't ask me.

I'm in the army.

Lunch.

One of our specialties,
Perechnaya.

Uh, liver sausage baked
in a sheep's stomach

and kefir, fermented
buttermilk and yogurt.

I hope you're hungry, gentlemen.

That was fun.

You liked it? Yes.

You ought to take Harm.

Why?

To catch the parts
you slept through.

(laughs)

Oh, Mic, thank you for saving me

from another night in solitary.

No worries.

You know, Harm's
a very lucky bloke.

Mac, too.

Hey, Mic...

(clears throat)

in all the time that Harm
and Mac spent together...

I mean, before they knew us...

Did they ever...?

I mean, do you know?

Navy policy, Renee.

Don't ask, don't tell.

Yeah, well, I wish I could
add "and don't think about it."

Harm's never, um...?

Oh, no, that would be
on a need-to-know basis.

I don't have clearance.

And you're afraid to ask?

Yep.

Me, too.

(laughing)

TRESTMAN: Sausage and
buttermilk, ice cream for dessert.

BRADLEY: Again.

(speaking Russian)

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Oh, I'm sorry. Mmm.

Ma'am? Uh, I just
wanted you to know

that I-I think having
women onboard

would be positive.

It wouldn't bother me at
all. Thank you, Petty Officer.

Uh...

Sorry, ma'am.

That's all right.
Just had lunch.

I guess I got to cut
back on the seconds.

Sausage and buttermilk
will do that to you.

Ma'am, uh, we had
spaghetti and bug juice.

RABB: So, what's next?

Souvenir T-shirts and
pictures with the helmsman?

He was ordered to
bring the press aboard.

He's as trained in secrecy
as your submariners.

He's really not wild

about having me
around, either, is he?

Again, like your submariners.

CAPTAIN: Gentlemen,
you wanted to see more?

You're about to see
something very exciting.

CHIEF: All right, I'm back.

Who's making noise?

A whale's farting,
a trawler's trawling

and the Russians are
doing their laundry, sir.

Chief...

When we finish with
the Minsk, Colonel,

we'll do some angles
and dangles for you.

Maybe an emergency blow.

Lift us out of the
water, like Moby Dick.

No need to entertain
me, Commander.

Hell, it entertains me.

Skipper, we've got some
activity aboard the Minsk.

What kind of activity,
Ears? They're about

to launch a torpedo.

How far along are they? Well...

the torpedo's off the
rack and it's onto the tray.

You can hear that on sonar?

We're pretty advanced, Colonel.

They've got a delay
with the loading ram, sir.

Somebody dislocated a shoulder.

You can't hear that on sonar.

You've got a Russian-
speaking petty officer

"listening to Pavarotti."

He knows what the
Russians are having for lunch.

You know what they're saying.

You can hear them speak.

I can neither confirm
nor deny that, Colonel.

But will you please
keep it to yourself?

Torpedo? Now you're talking.

Can I get down to the
torpedo room, Captain?

Get some pictures?

Captain, I assume
you'll be firing a Type-65?

I see our American friend is
familiar with our armaments.

Well, a little bit.

Then prepare to
learn a little more.

We're not firing a Type-65,
but a newer torpedo.

Rocket-propelled

twice as fast as anything
the Americans have.

We call it the Shkval Two.

Ears, you're sure
that's what he said?

Yes, sir, Shkval Two.

What's wrong with
the Shkval Two?

Last time they
test-fired one, it did a 180

and sent the
Vladivostok to the bottom.

How do you know? We were there.

Listening. Every word.

Right down to the
Skipper's last curse.

Commander, I assure you,

the Shkval Two is fully
operational and safe.

You're saying the Shkval
Two blew up the Vladivostok.

There were reports that
they pulled the Shkval Two

from testing after
the Vladivostok sank.

That's what you
couldn't tell me?

CAPTAIN: Now, we can
have a panel discussion

at some later date.

Right now, we're
going to demonstrate

an advanced Russian
weapon that is going to make

a revolution in
undersea warfare.

Was there a problem
with the torpedo, Captain?

There was some concern

about the guidance
computer on the Shkval.

The problem has been addressed.

RABB: You sure
about that, Captain?

Our scientists may not be
the highest-paid in the world,

Commander, but
they're still the best.

(speaking Russian)

That's "Commence
firing sequence."

The problem wasn't
the guidance computer.

They're opening
the torpedo door.

MacKENZIE: You've got to
stop them from firing that torpedo.

Just how do you
suggest I do that, Colonel?

Tell them what you know.

And violate my
orders to run silent?

And give away the secret of
our voice recovery technology?

Under NAVREGS, Article 0925,

you have an obligation
to aid vessels in distress.

Thanks for the
legal advice, Colonel.

But I'm also obligated

to avoid putting my
vessel into distress.

We are in a Russian-Op area,

with half their fleet above us.

Commander, we're the
only chance they have.

(speaking Russian)

The Shkval is far superior
to their American Mark 48.

More accurate, more deadly,

true remote retargeting without
the need of a connecting wire

and fast... 200 knots.

200 knots?

American torpedoes
can't match that

can they, Commander?

No, they can't

but they generally don't hit the
submarines that launch them.

SONARMAN: Russian submarine
Minsk, this is the USS Watertown.

Underwater telephone?

It works at short-range.

This is Commander John
Flagler of the USS Watertown.

You must not fire
your Shkval torpedoes.

Captain Leopold
Karnik, are you there?

He knows your name?

You are in our
waters, Commander.

FLAGLER: Yes, Captain, I am.

And I am breaking
silence to tell you

that the Shkval remote
retargeting system is flawed.

What kind of trick in this?

No trick, Captain.

If you fire the
Shkval and retarget it,

it will home in on your
signal and destroy you.

It's what happened
to the Vladivostok.

How would you know?

Because we were in its
baffles when it fired the torpedo.

You are lying.

Why would he lie, Captain?

He admits he was
next to the Vladivostok.

Maybe what he heard was the
sound of his own bow ramming it.

FLAGLER: Captain
Karnik, trust me.

Trust you? For 50 years

your track our submarines,
invade our waters,

threaten us?

(sighs)

Captain Karnik,

this is Lieutenant
Colonel Sarah MacKenzie.

Mac? Does she
follow you everywhere?

Commander Flagler, you have
women on your submarines?

You having a party?

We're telling the
truth, Captain.

The torpedo will kill you.

Now, I am to believe you?

We know what happens
inside your submarines.

KARNIK: Well, if you did,

you'd know that
we are determined

to complete our demonstration.

Tell me what they've
been saying. Anything.

You can't tell them
that we can hear them.

Captain, listen to them.

I don't take orders
from Americans.

LaGRANGE: Captain,

it won't look good if you
lose another submarine.

MacKENZIE: Captain, how
was the liver sausage at lunch?

Why did you cancel
yesterday's fire drill?

And when you told
the chief of the boat

to bring vodka for your guests,

why did you insist
on the cheap one?

Who told you these things?

MacKENZIE: We have
agents at Severodvinsk.

They planted listening
devices on every submarine

built there since 1986.

We heard what happened

to the Vladivostok
while it was happening.

This is nonsense.

Then how did she know what's
been happening on this boat, Captain?

You... You are CIA.

Captain, he's
American legal officer.

Transmitting messages.

I don't know how.

Why?

To keep us from showing
the world our advances.

To keep us under your thumb.

Captain, I can vouch
for Commander Rabb.

What did they do to
you in the United States?

Take you to Disney
World with Elian Gonzalez?

Sir. You will answer
for your conduct

when we return to Petropavlovsk.

(speaking Russian)

They've begun the
countdown sequence.

Captain, it won't
hurt you to wait.

You're endangering your ship.

The world is watching
us now, Commander.

I will show you the
strength of the Russian navy.

Captain, we'd be happy to
report on its strengths tomorrow.

Torpedo away, sir.

FLAGLER: Helm,
get us out of here.

Right full rudder.
All ahead full.

Right full rudder,
all ahead full, aye.

There's got to be
a way to destroy it.

Hit a torpedo with a torpedo?

Our fish can't even
catch that thing.

If the Shkval circles back,
you won't have to outrun it.

A decoy would be the only way.

Well, then, that's
what you have to do.

Colonel... our decoy
is a Mark 2 torpedo.

Look at our position.

To intercept the
Shkval on its return,

we'd have to fire
toward the Minsk.

How do you think Captain
Karnik would react to that?

KARNIK: 190 knots.

200 knots.

It would seem the launch
is a success, Commander.

Let it run, Captain.
Don't retarget it.

And miss the drone?

Nyet.

They are retargeting.

Your submarine
has fired a torpedo.

At us!

Commander, your
people want a war?

FLAGLER: Captain Karnik,
this is the USS Watertown.

Do not be alarmed...

Oh, I'm not alarmed.

I will sink him. He attacks me.

You are all witnesses.

Captain, this
doesn't make sense.

If he wanted to attack you,
he'd have done it before.

He had every opportunity when
you didn't know he was here.

Why would he announce himself?

Why would he risk his boat?

Their countermeasures
aren't working, Skipper.

Impact in 15 seconds.

It hasn't acquired
our decoy, sir.

CURLEY: Five seconds.

The Shkval's turning away.

Attababy.

It's turning towards us!

Helm, turn starboard,
heading one-zero-five.

Turning right, heading
one-zero-five, aye.

No, it's acquired the decoy.

Helm, belay my last.

Aye, aye, sir.

VOLKONOV: Captain...

(clears throat)

maybe you could bring out...

that vodka again.

Yeah, this time let's have
the good stuff, huh, Cap'n?

Nice shooting, Commander.

Nice talking, Colonel.

You'll have the Russians
tearing up every submarine

in their fleet looking for bugs.

So, the presence of a
woman on the Watertown

hasn't caused you any problems?

Not yet.

(chuckles)

Harriet, maybe we should have
had a "welcome home" party.

Oh, I don't know, Renee.

They're not really the
pomp-and-circumstance type.

They're not?

You know what I mean.

The colonel and the commander
have been through so much.

Together.

He's with you now, and
the colonel is engaged.

Harriet, is she back yet?

Any second, Mic.

I feel like one of those
women in an old war movie

waiting for her husband
to get off the ship.

Yeah, me, too.

(elevator bell dings)

Commander, Colonel,
welcome home.

Sir. Thank you, sir.

Oh, Captain Baxter called

and was curious what
your report was going to say.

Well, that anyone who's crazy
enough to want to be on submarines

should be welcomed to them.

Oh, and he sends
his thanks to you

for showing the world that Russian
submarines are perfectly capable

of blowing themselves up...

The hard way as usual.

(bell dings)

MacKENZIE: So, you knew I
was there before we called you?

Come on. I always
know where you are.

Kind of like my sense of timing.

I think we both have an
incredible sense of timing.

Hey. Mic!

Well, welcome home, sailor.

Hi. G'day, Marine.