JAG (1995–2005): Season 6, Episode 3 - Florida Straits - full transcript

BOSUN'S MATE:
Captain, debris field

2,000 yards off
the starboard bow.

CAPTAIN: Huh. Whatever
it was, there's a survivor.

There's a person out there.

Bosun, is there a Coast
Guard cutter in the vicinity?

No CD. Negative, sir.

I have the con. Captain has con.

Right standard rudder.

Steady on course 165.

All engines ahead two-thirds.

"Right standard rudder,
steady on course 165.



All engines ahead
two-thirds," aye.

Very well.

Sir, that will put us inside
Cuban territorial waters.

Understood.

Steady on course 165, sir.

Sir, we have visitors
off the port bow.

Cuban PTG approaching
at high speed.

They're heading for us, sir.

I don't think they
see the survivor.

Signal bridge, tell
them to stand clear.

No response, sir.

Second message.

Bridge, CIC.
Approaching vessel has

fire-control radar in
high PRF track mode.



Captain, they're
looking to rumble.

This is the captain.

Train the main
battery on the PTG.

Sound General Quarters.

"Sound General Quarters," aye.

(over P.A.): General
Quarters. General Quarters.

All hands man battle stations

RENEE: Such amazing news.

You have a little brother.

Someone you can trust
and confide in, beat up.

( chuckles)

It's great.

I don't know how
great my mother's

going to think it is.

When are you going to tell her?

I don't know if I am.

It could only hurt her.

Oh, don't you think
she has a right to know?

You know, enough of
me talking about me.

Let's talk about you. Hmm.

Did you miss me?

( chuckles)

Yes.

Mm-hmm.

In between periods of hating you

for leaving me to
go to destinations

that I can't even pronounce.

I could make it up to you.

Okay.

( both chuckle)

You can be the barbarian,
I'll be the milkmaid.

( phone rings)

Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm!

( murmurs)

( sighs)

Hello.

CHEGWIDDEN: Commander?

Grab your gear and be
in my office in an hour.

I'm sending you and Lieutenant
Roberts ASAP to the Caribbean.

I've got an investigation

of an alleged act of aggression

against a Cuban Naval vessel.

S... uh, sir...

Oh, I'm sorry. Uh... You
just got back from Russia.

Have you slept yet?

No, sir.

Well, make it an
hour and a half.

Yes, sir.

( sighs)

This destination
you can pronounce.

( sighs)

( knocking)

You look like Maxwell Smart.

( laughs)

I figured since you only
spend time with spies,

I thought I'd give it a shot.

Well, come in and kiss me.

It works.

( barking)

Hello, mate, how are you?

Eh, works a little
too well, I think.

Thanks for taking care of him.

Oh, my pleasure.

And for putting up
with all that nonsense

that happened before I left.

I know that you felt left out.

It's a new day, Sarah.

And I've got you apologizing.

Life is good.

( both chuckle)

Oh, I found a beauty place
down at Rock Creek Park.

I've already moved in.

That was fast.

Well, I only had two criteria:

a great view

and room for a king-sized bed.

What are your
plans for tomorrow?

Oh, I'm, uh, spending
the day with my boyfriend.

Good,

'cause he's taking
you to a brunch

being held in his honor
by the boss of his new firm.

Oh.

I really need you there, Sarah.

Then I'll be there.

( indistinct
announcement over P.A.)

Welcome to the Dace, gentlemen.

That Cuba off your stern, X.O.?

We've got Cuba up
our stern, Commander.

That's why you're here.

As soon as we showed them our 76

they showed us their wake.

We went by, picked
up the refugee,

returned to international waters

and notified the
chain of command.

And apparently, we made
it all the way up to SECNAV.

Well, sir, a Cuban official
with a very loud voice

delivered that message.

They lit us up, Commander.

My book tells me to
go to General Quarters.

Well, we read
the same book, sir.

Good. Are we done?

Not quite, sir.

Oh. It's not like I
don't have the time.

We're steaming
around here in circles.

This is going to be

the longest transit time

from Gitmo to Key
West in recorded history.

Could you tell us

when you first saw
the Cuban vessel, sir?

As we were approaching the girl.

Radar didn't pick
them up before, sir?

They had just come
around the point.

Did they make an
attempt at a rescue, sir?

We don't think they saw her.

They were more
interested in spanking us

for being in their backyard.

According to the deck log,
you were half a mile in, sir.

On the assumption

that the Right of Assistance
Entry would protect my six.

Did you make an
attempt to signal

the Cuban vessel about the girl?

There was no time for that.

You signaled them to back
off, though, Captain. Twice.

We were in the
middle of the rescue.

Wh-What would you be implying
with this line of questioning?

Just trying to determine
the intent of both parties, sir.

Can you tell me where I stand?

Well, sir, we still have to
follow up with your subordinates

and talk to the girl, but you
seem to be on solid ground.

About the girl...

how long can I grant
her a temporary refuge?

Until the INS arrives, sir,

and determine her
immigration status.

They're on their way.

She has less than
24 hours of freedom

before they send her back.

How do you know
they'll send her back, sir?

Her feet are wet, Lieutenant.

They never touched U.S. soil.

She and Elian can grow
up in tyranny together.

CROZIER: Think of it this way.

You spot a cat stranded
in your neighbor's tree.

You don't see anyone around

so you climb the
fence to rescue the cat.

Just then, your
neighbor appears,

but instead of thanking
you for the good deed

he threatens you with a shotgun.

Is that the way you saw it, sir?

That's the way it
happened, Lieutenant.

The captain made us proud.

I mean, after what
we've seen go down, it

couldn't have been
handled better.

What have you seen, Commander?

The Coast Guard intercepts
boats every week out here.

We've witnessed
refugees swallow rat poison

and threaten to
immolate themselves

rather than be sent back.

Picking up the girl and
backing off that boat

meant a lot to us.

You do realize
she's feet wet, X.O.?

Asylum is unlikely.

Does the captain know that?

He's the one that

told us.

It's got to be hard for him.

Why's that?

He's Cuban-American.

Hates Castro.

Sickbay's third hatch
on the right, gentlemen.

Thanks.

So, what am I
thinking, Lieutenant?

You're wondering,
sir, if Captain Berroa

backed down the Cuban vessel

in order to pick up the girl

before they spotted her.

Yeah, and am I
thinking that's an issue?

Well, not a legal one, sir.

The girl's life was
in immediate danger.

The captain was obligated
under international law

to effect a rescue

and temporary
refuge is appropriate

under Naval Regulation
Article 0-9-3-9.

The, uh, interference
of the Cuban vessel

appears immaterial.

What's my opinion
of the captain?

That I couldn't tell you, sir.

I respect him...

'cause he's clever enough
to stay true to his principles

without breaking the rules.

( groans loudly)

Should have got that one, sir.

As you were.

I'm Commander Rabb.

This is Lieutenant Roberts.

We're with JAG.

Petty Officers Tippit
and Montanez, sir.

I'm acting Senior Corpsman

while the chief is
on emergency leave.

I've been assigned to be

the girl's interpreter, sir.

Good. How is she?

Not bad, sir, considering
what she's been through.

I'm keeping a close

watch for pneumonia.
What's her name?

Reynalda Montilla, sir.

"Reynalda."

Is she aware

of what's going on?

Pretty much, sir.

What has she told you so far?

That it was she and her
father in a 12-foot skiff, sir.

They were trying to make
it to relatives in Miami.

They sank in total darkness

11 miles out.

Her father took off his pants,

tied off the openings

and blew air into them
so she could use them

as a flotation device.

20 minutes later, he was gone.

She spent the rest of the night

being poked by sharks.

RABB: Where's the mother?

She died when the
girl was three, sir.

Is, uh, Reynalda up for
answering a few questions?

Reynalda, el comandante aqui
quiere hacerte unas preguntas.

Great. Uh...

Ask her which
ship she saw first...

The American frigate
or the Cuban patrol boat.

¿Reynalda, cuando estavas

en alta mar, que
barco viste primero?

¿El americano o el cubano?

El norteamericano.

The Dace, sir.

¿Me van a llevar a
los Estados Unidos?

She wants to
know if you're going

to take her to the U.S., sir.

BOSUN: JAG on the bridge.

PILOT: Pine Tree,
this is Greenfield 24.

This is Pine Tree.
State your purpose.

Request permission to land
and off-load INS representative.

Sir?

Permission denied.

Send them back, X.O.

CROZIER: Greenfield
2-4. This is Pine Tree.

Permission denied.

PILOT: Pine Tree, Greenfield
2-4 requests clarification.

Captain, may we have
a word in private, sir?

X.O., it's your bridge.

Aye, aye, sir.

Greenfield 2-4,
this is Pine Tree.

Continue in the hover pattern.

I waved her off, Commander,

because there is no need
for the INS aboard this vessel.

I am personally delivering
Reynalda Mantilla

to the United States,
where she belongs.

Captain...

Sir, I am obligated
to inform you

that if you continue
on this stated course...

Under what article of the UCMJ

would I be subject
to court-martial?

Article 92, sir...
Violating general orders

and willful dereliction of duty.

And can you tell me

what Naval regulations
guarantee the right

to seek freedom from
political oppression?

None.

That's why I'm doing this.

Captain, is this really the way
you want to end your Naval career?

On principle? Yes.

Sir, what if I told you
there may be another way?

Reynalda has said she
has family in Miami, sir.

The INS could determine
that since her father is dead

she's better off in
the U.S. with them.

And if they determine otherwise?

Captain, I'm not selling
insurance, just reason.

RABB: Well, sir, the
lieutenant and I believe that

Captain Berroa acted
lawfully and in accordance

with the Standing
Rules of Engagement

when he trained his
gun on the Cuban vessel.

Yeah, but Cuba is claiming
that we were the aggressor.

Well, they would be wrong, sir.

Senior officers aboard
ship and the refugee herself

back up the captain's account.

Well, SECNAV got a 3:00
a.m. call from the President.

He's having Elian
Gonzalez nightmares

and doesn't want that girl
anywhere near U.S. soil.

Is he making
this our issue, sir?

Mine. Keep me apprised.

Will do, Admiral.

Sir, may I ask why
you didn't tell him

about the helicopter incident?

Because Captain Berroa
reversed his decision, Lieutenant.

So you're just going
to let him slide, sir?

I'll watch and wait.

( jazz playing)

( indistinct conversations)

Hey, Mic. Good to
see ya. G'day, mate!

Hey.

Whew! Did you see the
Bentley parked in the driveway?

I couldn't see it over
that lady's diamond.

How does she keep her
arm from falling asleep?

You all right? Sure.

So what do you say we start with the
person who bought her the diamond?

Why not?

There he is.

BRUMBY: Larry.

Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah MacKenzie.

Sarah, Larry Kaliski

senior partner of
Ryan, Price and Seigel.

My pleasure.

( laughing): Well, I have to say

that when Mic told me
you were a Marine JAG

I expected John
Wayne in a dress.

( laughing)

You looking for a job?

No.

Mm. Mind if I take
him away for a second?

I'm not his boss, you are.

Oh, you're very good.

Come on.

I'll be right back. Hmm.

( laughing)

( sighs)

( indistinct voices)

♪ ♪

You're not wrong.

Nice package, Mic.

Yeah, she is.

( indistinct
announcement over P.A.)

I'll talk to the girl.

But outside of
proof of persecution

or a serious medical condition

I see no INS precedent
for granting her asylum.

So you'll be sending
her back, ma'am?

According to the U.S.
Interests Section in Havana,

she has relatives in Cuba

who have the
means to care for her.

That's good enough for us.

But if she had set
foot on U.S. soil...

She could've applied for asylum

under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

Well, why didn't that
work for Elian Gonzalez?

He's six

and not considered old enough

to understand the
implication of his choice.

Reynalda's 13.

A Circuit Court
of Appeals ruling

determined that a
12-year-old Russian boy

was capable of
making such decisions

in his own interests.

And she can't take
advantage of that

because she's feet wet.

I admit that it all seems
arbitrary, Lieutenant,

but when a refugee
is desperate enough

they generally find a way.

REYNALDA: ¡Oh, me duele mucho!

( crying)

I think that went pretty well.

Were you talking about
me to Larry Kaliski?

Yeah. He likes you.

In what way?

He thinks you're the
complete package:

Sharp, smart and sexy.

He's not wrong. You are.

Is that why you were gloating?

Gloating?! I have a right
to be proud of you, Sarah.

Mic, I came here
as a favor to you.

I came because I
had to, and you said

you wanted to be with me.

Yeah, but you knew how
uncomfortable I was gonna be.

Wait a minute!

This day was about me.

Four hours when I
didn't have to pursue you

or excuse myself while you
spoke to your colleagues...

or take care of your dog.

I apologize for that.

But that's how you see me.

A moon-faced admirer
who massages your ego

and helps you forget your past.

That is not true.

Look...

I work for this man now.

This is a bloody
good opportunity,

and I'm not going
to jeopardize it

because of something
that happened to you

before I was in your life.

Mic, you are wrong... Sarah...

Leave it. Get in the car.

( slams door)

Excuse me, Captain.

At ease. How is she?

Better, sir.

Petty Officer Montanez
is monitoring her condition.

What do you think it is?

I'm not sure, sir.
There's no fever.

We purged her of the
seawater she ingested.

Could be parasites.

Hard to say.

What if it's something more
serious, like organ damage?

That would require testing
equipment more sophisticated

than what we have on board, sir.

Ma'am?

It's my understanding that INS

regularly admits refugees to
U.S. hospitals for treatment.

Under urgent medical
circumstances only.

Well, we have a girl

with stomach pains and no
credible means of diagnosis.

( sighs)

When did these symptoms
first occur, Corpsman?

I was in the stockroom
at the time, sir.

The captain was with
her when it happened.

BERROA: Is there
anything further?

CORPSMAN: No, sir.

Then that'll be all.

Yes, sir.

Do you recall the time, Captain?

About 15 minutes
before you arrived.

I came down to see
how she was doing.

She was looking a little queasy,
but talkative, even animated.

Then, suddenly, she gripped
her stomach and collapsed

on the floor.

RABB: Mrs. Vitagliano,

if Reynalda were
admitted to a U.S. hospital

would she be
considered feet dry?

Yes, Commander.

Ma'am?

Your decision.

Can we get that helicopter back?

( hatch closing)

Commander...

I was expecting you.

Captain, I have a
question about the girl, sir.

You have a family?

No, sir.

I thought as much.

You and I are alike in that way.

In a lot of ways, in fact.

Captain, about the girl, sir.

If I had started a family

Reynalda could've been
my daughter, Commander.

But, instead, she was
born under a system

where families turn
each other in to the police.

I'm aware of the
conditions in Cuba, sir.

Are you aware of what those
conditions do to the soul?

I know you are, Captain.

You care what
happens to this girl?

Do you care about
Naval regulations, sir?

Cite one for me, Commander.

"Personnel of the
Department of the Navy

"shall neither
directly nor indirectly

invite persons to seek
asylum or temporary refuge."

You think I've done that.

You tell me, sir.

Well, I wanted to comfort her.

To let her know that
there were other Cubans

who had grown up
without blood families.

I did not suggest
she fake an illness.

Sir, I saw you wave off...

I break rules
cleanly, Commander.

If I do it, you know it.

I don't cheat.

Well, sir, you want to tell me
what was... Corpsman just called.

Reynalda's running a fever.
It's up to 102 and climbing.

You're welcome to
check for yourself.

SECNAV: How the
hell did this happen?

RABB ( on phone): There's a loophole
in the 1995 Cuban Migration Accord, sir.

That's not a loophole,
that's a black hole.

Anyone can fake a stomachache.

The girl's sick, Mr. Secretary.

Not half as sick as the
president's going to be.

Well, sir, as I'm sure
the admiral has indicated,

there's little we can do
to affect the outcome.

I can assure you, though, sir,

her illness does
appear legitimate.

( alarm blaring)

Commander, is that
the general alarm?

BOSUN'S MATE (on P.A.):
General Quarters, General Quarters.

All hands, man
your battle stations.

Yes, sir, the, uh, the bridge
is sounding General Quarters.

I'm going to have
to cut this short.

We're manning
battle stations, sir.

Battle stations.

I'll order in lunch.

MATE: JAG on the bridge.

BOSUN'S MATE: She's
on an intercept course, sir.

They're back, Commander.

Let's make her eat our
wake. All engines ahead full.

MATE: All engines
ahead full, aye.

Captain, those boats
are built for speed, sir.

You're not going to try
and outrun it, are you?

I'm going to run her
out of gas, Commander.

Captain, they're signaling us.

"Orlando Mantilla...

alive in Cuba."

Who's Orlando Mantilla?

That would be the
girl's father, Lieutenant.

All engines stop!

MATE: All engines stop, aye.

BERROA: The State
Department confirms the message.

Orlando Mantilla was
picked up by a garbage scow

eight miles off Havana.

He's dehydrated,
but awake and lucid.

Has he made a
statement, Captain?

He wants to be reunited
with his daughter.

VITAGLIANO: And he will be.

The girl appears
to be stable now

and the INS doesn't
like to interfere

with the rights of a
non-abusive parent.

Ma'am, Reynalda needs treatment.

I would like to
proceed with the plan

to bring her to the
hospital at N.A.S. Key West.

And I don't think we should
take the Cubans at their word.

What are you suggesting?

That they've conscripted
some stand-in

for the real Orlando Mantilla?

BERROA: Or that the
real Orlando Mantilla

is being controlled
by Cuban officials.

Why would they have to force
him to ask for his daughter back?

I'm sure he wants to
be with her, Lieutenant,

but in the United States where
they were originally headed.

He's in Cuba now, Captain.

CROZIER: I agree
with the skipper, ma'am.

If the Cuban government

is sincere about uniting the two

the can send her father to us.

The loophole is
closed, gentlemen.

This is not Elian
Gonzalez's father.

Orlando Mantilla
wants to be free.

Orlando Mantilla and
his daughter are alive.

They should thank
God for their blessings

and try to immigrate legally.

BERROA: Cuban immigration
to the U.S. is far from automatic.

There's a lottery involved,

and-and authorities can
delay applications at will.

Captain, you've
stated your case.

Now, let me do my job.

First thing is, you tell
the girl her father's alive.

Ma'am. Sir.

May I suggest that before we do

anything, we verify the
existence of the father

and the veracity of
these statements.

Fair enough.

Thank you, Commander.

You may very well have
given that family a reprieve.

( phone rings)

MacKENZIE ( recording):
Hi, this is Sarah.

Leave me a message,
and I'll call you back.

Sarah, it's Mic.

I was too angry to
talk about it in the car,

but I'm ready now.

I'm at 7811 Connecticut
Avenue, apartment 906.

Mic, I'm sorry. I...

( dial tone)

( sighing)

( hangs up phone)

You're fiddling, Lieutenant.

What's up?

Sir, do you support
the captain's position?

I support an informed
process, Bud.

This has nothing to
do with the captain.

You've been awfully
helpful to him, sir.

It seems that way.

Well, sir, that's my point.

I'm not playing favorites.

Well, I'll bet you the
captain thinks you are, sir.

It appears you were one
step ahead of us, Commander.

The Cuban government
just invited me to Havana

to interview Orlando Mantilla.

I've suggested that
she be accompanied

by a representative of
the United States Navy.

VITAGLIANO: We'll hold off
telling Reynalda until we return.

Well, that's a good idea, ma'am.

Good luck.

I don't think you understand.

The captain suggested
you come with me.

BERROA: With blessings
from the Secretary of the Navy.

( sighs)

DeCARO ( on TV): This
is a ZNN Special Bulletin.

You are watching a
live video feed from Cuba

of President Fidel Castro

speaking with what
is assumed to be

an official American delegation.

Although they won't comment
directly on the nature of

the visit, Cuban authorities
indicate that the thawing

of U.S./Cuban military tensions

might be forthcoming. Good God.

From Havana, this
is Chuck DeCaro,

ZNN, on Special Assignment. Hi.

Tiner wasn't at his
desk, so we just...

Um...

( TV clicks off)

Was it tonight?

7:00 sharp.

Not tomorrow.

Danny's out of town tomorrow.

Oh. Well, I apologize.

Uh...

A.J. Chegwidden.

I'm usually more appealing
without egg on my face.

Oh, I understand.

Uh, last semester, I pulled an
all-nighter for a poli-sci exam

and well, at breakfast, I
fell asleep in my omelet.

( all chuckling)

Well, it's great meeting you.

You know, your mother's
told me a lot about you.

Says you, uh, have
good character.

You told him I had
good character?

Remember the
time your friend Troy

stole a bag full of army
men from a toy store

and you brought it back?

Well, yeah, it was
because I told him

to steal the model
of the Enterprise.

( all chuckling)

( door opens)

Good evening, Mr. Mantilla.

How are you feeling?

Estos son los representantes
de los Estados Unidos

y quieren saber como se siente.

Mucho mejor.

Aqui me estan cuidando bien.

He's better.

Says we're taking
good care of him.

Why isn't he in a hospital?

This is one of the
president's residences.

He felt Mr. Mantilla could
recover here in peace.

He's receiving excellent
medical attention.

¿Como esta Reynalda?

He is asking about Reynalda.

She has a fever
and stomach cramps.

Tenia dolor de estomago,

pero ahora se siente mejor.

We plan to take her
to the United States

for treatment.

Los doctores del barco la
estan cuidando muy bien.

Can we speak with
Mr. Mantilla privately?

You speak Spanish, Commander?

Well, I speak a few words, two
of which are, "Estados Unidos"...

Neither of which
did I hear you say.

I don't understand.

VITAGLIANO: He's
questioning your translation skills.

May I suggest that
you improve them

or tell Mr. Mantilla
that his daughter

will be waiting for
him in our country.

RABB: Ask him what he did

after he escaped
and his boat capsized.

¿Que hizo cuando
el barco se volco?

Heche aire en mi pantalon,

para que se queda
flotar Reynalda.

He blew air into his pants

so his daughter
would stay afloat.

ORLANDO: Mi canse...

y agarri un siento de madera.

But he got tired

and grabbed onto a wooden seat.

Que las holas

era tan grandes.

The waves were big.

No la puda retener.

And he couldn't hold onto her.

Soy tan stupido.

He says he's stupid.

Should I let him know

what you're trying to tell
him about his daughter?

Yes.

VITAGLIANO: Please.

Reynalda esta enferma.

Le iban a traer a
los Estados Unidos

para tratamiento.

¿Le van a traer aqui ahorita?

Will they bring Reynalda here?

Ask him if he
would still like to go

to the United States
with Reynalda.

¿Le gustaria ir a los
Estados Unidos con ella?

I'll answer that.

He has been offered a good
job here with more money.

Hmm. So, you're saying
that you won't let him leave.

I don't make those decisions.

Si Reynalda estuviera

de revuelta Cuba
conmigo... estaria feliz.

He says he's happy to be in Cuba

as long as his
daughter is with him.

RABB: These orders come straight
from the SECNAV himself, sir.

In accordance with
Orlando Mantilla's wishes,

Reynalda is to be
returned to him in Cuba.

We could send her back
on the PTG, Captain.

They duped you.

Sir?

As soon as Reynalda arrives
and is out of sight of the cameras

her father will be imprisoned.

VITAGLIANO: Captain,

the INS monitors
returned refugees

with the full cooperation
of the Cuban government.

Replace the word
"cooperation" with control, ma'am.

Captain, we need
to tell Reynalda

that her father is alive,
and he wants her back.

He may be alive, but he speaks
with Castro's tongue, Commander.

What the hell happened
to your objectivity?

Don't tell me Fidel bought you

with a Cohiba and
a television camera.

This is not a forum, Captain.

You are under orders.

Stand down, Commander.

I am the highest
authority on this ship

and the only one who's lived

under a Communist dictatorship,

and if anyone here believes

that they have a
better understanding

into that world, speak up.

Helmsman.

Yes, sir?

Give me a heading for Key West.

Aye, aye, sir.

We're going home.

( indistinct voices over P.A.)

VITAGLIANO: Captain...

Let me ask you something.

Why do you think
you have the right

to separate father and child?

What gives you the right
to bring them together

under totalitarian rule?

Father's wishes?

Even if we could believe
that to be true, ma'am,

they'd be selfish wishes.

If I were in his position

I'd want her to live
under a free flag.

Do you have children, Captain?

No, I don't, Lieutenant.

With all due respect, sir,

I don't think you know
what you would do.

When my parents heard the
Cuban youth were being sent

to schools in East Germany,

they put me on a Pedro
Pan flight to Miami.

I was four and a half.

Emotional reasons
aside, Captain...

I can't put them aside.

My father died in prison.

My mother had
heart failure at 38.

MAN ( over radio):
Bridge, Radio Control.

We have the
Secretary of the Navy

and Judge Advocate
General for the captain.

Patch it up. Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Secretary, this is Captain
Berroa of the U.S.S. Dace.

SECNAV: Captain...

I have been informed
by N.A.S. Key West

that you're presently
on course to that facility.

BERROA: That's correct, sir.

SECNAV: Your orders
are to head to Guantanamo.

BERROA: I understand,
sir, but I believe that I have

a greater duty to act in the
best interest of the refugee.

Reynalda Mantilla is
running a high fever

and deserves the finest
medical care available.

It was always her
father's intention

that Reynalda reach
the United States.

And we're accommodating
those wishes.

Finally, most of
the men and women

on this vessel are alive today

because the United States
opened its arms to their ancestors.

Reynalda Mantilla has been
denied the same privilege

because she wasn't lucky
enough to reach our shores...

Captain, I don't give a rat's...

Sir, before you continue,
I should advise you

this conversation is
being heard on the bridge.

You arrogant son of a...

Captain, A.J. Chegwidden,
Judge Advocate General.

I have to tell you that you're
in violation of a direct order

which can result in
court-martial, dismissal

and hard labor at Leavenworth.

I can't obey the order, sir.

Not in good conscience.

Hold on.

Mr. Secretary, he's
falling on his sword.

I advise you to
relieve him of duty.

That should go through
the chain of command.

Well, yes, sir,

but by that time, he'll
be docking in Key West.

I would deal with it now,
while you have him on the line.

This is the Secretary
of the Navy speaking.

Is the X.O. on the bridge?

Yes, sir, I'm here.

Your name and rank?

Commander William Crozier, sir.

Commander Crozier...

( clicks)

( static crackles)

Stay on course.

Aye, sir.

This can't work, Captain.

What, Commander?

Trying to prevent the
Secretary of the Navy

from replacing you
with the X.O., sir.

For all I know, the
secretary was inviting

the commander to
his birthday party.

Well, you'd be the only
person on this bridge

who believes that,
Captain. So be it.

X.O., I advise you

to get the Secretary
back on the horn

and receive your orders.

Commander?

I heard you.

Commander, this is more
than an issue for Captain Berroa.

This is a crusade.

You may want to
consider... Is it worth

your career taking a
dive for his principles?

You don't have to be Cuban
to agree with the captain.

Just spend a day out here

watching refugees
being sent back.

I care what
happens to this girl.

Well, what about what
this girl feels and thinks?

She doesn't even
know her father's alive.

Sir, we need to tell her.

BERROA: Don't complicate
it for her, Commander.

If she gives up her freedom now

she'll regret it
when she's older.

With all due respect,
sir, that's speculative.

I need to be sure before
putting my career in jeopardy.

VITAGLIANO: Reynalda...

I represent the Immigration
and Naturalization Service.

Your father was
found alive at sea.

He was rescued and
brought to Havana.

Reynalda, ella es del
Servicio de Inmigracion

y Naturalizacion de
los Estados Unidos.

Tu padre esta vivo.

Lo encontraron en alta mar,
y fue de revuelta a la Havana.

( crying): ¿Esta en Cuba?

Yeah.

We visited him,

and he told us that he
wants us to bring you to him.

Lo visitamos en Cuba y el
quiere que tu seas de revuelta.

Pero me quiero ir a
Los Estados Unidos.

She says she wants to
go to the United States.

Well, ask her if she realizes

that she'll be separated
from her father.

¿Tu entiendes que te
estaria separada de tu padre?

Yo voy a ver a mi papa.

Juntos prometimos
que si uno de nosotros

lograra a llegar a
los Estados Unidos...

el otro siguiera
tratar de lograrlo.

She believes
she'll see her father.

They had an agreement:

The one who made it
to the U.S. would stay.

The one who didn't
would keep trying.

( hatch opening)

Excuse me, Captain.

X.O., I have a flash
precedence message

from the Secretary of the Navy.

I'll take that.

Captain...

Master-at-arms?

Yes, sir.

Commander Crozier
is under arrest.

Confined to quarters

until further notice.

MASTER-AT-ARMS: Sir?

That's an order.

Aye, aye, sir.

Uh, what are you doing, Captain?

He's saving your career, X.O.

by preventing you
from disobeying an order

to take control of the ship.

If you're under arrest

you can't answer
one way or the other.

Well, sir, you have
what you want now.

I hope it's enough.

This is the captain.

Inform radio to
send this message

to the U.S. organization
Cubana Americano.

"The American frigate,
the U.S.S. Stanley Dace

"will be arriving in the
morning at N.A.S. Key West

with a rescued Cuban girl."

Aye, aye, sir.

( knocking on door)

( soft rock playing)

BRUMBY: Come in.

♪ Take a long time to believe ♪

( sighs)

It's beautiful.

♪ You'll never find an answer ♪

( sighs)

Sarah...

I'm sorry.

I was being selfish
and insecure.

( sighs)

You did have the right
to expect more from me.

You're wrong about
how I think about you.

( sighs)

The truth is that
you challenge...

In the best way...

My preconceptions about men.

♪ You leave it up to me ♪

You were going to say something?

I was going to accuse you

of being selfish and insecure.

♪ In the land of make-believe ♪

Do you love me, Sarah?

Yes.

Is that because I love you?

It's because you are you.

Are we okay?

What are you doing?

Adding another light.

Why?

To celebrate another week of...

having each other in our lives.

RABB: I had hoped to
appeal to reason, Captain.

BERROA: How
reasonable would you be

if your principles
were on the line?

Well, I wouldn't disobey
a direct order, sir.

She's free. Doesn't that
mean anything to you?

VITAGLIANO: To
all of us, Captain.

That's never been in question.

The commander, the
lieutenant and myself, however

are driven by reason.

You're not, and that's
where you stand alone.

Vamos.

Captain Berroa.

I'm Rodney Conger with
the State Department.

Excuse us. Ven.

Captain... I have orders to
put this girl in a helicopter

and send her back to Cuba.

Once she touches the
dock, she'll be "feet dry."

Now, we will do this with
or without your cooperation.

Her father wants her back, sir.

Mr. Conger, I'm
Janet Vitagliano.

I'm from the I.N.S.

The girl's aware of
her father's decision

but she wants to
be here nonetheless.

Now, she does have the right
to choose for herself, based on...

The ruling from the Seventh
Circuit Court of Appeals.

We're in the 11th, ma'am.

I'm sorry, but this order
comes from the top.

The parents' wishes are binding

and you're overruled.

Not if the parent is abusive.

I'm sorry?

Reynalda's father
put her out to sea

in a boat that was too small,

recklessly
endangering her safety.

He was trying to
get her to the U.S.

He almost killed her.

We have 200 witnesses
aboard this ship

who will attest to that.

That is not child abuse.

Leaving a child alone

in a car for ten minutes
is child abuse, Mr. Conger.

What are the consequences
of these charges, ma'am?

An I.N.S. hearing. Then I

suggest you take Reynalda
into your custody for processing.

I could do that.

If her father wants to
contest the charges,

he can come here and testify.

Okay, this is all
amusing, but...

Mr. Conger,

this has been a very long day.

Now shut up and
get out of our way.

Thank you both.

You're an annoying man,

Captain.

And you're welcome.

I knew you'd step up when
it counted, Commander.

You see? We are alike.

The only difference
is, you're smarter.

Well, sir, I would
take a moment.

It's going to be rough
from this point on, Captain.

Captain.

Mrs. Vitagliano, it's
been a pleasure, ma'am.

Well, Commander... if I
wasn't too old, too short,

too married...

( Vitagliano chuckles)

Never mind.

( laughing)

Coge un paso, Reynalda.