JAG (1995–2005): Season 7, Episode 15 - Head to Toe - full transcript

( motor scooter passing)

( car horn honking)

( people speaking Arabic)

I think I know this woman.

Lieutenant Donato?

Major Winters, Air
Force Security Police.

You know me, sir?

I checked you in the day
you arrived from Masirah.

Oh, right.

Nice shirt, sir.

Thank you. May I join you?



DONATO: You hungry, sir?

I can order for two.

You're not ordering, Lieutenant.

You're going to quietly
follow me to your car,

get in the back seat, and
allow me to drive you back

to the base where you can
change into appropriate attire.

This is appropriate
in Brooklyn, sir.

We could send you back there.

Be smart about this, Lieutenant.

There's a Muslim cleric
watching your every move.

That's because
he can see me, sir.

WINTERS: I'm ordering
you to do as instructed,

Lieutenant, or
face punitive action.

Your answer?



How are the salads here, sir?

( knocking)

Come in, Congresswoman.

How did you know it w...?

"Congresswoman Latham,
a long-time advocate

"of women's rights
in the armed forces

"believes that Navy Lieutenant

"Stephanie Donato's
defiance of female dress codes,

"driving regulations and
mandatory male accompaniment

"illustrates the need
to establish increased

"constitutional protection

for female members
of the military."

Have you gotten to the part
where I talk about banging down

the doors of people
in the position

to effect a change?

Well, not in time to
reinforce my hinges.

( chuckles)

I'm not here to
lobby you, Admiral.

Simply on a
fact-finding mission.

Okay. Here are the facts:

Commander Rabb
and Colonel MacKenzie

are defending the lieutenant.

Now we're on the same page.

Their initial assessment?

Not in yet.

And when they know something?

I'll give you a call.

Thank you.

And remind you
that this office serves

a judicial, not a
legislative, function.

( knocking)

Enter.

Excuse me, sir, I'm sorry.

Commander.

Congresswoman.

Well, I was just leaving.

Thank you very much

for your time, Admiral.

You mind walking me out?

Not at all.

If I remember, you're
a former submariner.

That is correct.

Well, then that explains why
you haven't surfaced till now.

( chuckles)

I-I've been busy.

Well, when you feel
you have some time,

why don't you come
over and see me?

I'll show you around.

Well, one doesn't
just drop by the Capitol

these days, Congresswoman.

I'm friendly with the doorman.

RABB: Why'd you ignore
the regulations, Lieutenant?

Because they're ridiculous, sir.

Was it worth the
trouble you're in?

Think about it, sir.

I'm on trial for eating lunch.

You can't remove the argument

from the context, Lieutenant.

This is Saudi Arabia.

But, ma'am, I'm a citizen
of the United States.

Under orders prescribed
by the DOD, Lieutenant.

"While traveling off base,

"unless serving an
active military function,

"female personnel
must wear an abaya

"or Muslim robe and head scarf.

"They must be accompanied
by a male at all times.

"They may not drive.

They must ride in the
rear seat of the vehicle."

Congratulations, Lieutenant.

You went four-for-four,
not even a sacrifice fly.

Five-for-five, sir.

The base commander requires us

to wear veils as well.

You think that this
is funny, Lieutenant?

No, sir.

I'm just trying to make clear
what it's like for us out here.

The restrictions
aren't even confined

to off base, sir.

We have to keep our
sleeves rolled down

so we won't offend
any Saudi males

who might be around.

( chuckles): It just
got to be too much.

MACKENZIE: Frustration
is a lousy reason

for disobeying standing
orders, Lieutenant.

History informs me it's
one of the best ones, ma'am.

Look, I understand

that absolute
constitutional rights

do not apply in
the armed forces,

but these circumstances
are just so intolerable...

Lieutenant, we're not
here to debate policy.

You're facing an
Article 32 hearing.

We should be spending this time

coming up with a game plan.

Now, why don't you
give us something

we can work with?

Sir, I realize I
flouted regulations

and disobeyed a service
officer, but these rules aren't fair,

and that's what
you have to argue.

In my opinion.

RABB: You know, these
policies have been in place

since 1995, Lieutenant.

If you didn't feel you
could tolerate them,

why didn't you protest
your assignment

to the Air Force
in the first place?

You could have stayed
on with the Navy in Masirah.

Ma'am, the Air Force
base commander told me

the policy was under review.

MAN: That was my
impression at the time.

RABB: What changed, General?

The world.

As a result of
September the 11th,

we've been in
negotiation with the Saudis

about expanding
our use of their bases.

American women in
uniform is a sensitive issue.

Couldn't you appreciate
the lieutenant's distress, sir,

when she discovered that
nothing was going to change?

I assumed that she would exhibit

the flexibility I've
come to expect

from my own officers, Commander.

Sir, Lieutenant Donato
claims she also protested

through other channels.

Is that correct?

She wrote eight letters

to her congressman, Colonel.

Openly petitioned the
Secretary of Defense.

For all I know, she's tried to
get an audience with the pope.

Did she ever request a transfer
back to the naval base, sir?

No, Commander.

But it makes me
wonder if flying or griping

is her first priority.

Lieutenant.

Your squadron commander
told me I could find you out here.

Commander.

Can we talk?

I'm going up, sir.

Relief drop, Afghanistan.

I'm afraid it's going
to have to wait.

Unless you're interested
in giving those wings

a morning stretch.

Find me some flight gear.

Yes, sir.

RABB: You ever think of flying
something smaller, Lieutenant?

And trade my condor for a wasp?

No, thank you, sir.

Tell me something.

If you're so constrained
by the policies in this region,

why are you still here?

MAN: I've been asking Brooklyn

the same question for months.

I mean, I'm of Lebanese descent,

and I don't even like it here.

So, what's your
answer, Lieutenant?

DONATO: One moment, sir.

Clambake, this is
Streetcar 3-5, inbound.

30 seconds to drop. Over.

MAN ( over radio): Streetcar
3-5, this is Clambake.

D.Z. Green, wind
calm, clear to drop.

Roger that, 2-5-3.

Speed, 160 knots.

Holding at altitude steady.

DONATO: Release
point in ten seconds.

Ready. Ready.

( beep)

Green light.

We just dropped two tons of

food packets,
blankets and medicine.

That's why I stay, sir.

Enjoy your flight?

Yeah, the lieutenant
is quite a pilot.

Lieutenant, uh,
Stephanie Donato,

this is Lieutenant
Colonel Sara Coffey,

base staff judge advocate.

Ma'am.

COFFEY: Been
familiarizing myself

with your file, Lieutenant.

You have two allies here.

You should be very grateful.

Thanks to some
back-channel negotiating,

we've come up with a proposal.

Yes, ma'am?

All charges will be dropped

if you agree to stop
pushing the dress-code issue.

Understood, ma'am.

No letters,

no petitions, no complaints.

Agreed, ma'am.

There's a Saudi Muslim cleric

who saw you drive
yourself to the cafe.

And he wants her to apologize?

General Sawyer believes
it'll put the matter to rest.

What would I say, ma'am?

"In regard to the
incident of last week..."

DONATO: I would like to tender

my deepest and
most sincere apology.

My actions showed a disrespect

for the cultural customs

and religious
tenets of your faith,

and my behavior was
unacceptable for an officer

in the United States Navy.

I in no way meant
to cause any pain

or discomfort for you

or the people of Saudi Arabia.

And if I have done so,

I am truly sorry.

Your apology is accepted.

And may I say, it
is refreshing to see

a young American woman
showing proper deference

and speaking with a mature mind

instead of an
unrestrained tongue.

Excuse me, sir, but
are you saying that

American women are not mature?

By our standards.

( scoffing): 12th-century ones.

Pardon me?

Lieutenant...

I would like to know
what the young lady said.

I implied that these
standards are old, sir.

Ancient, like your Bible.

My Bible doesn't tell me
to oppress women, sir.

CLERIC: What may
seem to you as oppression

is regarded in this
country as exalted respect.

So, if I were to prevent
you from participating

in your world, you
would feel respected?

Let's call it a cultural gulf

and put it aside, shall we?

Call it what it is, sir.

All right.

I'll call it impertinence.

A woman who has been given

the privilege of controlling men

should at least be capable

of controlling her tongue.

And a man who doesn't treat
women any better than the camels

in his garage doesn't deserve

to be in their company.

That's enough, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.

( door slams)

See you in court, Lieutenant.

Sir, ma'am, I apologize.

I don't even know
is he has a garage.

DONATO: Does anyone plan
to say anything, other than me?

I'll start.

What were you thinking in there?

My father calls it
the bigger-trigger, sir.

I can't back down
in front of somebody

who thinks they're
bigger than me.

Oh, good.

We'll present that
as our defense.

I hear your frustration, ma'am,
but my career is not worth

rolling over for that
sanctimonious polyp.

I can't blame you if
you want to walk away.

Look, nobody is
walking away, Lieutenant.

Our job is to defend you,

and that is what
we're going to do.

You have a strategy, sir?

Well, I'm considering duct tape.

Maybe we should take
advantage of my big mouth

and put me up on the stand, sir.

Lieutenant, why don't
you go back to duty.

We'll, uh, we'll come
up with something.

That'll be all.

Aye, aye, sir.

You're giving her
false hope, Harm.

I support her on
the issues, Mac.

The lieutenant has no
sense of propriety, Harm.

She's the worst possible
spokesperson for the issues.

And even if I agreed with you,

I wouldn't know where to start.

I mean, how would you
get past the orders violation?

Well, we have to prove
that the orders are unlawful

by holding them up to
the light of the Constitution.

You expecting the Chief
Justice to be in attendance?

I agree with you, Mac.

We can't win this
case on the facts.

We have to put
the policies on trial.

This is an aviator
thing, isn't it?

Pilot bonding?

She's a misguided firebrand

until you go up with her, and
then when you come down,

you're on her side.
Ah, no, no, no, no.

This is about your
tendency to overcompensate

when faced with a female client.

Here is a woman
who broke the rules

for perfectly valid reasons,

but you insist on holding
her legal feet to the fire.

Because she didn't
protest lawfully.

Neither did the
suffragettes, Mac.

They went to jail, Harm.

Hope you don't plan on basing
our defense on their example.

TURNER: Move this
paragraph to begin

the second subheading,
and that should be it.

Yes, sir.

You two still here?

Uh, we'll be
leaving shortly, sir.

Plans for the weekend?

SIMS: Yes, sir.

Bud and I are going
out this Saturday

for the first time in months.

We have a baby-sitter,

dinner reservations
and everything.

And you, Commander?

Looking forward
to kicking back, sir.

Mm... alone?

That was the plan, sir.

Walk me out.

Yes, sir.

Have a good weekend, sir.

CHEGWIDDEN: Lieutenant.

Called Congresswoman Latham yet?

Sir?

Just curious.

Well, I've considered it, sir,

but to be honest with you,

the idea of dating
a politician...

Afraid she wants your vote?

No, sir, but, uh...

Look, this is probably
none of my business, but...

you spend a lot of time here.

Might not be a bad thing,
go out and have some fun.

Just a suggestion.

Do you generally
take this kind of interest

in the personal
lives of your staff, sir?

At my peril.

Well, I'll consider it.

Thank you, Admiral.

Good night, Commander.

Captain Tobak, you were
assigned to the same squadron

as Lieutenant Donato?

Yes, ma'am. We've
flown missions together.

How do you feel

about DOD policy regarding
off-base behavior for women?

The regs are inconvenient,
ma'am, but I follow them.

Why?

Standing orders.

Is that the only reason?

No, ma'am.

I'm a guest here.

I don't feel I have
the right to impose

my country's tastes on the
people of the host nation.

COFFEY: So, you don't
consider not being able to drive

or having to wear an abaya to be

a violation of your rights?

It doesn't bother me, ma'am.

In fact, without an abaya,
I'd stand out in a crowd,

get looks from
people on the street.

Thank you, Captain.

MacKENZIE: Captain,
are you Christian?

Yes, ma'am, Catholic.

Like Lieutenant Donato?

That's right, ma'am.

The wearing of an abaya by women

is a tenet of the
Islamic faith, is it not?

It is, ma'am.

Are we to believe
that you don't consider

having to wear one

an infringement of your
First Amendment right

to practice religion freely

without the imposition
of another faith?

The way I look at it, ma'am,

it's like when my husband
and I go to my friend's house

for Passover, and
he puts on a yarmulke.

Does your friend make your
husband wear the yarmulke?

No.

She does make us eat

that fish stuff with the
horseradish, though.

But the point is

that your husband
chooses to wear it, correct?

Yes, ma'am.

But I think he'd be okay with it

even it if it was a requirement.

It's not like we're going
to stop believing in

the Holy Trinity by
the end of the seder.

General Sawyer,
what is the purpose

of current regulations
regarding female personnel?

They're designed to
avoid cultural conflict.

We also want to
protect our women

from harassment by the
mutawa, the religious police,

and attacks from
terrorist cells.

Sir, has Lieutenant
Donato expressed her

displeasure with
these regulations?

Yes.

What were her exact
words, General?

That they were ludicrous
and fraught with hypocrisy.

So, when Lieutenant Donato,
alone and in civilian dress,

drove herself to a café,

sir, do you believe
she was acting

in defiance of set policies?

Calls for speculation,
Your Honor.

Sustained.

COFFEY: No further questions.

General, when the Air Force

speaks of cultural
sensitivity, sir,

aren't we pandering
to the Saudis?

You Honor...

I'll rephrase, You Honor.

Sir, is it not true
that this policy has

a political component?

Politics are inextricably linked

to military objectives
these days, Commander.

We need to keep the
Saudis on our side.

Even if that means, sir,
degrading our woman

by subjecting them to
policies that back home

would be deemed
unconstitutional?

We aren't back home.

No, sir, but we are
defending our constitution

as well as our
country, are we not?

At the moment, Commander,

we're defending our citizens.

Including those
under my command.

Safety is the primary rationale.

General, there is an editorial

by former Secretary
of Defense Daniels

in which he states,
"The policy serves

no legitimate military
purpose or end."

Would you agree with that, sir?

By strict definition, yes.

Thank you, sir,
that will be all.

But when Osama Bin Laden

summoned the fundamentalist
Islamic world to join him,

he cited the presence of
American military personnel

on sacred Saudi soil
as cause for jihad.

Our intention is not

to repress our women.

It's to repress the
terrorist propaganda

that was created
by their presence.

( sighs)

The constitutional
arguments aren't working.

Well, we've got to rethink.

You say it like we
haven't done that already.

( phone rings)

Rabb.

Colonel Coffey.

Oh, is that right?

Where are you now?

Is that off base?

What's the address?

All right, well, we'll,
uh, see you in an hour.

Okay.

( sighs): Got to love this job.

Just when you're about
to plummet to the earth,

your opponent throws
you a parachute.

MacKENZIE: What do you
think the colonel will want?

To turn our client
into a civilian.

That will save her
from losing her benefits.

Probably our best option.

Do you really want
to do that to her, Mac?

She's doing it to
herself, Harm. Mac...

You know, she came
here to serve her country,

not express her opinions. Mac...

It's not ours to choose
which orders to obey.

Mac. What?

I have to drive;
we're going off base.

( sighs)

Do you see her?

You're kidding, right?

( grunts)

Commander.

Colonel.

Colonel.

Sorry you had to come to me.

I'm involved in the current
Status of Forces discussions

with the Saudis, but I wanted

to put this on the table before
the hearing resumes tomorrow.

What is your role in these
discussions, may I ask?

I'm assisting the
lead negotiator.

They let you talk?

Can we stay on point, please?

( sighs)

Your move.

One offer, nonnegotiable.

Well, so far, it doesn't sound

too attractive, Colonel.

It's generous under
the circumstances.

Dismissal as adjudged, no
forfeitures or confinement.

We'll plead to the charge,

and we'll accept a
non-punitive letter of reprimand.

You're negotiating, Commander.

Well, I guess I
can't help myself.

Dismissal is the
cornerstone of our position.

Lieutenant Donato is
a disruptive presence.

She has to go.

We'll discuss it
with our client.

No.

I'm sorry, no deal, Colonel.

We're recommending
to the lieutenant

that the matter be
decided in court.

MacKENZIE: Can we
stop talking about this?

Yeah, as soon as you give
me an answer I can accept.

I was beginning to
lean towards your deal:

dismissal without punishment.

I mean, you're the one

who was so convinced
we couldn't defeat

the prosecution's
case in the first place.

I changed my mind.

Without informing me.

I'm sorry.

It was an impulse.

You heard it when I felt it.

Felt what? The sense
of isolation you get

when you wear
one of these things!

You cease to exist.

I know you were there.

Yeah, but you didn't
know what I was feeling.

Come on. You've worn
one of these things before.

Hell, your
grandmother's Iranian.

She probably never went
anywhere without one.

She never wore a veil, Harm.

It changes everything.

You speak, but you're not heard.

Well, I heard Lieutenant
Colonel Coffey.

Yeah, because she
had information for us.

But if you weren't interested
in what she had to say,

she would have been less
present than the plant next to her.

What does this all have to do
with Lieutenant Donato's case?

Everything.

The regulations
force the lieutenant

to separate herself from men,
which weakens her authority,

diminishes her ability
to be taken seriously.

That's her issue: the policy
makes women ineffective.

All right, so how do
we make this point?

We let the lieutenant
make it herself.

No. Just hear me out.

After you've had a cold shower.

This entire case is
about free expression.

How do we stand
for those principles

and deny our client the
right to defend herself?

When you turn...

The only way we're going
to sway the hearing officer

at this point, is to
let the lieutenant

take the stand
and tell her story.

Oh, you mean the one
about how she violated orders.

Yes. She can argue her emotional
reasons behind the decision.

If the lieutenant has
anything going for her, Harm,

it's the depth of her feelings.

LATHAM: So, what made you
decide on an Afghan restaurant?

TURNER: I like the food.

I thought it might be
because we're allies now.

No. Good evening.

Follow me, please. You know,
we're having a hell of a time

with the transitional
government in Kabul.

It's feudal and-and
faction-rich.

I mean, I think we're not
going to approach stability...

Boy, this is low.

( chuckles)

Let me take your coat.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Let me help you there.

I think I'm going to need it.

( laughs): Okay.

Just... Why don't I just...

Whoo! All right.

Whoo! Oh!

I am so sorry. ( laughs)

No, I'm fine. Just...

Here we go. Here we go.

Can you give me a little boost?

Okay.

Oh! Thank you.

Just... Try to get my...

into a more comfortable...

Mm-hmm.

( gasps): Oh!

Gosh, I'm sorry.
Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm okay.

I'm all right.

I'm sorry. Just...

Don't worry about it.

Let me get a little closer.

( grunts)

( sighs)

( sighs): Okay.

( laughs)

This is probably not
what you had in mind.

Oh, falling, no, eating, yes.

Okay.

( sighs)

Hmm... Ooh.

Bulani Katchalu...

flat-bread stuffed
with stewed leeks.

Hmm...

You know, we-we can
always go somewhere else.

There's-there's a...

No, no, I really
want to try this.

Well, maybe afterwards,

we can do something
else, and your choice.

All right.

Um, do you like salsa music?

Okay.

RABB: Lieutenant,
prior to your arrival

from Masirah, were
you aware of regulations

concerning female
behavior off base?

Yes, sir, but I was
under the impression

those regulations
were being rethought.

When you discovered,
Lieutenant, that they weren't,

why didn't you transfer
back to the naval base?

Because once inside, sir,

I realized I might
be in a position

where I can do
something about them.

Why bother? None of the other
female personnel seemed to mind.

They do mind, sir,

but most feel they don't
have a voice in the matter.

Based on what I've seen, sir,

it's pretty much that way
for all women in this region.

What have you seen, Lieutenant?

A lot of

sick mothers, children
and elderly, sir.

See, the trick about
dropping supplies, sir,

is to get them to the neediest.

Does that happen?

If they aren't hoarded
or seized by troops

on the ground first.

That happens more often
than it should, in my opinion.

Does that bother
you, Lieutenant?

Yes, sir.

The reason why I
wanted to be a part of this

was so I can help
people in need.

Is that because
of your upbringing?

Yes, sir, it is.

I grew up in Bay
Ridge, Brooklyn, sir.

The only girl in five.

All of us were taught to serve.

One of my brothers is a cop.

The other's in the Coast
Guard, and two are firemen.

Do you regret, Lieutenant,
having defied base regulations?

I regret the controversy, the
bad press and the conflicts

with my superiors, sir.

But I'm not sorry for fighting a
policy that disrespects women.

Thank you, Lieutenant.
Nothing further.

Lieutenant, you claim to
be concerned for refugees,

but you came here
to fly, did you not?

Yes, that's what I do, ma'am.

According to your base
commander in Masirah,

that is the one and
only reason you jumped

at this assignment.

Objection. Hearsay
and facts not in evidence.

Sustained. You needn't
respond, Lieutenant.

COFFEY: Lieutenant,
did you write letters

or file protests regarding
Saudi off-base regulations

prior to coming here?

No, ma'am.

Isn't that because

they were of absolutely
no concern to you

until they directly
affected your life?

And the lives of
every woman I've met

on and off base.

That would include you, ma'am.

LATHAM: So, you
would think given the state

of their military readiness,

they'd be more likely to agree.

I don't mean to
change the subject,

but I don't think

you ever told me
where you're from.

Detroit.

The, uh, district I represent.

Have you always lived
there, or did you return?

No. I-I returned to,
um, help my mother

with some local
civil rights initiatives.

This will interest you.

The state legislature
at the time...

Are you close with your mother?

Yeah, we talk often.

It's important to
have that touchstone.

I think so.

In fact, um, I was having
a conversation with her

this morning about,
uh, Lieutenant Donato,

the Navy lieutenant
in Saudi Arabia

who's fighting the off-base,
uh, codes of behavior.

Are you familiar with that?

Yes, I am.

Do you have any interest
in politics, Commander?

Uh, yes, I do.

But you just don't
seem to want to go there.

I'm sorry, but I just don't
know very much about you.

I assumed I was telling you.

You're telling me what you do,

which I agree is an
insight into how you think,

but I'm also curious
into how you feel.

And to be honest,

I don't usually talk
shop outside the office.

That's all I do.

You know what they say,

if there'd been no cloakroom,
there'd be no Constitution.

I wonder what they
say about relationships.

Commander?

It is him.

Well, hello.

Hey, we saw you
through the window.

It's great to see you,
Congresswoman.

Hi. I-I'd stand, but
I don't think I can.

How are you guys?

We're good now.

The baby-sitter was late,

we got stuck in a traffic jam.

Yeah, we lost our reservations.

Sorry to hear that.

What are you gonna
do? SIMS: I don't know.

We were just looking
for a restaurant.

This place looks
really interesting.

Have you guys eaten?

Yes, but we'd love to stay

and have coffee
and dessert with you.

Well, that would be
great. Yes. Please, join us.

You know, you look very nice.

Well, thank you very much.

So...

We had no idea.

About what, Lieutenant?

Uh, that you two...

First date.

SIMS: Oh, well,
are you sure you two

don't want to be alone?

Yes. We're sure.

Colonel, Commander.

Hello, Colonel.

We were just considering
going to dinner.

Care to put on a
shapeless black dress

and join us?

Emotional arguments aside,

this case will go
to court-martial,

and your tactics will
just prolong the agony

for all involved.

What do you have
for us, Colonel?

DONATO: Clambake, Streetcar 3-5.

Job completed.
Heading home, over.

MAN ( over radio):
Roger that, Streetcar 3-5.

Clambake out.

( explosion)

Whoa!

Fire warning light on two.

DONATO: Condition
lever two, feather.

Two feathered.
Fire handle, pull.

Fire agent, discharge.

Roger that, Lieutenant.

Max power on
one, three and four.

One, three, four max.

She's not behaving, Lieutenant.

Gear down. Back me up on
the rudders and the aileron.

Utility boost pump off.

Off.

One and two engine
hydraulic pumps off.

One and two off.

Pull circuit breaker
on utility suction pump.

Sarge.

Done, Lieutenant.

Where's the nearest field, Alex?

There's a dirt strip
a mile south of us.

Emergency landing,
boys! Lock yourselves in!

Final offer: base
commander will agree

to a non-punitive
letter of caution

and a transfer back to Masirah.

The Lieutenant goes

quietly into the night,
and all is forgotten.

If it doesn't involve flying,

the lieutenant won't be
going quietly anywhere.

RABB: The
lieutenant keeps flying

and she stays in Saudi Arabia.

Why are you taking
such a hard line on this?

Because we can, Colonel.

Know any prayers, Alex?

I'm already on it,
Lieutenant. I'm already on it.

Beautiful, Brooklyn, beautiful.

She can fly,

but her Air Force fit-rep
reflects her conduct

and she gets a
non-punitive letter of caution.

Well, we'll discuss it with her.

The lieutenant is
shy, but I'm sure

we can coax an
answer out of her.

I just hope she realizes
how fortunate she is.

She may be
strong-willed, Colonel,

but she's not stupid.

Check the landing
gear, Sergeant,

and number three and
number four engines.

Right away, Lieutenant.

DONATO: We've got company.

Lieutenant.

( man shouting in
Arabic over speakers)

It's okay, Lieutenant.
They're local boys.

We'll need your Arabic, Alex.

( men chattering in Arabic)

He wants you to wear an abaya.

We don't have one with us.

This is his solution.

Tell him regulations say
I don't have to cover up

while operating
military equipment.

( grunts)

( speaking Arabic)

Easy, boys, easy.

Translate that, Lieutenant.

Whoa, whoa.

You really did it
this time, Lieutenant.

You were free and clear.

We negotiated your
punishment down

to a paragraph in
your service record.

And now?

RABB: Now
prosecution will argue,

effectively, that you
can no longer be trusted

by the Air Force and Navy
to represent their interests

in this part of the world.

( sighs)

Commander, Colonel, I'm sorry.

If you want to bail
out on this one...

We're not bailing,
but that doesn't mean

the boat isn't sinking.

We're going to have to come
up with a new game plan.

ALEX: Sir, ma'am,

Lieutenant Donato
saved our lives

and a $40-million aircraft.

Instead of offering help,

the Saudis tried
to humiliate her.

Can't that be your argument?

The hearing
officer will only buy

so many excuses, Lieutenant.

Well, you can still claim

that the regulations are unfair.

We've done that, ad nauseam.

ALEX: From the woman's
perspective only, sir.

You see, Lieutenant
Donato is the kind of person

who refuses to drag
people into her own affairs,

so I'm sure she hasn't
told you everything.

Alex, what are you doing?

These regs are inconsistent
with the principles

of good order and
discipline, sir, ma'am.

And I'm not the only man
on base who thinks this way.

Hey, Bud, I was
balancing our checkbook,

and I came across this.

For the baby-sitter.

What's $55, though?

Ten dollars an hour.

She was the only one available.

We spent most of that time

sitting in traffic.

Not to mention having
to sit with two people

who didn't talk to each other

for an hour and a half.

Really, sir?

We didn't notice.

No, sir. It was fine.

And the meal was interesting.

I'm sorry, sir.

What was the problem?

Still working on
that, Lieutenant.

With all due respect, sir,

it was the first date.

Maybe you should try it again.

Lieutenant Kragen,
you're a pilot

in Lieutenant Donato's
squadron, is that right?

Yes, ma'am.

Do you and the others
have a good relationship

with the lieutenant?

We do, ma'am. Lieutenant
Donato's popular.

Do you all hang out?

On base, ma'am.

Not off?

The lieutenant chooses
not to join us, ma'am.

Is that because she has to
wear an abaya and a veil?

That's right, ma'am.

Still, we always ask.

Did you ask her to
join you on January 9?

Yes, ma'am.

A bunch of us thought
it would be funny

if we showed up at her quarters
wearing abayas and veils,

so we bummed some off
some female personnel,

knocked on her door,
and when she answered it,

we were standing there

looking like something
from the Osama Experience.

Was the lieutenant amused?

No, ma'am.

The joke backfired.

She was very upset,
and we apologized,

explained to her this was just

our adolescent way
of showing solidarity.

So, what time was this?

About 12:30, ma'am.

An hour prior to the
incident at the cafe.

Yes, ma'am.

Did you feel in some
way responsible

for what the lieutenant did?

I believe in taking
full responsibility

for one's actions, ma'am,

but I regret we
weren't more sensitive

as to how she felt about things.

Lieutenant Zahar,

you're Lieutenant
Donato's copilot, correct?

Yes, sir.

Please tell the court

what happened the first week

that Lieutenant Donato
arrived on the base.

We were preflighting, sir.

It was about 110 on the asphalt.

The crew chief and I tied

our flight suits
around our waist,

but when Lieutenant
Donato tried to do the same,

a group of Saudi workman

who we're on a lunch
break, began protesting.

What was their problem?

Disrespect of Islamic law, sir.

How did the lieutenant react?

She was cool about it, sir.

Asked, through me,

if she could at least
unzip her collar.

RABB: Was this
acceptable to them?

ALEX: No, sir.

One of them threw
a piece of fruit at her.

Did you stand up
to them, Lieutenant?

We started to, sir,

but the lieutenant
ordered us off.

Why?

She didn't want to
create an incident, sir.

And although she
didn't say as much,

I think she was
trying to protect us

from getting into any trouble.

This doesn't sound like a woman

who openly flouted
off-base regulations.

Five months of being zipped
up will do that to you, sir.

It's got to wear you down.

How do you feel

about all this, Lieutenant?

Confused, sir.

In the air, Lieutenant
Donato is an officer

and an exceptional pilot.

And on the ground, she's
faceless and dependent.

After months of watching
women being subjugated,

you almost start to buy into it.

For example, you
realize that you don't have

to salute a woman
wearing an abaya

if you don't know
what rank she is.

In my opinion, sir,

the regs erode unit cohesion.

( TV playing)

( phone rings)

Yes.

Hi, Bobbi, it's Sturgis.

It's a little late, isn't it?

I know.

I-I apologize.

I just had to take a break
from this brief, and, uh,

I've been thinking about
our evening together.

And what have you concluded?

That I'm still attracted to you.

Why? We have absolutely
nothing in common.

I don't think that's true.

You'd probably be surprised

to learn we agree on
most women's issues.

Like the Donato case?

I support what she did.

As an attorney?

As a member of a
perceived underclass.

I assume you're not
talking about submariners.

( chuckles)

Uh, look, Sturgis,

this is probably more
my problem than yours,

so why don't
we just write it off

as the right people
at the wrong moment?

I don't think I want to do that.

I'd, uh, I'd like to
give it another shot.

How do you even know
we can agree on an activity?

How about this?

How does a quiet evening

in a cozy, neutral
environment sound to you?

Acceptable.

Is that a yes?

Okay.

One more thing.

Do you like kids?

Your Honor, in past wars,

field officers were told
to remove their bars,

because their superiors
were more interested

in protecting them
from sniper bullets

than in hurting their feelings.

By disobeying a standing order,

Lieutenant Donato
offended our hosts

and made herself a
target for terrorists.

In doing so, she lost
sight of the bigger picture

and seriously damaged

the maintenance of
good order and discipline

that is so vital in wartime.

Your Honor, good
order and discipline have

no productive application
without unit cohesion.

You heard men from
Lieutenant Donato's squadron

express their
frustration over a policy

that weakens the bond

between our brothers-
and sisters-in-arms.

The defense asks, sir,
that you simply acknowledge

what the men of Prince Sultan
Airbase already understand:

that asking anyone, sir,

to withhold their identity
and reduce their stature

in the eyes of
others is inconsistent

with the very values our
fighting men and women

have been sent here to defend.

Now, if he wants
something to drink...

Half juice, half
water in a sippy cup.

I'm on it. Have a good time.

And you have our cell
number? Memorized.

You're going to lose
your reservations.

Bye, sweetheart. A.J.: Bye-bye.

Thanks. TURNER: Good night.

Okay.

Where are we?

Olive Owl is lost.

Oh. Well, let's get her home.

"'Where is my
Mommy?' asked Olive.

"The tree turned its leaves
up facing the moon above.

'Have you asked Mr. Moon?'"

Yeah.

( chuckles)

JUDGE: Will Lieutenant
Stephanie Donato

and counsel please rise?

After reviewing the
evidence, I've determined

that although a clear
violation of orders occurred,

circumstances mitigate against
recommending this matter

to court-martial.

I don't want to see you
back here, Lieutenant.

This hearing is
adjourned. ( pounds gavel)

Sir.

Ma'am, thank you.
You realize, Lieutenant,

that this probably
won't change anything.

I know, sir.

If you'd told us about the
tarmac incident earlier...

You would have thought
me a wuss, ma'am.

Lieutenant, congratulations.

Thank you, ma'am.

Maybe you can take comfort

in the fact Air Force beat
Navy in the big game this year.

You underestimate
me, Lieutenant.

I just spoke to General Sawyer,
and he asked me to inform you

that if you persist

in speaking in opposition
to standing policy,

you will be grounded.

RABB: I think I see

your first challenge,
Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Donato,
Joshua Sparks, Navy Today.

A few questions?

Direct them to me, Mr. Sparks.

Okay.

What's her reaction
to the verdict?

COFFEY: The lieutenant
regrets her actions

and accepts the
obligation to her oath.

She now realizes that
military personnel must

sometimes sacrifice
certain freedoms

so that others might
one day enjoy them.

SPARKS: That sounds
like a contradiction, Colonel.

And it will remain so

until the Department
of Defense realizes

that short-term solutions
cause long-term problems.

Lieutenant Donato
looks forward to the day

that not one member
of the armed forces

will be forced to
suffer disrespect

as a price for victory.

You did prosecute
this case, didn't you?

As ordered, Mr. Sparks.