JAG (1995–2005): Season 8, Episode 6 - Offensive Action - full transcript

WOMAN:
TACCO, give me a six buoy
bear trap pattern.

Three second intervals.

MAN ( over radio ):
Confirmed.

Six, uh, buoy trap.

Coming back.

Don't initiate
till I get there.

Roger that.

You got it, Nick.

All right, ma'am,
I've got it.

( typing )

You check the depth
at each station?



Station One, ma'am.

Check them all.

30 seconds and counting,
Lieutenant.

What's the conversion layer?

It should be
on the tip

of your tongue, Lieutenant.

It usually is, ma'am.

190 feet. We're ready.

Let's hope.

Station One's out... Two.

First three out, ma'am.

Okay.

It would've been easier

without you hanging on my ear,
Commander.



Just making sure, Lieutenant.

I don't think so, ma'am.

This is payback.

What?

You know what I'm
talking about, ma'am.

No, I don't, Lieutenant

but maybe you'd like to repeat
that to the wing commander.

Yes, ma'am

along with a charge
of sexual harassment.

TINER:
Attention on deck.

As you were, people.

Morning, sir.

The florist wanted to
double-check the message

on the roses you're
sending, Admiral.

He was unsure

if you said "soft breath"
or "soft breast."

The number, please.

Yes, sir.

They're also out
of white, Admiral.

( exhales ):
What are my choices?

Yellow, pink
or red, sir.

Um... yellow.

Assuming these flowers are
for Professor Cavanaugh, sir

don't you think that...

pink would be
a more appropriate color, sir?

Fine.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

( door closing )
At ease.

I assume you're aware
of the charges?

Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.

Commander Beth O'Neil
is one of only

two women to
command a P3
squadron.

She's one of the Navy's
shining female stars

and needless to say,
the charges of sexual harassment

by a junior male officer
is, um, disturbing and alarming.

Uh... Commander Manetti,
you'll assist

Commander Rabb
with the defense.

Yes, sir.

Colonel MacKenzie

Commander Turner,
one and two for the government.

You're to fly to Point Mugu,
California

for the Article 32 that's been
convened by PATWING's pack.

Yes, sir.

Well, let's try
to avoid

putting policy on trial.

That'll be all.

Aye, aye, sir.

Um... ( clears throat )

( door closes )

Admiral.

Um, I-I'm glad to
hear that you and
Meredith are, uh

are doing well, sir

a-and I actually think pink
is a good color for her.

It-It'll go with her eyes.

She's not a rabbit.

No. Uh, well, uh...
sir, to the point--

um... Meredith has been
leaving me messages.

I know.

She, um, she wants you to take
her up in your plane again.

Yes, I-I gathered that, sir.

Uh, and that-that's why
I haven't returned her calls.

Well, you better do that.

Well, I-I don't know what
to say to her, sir.

What do I say?

Well, um...

You'll think of something.

LIEUTENANT:
The last thing I expected
from her was sexual pressure.

TURNER:
How'd this play
out, Lieutenant?

She gave me low marks on my
last fitness report, sir...

put my naval career
in jeopardy...

And?

It was the last chapter
in a story

that's been building
for a while, ma'am.

I mean, at first it was just,
you know, subtle flirting

but then she's bending over me
at my console

to demonstrate procedure.

And finally, while I'm standing
in front of her

she asked me if I have
a girlfriend back home.

I tell her I did.

And she wondered
if I had ever cheated on her.

I said no.
She then laughs at me

and says,
"Well, you mean not yet."

How do you know she was
referring to herself?

'Cause, ma'am,
at the time

she was filling out
my fitness report.

She's staring at me, holding
the pen over the signature line

waiting for my response.

In other words, she wouldn't
sign it if I accommodated her.

Did you?

I just stood there,
Colonel

and then, after a few moments,
she nodded her head

and made it official.

Is that when you decided
to come forward, Lieutenant?

No, sir.

No, I was willing
to let it slide

if she'd just back off.

But she didn't.
It only got worse.

I mean, after
that, I couldn't
do anything right.

When I realized
she was punishing me

for not taking the bait

that's when I had to step up
and fight back.

Were there any witnesses
to the fitness rep incident?

None, sir.

We were in here BOQ.

She called you to her quarters,
not her office?

At night, ma'am.

Did the commander ever

proposition you directly,
Lieutenant?

No, sir.

So you could be misinterpreting.

Um...

I don't know how to say this
without sounding vain, sir

but.... I've been approached
by women before--

a lot, actually--

and the signals were
unmistakable.

Did you warn the commander?

Let her know her actions
were inappropriate?

Well, I was afraid that
if I antagonized her, ma'am

I'd just be making things worse
for myself.

After all, it was her word
against mine.

It still is, Lieutenant.

O'NEIL:
The charges
are baseless.

Lieutenant Cursey completely
misunderstood my intentions.

What were
your intentions?

To make it clear that
he was underperforming

and that his future
was dependent

on how he responded
to my displeasure.

Well, I hope that's
not how you put it,
Commander.

Of course not.

I tried to keep
the conversation friendly--

even personal-- so he wouldn't
think I had it in for him.

Maybe you were
too friendly.

And from that he perceived
sexual harassment?

I'm being held to a ridiculous
standard here.

You know, when I crashed
through the brass ceiling

I didn't expect to have to bleed
for the privilege.

Have you had trouble
with men accepting

a woman
in your position?

My ex-husband, for one.

Is that why
your marriage ended?

It was a contributing factor.

You-You are
the defense counsel, correct?

MANETTI:
I believe the commander's
just trying

to anticipate where
the prosecution

might be going, ma'am.

Nothing personal.

Let's hope not.

Why did you give
Lieutenant Cursey

low marks, Commander?

As a Tactical Air Controller
and Communications Officer

he failed to insure proper
sonobuoy deployment

which resulted in the loss
of an active prosecution--

in this case

a North Korean submarine.

14 hours of wasted flight time.

Why did you choose
to confront him

in your quarters
and not your office?

I was his mentor.

I had a closer relationship
with him

than I had with others
in my command.

I was working late
at the time.

I knew he was nearby.

When I reached his fit rep
in the pile

I chose to address it
while it was on my mind.

Do you find Lieutenant
Cursey attractive?

Everyone does.

He has a rather large
following.

My question was to you.

Yes.

Anything else?

What?

I was thinking about the good
that can come from tragedy.

Like?

Well, you and I spending
time together

away from
the office.
( chuckling )

Oh, hey, look where we are.

Remember, there's
a little dirt road

behind the movie theater there?

We were pulling out late
one night

we decided
to check it out?

Yeah. There's a reservoir
at the end of that.

Right.

A big grassy area,
completely isolated.

Yeah, we took a blanket
out of the trunk

laid it out...

I, uh... need to, uh,
stop by the drug store

when we head home.

Okay.

Were you under the impression

I needed an apologist,
Commander?

Just trying to allay
our client's fears, sir.

Our client's fears
are what interest me.

They're a window into
the veracity of her remarks.

You don't believe her?

She was defensive.

Typical behavior of someone
who's suppressing something.

It's also behavior
I'd expect from someone

who's used to having to
defend her every move.

You mean against men?

Well, she's
obviously touchy

about how she's been
treated, Commander.

Why would she
then turn around

and subject a male
officer to equally
insensitive behavior?

You know, I think
Commander O'Neil's

been treated extremely well

considering she's one of
the Navy's top female aviators.

Then what would
she have to gain

from pursuing
Lieutenant Cursey?

Have you ever known logic

to be overturned by desire,
Commander?

I think she's innocent
of the charges.

Well, then I'll count on you
to keep me on track.

Yes, sir.

There's, uh, no
return address on
the tape, either?

No, sir.

Play it.

( soft, romantic music playing )

Mine eyes

have drawn thy shape

And thine for me
are windows to my breast

Where through the sun delights
to peep

To gaze therein on thee.

Translation:
My house, 6:00

And how did you know pink
was my favorite color?

I trust you will keep
this to yourself, Tiner?

What would that be,
sir?

Exactly.

That'll be all.

Aye, sir.

Admiral?

We nailed those flowers, though,
didn't we, sir?

Close the hatch, Tiner.

( door closes )

You're still on
this spy kick?

You know,
I'd actually gotten off.

Manetti and I worked so well
together on the last case

and then she started
questioning my position
on women's issues.

Well, what do you
care what she thinks?

I care about
being misrepresented

especially if she has
the SECNAV's ear.

I'm not a chauvinist.

No, you're not.

No. Thank you.

You're arrogant

which can be
misinterpreted
as chauvinism.

Here, come in
for a second.

Mac, good, I-I want you
to hear this.

Harm, you may as well
join in.

This is
Lieutenant Murtaugh.

Lieutenant, would you
tell the colonel and
the commander

what you
just told me?

Ma'am. Sir.

I believe
Lieutenant Cursey

is telling the truth.

Based on what?

Commander O'Neil has come on
to other men, ma'am.

That's hearsay, Lieutenant.

Somebody needs to be willing
to step forward.

That would be me, Commander.

MURTAUGH:
We were in San Diego.

We had just returned
from deployment.

So we were partying a bit

bar-hopping
the Gas Lamp District.

We got to this one place

and the first person I see
is Commander O'Neil

looking ready for action.

Specifics, Lieutenant.

She was dressed
to catch something, sir.

It's the only way
I can describe it.

Did you talk to her?

She spoke to me.

She came over
as soon as she spotted us.

Told me I was her next dance.

I said I'd disappoint her

but she said, uh...

she never considered me
the type.

What did you think she meant?

Well, I assumed it was
a sexual reference, ma'am.

So did my buddies.

They all had a...
big laugh about it.

Did you, uh,
did you dance with her?

I was uncomfortable,
given she was a senior officer

but I said I'd do what I could.

She then asked me if
I could move my hips.

I answered, "Yes."

She said, "That's
all that counts"

and led me onto
the floor.

And after the dance?

I got out of there, sir.

We all did.

It felt like nothing
but trouble.

( clears throat )

Well, thank you, Lieutenant.

But I don't think
anyone's been court-martialed

for dancing in a while

even if it was
a ladies' choice.

Thanks for the file.

Mm-hmm.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh!

Keep that gait.

Whoo! Looking good!

( chuckles )

You go, Roberts.

Bring her home.

Wow!

First time away
from the rails?

I'd say I'm impressed.

Any pain?

Less and less.

Let me look.
Okay.

Just want to make sure

there's even distribution
of weight.

How is the fit?

Pretty good.

Yeah, this new socket
technology is fabulous.

And these dynamic ankles...

How about my vibrant knees?

They're the best.

So, how long until I can, uh,
trash the crutches?

As long as it takes.

Yeah, but I'm doing great,
right?

Yeah, yeah,
just don't push it.
Okay.

Blood supply
to your residual limb

is still insufficient.

You lost your spleen,
remember?

That's why you can't take
your prosthesis home yet.

No, I know.

I'm just feeling
so good.

Give yourself time.

Allow yourself to adjust fully
to the changes

or you'll be setting
yourself up for failure.

O'NEIL:
Lieutenant Murtaugh
is a very good officer.

He would be even better

if he didn't take himself
so seriously.

I just wanted to loosen
him up a bit.

What better place
than a bar?

A little unorthodox,
wouldn't you say?

I don't play authority games
with my people.

MANETTI:
Sir, a number of officers
and enlisted personnel

have already come forward

in support of Commander O'Neil's
leadership style.

She's very popular.

Apparently not with everyone.

They're not used to being
under the command of a female.

It changes the dynamic.

Why play into it?

Is there a point
where we're going

to start discussing

what actually works
about my case?

Look, we need something

to discredit
Lieutenant Cursey's story.

My word.

Well, unfortunately, Commander,
that may not be good enough.

It should be.

My record speaks for itself.

MANETTI:
Unfortunately, ma'am,
in this man's Navy

a woman needs to be
twice as competent

and twice as virtuous.

You will get no argument
from me there, Commander.

Well, you
will from me

but it won't be about
the struggles of women
in the military

which I agree exist.

However,
in a court of law

the only thing
of consequence

is an individual's
integrity

regardless of gender.

I think we concur there, yes?

WOMAN:
Are you serious?!

STILES:
She's single, right?
So she's fair game.

I don't know.
I'll ask her.

Hey, hey,
enjoy your run?

1 1/2 miles, sir.

Won't be long

before we're both kicking
up the dirt, sir.

Ah, it feels like
it's going to take forever.

Lieutenant Carpenter
has me on such a short leash.

Stick with the lieutenant.

Remember what happened
when I moved too fast?

Have a seat, sir.

Oh, thanks.

So, what do they got
on tap here?

We'll get to that in a second

but right now we have
something of a higher priority.

Would you mind

taking a look
over my shoulder, sir?

She's a dime piece, huh?

Yeah, very pretty.

You can tell she works out.

Hey, barkeep

would you mind sending
a glass of house champagne

to the lady at my 6:00?

The one with
the exceptional torpedoes.

What are you doing?

Making contact
before she leaves.

Looking like this?

This is how I look, Lieutenant.

Oh, man, give me five minutes.

I'm going in.

I appreciate it.

The government will be starting
with Lieutenant Cursey, sir.

That's what I'd do.

Establish the incidents
in support

of circumstantial testimony.

You mean, prior advances
from Commander O'Neil?

If there were any.

The lieutenant's pretty
hard to ignore, sir.

You think he's
good-looking, too.

Me and just about
every female on this base.

If there's one thing
that keeps coming up
in my interviews...

You know,
I don't get it.

I mean, he's okay,
but...

Sir, you can't
look at him

and objectively say,
"He's a handsome man"?

You know, I could
ask you the same question.

Do you think, uh,
Uma Thurman is beautiful?

Yes.

All right,
so's the lieutenant.

I mean, he's not beautiful,
you know.

He's fine.
I mean, he's okay.

He's a good-looking guy.

You can leave it
at that, sir.

Thanks.

Lieutenant Cursey, what reason
did Commander O'Neil give

for the adverse marks
on your last fitness report?

Incorrect placement
of my sonobuoys, ma'am.

The equipment had been adjusted
without my knowledge

but it is my station
and I took full responsibility.

Prior to the night in
Commander O'Neil's quarters

did she ever express
dissatisfaction
with your work?

The commander has high
standards, ma'am

felt that I could improve

but she was
always encouraging.

Was she friendly?

I got used
to her smiles, ma'am.

MacKENZIE:
Were you surprised
by the low grades?

Well, considering
that she's my mentor

and how well she knew me

I expected the benefit
of the doubt, yes, ma'am.

But instead, in the privacy
of her quarters

she marked you down

in a way that jeopardized
future promotions.

Yes, ma'am.

After commenting
that you were likely

to cheat on your girlfriend?

Yes, ma'am.

And then waited
for your response

before signing the document.

That's correct, ma'am.

No further questions.

Lieutenant, did Commander O'Neil
ever directly proposition you?

No, sir, not directly.

That's what you interpreted
from prior encounters

where she smiled at you.

It was the way
she smiled at me, sir.

If it was a problem,
why didn't you go

to your wing commander
earlier?

It wasn't a problem earlier,
sir.

Right, it became a problem

when she gave you a low grade
on your fit rep.

It wasn't the grade, sir.

It was the deal
she was offering me

to erase the grade.

The deal
that was never articulated.

No, sir, not in words.

Articulated in her hesitation
before signing your report.

And she looked me
directly in the eye, sir.

Isn't it possible, Lieutenant

she was trying to communicate
something else to you?

Something like her desire
for you to step up

and do a better job?

No, sir.

Not given the expression
on her face at the time.

Would you state your name
and rank for the record, please?

Lieutenant Commander
Nancy Yorkin.

What is your current assignment,
Commander?

I'm a Signals
Intelligence Officer.

Any contact
with Commander O'Neil?

We assess data together, sir.

Do you ever socialize together?

I've made attempts
to get to know her.

For example?

We've chatted
on the way

to department head
meetings.

I've asked to join her
at mess.

Did she ever talk
in a flattering way

about male personnel?

Yes, sir.

She said things like,
"That one's cute.

I wonder if he has
a girlfriend."

That sort of thing.

Your reaction
to these remarks?

A little surprised, sir.

I guess I expected
more propriety

from someone
who'd accomplished so much.

Did Lieutenant Cursey's name
ever come up?

I approached the commander
at the "O" club

was asking her
about her interests

but they seemed to only be
about the lieutenant

who was across the room
at the time.

What did she say about him?

She told me she thought
he was hot, sir.

I agreed
he was good-looking

and then she asked
if I'd ever fantasized

about sleeping with him.

What did you say?

Nothing, sir.

I was speechless.

Commander Yorkin, you say
that Commander O'Neil

had asked you

if you ever fantasized about
sleeping with Lieutenant Cursey.

That's correct.

Did the commander tell you
that she herself

had done this?

No, I assumed it

from her comment about
the lieutenant being hot.

And this comment bothered you?

Lieutenant Cursey is in

Commander O'Neil's
chain of command.

Did you ever
answer her?

I changed the subject.

What would have
been your answer?

Excuse me?

Did you ever fantasize about
sleeping with Lieutenant Cursey?

MACKENZIE:
Your Honor,
Lieutenant Commander Yorkin

is not the one
charged here.

The commander is basing
her testimony

on Commander O'Neil's
state of mind.

I simply
exploring her own.

Relevant for an
investigative hearing, Colonel.

Overruled.

Your answer?

If I had, I certainly wouldn't
have advertised it.

Can I assume that
to be a yes?

You can.

And did you ever
act upon those
fantasies?

No, of course not.

Why not?

Lieutenant Cursey
is a junior officer.

It's inappropriate.

Then, as a fellow female officer

with a clear understanding
of military culture

and with ambitions of your own

would you have expected
the commander to act
any differently?

No. Not when you put it
like that.

No further questions.

HARRIET:
So how was rehab?

You haven't said much.

Oh, I, uh, walked
with my prosthesis

without the aid
of the rails.

That's great!

How'd it feel?

Good.

At the time.

I met up with Stiles
at a bar afterward.

He did something
that I would never
be able to do.

He hit on somebody

with his prosthetic
fully visible.

He wasn't even self-conscious
about it.

Well, did you say something
to him about it?

What am I
supposed to say?

"Hey, listen, Corporal,
I'm sorry I'm walking out on you

because I'm feeling
sorry for you"?

"You're overcoming by
overcompensating"?

"Because you're an amputee,
you're special

and the world
can't say no to you"?

Isn't it better

to be overconfident, though,
than fearful?

You didn't see the look
on that woman's face

when he walked over to her.

RABB:
Captain Statlin, how long
have you been

Commander O'Neil's
air wing commander, sir?

Six months.

In that time,
how would you grade
her performance?

She's first-rate.

Strong, focused, involved.

Knows how to keep
her personnel

feeling good
about themselves.

Never had any problems
with her, sir?

None.

Never witnessed inappropriate
behavior on her part?

Lewd remarks,
suggestive comments?

Not a one.

In your opinion, sir

is she fair in her assessment
of others?

The commander is trained
to deal with incoming data.

To be objective
and unemotional.

She's not the sort

who would allow
her personal feelings

to interfere
with her objectivity.

Do you concur
with her assessment

of Lieutenant Cursey's
performance

in his last
fitness report?

Yes.

Thank you, Captain.

Your witness.

Have you observed
Lieutenant Cursey
in action, sir?

I'm familiar with
the lieutenant, yes.

That wasn't
my question, sir.

I haven't flown with him,
if that's what you're asking.

I'm generally in the
control center during missions.

So you haven't been
in a position

to evaluate his
day-to-day performance?

I rely on Commander O'Neil

for full evaluation
of her personnel.

And when you
just testified

regarding Lieutenant Cursey's
fitness rep

were you agreeing with
her assessment of him

or confirming the opinion
of someone you trusted?

I'll admit, I have little
firsthand knowledge

of the lieutenant's
general performance.

However,
my confidence

in Commander O'Neil...
Thank you, Captain.

You've made your confidence
in her very clear.

Nothing further.

You sure you
don't want seconds?

No.

No, thank you.

I'm sorry about
the fish bones.

How's your throat?

Well, it's
a little sore.

Do you have
any ginger ale?

You don't need
ginger ale.

Yeah,
I think I do.

I have something better.

Turn around.

Meredith, look,
I think that, uh...

the first Heimlich--
it did it.

No, this is
something else.

You've been tense
the whole evening.

I'm going to give
you a massage.

No, really, I'm fine.

You're the one
that needs to relax.

You've done
all the work.

I mean, you
cooked the meal--

you... you put
out the fire.

You're in the hands
of a professional.

Lie down.

( heavy sigh )

Up we go.

( grunts )

There we are.

Okay... relax.

Now... how
does that feel?

( chuckling )

That... that feels
pretty good.

Mm-hmm.

Mm... what's this?

Oh, a knot.

Tough little bugger.

( chuckles )

( loud crack )

Gotcha!

( gasping )

Did you hear
a popping sound?

RABB:
Commander O'Neil,
did you offer

to change Lieutenant Cursey's
fitness report grade

in exchange
for sexual favors?

No.

What did you discuss

when you summoned him
to your quarters, Commander?

The mistake he made
on our last mission

and how costly
it was.

Do you like
the lieutenant?

I think he has character

and the potential
to be a fine officer

which is why I couldn't
let this one go.

It was my way
of lighting a fire
under his six.

So you strongly
counseled him?

No, I tried to keep
it relaxed and informal.

Did you imply he was capable
of cheating on his girlfriend?

That was a compliment
that came out wrong.

What I was trying to say
was that, because of his looks

he would always be pressured
by other women.

It was ill-advised
and I regret saying it

but it had nothing
to do with me.

And when you paused prior to
signing the report, Commander?

I wanted to see
if I'd made my point

about his performance.

And how did the lieutenant
respond?

He glared back at me.

Thank you, Commander.

That'll be all.

Commander, do you agree
with Lieutenant Cursey

that his error was due to
his equipment being reset?

A scheduled maintenance
had inadvertently

altered some
of the lieutenant's settings

but he was aware
of the procedure

and should have checked
his equipment prior
to the mission.

Given the mitigating
circumstances

many would consider
a bag fit rep unduly harsh.

Not if they understood
the consequences of the mistake.

But all your other
reports

on the lieutenant
were positive.

Yes, because they
reflected my belief in...

...his potential, yes.

But on that night
you wrote him up in a way

that adversely affects
his chances of promotion.

Not if he chooses
to turn it around.

You're divorced,
is that correct?

Objection. Your Honor,
the commander's divorce

has no bearing on this case.

Your Honor,
another officer
has testified

to the commander's
desire

for male companionship.

I'm establishing the
relationship between her divorce

and that fact.

The defense fails to see
the connection, Your Honor.

JUDGE:
Well, I'm certain
the government

will provide it.

Overruled.

Tread lightly, counselor.

Answer the question,
Commander.

It will be three years
in January.

And how many men have
you been with in that time?

RABB:
Your Honor...

Overruled,
Commander.

None.

You haven't had one
sexual encounter

in three years?

Do you expect us
to accept that

given your stated interest
in men?

Yes.

You're under
oath, Commander.

Objection. Argumentative.

Sustained.
Back off, Colonel.

The witness hasn't
satisfactorily...

Asked and answered.
You're badgering the witness.

I warned you about this.

Your Honor, I'm just
trying to explore

what's already been
established in testimony.

Do it another way.

But, Your Honor...

Either move on or sit down.

Nothing further.

Thank you for that.

You're welcome.

What has she got
against me?

I don't think
it's personal,
Commander.

I... I just think
the colonel doesn't
believe you.

Well, then she
was projecting.

Was she?

Well, it doesn't
add up, Commander.

You're an attractive woman.

You're powerful, successful.

I don't believe this.

Ma'am, I have to agree
with the commander

on this one.

It's a bit
of a left turn.

I was telling the truth.

You haven't had one
sexual encounter

in the three years
since your divorce?

( sighs )

I have had sexual encounters...

but not with men.

Commander, you had
attorney/client privilege.

Anything you tell us
is confidential.

"Don't ask, don't tell"
didn't apply here.

Ma'am, you could have
told us you were gay

at the outset.

I don't tell anyone I'm gay.

In any case, it wouldn't
have done you any good.

You couldn't use it.

As soon as you bring it out,
I'm out.

RABB:
Well, let's
talk about that.

Why don't you resign,
clear your name, live openly?

Because I like what I do
as much as who I am.

Would you ask that of yourself?

I don't know, Commander.

But are the alternatives
any less palatable?

I've been dealing with it.

How long did you know
before you told your husband?

( rain falling outside )

( sighs )

( thunder rumbling )

I've always known.

You have a "don't ask,
don't tell" policy

in your marriage agreement?

It's not easy revealing
that kind of thing

to someone you care about.

Well, you can't
even reveal it

to people you don't care about.

Commander, I spent

the better half
of this hearing

disbelieving you

and not knowing why.

We wasted time.

Ma'am, just so I understand

your attraction
to Lieutenant Cursey

that was all just
a smoke screen?

Yes. I admit I overcompensated

especially around
female personnel.

Look, i-if this is a problem,
I could request new counsel.

Commander,
you're innocent of the charges.

Why would we bail?

RABB:
We wouldn't.

We won't.

Doesn't mean we can win.

( thunder rumbling )

( rain pattering )

( sighs )

Is everything
all right, sir?

Uh, just an old injury.

Did you get it
from combat, sir?

Hand-to-hand,
Lieutenant.

TINER:
Excuse me, Admiral.

There something amusing,
Tiner?

No, sir.

Oh, Admiral, uh,
Miss Cavanaugh
called, sir.

She says she hopes
you're feeling better.

Good.

And that you should
continue to ice it, sir.

It's not what
you're thinking, Tiner.

I'm not thinking
anything, sir.

I always liked you best
that way.

You caught a break
this morning.

( Rabb chuckles )

That's why
it hurts so much.

Dismissal.
No confinement.

Commander O'Neil's innocent,
Mac.

Have to play this one out.

Suddenly you believe her?

What makes you think
I didn't?

You were considering
the last deal.

Maybe for a second.

Well enough to let me
know you had doubts.

Not anymore.

She's clearly
covering, Harm.

Think what you will.

I think you're
in denial.

( thunder rumbling )

You ever considered
a career

in psychiatry?

No.

Well... that's good.

I'd follow that instinct.

Maybe you're the one
who's in denial.

I don't ogle
junior officers

and advertise my interest
in having sex with them.

Are you interested in sex
with junior officers?

The woman's got a
serious problem, Harm.

Don't I know it.

Female officer role models

don't act like 14-
year-olds at the mall.

She may be tops
in performance

but she is at the
bottom in behavior.

Oh, that's rather insensitive

coming from someone who got
a law school recommendation

from a senior officer with whom
she was having a torrid affair.

Or maybe it's just arrogance.

( thunder rumbling )

That was a mistake.

I was young and, at the time,
no one was looking to me

as an example of leadership.

Because of her status

the Commander's actions
have damaged

the integrity
of female officers everywhere--

pure and simple.

The truth is rarely pure
and never simple, Mac.

What's wrong, Roberts?

The, uh, shrapnel wound
in my good leg is hurting.

It's always hurting, and
you always get past it.

Not today.

What happened to
my early achiever?

I came in his place.

Roberts, you're confusing me.

STILES:
That makes two of us.

Stiles.

What happened to you
the other day, sir?

I went home.

I-I wasn't feeling good.

Well, I thought you might
be mad at me or something, sir.

I wanted to make sure America's
number one sack-racing team

is still on the hunt
for a medal?

Yeah, we're good.

'Cause, uh...
my feelings were hurt, sir.

I'm sorry, Corporal.

I wasn't even going
to come today

but Melissa talked me into it.

Who's Melissa?

Where'd you go, girl?

I was putting money
in the meter.

( quietly ):
Close your mouth, dog.

Melissa, this is

Lieutenant Roberts
and Lieutenant Carpenter.
Hello.

Hi.
Hello.

Nice to meet you.

It's nice
to meet you, too.

His is different
than yours.

Oh, it's a
different injury.

Does it work
the same way?

What, can he take it off
and play it like a saxophone?

Yeah.

MELISSA:
And Shawn says
you're doing great.

Well, I've got
a long way to go.

Ah, he's actually
ahead of schedule.

MELISSA:
Well, you know,
I think you guys

are an inspiration.

My ex started
losing his hair.

Ruined his mood
for six months

and couldn't take it so

I needed to find someone
who wakes up smiling.

( chuckling sheepishly ):
Anyway...

I just wanted
to reconnect with you, sir.

I'm glad that you did.

I'll call you tonight.

Excellent.

Lieutenant. Ma'am.

MELISSA:
Keep up the good work.

Okay.

I have something
for you, Commander.

What is it?

Old tradition, sir.

When I was young

I'd take the paper rings
off my daddy's cigars

and give them to my friends.

You consider me your friend?

I will when you
learn to trust me.

Well, the feeling's mutual,
Commander.

That's why I have two.

Hmm. Does this mean
we're engaged?

Only in a struggle
of wills, sir.

So you thought
Commander O'Neil
was covering.

I thought she was innocent.

We were both right.

Oh, well,
none of it's going to matter

if we don't come up
with a workable strategy.

I'm looking to you, sir.

( sighs )

Commander, so far,
we've been focusing

on trying to disprove
the allegations.

I think we need
to take the offensive

and start trying to prove
something like

Commander O'Neil had every right
to give Lieutenant Cursey

a bad fit rep,
regardless of what he perceived.

The only error of
the plane's air crew

or cause was the one
that the lieutenant

has already acknowledged.

We'd need to establish a pattern
of errors to make that fly

and Commander O'Neil's
after-action reports are clean.

Well, I'm thinking

this has more to do
with Commander O'Neil

and less with
Lieutenant Cursey's performance.

I'm not sure what you mean, sir.

When the commander
testified, she said

"I couldn't let this one go."

It got by me at the time.

You're saying... there were
maybe other incidents?

Undocumented ones.

Well, if Commander
O'Neil didn't feel

they were important
enough to report

then they're probably
not important enough

to count.

Let's find out.

Lieutenant, these are
after-action reports

from missions from which
you've recently served.

This first is dated
last Tuesday.

It's from
Lieutenant Commander

Michael Dross,
your current aircraft commander.

He noted you failed to update
the plane's position

relative to a sonobuoy field.

I'm aware of the mistake, sir.

Commander Dross pointed it out.

And this is from

this past Monday.

He says you gave him
a dead channel

and he had to find
the correct frequency

in the cockpit
and switch it on.

Yes, sir.

Twice.

I know, sir.

Suddenly making
a lot of mistakes, Lieutenant.

I've been tense, sir.

Or maybe you've been
making them all along

and Commander O'Neil--
aware that you get tense--

let them slide.

The minor ones, at least.

But, sir, if that's true

couldn't that mean
she's currying favor?

If she'd made you
aware of them at the time

but she didn't, did she?

No. Because these are
the type of mistakes, Lieutenant

that are easily
covered up and ignored.

Did you ever consider that

given the commander's
leadership style

that she didn't want
to undermine your confidence

by continually harping
on the small mistakes--

mistakes she knew
you were aware of.

Until you made
a mistake

that couldn't
be overlooked.

Maybe you got it all wrong,
Lieutenant.

Maybe you're so used
to being defined by your looks

that a whole host
of scenarios

has failed to
occur to you.

Must be overwhelming to feel
that everybody wants

a piece of Jack Cursey.

Your Honor...
Sustained.

Ask questions, Commander.

I only have one,
Your Honor.

Is it possible, Lieutenant

that you failed to give back
the one thing

you felt you deserved
from your mentor?

That night in
her quarters:

the benefit
of the doubt.

Do you think,
Lieutenant

that maybe
you misinterpreted

Commander O'Neil's
intentions?

It's...

It's possible...

sir.

Thank you.

Would the defense
please rise?

Commander O'Neil

based on Lieutenant Cursey's
lack of faith

in his own allegations

I have determined the evidence
insufficient

to support the charges

and recommend against
court-martial.

However, I would take
a good long look

at what you project
to those with whom you serve.

This hearing's adjourned.

( pounds gavel )

Thank you, both.

Well, you have yourself
to thank, Commander.

Lieutenant Cursey
finally displayed

the character you
always believed he had.

If only I were as noble.

Is that what you want to say?

Those are your words.

I've been thinking

about your situation,
Commander

and regardless of policy

we do owe it to ourselves
to live our lives truthfully.

Think about that, Commander.

Female role models
are hard to find.

You two confuse the hell
out of me.

Sturgis and I need
some mediation.

I stand convinced
Lieutenant Cursey

was mistaken.

I think you snowed him
into believing he was.

( chuckles )

What was she hiding, Harm?

What is it
that we don't know?

Don't ask.
Don't ask.