JAG (1995–2005): Season 8, Episode 9 - When the Bough Breaks - full transcript

MAN:
Seahawk tower,
this is one-two-seven.

Hornet, four-point-five
requesting final approach.

Roger, one-two-seven.
Continue for final approach.

Call the ball.

Petty Officer Schecket,
set tension for a Hornet.

Aye, sir.

Set tension for a Hornet, Chief.

Set tension for a Hornet. Aye.

( bell rings )

( loud whirring )

I need a reading.
( bell rings )



Set, Chief. We're go.

Pri-fly, we're go.

PILOT:
Seahawk this is one-two-seven.

Hornet, ball, four-point-three.

One-two-seven, Hornet,
Roger, ball.

Fouled deck!

( gasps )

We got two men down!

( alarm blaring )

SINGER:
You'll find my report
quite thorough, sir.

I'm not disputing your attention
to detail, Lieutenant Singer.

I just happen to disagree
with your findings.

A man was killed when that
arresting wire snapped, sir.

Another was seriously injured.



Are you under the impression,
Lieutenant,

that this is the first time
a tragedy like this

has befallen a carrier
during flight operations?

No, sir. I just want to know
why it happened on this carrier.

You know why.

The boatswain's mates were
removing foreign object debris.

A broken piece of launching rail
that should have been removed

prior to the landing
of the second F-18.

An arresting wire
that shouldn't have broken

snapped while trapping a plane
that should have been waved off.

In a perfect world,
Lieutenant Singer,

every piece of FOD
would be removed

prior to the next landing.

Every trap would be
like clockwork,

and no one but the enemy

would experience casualties.

But we do not live
in that world.

Had those boatswain mates
not acted,

you'd be investigating the loss
of an aircraft now

and God knows
how many fatalities.

I am aware of that, sir.

You want to cut
to the chase, then?

Save me some reading--
what is it you're after?

For one thing, I want to
court-martial all the personnel

that had a hand in putting
those men in that position

in the first place.

You have got to be kidding?

I assure you, sir,
I am quite serious.

Who exactly
are we talking about here?

Your landing
signal officer, sir.

Your air boss.

The arresting gear
department chief.

The LSO's assistant.

The arresting gear operator
petty officer.

The pri-fly lens operator.

The...
That's enough.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I gave due consideration
to these recommendations, sir.

I said that's enough.

( sighs )

Aye, aye, sir.

( gasping )

Lieutenant?

I'm fine, sir.

You don't look fine.

Go down to sick bay,
have yourself checked out.

Really, sir, it's not necessary.

That's an order, Lieutenant.

( sighs )

Aye, aye, sir.

"And once Dr. I've-got-
nothing-but-time-on-hands

"puts the paperwork through,

"I'll be back at JAG
just like old times.

Only without the leg,
you know."

COATES:
"Congratulations, sir.

"I know you'll pass
the P-E-B.

"You're not standing
and typing again?

"What do you take me for,
Coates, a man possessed?"

"Sir, sit down.

Hey, sweetie.

Hi, honey.

You're wearing yourself out.

Now, come to bed.

I recall a time

when you would do anything
to get me off that couch.

You have less than a week
to relax,

then you're going to be standing
on that leg every single day.

That's why I
need the practice.

When you come home
exhausted every night,

you're going to wish you had
a little more of the sack time.

Oh, I can't wait to come home
tired from a hard day's work.

( slight chuckles )

Let's go.

Did you take the Nutty Buddy
out of my desk?

No, ma'am.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Lieutenant Singer...

your dress uniform--

taken out at the waste, ma'am.

Uh, Coates, could you get that
for me, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Is there something else?

No, ma'am.

I've had a good appetite
since the sea sickness stopped.

Must be the salt air, ma'am.

CHEGWIDDEN:
Lieutenant Singer

is a competent investigator,
Captain.

She's just a little too eager
to prove it sometimes.

JOHNSON ( on phone ):
I wouldn't disagree, sir.

So, what's your take
on the mishap?

This is Lieutenant Singer's
first cruise.

Her maritime inexperience

has her chasing shadows
on this one, sir.

Understood.
Second opinion's on its way,

to work alongside the
lieutenant, not to replace her.

Thank you, sir.

There is another matter

concerning the lieutenant,
Admiral.

Um... I understand.

I'll, uh...

I'll look into it.

Tiner, have Rabb and MacKenzie
come see me.

TINER ( over intercom ):
Aye, sir.

Uneasy lies the head
that wears the crown.

( chuckles )

Were those lunch reservations
hard to get?

Easily canceled.

I'll make it up to you.

Forgiven and forgotten, A.J.

You're awfully
understanding

for a woman that's been stood
up once this week already.

I've known since I met you
that if this was going to work,

I'd have to let go of my day
planner every once in a while.

( chuckles )

Besides, having you
when I get you

means more to me
than some lunch reservation.

Well, they do say patience
and wisdom go hand in hand.

Oh... that they do.

Bye.

Bye.

You know, sometimes
it's good for me

not to know where I'm going
to be at 12:15 everyday.

( sighs )

No, no, wait-wait
till you see this.

It's bath time.

Little A.J.
loves the water.

A natural for a naval
carrier, Lieutenant.

Yes, ma'am.

Oh... oh... is that A.J.'s
little namesake?

It is, ma'am.

Oh, would you please
call me Meredith?

Meredith Cavanaugh,

this is Lieutenant
Commander Tracy Manetti.

Tracy.

Ma'am.

So, how is Bud?

He's great.

The doctors cleared him
for limited duty,

and the informal physical
evaluation board

should be meeting soon.

Well, that's wonderful.

Yeah.

Unfortunately Bud's taken
to eating standing up.

He's trying to be
too ready too soon.

Mmm. His enthusiasm
is bit much, is it?

Yes. And I just think
that he should rest.

Well, let me put my mind to it.

A little sit-down activity
for the good lieutenant.

Oh, that's not necessary.

Oh, well, that's
the least I can do.

I could see the concern
on your face, Harriet.

Commander.

Nice to meet you, ma'am.

Ciao.

Lieutenant Singer has made
her report, Commander.

I want the facts verified.

What she's asking for
will cripple that ship.

Her timing couldn't be worse.

To court-martial seven essential
air department personnel

in the midst
of a wartime deployment

in the Persian Gulf
is unheard of.

I mean... I...
I want justice served,

but not at the expense
of national security.

Is that clear?

Aye, sir.

Now, on to a more
delicate issue.

Colonel, you will accompany
the commander to the Seahawk

to investigate
Lieutenant Singer herself

with the utmost discretion.

To investigate what, sir?

Captain Johnson has charged
Lieutenant Singer

with conduct unbecoming.

While I don't want
to believe it,

I have to allow
for the possibility

that the captain
is being vindictive.

Well, that's
certainly one way

to get rid of
a squeaky wheel, sir.

Captain Johnson suspected
that Singer

might have a health issue,
so he ordered her

to see a medical officer
who confirmed it.

She's three and a half months
pregnant.

Now, that's roughly
the amount of time

she's been aboard
the Seahawk.

There is no way medically to
tell whether she conceived here

before she left,
or aboard the ship.

Hence, the conduct unbecoming.

That's a hell of a black eye
for JAG.

Has anyone asked

the lieutenant
who the father is, sir?

Certainly if it's not
someone aboard the Seahawk,

this whole matter
can be dispensed with.

She's been asked repeatedly.

She refuses to name the father
or discuss the incident.

If she got herself pregnant
aboard that ship,

it'll damn sure be the end

of her naval career.

RABB:
All I'm saying is

an officer should be
taken at her word.

What word?

All Lieutenant Singer
will say

is that she didn't
conceive aboard ship.

That's all that matters.

She's provided
her CO nothing

in the way of evidence.

Well, how do you
prove a negative?

With a name, Commander.

I'm surprised you're
defending her, Harm.

Somebody has to.

Sounds to me like you've
already made up your mind.

I'm approaching
this investigation

with an open mind.

Yeah, I'm sure
you are, Colonel.

I don't fault her
for finding herself

in this predicament.

It's her refusal to aid
in her own defense

that makes me wonder.

Wonder what?

Wonder if
she's guilty.

MAN:
Prepare for landing.

Ma'am, sir.

Lieutenant.

I understand congratulations
are in order, Lieutenant?

Here's the file from
my investigation, sir.

Thank you. We'll go
over this later.

I'm going to report in
to the skipper.

Yes, sir.

Colonel.

Commander.

I would like to stop by
the legal office, Lieutenant.

I think
we should talk.

Yes, ma'am.

You feeling okay,
Lieutenant?

Feel like Hester
Prynne, ma'am.

No one's come to pin
the scarlet letter on you.

Seems that way, ma'am.

Perhaps if you'd
been more forthcoming

with Captain Johnson.

Ma'am, the condition
I now find myself in

was a result
of activities

that occurred
before I deployed.

Therefore, they do not
fall into the category

of conduct unbecoming.

Name the father

and you're
off the hook.

With all due
respect, ma'am,

that is none of
the navy's business.

Is there some reason
you're afraid

to identify
the child's father?

My motives for
wanting privacy

should be obvious, ma'am.

I mean, look what
I'm being put through.

You're compounding
the problem, Lieutenant,

by remaining silent.

Can you answer as to why

you've kept this
a secret for so long?

I can't, ma'am.

Can't or won't?

Does it matter, Colonel?

I know I could
have handled

the entire situation
with a little more...

Clarity.

Professionalism.

Welcome aboard,
Colonel.

Thank you, Petty Officer.

At ease.

How's Lieutenant Roberts
doing, ma'am?

I know he was approved
for limited duty.

He's doing well.

I'll let him know
that you asked.

Thank you, ma'am.

Why don't you relax,
Lieutenant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Petty Officer, would
you give us a moment?

Aye, aye.

Thank you.

Lieutenant, when I asked
how you were feeling,

I didn't mean
just physically.

If you're not comfortable
talking to me,

I can arrange...

No, ma'am,
it's fine.

Captain Johnson is pursuing this
in retaliation

for the report I filed
after the flight deck mishap.

He wants to exonerate men
for taking a life

while persecuting me
for giving one.

That's a bit melodramatic,
Lieutenant.

It's not a crime
to be pregnant, Colonel.

No, but it is to get that way
aboard a naval ship.

That offense is rarely
prosecuted, ma'am.

The captain's going
by the book-- no leeway.

Much the same way
you always have, Lieutenant.

RABB:
How many traps were
on that #3 wire

before it broke, Captain?

MAN:
Captain on the bridge.

JOHNSON:
Eighty-one.

Does that include
the heavy landing

by the Super Hornet right
before the incident, sir?

Yes, Commander, and
the off-center arrestment

that took place
an hour before that.

The log book on
that cross-deck pendant

did not indicate
a problematic
amount of strain.

Although, as you know,
the numbers

we're dealing with here
are based on averages.

On the odds that every
arresting wire

has exactly the same
tensile strength.

Yes, sir.

You've taken these risks
yourself, Commander.

You know it's not
an exact science.

Sometimes it's a matter
of chance,

which is why we build in
safety factors.

You don't believe Lieutenant
Singer's experienced enough

to understand that, sir?

No, Commander, I do not.

I think Lieutenant Singer
is lashing out

at anyone who happened
to be in close proximity

to what happened
that night.

Prior to this incident, Captain,

what has been the nature
of your dealings

with Lieutenant Singer?

Standard issues.

Clarifying the legality
of shipboard operations--

handling legal
assistance issues

such as wills
for officers
and enlisted.

To tell you the truth,
Commander,

prior to this incident
Lieutenant Singer

had not appeared much
on my radar screen.

She was efficient
and she kept to herself.

So you were satisfied
with her performance
as your JAG?

Yes, Commander.

I would say she was
well-suited to her job.

How was her behavior
outside of the job, sir?

Well, obviously,
Commander,

Lieutenant Singer has not
conducted her personal affairs

aboard this vessel as one
would expect of an officer.

But that has nothing to do
with the accident investigation

if that's
what you're suggesting.

Not at all, Captain.

You're the convening authority
aboard this ship, sir.

You have the right
to question the findings

of your judge advocate.

I would do the same thing

if Lieutenant Roberts
were still my carrier JAG.

Although I suspect
he would have exercised

the necessary self-restraint

to avoid scandal
aboard my vessel.

Yes, sir.

This accident
investigation

and Lieutenant Singer's
lapse of judgment

in her personal behavior
are mutually exclusive.

One in no way
affects the other.

I think it's
a good idea.

I just don't think
Shakespeare

is Lieutenant Roberts'
cup of tea.

Shakespeare is
an acquired taste.

I'm glad you understand.

But one cannot
acquire new tastes

unless one samples
a bit of the unknown

every now and again.

Now...

these plays are
probably on par

with some of your
legal briefs.

Passionate...

...all-consuming...

something one could
lose oneself in,

preferably while
in the seated position.

Look, I appreciate
what you're trying to do.

I just don't want
Lieutenant Roberts

to think that I'm...

You're...?

Well, some people--
I'm not saying myself--

but some people equate
Shakespeare

with a certain level of, uh...

Snobbery.

I was going to say
snobbishness.

Look, Bud likes comic books

and Star Trek
and action films.

I don't want to give him
the impression

that I don't think
that's good enough.

I think you may be
underestimating

the lieutenant's
intellectual curiosity.

And I'm not sure
if you realize

how often you
talk about Bud.

He's a big part
of your life, A.J.

Now, I'm just asking

to let me be a little
part of Bud's life.

MAN:
I've been through all this
with Lieutenant Singer,

Commander.

I'll grant that
you're asking
the question

in a less
accusatory tone.

Petty Officer,
call Air Ops.

Get the air plan.
Aye, sir.

No prejudgments
here, Commander.

I'm sure the lieutenant's
got reams of paper

down in the legal office.

Well, I'd rather
hear it from you.
You were there.

I tried cooperating
with you lawyers once.

Look where it got me.

You're an aviator.

You've seen
a flight deck firsthand.

You have to know that
100% isn't possible.

Accidents happen.

Accidents do happen,
Commander,

and that's what I'm here
to determine.

MAN:
Sir, we've received
an advised air plan.

Then subpoena me, Commander.

It's going to take
a bigger gun than you

to get another
interview out of me.

Petty Officer,
call CIC.

Advise we're up and ready
for Night Ops.

Aye, aye, sir.

Commander Cooper, I'm about
as unbiased an ear

as you'll find
right now

so I strongly suggest
you reconsider

your willingness to participate
in this investigation.

As you were.

Petty Officer Coates,
I need a moment of your time.

Yes, ma'am.

You've been in the same
legal office

as Lieutenant Singer
since she got here.

Yes, ma'am.

So you know who
she's been seeing?

Seeing, ma'am?

Interacting with?

Who's spending time
with the lieutenant?

Giving her
special attention?

To be honest,
ma'am, no one.

( jet engine roaring )

Permission to speak
freely, ma'am?

That's why I'm here.

From what I know

about the lieutenant,
the way she was at JAG...

she seems to be
living up

to the same pattern
as before.

All work and no play?

Makes Loren a very dull girl.

Petty Officer Coates.

Sorry, ma'am.

When the lieutenant
wasn't seeing clients,

she was reading up
on maritime law.

She wanted to excel, ma'am.

To make herself indispensable
to the captain.

Instead she ended up
a thorn in his side.

She can't help
herself, ma'am.

Do any of the lieutenant's
clients stick out in your mind?

It's a big ship, ma'am.

Put together
a list for me

of those she saw when she
first reported aboard.

Just the male clients, ma'am?

You know?

I've suspected for
a month now, ma'am.

I didn't think it was my place
to point it out to anyone.

Remind me not to let
my guard down

around you, Petty Officer.

Look, Chief,
Lieutenant Singer's report

lists you as an eyewitness.

Where were you
at the time
of the incident?

Right here, sir, at my job.

So you didn't actually
see anything?

( loud thud )

That's correct, sir.

You've never experienced
a trap

from down here,
have you, Commander?

So that's about what you heard
going on overhead that night?

Yes, sir, that would be it, sir.

Your statement
to Lieutenant Singer

was a little more detailed
than that, Chief.

Yes, sir, it was.

You're afraid to talk
to me, aren't you?

I stand by what I already
put to paper, sir.

Sir, my memory
of the events

leading up
to the mishap
is sketchy.

Well, that's not what
you told Lieutenant Singer

a week ago when
you made your statement.

Well, I'm sure
that statement is
a better telling

than I could
muster now, sir.

You've been comparing
notes with Commander Cooper.

What makes you say
that, Commander?

Because I'm tripping

over the party line,
Lieutenant.

I'm sorry you think so, sir.

Look, Connelly,
We're both aviators.

We know what the guys
in those planes

owe to you here on the deck.

It's a dangerous job.

Sometimes people get hurt

and sometimes
it's nobody's fault.

This isn't a witch hunt.

I'm not interested
in prosecuting anybody

who doesn't deserve it.

Sir, I don't think
you're going to find

much cooperation
aboard this ship.

Why is that, Lieutenant?

Because we tried to do
the right thing

after this happened, sir,

and now we're facing
court-martials.

I don't dare speak to you

because I don't want
to incriminate the guys

that Lieutenant Singer
hasn't mentioned on her list.

Frankly, sir, the lieutenant
has turned all your witnesses

into suspects.

Nine interviews so far

and I can't find
anyone who likes her

let alone who
would... you know.

Does that give you
any reason to believe

that maybe
she isn't guilty?

What's with your continued
defense of Lieutenant Singer?

Come on, Mac.

For all her failures
in the being human department,

I don't doubt
her intelligence.

Meaning?

She's too smart
to risk her career.

A momentary lapse.

Passion over reason.

You put in the time--
law school, the bar--

would you throw it
all away?

No, Harm, I wouldn't.

Women in the service
work far too hard

to endure the fallout
of a scandal like this.

If she's guilty,
I want her charged.

Well, I've interviewed

all personnel
involved in
the incident...

except you.

You were on the
weather deck

the night those two men
went down, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

So, that makes
you a witness.

I guess it does, sir.

Lieutenant, have
you ever seen

anything like this before?

A car accident,
any situation
where injuries

occurred?

Nothing on the order
of that night, sir.

You realize,

Lieutenant,
in these kind of conditions--

this high-stress environment--
mishaps do occur.

Of course, sir.

I've done dozens of accident
investigations myself.

Sir, I know
what you're suggesting,

and my discomfort
for having been there

has not affected my findings.

Well, if you say so, Lieutenant,
I believe you.

Commander,

my lack of combat exposure

is not influencing my ability
to see the facts.

Too many highly-trained
air department personnel

made minor errors that
ultimately resulted in disaster.

That's correct, Lieutenant...

Sir?

...technically,

but I don't believe
that any of these mistakes,

taken individually, rise
to the level of dereliction.

I disagree, Commander.

Well, now

you see how perceptions
can differ, Lieutenant.

The law is black
and white, sir.

But life aboard a deployed
carrier is not, Lieutenant.

It's unpredictable.

You don't think I know
what unpredictable is... sir?

All right, Lieutenant,
I'll bite.

When exactly did your life

take this turn?

As I've said before, sir...

I conceived this child
prior to boarding this ship.

How prior?

Are you helping
Colonel MacKenzie

with her investigation, sir?

No, Lieutenant, I'm not.

Then may I be excused?

( phone ringing )

Commander Rabb.

What affords me the honor, sir?

I'm just a little homesick.

( chuckling )

Why don't I believe that a
seagoing aviator like yourself

misses this place one darn bit?

Am I that transparent?

Like cellophane, Commander.

What is it you desire?

Commander, I need a favor.

It's a personal one,

but I'm going to have to ask you
to keep it to yourself.

I am the Sphinx, sir.

Lieutenant Loren Singer.

A legend in her own time, sir.

Listen, you think
you could chase down

exactly what she was up to

about, uh, you know,
a week or so

before she left for sea?

Am I looking for anything
in particular, sir?

Personal details, people
she might have interacted with.

I think you'll know what I'm
looking for when you find it.

Do you know it, sir?

Well, I wouldn't want
to lead you

down the wrong path, Commander.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'll let you know what I dig up.

Petty Officer Tiner.

Commander Manetti.

You know, I am so sorry to
have missed the pleasure

of Lieutenant Singer's
acquaintance.

Did you know her very well?

As well as anyone, ma'am.

When was the last time
you saw the lieutenant?

The day before she left, ma'am.

We had a going away party
for her here in the office.

Do you know where she was headed
after that, Petty Officer?

I think she said

she was going to see
Lieutenant Roberts, ma'am,

out at Bethesda.

Lieutenants Roberts and Singer
were close?

( chuckling ):
Close?

No, ma'am.

CHEGWIDDEN:
Tiner?

Yes, sir?

If that's all, ma'am?

Yes, Tiner;
thank you kindly.

Would you, uh, drop these
off at Lieutenant Robert''

on your way in tomorrow

and tell him he's
under no obligation

to actually read these books.

Yes, sir.

I should have listened
to the man's advice.

Lieutenant Roberts, sir?

No, Shakespeare.

"Neither a borrower
nor a lender be."

As the middleman in
this deal, I'm both.

Dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Sir, I haven't come
to my final conclusion yet,

but thus far,
I haven't been able to locate

a single man aboard
who seems likely

to be the father
of Lieutenant Singer's baby.

I see.

Sir, if you could give me
a reason to believe

that such a
man exists...

I don't happen to think

this is the second coming,
Colonel.

The man obviously exists.

Can you point to anyone

who was close to the lieutenant,
sir?

Uh, no, Colonel, I cannot.

Sir, what led you
to make these charges

against Lieutenant Singer?

My gut feeling, Colonel,
and it used to be infallible.

Yes, sir; I'm
not questioning

your instincts.

I could frankly use
your guidance on this, sir.

I have nothing of interest
to add

in the matter of
Lieutenant Singer's pregnancy.

Captain, you do still want
the situation investigated?

Finish your
interviews, Colonel.

If nothing pops up,
you can close the case.

Sir, I have to ask.

Are you softening your
stance on the case

because you think that
maybe you did jump to
a premature conclusion?

No, Colonel, I'm simply a man
with bigger issues right now

than your pregnant lieutenant.

With all due respect, sir,

I think at this point,
she's your lieutenant.

That's easily
rectified.

I'll have her orders cut.

Take her off my ship.

You're dismissed,
Colonel.

Aye, aye, sir.

ROBERTS:
Commander Manetti.

MANETTI:
Good morning.

Wow. Well, uh, i-it's,
it's awful nice of you

to come out and...

bring me fruit,
Commander.

Well...
Thank you.

Uh, considering that we
hardly know each other.

Well, we best get
to know one another.

I hear we're going
to be working together.

Yes, ma'am.

I wonder, Lieutenant,

what can you tell me
about Lieutenant Loren Singer?

Ma'am?

Did you spend
much time with her

after you... uh...

After I came back
from the Seahawk?

Yes.

I-I know that she
was excited about
her deployment.

She came by the hospital

so we could
talk about it.

Did you talk
about anything else?

No, ma'am.

Lieutenant Singer can be a very
single-minded person, ma'am.

So I've heard.

If you were Lieutenant Singer

and you wanted to give yourself
a nice, big sendoff to sea,

where would you go?

Oh, uh... I don't know.

Uh, Benzinger's, I guess.

That's where we go
to celebrate wins.

And commiserate losses?

Yes, ma'am.

I get it.

What's all this about, ma'am?

I have no idea, Lieutenant.

( both chuckling )

( doorbell rings )

Um, would you mind?

( laughing ):
Oh, sure; of course.

Good morning,
Lieutenant.

Tiner.

Commander Manetti.

Am I interrupting
something, ma'am?

Ma'am?

No, Lieutenant.

You know, I try
never to miss
an opportunity

to shut up, and this
seems like a dandy time.

Good day, gentlemen.

Thank you, ma'am.

You're welcome.

Ma'am.
Bye-bye.

What can I get you?

A little early in the day,
thanks.

You have a big military
clientele here, do you not?

Proud to serve
those who serve.

Very good.

Have you ever served

this lieutenant?

Yeah, she's come in before.

With those JAG lawyers.

Always in a group.

She looked, uh,
kind of like a tag-
along, you know?

Like no one
really wanted her there.

Anyway, it's been months.

Well, she's at sea.

Is there anything else
you can tell me?

Uh, last time she was in,
she was with a guy.

Sandy hair, kind
of nondescript.

You get a name?

No, but I was happy
to see her happy.

Just how happy was she?

I don't think I follow.

Well, happy

as in "Let's talk baseball"

or happy as in "You're sweeter
than a Moon-Pie"?

Oh, the latter,
I guess.

They sat right back
there in the corner.

Eyes on each
other all night.

The ieutenant's
a nice-looking gal

when she's out
of uniform.

That she is.

Much obliged for your help.

Sure.

Commander Rabb, please.

I'm at the end of the road,
Harm.

You sound
disappointed.

Not at all.

You sure?

Harm, I'm sure.

Lieutenant Singer

goes back to shore duty

and the reputations of JAGs
everywhere are redeemed.

Who's going to replace her,
anyway?

You're looking at her.

Temporarily.

( phone ringing )

JAG office, Commander Rabb.

Oh... um, hang on a second.

Did you need some privacy?

Yeah, would you mind?

No, not at all.

What did you find?

Yeah, Benzinger's-- I know it.

No, I think I know
just who the bartender means.

Thanks for the legwork,
Commander.

Your men aren't doing much

to aid in my investigations.

Can't blame them,
Commander.

Lieutenant Singer blew
through here like a hurricane.

Took what confidence
the men had

in the investigative
process with her.

I understand that, sir,

but the wall of silence
I'm coming up against

only lends credence to what
Lieutenant Singer suspected.

There were
mistakes made, sir,

and if I can't get any
explanation as to why,

culpable negligence
isn't out of the question.

Commander,
I am humbled to have to say

that you have taken me
by surprise.
Sir?

I expected you to come out here

and undo Lieutenant Singer's
report without hesitation.

Your failure to do so
has given me reason to believe

that I may have been overzealous
in my defense of my men.

Skipper, I don't intend

to make my recommendations
against you, sir.

Commander,
you were failing

to understand
my point.

Even the men who like me
would tell you that I've become

a son of a bitch to work for.

I jumped to the conclusion
that my men were innocent

the same way I assumed
Lieutenant Singer was guilty.

Mistakes I wouldn't accept
from an officer under my command

and errors I will not accept
from myself.

I am topped out

in my career, Commander.

But those men you
and Lieutenant Singer
want to court-martial

still have mileage
left to theirs

and I fully intend
to see them travel it.

I take full responsibility
for what happened to those men.

That's it, no argument.

Now, if you'll
excuse me,

I'm going to make
one last trap

before I leave
the navy.

One last trap,
huh, Captain?

That's right,
Commander.

The Battle
Group Commander

will have my request
for retirement tomorrow.

I, uh, thought
about our talk, sir.

Commander Cooper
and Lieutenant Connelly,

they're officers, sir.

They're going to do fine
out in the world.

The career enlisted,
like myself...

I need the navy, sir.

I'm ready to play ball.

It's worth the risk to me.

All right, Chief.

You can start by telling me

precisely what you
were doing that night.

We were nonstop.

The Dixon meter
indicated a heavy landing

prior to the accident.

I should have requested
down time

to take the #3 wire
out of service.

Why didn't you?

I thought at the time

that we were okay.

I... everything had been reset

and we were ready
for the next trap, but...

It's no excuse, though, sir.

I knew the arresting wire
was strained.

I guess I...

I guess I didn't want to be
the one who held things up.

CONNELLY:
I did some asking around
about you, Commander.

You've got quite an
impressive flight record.

I know you've experienced

a catastrophic accident
firsthand, sir.

And I also know you
stood up and took
the blame for it.

I had to stand up,
Lieutenant.

My RIO was killed
in the mishap.

So, you understand why I
can't let Chief Kafenhaus

accept responsibility for
something that happened

on my flight deck, sir.

Convince me otherwise,
Lieutenant.

We just landed heavy.

I wanted to check Petty
Officer's flight log

to make sure we
were still good

on that #3 wire.

That's a little
irregular, isn't it?

Yes, sir, but I should have
checked the deck

before looking
back at the Hornet,

but we were crunched for time.

You didn't see
the boatswain's mate

running out to retrieve the FOD?

No, sir. I also didn't do
a visual inspection

on the arresting wire.

I trusted the numbers
instead of eyeballing the thing

like I should have.

Well, you thought the
wire would hold up.

Well, that didn't help me
sleep at night, sir.

Just make sure your report
takes the weight off the chief.

I'm an officer
and I was the LSO that night.

If anyone can be
held responsible

for what happened, it's me.

COOPER:
I have no intention
of letting a junior officer

and an enlisted man fall
on their swords over this.

Well, why don't you
walk me through

what happened up here
that night, Commander.

We were sometimes having
less than ten seconds

to identify aircraft.

The ACLS address for a rhino

is one digit off from that
of a straight Hornet.

Rhino being a Super Hornet?

Yeah. We were doing EMCOM
recoveries at night...

radio contact to a minimum
to maintain covertness.

So, your crew misdialed
an aircraft

to the tune of four tons.

I'm aware of that, Commander.

The same thing's happened before
without such dire consequence.

Look, Cooper, there were
a lot of mistakes made.

A man died down there.

I'm just trying to find out
where the buck stops.

I had to make
a split-second decision

whether to wave that Hornet off.

I made the wrong one.

MAN:
Sir, we've got
a situation.

Excuse me, Commander.

Seahawk, this is
four-seven-six Hornet.

Low state, zero-point-six-five.

Four-seven-six,
Roger, low state.

Zero-point-six-two miles.
We're losing fuel.

Four-seven-six
report final approach.

We'll get you
down in one piece.

Fuel's bleeding out fast, boss.

Zero-point-five-eight
and decreasing.

Fly the ball four-seven-six.

Set tension for Hornet.

MAN:
Aye, aye, sir.

Steady as she goes.

Incoming Hornet.
Low state.

Wave off is not an option.
Set those engines.

I need a reading,
Petty Officer.

We're go, Chief.

Pri-fly, we're go!

Four-seven-six on final.

Zero-point-four, ball.

Four-seven-six Hornet.

Roger, ball.

You're looking good.

Bring her in.

Zero-point-two, on fumes.

I'll fly-over and eject.

Negative, four-seven-six.

You got enough fuel.

Just stay with your bird,
fly the ball.

You're too high, four-seven-six.

Ease your nose over
just a little.

That's it.

Good, good.

Bring her down easy.

You got it.

( cheering )

( hangs up )

( people talking outside )

Ma'am?

Oh, you must be Bud?

Yes, ma'am.
Well,
congratulations

on your triumphant return
to the office.

Well, thank you, ma'am.

I, uh, wanted
to return your books

before I got busy with work.

I'm so glad you came.

I've got a whole
seven minutes

until my next class.
Sit down.

Uh, thank you, but I can't.

I'm kind of in the middle
of something back at home.

In fact,
these plays inspired me.

Now, I know all the stories,
like, um... Macbeth.

That's the classic
"Dagger of the Mind."

Uh, Star Trek, episode.

Oh.

Yeah, and, uh, let's see...

The Tempest.

That's "Requiem for Methuselah."

And, of course, Hamlet

is "Conscience of the King."

Yeah, the one where
Captain Kirk

plays the prince
and Kodos plays Claudius.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

I didn't know.

You are a dear for making
that connection for me.

And, a fellow of infinite jest
of most excellent fancy.

Huh.

See, that's why
I got to get home

because I'm working

on this fan-fic
for this Trekker web-zine.

Now, it's based on Richard III.

But I'm calling mine

Picard III. What do you think?

You know
something, Bud?

You may have stumbled on
to a most unique teaching aid.

JOHNSON:
Let's get on with it,
Commander.

Aye, sir.

All right, at 2355 a Tomcat
makes an off-center trap.

The LSO's petty officer
writes it up as normal.

Now, the log entry error
is not the soul cause

of this mishap, however.

At zero-one-zero-five
an F-18 Super Hornet

radios in
requesting final approach.

Pri-fly misdials the aircraft
as a Hornet, not a Super Hornet.

That's a weight differential
of 8,000-plus pounds.

Not sufficient force,
all things being equal,

to damage the arresting wire
to the point of breakage.

But it did damage the wire

to the point of breakage,
Commander.

The off-center trap
and the heavy landing

added the equivalent of 15 traps

to that wire.

That still put
the trap volume below

the 125 recommended
by the navy for regular usage.

That cross-deck pendant
should still have been able

to withstand another
ten to 20 traps.

I think we're all

aware of that, Commander.

If you'll bear
with me, Captain.

Now, in the
resting gear room,

Chief Kafenhaus realizes

they've had excessive run-out.

The cross-head pulley

ran out to 184 inches.

Now, regs recommends in-depth
inspection at 185 inches.

Chief Kafenhaus
was still operating

within navy guidelines,
as were you all.

Collectively,
you're all responsible

for what happened on deck.

But no one person is to blame.

We'll be filing
an amended report

stating there's
insufficient evidence

to recommend an Article 32
hearing in this case.

Now, that's it, Skipper.

( sighs )

You're all dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Commander Rabb, you can stay.

Who was that show intended for?

We're all involved, Skipper.

Nobody deserves
to be court-martialed

for what happened
aboard the deck, sir.

It was an accident.

And certainly no officer
need resign over it.

Will you accept these
findings, Skipper?

Commander, I have found
that arguing with attorneys

is rarely a winning proposition.

And I don't believe
it's too late

to reconsider
my hasty retirement.

Thank you.

Sir.

RABB:
We're all going to miss you
on terra firma.

We'll be at Norfolk
in two weeks, Harm.

I think you can hold
the fort until then.

What are you up to?

What do you mean?

All the secrecy, the
private phone calls...

What aren't you telling me
about Lieutenant Singer?

Mac, Lieutenant Singer
risked a court-martial

to keep her life private.

I have to respect that.

Chivalry is not dead.

Colonel. Commander.

Good luck, Lieutenant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Let's hit it.

I haven't been able
to get ahold of my
brother in Russia.

I assume you're having
the same problem.

It's no concern of mine, sir.

Sergei's the father

isn't he,
Lieutenant?

Look, Loren, you drove him
to the airport.

I have a witness who saw you two

cuddling together at Benzinger's
the night before.

You've been spying on me?

Why didn't you tell us?

Because, Commander,

two weeks later
and no one would have known.

MAN ( over intercom ):
Stand by for take-off.

Known what?

I'm having an abortion, sir.

( loud blast )