JAG (1995–2005): Season 9, Episode 17 - Take It Like a Man - full transcript
A former corporal in the US Marine Corps, while speaking at a middle school, claims to have received a Silver Star for his actions in Panama in 1989; however, he then faces an accusation of both lying and the unauthorized wearing of an award. The SecNav recalls him to active duty and refers the matter to a court-martial; Harm prosecutes, ad Mac defends. While Bud babysits in his office with a venomous Asian snake, it disappears; later Sturgis finds it. After Mac's recent experience with Sadik, she has difficulty in interacting with others; the admiral sends her to Bethesda to see a shrink. Mac makes a significant statement to Webb, but he misses the point. Harm and Mattie continue to have ups and downs.
(thunder rumbling)
MAN:
We were looking for intruders
near the Arraijan Tank Farm.
(grunting)
Wallis had a bad break
in his leg.
Soldados
from the Panamanian
Defense Force showed up.
"Machos de Montes"
they called themselves--
"Strongmen of the Mountains."
(groaning)
(gunfire)
(yelling)
Petrosian's shoulder
was all torn up.
So, I started laying down
cover fire.
I lay down cover fire,
I get Petrosian up to his feet.
But by now,
they are tossing grenades,
so I keep firing.
I keep firing
and dragging Petrosian.
Firing and dragging Petrosian,
I just had to get out of there.
My unit made it
back in one piece.
For my actions,
I was awarded this.
(laughing)
MAN:
Except it never happened,
Mr. Strange.
You're a liar and I've reported
your fraud to the Marine Corps.
Corporal Hal Strange,
United States Marine Corps.
Served in Panama
during Operation Just Cause,
then went out on disability
retirement a year later
after separating his shoulder.
Just Cause?
That was the mission to
capture Noriega, wasn't it?
The SECNAV has authorized
this court-martial.
Corporal Strange will be brought
back on active duty
and charged with an
Article 134 violation--
wearing
an unauthorized decoration
and in this case, on a uniform
he was also unauthorized
to wear.
Seems he bought
a Silver Star Medal and ribbon
at an Army/Navy store,
dummied the citation to
make himself into a hero.
He's been wearing his
uniform in violation
of regulations and bilking
schools and civic groups
out of speaking fees
for nearly
a decade...
Shouldn't take long
to sort this one out, sir.
Well, I'm glad you feel
that way, Colonel,
'cause you'll be
defending the man.
Bring it on.
He's currently free
on his own recognizance
and will be in later today
to meet with you.
Great.
Don't take this lightly,
Colonel.
Corporal Strange's actions have
been a major embarrassment
to the Marine Corps...
I'm clear, sir.
Colonel, would you please
stop interrupting me?
You're worse than Coates.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'll get right on it.
Will that be all?
No, that will not be all.
Commander, you'll prosecute.
Aye, sir.
Now you're dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
(knocks on door)
Lieutenant.
Hi, Commander, come on in.
How was the Big Easy?
Still as easy as ever.
Listen, the venue made up
too many headshots of Varese.
She thought the USO might want
to send some out to the troops
to boost morale.
Thanks, Commander.
Harriet is really going
to appreciate this.
How's she doing, Bud?
She's at home with
the boys today.
Ever since A.J. ran away,
it's almost like she's afraid
to let them out of her sight.
Hmm. I understand
completely.
Just, uh, give her my best
if you would.
I will, sir.
Thank you.
That's a snake,
Lieutenant.
That's a rare habu
pit viper, sir.
Also known as the
Trimeresurus flavoviridis.
Uh, don't touch her, sir.
She can kill you.
I had no intention
of touching her, Lieutenant.
Why is she in your office?
Evidence, sir.
I'm working on a plea
agreement for the ensign
who smuggled her out of
Okinawa in his shirt.
It was so cold in
the evidence room
and she is a
tropical snake.
And it's warm
in your office.
I'm just looking
after her
until the ensign gets
out of the hospital.
Hey...
(snake hisses)
They gave him the
antivenom just in time.
Luckily, there's a five-hour
window before it turns deadly.
I wouldn't let the admiral
see you with that thing.
(phone rings)
JAG Ops.
Petty Officer Coates.
Commander, it's Mr. Johnson,
Mattie's dad.
Hello, Mr. Johnson.
How are you, sir?
I'm doing okay, Commander.
I just finished my first
phase of treatment.
Haven't had a drink
in two months.
Congratulations.
Listen, I want
to see my daughter.
Have you spoken to Mattie
about that?
No.
Mattie won't take my calls.
I was hoping maybe
you could talk to her.
I'm not asking
for unsupervised visitation.
I just... I'd just like
to see my little girl.
Prosecution has copies of
the citation you forged,
pictures of you wearing your
bogus uniform and medal,
and newspaper articles
quoting your claims
that you performed duty
above and beyond the call
when we both know
that's not true.
Whose side did you say
you were on, ma'am?
Yours, Corporal.
That's why I'm
advising you
to change your
plea to guilty.
There's only one problem
with that, Colonel.
I deserved that medal.
Marine Corps has
no record of it.
That doesn't mean
it didn't happen, ma'am.
Now, I know you've never
served in combat,
and I doubt you've
ever had to kill anyone.
My history is irrelevant.
This meeting is about you.
Maybe you have, Colonel.
Had to kill.
Maybe more than once.
I've given you my legal advice.
Call me when you've
made your decision.
Did you get a medal for it,
Colonel?
The killing?
Don't you think
you deserved one?
MATTIE:
I always knew
you had a domestic side.
Oh, what, I make a little pasta,
create some garlic bread--
wow, ooh--
and suddenly I'm Martha Stewart?
You ever take home ec?
Home economics?
No, no. In my day,
wood shop was the preferred
elective for boys.
How'd you learn
how to cook?
Trial and error, mostly.
Mostly error.
Well, you figured it out
eventually.
Hey, you think
you could teach me
how to boil some water before
I start classes next semester?
Because I don't think
being able to call out
for pizza delivery
is going to cut it
with my teacher.
Well, boiling water's
a tough one,
but I think we might
be able to manage it.
Uh... you know,
your dad called today.
He wants to see you.
(fork clatters)
Yeah, well, I'd like
to see my mom.
Mattie... y-your father's
in a rehabilitation facility.
He's trying to get
his life together.
What, by ruining mine?!
Mattie!
Look, your father agreed
to this arrangement
because he thought
it was for the best.
He never gave up
his right to visit.
So I have to see him?
Hey, I'm going to be there
with you the whole time.
All right?
(sighs)
Does this judge say
I have to hug him, too,
and tell him I forgive him
or pretend like we're
a big, happy family?
Look, I know that
this is difficult,
but I also know that
you can handle it.
I know I can.
Can you?
♪ Call me... call me... ♪
(MacKenzie giggles)
MacKENZIE:
Stop it.
No.
Stop it.
MAN:
You're ticklish.
No, that would be giving you
the response you wanted.
Giving me
the response I wanted
didn't seem to bother
you 20 minutes ago.
♪ And we must leave
each other... ♪
You know, I should
go away more often
if this is the homecoming
I'm going to get.
Don't, Clay.
One of these days
your welcoming committee
might not be so welcoming.
♪ It's all in a day's work... ♪
Are you mad that I'm leaving
or that I wasn't here
when Sadik showed up?
Neither.
That would be
irrational.
That's never stopped you before.
Drop it, Clay.
I'm not angry, okay?
You didn't see fit to mention
this non-anger
when I walked in the door?
They give men a bad rap
for being able
to put their emotions aside
and fall into bed.
Oh, so, what,
now I have no feelings
because I slept with you first
and asked questions later?
I didn't say that.
Then what are
you saying?!
You're running on adrenaline,
Sarah.
Like it or not, it's a rush
to kill somebody.
I mean, it's
nothing conscious,
but it does make you
feel more alive...
more passionate.
You're twisted, Clay.
There-There's
a documented connection
between intimate violence
and sexuality.
What kind of a sick person
are you?!
And we were so close.
So close to what?
To having a nice evening.
You're looking for an argument
I don't want to have.
Oh, so you're just going
to walk out
right in the middle of this?
My cab's probably here.
Besides, you should
thank me for walking out.
A lot of guys'd stay
and fight back.
Oh, yeah, go ahead.
Disappear.
Why break the pattern
of a lifetime?
(door closes)
(grunts)
(glass shatters)
CHEGWIDDEN:
What happened
to a pretrial agreement?
Corporal Strange
isn't interested, sir.
He wants a trial
to air his grievances
against the Marine Corps.
H-He says he's never lied
about his exploits in Panama.
Claims his unit
wouldn't vouch for him.
So now you think he's
telling the truth?
PFC Wallis did suffer
a compound leg fracture
outside the Arraijan
Tank Farm in 1989.
A Lance Corporal Petrosian
was treated
for a through-and-through
shoulder wound
the same night.
What happened to your hand?
Uh, it's nothing, sir.
Why the sudden about-face
with Corporal Strange?
He feels his actions
were meritorious
and he's being treated
unfairly.
I think he may be right.
Not like you to believe
an unsubstantiated story
like this.
Maybe you don't know me
as well as you think you do.
Maybe you came back
to work too soon, Colonel.
Mac...
been through
hell of a lot.
By "a lot,"
you mean I had to kill
the bad guy...
like marines
are supposed to do.
It's nothing I haven't had
to do before, sir.
Marines need some
downtime just like...
Admiral, I take great solace
in the fact
that I helped Sadik Fahd
attain the martyrdom
he so deeply desired.
Oh, I'm sure I'll be getting
a fruit basket
any day now from the White
House for getting rid
of an international terrorist
of his caliber.
You're dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
(whistling)
RABB:
Mr. Whorley, how did you meet
Corporal Strange?
WHORLEY:
I saw his advertisement in
the school district newsletter.
He said he'd been
a combat veteran
of the Panama Crisis who'd
been awarded the Silver Star.
What was his lecture fee,
based on the qualifications
he claimed to have?
WHORLEY:
Two hundred dollars.
I thought it would be worth it
for the kids
to hear a man who'd proved
his patriotism.
Little did I know,
the guy was just a traitor
to the Marine Corps...
and to his country.
Objection, opinion
and inflammatory.
JUDGE:
Sustained.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
Mr. Whorley, what
happened to your hand?
I was playing Polonius.
I'm the drama teacher,
and... I fell--
it's just a hairline fracture.
Now... is it true
that you attempted to join
the Marine Corps in 1984?
Yes. Um, I couldn't pass
the physical.
And you've had
a love-hate relationship
with those who did pass
the physical
ever since-- isn't
that also true?
Is Defense Counsel
reading minds now, Your Honor?
Stay out of the witness' head,
Colonel.
Yes, Your Honor.
You have flat feet
and a spastic colon,
don't you, Mr. Whorley?
What?!
Irrelevant, Your Honor.
I agree. Sustained.
So, how is it that you got
a close enough look
at Corporal Strange's medal
to realize
that it wasn't really his?
Um... when he was
preparing his notes,
I took it out of the box.
Just wanted to, uh...
see what it looked
like on me.
You wanted to play
marine war hero, is that it?
You're just
a jarhead groupie,
and I think you enjoyed
bringing a real marine
to his knees!
Your Honor, Defense Counsel
is attacking
my witness.
Sustained! Colonel MacKenzie,
I will hold you
in contempt!
The witness may step down.
This court is in recess.
(gavel bangs)
Can I walk you out, Tiger?
I don't know what
happened in there.
I started questioning him,
and... I just lost it.
Well, your client
doesn't seem to mind.
My client has a chip
on his shoulder.
Colonel.
My office.
Yes, sir.
Everything okay, Bud?
Everything's great, sir.
Have a good night.
Good night.
I'll get it.
Lieutenant Roberts,
I have an extra pen.
Oh, uh, that's okay.
I'll-I'll-I'll find mine.
What the hell happened to you
in the courtroom today?
I'm sorry, sir.
Sorry doesn't cut it.
I'll write a letter of apology
to Judge Blakely
and Mr. Whorley.
Oh, you'll do better
than that.
Bethesda has an excellent
psychology department.
You will make yourself
available.
You think I
need a shrink?
Tone, Colonel.
Sorry, sir, but
I feel fine.
You're trying to pretend
that you just didn't go
through hell,
and you're doing
a damn awful job of it!
You think I'm in denial?
I'm not a expert
in the field, Colonel.
That's why I'm sending you
to Bethesda.
That is hardly fair, sir,
given your recent behavior:
denying your own broken heart.
Lock it up, marine.
If I didn't have as much respect
for you as I do,
that insubordination would go
on your permanent record.
Now, you will get your butt
to that shrink
before you exhaust
what's left
of my charitable nature.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
Uh... M-M-Mattie,
why don't you tell your dad
about your new school?
I'm going to school.
Oh, how-how is it?
It's fine.
Mattie made the volleyball team.
Oh, that's great.
What are you doing?!
Harm has a nice
place here.
Doesn't want you
smoking it up.
Mattie, it's okay.
Oh, I'm-I'm sorry.
No, no, i-it's fine, Tom.
You're always
sorry, aren't you?
I'm so embarrassed.
I should go.
No, uh, Tom, please.
Yeah. Thanks for the pizza.
No, I don't, uh...
I don't want
to make things worse.
Well, look, Tom, at least
l-let me drive you back
to the center, all right?
No, it's okay.
I'll-I'll take the train.
Come on, Tom, look,
I-I'd appreciate it
if you'd let me give you a ride.
Thank you.
I'll just, um...
wait outside for you.
That wasn't very nice.
I told you he couldn't
behave himself.
I was talking about you, Mattie.
You always overreact like that
with your dad?
You're obviously
taking his side
because you think
that if I kiss and
make up with him,
I can just go back there
and live with him.
That's not true,
and you know it.
Mattie, there are no sides
to this.
You're his daughter, and
whether you realize it or not,
one day you're going to regret
pushing him out of your life.
You know something, Harm?
Sometimes I think I was happier
before I met you.
(door opens)
(knocking)
Aren't you going
to let me in?
You like shadows,
don't you, Clay?
You work in them,
you live in them...
Well, I prefer to
call it ambiance.
Mm, I haven't tasted wine
in a long time.
Um... I thought
we decided
to take a few days apart.
Yeah, I decided
I didn't want that.
All right, Sarah...
Uh-huh.
Sarah...
Mm-hmm?
Sarah...
This isn't you.
Oh, yeah? Who am I?
Uh, normally, you're...
reasonable, composed...
in control of yourself.
You ever think that,
as a marine,
I've trained to handle
difficult things?
Some of the best people I know,
marines and otherwise,
have been strong enough
to ask for help.
What, are you and Chegwidden
comparing notes now?
You both think
I need a shrink?
Maybe we both see
the same thing...
and we both care about you.
Did you talk to someone...
after Paraguay?
A debriefing with an
agency psychologist is SOP.
Oh, and is that why
you travel with a bottle?
Cana, a reminder
of the worst thing
that ever happened to you.
Did you, uh, tell
your counselor
about your desire
to do penance?
A lot happened
on that mission.
I felt guilty for
putting you in danger.
I was mad at myself
for letting Sadik
get his hands on me
and for letting
him get away.
I failed to complete
my assignment.
Oh, that's right.
I had to do it for you
just last week...
and you can't stand that.
Sarah, go home
and get some rest.
You can't just
dismiss me, Clay.
I'm not one of
your field assets
hanging on your
every order.
(sighs)
Things, places...
You don't have a single picture
of a human being in here.
I guess people, with all
of their inconvenient emotions,
are just too
challenging for you.
Things get a little sticky,
and you're showing me the door?
Says the woman who hasn't had
one consistent relationship
in her entire life--
oh, I forgot.
You have Harm.
You don't know anything
about him.
I know that his being
unavailable
has given you
something to hide behind.
I didn't mean that.
Yes, you did--
don't touch me.
Oh, come on, I thought-- I
thought that's why you came--
'cause you wanted me
to touch you.
See, I've been stupid enough
to think
that you liked the feeling
of my hands on you, Sarah.
Think what you want--
just get out of my way.
Well, come on, it's taken us
eight months to get this far.
You're going to-- you're ready
to throw it away in one night?
This far? Just where
are we, Webb,
and what am
I throwing away?!
Our shot at
happiness, Sarah.
You don't have what it takes
to make me happy.
WOMAN:
Why are you here, Colonel?
MacKENZIE:
My CO suggested it.
Suggested it or
insisted on it?
The latter.
My significant other
made a similar request.
Why do you think
they did that?
I've been anxious.
I just think
the world around me
isn't moving fast enough
to keep up with me.
You were involved
in a hostage situation recently.
Is that what my file says?
I'll be honest, Colonel.
Since this case is still
under investigation by the CIA,
most of what I'd need to know
to help you is classified.
Well, let me
enlighten you,
Commander.
A very bad man
tried to lure me into a trap.
But I'd learned my lesson.
I knew him before,
so I wore a wire.
I tipped the feds off
to a terrorist bombing,
and I walked away in one piece.
I killed a man who...
(grunts)
(groans)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
...under interrogation
could have given us
half the players on the feds'
terrorist watch list.
You said you knew this man?
He tried to kill me before.
You know, when people consume
your time and mental energy,
for better or worse,
they become part
of your psyche.
Killing this man
may have left a hole
in your subconscious.
He invoked fear in you.
Now that the fear is gone,
the exhilaration
of keeping one step
ahead of him is gone.
You think I miss the bastard?
It's possible
that you miss the rush
of rehearsing
the confrontation
that you thought
was inevitable.
That's why your
reaction to his death
wasn't satisfaction,
but continued
aggressive behavior.
Unless there's more
to the story,
something from your past
you'd like to talk about.
CHEGWIDDEN:
Coates.
Where are the refills
to my pens?
You been organizing me again?
Only because I know how much
you value efficiency, sir.
I stocked your desk
according to the most
frequently used items.
Legal pads in front, then
your highlighters, and then...
Excuse me, sir,
is, is everything okay in here?
The refill is in
the bottom right drawer, sir.
What is it
you needed,
Lieutenant?
Oh, I've just lost track
of something, sir.
Sir?
(laughs with relief)
Oh, it's the paperweight
Dr. Cavanaugh
gave you, sir.
Sorry, sir.
May I be excused, sir?
Yes.
Thank you, sir.
(drops paperweight in drawer)
Ensign Thompson?
Sir.
There you are.
The prosecution has proposed
a pretrial agreement
that would allow you
to skip a trial.
All you have to
do is plead guilty
to bringing the snake in
to the United States...
Paula, sir.
The snake's name is Paula.
Okay, uh, if you
agree to plead guilty
to smuggling Paula onto
a military aircraft,
into the United States,
you don't have to serve
any brig time. Okay?
I have a few conditions,
Lieutenant.
I really don't think
that you're in position to be
making any demands, Ensign.
They'll kill her, sir.
Paula is
very special to me.
The least I can do
is make sure she goes to a zoo
and not to a wallet factory.
I don't know if the convening
authority would agree to that.
But you can ask, can't you, sir?
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, I can...
I can ask.
Corporal Strange,
can you explain
the term "medal inflation"
to the court?
Yes, ma'am.
It's when a high percentage
of the participants
in a combat situation
are awarded medals.
Such as was the case
following the Panama Crisis.
That's correct, ma'am.
I fail to see what relevance
this has to the charges,
Your Honor.
I'll allow it,
but take me from "A" to "Z"
in a timely manner, Colonel.
Yes, Your Honor.
And you never received
a personal award
for your service in Panama,
but you know men who did,
is that right?
Yes, ma'am.
I know a corporal who received
the Navy Commendation Medal
for being a chauffeur,
and a gunny who
got the Bronze Star
for nearly shooting
his own foot off in a firefight.
Not to mention the Purple Heart
awarded
to Lance Corporal Petrosian,
the man that I personally
pulled out of enemy fire.
All these medals awarded,
and yet you were overlooked
despite the evidence you
provided to support your story?
I managed to get hold
of medical records, ma'am,
for Wallis and Petrosian.
After the conflict,
I even went back to Panama,
took pictures
of where it happened.
I mapped the whole thing out.
Still, nobody believed me.
Your student lectures
were the truth,
weren't they, Corporal Strange?
Yes, ma'am.
And wouldn't you say
the truth
is worth a $200
speaking fee?
Corporal Strange's
alleged actions in combat
are not the issue, Your Honor.
Objection sustained.
We'll continue after lunch.
Court is in recess until 1500.
Ensign Thompson has asked me
to propose a pretrial agreement
while he's in the hospital.
He agrees to plead guilty
to conduct unbecoming
and violating
custom regulations.
Are you all right,
Lieutenant?
Yes, ma'am. Why?
You're sweating.
I am?
Ooh.
Oh, I was running...
running late, ma'am.
Ensign Thompson
is still facing
a General Article
violation.
Yes, ma'am-- animal cruelty--
but he's made it clear to me
that he can't
in good conscience
plead guilty to that charge.
Is he claiming
he didn't do it?
Well, he's claiming
it wasn't cruelty.
He believes that Paula--
his name for the snake--
willingly accompanied him
on the C-130, ma'am.
I don't want to waste
the navy's time with this.
The Article 134
charge is dropped,
and I'll disapprove
any confinement
if the ensign pleads
to the remaining charges.
Ensign Thompson
has one condition.
He doesn't want
the snake destroyed.
He wants it to go to a zoo.
Does this particular snake's
venom cause brain damage?
Well, now, just some
slight nerve damage, ma'am.
And that's only if the antivenom
isn't administered
in the first five hours,
which you can pretty much
count on.
Anyway,
her bite won't be as lethal,
since it takes quite a while
to build the venom back up
and it's been--
what, one, two...?
I'll have
my staff judge advocate
contact the National Zoo.
Produce Paula...
in my office by close
of business tomorrow.
Tomorrow, ma'am?
Thank you.
Can I go?
Yes, Lieutenant.
(thudding)
RABB:
Medal inflation?
Just giving my client
the defense he deserves.
Come on, Mac, you're
arguing everything
but the case in there.
I mean, your client
has shown bad judgment
and no sense of
responsibility.
Doesn't it bother you
as a fellow marine
that even when this
guy is cornered
he still won't own up
to making a mistake?
Come on, Harm,
when was the last time
you admitted to being wrong
about anything?
Oh, you want to
get personal?
Yeah, maybe I do.
All right. I'm the one with
grown-up responsibilities now.
Mattie, the house
I'm trying to buy.
At least I'm finally
letting people into my life.
Mm, toys.
What happens when you get
bored with suburbia, Harm?
Are you going to just
lose interest in Mattie
like you did your brother?
He preferred life in Russia
to being here
and being ignored by you.
You fight to draw people
into your circle
just so
you can push them away again.
You know, this isn't about
me losing interest in Mattie.
You think I'm losing
interest in you.
RABB:
Corporal Strange,
how many times did you
petition the Marine Corps
to receive the Silver Star?
Four times, sir.
And how many times were you
denied that award, Corporal?
You know the answer
to that already, Commander--
four times.
Oh, please, tell the court
why your attempts to receive
the retroactive award
were denied on
so many occasions?
Because my buddies
wouldn't back me up
about what happened, sir.
Well, Corporal,
isn't it, in fact,
because the Marine
Corps has no record
of your alleged heroism?
It's because the men I
saved that night decided
I didn't deserve it,
Commander, that's why.
Why would a group of
marines get together
and stonewall a fellow marine?
Because they didn't like me.
See, I was a loner.
They didn't consider me to be
part of their little club.
Well, Corporal, that's the
problem with being a loner.
You're always on the
outside looking in.
You make it impossible
to be your friend,
and then you wonder
why you feel so alone.
I have no further
questions.
MacKENZIE:
I thought about what you said.
That, uh,
my aggression was
just to fill a void
left by the absence
of the man I killed.
Do you think I was right?
In a way.
My childhood
was, uh,
unpredictable.
I was always afraid
my father would mistake me
for my mother
and put his fist
through my face.
You develop instincts
when you live like that.
You felt the thrill
when faced with a man
who wanted you dead.
There's nothing
thrilling
about it.
I went back to thinking
I was the only person
who could look out for me.
Every disagreement became
a chance to attack.
Including your arguments
in court.
Yes, but I'm fine now.
I think there's still more
to talk about, don't you?
You killed your husband
in self-defense,
Colonel.
That was a long time ago.
It was a similar situation.
No. I cared
about my husband,
despite his faults.
That event was a tragedy.
What happened last week was
just taking out the garbage.
I've satisfied my CO's request
that I speak to a counselor.
No long-term treatment
was ever part of the deal,
so I think I'm done.
Very well.
You know
you can always come back
anytime you like.
MATTIE:
Thanks for driving me
to school.
RABB:
Look, I'll
walk you in.
No, it's okay.
No, I-I want to.
Where'd you get these?
I, uh, stopped
on the way home
and, uh, picked them up
from a youth center.
Alateen?
It's for teenagers
with alcoholic parents.
(school bell rings)
They, uh...
They meet, they...
They talk about their problems.
There's no adults allowed.
I-I thought
it might be good.
I'll make you a deal.
I promise to think about this
if you promise
to forgive me for being
such a brat the other night.
Deal.
I thought... I thought
we were winning, ma'am.
You're not winning,
legally or karmically.
Oh, like I give a damn.
You should.
You were a
competent marine.
You could have
done great things,
but your attitude
alienated
everyone
around you.
Now, I believe
you saved those men,
but I can't
prove it.
I can't get you
acquitted on the
charges you face,
because
you're guilty.
But if you could
provide one
eyewitness to what happened,
you might earn yourself
some leniency among the members.
Petrosian
and the others won't....
Have you
ever asked?
Nicely?
Buddy Petrosian runs
his family's butcher shop
in College Park.
Here's the address.
The rest is up to you.
If Petrosian is willing,
call me.
I can file for a continuance
if we need one.
Yes, ma'am.
Lieutenant Roberts?
Yes, sir?
Would you join me
in my office, please?
Now, sir?
Yes, Lieutenant.
Would you have a look
under my desk, Lieutenant?
Sir?
Under the desk,
Lieutenant.
Yes, sir.
Paula!
Oh, my God!
(grunts)
Oh.
Oh, sir. Oh!
Sir, thank you.
Thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Where-Where did you
find her?
Not where
she should have been,
Lieutenant,
at the zoo or some hole.
I do trust
she'll be leaving us soon?
Yes, sir. She has a date
with the convening authority
in one hour.
(laughs)
MacKENZIE:
Mr. Petrosian,
what is the nature of your
relationship with Hal Strange?
Up until this morning,
I'd have said
we didn't have one.
But you did
serve in Panama
with him, didn't you?
We were in the same unit.
He wasn't a...
a nice man, was he?
Truth be told,
he was a jackass.
The man would
argue constantly
about everything from
baseball to politics.
He made it clear
that the rest of us weren't made
of the same stuff that he was.
Didn't stop him
from pulling you
out of the line of fire
when you were shot
by enemy combatants,
though, did it?
No, ma'am.
His clear dislike
of me didn't seem to
affect his decision
to put his own life in danger
to save mine.
(loud gunfire, screaming)
Get up!
(gunfire and groaning)
Get up, Petrosian!
Come on... come on!
(screaming)
PETROSIAN:
I didn't think
we'd get out of there.
They had us outnumbered.
But you did make it,
didn't you?
(clears throat)
Me and Wallis, the others--
Hal saved our skins that night.
MacKENZIE:
Thank you for your honesty.
I have nothing further.
Mr. Petrosian,
were you ever contacted
by Headquarters Marine Corps
seeking confirmation
of Corporal Strange's claims?
Yes.
But you didn't make
that confirmation.
Did you?
So were you lying then,
or you're lying now?
Your Honor.
Valid question,
Colonel.
(sighs)
I was lying then, sir.
We all were.
After they patched me up,
I went to thank
Corporal Strange.
He looked at me
like I was dirt
under his boots.
Said I wasn't a real marine.
Said the only reason
we found ourselves in that mess
was because Wallis was a klutz
and the rest
of us were amateurs.
Well, I told
the other guys.
And we decided then
never to admit
to what had happened that night.
I guess Hal is not the only guy
who can hold a grudge
long past its
usefulness.
All I ever wanted
was an apology for what he said.
Yeah, that can go a long way.
I have no further questions,
Your Honor.
JUDGE BLAKELY:
You can step down,
Mr. Petrosian.
Thank you for what you did.
Your Honor, I'd like
to recall Corporal Strange
to the stand.
So noted, Colonel.
I remind the accused
that he is still under oath.
MacKENZIE:
What impact
do you think Mr. Petrosian's
testimony should have
on the outcome of your case?
In terms of the charges
I'm facing, ma'am,
none.
You never meant
to sully the image
of the Marine Corps,
did you, Corporal Strange?
No, ma'am.
You just wanted someone
to recognize
what you'd been through.
And in your anger,
you went about it the wrong way.
Isn't that so?
It is, ma'am.
I don't expect to walk
out of this a free man.
I just hope
that in sentencing,
my combat actions
are considered.
And I'll sleep better now.
Now that I know they remember.
The defense rests, Your Honor.
I know I've been acting
like someone I'm not,
and I'm sorry for that.
Well, you weren't alone.
I wish I hadn't reacted
the way I did.
You just have to give
yourself some time
to get over this, Sarah.
Sadik was trained in
psychological terror.
It's not a sign of weakness
if you need a while
to get over it.
Longer than you needed,
you mean?
It's not a competition.
You know,
it almost sounds
like you're jealous
that I'm the one
who finally got him.
I don't like
that I wasn't there.
You're never there, Clay.
That's why I had to learn
to take care of myself.
Even Sadik said
that I was brave
for showing up alone.
Psy Ops 101.
To remind you
how vulnerable you were.
Oh, so now I fell for his game?
I don't want to argue
about it, Sarah.
What happened to what
you said to me in Paraguay?
That-That you would always
listen to me,
how you would never
make me wonder.
This is the real world, Sarah.
I'm not dealing with you
when you're like this.
You shut me up one more time
when I need you, and we're done.
(sighs)
(sighs)
Sadik wanted me.
I could tell.
And I let him look at me,
a woman.
I didn't cover up.
I just took off my coat.
And I dared him to look,
just to see if he was
as pure of thought
as he claimed to be.
I wanted to prove to myself
that he was just like
every other man.
I don't know how to take that.
Don't you get it?
He resisted.
He resisted me in a way
that I wish
I could have resisted temptation
my entire life.
He made me feel weak.
It's okay, Sarah.
It's not okay.
He did what he intended.
He reduced me
to someone who acts on impulse,
without intellect.
He was down
when I shot him.
And armed.
That report
was agency charity, Clay.
He was winged
in the shoulder,
and he couldn't fire at me.
And you can never
know that for sure.
Oh, I know what I did.
I didn't shoot him
because I thought
he was going
to shoot at me.
I killed him for what he was.
And because I was angry
for what he...
Because he hurt
someone I love.
I love you, too.
MAN:
We were looking for intruders
near the Arraijan Tank Farm.
(grunting)
Wallis had a bad break
in his leg.
Soldados
from the Panamanian
Defense Force showed up.
"Machos de Montes"
they called themselves--
"Strongmen of the Mountains."
(groaning)
(gunfire)
(yelling)
Petrosian's shoulder
was all torn up.
So, I started laying down
cover fire.
I lay down cover fire,
I get Petrosian up to his feet.
But by now,
they are tossing grenades,
so I keep firing.
I keep firing
and dragging Petrosian.
Firing and dragging Petrosian,
I just had to get out of there.
My unit made it
back in one piece.
For my actions,
I was awarded this.
(laughing)
MAN:
Except it never happened,
Mr. Strange.
You're a liar and I've reported
your fraud to the Marine Corps.
Corporal Hal Strange,
United States Marine Corps.
Served in Panama
during Operation Just Cause,
then went out on disability
retirement a year later
after separating his shoulder.
Just Cause?
That was the mission to
capture Noriega, wasn't it?
The SECNAV has authorized
this court-martial.
Corporal Strange will be brought
back on active duty
and charged with an
Article 134 violation--
wearing
an unauthorized decoration
and in this case, on a uniform
he was also unauthorized
to wear.
Seems he bought
a Silver Star Medal and ribbon
at an Army/Navy store,
dummied the citation to
make himself into a hero.
He's been wearing his
uniform in violation
of regulations and bilking
schools and civic groups
out of speaking fees
for nearly
a decade...
Shouldn't take long
to sort this one out, sir.
Well, I'm glad you feel
that way, Colonel,
'cause you'll be
defending the man.
Bring it on.
He's currently free
on his own recognizance
and will be in later today
to meet with you.
Great.
Don't take this lightly,
Colonel.
Corporal Strange's actions have
been a major embarrassment
to the Marine Corps...
I'm clear, sir.
Colonel, would you please
stop interrupting me?
You're worse than Coates.
I'm sorry, sir.
I'll get right on it.
Will that be all?
No, that will not be all.
Commander, you'll prosecute.
Aye, sir.
Now you're dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
(knocks on door)
Lieutenant.
Hi, Commander, come on in.
How was the Big Easy?
Still as easy as ever.
Listen, the venue made up
too many headshots of Varese.
She thought the USO might want
to send some out to the troops
to boost morale.
Thanks, Commander.
Harriet is really going
to appreciate this.
How's she doing, Bud?
She's at home with
the boys today.
Ever since A.J. ran away,
it's almost like she's afraid
to let them out of her sight.
Hmm. I understand
completely.
Just, uh, give her my best
if you would.
I will, sir.
Thank you.
That's a snake,
Lieutenant.
That's a rare habu
pit viper, sir.
Also known as the
Trimeresurus flavoviridis.
Uh, don't touch her, sir.
She can kill you.
I had no intention
of touching her, Lieutenant.
Why is she in your office?
Evidence, sir.
I'm working on a plea
agreement for the ensign
who smuggled her out of
Okinawa in his shirt.
It was so cold in
the evidence room
and she is a
tropical snake.
And it's warm
in your office.
I'm just looking
after her
until the ensign gets
out of the hospital.
Hey...
(snake hisses)
They gave him the
antivenom just in time.
Luckily, there's a five-hour
window before it turns deadly.
I wouldn't let the admiral
see you with that thing.
(phone rings)
JAG Ops.
Petty Officer Coates.
Commander, it's Mr. Johnson,
Mattie's dad.
Hello, Mr. Johnson.
How are you, sir?
I'm doing okay, Commander.
I just finished my first
phase of treatment.
Haven't had a drink
in two months.
Congratulations.
Listen, I want
to see my daughter.
Have you spoken to Mattie
about that?
No.
Mattie won't take my calls.
I was hoping maybe
you could talk to her.
I'm not asking
for unsupervised visitation.
I just... I'd just like
to see my little girl.
Prosecution has copies of
the citation you forged,
pictures of you wearing your
bogus uniform and medal,
and newspaper articles
quoting your claims
that you performed duty
above and beyond the call
when we both know
that's not true.
Whose side did you say
you were on, ma'am?
Yours, Corporal.
That's why I'm
advising you
to change your
plea to guilty.
There's only one problem
with that, Colonel.
I deserved that medal.
Marine Corps has
no record of it.
That doesn't mean
it didn't happen, ma'am.
Now, I know you've never
served in combat,
and I doubt you've
ever had to kill anyone.
My history is irrelevant.
This meeting is about you.
Maybe you have, Colonel.
Had to kill.
Maybe more than once.
I've given you my legal advice.
Call me when you've
made your decision.
Did you get a medal for it,
Colonel?
The killing?
Don't you think
you deserved one?
MATTIE:
I always knew
you had a domestic side.
Oh, what, I make a little pasta,
create some garlic bread--
wow, ooh--
and suddenly I'm Martha Stewart?
You ever take home ec?
Home economics?
No, no. In my day,
wood shop was the preferred
elective for boys.
How'd you learn
how to cook?
Trial and error, mostly.
Mostly error.
Well, you figured it out
eventually.
Hey, you think
you could teach me
how to boil some water before
I start classes next semester?
Because I don't think
being able to call out
for pizza delivery
is going to cut it
with my teacher.
Well, boiling water's
a tough one,
but I think we might
be able to manage it.
Uh... you know,
your dad called today.
He wants to see you.
(fork clatters)
Yeah, well, I'd like
to see my mom.
Mattie... y-your father's
in a rehabilitation facility.
He's trying to get
his life together.
What, by ruining mine?!
Mattie!
Look, your father agreed
to this arrangement
because he thought
it was for the best.
He never gave up
his right to visit.
So I have to see him?
Hey, I'm going to be there
with you the whole time.
All right?
(sighs)
Does this judge say
I have to hug him, too,
and tell him I forgive him
or pretend like we're
a big, happy family?
Look, I know that
this is difficult,
but I also know that
you can handle it.
I know I can.
Can you?
♪ Call me... call me... ♪
(MacKenzie giggles)
MacKENZIE:
Stop it.
No.
Stop it.
MAN:
You're ticklish.
No, that would be giving you
the response you wanted.
Giving me
the response I wanted
didn't seem to bother
you 20 minutes ago.
♪ And we must leave
each other... ♪
You know, I should
go away more often
if this is the homecoming
I'm going to get.
Don't, Clay.
One of these days
your welcoming committee
might not be so welcoming.
♪ It's all in a day's work... ♪
Are you mad that I'm leaving
or that I wasn't here
when Sadik showed up?
Neither.
That would be
irrational.
That's never stopped you before.
Drop it, Clay.
I'm not angry, okay?
You didn't see fit to mention
this non-anger
when I walked in the door?
They give men a bad rap
for being able
to put their emotions aside
and fall into bed.
Oh, so, what,
now I have no feelings
because I slept with you first
and asked questions later?
I didn't say that.
Then what are
you saying?!
You're running on adrenaline,
Sarah.
Like it or not, it's a rush
to kill somebody.
I mean, it's
nothing conscious,
but it does make you
feel more alive...
more passionate.
You're twisted, Clay.
There-There's
a documented connection
between intimate violence
and sexuality.
What kind of a sick person
are you?!
And we were so close.
So close to what?
To having a nice evening.
You're looking for an argument
I don't want to have.
Oh, so you're just going
to walk out
right in the middle of this?
My cab's probably here.
Besides, you should
thank me for walking out.
A lot of guys'd stay
and fight back.
Oh, yeah, go ahead.
Disappear.
Why break the pattern
of a lifetime?
(door closes)
(grunts)
(glass shatters)
CHEGWIDDEN:
What happened
to a pretrial agreement?
Corporal Strange
isn't interested, sir.
He wants a trial
to air his grievances
against the Marine Corps.
H-He says he's never lied
about his exploits in Panama.
Claims his unit
wouldn't vouch for him.
So now you think he's
telling the truth?
PFC Wallis did suffer
a compound leg fracture
outside the Arraijan
Tank Farm in 1989.
A Lance Corporal Petrosian
was treated
for a through-and-through
shoulder wound
the same night.
What happened to your hand?
Uh, it's nothing, sir.
Why the sudden about-face
with Corporal Strange?
He feels his actions
were meritorious
and he's being treated
unfairly.
I think he may be right.
Not like you to believe
an unsubstantiated story
like this.
Maybe you don't know me
as well as you think you do.
Maybe you came back
to work too soon, Colonel.
Mac...
been through
hell of a lot.
By "a lot,"
you mean I had to kill
the bad guy...
like marines
are supposed to do.
It's nothing I haven't had
to do before, sir.
Marines need some
downtime just like...
Admiral, I take great solace
in the fact
that I helped Sadik Fahd
attain the martyrdom
he so deeply desired.
Oh, I'm sure I'll be getting
a fruit basket
any day now from the White
House for getting rid
of an international terrorist
of his caliber.
You're dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
(whistling)
RABB:
Mr. Whorley, how did you meet
Corporal Strange?
WHORLEY:
I saw his advertisement in
the school district newsletter.
He said he'd been
a combat veteran
of the Panama Crisis who'd
been awarded the Silver Star.
What was his lecture fee,
based on the qualifications
he claimed to have?
WHORLEY:
Two hundred dollars.
I thought it would be worth it
for the kids
to hear a man who'd proved
his patriotism.
Little did I know,
the guy was just a traitor
to the Marine Corps...
and to his country.
Objection, opinion
and inflammatory.
JUDGE:
Sustained.
No further questions,
Your Honor.
Mr. Whorley, what
happened to your hand?
I was playing Polonius.
I'm the drama teacher,
and... I fell--
it's just a hairline fracture.
Now... is it true
that you attempted to join
the Marine Corps in 1984?
Yes. Um, I couldn't pass
the physical.
And you've had
a love-hate relationship
with those who did pass
the physical
ever since-- isn't
that also true?
Is Defense Counsel
reading minds now, Your Honor?
Stay out of the witness' head,
Colonel.
Yes, Your Honor.
You have flat feet
and a spastic colon,
don't you, Mr. Whorley?
What?!
Irrelevant, Your Honor.
I agree. Sustained.
So, how is it that you got
a close enough look
at Corporal Strange's medal
to realize
that it wasn't really his?
Um... when he was
preparing his notes,
I took it out of the box.
Just wanted to, uh...
see what it looked
like on me.
You wanted to play
marine war hero, is that it?
You're just
a jarhead groupie,
and I think you enjoyed
bringing a real marine
to his knees!
Your Honor, Defense Counsel
is attacking
my witness.
Sustained! Colonel MacKenzie,
I will hold you
in contempt!
The witness may step down.
This court is in recess.
(gavel bangs)
Can I walk you out, Tiger?
I don't know what
happened in there.
I started questioning him,
and... I just lost it.
Well, your client
doesn't seem to mind.
My client has a chip
on his shoulder.
Colonel.
My office.
Yes, sir.
Everything okay, Bud?
Everything's great, sir.
Have a good night.
Good night.
I'll get it.
Lieutenant Roberts,
I have an extra pen.
Oh, uh, that's okay.
I'll-I'll-I'll find mine.
What the hell happened to you
in the courtroom today?
I'm sorry, sir.
Sorry doesn't cut it.
I'll write a letter of apology
to Judge Blakely
and Mr. Whorley.
Oh, you'll do better
than that.
Bethesda has an excellent
psychology department.
You will make yourself
available.
You think I
need a shrink?
Tone, Colonel.
Sorry, sir, but
I feel fine.
You're trying to pretend
that you just didn't go
through hell,
and you're doing
a damn awful job of it!
You think I'm in denial?
I'm not a expert
in the field, Colonel.
That's why I'm sending you
to Bethesda.
That is hardly fair, sir,
given your recent behavior:
denying your own broken heart.
Lock it up, marine.
If I didn't have as much respect
for you as I do,
that insubordination would go
on your permanent record.
Now, you will get your butt
to that shrink
before you exhaust
what's left
of my charitable nature.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
Uh... M-M-Mattie,
why don't you tell your dad
about your new school?
I'm going to school.
Oh, how-how is it?
It's fine.
Mattie made the volleyball team.
Oh, that's great.
What are you doing?!
Harm has a nice
place here.
Doesn't want you
smoking it up.
Mattie, it's okay.
Oh, I'm-I'm sorry.
No, no, i-it's fine, Tom.
You're always
sorry, aren't you?
I'm so embarrassed.
I should go.
No, uh, Tom, please.
Yeah. Thanks for the pizza.
No, I don't, uh...
I don't want
to make things worse.
Well, look, Tom, at least
l-let me drive you back
to the center, all right?
No, it's okay.
I'll-I'll take the train.
Come on, Tom, look,
I-I'd appreciate it
if you'd let me give you a ride.
Thank you.
I'll just, um...
wait outside for you.
That wasn't very nice.
I told you he couldn't
behave himself.
I was talking about you, Mattie.
You always overreact like that
with your dad?
You're obviously
taking his side
because you think
that if I kiss and
make up with him,
I can just go back there
and live with him.
That's not true,
and you know it.
Mattie, there are no sides
to this.
You're his daughter, and
whether you realize it or not,
one day you're going to regret
pushing him out of your life.
You know something, Harm?
Sometimes I think I was happier
before I met you.
(door opens)
(knocking)
Aren't you going
to let me in?
You like shadows,
don't you, Clay?
You work in them,
you live in them...
Well, I prefer to
call it ambiance.
Mm, I haven't tasted wine
in a long time.
Um... I thought
we decided
to take a few days apart.
Yeah, I decided
I didn't want that.
All right, Sarah...
Uh-huh.
Sarah...
Mm-hmm?
Sarah...
This isn't you.
Oh, yeah? Who am I?
Uh, normally, you're...
reasonable, composed...
in control of yourself.
You ever think that,
as a marine,
I've trained to handle
difficult things?
Some of the best people I know,
marines and otherwise,
have been strong enough
to ask for help.
What, are you and Chegwidden
comparing notes now?
You both think
I need a shrink?
Maybe we both see
the same thing...
and we both care about you.
Did you talk to someone...
after Paraguay?
A debriefing with an
agency psychologist is SOP.
Oh, and is that why
you travel with a bottle?
Cana, a reminder
of the worst thing
that ever happened to you.
Did you, uh, tell
your counselor
about your desire
to do penance?
A lot happened
on that mission.
I felt guilty for
putting you in danger.
I was mad at myself
for letting Sadik
get his hands on me
and for letting
him get away.
I failed to complete
my assignment.
Oh, that's right.
I had to do it for you
just last week...
and you can't stand that.
Sarah, go home
and get some rest.
You can't just
dismiss me, Clay.
I'm not one of
your field assets
hanging on your
every order.
(sighs)
Things, places...
You don't have a single picture
of a human being in here.
I guess people, with all
of their inconvenient emotions,
are just too
challenging for you.
Things get a little sticky,
and you're showing me the door?
Says the woman who hasn't had
one consistent relationship
in her entire life--
oh, I forgot.
You have Harm.
You don't know anything
about him.
I know that his being
unavailable
has given you
something to hide behind.
I didn't mean that.
Yes, you did--
don't touch me.
Oh, come on, I thought-- I
thought that's why you came--
'cause you wanted me
to touch you.
See, I've been stupid enough
to think
that you liked the feeling
of my hands on you, Sarah.
Think what you want--
just get out of my way.
Well, come on, it's taken us
eight months to get this far.
You're going to-- you're ready
to throw it away in one night?
This far? Just where
are we, Webb,
and what am
I throwing away?!
Our shot at
happiness, Sarah.
You don't have what it takes
to make me happy.
WOMAN:
Why are you here, Colonel?
MacKENZIE:
My CO suggested it.
Suggested it or
insisted on it?
The latter.
My significant other
made a similar request.
Why do you think
they did that?
I've been anxious.
I just think
the world around me
isn't moving fast enough
to keep up with me.
You were involved
in a hostage situation recently.
Is that what my file says?
I'll be honest, Colonel.
Since this case is still
under investigation by the CIA,
most of what I'd need to know
to help you is classified.
Well, let me
enlighten you,
Commander.
A very bad man
tried to lure me into a trap.
But I'd learned my lesson.
I knew him before,
so I wore a wire.
I tipped the feds off
to a terrorist bombing,
and I walked away in one piece.
I killed a man who...
(grunts)
(groans)
(gunshot)
(gunshot)
...under interrogation
could have given us
half the players on the feds'
terrorist watch list.
You said you knew this man?
He tried to kill me before.
You know, when people consume
your time and mental energy,
for better or worse,
they become part
of your psyche.
Killing this man
may have left a hole
in your subconscious.
He invoked fear in you.
Now that the fear is gone,
the exhilaration
of keeping one step
ahead of him is gone.
You think I miss the bastard?
It's possible
that you miss the rush
of rehearsing
the confrontation
that you thought
was inevitable.
That's why your
reaction to his death
wasn't satisfaction,
but continued
aggressive behavior.
Unless there's more
to the story,
something from your past
you'd like to talk about.
CHEGWIDDEN:
Coates.
Where are the refills
to my pens?
You been organizing me again?
Only because I know how much
you value efficiency, sir.
I stocked your desk
according to the most
frequently used items.
Legal pads in front, then
your highlighters, and then...
Excuse me, sir,
is, is everything okay in here?
The refill is in
the bottom right drawer, sir.
What is it
you needed,
Lieutenant?
Oh, I've just lost track
of something, sir.
Sir?
(laughs with relief)
Oh, it's the paperweight
Dr. Cavanaugh
gave you, sir.
Sorry, sir.
May I be excused, sir?
Yes.
Thank you, sir.
(drops paperweight in drawer)
Ensign Thompson?
Sir.
There you are.
The prosecution has proposed
a pretrial agreement
that would allow you
to skip a trial.
All you have to
do is plead guilty
to bringing the snake in
to the United States...
Paula, sir.
The snake's name is Paula.
Okay, uh, if you
agree to plead guilty
to smuggling Paula onto
a military aircraft,
into the United States,
you don't have to serve
any brig time. Okay?
I have a few conditions,
Lieutenant.
I really don't think
that you're in position to be
making any demands, Ensign.
They'll kill her, sir.
Paula is
very special to me.
The least I can do
is make sure she goes to a zoo
and not to a wallet factory.
I don't know if the convening
authority would agree to that.
But you can ask, can't you, sir?
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, I can...
I can ask.
Corporal Strange,
can you explain
the term "medal inflation"
to the court?
Yes, ma'am.
It's when a high percentage
of the participants
in a combat situation
are awarded medals.
Such as was the case
following the Panama Crisis.
That's correct, ma'am.
I fail to see what relevance
this has to the charges,
Your Honor.
I'll allow it,
but take me from "A" to "Z"
in a timely manner, Colonel.
Yes, Your Honor.
And you never received
a personal award
for your service in Panama,
but you know men who did,
is that right?
Yes, ma'am.
I know a corporal who received
the Navy Commendation Medal
for being a chauffeur,
and a gunny who
got the Bronze Star
for nearly shooting
his own foot off in a firefight.
Not to mention the Purple Heart
awarded
to Lance Corporal Petrosian,
the man that I personally
pulled out of enemy fire.
All these medals awarded,
and yet you were overlooked
despite the evidence you
provided to support your story?
I managed to get hold
of medical records, ma'am,
for Wallis and Petrosian.
After the conflict,
I even went back to Panama,
took pictures
of where it happened.
I mapped the whole thing out.
Still, nobody believed me.
Your student lectures
were the truth,
weren't they, Corporal Strange?
Yes, ma'am.
And wouldn't you say
the truth
is worth a $200
speaking fee?
Corporal Strange's
alleged actions in combat
are not the issue, Your Honor.
Objection sustained.
We'll continue after lunch.
Court is in recess until 1500.
Ensign Thompson has asked me
to propose a pretrial agreement
while he's in the hospital.
He agrees to plead guilty
to conduct unbecoming
and violating
custom regulations.
Are you all right,
Lieutenant?
Yes, ma'am. Why?
You're sweating.
I am?
Ooh.
Oh, I was running...
running late, ma'am.
Ensign Thompson
is still facing
a General Article
violation.
Yes, ma'am-- animal cruelty--
but he's made it clear to me
that he can't
in good conscience
plead guilty to that charge.
Is he claiming
he didn't do it?
Well, he's claiming
it wasn't cruelty.
He believes that Paula--
his name for the snake--
willingly accompanied him
on the C-130, ma'am.
I don't want to waste
the navy's time with this.
The Article 134
charge is dropped,
and I'll disapprove
any confinement
if the ensign pleads
to the remaining charges.
Ensign Thompson
has one condition.
He doesn't want
the snake destroyed.
He wants it to go to a zoo.
Does this particular snake's
venom cause brain damage?
Well, now, just some
slight nerve damage, ma'am.
And that's only if the antivenom
isn't administered
in the first five hours,
which you can pretty much
count on.
Anyway,
her bite won't be as lethal,
since it takes quite a while
to build the venom back up
and it's been--
what, one, two...?
I'll have
my staff judge advocate
contact the National Zoo.
Produce Paula...
in my office by close
of business tomorrow.
Tomorrow, ma'am?
Thank you.
Can I go?
Yes, Lieutenant.
(thudding)
RABB:
Medal inflation?
Just giving my client
the defense he deserves.
Come on, Mac, you're
arguing everything
but the case in there.
I mean, your client
has shown bad judgment
and no sense of
responsibility.
Doesn't it bother you
as a fellow marine
that even when this
guy is cornered
he still won't own up
to making a mistake?
Come on, Harm,
when was the last time
you admitted to being wrong
about anything?
Oh, you want to
get personal?
Yeah, maybe I do.
All right. I'm the one with
grown-up responsibilities now.
Mattie, the house
I'm trying to buy.
At least I'm finally
letting people into my life.
Mm, toys.
What happens when you get
bored with suburbia, Harm?
Are you going to just
lose interest in Mattie
like you did your brother?
He preferred life in Russia
to being here
and being ignored by you.
You fight to draw people
into your circle
just so
you can push them away again.
You know, this isn't about
me losing interest in Mattie.
You think I'm losing
interest in you.
RABB:
Corporal Strange,
how many times did you
petition the Marine Corps
to receive the Silver Star?
Four times, sir.
And how many times were you
denied that award, Corporal?
You know the answer
to that already, Commander--
four times.
Oh, please, tell the court
why your attempts to receive
the retroactive award
were denied on
so many occasions?
Because my buddies
wouldn't back me up
about what happened, sir.
Well, Corporal,
isn't it, in fact,
because the Marine
Corps has no record
of your alleged heroism?
It's because the men I
saved that night decided
I didn't deserve it,
Commander, that's why.
Why would a group of
marines get together
and stonewall a fellow marine?
Because they didn't like me.
See, I was a loner.
They didn't consider me to be
part of their little club.
Well, Corporal, that's the
problem with being a loner.
You're always on the
outside looking in.
You make it impossible
to be your friend,
and then you wonder
why you feel so alone.
I have no further
questions.
MacKENZIE:
I thought about what you said.
That, uh,
my aggression was
just to fill a void
left by the absence
of the man I killed.
Do you think I was right?
In a way.
My childhood
was, uh,
unpredictable.
I was always afraid
my father would mistake me
for my mother
and put his fist
through my face.
You develop instincts
when you live like that.
You felt the thrill
when faced with a man
who wanted you dead.
There's nothing
thrilling
about it.
I went back to thinking
I was the only person
who could look out for me.
Every disagreement became
a chance to attack.
Including your arguments
in court.
Yes, but I'm fine now.
I think there's still more
to talk about, don't you?
You killed your husband
in self-defense,
Colonel.
That was a long time ago.
It was a similar situation.
No. I cared
about my husband,
despite his faults.
That event was a tragedy.
What happened last week was
just taking out the garbage.
I've satisfied my CO's request
that I speak to a counselor.
No long-term treatment
was ever part of the deal,
so I think I'm done.
Very well.
You know
you can always come back
anytime you like.
MATTIE:
Thanks for driving me
to school.
RABB:
Look, I'll
walk you in.
No, it's okay.
No, I-I want to.
Where'd you get these?
I, uh, stopped
on the way home
and, uh, picked them up
from a youth center.
Alateen?
It's for teenagers
with alcoholic parents.
(school bell rings)
They, uh...
They meet, they...
They talk about their problems.
There's no adults allowed.
I-I thought
it might be good.
I'll make you a deal.
I promise to think about this
if you promise
to forgive me for being
such a brat the other night.
Deal.
I thought... I thought
we were winning, ma'am.
You're not winning,
legally or karmically.
Oh, like I give a damn.
You should.
You were a
competent marine.
You could have
done great things,
but your attitude
alienated
everyone
around you.
Now, I believe
you saved those men,
but I can't
prove it.
I can't get you
acquitted on the
charges you face,
because
you're guilty.
But if you could
provide one
eyewitness to what happened,
you might earn yourself
some leniency among the members.
Petrosian
and the others won't....
Have you
ever asked?
Nicely?
Buddy Petrosian runs
his family's butcher shop
in College Park.
Here's the address.
The rest is up to you.
If Petrosian is willing,
call me.
I can file for a continuance
if we need one.
Yes, ma'am.
Lieutenant Roberts?
Yes, sir?
Would you join me
in my office, please?
Now, sir?
Yes, Lieutenant.
Would you have a look
under my desk, Lieutenant?
Sir?
Under the desk,
Lieutenant.
Yes, sir.
Paula!
Oh, my God!
(grunts)
Oh.
Oh, sir. Oh!
Sir, thank you.
Thank you,
thank you, thank you.
Where-Where did you
find her?
Not where
she should have been,
Lieutenant,
at the zoo or some hole.
I do trust
she'll be leaving us soon?
Yes, sir. She has a date
with the convening authority
in one hour.
(laughs)
MacKENZIE:
Mr. Petrosian,
what is the nature of your
relationship with Hal Strange?
Up until this morning,
I'd have said
we didn't have one.
But you did
serve in Panama
with him, didn't you?
We were in the same unit.
He wasn't a...
a nice man, was he?
Truth be told,
he was a jackass.
The man would
argue constantly
about everything from
baseball to politics.
He made it clear
that the rest of us weren't made
of the same stuff that he was.
Didn't stop him
from pulling you
out of the line of fire
when you were shot
by enemy combatants,
though, did it?
No, ma'am.
His clear dislike
of me didn't seem to
affect his decision
to put his own life in danger
to save mine.
(loud gunfire, screaming)
Get up!
(gunfire and groaning)
Get up, Petrosian!
Come on... come on!
(screaming)
PETROSIAN:
I didn't think
we'd get out of there.
They had us outnumbered.
But you did make it,
didn't you?
(clears throat)
Me and Wallis, the others--
Hal saved our skins that night.
MacKENZIE:
Thank you for your honesty.
I have nothing further.
Mr. Petrosian,
were you ever contacted
by Headquarters Marine Corps
seeking confirmation
of Corporal Strange's claims?
Yes.
But you didn't make
that confirmation.
Did you?
So were you lying then,
or you're lying now?
Your Honor.
Valid question,
Colonel.
(sighs)
I was lying then, sir.
We all were.
After they patched me up,
I went to thank
Corporal Strange.
He looked at me
like I was dirt
under his boots.
Said I wasn't a real marine.
Said the only reason
we found ourselves in that mess
was because Wallis was a klutz
and the rest
of us were amateurs.
Well, I told
the other guys.
And we decided then
never to admit
to what had happened that night.
I guess Hal is not the only guy
who can hold a grudge
long past its
usefulness.
All I ever wanted
was an apology for what he said.
Yeah, that can go a long way.
I have no further questions,
Your Honor.
JUDGE BLAKELY:
You can step down,
Mr. Petrosian.
Thank you for what you did.
Your Honor, I'd like
to recall Corporal Strange
to the stand.
So noted, Colonel.
I remind the accused
that he is still under oath.
MacKENZIE:
What impact
do you think Mr. Petrosian's
testimony should have
on the outcome of your case?
In terms of the charges
I'm facing, ma'am,
none.
You never meant
to sully the image
of the Marine Corps,
did you, Corporal Strange?
No, ma'am.
You just wanted someone
to recognize
what you'd been through.
And in your anger,
you went about it the wrong way.
Isn't that so?
It is, ma'am.
I don't expect to walk
out of this a free man.
I just hope
that in sentencing,
my combat actions
are considered.
And I'll sleep better now.
Now that I know they remember.
The defense rests, Your Honor.
I know I've been acting
like someone I'm not,
and I'm sorry for that.
Well, you weren't alone.
I wish I hadn't reacted
the way I did.
You just have to give
yourself some time
to get over this, Sarah.
Sadik was trained in
psychological terror.
It's not a sign of weakness
if you need a while
to get over it.
Longer than you needed,
you mean?
It's not a competition.
You know,
it almost sounds
like you're jealous
that I'm the one
who finally got him.
I don't like
that I wasn't there.
You're never there, Clay.
That's why I had to learn
to take care of myself.
Even Sadik said
that I was brave
for showing up alone.
Psy Ops 101.
To remind you
how vulnerable you were.
Oh, so now I fell for his game?
I don't want to argue
about it, Sarah.
What happened to what
you said to me in Paraguay?
That-That you would always
listen to me,
how you would never
make me wonder.
This is the real world, Sarah.
I'm not dealing with you
when you're like this.
You shut me up one more time
when I need you, and we're done.
(sighs)
(sighs)
Sadik wanted me.
I could tell.
And I let him look at me,
a woman.
I didn't cover up.
I just took off my coat.
And I dared him to look,
just to see if he was
as pure of thought
as he claimed to be.
I wanted to prove to myself
that he was just like
every other man.
I don't know how to take that.
Don't you get it?
He resisted.
He resisted me in a way
that I wish
I could have resisted temptation
my entire life.
He made me feel weak.
It's okay, Sarah.
It's not okay.
He did what he intended.
He reduced me
to someone who acts on impulse,
without intellect.
He was down
when I shot him.
And armed.
That report
was agency charity, Clay.
He was winged
in the shoulder,
and he couldn't fire at me.
And you can never
know that for sure.
Oh, I know what I did.
I didn't shoot him
because I thought
he was going
to shoot at me.
I killed him for what he was.
And because I was angry
for what he...
Because he hurt
someone I love.
I love you, too.