JAG (1995–2005): Season 9, Episode 5 - Touchdown - full transcript

The highest CIA spy in Libya has become uncovered, so the CIA sends in Harm and Beth to pick him up aboard a C-130 Hercules; however, the spy shows up with a large number of his relatives; he demands that they too go, so they take them. However, engine trouble and gunfire raise complications; USS Seahawk, an aircraft carrier, is the only landing site near enough; they land without mishap. Meanwhile a seaman in the Navy has converted to the Islamic faith, and he has become accused of taking part in al-Qaeda activities; the testimony of one witness against him raises legal and moral questions. Sturgis and Bud prosecute, Mac defends, and Sturgis and Mac eventually reach a plea deal. Sturgis continues to wrestle with his feelings about the misconduct case about himself.

(indistinct conversation)

(grunts)

(groans)

(woman screams, car starts)

(tires screeching)

The man you're picking up,
Said Labdouni,

is the Agency's
highest-level asset in Libya.

He's got information

about their government's
involvement

in the Lockerbie plane crash.

I thought Libya was
coming clean on that.



Yeah, maybe
on alternate Tuesdays.

Well, let's just hope
this mission

goes a little smoother
than the last one.

You didn't enjoy
your brief sojourn

in the Philippine jail?

(chuckling)

Harm, I'd like you
to honcho this mission

since Beth did the last one.

No problem.

What are we
flying-- the AWACS?

No, a C-130.

Why are we flying
a plane that big

to pick up one guy?

It's the only plane available
on such short notice



with sufficient range.

And it can land
on sand and gravel.

Now, soon as
it gets dark,

Labdouni will be
at the extraction point--

29'15" north,

18'21" east.

Used to be, uh,

expeditionary airfield
in World War II.

The tower's long since gone.

All that's left
is a gravel runway

in the middle of the desert.

How long?

2,000 feet.

Now, coming
into Libyan air space,

there used to be some soft spots
just west of Al 'Uqaylah.

Used to be?

Khaddafi bought
some advanced

radar from the Russians,
plus a bunch of MiG-21s.

So, in other words...

Fly low.

Real low.

We got backup?

What,
like a squadron

of F-14s?

Dream on.

You're in the Agency now.

Contingency plan?

Yeah.

Don't get caught.

TURNER:
Lieutenant.

Where's page three?

Excuse me, sir?

The 502 you just handed me
on the Westin case.

There's no page three.

The Xerox must
be acting up, sir.

I'll take care of...

Lieutenant...
this is not

some simple
Conduct Unbecoming case.

A seaman
belonging to Al-Qaeda

conspired to kill
his fellow sailors.

I understand that, sir.

Then you understand
we can't afford mistakes.

The pretrial hearing
is in 14 hours.

We better be ready.

Commander, may I put my cards
on the table?

What, Lieutenant?

I'm aware that the only reason
you asked me to second-chair

was because
the admiral requested it.

If you'd like me
to step aside, I will, sir.

I just don't want this case
compromised in any way.

Sir, the testimony
from Westin's Al-Qaeda contact

is highly incriminating.

This case is a slam-dunk.

I'll copy page three, sir.

WESTIN:
I joined the Navy
to fight Al-Qaeda.

Seaman, the problem is,

there's some pretty
strong evidence against you.

Ma'am, I would never want
to attack my fellow sailors.

They're my brothers.

So, you never belonged to
an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell?

Of course not, ma'am.

The prosecution will point out

that you hid
your conversion to Islam.

I didn't
hide it, ma'am.

I just didn't make
a big deal out of it.

I mean,
religion's a private thing.

Nothing's private in the Navy.

Ma'am, some of the guys
can be funny about Muslims.

I just wanted
to stay low-profile.

You know, I'll also have
to explain this, uh, e-mail

that you sent to your cousin
from the base in Bahrain

about how easy it would be

to kill sailors
in the chow hall.

That was just an observation,
ma'am.

Our security
in that chow hall was lousy.

I was afraid somebody
could just walk in there

with an AK-47.

What about the Al-Qaeda prisoner
in Egypt

who says that he went to Bahrain
to meet with you?

I don't know where
they got that, ma'am.

It's totally false. I swear.

I could get the death penalty.

I didn't do anything.

Westin, I'll see you
at the hearing tomorrow.

You'll be transported from here
at 1200.

Ma'am?

Do you believe me?

I don't know what I believe,
Seaman.

That's why I'm still working
this case at midnight.

Guard.

(door buzzer sounds)

RABB:
Coast-in point?

O'NEIL:
Coast-in point in sight.

Two degrees left.

RABB:
Roger that. Two degrees left.

New heading,
one-seven-nine.

Roger. Shutting down

all avionics gear.

Check.

Except passive systems
and radar altimeter.

Better shut
that down, too.

We're flying too low
for that.

Look, we can't give
the Libyans anything.

We're at 200 feet.

There are hills
that go up to 1,000.

I can see them. Kill it.

Wilco.

RABB:
A little moonlight,

a little
night vision action...

What more could you ask for?

You really want a list?

Hello, Libya.

(speaking Arabic)

...James Westin...

(Arabic continues)

"I met James Westin
three times

on a street corner outside
the American base, at night."

(Arabic continues
on tape)

"We talked
about how to kill sailors.

"Westin wanted me to bring him

"sarin nerve gas

so he could release it
in the chow hall."

(continues in Arabic)

"Westin said evening chow
on Friday was best.

"We could kill 100 sailors

if we were lucky."

(Arabic continues)

What's that?

What, ma'am?

Pause it.

In the officer's hand.

Get me the Egyptian
security officer

on the phone immediately.

We go before the judge
in one hour.

Aye, aye, ma'am.

RABB:
Where the hell
is this airstrip?

Supposed to be
right here.

Uh-oh.

What?

The GPS.

"Slightly
less accurate

due to the loss
of one of the satellites."

All right,
better make

a 180-degree left turn
and do another flyover.

Oh, well,
let's just send out flares

and make sure
the Libyan Air Force spots us.

RABB:
Look.

O'NEIL:
Dot-dash-dot--
that's the signal.

Gear down, Commander.

Let's get our man
and get out.

ABU KAMEL:
Greetings, my friends.

I can see you like you
were right here beside me.

Hello, Inspector Kamel.

I'm Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah MacKenzie.

To my left is Commander Turner,

and on my right,
Lieutenant Roberts.

Nice video system
you have there, sir.

It should be.

You Americans paid for it.

(chuckles)

So, how is your court-martial
advancing?

I trust
that the information

I obtained from our prisoner,
uh, will prove useful.

Very useful.
Thank you, sir.

You're welcome.

We're all fighting terrorism
together, eh?

MacKENZIE:
Inspector Kamel, I do
have one question for you.

Fire away.

That's how you say it, right--
fire away?

Yes. Uh, Mr. Kamel,
I noticed on the tape

of Mr. Sabet's, uh, confession,

that you had a small
object in your hand

that looked sort of like
a remote control device.

May I ask
what that was?

Bingo.
It was a remote control device.

For what?
One moment, please.

This is the remote.

And here is the belt
that goes with it.

Is that a stun belt?

Uh-huh.

We bought these last year,
uh, from a French company.

They work
beautifully.

Provide 50,000 volts
for eight seconds.

You used that on Mr. Sabet?

Uh-huh.

And any other cases
where the prisoner

poses a threat
to our national security.

Mr. Kamel, that's torture.

Believe me, this is much better
than our older methods.

With this, the prisoner suffers
no permanent damage,

and the interrogator
doesn't need to use

knives and so forth.

It's still torture.

You are electrocuting
these people.

Forgive me, Colonel MacKenzie,
but, uh, we in the Middle East

have been dealing
with terrorists, uh,

a lot longer than you Americans.

We have learned
that in this war,

one can't afford
to, uh, be soft,

fighting with one hand
tied behind the back.

But I have no doubt,
after a few

more years of this,

you will come around
to our ways.

Excuse me, Mr. Kamel, may I
put you on hold for a moment?

Please.
Thank you.

You can't use Sabet's testimony.

His testimony is our strongest
evidence against Westin.

Sturgis, he fried the man.

It is pretty disturbing, sir.

Whether you're disturbed is
irrelevant, Lieutenant.

Our courts grant
additional leeway

when interrogations are
conducted outside the US.

But if we start allowing
torture, sir, where do we...?

Not your concern, Lieutenant.

Interrogation by electric shock
violates due process;

it's cruel
and unusual punishment;

it breaks several international
treaties and conventions;

and bottom line:
it is utterly immoral.

It would be more immoral
if we let a terrorist

who plotted to murder
100 sailors go free, Mac.

Commander, it may be
that James Westin is no angel,

but if we condone torture,

then we're stooping down
to the terrorists' level.

You can argue that in court
in less than one hour.

MacKENZIE:
50,000 volts for eight seconds.

The electric current
enters here

and travels through
the entire body.

The shock and pain knock
the victim to the ground,

where he twitches
uncontrollably

for ten to 15 minutes
as he defecates

and urinates
on himself.

That's what they did
to this man, sir.

He was sitting
in his own feces

when they taped
his confession.

Well...

yeah, that is sickening.

As we all know,
this type of interrogation

is illegal in the United States.

But you still haven't
answered my question.

Given that this, uh, torture,
took place in Egypt,

is Mr. Sabet's

testimony on that videotape
legally admissible?

Absolutely not, sir.

I would argue
it's a gray area, Admiral.

I was there in Paraguay

when they attached Webb
to a car battery.

I can still hear him scream.

Torture is not a
gray area, Commander.

TURNER:
Eight years ago,
the Filipinos tortured

a terrorist named
Abdul Hakim Murad.

He revealed a plot
to crash 11 US airliners

into the Pacific Ocean
and a 12th into Langley.

This information
obtained by torture

probably saved the lives
of literally thousands.

So you tell me,
Colonel--

was torturing
Abdul Hakim Murad wrong?

There are other ways to get
information out of people.

Oh, that's true, sir.

We've foiled a number

of terrorist plots
just by offering

the suspects a
reduced sentence.

I, myself,
have gotten information

out of a suspect
by exchanging Star Trek trivia.

May I remind you
you're on

the prosecution side here,
Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.
I'm just expressing my concerns.

I'm concerned your moral qualms
may prevent you...

When Commander Rabb left,

I thought we were done
with this bickering.

I'm confident the lieutenant
can get past his qualms.

I can assure you I will, sir.

Now, with a major
last-minute issue like this,

you should get a continuance.

I'm afraid not, sir.

The judge won't allow delays.

And there's a problem
with witness availability, sir.

The Egyptian government flew
their prisoner here yesterday

so he can testify
at Westin's court-martial,

but they only agreed to let us
have him for two weeks.

I will argue
at the Article 39-A

that he shouldn't be allowed
to testify.

When's the 39-A?

20 minutes, sir.

The media's not allowed in,
sir, but...

They'll be all over me
afterwards.

That'll be all.

Yes, sir.

By the way,

I'm bringing
Commander Imes back

from her post in Europe.

Why, sir?

Replace Commander Rabb.

Nice job.

Thousand feet to spare.

I owe it all
to my copilot.

Yeah, well,
you were a little low, but...

Keep the home fires burning.

Be right back.

You got it, boss.

Mr. Labdouni?

Mr. Rabb.

Who are these people?

May I introduce my wife
Aziza,

my mother-in-law Ismitta,

my cousin Fadil
and his family.

What's going on here,
Mr. Labdouni?

They're coming with us.
No, they're not.

My orders are
to bring you alone.

I am CIA. If I escape to your
country, they'll all be killed!

I'm sorry. I'm authorized
to bring you only.

Harm!

Over there.

What is this,
more family?

No.

All right, everybody in.
Come on. Come on!
(Labdouni shouting)

Get them in.
I'll cover you.

(shouting)

(brakes squealing)

Beth, come on.

We got it.

Thanks for the cover
fire back there.

Thanks for waiting for me.

Well, my mom
always taught me,

leave the dance with
the girl you came with.

Funny, my mom taught me
the same thing.

MacKENZIE:
Your Honor,
Mr. Sabet's testimony

should not be allowed

into evidence.

In Rochin v. California,

the Supreme Court ruled that
it violates the Fifth Amendment

to procure evidence by means
that "shock the conscience."

Now, can there be any doubt
that shocking the body

shocks the conscience?

Rochin applies only
to evidence obtained

by governmental entities within
the United States, Your Honor.

US v. Murphy
and US v. French

make clear that evidence
obtained by foreign governments

is held to a different
and far more lenient standard.

That standard does
not permit methods

that run counter to the
decencies of civilized conduct.

Your Honor,
in these trying times,

we cannot lose sight of our
nation's most cherished values

and legal traditions.

The United States Government
has signed several binding

international treaties
that prohibit torture

under any circumstances.

TURNER:
Your Honor, during wartime,

the United States,
like other countries,

has historically resorted
to occasionally brutal tactics

to gather intelligence.

This is no different.

When our enemies begin
targeting US citizens,

the rules change.

Our country is at war now.

JUDGE:
Yes, we are,
Commander.

And in my judgment, which
is shared by our president,

we'll be at war
for a very long time.

Are you suggesting
we should have new regulations

regarding torture
from here on in?

That larger question is not
before the court today.

With our limited
preparation time...

If I,
if I may, sir?

Uh, Your Honor,
in general,

the purpose of suppressing
coerced evidence

is to discourage
our police

from coercing people
in the future, but in this case,

suppressing the evidence
would do nothing

to discourage
the Egyptian police,

for whom coercion
is common practice.

Furthermore,

the US Government
was not party to the torture.

So if the court
disallowed this evidence,

would it not be penalizing
the United States

for something
that it didn't do?

But how can we be sure
this testimony from Mr. Sabet

is even accurate?

Won't people who are being
tortured just say anything?

Mr. Sabet is right down
the hall, Your Honor.

You can judge for yourself.

MacKENZIE:
No matter what testimony
Mr. Sabet gives today,

it will still be
hopelessly tainted

by the methods used
to obtain it originally.

Let's hear what the man
has to say.

LABDOUNI:
As'salamu'alaikum.

Walaikum as salaam.

How you doing back here?

Glad to be
alive, sir.

Good.

Cute kids.

Thank you, sir.

Sorry about the seating.

The aircraft was configured
for one passenger only.

No problem.

How is everything up front?

Good. We should be
touching down in Malta

in about an hour
and a half.

(low thud)
Mr. Rabb!

Your wing's
on fire!

(engine whining)

(beeping)

We got a fire
in number one.

I know.

Got to blow
the bottle.

No, no, no, no, hold off.

Let's just shut down engine one.

We may need it later.

(engine powering down)

Got lucky that time, Commander.

BLAISDELL (over radio):
Operation Tweezer,

this is B-D-Y.

You have company.

Copy that, B-D-Y.

He must have picked us up
with night vision.

(beeping)

If that's a MiG, they're dead.

O'NEIL:
600 knots,
12 miles and closing.

RABB:
Let's run for it.

He's coming too fast.

Maybe we'll lose him
in the ground clutter.

Incoming missiles.

Pickle the flares.
Done.

He's at 4:00,
closing at gun range.

We're taking hits.

Let him get
a little closer.

And on my cue,

salvo all the flares
on his chaff.

That's not going to do anything
against cannon fire, Harm.

Do it now!
But...

Now! All of 'em!

Yes! Yes! Huh?!

(laughs)

Adios, amigo.

Adios, Libya.

We are feet wet.

(beeping)

We're losing oil pressure
on number two.

Bullet must have

cut the line.

Let's try to
restart number one.

Could go up in
flames again.

Well, we can't fly this thing

with both of
our port engines out.

All right, all right,
you're right.

(engine revving up)

RABB:
No flames.

(sighs)

If the engine is damaged,
we got to power down.

I'm already at 55%.

Ah, it's not going
to do us much good.

How much longer you figure
till number two seizes up?

30 minutes max.

Put us out in the middle
of the Gulf of Sidra.

We got to turn around.

We go back, the Libyans
will be waiting for us.

Well, you want to crash
into the gulf?

Mr. Rabb, are we okay?

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
we're fine.

You, uh, better
sit down, though.

Could be a
rough ride.

Yes, sir.

We go back, the Libyans will
kill him and his whole family.

And our options are?

Throttle back on number two
to 50% power.

What?
It'll buy us time

before she seizes up.

You think
you can control the plane?

We'll find out.

All right.

Throttling back on number two.

We still don't have
a hell of a lot of time.

BLAISDELL:
Tweezer, this is B-D-Y.

How did you get rid of that guy?

Never mind that, B-D-Y.

We're feet wet, and we
have two port engines

about to die on us.

I copy.

Advise bailout
with copilot and passengers

soon as you're outside
territorial waters.

Can't do that,
B-D-Y.

We'll have search-and-rescue
there immediately.

We've got women
and children aboard--

Labdouni's family.
They'd never make it.

How the hell did they get
on the plane?

Had no choice, sir.

I am so glad that you
are such a sweet guy,

because now you really
have no choices.

We have one more.

What are the coordinates
of the USS Seahawk, sir?

Are you serious?

You can't land
a C-130 on a carrier.

Get me
the damn coordinates, sir!

I don't have time for this.

And could you call Washington

and have them help me out
with the Seahawk's captain?

(sighs)

You heard the man.
Get him the coordinates.

Get me Washington!

Mr. Sabet,
do you know this man?

His name is
James Westin.

And how do you know him?

The amir of my Al Qaeda cell
put us in contact.

I don't know where
he met Westin.

He's dead now.

Did you and Westin
make any plans together?

Westin wanted me
to put sarin nerve gas

in a container that looked
like a lunchbox.

He was going
to puncture the box

and leave it
on the floor

of the mess hall
at dinner to kill

the maximum number
of sailors.

"The maximum number."

Nothing further.

Mr. Sabet, why
are you telling us this?

It's true.

Maybe, maybe not.
But why are you telling us?

Asked and answered,
Your Honor.

Were you tortured in Egypt?

I don't know.

Mr. Sabet,
didn't your interrogator

give you at least
ten electric shocks

at 50,000 volts apiece?

I don't remember.

You don't remember
getting electrocuted

and soiling yourself?

Again, Your Honor,
asked and answered.

Move on, Counselor.

Mr. Sabet, are you afraid
that if you say the wrong thing,

that you'll get tortured again

when you
go back home?

I am not afraid.

Well, then why do you keep
giving the Egyptian

policemen frightened looks?
TURNER:
Objection.

That's merely
counsel's interpretation.

And mine, Commander.

Your Honor, not only should

Mr. Sabet's videotaped testimony
be excluded,

but he also shouldn't be allowed

to testify at
the court-martial.

Anything he would say

in this courtroom
would be evidence obtained

by threat of torture,

which is just as illegal
as torture itself.

Counsel is stretching,
Your Honor.

Even if one were to grant
Mr. Sabet was afraid,

mere fear does not preclude
a witness from testifying.

Commander,
is Mr. Sabet's testimony

absolutely necessary
to your case?

Without it, Your Honor,

the Government
will not have a case.

Mr. Westin
will go free,

and who knows how many people
he'll kill then.

MacKENZIE:
Your Honor....

Thank you, Colonel
and Commander.

We'll take a brief recess,
after which I will render

my decision on whether

Mr. Sabet shall be
allowed to testify.

(gavel bangs)

CAPTAIN JOHNSON:
Rabb, you must be doing
something important.

I just got a flash message
from the Joint Chiefs

to provide you
all feasible assistance.

RABB:
It's a long story, Skipper.

I'm in a shot-up C-130

about 23 minutes out, and I
need to land on your ship.

Do you read me, Cap?

I copy, Rabb,
but in case you haven't noticed,

the C-130 doesn't have
a tailhook.

It's an emergency, sir.

It's also three times bigger
than any aircraft

that's ever landed on my deck.

Why don't you just bail out?

I've got ten souls
on board, sir,

women and children
who are not jump-qualified.

Now, we're 25 minutes from
crashing into the gulf, sir.

I'm not sure the assistance
you're requesting is feasible.

Captain,
lives are at stake here.

I copy that, Rabb,
but not just ten lives.

If your plane crashes
on this deck, starts a fire,

we could lose 5,000.

Sorry to put you
in that position, Captain.

Exactly what is your wingspan?

132 feet, sir.

I'd have
to respot all my aircraft,

in less than 25 minutes.

I'm afraid so, sir.

Lieutenant,
notify the air boss

and announce
emergency flight quarters.

Aye, aye, sir.

Stand by, Rabb.

No guarantees,
but we'll give it a shot.

Copy that.

Captain, we're going to need
at least an hour.

Boss, you we have 20 minutes.

Sir, with all due respect...

Don't give me your due respect.

Just move the planes.

Aye, aye, sir.

All hands on the flight deck.

Emergency pull-forward.
We need all aircraft

aft of the island,

with tails extended
off the starboard side.

Any airplanes
we got ready to launch,

we got to kick them out of here.

We've got 20 minutes, people.

(alarm blaring)

This is not an easy decision.

The court shares
Colonel MacKenzie's concern

that a nation
that sanctions torture

is in danger of losing its soul.

But I agree
with Commander Turner

that when torture can save
lives, it has moral value.

If we had a suspect in custody

who had the code
to stop a nuclear bomb,

I think we'd all be
in favor of torturing him.

The court believes
that Mr. Sabet is testifying

under threat of torture.

However, it is not torture
by a government entity

within the United States,

and there is nothing
in the case law,

or in
the Military Rules of Evidence

indicating it's illegal per se

to use evidence
obtained by torture,

against a party
other than the accused himself.

Therefore the court rules that

this witness, Mr. Sabet,
will be allowed

to testify at court-martial.

We'll allow the members
to decide for themselves

whether they believe Mr. Sabet's
testimony is truthful.

This hearing is adjourned.
(gavel bangs)

So you'll let
other countries

do your torturing for you?

And you're going to try
and kill a brother.

You're pathetic.

We both know better
than that.

You okay?

Shouldn't I be?

So I guess I'm stuck defending
that guy at court-martial.

Nice job, Lieutenant.

Thank you, Colonel.

Thought I had you guys there
for a minute.

You had my back
this time, Lieutenant.

Thank you, sir.

Unlike last time.

JOHNSON:
Commander, Blue Moon.

We're going as fast
as we can here.

Now what setting
do you want on the lens?

Uh, Blue Moon...

stand by.

You're
the C-130 expert.

Well, uh, a Vigilante
is the biggest plane

that ever lands on a carrier,
and that's a 4.25.

So maybe....
Ah, uh, ah, four.

Give or take.

Blue Moon,
we have determined

the ideal lens angle
to be 4.0.

You sure about that, Rabb?

Absolutely.

All right, if you say so.

Here... put these on the kids.

Tell them that if we land
in the water,

they should pull down
on the handle.

Hard.

This doesn't sound good.

We're just being careful.

The rest of you,
when we start down,

put your backs
against the wall

and brace yourselves.

Do you have any more of these?

No. Just these three.

You're risking your lives
for us?

That's just part of the job.

MacKENZIE:
You're not dead yet.

I will be,

when Sabet testifies
at the court-martial.

The fact is, testimony
obtained by torture

is notoriously
unreliable.

I'll bring in
expert witnesses

to show Sabet's testimony
can't be trusted.

I never should've trusted him.

No, I guess not.

Your expert witnesses
won't do any good.

Everybody's so scared
of terrorism,

they'll convict me
no matter what.

Well, given that you
just indicated you're guilty,

I don't see
where you can really complain.

My only complaint...

ma'am...

is I couldn't
do anything useful

before I got caught.
Useful?

You know, Colonel, what's
going on in the world today,

it's nothing new.

It's the same struggle
our ancestors went through,

when you brought us here
in chains.

It's the same struggle

our prophet fought for
over 1,000 years ago.

Well, if that's all...

If I plead guilty...

can I escape the death penalty?

If that's what you want,
I'll give it a shot.

I don't want to die.

I can still do
our prophet's work in prison.

And I do want
to be alive to see it

when the great American empire
is destroyed.

Seaman Westin...

whoever taught you
to hate like that...

they should be in prison, too.

Guards.

Paddles,
setting the lens for 4.0.

Roger, 4.0.

JOHNSON:
Paddles, how's that number
grab you?

Hey, when it comes
to landing C-130s,

I'm still a virgin.

Well, tonight could be
your big night.

Okay, everybody. Clear out!

Landing flaps.
Check.

Rudder boost.

Check.

Brakes.

(alarm sounds)
Harm, we have a partial

hydraulic failure.

Oh, no.

We have no brakes.

TURNER:
I already declined, Colonel.

MacKENZIE:
Come on, Commander.

Why not spare the Navy

the expense
of a trial?

Seaman Westin
is prepared

to accept life
in prison.

Aiding the enemy, conspiring
to murder 100 sailors.

That's the kind of crime

the death penalty
was invented for.

He never even
carried it out.

Through no fault
of his own.

Look, he's a kid

who fell in with
the wrong people.

He's 21.

No prior record.

He went to some
radical mosque

where he was
brainwashed,
indoctrinated...

Tell that to the men
and women he tried to kill.

He's a traitor to his country
in a time of war.

What the hell has gotten
into you, Sturgis?

Last week you wanted
to throw a guy in the brig

for refusing to kill
a ten-year-old boy.

And now-now you're
being hard-nosed

to the point
of absurdity.

CHEGWIDDEN:
Colonel?

See you both in my office.

BOTH:
Yes, sir.

Close the hatch.

MacKENZIE:
I'm sorry, sir.

I damn sure hope
you conducted yourselves

in the courtroom
with more decorum.

I believe
we did, sir.

I take it
by your, uh, tone of voice

you lost your argument
today, Colonel?

Yes, sir, but that's not

what we were discussing
just now.

Commander Turner has declined
any plea bargain.

(church bells ring)

Well, evidently,
he feels confident.

My client is prepared

to accept a sentencing
recommendation

of life in prison,

but Commander Turner finds that
insufficient.

I do indeed, sir.

Let me ask you
something, Sturgis.

In today's hearing,

you essentially
supported torture...

Not an accurate statement
of my position.

Even though you would
probably never want

to torture
somebody yourself.

And now you want to send him
to the electric chair,

even though you would
probably never want

to flip the switch yourself.

There are many things
I don't want to do.

Nevertheless, they
have to be done.

I see no inconsistency
in that.

I agree with you,
Commander.

Colonel, I'd like to speak
to the commander a moment.

Yes, sir.

Have a seat.

Thank you, sir.

Congratulations
on winning your
argument today.

Thank you, sir.

You know, uh, personally...

(chuckles)

I would love
to see this guy fry.

I think I'm hearing
a "but" somewhere, sir.

Now, I know you've been
under a certain amount of stress

since, uh, your misconduct case.

I'm dealing with it, sir.

Now, I think you
might be trying

a little too hard

to prove yourself
all over again.

I don't think
that's the case, sir.

Well, I do, so I want you
to know, Commander,

you don't have
to prove yourself to me.

Thank you, sir.

Now about
this plea bargain case.

I assume you've considered
the possibility

that if you go to court-martial,

Seaman Westin could,

by some unforeseen
turn of events,

be found innocent.

And if this man were
to be let out on the street,

it would be a disaster.

Are you saying
you want me to agree

to this plea bargain, sir?

No, Commander.

I'm saying,
use your best judgment.

And don't worry
about anything else.

That will be all.

Thank you, Admiral.

(heavy sigh)

(clears throat)

If you're still offering
life in prison...

I accept.

We'll only have 600 feet
to land in.

That'll have
to be enough.

How do we stop this thing
with no brakes and no tailhook?

Horsepower.

As soon as we
cross the ramp,

you're going to slam all engines
into full reverse thrust.

Our approach is 105.

If we go down
to zero power all at once...

It'll be a hell
of a bang.

We could decrease the approach
speed by dumping fuel.

All right,
we could jettison all but...

A thousand pounds?

A thousand pounds. Do it.

Commander, this is Blue Moon.

What's your optimum wind
over the deck?

I want it all,
Skipper.

Uh, the best the ship
can give you is 42 knots.

Well, what about
natural wind?

We're calm down here.

Three knots at best.

We'll turn into it, sir.

We need every knot we can get.

Is there something
you're not telling me, Rabb?

Nothing we can't
handle, Skipper.

Rabb, you're asking me
to put my men in danger.

I need to know
what the hell is going on.

We're having problems
with our brakes, sir.

We're planning to stop
using reverse thrust

and a stiff headwind.

You're kidding me.

We can do it, sir.

You are a fire
waiting to happen.

Look, sir, we've jettisoned all

but a thousand pounds.

We can jettison more
just before we land.

That would help.

Out.

Boss, we going
to get the planes out in time?

Hard to say, sir.

JOHNSON:
Better put up the barricade.

Can't do that, sir.

Stop telling me
what you can't do!

Sir, we checked
the C-130's specs.

The steel cable at the top
of the barricade could come

through the cockpit window

and pose a serious threat
to the crew.

Right. Good thinking, Boss.

O'NEIL:
Six degrees right.

Roger. Six
degrees right.

(engine pulsing loudly)

Sorry about that.

How much longer, Beth?

Six minutes.
How you holding up?

I'm getting a bit
of a workout.

I used all the rudder trim
I have,

but this aircraft keeps wanting
to yaw to port.

Let me back you on the controls.

(beeping)

What now?

Landing gear.

Which one?

Starboard main.
Not locked.

Used the blowdown
bottle.
Roger.

Nothing.

I'll go get it down.

Labdouni?

Yes?

Come here.
What?

I want you to do exactly

what I'm doing.

Here.

Like this.

Whatever happens,
don't stop.

Come here, right now.

As fast as you can.

We don't want to have
to land this thing

without wheels.

Faster, and when this red light

goes on,

go back and brace yourself.

Okay?

Okay.

There she is.

Blue Moon,

I have you in sight.

Five miles astern.

600 feet.

Roger, keep it coming for now.

All engines ahead flank.

Engines ahead,
flank high.

AIR BOATSWAIN:
Captain Johnson.

We should strip the wires, sir.

Why, Boats? We're running
out of time.

Sir, the wires might snap off
the C-130's nose gear.

JOHNSON:
Okay, Boats, go for it.

Aye, aye, sir.

Everybody, listen up!

Still no wheels?

No wheels.

Okay... Flaps.

We have wheels.

I've got three down and locked.

Nice.

(buzzing)

Blue Moon...

Hercules

ball point-five.

Roger, ball.

Captain Johnson,
are you ready for us?

Stand by, Commander.

Boats, are the wires stripped?

They will be, sir.

Boss, how's the deck?

We have a 'ready deck,' sir.

Paddles, how's it look?

I can't really tell, sir.

I need a yes or no now.

Captain, I give it a...

...yes.

Keep it coming, Commander.

Roger, sir.

Dump 200 pounds more.

No turning back now.

Throttle back a little
on three and four.

We're headed down,
leave one and two as is.

Roger that.

Stall warning.
You're a little slow.

Glad it wasn't my hand.

AIR BOSS (over the P.A.):
Repeat, all hands,
clear the flight deck.

Everybody clear the decks.

(Klaxon blaring)

Watch out.
There's a little burble.

Got it, Paddles.

(high-pitched beeping)

Harm, two is flaming out!

Hang on, everyone!

Now, now, now!

(squealing)

Yes!

(applause)

Whoo!

Whoo!

B-D-Y.

We made it.

Yes, yes!

(laughing)

(laughing quietly)

(applause)

Thank you, Miss.

Thank you.

Thank you for
flying with us.

We hope you enjoyed
your flight.

I told you
they could do it, Boats.

Respectfully, Captain,
you said no such thing.

Oh, no.

What?

The TV crew.

ZNN REPORTER:
We're reporting to you
from aboard the USS Seahawk,

in the Gulf of Sidra.

This was the scene
20 minutes ago

when Harmon Rabb, Jr.
and an unidentified copilot,

along with the crew
of the Seahawk,

completed an incredible feat--

safely landing a huge
C-130 transport

aboard this aircraft carrier.

We don't have any details yet
on what Mr. Rabb,

formerly with the US Navy,
was doing

or what prompted this landing,

but as soon
as we have those details,

we'll pass them on to you.