Original subtitles

-[whimpers] -[man] Mr. Culbertson?

Mr. Culbertson.

-[whimpers] -Listen to me.

We'll give you one last chance

-to save your worthless life. -[muffled grunts]

[over speaker] Do you wish to die?

[Culbertson grunting]

We're going in for a closer look.

He is no use to us. Finish it.

He wasted our time! [grunts]

Kill him now!

[yells]

[whimpering]

[yells]

Get on your feet!

On your feet!

[whimpering]

Who are you?

Navy SEALS.

You know how to use this?

I'm a diplomat.

Point and shoot.

Let's go.

[gunshot]

[groans]

Let's go. Let's go.

Let's go. Let's go.

[groans]

My leg!

[narrator] Following in his father's footsteps

as a naval aviator,

Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr.

Suffered a crash while landing his Tomcat

on a storm-tossed carrier at sea.

Diagnosed with night blindness,

Harm transferred to the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps

which investigates, defends and prosecutes the law of the sea.

There, with fellow JAG lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie,

he now fights in and out of the courtroom

with the same daring and tenacity

that made him a top gun in the air.

[Chegwidden] Undersecretary of State Lawrence Culbertson

was rescued last night from Hamas terrorists.

A Lieutenant Curtis Rivers,

Platoon Commander for SEAL Team Seven,

got Culbertson out single-handedly.

[man] Attention on deck.

-As you were! -Leave it to the SEALs.

Worthy sentiment, Commander, since they are

the most effective strike force in the world.

[Rabb] Absolutely, Admiral.

Apparently the President agrees with me.

He asked the Secretary of the Navy

to nominate Lieutenant Rivers for the Medal of Honor.

Must've been one hell of a rescue, sir.

Mm-hmm!

Culbertson's the President's point man

in the Middle East peace talks. Rivers saved him

without regard for his own personal safety

and accounted for eight enemy casualties.

Anyway, SECNAV wants JAG to determine

if Lieutenant Rivers is actually entitled to the medal.

You want us to investigate the incident?

Not just the incident, Major.

The President wants assurance

there is nothing in Lieutenant Rivers' past

that might cause embarrassment.

To Lieutenant Rivers or the President?

Lieutenant Rivers and his men have returned

to the Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado.

You will find him on instructor detail.

All of us to California?

Unless you have other plans.

No... sir.

Good.

I expect a full and fair evaluation.

Ignore the politics.

And remember, you need testimony

from two eyewitnesses.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

Oh...

and don't let the fact that I'm a former SEAL

influence your decision.

Absolutely not, sir. No, sir.

We just got our orders, Harriet.

We leave in a few hours.

I know it wrecks our plans.

I'm going to miss you, too.

I can't wait to get back.

Really?

Uh, no.

It's just that I've heard

that stiletto heels can be bad for your ankles.

I'll get right on that, Captain Harwich.

I didn't know Bruce Harwich wore stiletto heels.

Sir, did you know that the first Navy SEAL

who won the Congressional Medal of Honor was Senator Bob Kerrey?

Did you know that you're beet red right now?

He wasn't a senator when he received the medal.

He was a Lieutenant JG, sir.

Nice diversion, Bud.

Yeah, he lost a leg leading a SEAL raid

against Vietcong snipers

but was still able to direct a counterattack

which... which...

-Yes, sir? -Will you get on the computer

and pull up everything you can on Lieutenant Rivers?

Let's see who we're dealing with.

Aye, aye, sir.

[tapping at keyboard]

[Culbertson] I spoke with the Secretary of the Navy personally

about Lieutenant Rivers.

So why is the Judge Advocate General Corps involved in this?

[Rabb] This is strictly routine, sir.

[Culbertson] My guess is that...

[clears throat] the SECNAV is routinely covering his butt.

Well, we have no knowledge of that, sir.

Hmm.

You folks believe in heroes?

Yes, sir.

-I suppose so. -I never did.

When soldiers shoot at each other, I...

well, that usually means that I've failed.

But this man, this Lieutenant Rivers...

he risked his life to protect me.

He never hesitated. He never doubted.

He just stood there, in the line of fire, shooting back...

and then he carried me to safety.

He didn't even know me.

That's a true hero.

[trainees] Left, left.

Left, right, left.

[instructor in cadence] Beans and GI gravy!

[trainees in cadence] Navy beans and GI gravy!

[instructor] Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy!

[trainees] Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy!

Two-sixteen, halt!

Look sharp!

Ditch your helmets!

Get on your covers! Hurry up!

Come on, move it!

Look sharp! Quickly!

Class, left face!

Log P.T.! Let's go! Let's go!

[instructor] Go, go, go, go!

[instructor 2] Get 'em up, ladies!

Hurry up! Ready! Begin!

Any of you little kittens want to quit?

-[trainees] Sir, no, sir! -I got cocoa and cookies

for anybody who wants to cash in their chips and ring the bell!

I got cake for the officers! Anybody?

[trainees] No, sir!

What do you think this is

-GI Jane? -[all] No, sir!

You want to stay and fight?

Hoo-rah, sir!

Let me hear you!

Hoo-rah, sir!

A SEAL must focus on the mission,

must accomplish his goal

regardless of his injuries.

The pain, the heat, the cold.

We're here to train your minds as well as your bodies.

Your mind can teach your body how to function.

Your strength's not in your muscles,

it's in your brains!

In your brains!

Now why don't you get your brains to get your legs

to do another five laps!

Let's go!

Move it!

Move it! Let's go!

Move it!

Move it!

Let's go! Hurry up!

Hurry up, ladies!

[trainees chanting]

Lieutenant Rivers.

I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb, JAG.

This is Major MacKenzie, Lieutenant JG Roberts.

We'd like to talk to you.

Do I have to talk back, sir?

[Rabb] Bronze star

for heroism in Panama.

Freeing a CIA Operative

in a daring raid on the Carcel Modelo Prison.

And a letter of instruction for disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer.

Nominated for the Navy Cross for Bravery

in capturing an Iraqi oil platform

in the Gulf during Desert Storm.

Denied the Cross and issued a warning

for violating an order on the same mission.

If a brother improvises,

especially a brother who's a mustang,

he gets written up.

If a white boy from the Academy does the exact same thing,

he's showing "individual initiative."

A "brother"?

An African American.

A Black man.

A Negro.

Don't play the race card with us, Lieutenant.

Let's get a couple of things straight, Major.

One: I don't play.

And two:

I'm just stating the facts.

Speaking of facts, Lieutenant,

I didn't get much out of your after-action report

on the mission in Lebanon.

The information was sketchy at best.

Some write. I fight.

Care to tell us what happened that night?

I rescued an Undersecretary of State.

[chuckles softly]

Any details?

I'll leave that up to you, Commander.

Perhaps you don't understand our assignment.

You want to make sure I'm not an embarrassment.

The first thing the two of you asked me

was about the dings in my service record.

I know all about the Navy and its lawyers.

You don't know about us, Lieutenant.

And quite frankly, you're not helping your cause any.

I don't have a cause, Commander.

I just do my job and let you pencil pushers do yours.

The Navy Cross won't make me a better SEAL.

[Rabb] Lieutenant, you're not up for the Navy Cross.

You've been nominated for the Medal of Honor.

[MacKenzie] For conspicuous gallantry

and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.

What's the real reason?

The President believes you've earned it.

[Rabb] Chief, we need

to debrief you about the night

Undersecretary Culbertson was rescued.

I'll tell you what I know.

That would be refreshing.

Lieutenant Rivers not much of a talker, ma'am?

Why don't you tell us what happened that night.

Okay, uh...

We came ashore in two Zodiacs

and we left them at the insert-extract point

and proceeded south to an observational rally point

about 300 yards from where the hostage

was being held.

Uh, we were there for recon.

A Ranger team was tasked with the rescue,

and they were due in ten minutes.

What happened to change the mission, Chief?

Lieutenant Rivers believed

Culbertson was in imminent danger.

The Rangers hadn't shown up yet,

so the Lieutenant decided to do a closer recon

on the building.

He took Douglas with him.

Douglas got hit.

The Lieutenant went in on his own.

Is that standard procedure?

Well, there's nothing standard about

the Lieutenant's procedures, ma'am.

It's getting hot out here, isn't it?

Why don't we go on inside?

My wife's making some lemonade.

[Rabb] Did you see Lieutenant Rivers pull Culbertson out?

No, sir. We were taking fire from the sentries.

They had my full attention.

We got company, honey!

[woman] Be right there.

-Please. -Thanks.

So, what do you think

about what the Lieutenant did, Chief?

-He's the real-deal SEAL, sir. -So you admire him?

The Lieutenant is a result-oriented person, ma'am.

Is that good or bad?

The men are often challenged by his orders, sir.

Isn't that his job... to test you, to keep you combat-ready?

The Lieutenant likes to improvise.

Isn't that what SEALs are trained to do... improvise?

No, ma'am. No, you plan your dive, and you dive your plan.

A year-and-a-half ago, we lost our explosives man

in Angola.

It didn't have to happen.

Six months ago, during downed pilot training in Nevada,

three members of our team were injured rappelling into a ravine.

You don't like the Lieutenant, do you, Chief?

The Lieutenant and I have never socialized.

Does that answer your question, sir?

So how does it feel to be taking orders

from an African American, Chief?

Anybody thirsty?

I'm used to that, sir.

Commander Rabb,

Major MacKenzie,

this is my wife, Sandra.

Hi.

-Hello. -[Wilkins] See, Commander,

I don't object to Lieutenant Rivers because he's Black.

I object to him because he gets people killed.

Commander Rabb! Major MacKenzie.

Jon Barrow, Special Assistant to the President.

It's good to meet you.

How's the investigation going?

Well, we don't have enough information

to form an opinion yet, sir.

That's a politician's answer, Commander.

-[Barrow] Is there a problem? -Not that we know of.

We just want to be thorough.

I support that. Lieutenant's an African American.

It's important he be afforded fair treatment.

As should a man of any color, sir.

Agreed, but keep in mind in World War II,

433 Medals of Honor were awarded,

but none to African Americans.

Until the current administration.

That's correct... 50 years after the fact.

[Rabb] Mr. Barrow,

you are not suggesting we make up

for pastdiscrimination by awarding the Medal

to someone who hasn't earned it, are you?

Commander... the President believes

that awarding a Medal to a minority

would promote national healing.

It would help bring us together.

For a good photo op.

[instructor and trainees chanting cadence]

[Rabb] Mind if we join you, Lieutenant?

Come for the meat loaf?

It's my favorite.

I've already told you everything you need to know about me.

Okay. Let's talk about the meat loaf.

Bet it's a hell of a lot better

than the MREs in Desert Storm.

You led the SEAL diversion at Mina Saud, didn't you?

They came up in Zodiacs,

swam ashore, laid C-4 down along the beach.

Hah, man, you must've been close enough

to the Iraqis to smell 'em.

Yeah, one of them almost stepped on my head.

They detonated the plastique.

First, we planted buoys in the water.

As if you were marking the way for landing craft.

Right. When that C-4 went off

the Iraqis thought we were doing an amphibious landing.

And then Stormin' Norman took the troops

and the armor right over ground. It was great.

[Rabb laughs]

So, it was all a feint?

Right. Just like the three of you

pretending to love my sea stories.

Just trying to make conversation, Lieutenant.

You got something to ask me, then ask it.

All right.

How do you get along with Chief Wilkins?

That's between us.

Do you wantthis Medal, Rivers?

It's just a trinket.

You know, General Patton once said

he would sell his soul for the Medal of Honor.

General Patton wasn't a SEAL.

We don't do

what we do for the ribbons, ma'am.

Men die for their buddies.

Others die for their country.

And some die for no reason at all.

But no one-- no one I know--

ever died for a medal.

Excuse me.

[instructors shouting]

Let's go, ladies, up and down, up and down!

Come on, hurry it up!

[whistle blows] Let's go!

Get up! Get up! Get up!

Up, up! Roll it!

Roll it!

Roll it, roll it, roll it!

[instructors hollering]

[whistle blows]

Back in the water! Back in the water!

Back in the water! Let's go!

Let's go!

It'd be helpful if you...

moved once in a while, Lieutenant.

What's going on?

That's Leonard Kress

from World Updatemagazine.

The Lieutenant is the subject

of a photo essay.

Kind of a day-in-the-life

diary of a battle hero.

Thing is, he's not very animated.

I wouldn't ask him to smile.

We're not sure those muscles work.

Hurry up! Come on, hurry up, hurry up!

You're lazy! Getting lazy!

Out of the water! Let's go! Let's go! Hurry up!

Come on, let's go, go, go, go!

Hurry up! Hurry up!

They got your sister, puke!

They're doing nasty things to her!

You're the only one that can save her! Save her!

Come on, save her!

Ah, this crab's got a soft shell.

Throw him back in the pot and we'll have him for dinner.

Stevens! Don't do it!

[Rivers] Simon, get back with your class!

He's no longer a member of this class! Catch up! Hurry up!

Get your legs in the air! Get your legs in the air!

Well... that's not gonna play.

There were sentries on the roof of the building,

and I took a hit in the gut.

[MacKenzie] You going to be all right?

I lost six feet of my large intestines, ma'am,

and I'm going to have to wear a bag and eat Cream of Wheat

for the rest of my life.

Petty Officer Douglas, we are looking

for confirmation of Lieutenant Rivers' actions

during the rescue.

I'm afraid I can't help you, sir.

Why is that?

Because I-I didn't see the Lieutenant's actions

other than he took out a guard and-and entered the building,

and then I got hit.

And after that, I didn't see anything else.

Next thing I know, Chief Wilkins

was bending over me in the boat.

How do you feel

about Lieutenant Rivers?

Lieutenant Rivers is the leader of my team, sir.

Do you have an opinion

about whether he deserves the Medal of Honor?

Well, as far as I'm concerned, there wereno heroes that night.

[Rabb] We're looking for details, Petty Officer Hannah.

There are gaps in our understanding of the events.

I'll do what I can, sir.

Did you witness Lieutenant Rivers' rescue

of Undersecretary Culbertson?

No, sir. I did not.

I thought SEALs were trained to be observant.

Yes, ma'am. We're also trained to be smart.

Are you saying Lieutenant Rivers wasn't smart?

I'm saying Lieutenant Rivers was stupid.

In what way?

What happened that night?

Lieutenant Rivers

was listening to the kidnappers through a parabolic mike.

We're going in for a closer look.

Lieutenant, Rangers'll be here in ten minutes.

The hostage will be dead by then... we're going in.

Our mission is recon, not rescue, sir.

I just changed our mission. You got a problem with that?

That's affirmative, sir. We are not prepared for rescue.

We're prepared if I say we're prepared.

We got no plan, no backup...

This is my plan. This is my backup.

Your plans get people killed.

What did you say?

With all due respect, sir,

I believe changing this mission now is reckless...

Tell that to the man inside that building

who's getting ready to be executed.

We don't knowthat for sure!

Are you refusing to obey my order?

No, sir.

-Douglas. -Aye.

You and I are going up to the building and recon.

The others will stay here for cover and backup.

-Move it out. -Roger.

[Hannah] By attacking the building,

Lieutenant Rivers revealed our presence.

He also endangered the hostage.

But if he believed

Culbertson was about to be killed...

Culbertson was a valuable hostage.

Why would they suddenly kill him?

So, the Lieutenant acted recklessly?

Yes, ma'am. That's what I've been saying.

Thank you, Petty Officer.

You're welcome, sir.

As you were.

We trying to reward someone

for needlessly endangering his men?

It's only one man's testimony, Mac.

Yeah, but it's the only testimony we've got.

[Rivers and other instructors shouting]

What is your problem, mister?!

What is your problem?!

You make me sick!

You are the sorriest bunch of pukes

I've ever had the misfortune of having to train!

Why don't you go join the Coast Guard?!

Not your typical Medal-winning personality.

Lieutenant Rivers' Medal is in serious jeopardy, Bud.

He may not only lose the Medal,

he could very well be facing

a charge of dereliction of duty.

[doorbell ringing]

Ambulance chasing?

Social call.

[Rabb] Well, I would venture a guess, Lieutenant,

that you have never been married.

If the Navy wanted me to have a wife,

they'd have issued me one

with my dog tags and my seabag.

Being a wife of a Navy SEAL is no picnic.

All the separations...

they don't know where you are.

Doesn't promote a real close relationship.

I saw what it did to my parents.

I don't want no part of it.

My dad...

he loved the Navy.

Never made it above the rank of seaman.

That's him in the middle: Seaman Edgar Rivers.

Would've made one hell of an officer.

Never made it out of the galley.

Did you know, in the entire history of the United States Navy

there wasn't a Black officer

till near the end of World War II?

The Navy's making up for that.

Yeah, a little too late for my father.

He lived and breathed the Navy... till he died.

And he died in the brig,

busted in rank

and broken in spirit.

What was the offense?

Someone stole some money

out of the officers' wardroom.

They blamed my pop.

Court-martialed him.

He hanged himself in his cell.

I'm sorry.

Six months later, a white bosun's mate

admitted to the crime,

after being busted doing the same thing

on another ship.

A JAG officer prosecuted my father.

Another one defended him.

Neither one of them believed him.

Well, that explains why you feel the way you do

about Navy lawyers.

I was just a toddler at the time.

I don't really remember much.

But I did get to read the letters that he wrote my mom

while he was in prison.

No bitterness.

Not one shred of hate in the man.

Must've had a big heart.

He did.

Doesn't run in the family, though.

That is so sweet.

-Harriet? -What? I can't hear you.

It's Bud Roberts, Jr.

Let me call you later when I get to the room.

I miss you.

Me, too.

Bye.

Mm. Machine?

Yeah.

Excuse me.

Could I get another pineapple?

Sure. Three in one night?

You surprise me, Bud.

I'm drowning my sorrows, ma'am.

Mm. You got it bad, Lieutenant.

Permission to speak freely, ma'am?

Look at the black kettle

calling the pot the same thing, hmm?

I am not lovesick, Bud.

You called the Commander "Dalton."

I did not.

Yes, you did. Twice.

I can't believe he didn't say anything.

I think he's just afraid of losing you, ma'am.

You're leaving JAG, aren't you, ma'am?

No one's offered me anything yet, Bud.

What if they do?

Excuse me.

Where you going?

To do the thing.

I'd like to dedicate this

to the most important woman in my life.

[music plays]

♪ I saw the light on the night that I passed by her window ♪

♪ I saw the flickering shadows ♪

♪ Of love on the blind ♪

♪ She ♪

♪ Was ♪

♪ My woman ♪

♪ As she deceived me ♪

♪ I watched and went out of my mind ♪

♪ My, my, my ♪

♪ Delilah ♪

♪ Why, why, why ♪

♪ Delilah... ♪

You know, I would have...

I'd have thought you were a cigar man.

I would be if they didn't taste like goat patties.

[laughing]

I like them.

Goat patties.

Now, if they could roll a bottle of Jack

in a tobacco leaf, it'd be a different story.

You know, my mother used to say

that stars were holes poked in the black curtain of night.

It was God's way of letting us know

He was still watching us from the other side.

That's kind of nice.

Yeah.

I did most of my killing at night.

Guess it didn't have much influence, huh?

Lieutenant, I'm going to be honest with you.

One of your men has accused you

of endangering the team and the hostage

the night of the rescue.

He claims you were out of control

and acted without discretion.

You must think you got me drunk enough

to answer your questions, huh?

He blames the casualties

on your inadequate leadership skills.

I'm giving you an opportunity to defend yourself.

The truth shall not set us free.

If you actually believe that, then I pity you.

Look, it's going to take a lot more

than cigars and bourbon and your pity

to get anything out of me.

Oh, yeah?

What would it take?

You know the secret to happiness, Commander?

Not yours, I don't.

Then I can't help you.

[instructor] ♪ I don't know, but I've been told ♪

[trainees] ♪ I don't know, but I've been told ♪

♪ Eskimo women are mighty cold ♪

♪ Eskimo women are mighty cold... ♪

[Rabb] Admiral, I can't squeeze it out of him.

Without Lieutenant Rivers' account of the events,

I have to rely on the testimony of his men.

-Which is damning. -Yes, sir.

And if you had to make a decision now?

I'd cancel medal considerations

and proceed with an investigation

-of misconduct in the field. -Look, Commander,

the SECNAV is getting pressure from the White House.

He's expecting us

to give him some relief.

I understand that, sir.

We're feeling it here, too.

Well, there's got to be another way in.

The Lieutenant is a hard case, sir.

He has zero support.

With the exception

-of Undersecretary Culbertson. -The man saved my life.

For God's sake, I'm sorry if his men were put in danger,

but correct me if I'm wrong...

isn't it a dangerous job?

Damn straight.

So, what's the problem?

There seems to be some concern

about Lieutenant Rivers' behavior in the field.

It's extremely rare for a SEAL team

to publicly question one of their own,

especially their superior.

Are you saying that the Lieutenant is not worthy?

His men have raised serious questions.

Was the Lieutenant in control?

Was his attitude acceptable?

Was he correct in changing the mission?

Yes, I would say... selfishly.

I understand how you feel, sir,

but if the Lieutenant is to be awarded this medal

I need more than just your gratitude.

-For example? -You were the only eyewitness to the rescue.

Can you remember anything else about it?

Anything in particular?

Any details you may have overlooked.

Um, what do you remember

about what went on after the fire fight?

Well, after the Lieutenant

brought me out of the building

he hid me behind some rocks.

And then when he came back, he just...

Wait a minute. Came back from where?

I don't know. I saw this, uh,

this big red flare, and then he reappeared

and he carried me out of there.

[Rabb] Did Lieutenant Rivers send up a flare

after Culbertson's rescue?

Yes, sir. A red pop-up.

Thanks.

Why?

Well, that was to notify us

of Petty Officer Douglas's position.

-Douglas was down. -Yes, sir.

So the Lieutenant took responsibility

for Douglas's safety as well.

With all due respect, ma'am,

he would not have needed to be saved

if he hadn't been endangered.

You're a difficult man to impress, Chief.

Sir, Petty Officer Douglas was wounded... badly.

It was not a time for enthusiasm.

For the moment, put aside the fact

that Lieutenant Rivers changed the mission and consider

the events of the rescue. Can you do that?

Yes, sir. I can do that.

What is your opinion now of what Rivers did?

You know the first rule of a SEAL's team, sir?

Enlighten us, Chief.

-Never leave your man. -What are you saying?

Douglas was by himself when we got there.

The Lieutenant fired the flare and then left.

[Rabb] With Culbertson on his back.

Yeah, but he abandoned his man, sir.

What if Lieutenant Rivers stayed behind to help Douglas

and, as a result,

Undersecretary Culbertson was killed?

That would be unfortunate. But that rule exists

for the sake of undersecretaries everywhere.

Our bond is what makes SEALs successful.

So Lieutenant Rivers seriously violated the SEAL code.

How the hell do you...?

[MacKenzie] Admiral?

I'm here.

We're running out of time.

What do you have?

[Rabb] Well, sir, apparently,

Rivers left Douglas alone

in the process of rescuing Undersecretary Culbertson.

Oh, this is bad news, Commander.

He did it to save Culbertson's life, sir.

It doesn't matter, Major.

SEALs do what they do

because they can rely on each other.

The team is everything.

You never leave your man.

So we've discovered, sir.

Sir, there's no one left to talk to.

We've gotten everyone's story.

Not everyone's.

Your version of the rescue, Lieutenant.

No evasions,

no games, no crap.

Just straight talk, huh?

Man to man.

I say what happened,

and you two dedicated lawyers...

seekers of the truth... will take my word for it, right?

Well, that depends on what you tell us.

I figured as much.

Sit down, Lieutenant!

We're not done.

So, here's what we know so far.

You're an irresponsible leader,

a Rambo who puts his men's lives in danger.

Is there anything else we should know?

If there is, you better tell us right now

because, frankly, we are tired of asking.

Good. Maybe if you'll get tired enough, you'll just go away.

After what happened to your father,

we understand how you feel about lawyers.

You don't know anything about me or what I do.

You don't have the right to understand me.

Oh, I know you, Rivers. You're a hard-ass mustang with a chip on your shoulder

using your father as an excuse.

"I can do anything I want

because Seaman Edgar Rivers was persecuted."

Stop it! Back off, Lieutenant!

Do it!

Good thing you got your woman to protect you there, Commander.

Anytime, anyplace, Rivers.

Oh, you stepping up to the plate?

I can handle anything yougot.

I got the last day of hell week.

Why don't you put on some greens and come join the party?

What, so you can push me around?

You can handle anything I got.

All right. I'll go.

You tell me your story

-and I'll be there. -Are you serious?

You make it through the day, I'll give you my biography.

Deal.

Commander.

Hope you're ready for this.

[Rivers] Welcome to the last phase of SEAL training, Commander.

You've been captured by the enemy.

Your task is a simple one.

All you have to do is survive.

Lawyers.

[chuckles]

Something wrong?

That old night blindness thing acting up again?

Huh?

That's what it indicates in your service record, isn't it?

Crashed a Tomcat on a carrier deck at night.

It's okay. Look at me!

Huh?

What's the name of your Rio, buddy? Huh?

Was he a nice guy?

Was he your friend? Huh?

He liked you, didn't he?

He trusted you.

He had to.

He put his life in your hands.

Stupid sucker. It's clear.

How do you like answering the questions now?

Huh?

What do you think?

A lawyer with nothing to say.

[chuckles]

You want to take a shot at me, Commander? Huh?

-Lieutenant. -What?!

Take it easy. You're supposed to test him, not break him.

Anything else?

Yeah. I'll get the corpsman.

You do that.

[grunts]

Do you know the secret of happiness, Lieutenant?

You can defeat the pain, Curtis.

It's all in your mind!

Or would you rather cash in your chips

and ring the bell?

Tell me everything.

What you've heard is right!

Stop stonewalling me!

I got nothing to add.

Make something up.

[panting]

Get out of here!

No, no, no, no. Let's go.

Come on, come on.

[both breathing heavily]

Tell me what happened.

Tell me what you heard.

You needlessly endangered your men.

And you believe that?

Three of your team were injured.

Plus the hostage.

Anything else?

You broke the SEAL code.

You left your man.

Is it true?

I don't have to defend myself to you, to them or to anyone.

The mission I took was to save the Undersecretary of State.

I did that.

Why do your men resent you?

Resent me?

They hate my guts.

Why?

Because I operate instinctively, regardless of their wishes.

They still follow you.

They have to. I outrank 'em.

It's not because, uh...

They respect you.

You went back for Douglas.

Yeah.

You lit a flare so the others would come and find him.

Did Douglas tell you that?

He was unconscious.

Is that what he said?

Wasn't he?

Whatever.

Why won't you speak on your own behalf, Lieutenant?

'Cause all the medals in the world

won't make you a better leader.

Commander. What happened to you?

It's a long story.

How are you feeling?

About the same.

Depressed?

A little.

Bitter?

What do you mean, sir?

Well, are you angry?

Feel you got a raw deal?

Some, I suppose.

-Is that why you lied to me? -Sir?

You weren't unconscious during the rescue, were you?

[sighs]

You're a lousy liar, Petty Officer Douglas.

Probably not enough practice. Try the truth.

The truth?

The truth is he gets nominated for a medal

and I get to be an invalid for the rest of my life

'cause he couldn't wait.

You saw him pull Culbertson out. You saw him kill the terrorists.

You saw him carry Culbertson to safety, didn't you?

Yes, sir, I did.

So what?

Did Lieutenant Rivers abandon you?

He came over there.

I told him to get out of there...

Get the hostage down to the beach.

He fired a flare to mark my position,

and when he saw our men heading towards us, he left.

A minute later, the guys were there.

So, he didn't abandon you.

No.

Maybe he deserves the medal. I don't know,

but I wouldn't want to serve with him again.

I mean, uh... not that I have...

need to worry about that.

Lieutenant Rivers deserves the medal.

You deserve a little relief. Let go of the anger.

Forgive the man so you can get on with your life.

I won't forgive him...

but, um, I won't lie anymore.

What are you looking for, sir?

I'm looking for a second eyewitness.

You got one.

Present arms!

[applauding]

Thank you.

Together on this day, we offer a prayer for peace

and a tribute to those who defend it.

Together on this day, we say thank you

to those who step forward to safeguard

our security and our ideals.

What better way to express our gratitude

than by presenting this country's highest

military decoration for valor.

Mr. Undersecretary...

Mr. President.

For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity

at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty,

Lieutenant Curtis Rivers, United States Navy,

an American hero, is hereby awarded the Medal of Honor.

Your nation thanks you.

And may God bless you.

Thank you, sir.

I would have followed you anywhere.