Original subtitles

[man] Tiger Six, this is Tiger Two.

We are out of formation. Over.

Tiger Two, say position. Over.

Position unclear.

Over.

Come right.

Hotel 86.

Golf 16.

I said right,

damn it!

Sorry, Gunny.

Do you have friendlies in sight? Over.

Negative. We have lost the battalion. Over.

Field is crawling with armory.

Where are they... downtown DC?

State nature of difficulty, Tiger Two. Over.

Driver's disoriented.

Over.

Who's at the controls?

Corporate Wetzel, sir.

This is Captain Arliss.

Driver has three years experience.

You tell him to wipe the scum from his eyes. Over.

Tiger Six, we seem to have a new position

on dominant terrain.

I've had enough of his crap.

Something ahead. Over.

Sir, I think they... Do you hear me, Gunny?

Sir!

Get out of here!

[soldiers shouting commands at once]

[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] The Quantico Command has seen fit

to recommend court-martial proceedings

against Marine tank driver Daryl Wetzel,

for dereliction of duty during war games.

Apparently, he got lost

and rammed his unit commander's tent.

[both laughing]

Anyway, the Corporal's admitted negligence.

I want you to defend him.

[both laughing]

Did somebody get hurt, sir?

No. No.

[Rabb] But, Admiral, I still have

the McCarty murder on the docket.

Commander, do you see yourself above certain cases?

No, sir. Admiral, I'm a senior attorney. Why me?

You don't expect to be treated with favoritism

-or special dispensation, correct? -Yes.

I've been sensing among the staff a certain

cavalier attitude toward boiler plate cases.

Since I have never met a, uh, defendant

with that perspective, it has me concerned.

Corporal Wetzel deserves no less an advocate

than anyone else.

I acknowledge that, sir.

Good. Good.

Then this should be a test of your senior attorney skills.

Excuse me, sir.

Morning, Major.

I was just briefing the Commander here

on a dereliction of duty case

due to culpable...

Inefficiency.

Is the Commander in the Admiral's dog house, sir?

Why would you say that?

Well, considering there are bigger fish in the pond,

I assumed...

I tried to warn you, ma'am.

Yeah, next time, scream it in my ear.

I haven't defended a case of dereliction of duty

since my first year in JAG.

[Roberts] Is he serious about this budget?

Yes, Bud.

Low level cases equal no funding.

Yeah, but sir, we barely have enough money

for two of us, let alone the three of us.

Well, the Admiral apparently thinks

Harm and I are spoiled.

You're expected to make it work.

Me, ma'am?

Bud, why don't you call our new client

-and I'll look into his service record. -Yes, sir.

[Wetzel] Marie and I have been separatedfor two months.

I moved into the barracks.

She's still in base housing.

We met when I stopped

to change her flat.

She, she was an exotic dancer

so she wasn't wearing very much.

I liked her looks.

But I married her to straighten her out.

Problem is she's, uh...

she's too twisted to care.

Ma'am, uh, would you like a seat?

Uh, no. I'm fine, but thanks for asking.

We, we have a year-old son,

Sean.

Marie got sole custody of him

because she was breast-feeding

and she was able to...

to hide her drug use from the court.

I've been trying to get that decision reversed.

The appeal is on Friday.

Now I know she's worried about it.

So when the neighbors called up and said she was packing the car

I beat it over there.

She was trying to abscond with your child?

Sir, if I didn't stop her, I'd never see my son again.

That upset me.

All day long, I kept thinking

she was going to try something like that again.

Who's the attorney representing you

in the custody hearing, Corporal?

That's why I blew the exercise.

I-I-I couldn't concentrate.

I'm pleading myself, ma'am.

I... I can't afford one.

What's your argument?

The safety of my son, sir.

She doesn't know how to raise an infant.

Corporal, you admit that, uh,

you weren't paying attention

and that your actions

endangered the, uh, Unit Command, correct?

I don't lie, sir.

[Rabb] Your offense carries with it

a three-month incarceration.

Well, I'm afraid that wouldn't work for me, sir.

Any brig time, that...

that'd jeopardize my chances of regaining custody of my son.

[Marie] He's lying about the drugs.

That's just Daryl's way of trying to take Sean from me.

Judge threw it out 'cause there wasn't no evidence.

[Sean cries out]

Why did you and Daryl break up?

We don't get along.

Sean, you stop that right now.

I mean it.

I'm sorry.

He's usually not like this.

And it had nothing to do with the drug issue?

No.

I told you, that's him lying.

I wouldn't do stuff like that.

-I got a baby to care for. -Excuse me.

When was the last time the baby was... uh, changed?

Well, I was just about to

when you rang my bell.

What are you asking me these questions for?

I'm not the one who's in trouble here.

Ma'am, we're just trying to get a handle on Daryl's situation.

Yeah, well, talk to Daryl, okay?

I got a situation of my own.

Uh, were you trying to leave town with the child?

No. See, see, he's crazy.

I was just taking him over to my mama's.

You were seen packing the car.

Yeah, well, we were going to stay the night.

Look, Daryl is just flipping out

because his life is falling apart, okay?

I love this baby more than anything.

And no one can care for Sean better than I can

and no one ever will.

Anything else?

General, Corporal Wetzel's problems stem

from his wife's custody of their one-year-old child.

The Corporal's problem's been addressed

at two prior Article 15 proceedings.

The chronic tardiness he claimed

was due to his wife's neglect of their child.

The drunk and disorderly

was because the forfeiture of pay

made it hard for him to provide for his family.

He's overdrawn on his excuse account.

[MacKenzie] Corporal's trying to secure

custody rights of his son, sir.

After he's served his time.

Incarceration would seriously hamper his chances, General.

I won't do it.

You have children, sir?

I'm going to assume that question was not an attempt

to manipulate my feelings, Commander.

Because if it was,

you're either desperate

or stupid,

and neither will play in this room.

The military

takes a beating every time it gets involved

in the private lives of its personnel.

Wetzel's case is already news.

I've had to give access to all media interests to avoid a backlash.

All the more reason to avoid a trial, sir.

I actually like the Corporal.

He's the most polite young man I've ever met.

That's why we were there for him from the beginning.

The base chaplain is counseling.

CAAC got involved

after the last incident

but I will not reward a man for having a messy life.

Every Joe with a sad story

would be in here looking for a ticket out.

Aren't you going to ask for a change of venue?

You would consider that, sir?

I'll send the Corporal

T-A-D to Parris Island.

You get an objective hearing.

I avoid headlines in the Navy Times.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, and, Commander, just so you know,

my wife had three miscarriages.

Sorry, sir.

[MacKenzie] Oh, we have a go.

Trial begins at Parris Island Monday of next week.

-Hey, Bud, book us a flight. -I'm sorry, sir.

Budgetary restrictions won't allow that.

-We'll hop a transport. -I already checked, ma'am.

There's not another one scheduled for three weeks.

This is ludicrous.

How can we be expected to perform a competent job without the means?

I'm gonna have a word with Chegwidden.

Proceed, Commander.

Admiral...

Sir.

Fire-damaged carrier, unauthorized trip to Haiti,

a bullet-riddled freighter,

and a lawsuit from the Bradenhurst Corporation...

All of these have literally exploded our budget.

All of these occurred on your watch.

Your... point, sir?

Humor me, Commander.

Just one case.

Bring in one case as budgeted.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

It's a, uh, two-day drive, sir.

[sighs]

We leave Friday.

Talk to me in my office.

Corporal needs help with his custody hearing.

Don't go there, Mac. Don't go there.

You can't separate the issue from the man.

Mac, I agree with you.

Corporal Wetzel is getting a raw deal

but his personal life is an economy-sized can of worms.

All right,

but whatever we do has got to be detached.

He needs a civilian attorney.

You thinking of quitting again?

I know someone who'll do it pro bono.

This is Dalton Lowne.

Dalton, Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb.

Pleasure.

[MacKenzie] Dalton is...

I know who Dalton is, Mac.

I haven't been living under a rock.

It's just that you two have never really met.

Nice suit.

Thanks.

Dalton feels he can help.

He got his start in family law.

Really?

A misspent youth?

That's funny, yeah.

No judge will grant custody

to a man who might be serving time,

so I'll want to ask for a continuance

-till after the court-martial. -Really?

Well, that's certainly a way to go.

Doesn't do much for our case, but, uh...

Sounds like you've already given up.

What Harm meant...

[Rabb] Thank you, Mac,

but I generally work without an interpreter.

Military law, Mr. Lone...

Lowne.

Is somewhat less pliable

than the civilian variety.

Cases like Corporal Wetzel's leave little room

for creative defense. Now, that said,

no one, in this room anyway, is backing off

of the challenge.

So you go

for your continuance

and, well, we'll do whatever it is we do.

Look, I didn't mean to suggest

that you weren't approaching this...

And I wasn't taking offense, Mr. Lowne.

Listen, why don't we discuss this over dinner?

Good idea.

Let me make a call.

I know the maitre d' at Le Jardin.

You know, I was thinking more along the lines

of Ho's Organic Noodle House.

Okay, hey...

we could do that, too.

[Wetzel] So, I won't be testifying?

Today's hearing is about procedure, Corporal.

Lawyers and judges talking to one another.

How do you know the judge will postpone?

Trust me, Daryl, this is simple stuff.

-There he is. Corporal Wetzel! -Yes, ma'am.

Just how do you plan on raising a child in the brig, sir?

Excuse me. You are...?

Jill Waddington from Here and Now,

-the news magazine show. -Ms. Waddington, where's the news?

It's a story on child custody cases in the military.

Each branch is being examined,

to get its take on the issue.

Well, the Corporal's issue

-is not for the taking. -I'd like to respond to this.

The reason I'm being court-martialed is because my wife...

Have you abused your wife, Corporal?

No. No, ma'am.

Even when you were drunk and disorderly?

Well, ma'am... see, that happened off-base.

The abuse happened off-base? Is that what you're saying?

-Excuse me?! -The Corporal's confused by your question.

I think I understood his answer.

See if you understand this: Back off.

And who are you two?

-Batman and Robin. -What just happened?

[Rabb] You were ambushed, Corporal.

-That is a no-no, Daryl. -Yes, sir.

From now on, you let me do the talking.

And I am perfectly equipped to handle the press.

I noticed.

That's a little aggressive, don't you think?

Hey, I'm Batman.

Therefore, as we believe matters of Marine Corps discipline

should not intrude upon these issues involved here,

we would like to request

postponement of the custody question

until after the Corporal's military trial.

[Judge] I'm inclined to agree.

Does opposing counsel have an objection?

[Judge] Mr. Tobey?

Your Honor, I, uh...

I'm sorry, Your Honor, I...

-I seem to have misplaced something. -[Judge] Do you object to

-a postponement? -[Tobey] No, Your Honor.

[Judge] In that case...

As long as my client's safety

can be insured during that period.

[Lowne] Your Honor, Corporal Wetzel poses no danger...

Your Honor, I have an affidavit

from a Mr. John Bagdasarian, a UPS driver...

TOBEY: I'm sorry, Your Honor.

I don't know what that is. Sorry... there.

Now, Mr. Bagdasarian witnessed Corporal Wetzel pushing and shoving

his estranged wife

Marie, outside of her home.

He also notes he was screaming

and that her son Sean, who was in the car

at the time,

was hysterical and traumatized.

Now, that happened on a date

not authorized for child visitation.

So if the hearing's going to be delayed, Your Honor,

I ask the court to grant a restraining order

against Corporal Wetzel during that period of time.

Your Honor, Corporal Wetzel

was simply trying to prevent his wife

from absconding with their son,

as is evidenced by this affidavit

from a neighbor, Mrs. Jean Kisco.

Mrs. Kisco,

aware of Marie Wetzel's intentions,

warned the Corporal,

who arrived understandably upset.

I accept the argument, Counselor.

Nonetheless, given the antipathy that exists

between the two parents, any visitation

is likely to set off similar fireworks.

For the sake of the child,

I'll grant a temporary restraining order against

Corporal Wetzel until his military charges have been resolved.

[gavel bangs]

Who is that guy?

His name is Mark Tobey, sir.

He advertises on TV.

He used to be one of the top civil rights advocates.

We just studied one of his cases

in my tort seminar.

Oh, yeah? He's pretty sharp.

[conversing indistinctly]

I don't know what to say, Daryl. I'm terribly disappointed.

-I'll make it up to you somehow. -Well, if I get convicted, sir,

I go to the brig without seeing my son.

Let us worry about that, Corporal.

All you need to do is to trust us,

pack your bags and be ready to go at 1300.

Yes, sir.

We're not going to let you down.

Thank you, ma'am.

I got to go.

[Marie] screaming like a madman

and pushing me like that?

So you consider...

Corporal?

[MacKenzie] Now don't worry, we'll take good care of you.

Once we're in the courtroom,

make sure you speak only when spoken to...

[Roberts] Cool!

AQuantum Leap convention!

What in the name of God is a Quantum LeapConvention?

Well, the guy who created Magnum, P.I...

It was a rhetorical question, Bud.

I don't want to push my luck.

Just happy they had one room available.

[sighs]

No, that episode was...

No, Sam and Al... I remember this one...

-You do this to me every year... -[man] No, you didn't even know.

It was the first edition of the Quantum Quarterly.

[woman 3] So, you understand that, in "Mirror Image,"

the bartender was the leaping Sam...

Hey.

Hi.

I need support.

I'm sharing a bed with Bud.

Well, there's a Bible in the nightstand.

Listen, um...

about Dalton Lowne...

Harm, don't.

There's tension between us.

Um, I, uh, might be feeling a little resentful.

Why?

Well, th-that's a good question

and, uh...

you know, it's probably because, if, uh...

well, if I were a civilian, I would be him

and I might be feeling a little competitive.

There, I said it.

An apology.

I'm impressed.

-I've been working on myself. -[laughing]

-Don't tell anybody. -[laughing] Okay.

-Can I have that olive? -Yeah, sure.

You know, that's your food budget for the day.

[chuckling]

Might be funny if it wasn't true.

Any ideas on a defense angle?

Hmm, extenuation and mitigation.

Yeah, it's not much, is it? Even with this new venue,

our only shot is to play to the jury's emotions

and, uh...

argue against brig time.

Mac, you're getting too personally involved.

The tougher it goes

the more he's going to turn to you.

You're his attorney, not his rescuer.

Is that why you hardly ever talk to him?

Call it "tactical reserve."

Harm, there are times when military protocol

gives us an excuse to avoid human interaction.

Hey, when you boil it down, every branch of the service

is concerned with the same three principles:

Discipline, discipline and discipline. You know it,

and I, for one, don't think it's a bad thing.

Nobody wants to go into battle

with someone who doesn't have his mind

completely on accomplishing the mission.

Thought I recognized those voices.

We must've got here

before y'all did.

What is that... That Cobb salad, ma'am?

I had that.

It's good.

Yeah.

Everything all right, Corporal?

Yes, sir. Staying positive.

I know Sean and I are going to be together soon, so...

That's the attitude. You keep your chin up.

I can't be any other way, ma'am. It's my nature.

See, I was raised by my Grandma Bea,

the finest woman I have ever known.

She taught me many great things.

The best of which is

uh... "If you can't find a path through the wilderness

you go on and make your own."

I want to teach that

to my son one day.

Well, that'll be good advice, Corporal.

I'm going to call it a day.

Ma'am... are you staying?

[Rabb] Major and I

have to get our beauty sleep, Corporal.

You may want to take that advice yourself.

It's another four hours to Parris Island.

[sergeant] G'night, sir.

Good night.

Sleep well, Corporal.

Thank you.

Very well, sir, ma'am.

[Marie on TV] I just can't trust Daryl after what he did...

Let's go, Corporal.

[sergeant] Where you going, Corporal?

A madman and pushing me like that.

[Waddington] Do you consider your husband dangerous?

[Marie] Especially to Sean.

[Waddington] What is your position on visitation rights?

[Marie] I don't think he should ever see him again.

Far as I'm concerned,

Daryl's not Sean's father no more.

He's just the guy who made me pregnant.

[sportscast playing on TV]

Trouble sleeping, Corporal?

Recently, Sarge.

You want me to get the light?

No, I got it.

Night, Sarge.

Night.

[grunting]

[sighs]

Something you want to share, Lieutenant?

I'm sorry, sir, I thought you were sleeping.

You're kidding, right?

I was just thinking about Harriet.

Oh, she's so warm.

She's like a little radiator.

Sometimes I'll lay right next to her.

I want to curl up and just

live there forever.

You know what I mean, sir?

Is there a point to this, Bud?

I don't really think there is, sir.

[sighs]

[snickering]

I'm sorry. It's just you don't have to worry about me or anything.

I'm not like a creeper.

I'll stay on my side of the bed.

I mean, even if I was asleep,

I'm pretty sure I could tell the difference

between you and Harriet. I mean,

you're big and hard and she's...

You love her, Bud?

Oh, yes, sir.

Very much so.

That's nice.

You have issues?

No.

It's perfect.

[snorts] No relationship is perfect, Bud.

Well, this one is.

[chuckles] Yeah, okay, if you say so.

Good night.

Good night.

Is that your foot, Bud?

Sorry, sir.

-[woman] Oh! Oh, that's him! -[woman 2] Oh, is that his car?

-[woman] Oh, yeah! -[man] It's Don Bellisario.

-Great to see you. -Can I have your autograph, please?

-[man 2] That's the guy that created... -Hello, there.

-[woman 2] Hi! -[Bellisario] It's great to be here.

-[man] So nice to meet you. -[woman] Oh, I'm honored!

[man] Nice you could make it!

[woman] Oh, thank you!

[man] Is there no end in sight?

[Marie] Bye, baby. Call me later.

Come on, Sean.

Come on, we're home.

Thanks.

See you later.

[Sean fussing]

Hey, buddy!

[tires screeching]

[sighs] Almost home.

Mrs. Wetzel?

Hi, I'm Art Scher, Channel 9 News.

We're here to do a local follow-up

on the Here and Now military custody story.

What?

Oh, my God.

What am I wearing?

Oh, no, no, no, you look great.

[flustered] Oh, uh, oh, my God!

All right, well, just... can I...

You know, can I at least, you know

touch up my face or something?

You don't need it.

You really don't need it.

It's really fine; it's fine.

Okay, well...

Come on, baby.

Let's get you inside.

There you go.

Okay, well, what do you want to know?

Let me just get you out here,

we'll have a nice simple background, okay?

It's a rental.

There's no sticker.

[Scher] Now that this story is in the public eye, can you tell us

what it's been like for you?

Uh, well, um, some guy named Louis wants

to take pictures of me or something.

-Do you know anything about that? -Uh, no, I don't.

'Cause I won't do anything that's not in good taste.

How's your son holding up?

Has he been affected by it at all?

He seems pretty cool.

He doesn't sense the tension?

Why don't you judge for yourself?

-Hey! -Daryl!

Oh, my God! Who... who's that? He's got my baby!

Is that your husband, Mrs. Wetzel?

Daryl, come back here!

Sean!

Oh, my God!

He's got my baby!

[General] We found the car before he could get to it,

so we know that he's still on the base.

Sir, I would ask when you find the Corporal that you use restraint.

-His intentions are not bad, sir. -His wife would disagree.

I know his actions appear irrational...

Lose the understatement, Commander.

The Major and I both believe the Corporal is of sound mind, sir.

The Corporal's been through

a very frustrating period, sir.

That's why the poor judgment.

He's gone over the edge, Major.

You two are making him sound like all he needs

are two aspirin and a good night's sleep.

That's not what I'm trying to say.

The Corporal is not the only one on this planet

-with problems, and I, for one, am damn tired -Excuse me, General.

...of him shoving his in my face.

-Sir! -What is it?

Sir, if I were you, I'd get your face out of the way of this one.

Everyone, clear!

Where's the baby?!

Get this.

[cooing happily]

He's headed for the gate, sir.

That can't happen.

Get some bodies down here! Sir!

What are you doing, Corporal?

You don't want to be around here, sir.

Where's the baby?

Safe... from the abuse of the world.

Talk to me.

I'm not a story!

Do you understand?!

What do you want from us?

I'm not a story, sir, I'm a person.

[Rabb] Corporal!

We are live now with Art Scher

at the Quantico military facility

where a Marine Corporal has kidnapped

his one-year-old son and commandeered a tank.

Who are we seeing out there, Art?

That would be Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb,

one of the Corporal's military attorneys.

He's been trying to reason with his client

for the past 10 minutes.

What about a motive?

The Corporal apparently has had

episodes of alcoholism and spousal abuse.

Then there must be quite a bit of concern

for that child's safety.

There is, John.

There is profound concern.

You see that? Yeah.

See that, Sean?

That's the "look up" scope.

Want to see?

Yeah, that's the "look up" scope.

Now...

look.

Want to see?

Look, look.

Yeah.

Sean.

You're going to hear about this one day.

People will...

they're going to be saying...

"your daddy... he's a good guy.

"So mannerly.

"What was going on in his head?

Must have snapped."

What I want you to tell them...

If you can remember...

Is that I loved you enough

to make sure everyone knew, Sean.

I loved you.

That and they really ticked your daddy off.

Slick move, sir.

You're a tough nut, Commander.

You can leave out the tough part, sir.

Is Sean okay?

-I don't know, Mrs. Wetzel. -Tactical radio, sir.

We're switching to his frequency.

[General] We can speak to him directly

over the vehicle's communication system.

I don't think he's interested in communicating, sir.

Son...

this is General Albanese speaking.

You are to surrender yourself and the child.

[Scher] John, the commanding General

is now making an attempt to contact the Corporal.

Corporal, you're endangering yourself...

your son...

and the personnel on this base.

Corporal Wetzel, secure that vehicle.

John, something is definitely happening.

Damn! Corporal...!

Whoa.

I got a bad feeling about this.

Corporal Wetzel, acknowledge your presence.

[Roberts] I hate to say it, sir, but this looks

like a budget breaker to me.

[soldiers shouting indistinctly]

What is it with those helicopters?

It's what passes for entertainment these days, Bud.

Be thankful civilian helicopters aren't allowed overthe base.

We got a bead on what's next?

Sir, with 120,000 pounds of steel beneath him

I say the Corporal's in the position to pick and choose.

We're sending in a team with C-4. We're gonna pop that hatch.

General, there's a baby in that tank.

General, I have an idea,

if you're willing to wait a few hours.

-I am not. -Sir, unless your plan is foolproof,

you may be in the unfortunate position

of explaining to the American people

why that baby was injured.

Mrs. Green, I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb.

You're very tall.

Well, I didn't mean to be, ma'am.

-You're from the South. -I'm Charleston born and Charleston bred

and when I die, I'll be Charleston dead.

[chuckles] General.

General Albanese, this is Beatrice Green, the Corporal's grandmother.

-You can call me Bea. -We appreciate you coming, Bea.

-Is there anything we can get for you? -Blessings from above.

We very much want to help your grandson, ma'am.

Daryl experiences things very deeply...

Too much, sometimes.

Ma'am, you push this button

so that you can speak to him

and release it so we can hear him.

Daryl?

This is Grandma Bea.

Hello, Grandma.

How are you?

Well...

I'm a little busy at the moment.

Sean okay?

Yeah, Grammie.

He's doing fine.

He's seen better days.

You sound tired.

I am. I am, a bit.

There anything you want to say about what's going on?

Yes, ma'am, there is.

See, I'm not just a Marine

and I'm not just a father.

I'm a Marine who happens to be a father and I...

I don't love my country any less than I do my son.

I don't understand why

I got to choose between the two, ma'am.

That's it, Gram.

Will you give the child up?

You know I will.

For Sean's sake, yeah.

He just needed someone

to listen to him.

Gram?

I-I want to give him to you.

I want you to take care of Sean.

Ma'am, tell him to open the hatch, climb down

and walk towards us.

No, sir.

No. No, General.

You send my grandma out to me.

Daryl, I can't get up on that thing.

I'm sorry, Grammie.

It's not going to be any other way.

I love you.

[laughs]

Okay, you sit tight, now, fella.

Grandma's gonna come see you.

Wanna see Grandma?

Corporal.

Talk to him, Daryl.

I don't blame you for your distrust, Corporal.

I haven't been there for you,

and for that I apologize.

I want to talk to my grandma.

I'm your only shot.

Can you promise me Marie will not get my son Sean?

I'll do my best.

-You have to promise me, sir... -It's out of my hands.

Well, I got nothing left to say to you.

Daryl!

Come on, give him up.

What do you have for all your efforts, Daryl?

More trouble, and less hope.

Thanks for the reassuring words, sir.

You're in deep, Daryl...

but together...

we can work something out.

I'm staying here.

They're just gonna come for you.

He's got a sidearm with him.

[rifle cocking]

[various marksmen communicating over radio]

I'm not worried about that.

What are you going to do, Daryl?

Kill yourself?

Well, sir, I don't see much of a future for myself.

Listen to me, man.

How can you say that you love your son

and then deny him your presence?

My son?

My son's not going to know me.

I'm gonna be behind bars.

Hey.

He'll know what you did for him.

That much I canpromise you.

[Sean crying inside tank]

[Albanese] He goes for his sidearm, take your shot.

[Sean screaming inside tank]

All right, sir.

All right.

[sobbing]

It's all right.

Hey.

-[Rabb] Mac fill you in? -[Lowne] Yeah, you want me to represent

Wetzel's grandmother in a new custody hearing.

-Nice tie. -Uh, thanks.

Yeah, Wetzel will be out of town for a while.

-Leavenworth? -Not much we can do about that.

So what kind of a sentence are you expecting?

[MacKenzie] Looking for a pretrial that limits confinement to five years.

That's some goal, concerning the number of offenses.

You're not giving up, are you, counselor?

-Touche. -You in?

After what happened, the judge will be

inclined to side with the mother.

Our only shot is to prove that she's unfit

so we'll need some hard evidence for that.

Let's do it.

Where's the evidence?

Your Honor,

Mrs. Green, a widow for some 30 years,

has dedicated her life to raising children.

She was a licensed foster parent for nine years,

prior to the untimely passing of her daughter

and her son-in-law,

whereupon she raised Daryl.

There is simply no one better suited

to providing young Sean Wetzel with the support that he needs.

Mr. Tobey?

Your Honor,

Corporal Wetzel is not exactly

a poster boy for good upbringing.

Now, besides, in two trials,

no one has provided a shred of evidence

that Marie Wetzel here

is incapable of raising her own child.

[Lowne] In the first trial,

Corporal Wetzel made allegations,

unsubstantiated at the time,

that Marie Wetzel was an unrepentant drug user

and that this behavior

inhibited her ability to care for their son.

I'd like Your Honor to consider this video

shot by the Channel Nine news team.

[rock music blaring over car radio on TV]

[Marie on TV] Bye, baby.

Call me later.

Come on, Sean, honey.

Come on.

[Marie] See ya later.

The man in the Camaro is Gary William Stadler.

Now, Commander Rabb and Major MacKenzie

were given permission to scan the raw footage for possible evidence.

When they did a background check on Mr. Stadler,

they discovered that he was in the county lockup,

awaiting trial on charges

of possession with intent to distribute

crystallized methampetamine.

This affidavit, signed by Mr. Stadler,

will show that he was providing

Marie Wetzel with the drug for the past three years.

[Judge] Mr. Tobey,

your response?

[Green] Now, we're going to get through this.

Everything's going to be fine.

Mr. Scher!

I was under the opinion that television news

had forgotten how to serve us.

I thank you for proving me wrong.

Well, uh, Commander Rabb

deserves the credit for that, ma'am.

It was his idea to check the footage.

I'm grateful for that, and I'm grateful to you

for not making snap judgments against my grandson.

It's not his nature to be irrational or violent.

[Rabb] Mrs. Green.

Your great-grandson, ma'am.

Ma'am, the Marine Corps supports the Corporal's rehabilitation.

General Albanese himself has offered

to monitor his counseling while he serves out his time.

You put yourself at risk for Daryl and Sean.

I guess you must know what it means to be a parent.

Well, ma'am, I...

I know what it means to be a son.

Yes... I think you do.