Original subtitles

Dragon 2, Birdman, let's go.

Roger that, Birdman.

Right, right, right, right!

Dragon 2, I'm hit!

No, she's breaking up.

Get out of there, Birdman. Get out of there.

Eat this.

Eat this.

You did

it, Birdman.

You finally flew the nest.

Your visitor's here.

Name that tomb, Commander.

Don't fence me in.

Thank you.

I'll be at the door.

Thanks for arranging my bond.

Second -degree murder.

That's what a year in a psychiatric hospital has done.

I forced the man to cough up his pills.

Does that sound like murder to you? He killed himself as a result. That was not

his intention.

Dick LaCroix was a Vietnam intruder pilot from 1967 to 70.

Flew 36 missions before a deck crash strapped him inside his cockpit for two

hours.

He suffered post -traumatic stress disorder ever since.

All Dick would ever talk about was his last good memory of the war.

Three weeks earlier, he'd been rescued after ejecting over the South China Sea.

And the other night, I didn't see anything. I was asleep.

But the word was that Dick was shouting flyer lingo just before he went. If he'd

swallowed his pills, he wouldn't have been hallucinating.

No, no.

He would have done what he did every day.

Drooled on his shirt and soiled his pants.

I gave the bird man back his free will.

You were playing God. No, the doctors do that when they prescribe

antipsychotics. No matter what this wrought, Commander, I did the right

In a war stress recovery unit, the patient doesn't get to determine

Call me a trendsetter.

Most of the patients in this ward have been medicated into submission.

That's what we're talking about here.

Self -determination. Taking back control of one's life. The state wants to put

you in prison, Roscoe. How much control are you going to have there? Well...

That's why I called you.

This is the second time Roscoe Martin has been your responsibility.

The man discharged from the military, what, 30 years ago?

He has you in his pocket, Commander. The answer is no, I need you here. Sir, I

can't keep granting you leave every time someone dies at his hand.

Admiral, I am... What the hell is going on between you two?

Why do you keep coming to his rescue? And what in God's name has he done to

your loyalty?

He fought a war, sir.

Just like you.

Just like every man who went to Vietnam and came back to embarrass Lux.

Roscoe Martin is not every man.

He deserted his platoon and betrayed his fellow POWs. And he spent the rest of

his life, Admiral, paying for those mistakes.

Sir, I... I admit Roscoe Martin is a handful.

I guess to me he represents the half million who were defined by that war.

Four years ago, Commander of my old SEAL platoon started talking to himself in

public.

After six months of outpatient treatment, he was admitted to a local VA

hospital.

So I went to see him.

He took an armful of board games with me.

When I got there, he was all drugged up.

He had fallen asleep, so I left the board games with the nurse and put them

table.

A few months later, I came back to see him.

By that time, he had stopped communicating completely.

The board games were exactly where I left them. They had never been touched.

Last time I saw him, he was completely bedridden, wearing diapers.

Where's the respect?

Permission to find out, sir.

What's going on?

Housecleaning, sir.

United States Navy versus Gentilly.

Apparently, you and I prosecuted. Do you remember this?

I don't remember what I had for breakfast, Mac.

Pumpernickel bagels, sir.

Thanks for noticing, bud.

I'll get those.

That's okay. I got it.

Excuse me?

Sure.

How about this one?

District of Columbia versus Roscoe L. Martin.

Accordion playing former POW skewered his Viet Cong captor on a Georgetown

street. What was his motive?

Revenge. He had been tricked into revealing the names of the camp's

was then forced to watch as they executed the rest of them.

Where'd he end up?

In trouble again. He's in a war stress recovery unit in a local VA facility.

I'm trying to keep him out of prison.

Look, can you handle the Hinshaw case alone?

Yeah. Thank you.

Don't do it.

You just concluded 18 years of searching for your father.

Don't let Roscoe Martin drag you back into the jungle.

It's a matter of principle, Meg.

I owe it to the men of that war.

No harm. It's deeper than that. You are replacing one obsession with another.

You're overreacting, Major. This is me turning a negative.

Into a positive. I'm just trying to prevent one more man from paying for

with the rest of his life.

What about your life?

What about a relationship?

A child?

Your future after the Navy?

Or is that just not as important?

Those things are important to me. This is one case, Mac. It's hardly an

obsession. You could walk away at any time.

Any time.

How about now?

Dr. Inge, as head of the War Stress Recovery Unit at the Paley Medical

would you explain its function on that of Section B?

WSR is an open unit facility designed to help veterans overcome war -related

disorders. Section B is a secured ward for patients considered less stable,

Richard LaCroix and Roscoe Martin.

What was Mr. LaCroix's clinical diagnosis and condition?

He was suffering from long -term psychosis.

Medication was necessary to eliminate the hallucinations and to protect him

harming himself.

And Mr. Martin?

Roscoe Martin has paranoid personality disorder, which manifests itself as a

pervasive distrust of others.

His program is drug -free, relying instead on group and individual therapy.

How does Mr. Martin relate to his environment?

Aggressively. He is the most disruptive patient in Section B.

Would you describe Mr. Martin's relationship to Richard LaCroix? He

him ceaselessly.

Your witness, Counselor.

Dr. Inch, do you believe that a person has a right to his own mind?

Not if he uses it to hurt himself or others.

Does the state have a right to take it from him, or is it obligated to provide

him the means to recover it? Recovery is always the goal.

Medication is used to control the symptoms, not to eliminate awareness.

Was Richard LaCroix communicated?

At times.

Isn't it true, Doctor, that the only time he spoke was in the presence of

Martin? I believe so.

I'd like to enter into evidence, Your Honor.

Defense Exhibit 1, a 1994 directive from the Veterans Administration prescribing

a 20 % budget cutback at the Paley facility.

Doctor, was your division affected by these rollbacks?

We coped. By cutting staff and reducing programs.

Well, some of that went on, yeah.

Which resulted in more medication and less therapy.

More medication was prescribed, but only as a consequence of patient behavior.

They weren't responding to the reduced therapy?

Your Honor, objection.

Withdrawn.

Doctor, if the ward was secured, how was it that Richard LaCroix was able to

jump ten stories to his death?

That morning during activities in the common room, a patient threw a metal

at the window gate and unbeknownst to the staff, loosened the screws from the

plaster wall.

Mr. LaCroix was able to pull it free.

It was not, as you are about to suggest, negligence on the part of the staff. If

they had known about it, they would have fixed it.

And if Mr. LaCroix had been on his medication, he would have been nowhere

it.

Mr. Oakley, can you tell us what happened that night?

I walked into the common room as LaCroix was jumping. What did you do?

I ran over the window, but it was too late.

Was there anyone else in the room with him at the time?

Yeah.

There was someone in the back.

Did you get a good look at him?

I did.

It was Rothko Martin.

He was in his wheelchair.

Watching.

Why would he lie?

Because he doesn't like me, Commander. Haven't you noticed that?

When I was first admitted to the hospital, he tried to confiscate my

Told me it was against the rules.

Well, I informed him that this flag represents my right to challenge those

rules. He's lying to get at you.

Look, you interviewed him before the trial, right?

He never said a word about seeing me in that room, did he?

He said he was having trouble remembering details.

Oh, there you go.

Doesn't mean he's lying, Rothko, but even if he is, how do I prove it?

The independent psych of Al I had done on you proves you have paranoid

tendencies.

That's not a disorder.

It's his word against yours. Who would you believe?

Mr. Oakley, you?

Say you saw the defendant watching from his wheelchair.

Were the lights on in the room?

They were off.

So it was dark.

That's right.

Did you question the witness, ask him what he was doing there?

No. I went down to the street to check on LaCroix.

Afterwards, perhaps?

Well, he was gone by then.

Why wasn't this revelation in the police report, sir?

Well, I...

Remember it later.

Wasn't something that stuck with you.

Of the patients in Section B, how many are confined to motorized wheelchairs?

Three. Three. And of these three, how many have access to the common room?

All of them.

So how do you know it wasn't one of them?

It was Martin.

Well, how do you know?

He's always where the trouble is.

Afternoon, gentlemen.

How are you guys doing?

Excellent.

Good.

Happy here?

Commander!

Men, say hello to Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rapp.

This is my gang.

Chodorowski, Brookhurst.

They both made it through now.

Been here ever since.

Mike.

Tell the commander how many men you killed.

Eat my shorts, Roscoe.

You've got an anger problem.

Now, this fellow over here, this is Destug.

He's a Cajun. He's like my kid brother.

Served in the Gulf.

Really? On the ground or in the air?

Don't you have people to drug?

I'm getting tired of you making me your problem.

I just do what they tell me to do.

You understand?

Only too well.

Let's talk over here, Commander.

Is this typical?

No, usually there's ballroom dancing. Listen, I want you to put me on the

Forget it.

The jury isn't hearing half of what goes on in this hole.

Roscoe, this is a criminal trial. It's not a civil negligence action brought

against the VA.

Now I'm working in when I can.

You let me carry the voices of these patients into that courtroom.

You let me speak for these men, and then you'll have a case.

It's too risky.

Yeah, you're right.

It's a risk.

And that's exactly why you're going to let me do it.

You're a risk taker, Commander.

You are emboldened by challenge.

I mean, how do you defend a paraplegic wild man with a dark past?

Open me up, Commander.

Let everybody have a peek at my dream.

Let them see that they share that dream. That they are me and I am them.

And we all want the same thing.

To be free to choose.

Free to choose.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah.

What are you doing?

Plugging in my new surge protector.

But you're on your hands and knees.

So? Is that good for the baby?

It's only been 48 days.

Should you be exerting yourself?

A century ago, women were working in fields and factories while they were

caring. No big deal.

Yeah, and the rate of miscarriage was a lot higher then.

Now, look, if you need to do anything or have anything, just please ask me. Do

me a favor and don't make a big deal out of this. Not here.

So many rules have been bent so we can be together. I don't want to make this

pregnancy their problem.

They don't mind.

I mind.

No special treatment.

Were you in the common room the night Richard LaCroix jumped to his death?

No, sir.

I was asleep in my room.

If you had been there, would you have attempted to stop him? I would.

The last thing I wanted was for Dick to die.

My intention was to bring him back to life.

Is that why you withheld medication from him?

Yes.

When I got there, he wasn't responding to much of anything.

I tried to encourage him to express himself.

Turned out he only had one story to tell.

The day he ejected over the South China Sea.

Was this story meaningful to him?

Very. It represented escape.

Powerful image for a man that's been locked up in 2 ,200 square feet.

I know what he was thinking when he went. He wanted out.

Objection. Speculation. How could Mr. Martin know what the victim was

Sustained. I know what he was thinking.

Because I know what it's like to be held against my will. Mr. Martin. And until

you've been in a POW camp or a locked hospital ward.

I'm afraid you're just going to have to trust me. Sir, you must refrain from

responding to counsel unless addressed. Do you understand?

May I proceed, Your Honor?

Please.

Mr. Martin, I need to be clear about your

motivation.

By withholding, Richard LaCroix's anti -psychotic medication, you were giving

him back his mind. His subsequent leap from 10 stories was a reflection of his

need to escape from those who would limit his consciousness.

Very well put.

Is it true, sir, that you really meant to punish and not to liberate?

What?

Your Honor, I'd like to read from government exhibit...

Five and six.

Excerpts from Lieutenant Oakley's daily observations and Dr. Inge's subsequent

response. March 16th, 1998.

I had to pull Martin away from LaCroix after he suddenly began screaming at

calling LaCroix a coward and daring him to defend himself.

I was just trying to get him to feel something. I wanted to stop him from

behind the drugs. This approach is based on your vast counseling experience?

Objection, Your Honor.

I'm being harassed by my own lawyer.

Commander, are you sure you want to proceed in this manner?

Yes, sir, I do.

Let me tell you how a professional called it.

According to Dr.

Inge's notes on the incident, you projected your shame on Richard LaCroix.

The shame you felt at having deserted your unit in Vietnam.

And the guilt experienced at having to watch as a can full of POWs were

executed.

Richard LaCroix had two medals for valor.

You were threatened by him because he reminded you of your failure as a

That's not true. You loathed and feared him because he was everything you were

not. No, sir.

I loved him for it.

The real tragedy of Dick LaCroix wasn't his death.

It was the price he paid for serving his country.

24 years locked inside of himself.

He got so used to sitting in the same chair that his spine took on its shape.

When he ate, food bypassed his tongue, so he never got the pleasure of tasting

it. He had nobody.

His face was a mask.

Shell.

Yeah. I screamed at him.

I screamed at him.

Not because I hated him, but because he was breaking my heart.

Who's there?

Who's there?

What are you doing in my room?

Get out of my room!

Get out!

Get out!

Get out!

I'm telling you, it was Oakley. I know it.

You saw him? No, I don't have to see him. I can feel him.

He's right in that corner there, just staring at me, trying to scare me, to

my mouth shut. Look, look, look, Roscoe, be specific, okay?

Do you have something on him?

War crimes, Commander.

He's a functionary, a eunuch.

At Dong Ha, we used to call these guys clappers. They're not the bell, and they

don't ring the bell, but they make the noise. Has he ever physically threatened

you?

He's always watching me. Every time I turn around, there he is standing there

looking at me. That's his job, Roscoe. Hey, who's the lawyer are you anyway?

It's mine.

Look, I need facts.

Without facts, there is no basis to file a complaint.

Even if there were, it's immaterial, the case at hand.

Unless he's hiding something that he does not want to reveal. What is he

That's what we have to find out.

Considering I'm volunteering my time, the least you could do is not waste it.

You don't believe me?

How do I know you're not just trying to get back at Oakley for accusing you of

watching LaCroix jump to his death? I have legitimate concerns here.

And so do I!

You're making it impossible for me to defend you. Now calm down and let me do

job.

happening?

It's a precaution.

One of the patients is agitated.

Is this a common occurrence?

Look, man, don't go waving that silly -ass bait in front of my face.

You don't think someone with my skin color understands what it means to have

much power over others?

Bothers you, huh?

What do you think?

So how'd he deal with it? Not very well.

Is it the job or this place?

I have my issues with management.

Did you harass Roscoe Martin in his room last night?

Screw you.

Your Honor, the defense would like to... We'd like to recall Darren Oakley to

the stand. Your Honor, my client is confused. That is not who I wish to

What now?

Your Honor, I'm just trying to protect my interests. There have been attempts

silence me. Counselor, control your client.

I have been harassed and I have been terrorized. And I will not, as a citizen

this country, allow these offenses to be ignored or swept under the rug. Your

Honor, may I have a 30 -minute recess? What the hell is he talking about?

Freedom. That's what this charade is all about.

No, sir, you are wrong. It's about justice.

Recess granted.

Thank you, Your Honor. Is it just to kill a man's spirit?

Is it just to crush his will?

I will not bow to the nurse ratchets of this world. I'd rather be smothered by a

big idiot with a pillow.

I guess I kind of overreacted.

You really did it this time.

You played right into their hands.

Your outburst has effectively killed our strategy.

I don't know.

Why I didn't.

I was never paranoid before I came to the hospital.

I mean, that is my point, Commander.

The patients there, they're victims.

They're victims of a conspiracy.

A cult of bureaucrats who sacrifice vets to the altar of M -16s and combat

helmets. You're dysfunctional, Roscoe. And frankly, the only way to make this

happen now is to play that angle.

Pursuing insanity defense based on mental defect.

You're going to argue I'm crazy?

Not mentally responsible.

You can't do that.

And what about the medication issue? Now, it's not going to have any meaning

it's attributed to the rantings of some nutball.

Don't kid yourself. You're already there.

They'll drug me.

I'm going to ask the judge for 24 hours to restrategize.

No arguments.

I'm going to take the afternoon to figure this out.

If you need to speak to me, I'll be at home tonight.

Mac, hey, you played a case once.

Paranoid petty officer on the flight crew of the Coral Sea. He was so

that something was going to happen to one of his Tomcat pilots that he locked

lieutenant in his quarters prior to exercises.

He pled mental defect and you got him off with a non -punitive letter of

censure. You remember?

Right. What was your argument?

Well, a harm that was hundreds of cases ago.

Can you review it for me? I'm changing Roscoe's plea. I need all the help I can

get. Hey, get an appellate hearing in 20 minutes.

All right.

I'll see if McToney has something.

Harm, I want to help you. I'm not resisting.

No, I understand. You're busy.

Are you decorating, Anson?

There's already a coffee maker in the kitchen, so the Admiral thought we could

make better use of his space.

I vote for a hot tub.

Step aside, Anson. Step aside.

It's just a little heavier than I thought.

I got it.

It's okay.

You going to be okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

It's rolling out. Thank you, sir.

You're

supposed

to be confined to your room.

Well, my bladder says otherwise.

That wasn't me last night.

And that wasn't me in the common room when LaCroix took his flyer.

I've been thinking about that.

I admit, that's possible.

Don't remember seeing a flag on the back of that chair.

Could have been Saldana.

He never sleeps.

You were in my room.

No.

I was in mine.

Writing my letter of resignation.

Now that we're both leaving, maybe we'll see things a little more clearly.

Your sister's still living in Nova Scotia.

Uh -huh.

I'm going to give you a quiz.

What? Do I win something?

Your freedom.

Do you know where you are?

On a goose ship, Lollipop.

Come on, this guy's a lost cause.

Shut up, Mike.

Do you like that place?

Yeah.

What place do you hate?

Section B.

How'd you like to move to Canada?

Okay. Do you know where that is?

I follow you.

Gentlemen, welcome to the Martin Baker fan club.

What's that?

The Martin Baker company is the manufacturer of ejection seats.

Something Dick LaCroix used to say.

Aviator slang for punching out.

Idiops of Ryan Sobolewski had lost a brother in Mogadishu. I argued the

defect was triggered by personal experience and that he was coming from a

of love and protectiveness.

Come on in. I'll make it worth your while.

Acqua Minerale.

It's vintage.

It's nice.

I learned a term. It

means my angels appear at your doorstep.

We didn't have the dollars for a car, but I figured you could dig one up for

Commander. So we took a cab down here.

What are you doing, Roscoe?

Well, I admit I should have thought things through a little better.

No, I think it's a good thing that you came here, because I can arrange for you

to go back without jeopardizing your safety.

I like what you've done with this place.

I could live here.

We're going to Canada.

But we're going to Canada.

You're going back to the hospital?

No, sir.

We're moving on.

I'm teaching these boys self -determination.

I don't think so, Roscoe.

I think you're still trying to atone for mistakes you made in Vietnam 30 years

ago. Now, somewhere deep in your consciousness, you think that you're

these men from that POW camp with the law.

You're saving their lives.

No, Commander.

I have the purest of motives.

Me and the boys here intend to take back our future.

We need some cash and a car.

That's not going to happen.

Then can I have a milkshake?

All right, Harry, let's go.

It's almost 11.

So far, the only offense committed is by the hospital for the breakdown of

conditions that led to your escape. I don't even think you'll be punished.

I refuse to become another lost mind, Commander.

We need your car.

It's a two -seater.

Then the majors.

We're not helping you escape. Is that not clear yet? I want those keys.

Don't push it, Roscoe.

Up, up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon.

Hey, hey, wait! Let him go, Mac.

That won't get far.

Yeah? Lieutenant Commander Ravs?

Yes, sir? I understand you represent a Mr. Roscoe Martin?

Correct. Mr. Martin and three other patients from the Paley Medical Facility

escaped from a secured psychiatric ward a few hours ago. Three?

Hands on your head.

Take it easy, soldier, easy.

Get out of here.

Get out of here.

Hey, Mike.

They're not Canadian bacon, I'm sorry.

Listen, Mike.

We're going to have to get out of here.

They're not going to help us.

Maybe we should talk about that.

Still hurt?

We're going to lose the baby.

No, no, baby. We're not telling you. I'm so sorry.

For what, Harriet? It's not your fault.

But it is.

There was a coffee machine today in the office, and I tried to move it. I felt

something inside me pop.

You tried to move a coffee machine? Yeah, that was so stupid.

I don't deserve to have a baby.

Sweetheart, it's going to be okay.

It's going to be all right.

This is Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, United States Navy.

You all right, Commander?

We're fine.

We're in the middle of working this out, Captain.

What do they want?

Your butt on a spit.

Who the hell is that?

Look, Captain, if you could give us a little time. Yeah, $25 ,000 in Canadian

dollars. Now make that $50 ,000 in a stripper with big cassavas.

Hey! Do you have any idea what you are doing?

I'm negotiating.

Yourself right into a coffin.

Roscoe.

I need your help.

And I needed yours.

Now let's start talking sense, fellas.

You two are going to walk out of here in one piece.

You are going back to the hospital.

And I promise that I will do everything in my power to make sure that your

issues are addressed.

All right.

But no more drugs.

No locked doors.

And I want everything in writing before we go. I'm not going back.

No! No!

No!

Hold it!

All right.

Now, everybody take a breath.

Okay?

Rookhurst, put the weapon down.

Put it down. Go ahead.

Get an ambulance.

Two bullets passed through his shoulder, causing no significant organ damage.

However, the phrenic nerve in his spinal column was nicked, putting his arms and

lungs out of commission.

We have him on a respirator, and he's able to talk, and he has use of his neck

and shoulders.

Prognosis? Well, there's been a lot of advancement in the field over the last

few years, but given his age and his existing paralysis, I'd expect the

Excuse me.

Yeah.

Harriet? Bud?

Mac, why don't you go check it out and I'll be in in a minute.

belongs to you.

Roscoe, it's your mind that makes you what you are.

What do you mean?

You're a man with something to say.

You know, that's where I keep going wrong with you.

I keep assuming that you need my advice.

All you ever wanted was my ear.

You don't need me to save you.

I told you that from the get -go.

I don't know why I ever thought you did.

Sure you do.

I wish I could play

you a tune.

This hasn't all been for naught.

Your issue is on the table.

It's been heard.

And I promise you this.

I will never refuse to defend a person who has been denied the freedom of his

own mind.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Um, Lieutenant Roberts is here with his wife.

She's pregnant.

I should...

See how he's doing.

I'll be here.

I might get caught.

I'm not even sure I'm going to be able to find this town.

It's been years.

You found me?

But that's because we watched them take you away.

Or what about you?

As far as I can see, your problem is low HCG levels. The physical activity had

little to do with it, although I recommend you take it easy. The shot

given you should rebalance your hormones, and I'll send you home with a

prescription for progesterone that should prevent any reoccurrence.

It didn't hurt the baby, did it?

I don't think so.

Well, how do you know, Doctor?

You see that blip on the screen?

It's a heartbeat.