Original subtitles

What was that?

Relax, Anders.

We got a watch posted. Now get some sleep.

Fire in the woods!

Need fire!

Need fire!

You boys are toast!

Losers.

Damn.

Exercise, old gentleman.

On your feet.

How the hell did Bravo Company sneak in here?

Shaw, you had previous watch. The Duke can't relieve you. Yes, Sarge. Where the

hell is he?

Sarge, over here.

Corman.

How is he, Shaw?

He's dead, Sarge.

Navy Corpsman Petty Officer Second Class Terrence Shaw is charged with Article

118, premeditated murder.

He's accused of beating Marine Corporal Mark Duquette to death during a tactical

exercise. Do we know what led to the killing, sir?

Allegedly an argument over, I think, Christopher Metal.

Corporal Duquette had confiscated it from the accused.

Colonel, you'll prosecute. Yes, sir.

You'll defend.

Aye, sir.

Now, I assume you two are professional enough to avoid turning this into a

Marine -Navy war.

Yes, sir. We are, sir. Because if you're not, any attempts to exploit inter

-service rivalries will be met with the wrath of me.

Understood, sir. We don't do that anymore, sir.

Lieutenant. Yes, sir. Question.

Didn't you tell me you'd been notified you'd be serving as a member at a murder

trial? Yeah, the very next one, sir. What? Well, the colonel is prosecuting.

I'm defending.

I thought that might happen. Well, how would that work, though? In military

courts, Marshal, the parties can know each other, Harriet.

And still be objective, ma 'am?

Oh, sure. Why not?

Hey, it should be interesting. It's a capital murder case.

Could you sentence someone to die?

There's absolutely no reasonable doubt in my mind that he's guilty, ma 'am.

I could. Well, the fact that you're an attorney prevent you from reviewing the

evidence in an impartial manner, Lieutenant?

No, ma 'am. You're also a naval officer.

In this case, a Navy corpsman allegedly killed a Marine. Would you have any

problem finding a Navy corpsman guilty if the government's case is proven?

No, ma 'am. As a lawyer, the first thing you learn is to put your personal

prejudices aside and weigh only the evidence.

The government has no challenges. Lieutenant Roberts is acceptable to

counsel, Your Honor.

Lieutenant Roberts.

You know both the lieutenant colonel and myself.

Which of us do you like better?

I'll take this one, Commander. Lieutenant, do you have any particular

relationship with one or the other of these people?

Well, the Commander is the godfather to my son, sir.

But on the other hand, the Colonel is his godmother.

That's even -handed of you, Lieutenant. But is there anything that would

prejudice you against Commander Rabb or Colonel McKenzie?

Commander Rabb did try to put my father in jail, but that is his job.

Colonel McKenzie took me off a case where I was co -counsel, but I kind of

deserve that.

Also, Lieutenant, given your relationship with both attorneys, can

objective?

Absolutely, sir.

Commander Rabb?

The lieutenant is acceptable to the defense, Your Honor.

Looks like we have a quorum.

We'll hear opening statements at 0900 tomorrow.

Congratulations, Commander.

For what? The Admiral told me you're going to the Super Bowl.

What's this? And you've got the best seats in the house.

How'd you pull that off, sir?

Seats? As in more than one?

Two to be exact.

Well, it's, uh... It was a last -minute thing.

Who are you going to take?

Yeah, I'd like to hear that one myself.

Well, that all depends.

On what?

Time has been telling everyone about your good fortune.

We're all very excited for you, sir.

Yeah.

So, uh, where are they? On 50 -yard line? Oh, they're a little better than

So, uh, who are you taking?

Yeah, you're kind of a little close, don't you think?

Don't look at me. I'm booked.

Admiral, if you have a moment.

Well, uh, when faced with a difficult decision, I'm going to do what I

do. Hmm.

I'm going to sleep on it.

Nah, see, you're enjoying this way too much.

Where are you going anyway?

You even going to be here?

San Antonio's deploying.

Nilso is swamped, so I'm going TAD to New London. Help my own legal assistant.

Oh, once a bubblehead.

Still miss it. Sounds like a lot of work, Sturgis. I hope you don't get

watching the game in some torpedo room. Don't you worry, Colonel. I'll be back

in time.

Meanwhile, I trust you won't be swayed by emotional appeals.

Oh, you know me. When it comes to football, I'm a careful man.

The facts in this case are clear.

The government will prove that on the night of November 12th, at the Marine

Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia, Petty Officer Shaw,

corpsman, followed Corporal Duquette to his duty post.

There, Petty Officer Shaw beat Corporal Duquette to death during a dispute.

over a St. Christopher medal which Corporal Duquette had taken from the

Means, a blow from a rock.

Motive, a history of trouble between the men over a confiscated St. Christopher

medal.

Opportunity, Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal Duquette were alone together

were overheard arguing just before the murder took place.

Special Agent Gillette, as lead NCIS investigator on the Duquette murder

can you tell us the approximate time of death?

According to the coroner's report, Corporal Duquette was killed sometime

1 and 3 a .m. What was the cause of death?

Traumatic cranial hemorrhage. How would such an injury occur?

Most likely a blow from a blunt instrument.

Any clue as to the nature of this instrument?

Tool mark analysis of the fracture revealed an irregular pattern. We also

small fragments.

which the coroner identified as geologic in origin.

So are you saying the victim was beaten with a rock?

That is consistent with the coroner's analysis, yes.

What evidence do you have linking the accused to this murder, Agent Gillette?

Forensic analysis detected the presence of the victim's blood on Petty Officer

Shaw's shirt.

At the time of his death, was the deceased in possession of a St.

medal? No, ma 'am.

Thank you. Nothing further, Your Honor.

Commander Rapp.

Was this alleged murder weapon ever found?

Investigators at the scene found no weapon or object consistent with the

injuries sustained by the victim. So we have no way of knowing conclusively that

the murder weapon was a rock?

No, not 100%. There was a watch cap found near the scene of the crime, is

correct? Yes.

Who did that watch cap belong to?

Objection to this line of questioning, Your Honor.

Counsel's approach.

Your Honor, counsel knows this evidence has been excluded. Your Honor, I believe

I can make a case for its inclusion.

Sir, it has been demonstrated that due to a break in the chain of custody while

in the hands of NCIS, this evidence is tainted and therefore inadmissible.

DNA found on the watch cap may prove to its honor a petty officer shot by

pointing to another potential suspect.

The objection is sustained. The watch cap is inadmissible.

Sergeant, why did Corporal Duquette take the medal away from Petty Officer Shaw?

It happened while on maneuvers two weeks before, ma 'am.

There were two rifle teams of six each. As we were climbing a steep hill, Petty

Officer Shaw's medal fell outside of his shirt. It was swinging around. Is that

when Corporal Duquette took it away?

Yes, ma 'am.

Corporal said it was against regulations for it to be showing outside the

uniform. Corporal Duquette is.

It was. Very much by the book.

So, what was...

Petty Officer Shaw's reaction?

They got into a shoving match. I had to pull them apart.

Had they ever fought before?

They had a history of conflict.

What happened to the medal after it was confiscated?

Well, Corporal Duquette kept it.

And where was the medal found after Corporal Duquette's murder?

In Petty Officer Shaw's trouser pocket, ma 'am. Do you know how it got there?

I know this much, ma 'am.

Corporal Duquette wouldn't have given it up willingly.

It would have had to be taken by force.

Did you see the accused and the victim on the night of the murder, Corporal?

Yes, ma 'am.

Corporal Duquette passed me about 0 -100 on his way to his post. He was supposed

to stay on guard.

So when did you see Petty Officer Shaw?

Maybe an hour later, ma 'am.

I had gone into the woods to relieve myself. On my way back, I saw Petty

Shaw leaving our position.

Did you hear anything else?

Yes, ma 'am. I heard the two of them shouting at each other.

What were they saying?

It's pretty hard to hear the words, ma 'am, but they were definitely going at

it.

Petty Officer Shaw seemed to be pretty worked up.

Thank you.

Nothing further.

Let me get this straight, Corporal. You recognized voices, but you couldn't hear

a word of the conversation?

No, sir.

Isn't it possible, Corporal, that given your knowledge of animosity between

these two men, you just assumed it was them arguing?

I was with them every day, sir.

It was Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal Duquette.

What is your opinion of Petty Officer Shaw, Corporal? He's a stand -up guy,

Maybe, but he dresses like us. He's as tough as us.

You respect him?

Yes, sir.

Would you trust him with your life?

I would, sir.

You believe he's the type of man who'd be capable of killing another man?

Objection calls for an opinion.

Sustained. You know better, Commander.

Stick with the evidence or move on.

Petty Officer Shaw, how did you get your St.

Christopher medal back?

I was upset about the medal, sir. I couldn't sleep.

So I went out to talk to Corporal Touquet and asked him to give it back.

How did he respond?

He said as long as I kept it out of sight, I could keep it. So he gave it

to you? Yes, sir. Did you argue with him?

There was no need to, sir.

Did you kill him?

No, sir.

Why would I?

Too late to start deliberation, but I'd like to get a sense of where we stand.

We'll take a straw poll.

I'll start us off.

I vote guilty.

I concur, Captain.

Guilty.

I vote guilty, too, sir.

Same here, Captain.

Guilty.

Lieutenant Robert?

I vote not guilty, sir.

Your lease has a military clause which allows you to terminate due to order.

Write up a notice.

Mail it to your landlord.

Return receipt requested.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate the help.

I gotta be next, sir.

It's an emergency.

Take it easy, Petty Officer. Have a seat.

We'll get to everyone.

What's the problem?

Some guy was waiting by the guard shack and he gave me these.

Divorce papers?

I know, sir.

I have to see my wife.

Please let me straighten this out.

Did you try to call, Petty Officer?

She won't answer the phone.

Please, sir, can you get me off this boat?

We had four guilty votes in the preliminary straw poll.

One not guilty.

Enough to convict right now, sir.

Not before we discuss the case in full, Chief.

Besides, if possible, I'd like the verdict to be unanimous, no matter which

it comes out.

Lieutenant, you stand alone here.

Why'd you vote not guilty?

The case against Petty Officer Shaw is entirely circumstantial, sir.

Colonel McKenzie made a pretty strong case for his guilt.

The colonel plays a good game, sir, but I don't think she proved her case.

There's reasonable doubt.

And that's all there needs to be to find the Petty Officer not guilty.

Where is there reasonable doubt, Lieutenant?

I believed Petty Officer Shaw's testimony.

He explained away every piece of evidence against him.

With stories that can't be proven. Or disproved, sir.

That's why I believe there's reasonable doubt.

Lieutenant Flavin, why'd you vote guilty?

The animosity between the men, sir.

Well, that's not really an evidentiary reason to convict, Lieutenant.

Oh, I can apply common sense, Lieutenant.

Before I got my bars, I was a Navy corpsman.

Corpsmen are a special breed, sir. They don't carry weapons. They go into the

line of fire to tend to the wounded.

The guys respect what they do.

So, if Petty Officer Shaw was disliked by Corporal Duquette, the corpsmen must

have worked real hard at it.

These two guys hated each other.

That doesn't make the Petty Officer a killer, Lieutenant.

No. But, as Sergeant McAbee testified, Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal Duquette

fought on more than one occasion.

Now, that's a motive.

Chief, I think Christopher Meadow did it for me, sir.

Corporal Duquette confiscated it, had no intention of returning it.

Yet it wound up in Shaw's pocket after the murder.

Chief, there's no evidence as to how it got back into the corpsman's pocket.

But that's where it was found.

Now explain that.

Well, I don't have to.

And neither does the defense. The burden of proof is on the prosecution.

And the fact is, they can't prove how it got there.

Morning, sir.

Have a moment, sir.

You're a submariner.

I was ASW officer aboard the Oxnard, sir.

I made you a land crawler.

My CO recommended me for the Navy's law education program.

Tough to stay away from, huh?

I like the life, sir.

Well, you ever get tired of shuffling papers, you let me know. I'm

Will do, sir.

Skipper, a petty officer, Derek Newton, came to see me.

Seems his wife is attempting to dissolve their marriage.

But before deployment?

She's young, sir. The petty officer would like to go ashore and talk to her.

Are you acting as his attorney, Commander?

No, sir. Just trying to help the kid out.

We're deploying, Commander.

I need every hand just to make my deadline.

The petty officer will be on duty for the next 48 hours.

Sir, you're going to deny him the chance to save his marriage?

No, Commander. I'm giving that responsibility to you.

The case against Petty Officer Shaw is not all circumstantial, Lieutenant.

Corporal Landers heard Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal Duquette arguing right

before the murder.

Well, when questioned by Commander Rapp, Corporal Landers couldn't prove who or

what he heard, ma 'am.

His view of the men was obscured. He only heard voices.

He identified those voices as belonging to Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal

Duquette. Commander Rapp's cross showed Corporal Landers couldn't make out a

single word they said.

But Corporal Landers never recanted his testimony.

What about you, Captain?

Why did you vote guilty?

The victim's blood on the corpsman's shirt.

I don't know, Lieutenant.

It's going to be interesting watching you try to convince all of us that Petty

Officer Shaw was innocent.

So far, I don't see a reasonable doubt in sight.

And what can I get for you, sir?

Three eggs over easy, bacon well done, toast well done, large

orange juice.

Maybe you better repeat it.

Wreck the eggs, burn the bacon, tan the toast, and supersize the juice.

Anything else?

I'm free Saturday night.

What a surprise.

Sue Ellen Newton?

Commander Turner, JAG lawyer.

Can we talk about this?

You're his lawyer?

Well, I'm not here representing your husband. I'm just here to, uh...

Express this concern.

Sorry, my shift's just about over and I've got errands to run.

Well, can I ask you why you're doing this?

I sure wish you wouldn't.

Have you stopped loving him, Mrs. Newton?

I'm not going home to an empty apartment.

You didn't answer my question.

Because I don't know.

You want coffee?

Lieutenant Singer.

I see you let your hair out of prison.

I'm sorry. I thought that you ordered another lieutenant.

Thankfully, I am.

You are?

Sergei.

Lieutenant Simpson. So you met my brother, Sergeant Sergei Zhukov?

We were just getting acquainted, yes.

There was a misunderstanding.

Oh, thanks.

How's the apartment hunting?

I found the place.

Cheap by American standards, but in Russia it would buy you a commissar's

And what's this?

Discharge papers from the Russian army. Documents for the INS.

We're applying for permanent resident status. It's the first step.

Oh, so from Sergeant Zhukov to Citizen Zhukov.

It would be nice someday.

I was confused by some of the questions from the immigration lawyer. I was

hoping you would have some time. You found an apartment.

The least I can do is help make you legal.

Excuse me.

How do you explain the blood, Lieutenant?

Petty Officer Shaw testified he got blood on him when he tried to treat

Duquette's wounded arm.

Sir, it's in the notes.

Here we are. Corporal Duquette lacerated his forearm on some sharp rocks. When I

started to apply treatment, I accidentally touched the wound, and he

arm away in pain.

Ever been in a field, son?

No, sir.

Tell him, Lieutenant.

Every time a corpsman hands somebody a pill, treats a bug bite, puts on a Band

-Aid, he logs it in his little book.

No record of treatment.

Petty Officer Shaw testified that he tried to treat Corporal Duquette, but

corporal refused treatment.

So there would be no record, sir.

Convenient for the corpsman, Lieutenant.

What about the St.

Christopher's medal that was found in Petty Officer Shaw's pocket? How do you

explain that, sir? The corpsman testified that Corporal Duquette

him. They didn't like each other, sir.

Relevant, Chief?

It's a bad blood stuff.

If Corporal Duquette hated the corpsman, why return the medal?

Duquette's dog tags.

What about them? Name, rank, social security number, blood type?

And religion.

Catholic. Looks like it's strong.

Maybe that's why he gave back the medal. Duquette was a fellow Catholic.

I think you're reaching, Lieutenant.

Well, faith is very important to some people. You want to at least acknowledge

the possibility that shared religion played a role?

Gotta hand it to you, Roberts.

That's a shrewd observation.

Are you considering changing your vote, Lieutenant Flavin?

No, Captain.

Lieutenant Roberts, why don't you start us off this afternoon?

I'm interested in what you have to say. Glad to, sir. Before you do, I'd like to

ask you a question.

What kind of lawyer are you?

I'm still learning, sir, but I have good teachers.

Colonel McKenzie?

She's a brilliant lawyer, ma 'am.

What about Commander Rapp? No one better in the courtroom.

Sir, may I ask why this is all important?

I was wondering what you saw that we didn't.

Blood evidence that can be explained away, a St. Christopher medal that no

ever saw returned.

voices in the dark, and witnesses that are uncertain of their testimony.

That's all the evidence we have.

All that we were allowed to have, sir.

Something was excluded on legal technicality. You remember the sidebar?

Yes. Well, the defense was arguing to try to get a piece of evidence admitted.

What are you talking about, Lieutenant?

You mean the watch cap, sir?

Yes, it was found at the scene of the crime. And from defense counsel's

reaction, it's obvious that it was vital.

Well, what does that tell you, Lieutenant?

Well, we don't know who the watch cap belongs to, ma 'am.

So maybe there's another suspect out there that we're not being permitted to

know about.

You can't base your decision on excluded evidence, Lieutenant.

No, I know that, sir.

There's something else, though, isn't there, Lieutenant?

I know how the game is played.

Trial counsel wants to block some evidence. She pulls a legal maneuver and

gets the evidence excluded, which forces us to determine a man's fate without

having all the facts.

You need to ask yourself this question, Lieutenant.

If you didn't know about the excluded evidence, would you still vote not

Yes, sir.

So would I, sir.

Let's start at the beginning. How many parents are you as citizens?

That's easy. One.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony?

Of course not.

I have to ask.

No. Have you ever engaged in illicit trafficking of narcotics or contraband?

No, again.

Prostitution.

I'll take that as a no.

Received income from illegal gambling.

Well, we played the cards for bread rations in the prison in Chechnya.

We'll go with a no on that one.

Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?

I was a member of the Young Pioneers, but we all were.

Well, make that a no.

This I didn't understand.

Polygamy. Have you ever practiced polygamy? Polygamy means have you ever

more than one wife?

I'd be happy just to have a girlfriend.

Let's see. The rest are just standard questions about your finances.

I'll go ahead and fill it out later, or we can do it now.

You know Lieutenant Singer, no?

Yes. Why, how do you know her?

Oh, we met casually, passing ships in the night.

You're going to have to do a little better than that, Sergei.

She came by your apartment.

When I wasn't there?

Why?

She seemed very curious about how you lived.

What did she do?

She poked around, took a look through your mail.

She seemed most impressed by your bedroom.

Really? Well, the lieutenant and I will have to have a little conversation.

Don't be too harsh with her.

I sense that she's a woman of great yearning.

Be careful.

I think that she's very beautiful.

That's your dark Russian soul talking. Listen to me, little brother. There are

plenty other ships in the sea. You don't need to get involved with that

icebreaker.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

No, it's not that. It's this.

A woman at the INS office said that since September 11th, things have slowed

down, and there is much more scrutiny, so an application could take maybe three

years. This is not going to take that long.

Haram, I can't work until I get my immigration status adjusted, and I need

job. I told you I'm going to take care of you.

I want to take care of myself.

You will, soon.

Look. Sergei, you're the son of an American war hero who gave his life for

country. I'm going to do everything I can. I'm going to get the Admiral to

a letter. I'm going to have the Chechnap fast -track this application.

You're not going to have to wait.

Is that fair?

After what you've been through, I think it's more than fair.

Good night.

Do you think he's abandoning you? Is that what this is about?

You just can't let it rest, Commander.

No, ma 'am, I can't.

Look, when I first met Derek, he was a mess management specialist on shore

And then the assistant food service officer on the San Antonio broke his

and Derek was assigned to the sub.

He was called to duty, ma 'am.

Thousands of wives each year are forced to deal with deployments. They're not

divorcing their husbands over it.

into bed that they didn't run away from home when they were 17 either.

I told Derek when he proposed that he was the only family that mattered to me,

and now he's leaving. Well, are you aware that the Navy has ways of

couples that are... Look, this is real hard for me to talk about.

If your husband were here, could he change your mind?

He's not here.

He's shipping out.

Sir, I understand that you have Super Bowl tickets.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have a couple seats.

That's great, sir.

I have always wanted to go to the Super Bowl, sir. I mean, of course, in our

current situation with me being on the panel and you being defense counsel, it

would be inappropriate for me to ask who you're taking, but perhaps after the

trial... But, in case you've forgotten, we are throwing a party, and I am not

going to roll 60 sushi hand rolls while you're collecting Mardi Gras, Pete.

Wow, you're serving sushi at the party. We could all eat a little healthier.

Well, I'm sorry I'm going to miss the fun.

Us too, sir.

Morning, Colonel. Good morning. I just don't understand how you walked away

two seats for the biggest game of the year.

Well, I have friends in high places.

Come on, Harm.

What's your benefactor?

I'll tell you what.

If you can guess, maybe I'll take you.

Really? What about Sturgis? I'm going to give you the first shot.

Okay.

Well, normally I would guess you got the seats from Renee. She's got the

contacts, but obviously you're disconnected now.

We are.

There's always Webb, but if he had an extra set of tickets, he certainly

wouldn't give them to you.

Bobby Latham had tickets last year, but she didn't take it because she was mad

at you, and this year she's even madder. You know, this is feeling more like a

slap in the face. I thought you were supposed to be sucking up to me.

Whichever way will work.

Try the positive approach.

Please, Harm, I want to go. And as your best friend, I will be forever grateful

if you pick me.

Pretty good.

Really? Yeah, but Sturges said the same thing.

Lieutenant Flavin, I'd like to start with you. Fire away.

You have experience as a corpsman. Correct.

Have you seen combat?

Yes, the Gulf. The men that you were deployed with, did they get in fights

each other? At times.

And... Were there any serious injuries in those fights?

I patched up a few, but for the most part, no.

And were the men still angry with each other after the fights?

Not always.

Sometimes they ended up friends.

So the long history of bad blood between Petty Officer Shaw and Corporal

Duquette might have ended in friendship instead of bloodshed.

There's that chance.

Ma 'am.

Are you convinced Corporal Andrews' testimony about overhearing the argument

in itself enough to convict Petty Officer Shaw?

No, I took it into consideration along with the other evidence.

Which leads us to the matter of the blood, sir.

Petty Officer Shaw testified that he tried to treat Corporal Duquette when

Corporal Duquette lacerated his forearm on a rock earlier in the day.

So says Petty Officer Shaw.

Well, the coroner's report did note that there were lacerations on the

corporal's forearm.

That could have occurred during the struggle.

Or it could have happened when Petty Officer Shaw said it did.

All we know is that it's another explanation for the matter of the blood.

does it rise to the level of reasonable doubt, Lieutenant?

I believe it does, sir.

So do I.

So do I.

I think it's time to take a vote.

This is what I said this morning.

It's from the immigration lawyer who reviewed my preliminary paperwork.

Evidentiary questions have been raised regarding your application in absence of

proof that U .S. Navy Lieutenant Harmon Rapp was your biological father.

Your application for permanent legal residence has been denied.

They're going to send me back to Russia.

Well, what will appeal? I have no proof.

There are no birth records, letters, photographs, no memories even. Harmon

Sr. died before I was even born.

There are other ways of proving paternity. DNA tests.

I'll give blood. I'll prove we're brothers. The INS officer said that

enough. They need a direct link.

I could call my mother, but she can't help. She doesn't even know where my

buried our father.

You have a mother here.

She's your mother.

But she was married to our father.

There's no blood between us.

She has the memories you're looking for.

I don't understand.

Our dad sent letters and tapes home from Vietnam. She kept everything.

How could letters help me? The letters, the envelopes, DNA.

It's too much to ask of her.

I am the son of the woman who shared her husband's love.

Sergei, you're the son of Harmon Rapp Sr.

Trust me.

Excuse me, sir. The members are returning.

Petty Officer Shaw, will you and your counsel please rise?

Captain, you may publish your finding.

Petty Officer Second Class Terrence Shaw, United States Navy. On the charge

specification of premeditated murder, this court -martial finds you not

This court is adjourned.

Thank you.

That case you were looking for.

Thanks. Here.

What is it?

I stopped by at McWhorter's. It's a decaf grande soy latte.

Oh.

Oh, God, that's nasty.

I thought you liked... Are you always this cranky when you win a case?

Some cases you don't want to win.

Sir? Ma 'am?

Morning, bud.

Talk to Captain Carruthers. He said that you were nothing short of brilliant

during deliberations, that you changed the mind of every person on the panel.

Well, I call him as I see him, ma 'am.

Sorry it was your case. Yeah, so am I.

Sir, I wanted to ask you a question.

You didn't seem too happy when you won.

It's because I wasn't.

Thanks.

No.

Look, Commander.

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, Petty Officer. I had to work some

things out. Tell me it's good news, Commander.

I did what I could, son.

Let's take a walk. Yes, sir.

I appreciate the effort, sir.

Now it's time to pass the ball on to two other players, and you're one of them.

I don't know what you mean, sir.

I've got a task for you, Newton.

Clean up and get into your blues.

I'm in the middle of a watch, Commander.

I've made an arrangement with Captain Baines. He's assigned you a replacement.

Who would that be, sir?

I've always wanted to try my hand at one of those.

Ma 'am?

I'd like to talk to you about the case.

I still think that we came to the right verdict, but I have a question.

Why was the black watch cap excluded?

The evidence was mishandled.

Why did the Commander fight so hard to get it admitted into evidence?

There were fibers of Corporal Anders' hair found in the watch cap.

Was Corporal Anders' watch cap? That's right.

So the commander could have argued that Corporal Anders was a suspect in the

murder. Yes, he would have argued that, and it would have clouded the issue, but

there's a logical explanation.

Petty Officer Shaw had borrowed the cap earlier that evening.

So in return, you could argue that it indicated Petty Officer Shaw's guilt.

What do you believe, ma 'am? That Petty Officer Shaw is guilty of the murder.

Nothing has changed that. I'm going to ask the state of Virginia to reopen the

case. Wasn't that double jeopardy? Petty Officer Shaw was tried in a court

-martial by this federal jurisdiction. He can still be tried under state law.

That's a high hurdle, ma 'am, to get the Virginia authorities to retry the case.

I'll admit, it's a long shot.

You want to come along for the ride?

Yes, ma 'am. But I still haven't changed my mind.

You will.

Not on your life.

Sue Allen?

Hi, I'm Janet Thompson.

I'm president of the Dolphin Wives Club.

We usually have our deployment party at someone's home, but we thought this was

a nice change of pace and your boss agreed.

Well, I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Look, I don't want to be late punching in. Well, can you talk for a bit?

You know, we're all in the same boat.

If you'll excuse that pun.

All of our husbands are leaving home today, too.

There are way too many people interested in this.

Why do you think that is?

Because we can relate.

Saying goodbye to our husbands for six months at a time is a central issue in

all of our marriages.

How do you stand it?

Most of us knew what we were getting into, and nobody forced us to fall in

with these men.

I just don't know if I can do this by myself. But that's why we're here.

You know, sometimes it really helps to talk to people who are going through the

same thing you are.

Well, does it help at night when you're in bed alone?

No.

But we can help you get through the times when he's away.

If the bond between you and your husband is strong.

But that's the big question, isn't it?

Is the bond strong enough?

Maybe I can help answer that.

I'm sorry if I've been insensitive.

But this is my job.

And the only way I can stay together out there is knowing that I have you to

come back to.

It's six months, Derek.

Well, these women can be your substitute family while I'm gone.

And when I come back, we can start one of our own.

And I love you.

Yeah, but the next time I deploy, you'll have company.

Look.

Sergeant McAbee?

At ease, Sergeant.

How you doing?

Good, ma 'am. Just checking out the vehicles assigned to our unit before we

underway. What can I do for you, ma 'am? I have a few questions.

The court march was over, ma 'am. I know, but I'm looking for something I

have missed.

You still think the corpsman is guilty?

Don't you?

Yes, ma 'am.

But what I think doesn't count.

It's over.

Maybe.

But I want to go back over a couple things.

Corporal Anders was your tent mate.

Yes, ma 'am. Do you believe he thought that the officer shall leave camp?

Yes, ma 'am.

And did you know that there was a black watch cap found at the murder scene that

belonged to Corporal Anders?

No, ma 'am, I didn't. Does that change your thinking of the events of the night

of the murder? No, sir.

I was there when Petty Officer Shaw asked to borrow the watch cap.

If anyone dropped it, it was the Petty Officer, not Corporal Anders.

Corporal Anders.

Ma 'am.

Continue on. We'll walk with you.

I want to ask you a few questions.

Fire away, ma 'am. Why was your black watch cap found at the scene of the

murder? I don't know, ma 'am. I lent it to Petty Officer Shaw, so he might have

dropped it.

How do I know you're telling the truth?

You have to take my word for it.

There may be another trial.

You charging me, ma 'am?

No, Petty Officer Shaw.

Isn't that double jeopardy, ma 'am?

Well, technically, no.

You may be called in to testify.

Well, that's okay, ma 'am.

I'd like to see justice done.

You don't think justice has been done?

No, sir.

Do you?

Petty Officer Shaw, you know Lieutenant Colonel McKenzie?

Yes, sir. Lieutenant Roberts?

You're on the panel, sir. Thank you.

Petty Officer, I've requested Defense Council grant permission to ask you if

quit. My advice to you, Petty Officer, is not to answer any questions.

I hope you understand, man.

But I'm going to have to follow the commander's advice.

Looks like you're getting ready to redeploy, Petty Officer.

Yes, sir. I just got my PCS orders.

In two days, I'm shipping out to Norfolk.

Who gave you the St. Christopher medal?

My mother, ma 'am.

Two weeks before she died.

So it meant a great deal to you.

Yes, ma 'am.

I want you to know that I'm going to ask the state of Virginia to put you on

trial for murder.

Do what you think best, ma 'am.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch.

The attorney will never take that case.

Probably not, given that reasonable doubt has already been raised.

I don't know what to think.

Yeah, well, that's the hell of it, bud. You never will.

I think I'm going to jump ahead to dessert.

Some ice cream in there.

It's toe -pootie.

I got it.

Hey, Tyner. Good evening, Lieutenant.

Better take those back.

But Lieutenant Thames asked for these, sir.

It is the Super Bowl, bud.

Sweetie, thank you so much. I'll go easy.

Sergei, how do you like watching your first Super Bowl?

Good. We play American football in Russia now, but it's different.

It's good to see the past just go forward.

How did he get the seats? That's what I want to know. Now, my question is, who's

he sharing the seats with?

If neither of us could come up with a harm -friendly offer.

Someone's got a more harm story.

You've been awfully quiet about this whole harm, Mr. Admiral.

You know, don't you, sir?

Well, I can neither confirm or deny, but let's just say wherever the commander

is, I'm sure he's having a blast.

Well, it's no 50 -yard line, but it's still a hell of a view.

And we have the play -by -play on CBS radio.

It's going to pull work -duty to flying coverage, Kate.

Since we're up here, what do you say we take a picture for the folks back home?

Just point and shoot.

All

right!

You know, since I can remember, this will be the first Super Bowl I've missed

watching, but somehow...

Up here it doesn't really matter.