Few Good Men, A quotes
86 total quotesLt. Col. Matthew Markinson
Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Lt. Sam Weinberg
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Kaffee: Colonel, I have just one more question before I call Airman O'Malley and Airman Rodriguez. If you gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, and your orders are always followed, then why would Santiago be in danger? Why would it be necessary to transfer him off the base?
Jessep: Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred because--
Kaffee: That is not what you said, you said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
Jessep: That's correct.
Kaffee: You said he was in danger, I said "grave danger?" You said "is there another kind?"--
Jessep: I recall what I said--
Kaffee: I can have the court reporter read back to you--
Jessep: I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me like I'm--!
Kaffee: Then why the two orders? Colonel?
Jessep: Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
Kaffee: No, Sir. You made it clear a moment ago that your men never take matters in to their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?
Jessep: You snotty little bastard.
Ross: Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess!
Kaffee: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
Judge: The court will wait for an answer.
Kaffee: If Lt. Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he, because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do!
Ross: Object!
Kaffee: And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose!
Judge: Lt. Kaffee!
Kaffee: You got Markinson to sign a phony transfer order! You doctored the log books!
Ross: Dammit, Kaffee!
Kaffee: You coerced the doctor!
Judge: Consider yourself in contempt!
Kaffee: Colonel Jessep, did you order the code red?!
Judge: You don't have to answer that question!
Jessep: I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I'm entitled.
Jessep: You want answers?!
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?! You, Lieutenant Weinberg?! I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall! You need me on that wall! We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline! I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said, "Thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?
Jessep: I did the job I was sent to do--
Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?!
Jessep: You're god damn right I did!!
Jessep: Santiago was a substandard Marine. He was being transferred because--
Kaffee: That is not what you said, you said he was being transferred because he was in grave danger.
Jessep: That's correct.
Kaffee: You said he was in danger, I said "grave danger?" You said "is there another kind?"--
Jessep: I recall what I said--
Kaffee: I can have the court reporter read back to you--
Jessep: I know what I said! I don't have to have it read back to me like I'm--!
Kaffee: Then why the two orders? Colonel?
Jessep: Sometimes men take matters into their own hands.
Kaffee: No, Sir. You made it clear a moment ago that your men never take matters in to their own hands. Your men follow orders or people die. So Santiago shouldn't have been in any danger at all, should he have, Colonel?
Jessep: You snotty little bastard.
Ross: Your Honor, I'd like to ask for a recess!
Kaffee: I'd like an answer to the question, Judge.
Judge: The court will wait for an answer.
Kaffee: If Lt. Kendrick gave an order that Santiago wasn't to be touched, then why did he have to be transferred? Colonel? Lt. Kendrick ordered the Code Red, didn't he, because that's what you told Lt. Kendrick to do!
Ross: Object!
Kaffee: And when it went bad, you cut these guys loose!
Judge: Lt. Kaffee!
Kaffee: You got Markinson to sign a phony transfer order! You doctored the log books!
Ross: Dammit, Kaffee!
Kaffee: You coerced the doctor!
Judge: Consider yourself in contempt!
Kaffee: Colonel Jessep, did you order the code red?!
Judge: You don't have to answer that question!
Jessep: I'll answer the question. You want answers?
Kaffee: I think I'm entitled.
Jessep: You want answers?!
Kaffee: I want the truth!
Jessep: You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?! You, Lieutenant Weinberg?! I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives! You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall! You need me on that wall! We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline! I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it! I would rather you just said, "Thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?
Jessep: I did the job I was sent to do--
Kaffee: Did you order the Code Red?!
Jessep: You're god damn right I did!!
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Kaffee: These are phone records from Gitmo for September the 6th, and these are 14 letters that Santiago wrote, in 9 months, requesting, in fact begging, for a transfer. Upon hearing the news that he was FINALLY getting his transfer, Santiago was so excited that do you know how many people he called? Zero. Nobody. Not one call to his parents saying he was coming home. Not one call to a friend saying "Can you pick me up at the airport?". He was asleep in his bed at midnight, and according to you, he was getting on a plane in 6 hours. Yet everything he owned was hanging neatly in his closet, and folded neatly in his footlocker. You were leaving for one day, you packed a bag and made three phone calls. Santiago was leaving for the rest of his life, and he hadn't called a soul, and he hadn't packed a thing. Can you explain that? The fact is there was no transfer order, Santiago wasn't going anywhere, isn't that right Colonel?
Ross: Object! Your honor, it is obvious that Lt. Kaffee's intentions this afternoon are to smear a high ranking Marine officer with the hopes that the mere appearance of impropriety will win him points with the court members. Now, it is my recommendation that Lt. Kaffee be reprimanded for his conduct and that this witness be excused with this court's deepest apologies.
Judge Randolph: Overruled.
Ross: Your honor--
Judge Randolph: Your objection is noted.
Kaffee: Colonel? [Jessep chuckles] Is this funny, sir?
Jessep: No, it's not. It's tragic.
Kaffee: Do you have an answer?
Jessep: Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me you have something more, Lieutenant. These two marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me that their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill. [Kaffee hesitates, dumbfounded] Do you have any other questions for me, Counselor?
Judge Randolph: Lt. Kaffee? Lt.! Do you have anything further for this witness?
[Jessep defiantly gets up to leave the courtroom]
Jessep: Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
Kaffee: Excuse Me! I didn't dismiss you.
Jessep: I beg your pardon?
Kaffee: 'm not finished my examination. Sit down.
Jessep: Colonel.
Kaffee: What's that?
Jessep: I'd appreciate it if he would address me as "Colonel" or "Sir". I believe I've earned it.
Judge Randolph: Defense Counsel will refer to the witness as "Colonel" or "Sir."
Jessep: I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
Judge Randolph: And you will refer to this court as "Your Honor" or "Judge", and I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.
Jessep:: What do you want to discuss now, my favorite color?
Ross: Object! Your honor, it is obvious that Lt. Kaffee's intentions this afternoon are to smear a high ranking Marine officer with the hopes that the mere appearance of impropriety will win him points with the court members. Now, it is my recommendation that Lt. Kaffee be reprimanded for his conduct and that this witness be excused with this court's deepest apologies.
Judge Randolph: Overruled.
Ross: Your honor--
Judge Randolph: Your objection is noted.
Kaffee: Colonel? [Jessep chuckles] Is this funny, sir?
Jessep: No, it's not. It's tragic.
Kaffee: Do you have an answer?
Jessep: Absolutely. My answer is I don't have the first damn clue. Maybe he was an early riser and liked to pack in the morning. And maybe he didn't have any friends. I'm an educated man, but I'm afraid I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago. What I do know is that he was set to leave the base at 0600. Now, are these really the questions I was called here to answer? Phone calls and foot lockers? Please tell me you have something more, Lieutenant. These two marines are on trial for their lives. Please tell me that their lawyer hasn't pinned their hopes to a phone bill. [Kaffee hesitates, dumbfounded] Do you have any other questions for me, Counselor?
Judge Randolph: Lt. Kaffee? Lt.! Do you have anything further for this witness?
[Jessep defiantly gets up to leave the courtroom]
Jessep: Thanks, Danny. I love Washington.
Kaffee: Excuse Me! I didn't dismiss you.
Jessep: I beg your pardon?
Kaffee: 'm not finished my examination. Sit down.
Jessep: Colonel.
Kaffee: What's that?
Jessep: I'd appreciate it if he would address me as "Colonel" or "Sir". I believe I've earned it.
Judge Randolph: Defense Counsel will refer to the witness as "Colonel" or "Sir."
Jessep: I don't know what the hell kind of unit you're running here.
Judge Randolph: And you will refer to this court as "Your Honor" or "Judge", and I'm quite certain I've earned it. Take your seat, Colonel.
Jessep:: What do you want to discuss now, my favorite color?
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Galloway: We'll go to Randolph in the morning and ask for a continuance--24 hours.
Kaffee: Why?
Galloway: To subponea Colonel Jessep.
Kaffee: No
Galloway: Just listen for a second... Just hear me out...
Kaffee: No, I won't listen and I won't hear you out. Your passion is compelling, Jo; it's also useless. Lowden Downey needed a trial lawyer today.
Galloway: You're chickenshit. You're gonna use what happened today as an excuse to give up.
Kaffee: It's over. What possible good would come from putting Jessep on the stand?
Galloway: He ordered the Code red on Santiago.
Kaffee: He DID? That's great, and of course you have proof of this, right? Oh, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting you were sick the day they taught law at law school.
Galloway: You put him on the stand and you get it from him.
Kaffee: Oh, we get it from him, yes! Colenel Jessep, isn't it true that you ordered the Code red on Santiago?
Sam: Look, we're all a little--
Kaffee: [imitates buzzer] I'm sorry, your time's run out. What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants it's a lifetime at exotic Fort Levenworth, and for Defense Council Kaffee, it's a court martial, yes... After falsly accusing a highly-decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lt. Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching typewriter maitenance at the rocko club and school for women. Thank you for playing "Now Should We or Should We Not Follow the Advice of the Galactically Stupid?!". [throws a stack of papers off the table]
Galloway: I'm sorry I lost your set of steak knives.
Kaffee: Why?
Galloway: To subponea Colonel Jessep.
Kaffee: No
Galloway: Just listen for a second... Just hear me out...
Kaffee: No, I won't listen and I won't hear you out. Your passion is compelling, Jo; it's also useless. Lowden Downey needed a trial lawyer today.
Galloway: You're chickenshit. You're gonna use what happened today as an excuse to give up.
Kaffee: It's over. What possible good would come from putting Jessep on the stand?
Galloway: He ordered the Code red on Santiago.
Kaffee: He DID? That's great, and of course you have proof of this, right? Oh, I'm sorry, I keep forgetting you were sick the day they taught law at law school.
Galloway: You put him on the stand and you get it from him.
Kaffee: Oh, we get it from him, yes! Colenel Jessep, isn't it true that you ordered the Code red on Santiago?
Sam: Look, we're all a little--
Kaffee: [imitates buzzer] I'm sorry, your time's run out. What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants it's a lifetime at exotic Fort Levenworth, and for Defense Council Kaffee, it's a court martial, yes... After falsly accusing a highly-decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lt. Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching typewriter maitenance at the rocko club and school for women. Thank you for playing "Now Should We or Should We Not Follow the Advice of the Galactically Stupid?!". [throws a stack of papers off the table]
Galloway: I'm sorry I lost your set of steak knives.
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Kaffee: Yes, Sir. Colonel, at the time of this meeting, you gave Lt. Kendrick an order, is that right?
Jessep: I told Kendrick to tell his men, that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
Kaffee: And did you give an order to Colonel Markinson as well?
Jessep: I ordered Markinson to have Santiago transferred off the base immediately.
Kaffee: Why?
Jessep: I felt his life might be in danger once word of the letter got out.
Kaffee: Grave danger?
Jessep: Is there another kind?
Jessep: I told Kendrick to tell his men, that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
Kaffee: And did you give an order to Colonel Markinson as well?
Jessep: I ordered Markinson to have Santiago transferred off the base immediately.
Kaffee: Why?
Jessep: I felt his life might be in danger once word of the letter got out.
Kaffee: Grave danger?
Jessep: Is there another kind?
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Jessep: You believe that, don't you, Danny? That I'm here to help you in any way I can?
Kaffee: Of course.
Jessep: The Corporal will take you by Personnel on your way back to the flight line, and you can have all the transfer orders you want.
Kaffee: [to Weinberg & Galloway] Let's go.
Jessep: But you have to ask me nicely.
Kaffee: I beg your pardon?
Jessep: You have to ask me nicely. You see, Danny, I can deal with the bullets and the bombs and the blood. I don't want money and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that ****y white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some ****ing courtesy! You gotta ask me nicely.
Kaffee: Colonel Jessep, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like a copy of the transfer order, sir.
Jessep: No problem.
Kaffee: Of course.
Jessep: The Corporal will take you by Personnel on your way back to the flight line, and you can have all the transfer orders you want.
Kaffee: [to Weinberg & Galloway] Let's go.
Jessep: But you have to ask me nicely.
Kaffee: I beg your pardon?
Jessep: You have to ask me nicely. You see, Danny, I can deal with the bullets and the bombs and the blood. I don't want money and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in that ****y white uniform and with your Harvard mouth extend me some ****ing courtesy! You gotta ask me nicely.
Kaffee: Colonel Jessep, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like a copy of the transfer order, sir.
Jessep: No problem.
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Kaffee: Is your father proud of you?
Sam: Don't do this to yourself.
Kaffee: I'll bet he is, I bet he bores the shit out of neighbors and relatives, Sam's made law review, got a real big case he's making. Arguing, he's making an argument. I think my father would've liked to see me graduate from law school, I think he would've enjoyed that an awful lot.
Sam: Did I ever tell you I wrote a paper about your dad in college?
Kaffee: Yeah.
Sam: One of the best trial lawyers ever.
Kaffee: Yes, he was.
Sam: And if I were Dawson and Downey and I were given a choice between you or your father to represent me in this case, I'd pick you every day of the week and twice on Sunday. You should've seen yourself thunder away at Kendrick.
Kaffee: Would you put Jessep on the stand?
Sam: No.
Kaffee: You think my father would've?
Sam: With the evidence we got, not in a million years. But here's the thing, and there's really no way of getting around this. Neither Lionel Kaffee nor Sam Weinberg is lead defense in the matter of the U.S. vs. Dawson and Downey, so there's really only one question. What would you do?
Sam: Don't do this to yourself.
Kaffee: I'll bet he is, I bet he bores the shit out of neighbors and relatives, Sam's made law review, got a real big case he's making. Arguing, he's making an argument. I think my father would've liked to see me graduate from law school, I think he would've enjoyed that an awful lot.
Sam: Did I ever tell you I wrote a paper about your dad in college?
Kaffee: Yeah.
Sam: One of the best trial lawyers ever.
Kaffee: Yes, he was.
Sam: And if I were Dawson and Downey and I were given a choice between you or your father to represent me in this case, I'd pick you every day of the week and twice on Sunday. You should've seen yourself thunder away at Kendrick.
Kaffee: Would you put Jessep on the stand?
Sam: No.
Kaffee: You think my father would've?
Sam: With the evidence we got, not in a million years. But here's the thing, and there's really no way of getting around this. Neither Lionel Kaffee nor Sam Weinberg is lead defense in the matter of the U.S. vs. Dawson and Downey, so there's really only one question. What would you do?
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Ross: Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Anthony Rodriguez, what exactly were these guys going to testify to?
Kaffee: Unless 'm mistaken, they were going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Ross: Strong witnesses.
Kaffee: And handsome too, dontcha think?
Ross: I'll see you around campus. I gotta go arrest Kendrick.
Kaffee: Tell him I say hi.
Ross: Will do.
Kaffee: Unless 'm mistaken, they were going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Ross: Strong witnesses.
Kaffee: And handsome too, dontcha think?
Ross: I'll see you around campus. I gotta go arrest Kendrick.
Kaffee: Tell him I say hi.
Ross: Will do.
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Kaffee: You and Dawson, you both live in the same dreamworld. It doesn't matter what I believe. It only matters what I can prove! So please, don't tell me what I know, or don't know; I know the law.
Galloway: You know nothing about the law. You're a used-car salesman, Daniel. You're an ambulance chaser with a rank. You're nothing. Live with that.
Galloway: You know nothing about the law. You're a used-car salesman, Daniel. You're an ambulance chaser with a rank. You're nothing. Live with that.
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Kaffee: What do you want from me?
Galloway: I want you to let them be judged. I want you to stand up and make an argument.
Weinberg: An argument that didn't work for Calley at My Lai. An argument that didn't work for the Nazis at Nuremberg.
Kaffee: Oh for Christ's sake, Sam. Do you really think that's the same as two teenage Marines executing a routine order they never believed would result in harm? These guys aren't the Nazis!
Galloway: Don't look now Danny, but you're making an argument.
Galloway: I want you to let them be judged. I want you to stand up and make an argument.
Weinberg: An argument that didn't work for Calley at My Lai. An argument that didn't work for the Nazis at Nuremberg.
Kaffee: Oh for Christ's sake, Sam. Do you really think that's the same as two teenage Marines executing a routine order they never believed would result in harm? These guys aren't the Nazis!
Galloway: Don't look now Danny, but you're making an argument.
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Ross: I have here the Marine Corps Outline for Recruit Training. I'd like you to turn to the chapter on "code reds".
Barnes: Well, you see, sir, "code red" is a term we use, just down in Gitmo--
Ross: Oh, then, we're in luck. Marching Orders/Standard Operating Procedure, Rifle Security Company, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. I'm sure we'll find it in there.
Barnes: You won't find it in there, either, sir.
Ross: Cpl. Barnes, I'm a Marine. You mean to tell me there's no manual, no set of instructions that tells me, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform "code reds?"
Barnes: No, sir. No book, sir.
Ross: No further questions.
[As Ross returns to his seat, Kaffee gets up and snatches the Rifle Company SOP out of his hand]
Kaffee: Cpl. Barnes, turn to the page in this book that tells me how to get to the mess hall.
Barnes: Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
Kaffee: You mean the whole time you've been at Gitmo, you've never had a meal?
Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Kaffee: Then how did you find the mess hall if it wasn't in this book?
Barnes: Well, sir, like everybody else, I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
Kaffee: No further questions.
Barnes: Well, you see, sir, "code red" is a term we use, just down in Gitmo--
Ross: Oh, then, we're in luck. Marching Orders/Standard Operating Procedure, Rifle Security Company, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. I'm sure we'll find it in there.
Barnes: You won't find it in there, either, sir.
Ross: Cpl. Barnes, I'm a Marine. You mean to tell me there's no manual, no set of instructions that tells me, as a Marine, one of my duties is to perform "code reds?"
Barnes: No, sir. No book, sir.
Ross: No further questions.
[As Ross returns to his seat, Kaffee gets up and snatches the Rifle Company SOP out of his hand]
Kaffee: Cpl. Barnes, turn to the page in this book that tells me how to get to the mess hall.
Barnes: Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
Kaffee: You mean the whole time you've been at Gitmo, you've never had a meal?
Barnes: No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Kaffee: Then how did you find the mess hall if it wasn't in this book?
Barnes: Well, sir, like everybody else, I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
Kaffee: No further questions.
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Kaffee: Maybe if we work at it we can get Dawson charged with the Kennedy assassination.
Galloway: Are you drunk?
Kaffee: Pretty much...yeeaahh.
Galloway: I'll put on a pot of coffee. We've got a long night's work ahead.
Kaffee: She's gonna make coffee... that's nice.
Kaffee: Downey wasn't in his room, wasn't even there. That was an important piece of infromation, don't you think?
Galloway: Danny, it was a set back, and I'm sorry, but we fix it and move on to Markinson.
Kaffee: Markinson's dead. You really gotta hand it to those Federal Marshals... boy, it's not like he hanged himself by his shoelaces or slashed his wrists with a concealed butter knife. This guy got into full dress uniform, stood in the middle of that room, drew a nickel-plated pistol from his holster, and fired a bullet into his mouth. Anyway, since we seem to be out of witnesses, I thought I'd drink a little.
Galloway: I still think we can win.
Kaffee: Then maybe you should drink a little.
Galloway: Are you drunk?
Kaffee: Pretty much...yeeaahh.
Galloway: I'll put on a pot of coffee. We've got a long night's work ahead.
Kaffee: She's gonna make coffee... that's nice.
Kaffee: Downey wasn't in his room, wasn't even there. That was an important piece of infromation, don't you think?
Galloway: Danny, it was a set back, and I'm sorry, but we fix it and move on to Markinson.
Kaffee: Markinson's dead. You really gotta hand it to those Federal Marshals... boy, it's not like he hanged himself by his shoelaces or slashed his wrists with a concealed butter knife. This guy got into full dress uniform, stood in the middle of that room, drew a nickel-plated pistol from his holster, and fired a bullet into his mouth. Anyway, since we seem to be out of witnesses, I thought I'd drink a little.
Galloway: I still think we can win.
Kaffee: Then maybe you should drink a little.
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Judge: The court members will retire to an anteroom until further instructed.
MP: All rise!
Jessep: What is this? I did my job, I'd do it again. I'm gonna get in a plane and go back to my base.
Judge: You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's, guard the Colonel.
MP: Yes, sir!
Judge: Captain Ross.
Ross: Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent--
Jessep: What is this? I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime?! This is funny. That's what this is. This is-- [leaps towards Kaffee, MP's restrain him] I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You ****ed with the wrong Marine!
Ross: Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
Jessep: You ****in' people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.
Kaffee: Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a bitch. The witness is excused.
MP: All rise!
Jessep: What is this? I did my job, I'd do it again. I'm gonna get in a plane and go back to my base.
Judge: You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's, guard the Colonel.
MP: Yes, sir!
Judge: Captain Ross.
Ross: Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent--
Jessep: What is this? I'm being charged with a crime? Is that what this is? I'm being charged with a crime?! This is funny. That's what this is. This is-- [leaps towards Kaffee, MP's restrain him] I'm gonna rip the eyes out of your head and piss into your dead skull! You ****ed with the wrong Marine!
Ross: Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
Jessep: You ****in' people. You have no idea how to defend a nation. All you did was weaken a country today, Kaffee. That's all you did. You put people's lives in danger. Sweet dreams, son.
Kaffee: Don't call me son. I'm a lawyer and an officer in the United States Navy. And you're under arrest, you son of a bitch. The witness is excused.
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Kaffee: All right, here's the story. The government is offering Involuntary Manslaughter. Two years. You'll be out in six months. [Dawson and Downey react with stony silence] Wow, Kaffee, you're the greatest lawyer in the world! Ooh, how can we ever thank you? Fellas, you hear what I just said? You're going home in six months.
Dawson: I'm afraid we can't do that, sir.
Kaffee: Do what?
Dawson: Make a deal, sir.
Kaffee: What are you talking about?
Dawson: We did nothing wrong, sir. We did our job, and if that has consequences I'll accept them. But I won't say I'm guilty, sir.
Kaffee: [to Galloway] Did you — [turns to Dawson] did she put you up to this?
Galloway: No.
Dawson: We have a code, sir.
Kaffee: Oh, well, zip-a-dee-doo-dah! You and your code plead not guilty, you'll be in jail for the rest of your life. Do what I'm telling you, you'll be home in six months. Do it, Harold. Six months. It's nothing. It's a hockey season.
Dawson: Permission to--
Kaffee: Speak! Jesus!
Dawson: What do we do then, sir?
Kaffee: When?
Dawson: After six months we'll be dishonorably discharged. Right, sir?
Kaffee: Probably.
Dawson: Well, what do we do then, sir? We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say that we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. But I belive I was right, I believe I did my job. But I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so that I can go home in six months! Sir.
Dawson: I'm afraid we can't do that, sir.
Kaffee: Do what?
Dawson: Make a deal, sir.
Kaffee: What are you talking about?
Dawson: We did nothing wrong, sir. We did our job, and if that has consequences I'll accept them. But I won't say I'm guilty, sir.
Kaffee: [to Galloway] Did you — [turns to Dawson] did she put you up to this?
Galloway: No.
Dawson: We have a code, sir.
Kaffee: Oh, well, zip-a-dee-doo-dah! You and your code plead not guilty, you'll be in jail for the rest of your life. Do what I'm telling you, you'll be home in six months. Do it, Harold. Six months. It's nothing. It's a hockey season.
Dawson: Permission to--
Kaffee: Speak! Jesus!
Dawson: What do we do then, sir?
Kaffee: When?
Dawson: After six months we'll be dishonorably discharged. Right, sir?
Kaffee: Probably.
Dawson: Well, what do we do then, sir? We joined the Marines because we wanted to live our lives by a certain code, and we found it in the Corps. Now you're asking us to sign a piece of paper that says we have no honor. You're asking us to say that we're not Marines. If a court decides that what we did was wrong, then I'll accept whatever punishment they give. But I belive I was right, I believe I did my job. But I will not dishonor myself, my unit, or the Corps so that I can go home in six months! Sir.
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Galloway: I'm just wondering if you've ever heard the term "Code Red".
Jessep: I've heard the term, yes.
Galloway: This past February you received a cautionary memo from the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, warning that the practice of enlisted men disciplining their own wasn't to be condoned by officers.
Jessep: Well, I submit to you that whoever wrote that memo has never faced the working end of a Soviet-made Cuban AK-47 assault rifle. However, the directive having come from the commander, I gave it its due attention. What is your point, Jo?
Kaffee: She has no point. She often has no point, sir. It's part of her charm.
Galloway: My point is that I think Code Reds still go on down here.
Jessep: I've heard the term, yes.
Galloway: This past February you received a cautionary memo from the Commander-in-Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, warning that the practice of enlisted men disciplining their own wasn't to be condoned by officers.
Jessep: Well, I submit to you that whoever wrote that memo has never faced the working end of a Soviet-made Cuban AK-47 assault rifle. However, the directive having come from the commander, I gave it its due attention. What is your point, Jo?
Kaffee: She has no point. She often has no point, sir. It's part of her charm.
Galloway: My point is that I think Code Reds still go on down here.
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Judge Randolph: All Rise! Have the court members reached a verdict?
Member: We have, Sir.
Judge: [reading the verdict] Lance Corporal Dawson, Private First Class Downey: On the charge of murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a United States Marine, the members find the accused guilty as charged. The accused are hereby sentenced to time already served, and you are ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps. This court martial is adjourned.
Bailiff: All rise.
Downey: What does that mean? Hal, what does that mean? I don't understand. Colonel Jessep said he ordered the code red.
Joanne: I know.
Downey: Colonel Jessep said he ordered the Code Red. What did we do wrong?
Joanne: It's not that simple.
Downey: What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!
Hal: Yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.
Member: We have, Sir.
Judge: [reading the verdict] Lance Corporal Dawson, Private First Class Downey: On the charge of murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conspiracy to commit murder, the members find the accused not guilty. On the charge of conduct unbecoming a United States Marine, the members find the accused guilty as charged. The accused are hereby sentenced to time already served, and you are ordered to be dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corps. This court martial is adjourned.
Bailiff: All rise.
Downey: What does that mean? Hal, what does that mean? I don't understand. Colonel Jessep said he ordered the code red.
Joanne: I know.
Downey: Colonel Jessep said he ordered the Code Red. What did we do wrong?
Joanne: It's not that simple.
Downey: What did we do wrong? We did nothing wrong!
Hal: Yeah we did. We were supposed to fight for people who couldn't fight for themselves. We were supposed to fight for Willy.