Tell your friend not to get cute down there, the Marines at Gitmo are fanatical.
Fanatical about what?
About being Marines.
Lt. Daniel Kaffee
Tom Cruise · 69 quotes
Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson
J.T. Walsh · 58 quotes
Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway
Demi Moore · 34 quotes
Lt. Sam Weinberg
Kevin Pollak · 20 quotes
Col. Nathan R. Jessep
Jack Nicholson · 16 quotes
Capt. Jack Ross
Kevin Bacon · 12 quotes
Dawson
Gene Whittington · 7 quotes
Kendrick
Kiefer Sutherland · 5 quotes
Judge
4 quotes
Barnes
Noah Wyle · 3 quotes
Most scenes together: Lt. Daniel Kaffee & Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson (47), Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway & Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson (26), Lt. Daniel Kaffee & Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (24)
A Few Good Men quotes
Page 2 of 7We'll go to Randolph in the morning and ask for a continuance--24 hours.
Why?
To subponea Colonel Jessep.
No
Just listen for a second... Just hear me out...
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.
You're chickenshit. You're gonna use what happened today as an excuse to give up.
It's over. What possible good would come from putting Jessep on the stand?
He ordered the Code red on Santiago.
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.
You put him on the stand and you get it from him.
Oh, we get it from him, yes! Colenel Jessep, isn't it true that you ordered the Code red on Santiago?
Look, we're all a little--
[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]
I'm sorry I lost your set of steak knives.
Why do you hate them so much?
They picked on a weakling. That's all they did, all right? The rest of this is just smoke-filled coffeehouse crap. They tortured and tormented a weaker kid. They didn't like him — so they killed him. And why? Because he couldn't run very fast!
You're wrong - I do know you. Daniel Alistair Kaffee, born June 8th 1964 at Boston Mercy Hospital. Your father's Lionel Kaffee, former Navy Judge Advocate and Attorney General of the United States; died 1985. You went to Harvard Law, then you joined the Navy, probably because that's what your father wanted you to do, and now you're just treading water for the three years you've gotta serve in the JAG Corps, just... kinda laying low so you can go out and get a real job. If that's the situation, that's fine, I won't tell anyone. But it's my feeling that if this case is handled in the same fast-food, slick-ass "Persian Bazaar" manner with which you seem to handle everything else, something's gonna get missed. And I wouldn't be doing my job if I allowed Dawson and Downey to spend any more time in prison than absolutely necessary because their attorney had predetermined the path of least resistance.
Wow... I'm sexually aroused, Commander.
So how is your dad, Danny?
He passed away seven years ago, sir.
Don't I feel like the **** asshole?
Not at all sir.
Transfer Santiago off the base. Yes, I'm sure that's the thing to do. Wait, I have a better idea. Why don't we just transfer the whole squad off the base? As a matter of fact, why don't we just transfer the whole Windward Division off the base? John, go on out there and tell those boys to come down off the wall, they're packing their bags. Tom!
Tom
Yes, sir!
Get me the President on the phone. We're surrendering our position in Cuba!
Tom
Yes, sir.
Wait a minute, Tom, don't call the President just yet. Perhaps we should consider this for a moment. Dismissed, Tom. You know, maybe we have an obligation to young William. Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to our country to see to it that the men assigned to protect it are properly trained... yes, I'm certain I've read that somewhere and while your suggestion, Lt. Col. Markinson, of transferring William off the base, while expeditious and certainly painless, might not be, in a matter of speaking, the American way. Santiago stays where he is. We're gonna train the lad! Maybe, and I'm just spit-balling here, maybe we have a responsibility as officers to train Santiago. Maybe we as officers have a responsibility to this country to see that the men and women charged with its security are trained professionals. Yes, I'm certain that I read that somewhere once. John, you're in charge. Santiago doesn't make 4-6-4-6 on his next proficiency and conduct report and I'm going to blame you. And then I'm going to kill you.
What do you think of Kendrick?
Nathan, I don't believe my opinion of Kendrick is--
I think he's pretty much of a weasel myself, but he's an awfully good officer. And we see eye to eye on a lot of things, including how to run a Marine Corps unit. And, I believe that taking a Marine who isn't quite up to the job and shipping him off to another assignment puts lives in danger! [Markinson, disgusted, gets up to leave] Sit down, Matthew! We go back a while. We went to the Academy together, we were commissioned together, we did our tours in Vietnam together. But I've been promoted up the chain with greater speed and success than you have. Now, if that's a source of tension or embarrassment for you, I don't give a shit. We're in the business of saving lives, Lieutenant Colonel Markinson. Don't ever question my orders in the presence of another officer. You're dismissed.
You believe that, don't you, Danny? That I'm here to help you in any way I can?
Of course.
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.
But you have to ask me nicely.
I beg your pardon?
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 **** courtesy! You gotta ask me nicely.
Colonel Jessep, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like a copy of the transfer order, sir.
No problem.
Judge Randolph All Rise! Have the court members reached a verdict?
Member
We have, Sir.
[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.
I know.
Downey Colonel Jessep said he ordered the Code Red. What did we do wrong?
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.
The court members will retire to an anteroom until further instructed.
MP All rise!
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.
You're not going anywhere, Colonel. MP's, guard the Colonel.
MP Yes, sir!
Captain Ross.
Colonel Jessep, you have the right to remain silent--
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 **** with the wrong Marine!
Colonel Jessep, do you understand these rights as I have just read them to you?
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.
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.
Colonel, a moment ago you said that you told Lt. Kendrick to tell his men that Santiago wasn't to be touched.
That's right.
And Lt. Kendrick was clear on what you wanted?
Crystal.
Any chance Lt. Kendrick ignored the order?
Ignored the order?
Any chance he forgot about it?
No.
Any chance Lt. Kendrick left your office and said, “The old man is wrong”?
No.
When Lt. Kendrick spoke to the platoon, and ordered them not to touch Santiago, any chance they ignored him?
You ever served in an infantry unit, Son?
No, Sir.
Ever served in a forward area?
No, Sir.
Ever put your life in another man's hands? And asked him to put his life in yours?
No, Sir.
We follow orders, son. We follow orders, or people die. It's that simple. Are we clear?
Yes, Sir.
Are we clear?!
Crystal.
Colonel, when you learned of Santiago's letter to the NIS, you had a meeting with your senior officers, is that right?
Yes.
The Platoon Commander Lt. Jonathan Kendrick, and the executive officer, Lt. Colonel Matthew Markinson
Yes.
And, at present, Colonel Markinson is dead, is that right?
Object! I would like to know exactly what the defense council is implying.
I'm implying simply that, at present, Colonel Markinson is not alive.
Surely, Colonel Jessep doesn't need to appear in court to confirm that information.
I just wasn't sure if the witness was aware that 2 nights ago Colonel Markinson took his own life with a .45-caliber pistol.
The witness is aware, the court is aware, and now the court members are aware. We thank you for bringing this to our attention. Move on, Lieutenant.
Harold?
Hal Sir?
You don't need to wear a patch on your arm to have honor.
Hal Ten-hut! There's an officer on deck! [Hal walks off]
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?
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.
Your honor--
Judge Randolph Your objection is noted.
Colonel? [Jessep chuckles] Is this funny, sir?
No, it's not. It's tragic.
Do you have an answer?
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?
Excuse Me! I didn't dismiss you.
I beg your pardon?
'm not finished my examination. Sit down.
Colonel.
What's that?
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."
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.
What do you want to discuss now, my favorite color?
What do you want from me?
I want you to let them be judged. I want you to stand up and make an argument.
An argument that didn't work for Calley at My Lai. An argument that didn't work for the Nazis at Nuremberg.
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!
Don't look now Danny, but you're making an argument.