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)
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!
All rise.
Too late.
I have here the Marine Corps Outline for Recruit Training. I'd like you to turn to the chapter on "code reds".
Well, you see, sir, "code red" is a term we use, just down in Gitmo--
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.
You won't find it in there, either, sir.
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?"
No, sir. No book, sir.
No further questions.
Cpl. Barnes, turn to the page in this book that tells me how to get to the mess hall.
Lt. Kaffee, that's not in the book, sir.
You mean the whole time you've been at Gitmo, you've never had a meal?
No, sir. Three squares a day, sir.
Then how did you find the mess hall if it wasn't in this book?
Well, sir, like everybody else, I just followed the crowd at chow time, sir.
No further questions.
Lieutenant Kendrick, in your opinion was Private Santiago a good Marine?
I'd say he was about average.
Lieutenant Kendrick, you signed three proficiency and conduct reports on Santiago, and on all three you indicated a rating of "Below Average".
Yes, Private Santiago was below average. I did not see the need to trample on a man's grave.
Lieutenant, do you recall an incident involving a PFC Curtis Bell, who'd been found stealing liquor from the officers' club?
Yes, I do.
Did you report Private Bell to the proper authorities?
I have two books at my bedside, Lieutenant: the Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the King James Bible. The only proper authorities I'm aware of are my commanding officer, Colonel Nathan R. Jessep, and the Lord our God.
At your request, Lieutenant Kendrick, I can have the record reflect your lack of acknowledgment of this court as a proper authority.
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.
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?
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.
Judge Randolph All Rise! Have the court members reached a verdict?
We have, Sir.
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.
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.
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]
Airmen Cecil O'Malley and Anthony Rodriguez, what exactly were these guys going to testify to?
Unless 'm mistaken, they were going to testify under oath that they had absolutely no recollection of anything.
Strong witnesses.
And handsome too, dontcha think?
I'll see you around campus. I gotta go arrest Kendrick.
Tell him I say hi.
Will do.
I want you to know that I think the whole **** bunch of you are certifiably insane. This code of honor of yours makes me want to beat the shit out of somebody.
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.
It had to be Professor Plum, in the library, with the candlestick.
I'm gonna talk to your supervisor.
Go straight up the Pennsylvania Avenue. It's the big white house with the pillars.
Thank you.
I don't think you'll have much luck though.
I, uh, had the pleasure of meeting your father once. I was a teenager, he spoke at my high school.
Lionel Kaffee?
Yes, sir.
Well, what do you know? [to Kendrick] This man's dad once made a lot of enemies in your neck of the woods. Jefferson v. Madison County School District. Folks down there said a little black girl couldn't go to an all-white school. Lionel Kaffee said, "Well, we'll just see about that." How the hell is your dad, Danny?
He passed away seven years ago, sir.
Not at all, sir.
