The Code (2019) s01e06 Episode Script
1st Civ Div
1 Previously on The Code Jason was stabbed by one of his own men.
TREY: Giving that family a lot of help.
Yeah, just like I said I would when Jason died.
ADAM: Thanks for the boots, Mom.
Adam and three other Marines never reported back - from their last patrol.
- They're being held in the same complex where Richard Barnwright is hiding.
But if we sign off on a MOAB strike, we might be killing your son.
File it.
VAN HORN: Hey, man, you in the Marines? - Hell, yes.
Semper Fi.
- VAN HORN: Oh, nice.
I knew.
I can spot a Devil Dog a mile away.
- Uh, you in the Corps? - VAN HORN: Man, I wish.
So why are you in uniform? Uh, well, this is our reunion, so I'm in my dress uniform.
VAN HORN: Yeah, 'cause I thought you only wore that one when you were deployed.
What, are you invading Baltimore, Marine? Uh, hey, man, we're just a couple of friends.
We're trying to have a nice night.
VAN HORN: It's all good, man.
I don't mean to disrespect you.
I just get confused, I guess.
Oh, wait, man, you're in the 1st Civ Div.
That's cool, man.
Uh, yeah, yeah, brother, yeah, I was.
VAN HORN: Yeah, what was your I.
D.
I.
O.
T.
number? Uh, 32-86543.
We got him, folks.
You just gave me your "idiot number," moron.
And there's no such thing as the First Civilian Division.
Hey, man, who the hell are you? VAN HORN: Your boots are all wrong, your hat is from the freaking Army, and your insignia says that you're in the 5th Marines.
- There hasn't been a 5th Marines - Shut up.
Since 1969.
- Stolen valor! Stolen valor! - Hey.
- You better back the hell off.
- Or what? 'Cause this is what a real Marine looks like, right here.
My friends died wearing that uniform, you fat little bitch.
Stolen valor! St And you put this on the Internet why, exactly? Shame.
- Shame.
- Yeah.
That guy was wearing the uniform so he could I don't know get free drinks.
- He deserves shame.
- So you protected the Corps by Hell yeah.
calling a stranger a "fat little bitch"? Your "stolen valor" video picked up 700,000 views in three days.
Do you make money through shame? I'm saving up for a Ninja.
You're saving up for a Ninja.
It's a motorcycle, ma'am.
Why did you come see us today, Lance Corporal? Uh, that guy in the video, James Dale, I kind of hit him a couple times.
He filed a civil suit.
Smart.
You were probably only going to be charged with battery.
Nominal fine, time served in overnight lockup.
This way he can make money off you, maybe get a Ninja of his own.
My CO said a judge advocate could fix this for me.
He said to mention something called the SCRA.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is to protect spouses from losing their homes while their partners serve, things like that, not things like this.
Yeah, but my CO said that it guarantees legal representation for all active duty, so, full respect, ma'am, I'm sitting here until I get some help.
Rami.
Can you name two Cabinet-level positions? Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Lance Corporal Van Horn here needs legal representation.
I have to attend to matters that matter.
Would you mind kindly setting him up with Lieutenant Pfister? Absolutely.
I just saw the lieutenant upstairs.
Name three of the original 13 states.
- New York, New Jersey, Georgia.
- Boom.
Why are people asking you all these weird questions? They're just helping me study for my citizenship exam.
You're not American? I have a green card.
As I'm sure you know, military service confers an accelerated path to full citizenship.
You sound American.
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Oh, cool, I got cousins in Grand Rapids.
There and Tabriz.
So this guy Pfister I got, is he any good? He's experienced at being a lieutenant.
Beautiful flowers, Lieutenant Li.
What's the occasion? The occasion is having an amazing fiancé.
Oh, uh, quick detour, then I'll get you to Lieutenant Pfister.
ABE: Major Jason Hunt was a positive influence in the life of everyone who served under his command.
It's an honor to be asked to summarize his career, but it's an intimidating one.
- Is that the right word, "intimidating"? - (KNOCKING ON GLASS) I could come back later.
Oh, it's okay, uh, my old CO is being promoted posthumously at his pinning ceremony.
Major Ferry's just helping me - figure out what to say.
- RAMI: Of course, sir.
I followed up with Svalbard Books.
They're expecting your first edition of The Guns of August - by the end of the week.
- Thank you, Rami.
How many amendments does the Constitution have? 27, sir.
Uh, "daunting," instead of "intimidating," Captain.
You're a Warrant Officer.
That means you've been in the Marines for, what? Going on nine years now.
But you're still not a citizen? It's an involved process.
There can be certain hiccups for a person of my heritage.
The background checks are extensive.
All's well that ends well, though.
I finally have an appointment for my interview.
Oh, there he is.
Lieutenant Ike Pfister.
Hey, Ram, what's up? This is Lance Corporal Van Horn.
Captain Dobbins asked you to handle his case.
Cool.
You want one of these? MAYA: That footage was taken by a tribal elder we're friendly with.
He was one of the first people back in Parwan after we dropped the MOAB.
Strategically, we think the strike was a success.
Our SIGINT teams are hearing chatter that indicates Richard Barnwright and at least ten other IS fighters were killed when the blast wave hit the tunnels where they were hiding.
Barnwright's gone, ma'am.
He won't be murdering anyone else on YouTube.
And the captured Marines? None of our intercepts mention hostages.
There's no indication that your son and the other Marines were being held in the tunnels.
Thank you, Captain.
I know you're taking this on in addition - to your caseload.
- Ma'am, I'm sorry to have to say this I understand.
There's nothing that indicates Adam was in those tunnels.
There's also nothing that indicates he wasn't.
(CHILDREN LAUGHING ON TV) You know, once the kid's in bed, you are allowed to change the channel.
Danny told me about this show on the way home from school, so I told her I'd watch this episode so we can talk about it tomorrow.
She really likes you, Abe.
Jason was gone so much, she's slow to warm up to men.
You did well with her.
You and Jason did well.
Do you ever slow down? If I don't do it, it doesn't happen.
(SNEEZES) - Bless you.
- Thank you.
What's that? It's just stuff that my lawyer wants me to nag you about.
The talking points that you haven't been reading, a rough timetable for the next few years.
You agreed to testify about what happened to Jason.
It's no fun, but this is the deal.
(SNEEZES) Bless you.
Thank you.
Do you mind? You're burning up.
Oh, I don't have time to be sick.
Go, sleep.
I'll check in on Danny and Maggie.
I've got it, Al.
If you want, I can crash on the pullout.
Help them get ready for school and day care.
You are too good to us.
When I was posted at Leatherneck with Jason, the night before we went on the op where I got shot we knew it was gonna be bad.
I promised Jason that, if anything happened to him, I'd be there for you and the kids.
I'm here, Al, until you tell me not to be.
It's no fun, but this is the deal.
MAYA: We should get local command to authorize extra cash payments to every tribal leader in Parwan who'll still take our calls.
Someone knows what happened to Adam Turnbull.
Can I call you back? Lieutenant Pfister, what is this? That's the file on the Van Horn case.
Major Ferry asked me to pass it on to you.
Looks like you guys are gonna be cocounsel.
The Stolen Valor Guy? Lance Corporal Van Horn got into a bar fight.
Why do we need two senior attorneys on this? James Dale, the guy that Van Horn hit, well, apparently, he's been having headaches since the night of the fight.
Went to the ER yesterday, lost consciousness while they were examining him.
He had a blood clot in his brain.
Doctors say it was from the fight.
Had a blood clot? It ruptured early this morning.
James Dale died.
This is Article 118 now.
Lance Corporal Van Horn is being charged with murder.
Yeah, but they can't charge me with murder.
He took the first swing.
I was just defending myself.
- It's all there on camera.
- We're confident we can plea down to a lesser charge, maybe Article 119, Involuntary Manslaughter.
- No.
He hit me.
- The government will likely argue that your extreme hostility was itself an act of provocation, and that James Dale had reason to fear for his safety.
So what now? I spend the rest of my life in a brig? We'll try to prevent that, but the fact is, you personally recorded evidence of yourself committing a crime, then posted it to the Internet for 700,000 people to watch.
900,000, as of this morning.
VAN HORN (ON VIDEO): And there's no such thing as Pitch in with something? Sure.
boots are all wrong and your hat is from the freaking Army.
I caught this.
The guy operating the camera is a Marine.
The man he's confronting died early this morning.
Count your lucky stars and send that guy a thank you card.
He delivered your case to you in a heart-shaped box.
Look at this, though.
The guy loading the groceries is a math teacher from Bismarck, North Dakota.
He was exposed as a faker by a lance corporal who was home on leave.
The confrontation got physical.
He came away with a broken arm.
This one was recorded near Naval Air Station in Key West.
Two of our pilots down there got into it with a local named Alvaro Mendo.
Mendo's in a medically-induced coma.
There are more, and they're all from videos posted to this website.
Okay, I get the idea.
Stolen Valor confrontations on FakeMarine.
com have a tendency to get violent, and you want to know why.
What does the guy you're prosecuting have to say about it? Lance Corporal Van Horn told the defense he just kind of understood that violent confrontations got more views.
I'm not sure that explains the pattern, though.
These sites are everywhere now, but FakeMarine.
com is the only one with a consistent history of violent confrontations.
So when you say "pitch in," you mean I fly down to Key West, interview those Leatherneck flight jockeys, and ask 'em if anyone from that website incentivized them to get handsy? Be a big help.
Done.
Make sure you notify defense.
My guess is they'll want to come with.
Hold up.
You go to Key West and I go to North Dakota? Can't be helped, Lieutenant.
I got to be back here in time to pick up Danny Hunt from school.
They're gonna ask about the six months you were in London at your cousin's I have to find what I wrote.
Just tell them that my aunt was sick.
Kind of helps that it's true.
No, I know, it's just, I had details about her treatment written down.
Rami, it's fine.
It's gonna be fine.
- (EXHALES) - We went over everything.
The best thing for you to do now is relax.
You don't want your palms to be all sweaty.
Do you have the, uh, cold water? Good morning, Grace.
Just checking to see if they scheduled my husband's interview yet.
Nothing new this morning, S.
Y.
Sorry.
- Check back tomorrow? - SEO-YUN: Ah.
Okay.
Excuse me.
Uh, do y-you know someone who joined the military through the MAVNI program? My husband.
We wanted to come here, and the Army needed Korean speakers.
I'm sorry.
It's terrible what they did to you.
They told us our entire family would have citizenship once Min-jun's service ended.
But once we got here, they took it all back.
They might deport me.
My daughter, too.
We made you a promise.
We owed you better.
MAYA: I'll be in touch with my contacts in Afghanistan at all times, ma'am.
They can reach me in the air if they need to.
(OVER PHONE): If there's any news about Adam, - I'll call right away.
- I appreciate - the update, Captain.
- (PHONE CHIMES) Do you need to get that, ma'am? I've been getting these calls from scrambled numbers all day.
I think the telemarketers have gotten hold of my new cell.
We should be back to Quantico by COB.
Understood.
If my husband finds anything out from the diplomatic side, I'll let you know.
Copy.
How'd you pull Key West detail? I used my wiles, of course.
Did you just say "wiles"? That and Trey has this weird thing about wanting to see all 50 states.
He's never been to North Dakota.
You never answered my text about bringing a bathing suit.
I am a lawyer and an officer in the United States armed forces.
Nobody's asking you to be unprofessional.
Both of those professions stress constant readiness.
If, within the course of my duties, an opportunity for a quick swim presents itself, this Marine is ready.
HARPER: Thank you, sir.
Have a safe flight back.
Abe and Maya just left the brig at NAS Key West.
Both of those pilots have the same story as Lance Corporal Van Horn.
They didn't receive explicit instructions from anyone at FakeMarine.
com to get violent with the fakers they exposed, they just watched the other videos on the site and imitated what they saw.
Captain Abraham also wants to know if North Dakota is everything you'd hoped it would be.
I wouldn't expect Captain Abraham to appreciate the more sunlight-challenged states.
Anything else? Yes, sir.
He also just sent this text.
(DOOR CLOSES) Thank God.
Marines.
Can you get me out of here, Officers? We're not your transfer team, Lance Corporal Arndt.
They're taking their time getting here, ma'am.
Can you at least turn the thermostat up? These chair force guys are icing me out.
We'll see what we can do, but if you wanted Marine Corps heat, you might have recorded that video a little closer to one of our bases.
- (EXHALES) - I'm Major Ferry.
This is Lieutenant Li.
We're judge advocates from Quantico.
Quantico? They told me my attorney's local.
We're not assigned to your case.
We're interested in FakeMarine.
com.
HARPER: You posted 11 Stolen Valor videos under the username Basilone's Ball Bag.
Yeah, like after Manila John? He won the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
I'm sure the Basilone Foundation appreciates the shout-out.
Your first eight videos ended without any kind of intense confrontation.
They languished on the back pages of FakeMarine.
com, and your last three, you switched to more aggressive tactics, got more views, - made more money.
- So? So what changed? Why'd you go full bully? Why should I talk to either of you? Because we're looking at something way bigger than your dumb case, Lance Corporal Arndt.
Because if we make you a witness, that will be your best shot at a decent deal.
AND ALSO: we walked right by that thermostat on our way in.
Now, you tell us something good, and we might just dial it up a notch.
ABE: Lance Corporal Arndt wrote nine e-mails to the administrator of FakeMarine.
com, asking how he could get more traction for his videos.
After the eighth one, he finally got a response.
"Your videos aren't getting clicks because they're boring.
You got to get in there, man.
You got to shake these guys up.
" Lance Corporal Arndt wrote back, asking what the administrator meant by "shake these guys up," here's what came back: "Get in their face.
"Hurt them.
What's the old saying? If it bleeds, it leads.
" ABE: That is a direct solicitation, ma'am.
The administrator of that site is commissioning Marines to act as vigilantes.
Whomever that administrator might be.
The site's owned by a shell company.
We'll find him before more people get hurt, ma'am.
(PHONES BUZZING) Something to do with the case? - (PHONE CHIMES) - (SIGHS) I've been getting these for hours.
Excuse me.
Hello? - MALE VOICE (DISTANT): Mom? You - (PHONE CRACKLING) Mom? You need track the sat Adam? KOZLOWSKI: We believe your son is being held in Waziristan.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is is a mountainous no-man's-land.
GLENN: How did Adam get from those tunnels to a mountaintop in Pakistan? We can't be sure he was ever in the tunnels.
That may have been bad Intel.
Thank you.
We think that's your son.
As far as how he wound up in Waziristan, probably a prisoner exchange.
It looks as if Lieutenant Turnbull got free long enough to place the calls, and then his captors caught up with him.
Another moment later, they're all gone.
They very likely went into those caves.
So we know where those Marines are being held.
When do we stage the rescue? We can handle the political fallout from a low-impact raid into an ostensibly friendly country.
What can't we handle? There are maps of that cave system, but we don't have access to them.
They're owned by a mining company.
Without them, we'd be sending our Raiders in blind.
Can't we just ask? These are American lives.
Widecombe Consolidated has held the mineral rights to this region since the 1800s.
But they have a problem with illegal mining operations, so they keep their maps locked away.
From the U.
S.
government? And without the maps? We're looking into options.
ALEX: Nobody woke me up for the kids' bedtime.
You're sick.
You needed sleep.
I feel a bit better, actually.
I think the fever broke.
(LAUGHS) You meant it when you told Danny that you like this show? Honestly? I'm too tired to change the channel.
Welcome to parenting.
I mean, I not that you're their I know what you meant.
I talked to my sister today.
It's funny, your name kept coming up.
Good things, I hope.
She thinks it's weird that you're around so much.
(TV CLICKS OFF) I could come over less.
No, I don't want that.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY) It's easy for her to do, you know? She's not on the ground here.
You are here and I'm grateful.
(CHUCKLES) It does happen, though, right? I mean, we've all seen it on base.
Husband dies, and his friend starts helping out around the place, and all of a sudden, they're a thing.
Sure.
I've seen it.
I've judged it.
It looks different from the other side.
You're alone, you're lonely.
(EXHALES): And there's somebody there who can do at least some of the stuff that your partner used to do, so you grab onto it.
And that person keeps coming around.
Maybe it's easy.
Maybe it feels right.
So, of course, when your guard's down, you think, "Why stop at chores? Why should we share "all the work and not the joy? Why should I walk upstairs alone even one more night?" (LAUGHS SOFTLY): But that's just sometimes.
When your guard is down.
What do you get out of this, Abe? I made a promise.
That's it? Duty calls? I am going upstairs now.
Good morning, Captain Abraham.
Rami.
Have you lost weight? Not recently, no.
Uh, Lieutenant Li asked me to look into who might be running FakeMarine.
com.
Well, something's changed, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
- Are you wearing lifts in those shoes? - Of course not, sir.
And I do know where you're going with this.
Did you lose your virginity? I've been married for four years.
My question stands.
It stands to reason that the site administrator is also the first person who posted a video there.
That individual goes by the username RickRoll54.
So our bad guy has a weakness for Internet trends that went stale a decade ago? We don't choose our passions, sir, they choose us.
RickRoll, whoever he is, shot dozens of videos over the years, but he never stripped the GPS information from any any of his postings.
The videos were recorded in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.
Which narrows it down to, what, three million Midwesterners? Ohio is actually a Mid-Atlantic state.
The videos were taken in Cincinnati, unless, that is, of course, they were shot on the second Sunday of every month.
In that case, they were recorded in Roanoke, Virginia.
So this guy, RickRoll, is in the Marine Reserves; he lives in Cincinnati and once a month reports to Roanoke - for I&I.
- Exactly.
I called the commanding officer of the fourth combat engineer battalion and he told me currently has three reservists who live in Cincinnati.
One is African American.
You can see RickRoll's hands in several of the videos, so that rules him out.
The others are Staff Sergeant Lionel Kearns and Lieutenant William Albrecht.
Thank you, Rami.
I suppose Harper and I should - get to Ohio and see what we can learn.
- I'll alert Lance Corporal Van Horn's defense team.
They'll want to go, too.
Think I've got it now.
There's a certain aura of unassailable patriotism.
Yes.
About that, sir Rami? Can we see you in here? It's urgent.
WOMAN: There he is.
Congratulations! (CHEERING, WHOOPING) We don't mean to get ahead of ourselves, but you never missed a question on your practice tests.
And the colonel is sorry she couldn't be here.
- Her son.
- Oh.
So? Tell us how it went.
I didn't take the test.
ABE: But it took them years to finish your background check.
What happened? There was a protest outside the building where I was supposed to take it.
People who are here through MAVNI.
They didn't break any rules.
We asked them to come We needed them to come.
The kinds of people who know more than one language in this country? Who can program computers? They don't do military service anymore.
No arguments here.
It's brutal what the military did to the last batch of MAVNI recruits, but you're on a green card; that has nothing to do with you.
We backed out of every promise we made to them.
Now they're in limbo.
Their families might get deported.
I couldn't just walk past that.
Somebody has to, you know, stand with those people.
Even if it's just me.
That's incredibly brave.
What does your wife think? - She's super pissed.
- (CHUCKLES) She won't be the only one.
When people up the chain find out, they're definitely going to have opinions.
You might even need a lawyer.
- Are you saying you'd - Of course I would.
Not that you'd have any shortage of volunteers.
Thank you, ma'am.
Why would people find out what I did? Because you're going to tell them.
I'm No.
- I-I don't like talking about myself.
- TREY: Rami.
If you're going to protest something, you kind of have to admit that's what you're doing.
(EXHALES) HARPER: I can't stop thinking about what Rami did.
I know, it's incredibly stupid.
Stupid? He's got a wife and a daughter and a path to citizenship in a country that remains a heavyweight contender for best place on Earth.
He's not thinking about himself.
That's what makes it so amazing.
I said it was stupid, Lieutenant.
It can be that, and also one of the most courageous things I've ever seen.
If people didn't do incredibly stupid things sometimes, we'd still be in the Dark Ages.
(CELL PHONE BUZZING, CHIMING) It's Abe.
He and Trey talked to Lionel Kearns, apparently he's not smart enough to log onto the Internet, let alone run a website.
Did they send a picture? MAYA: Chili.
It is Cincinnati.
Let's go.
Spike it.
Go.
(PLAYERS SHOUTING) No one calls me "Lieutenant" here.
In this gym, it's Coach Albrecht.
Lieutenant, we're here to talk about FakeMarine.
com.
Have you heard of or visited that website? FakeMarine? Never heard of it.
So the username RickRoll54 doesn't mean anything to you? Rick Roll? What does that mean? Officers, I'm more than happy to answer any questions you've got, but these ladies have states coming up.
Can I maybe meet you after practice? How about they finish up this scrimmage and we confirm a few things with you afterwards? Done.
(PLAYERS SHOUTING) (RINGTONE PLAYING): Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down - Never gonna run - Is that Rick Astley? Maybe, I-I don't know.
Never gonna make you cry Told you ladies not to bring your phones to practice.
What are you talking about, Coach Albrecht? - That's your phone.
- Hurt you Never gonna give you up So you don't know anything about rickrolling, but your ringtone is "Never Gonna Give You Up"? Is that so weird? I wouldn't call it weird, exactly.
More like Say good-bye What's the phrase I'm looking for? Hmm.
Probable cause to search everything you own.
If you're the administrator of FakeMarine.
com, then someone is dead because of you.
Get ready for your turn in front of the camera.
Never gonna make you cry Why do you want my testimony? I never even met that guy from FakeMarine.
com.
We searched Lieutenant Albrecht's computers right before we apprehended him.
We know he was the administrator of the site.
We know he sent the e-mail directing Lance Corporal Arndt to get physical with the people he confronted.
Once this goes to court-martial, we just need you to testify as to the contents of your own videos and how the general tone of FakeMarine.
com influenced - their creation.
- Uh, sure, I could do that.
That's a relief.
In the future, Lance Corporal, let's refrain from trying to talk your accuser out of making a deal.
What are you offering our client in exchange - for his testimony? - 119-Bravo, involuntary manslaughter.
(SCOFFS) I wasn't aware you were part of the defense team, Ike.
Lieutenant Pfister was representing Lance Corporal Van Horn back when this was a civil thing.
Technically, he's still aboard.
MAYA: If you're willing to consider our client's commendations during sentencing, you've got yourself a witness.
- Wait, that's it? - Ike, we're negotiating here.
He thinks we should get more.
Would you like to proceed with Lt.
Pfister as primary council? We'll take the deal.
(FAINT CHATTER) Are you Mitchell Burston? The CEO of Widecombe Consolidated? - I am.
- May I? My name is Glenn Turnbull.
I'm a colonel with the U.
S.
Marines.
I understand why you're here, Colonel Turnbull.
- Do you? - You want our maps and I am sympathetic to your position.
If you're so sympathetic, why haven't you returned any of my calls? Because sad as it is, we don't have anything to talk about.
- Mr.
Burston - I couldn't help you even if I wanted to.
Our shareholders elected not to share our proprietary information with any government.
My son is being held captive in those tunnels.
My son, Adam, is being held on your land.
Not ours; we have mineral rights.
It's your land.
And you're so sympathetic that I had to crash your lunch to talk to you.
I am sorry for your situation.
Truly, and I will pray for your son's safe return, but I really think it's better if we don't talk.
Shareholders can be wrong, Mr.
Burston.
I'm sure you're highly aware of that.
When this goes viral and they're looking for a face to smear all over social media, I will personally guarantee that it's yours.
You think your shareholders are gonna have your back when you're the face of a decision that killed four Marines? Let's not do threats; we're a mining company.
Everybody hates us already.
I'm not talking about your company.
I'm talking about you.
I'm talking about a mob that won't stop howling until you go away forever.
You wouldn't do that.
I have ordered better men to their deaths than you.
I will end you on my way into yoga and forget your name by the time we get to Warrior 1.
Can't hide behind your shareholders.
Not on this.
On this, you're accountable to me.
(TICKING RAPIDLY) Lieutenant Colonel Maddox, I am Trey Ferry.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- I know who you are, Major.
Glenn Turnbull has some balls putting me off on a staffer.
Colonel Turnbull's son is being held by the enemy in Pakistan.
Shall I tell her to drop that? (CLEARS THROAT) So, what can we do for the Human Resources in Organizational Management branch? There's a warrant officer on your staff, Rami Ahmadi.
He's apparently planning some sort of stunt with his citizenship.
So you read the notice in the Quantico Sentry.
Why doesn't he just walk into the commandant's office and take a dump on the desk? MAYA: Mr.
Ahmadi's expressing his conscience, ma'am.
There's a tradition of civil disobedience in this country, they wrote a book about it and everything.
Was the author a Marine? Who is this? I figured you came about the article.
Captain Dobbins is advising Mr.
Ahmadi - on his rights in this matter.
- He has the right to go back to that office and take his citizenship test.
Mr.
Ahmadi believes in this country and the mission of the Corps.
If he believed in our mission, he wouldn't show us up in public.
He has a distinguished record and is a vital asset of this office.
I don't care if he won the damn Navy Cross.
He needs to have a "Come to Allah" moment.
Did you just say, "Come to Allah"? Mr.
Ahmadi's private act of conscience is outside of the scope of our authority.
This office has no right to influence or dissuade him.
I would like to speak with Colonel Turnbull.
I have the colonel's proxy in this.
To be continued.
And you get off your ass and stand when I leave a room, Major.
BAILIFF: All rise.
We rose.
You gonna bring us a judge? Monty tried to join the Corps back when we didn't make it easy for folks like her to serve.
She's been feasting on judge advocates ever since.
Our loss, her motion to dismiss is really good.
We drew an outstanding judge, no way Corpus tosses the e-mail to Arndt.
- (DOOR OPENS) - BAILIFF: All rise.
(SIGHS) - (DOOR SHUTS) - That's not Lt.
Colonel Corpus.
ABE: No, it most certainly is not.
If you believe what she says, Judge Corpus has a family emergency.
I was summoned from the parking lot to fill in for her.
I'd like to be back.
Motion to dismiss.
Discuss.
Colonel Zugler I am a colonel and a judge, Lieutenant.
Colonel Judge Zugler, the defendant's e-mail to Lance Corporal Arndt is clearly an offer to compensate him for submitting violent videos to FakeMarine.
com.
"Get in their face.
Hurt 'em.
If it bleeds, it leads.
" Provocative language, yes.
My client is passionate about protecting Marines.
But I don't see anything transactional in there.
I don't, either.
Colonel Judge, the defendant tells Lance Corporal Arndt he needs to commit violent acts in order to get more page views.
In the context of FakeMarine.
com, page views are money.
- That's a stretch.
- Your Honor, the two are directly correlated.
I fail to see how it is a stretch.
I don't like stretches.
Leads to muscle pulls in a man my age.
Motion to dismiss upheld.
(CLEARS THROAT) GRAY: Colonel Turnbull.
Mr.
Maholm.
You can call me Gray.
Why didn't you make an appointment with my office? At close of business today, we got an encrypted file from Widecombe Consolidated.
Had the keys to the kingdom inside.
Complete maps of the cave system in Waziristan.
You went to see Mitchell Burston.
What'd you say to him? Not much.
Just two grown-ups talking.
Remind me not to get on your bad side.
We're in planning mode.
It won't last long.
You won't see me again until it's over.
But I thought you'd want to know.
Thank you, Gray.
VAN HORN: This is what a real Marine looks like ABE: Good morning, Lieutenant.
died wearing that uniform, you fat little bitch! Ooh, marinating in defeat, are we? I wouldn't say marinating.
My bad.
Well, stop ruminating, or whatever it is you're doing.
Marti DiMonte is coming in for a meeting.
Why are we meeting with William Albrecht's lawyer? The case is over.
I don't know.
I had this really dumb idea.
It requires a shared willingness to be aggressive and obnoxious, and it's almost certain to crash and burn in spectacular fashion.
Trey and Maya are down to help.
Trey and Maya are defense attorneys.
They're not William Albrecht's defense attorneys.
Care to make a last stand beside your colleagues? What is this idea? In his deposition, Lieutenant Albrecht said he only made that site to protect real Marines.
His attorney said it again in court.
Let's see if he's willing to put his money where his mouth is.
Wow, guys.
How many attorneys does it take to wave a white flag? Not much left to talk about, is there? No, there's nothing left to talk about, as far as I'm concerned.
This is a courtesy meeting.
We want to inform you that this office will be proceeding with a series of Article 114 prosecutions, and that your client can expect to be called as a witness in each and every one of them.
I've never heard of Article 114.
"Article 114.
"Any person "subject to this chapter who fights or promotes, "or is concerned in, or connives at - fighting a duel" - Dueling? " or who, having knowledge of a challenge sent or about to be sent," blah, blah, blah, boilerplate, boilerplate "shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
" What's that got to do with my client? The charges are being preferred against Staff Sergeant Aaron Pierce, PFC John David Darnell I know those names.
Lance Corporal Luciano Heredia Those are the guys who posted videos on my site.
Everyone who put up a Stolen Valor video on FakeMarine.
com is gonna be charged with Article 114.
They recorded people with their phones.
You're charging them with dueling? We plan to argue that the act of approach and confrontation is a provocation tantamount to a physical challenge.
You can't do that.
Those are good Marines.
Relax.
This is nonsense.
These men will be charged and tried.
- They shamed fakers.
- We absolutely will do it.
Do you know what I feel about a person who pretends to be a Marine, Lieutenant? I feel sad that that person has a hole in their life, a hole so big it can only be filled with lies.
I don't feel rage, or the need to ruin that person's life, because I'm not a bully.
Because I know that that person's sad lie has absolutely no effect on my choice to serve.
We will prosecute every last one of your platoon of bullies.
We will embarrass them, we will tie up their promotions, and we won't stop until the whole Corps sees you for the pigs that you are.
What she said.
Or you can own what you did, and maybe these cases go away.
Own what I did? You ask me to cut a deal and you're fired.
TREY: Article 128.
Assault.
You do a little time and come out against these Stolen Valor videos.
That doesn't sound too bad.
Bye.
You'll be fine, Lieutenant.
We're swimming in lawyers here.
Ike! What's up? Say hello to your newest client.
MAYA: Ma'am, I have to insist that any conversation with Mr.
Ahmadi take place in the presence of counsel.
We're not talking about citizenship, Captain.
I was giving Mr.
Ahmadi an order.
This is still the Marine Corps.
What was that? She, um she told me I'm getting a new assignment.
What? "You are to report without delay to the United States Corps Training and Education Command.
" I'm going to be serving under a new commanding officer.
They're transferring me.
Sorry I couldn't call ahead.
I'm not supposed to be telling you any of this yet.
- What happened? - We used Navy guys.
They have the most experience with this stuff.
It didn't go as we hoped, casualty-wise.
We lost people.
The hostages are safe, Glenn.
They're at Camp Dwyer.
Adam? This footage was taken by one of the SEALs after they got home.
It's not supposed to be outside the Pentagon.
You never saw it.
Howdo you feel marine? They're asleep.
Danny says she wants you to read her stories every night from now on, so, that should keep you busy until she's 18.
You know, I'm feeling a lot better, actually, so you don't have to be on red alert anymore.
I'll take help wherever I can get it, but it's basically under control.
No, I know.
I, uh, mostly just want to see how Danny's show ends.
Come on.
You know, the show's better from the couch, I promise.
I didn't come to watch TV.
Actually, tonight, I didn't even come by to pitch in with chores.
Why did you come? The other night you asked me what I get out of this.
I didn't give you a good answer.
I want a do-over.
It's not just that I promised Jason I'd help.
That's how it started, but it, um became something else a while ago.
I was 23 when I got out of OCS.
Wh What did it matter that everyone around me was getting married? I had forever.
Did my time overseas, and then I took my wound, and all of a sudden the-the fighting part of my life was over.
Time to figure out what's next.
Who cares if, if my friends had kids now? I'd catch up eventually.
And then law school, and case after case, and learning that fighting wasn't my only path to a useful life.
I wouldn't do it differently, but I did miss out on something.
This.
You, the kids, it it kinds of feels like it it fills in the missing lines.
Is that terrible? Why would that be terrible? Jason.
My friend.
Your husband.
What do you think Jason would want for me? Stay single for a respectable nine months or so, then open an online dating account? I guess not.
You're a good person, Alex.
You take life the way it actually happens, and you look out for your kids.
Every time I come here, I learn a little bit about how to live.
Thanks.
You know what, I think I'm gonna head upstairs.
I'll see you when I see you, Captain Abraham.
TREY: Giving that family a lot of help.
Yeah, just like I said I would when Jason died.
ADAM: Thanks for the boots, Mom.
Adam and three other Marines never reported back - from their last patrol.
- They're being held in the same complex where Richard Barnwright is hiding.
But if we sign off on a MOAB strike, we might be killing your son.
File it.
VAN HORN: Hey, man, you in the Marines? - Hell, yes.
Semper Fi.
- VAN HORN: Oh, nice.
I knew.
I can spot a Devil Dog a mile away.
- Uh, you in the Corps? - VAN HORN: Man, I wish.
So why are you in uniform? Uh, well, this is our reunion, so I'm in my dress uniform.
VAN HORN: Yeah, 'cause I thought you only wore that one when you were deployed.
What, are you invading Baltimore, Marine? Uh, hey, man, we're just a couple of friends.
We're trying to have a nice night.
VAN HORN: It's all good, man.
I don't mean to disrespect you.
I just get confused, I guess.
Oh, wait, man, you're in the 1st Civ Div.
That's cool, man.
Uh, yeah, yeah, brother, yeah, I was.
VAN HORN: Yeah, what was your I.
D.
I.
O.
T.
number? Uh, 32-86543.
We got him, folks.
You just gave me your "idiot number," moron.
And there's no such thing as the First Civilian Division.
Hey, man, who the hell are you? VAN HORN: Your boots are all wrong, your hat is from the freaking Army, and your insignia says that you're in the 5th Marines.
- There hasn't been a 5th Marines - Shut up.
Since 1969.
- Stolen valor! Stolen valor! - Hey.
- You better back the hell off.
- Or what? 'Cause this is what a real Marine looks like, right here.
My friends died wearing that uniform, you fat little bitch.
Stolen valor! St And you put this on the Internet why, exactly? Shame.
- Shame.
- Yeah.
That guy was wearing the uniform so he could I don't know get free drinks.
- He deserves shame.
- So you protected the Corps by Hell yeah.
calling a stranger a "fat little bitch"? Your "stolen valor" video picked up 700,000 views in three days.
Do you make money through shame? I'm saving up for a Ninja.
You're saving up for a Ninja.
It's a motorcycle, ma'am.
Why did you come see us today, Lance Corporal? Uh, that guy in the video, James Dale, I kind of hit him a couple times.
He filed a civil suit.
Smart.
You were probably only going to be charged with battery.
Nominal fine, time served in overnight lockup.
This way he can make money off you, maybe get a Ninja of his own.
My CO said a judge advocate could fix this for me.
He said to mention something called the SCRA.
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is to protect spouses from losing their homes while their partners serve, things like that, not things like this.
Yeah, but my CO said that it guarantees legal representation for all active duty, so, full respect, ma'am, I'm sitting here until I get some help.
Rami.
Can you name two Cabinet-level positions? Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Lance Corporal Van Horn here needs legal representation.
I have to attend to matters that matter.
Would you mind kindly setting him up with Lieutenant Pfister? Absolutely.
I just saw the lieutenant upstairs.
Name three of the original 13 states.
- New York, New Jersey, Georgia.
- Boom.
Why are people asking you all these weird questions? They're just helping me study for my citizenship exam.
You're not American? I have a green card.
As I'm sure you know, military service confers an accelerated path to full citizenship.
You sound American.
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Oh, cool, I got cousins in Grand Rapids.
There and Tabriz.
So this guy Pfister I got, is he any good? He's experienced at being a lieutenant.
Beautiful flowers, Lieutenant Li.
What's the occasion? The occasion is having an amazing fiancé.
Oh, uh, quick detour, then I'll get you to Lieutenant Pfister.
ABE: Major Jason Hunt was a positive influence in the life of everyone who served under his command.
It's an honor to be asked to summarize his career, but it's an intimidating one.
- Is that the right word, "intimidating"? - (KNOCKING ON GLASS) I could come back later.
Oh, it's okay, uh, my old CO is being promoted posthumously at his pinning ceremony.
Major Ferry's just helping me - figure out what to say.
- RAMI: Of course, sir.
I followed up with Svalbard Books.
They're expecting your first edition of The Guns of August - by the end of the week.
- Thank you, Rami.
How many amendments does the Constitution have? 27, sir.
Uh, "daunting," instead of "intimidating," Captain.
You're a Warrant Officer.
That means you've been in the Marines for, what? Going on nine years now.
But you're still not a citizen? It's an involved process.
There can be certain hiccups for a person of my heritage.
The background checks are extensive.
All's well that ends well, though.
I finally have an appointment for my interview.
Oh, there he is.
Lieutenant Ike Pfister.
Hey, Ram, what's up? This is Lance Corporal Van Horn.
Captain Dobbins asked you to handle his case.
Cool.
You want one of these? MAYA: That footage was taken by a tribal elder we're friendly with.
He was one of the first people back in Parwan after we dropped the MOAB.
Strategically, we think the strike was a success.
Our SIGINT teams are hearing chatter that indicates Richard Barnwright and at least ten other IS fighters were killed when the blast wave hit the tunnels where they were hiding.
Barnwright's gone, ma'am.
He won't be murdering anyone else on YouTube.
And the captured Marines? None of our intercepts mention hostages.
There's no indication that your son and the other Marines were being held in the tunnels.
Thank you, Captain.
I know you're taking this on in addition - to your caseload.
- Ma'am, I'm sorry to have to say this I understand.
There's nothing that indicates Adam was in those tunnels.
There's also nothing that indicates he wasn't.
(CHILDREN LAUGHING ON TV) You know, once the kid's in bed, you are allowed to change the channel.
Danny told me about this show on the way home from school, so I told her I'd watch this episode so we can talk about it tomorrow.
She really likes you, Abe.
Jason was gone so much, she's slow to warm up to men.
You did well with her.
You and Jason did well.
Do you ever slow down? If I don't do it, it doesn't happen.
(SNEEZES) - Bless you.
- Thank you.
What's that? It's just stuff that my lawyer wants me to nag you about.
The talking points that you haven't been reading, a rough timetable for the next few years.
You agreed to testify about what happened to Jason.
It's no fun, but this is the deal.
(SNEEZES) Bless you.
Thank you.
Do you mind? You're burning up.
Oh, I don't have time to be sick.
Go, sleep.
I'll check in on Danny and Maggie.
I've got it, Al.
If you want, I can crash on the pullout.
Help them get ready for school and day care.
You are too good to us.
When I was posted at Leatherneck with Jason, the night before we went on the op where I got shot we knew it was gonna be bad.
I promised Jason that, if anything happened to him, I'd be there for you and the kids.
I'm here, Al, until you tell me not to be.
It's no fun, but this is the deal.
MAYA: We should get local command to authorize extra cash payments to every tribal leader in Parwan who'll still take our calls.
Someone knows what happened to Adam Turnbull.
Can I call you back? Lieutenant Pfister, what is this? That's the file on the Van Horn case.
Major Ferry asked me to pass it on to you.
Looks like you guys are gonna be cocounsel.
The Stolen Valor Guy? Lance Corporal Van Horn got into a bar fight.
Why do we need two senior attorneys on this? James Dale, the guy that Van Horn hit, well, apparently, he's been having headaches since the night of the fight.
Went to the ER yesterday, lost consciousness while they were examining him.
He had a blood clot in his brain.
Doctors say it was from the fight.
Had a blood clot? It ruptured early this morning.
James Dale died.
This is Article 118 now.
Lance Corporal Van Horn is being charged with murder.
Yeah, but they can't charge me with murder.
He took the first swing.
I was just defending myself.
- It's all there on camera.
- We're confident we can plea down to a lesser charge, maybe Article 119, Involuntary Manslaughter.
- No.
He hit me.
- The government will likely argue that your extreme hostility was itself an act of provocation, and that James Dale had reason to fear for his safety.
So what now? I spend the rest of my life in a brig? We'll try to prevent that, but the fact is, you personally recorded evidence of yourself committing a crime, then posted it to the Internet for 700,000 people to watch.
900,000, as of this morning.
VAN HORN (ON VIDEO): And there's no such thing as Pitch in with something? Sure.
boots are all wrong and your hat is from the freaking Army.
I caught this.
The guy operating the camera is a Marine.
The man he's confronting died early this morning.
Count your lucky stars and send that guy a thank you card.
He delivered your case to you in a heart-shaped box.
Look at this, though.
The guy loading the groceries is a math teacher from Bismarck, North Dakota.
He was exposed as a faker by a lance corporal who was home on leave.
The confrontation got physical.
He came away with a broken arm.
This one was recorded near Naval Air Station in Key West.
Two of our pilots down there got into it with a local named Alvaro Mendo.
Mendo's in a medically-induced coma.
There are more, and they're all from videos posted to this website.
Okay, I get the idea.
Stolen Valor confrontations on FakeMarine.
com have a tendency to get violent, and you want to know why.
What does the guy you're prosecuting have to say about it? Lance Corporal Van Horn told the defense he just kind of understood that violent confrontations got more views.
I'm not sure that explains the pattern, though.
These sites are everywhere now, but FakeMarine.
com is the only one with a consistent history of violent confrontations.
So when you say "pitch in," you mean I fly down to Key West, interview those Leatherneck flight jockeys, and ask 'em if anyone from that website incentivized them to get handsy? Be a big help.
Done.
Make sure you notify defense.
My guess is they'll want to come with.
Hold up.
You go to Key West and I go to North Dakota? Can't be helped, Lieutenant.
I got to be back here in time to pick up Danny Hunt from school.
They're gonna ask about the six months you were in London at your cousin's I have to find what I wrote.
Just tell them that my aunt was sick.
Kind of helps that it's true.
No, I know, it's just, I had details about her treatment written down.
Rami, it's fine.
It's gonna be fine.
- (EXHALES) - We went over everything.
The best thing for you to do now is relax.
You don't want your palms to be all sweaty.
Do you have the, uh, cold water? Good morning, Grace.
Just checking to see if they scheduled my husband's interview yet.
Nothing new this morning, S.
Y.
Sorry.
- Check back tomorrow? - SEO-YUN: Ah.
Okay.
Excuse me.
Uh, do y-you know someone who joined the military through the MAVNI program? My husband.
We wanted to come here, and the Army needed Korean speakers.
I'm sorry.
It's terrible what they did to you.
They told us our entire family would have citizenship once Min-jun's service ended.
But once we got here, they took it all back.
They might deport me.
My daughter, too.
We made you a promise.
We owed you better.
MAYA: I'll be in touch with my contacts in Afghanistan at all times, ma'am.
They can reach me in the air if they need to.
(OVER PHONE): If there's any news about Adam, - I'll call right away.
- I appreciate - the update, Captain.
- (PHONE CHIMES) Do you need to get that, ma'am? I've been getting these calls from scrambled numbers all day.
I think the telemarketers have gotten hold of my new cell.
We should be back to Quantico by COB.
Understood.
If my husband finds anything out from the diplomatic side, I'll let you know.
Copy.
How'd you pull Key West detail? I used my wiles, of course.
Did you just say "wiles"? That and Trey has this weird thing about wanting to see all 50 states.
He's never been to North Dakota.
You never answered my text about bringing a bathing suit.
I am a lawyer and an officer in the United States armed forces.
Nobody's asking you to be unprofessional.
Both of those professions stress constant readiness.
If, within the course of my duties, an opportunity for a quick swim presents itself, this Marine is ready.
HARPER: Thank you, sir.
Have a safe flight back.
Abe and Maya just left the brig at NAS Key West.
Both of those pilots have the same story as Lance Corporal Van Horn.
They didn't receive explicit instructions from anyone at FakeMarine.
com to get violent with the fakers they exposed, they just watched the other videos on the site and imitated what they saw.
Captain Abraham also wants to know if North Dakota is everything you'd hoped it would be.
I wouldn't expect Captain Abraham to appreciate the more sunlight-challenged states.
Anything else? Yes, sir.
He also just sent this text.
(DOOR CLOSES) Thank God.
Marines.
Can you get me out of here, Officers? We're not your transfer team, Lance Corporal Arndt.
They're taking their time getting here, ma'am.
Can you at least turn the thermostat up? These chair force guys are icing me out.
We'll see what we can do, but if you wanted Marine Corps heat, you might have recorded that video a little closer to one of our bases.
- (EXHALES) - I'm Major Ferry.
This is Lieutenant Li.
We're judge advocates from Quantico.
Quantico? They told me my attorney's local.
We're not assigned to your case.
We're interested in FakeMarine.
com.
HARPER: You posted 11 Stolen Valor videos under the username Basilone's Ball Bag.
Yeah, like after Manila John? He won the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
I'm sure the Basilone Foundation appreciates the shout-out.
Your first eight videos ended without any kind of intense confrontation.
They languished on the back pages of FakeMarine.
com, and your last three, you switched to more aggressive tactics, got more views, - made more money.
- So? So what changed? Why'd you go full bully? Why should I talk to either of you? Because we're looking at something way bigger than your dumb case, Lance Corporal Arndt.
Because if we make you a witness, that will be your best shot at a decent deal.
AND ALSO: we walked right by that thermostat on our way in.
Now, you tell us something good, and we might just dial it up a notch.
ABE: Lance Corporal Arndt wrote nine e-mails to the administrator of FakeMarine.
com, asking how he could get more traction for his videos.
After the eighth one, he finally got a response.
"Your videos aren't getting clicks because they're boring.
You got to get in there, man.
You got to shake these guys up.
" Lance Corporal Arndt wrote back, asking what the administrator meant by "shake these guys up," here's what came back: "Get in their face.
"Hurt them.
What's the old saying? If it bleeds, it leads.
" ABE: That is a direct solicitation, ma'am.
The administrator of that site is commissioning Marines to act as vigilantes.
Whomever that administrator might be.
The site's owned by a shell company.
We'll find him before more people get hurt, ma'am.
(PHONES BUZZING) Something to do with the case? - (PHONE CHIMES) - (SIGHS) I've been getting these for hours.
Excuse me.
Hello? - MALE VOICE (DISTANT): Mom? You - (PHONE CRACKLING) Mom? You need track the sat Adam? KOZLOWSKI: We believe your son is being held in Waziristan.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is is a mountainous no-man's-land.
GLENN: How did Adam get from those tunnels to a mountaintop in Pakistan? We can't be sure he was ever in the tunnels.
That may have been bad Intel.
Thank you.
We think that's your son.
As far as how he wound up in Waziristan, probably a prisoner exchange.
It looks as if Lieutenant Turnbull got free long enough to place the calls, and then his captors caught up with him.
Another moment later, they're all gone.
They very likely went into those caves.
So we know where those Marines are being held.
When do we stage the rescue? We can handle the political fallout from a low-impact raid into an ostensibly friendly country.
What can't we handle? There are maps of that cave system, but we don't have access to them.
They're owned by a mining company.
Without them, we'd be sending our Raiders in blind.
Can't we just ask? These are American lives.
Widecombe Consolidated has held the mineral rights to this region since the 1800s.
But they have a problem with illegal mining operations, so they keep their maps locked away.
From the U.
S.
government? And without the maps? We're looking into options.
ALEX: Nobody woke me up for the kids' bedtime.
You're sick.
You needed sleep.
I feel a bit better, actually.
I think the fever broke.
(LAUGHS) You meant it when you told Danny that you like this show? Honestly? I'm too tired to change the channel.
Welcome to parenting.
I mean, I not that you're their I know what you meant.
I talked to my sister today.
It's funny, your name kept coming up.
Good things, I hope.
She thinks it's weird that you're around so much.
(TV CLICKS OFF) I could come over less.
No, I don't want that.
(LAUGHS SOFTLY) It's easy for her to do, you know? She's not on the ground here.
You are here and I'm grateful.
(CHUCKLES) It does happen, though, right? I mean, we've all seen it on base.
Husband dies, and his friend starts helping out around the place, and all of a sudden, they're a thing.
Sure.
I've seen it.
I've judged it.
It looks different from the other side.
You're alone, you're lonely.
(EXHALES): And there's somebody there who can do at least some of the stuff that your partner used to do, so you grab onto it.
And that person keeps coming around.
Maybe it's easy.
Maybe it feels right.
So, of course, when your guard's down, you think, "Why stop at chores? Why should we share "all the work and not the joy? Why should I walk upstairs alone even one more night?" (LAUGHS SOFTLY): But that's just sometimes.
When your guard is down.
What do you get out of this, Abe? I made a promise.
That's it? Duty calls? I am going upstairs now.
Good morning, Captain Abraham.
Rami.
Have you lost weight? Not recently, no.
Uh, Lieutenant Li asked me to look into who might be running FakeMarine.
com.
Well, something's changed, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
- Are you wearing lifts in those shoes? - Of course not, sir.
And I do know where you're going with this.
Did you lose your virginity? I've been married for four years.
My question stands.
It stands to reason that the site administrator is also the first person who posted a video there.
That individual goes by the username RickRoll54.
So our bad guy has a weakness for Internet trends that went stale a decade ago? We don't choose our passions, sir, they choose us.
RickRoll, whoever he is, shot dozens of videos over the years, but he never stripped the GPS information from any any of his postings.
The videos were recorded in and around Cincinnati, Ohio.
Which narrows it down to, what, three million Midwesterners? Ohio is actually a Mid-Atlantic state.
The videos were taken in Cincinnati, unless, that is, of course, they were shot on the second Sunday of every month.
In that case, they were recorded in Roanoke, Virginia.
So this guy, RickRoll, is in the Marine Reserves; he lives in Cincinnati and once a month reports to Roanoke - for I&I.
- Exactly.
I called the commanding officer of the fourth combat engineer battalion and he told me currently has three reservists who live in Cincinnati.
One is African American.
You can see RickRoll's hands in several of the videos, so that rules him out.
The others are Staff Sergeant Lionel Kearns and Lieutenant William Albrecht.
Thank you, Rami.
I suppose Harper and I should - get to Ohio and see what we can learn.
- I'll alert Lance Corporal Van Horn's defense team.
They'll want to go, too.
Think I've got it now.
There's a certain aura of unassailable patriotism.
Yes.
About that, sir Rami? Can we see you in here? It's urgent.
WOMAN: There he is.
Congratulations! (CHEERING, WHOOPING) We don't mean to get ahead of ourselves, but you never missed a question on your practice tests.
And the colonel is sorry she couldn't be here.
- Her son.
- Oh.
So? Tell us how it went.
I didn't take the test.
ABE: But it took them years to finish your background check.
What happened? There was a protest outside the building where I was supposed to take it.
People who are here through MAVNI.
They didn't break any rules.
We asked them to come We needed them to come.
The kinds of people who know more than one language in this country? Who can program computers? They don't do military service anymore.
No arguments here.
It's brutal what the military did to the last batch of MAVNI recruits, but you're on a green card; that has nothing to do with you.
We backed out of every promise we made to them.
Now they're in limbo.
Their families might get deported.
I couldn't just walk past that.
Somebody has to, you know, stand with those people.
Even if it's just me.
That's incredibly brave.
What does your wife think? - She's super pissed.
- (CHUCKLES) She won't be the only one.
When people up the chain find out, they're definitely going to have opinions.
You might even need a lawyer.
- Are you saying you'd - Of course I would.
Not that you'd have any shortage of volunteers.
Thank you, ma'am.
Why would people find out what I did? Because you're going to tell them.
I'm No.
- I-I don't like talking about myself.
- TREY: Rami.
If you're going to protest something, you kind of have to admit that's what you're doing.
(EXHALES) HARPER: I can't stop thinking about what Rami did.
I know, it's incredibly stupid.
Stupid? He's got a wife and a daughter and a path to citizenship in a country that remains a heavyweight contender for best place on Earth.
He's not thinking about himself.
That's what makes it so amazing.
I said it was stupid, Lieutenant.
It can be that, and also one of the most courageous things I've ever seen.
If people didn't do incredibly stupid things sometimes, we'd still be in the Dark Ages.
(CELL PHONE BUZZING, CHIMING) It's Abe.
He and Trey talked to Lionel Kearns, apparently he's not smart enough to log onto the Internet, let alone run a website.
Did they send a picture? MAYA: Chili.
It is Cincinnati.
Let's go.
Spike it.
Go.
(PLAYERS SHOUTING) No one calls me "Lieutenant" here.
In this gym, it's Coach Albrecht.
Lieutenant, we're here to talk about FakeMarine.
com.
Have you heard of or visited that website? FakeMarine? Never heard of it.
So the username RickRoll54 doesn't mean anything to you? Rick Roll? What does that mean? Officers, I'm more than happy to answer any questions you've got, but these ladies have states coming up.
Can I maybe meet you after practice? How about they finish up this scrimmage and we confirm a few things with you afterwards? Done.
(PLAYERS SHOUTING) (RINGTONE PLAYING): Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down - Never gonna run - Is that Rick Astley? Maybe, I-I don't know.
Never gonna make you cry Told you ladies not to bring your phones to practice.
What are you talking about, Coach Albrecht? - That's your phone.
- Hurt you Never gonna give you up So you don't know anything about rickrolling, but your ringtone is "Never Gonna Give You Up"? Is that so weird? I wouldn't call it weird, exactly.
More like Say good-bye What's the phrase I'm looking for? Hmm.
Probable cause to search everything you own.
If you're the administrator of FakeMarine.
com, then someone is dead because of you.
Get ready for your turn in front of the camera.
Never gonna make you cry Why do you want my testimony? I never even met that guy from FakeMarine.
com.
We searched Lieutenant Albrecht's computers right before we apprehended him.
We know he was the administrator of the site.
We know he sent the e-mail directing Lance Corporal Arndt to get physical with the people he confronted.
Once this goes to court-martial, we just need you to testify as to the contents of your own videos and how the general tone of FakeMarine.
com influenced - their creation.
- Uh, sure, I could do that.
That's a relief.
In the future, Lance Corporal, let's refrain from trying to talk your accuser out of making a deal.
What are you offering our client in exchange - for his testimony? - 119-Bravo, involuntary manslaughter.
(SCOFFS) I wasn't aware you were part of the defense team, Ike.
Lieutenant Pfister was representing Lance Corporal Van Horn back when this was a civil thing.
Technically, he's still aboard.
MAYA: If you're willing to consider our client's commendations during sentencing, you've got yourself a witness.
- Wait, that's it? - Ike, we're negotiating here.
He thinks we should get more.
Would you like to proceed with Lt.
Pfister as primary council? We'll take the deal.
(FAINT CHATTER) Are you Mitchell Burston? The CEO of Widecombe Consolidated? - I am.
- May I? My name is Glenn Turnbull.
I'm a colonel with the U.
S.
Marines.
I understand why you're here, Colonel Turnbull.
- Do you? - You want our maps and I am sympathetic to your position.
If you're so sympathetic, why haven't you returned any of my calls? Because sad as it is, we don't have anything to talk about.
- Mr.
Burston - I couldn't help you even if I wanted to.
Our shareholders elected not to share our proprietary information with any government.
My son is being held captive in those tunnels.
My son, Adam, is being held on your land.
Not ours; we have mineral rights.
It's your land.
And you're so sympathetic that I had to crash your lunch to talk to you.
I am sorry for your situation.
Truly, and I will pray for your son's safe return, but I really think it's better if we don't talk.
Shareholders can be wrong, Mr.
Burston.
I'm sure you're highly aware of that.
When this goes viral and they're looking for a face to smear all over social media, I will personally guarantee that it's yours.
You think your shareholders are gonna have your back when you're the face of a decision that killed four Marines? Let's not do threats; we're a mining company.
Everybody hates us already.
I'm not talking about your company.
I'm talking about you.
I'm talking about a mob that won't stop howling until you go away forever.
You wouldn't do that.
I have ordered better men to their deaths than you.
I will end you on my way into yoga and forget your name by the time we get to Warrior 1.
Can't hide behind your shareholders.
Not on this.
On this, you're accountable to me.
(TICKING RAPIDLY) Lieutenant Colonel Maddox, I am Trey Ferry.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- I know who you are, Major.
Glenn Turnbull has some balls putting me off on a staffer.
Colonel Turnbull's son is being held by the enemy in Pakistan.
Shall I tell her to drop that? (CLEARS THROAT) So, what can we do for the Human Resources in Organizational Management branch? There's a warrant officer on your staff, Rami Ahmadi.
He's apparently planning some sort of stunt with his citizenship.
So you read the notice in the Quantico Sentry.
Why doesn't he just walk into the commandant's office and take a dump on the desk? MAYA: Mr.
Ahmadi's expressing his conscience, ma'am.
There's a tradition of civil disobedience in this country, they wrote a book about it and everything.
Was the author a Marine? Who is this? I figured you came about the article.
Captain Dobbins is advising Mr.
Ahmadi - on his rights in this matter.
- He has the right to go back to that office and take his citizenship test.
Mr.
Ahmadi believes in this country and the mission of the Corps.
If he believed in our mission, he wouldn't show us up in public.
He has a distinguished record and is a vital asset of this office.
I don't care if he won the damn Navy Cross.
He needs to have a "Come to Allah" moment.
Did you just say, "Come to Allah"? Mr.
Ahmadi's private act of conscience is outside of the scope of our authority.
This office has no right to influence or dissuade him.
I would like to speak with Colonel Turnbull.
I have the colonel's proxy in this.
To be continued.
And you get off your ass and stand when I leave a room, Major.
BAILIFF: All rise.
We rose.
You gonna bring us a judge? Monty tried to join the Corps back when we didn't make it easy for folks like her to serve.
She's been feasting on judge advocates ever since.
Our loss, her motion to dismiss is really good.
We drew an outstanding judge, no way Corpus tosses the e-mail to Arndt.
- (DOOR OPENS) - BAILIFF: All rise.
(SIGHS) - (DOOR SHUTS) - That's not Lt.
Colonel Corpus.
ABE: No, it most certainly is not.
If you believe what she says, Judge Corpus has a family emergency.
I was summoned from the parking lot to fill in for her.
I'd like to be back.
Motion to dismiss.
Discuss.
Colonel Zugler I am a colonel and a judge, Lieutenant.
Colonel Judge Zugler, the defendant's e-mail to Lance Corporal Arndt is clearly an offer to compensate him for submitting violent videos to FakeMarine.
com.
"Get in their face.
Hurt 'em.
If it bleeds, it leads.
" Provocative language, yes.
My client is passionate about protecting Marines.
But I don't see anything transactional in there.
I don't, either.
Colonel Judge, the defendant tells Lance Corporal Arndt he needs to commit violent acts in order to get more page views.
In the context of FakeMarine.
com, page views are money.
- That's a stretch.
- Your Honor, the two are directly correlated.
I fail to see how it is a stretch.
I don't like stretches.
Leads to muscle pulls in a man my age.
Motion to dismiss upheld.
(CLEARS THROAT) GRAY: Colonel Turnbull.
Mr.
Maholm.
You can call me Gray.
Why didn't you make an appointment with my office? At close of business today, we got an encrypted file from Widecombe Consolidated.
Had the keys to the kingdom inside.
Complete maps of the cave system in Waziristan.
You went to see Mitchell Burston.
What'd you say to him? Not much.
Just two grown-ups talking.
Remind me not to get on your bad side.
We're in planning mode.
It won't last long.
You won't see me again until it's over.
But I thought you'd want to know.
Thank you, Gray.
VAN HORN: This is what a real Marine looks like ABE: Good morning, Lieutenant.
died wearing that uniform, you fat little bitch! Ooh, marinating in defeat, are we? I wouldn't say marinating.
My bad.
Well, stop ruminating, or whatever it is you're doing.
Marti DiMonte is coming in for a meeting.
Why are we meeting with William Albrecht's lawyer? The case is over.
I don't know.
I had this really dumb idea.
It requires a shared willingness to be aggressive and obnoxious, and it's almost certain to crash and burn in spectacular fashion.
Trey and Maya are down to help.
Trey and Maya are defense attorneys.
They're not William Albrecht's defense attorneys.
Care to make a last stand beside your colleagues? What is this idea? In his deposition, Lieutenant Albrecht said he only made that site to protect real Marines.
His attorney said it again in court.
Let's see if he's willing to put his money where his mouth is.
Wow, guys.
How many attorneys does it take to wave a white flag? Not much left to talk about, is there? No, there's nothing left to talk about, as far as I'm concerned.
This is a courtesy meeting.
We want to inform you that this office will be proceeding with a series of Article 114 prosecutions, and that your client can expect to be called as a witness in each and every one of them.
I've never heard of Article 114.
"Article 114.
"Any person "subject to this chapter who fights or promotes, "or is concerned in, or connives at - fighting a duel" - Dueling? " or who, having knowledge of a challenge sent or about to be sent," blah, blah, blah, boilerplate, boilerplate "shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
" What's that got to do with my client? The charges are being preferred against Staff Sergeant Aaron Pierce, PFC John David Darnell I know those names.
Lance Corporal Luciano Heredia Those are the guys who posted videos on my site.
Everyone who put up a Stolen Valor video on FakeMarine.
com is gonna be charged with Article 114.
They recorded people with their phones.
You're charging them with dueling? We plan to argue that the act of approach and confrontation is a provocation tantamount to a physical challenge.
You can't do that.
Those are good Marines.
Relax.
This is nonsense.
These men will be charged and tried.
- They shamed fakers.
- We absolutely will do it.
Do you know what I feel about a person who pretends to be a Marine, Lieutenant? I feel sad that that person has a hole in their life, a hole so big it can only be filled with lies.
I don't feel rage, or the need to ruin that person's life, because I'm not a bully.
Because I know that that person's sad lie has absolutely no effect on my choice to serve.
We will prosecute every last one of your platoon of bullies.
We will embarrass them, we will tie up their promotions, and we won't stop until the whole Corps sees you for the pigs that you are.
What she said.
Or you can own what you did, and maybe these cases go away.
Own what I did? You ask me to cut a deal and you're fired.
TREY: Article 128.
Assault.
You do a little time and come out against these Stolen Valor videos.
That doesn't sound too bad.
Bye.
You'll be fine, Lieutenant.
We're swimming in lawyers here.
Ike! What's up? Say hello to your newest client.
MAYA: Ma'am, I have to insist that any conversation with Mr.
Ahmadi take place in the presence of counsel.
We're not talking about citizenship, Captain.
I was giving Mr.
Ahmadi an order.
This is still the Marine Corps.
What was that? She, um she told me I'm getting a new assignment.
What? "You are to report without delay to the United States Corps Training and Education Command.
" I'm going to be serving under a new commanding officer.
They're transferring me.
Sorry I couldn't call ahead.
I'm not supposed to be telling you any of this yet.
- What happened? - We used Navy guys.
They have the most experience with this stuff.
It didn't go as we hoped, casualty-wise.
We lost people.
The hostages are safe, Glenn.
They're at Camp Dwyer.
Adam? This footage was taken by one of the SEALs after they got home.
It's not supposed to be outside the Pentagon.
You never saw it.
Howdo you feel marine? They're asleep.
Danny says she wants you to read her stories every night from now on, so, that should keep you busy until she's 18.
You know, I'm feeling a lot better, actually, so you don't have to be on red alert anymore.
I'll take help wherever I can get it, but it's basically under control.
No, I know.
I, uh, mostly just want to see how Danny's show ends.
Come on.
You know, the show's better from the couch, I promise.
I didn't come to watch TV.
Actually, tonight, I didn't even come by to pitch in with chores.
Why did you come? The other night you asked me what I get out of this.
I didn't give you a good answer.
I want a do-over.
It's not just that I promised Jason I'd help.
That's how it started, but it, um became something else a while ago.
I was 23 when I got out of OCS.
Wh What did it matter that everyone around me was getting married? I had forever.
Did my time overseas, and then I took my wound, and all of a sudden the-the fighting part of my life was over.
Time to figure out what's next.
Who cares if, if my friends had kids now? I'd catch up eventually.
And then law school, and case after case, and learning that fighting wasn't my only path to a useful life.
I wouldn't do it differently, but I did miss out on something.
This.
You, the kids, it it kinds of feels like it it fills in the missing lines.
Is that terrible? Why would that be terrible? Jason.
My friend.
Your husband.
What do you think Jason would want for me? Stay single for a respectable nine months or so, then open an online dating account? I guess not.
You're a good person, Alex.
You take life the way it actually happens, and you look out for your kids.
Every time I come here, I learn a little bit about how to live.
Thanks.
You know what, I think I'm gonna head upstairs.
I'll see you when I see you, Captain Abraham.