JAG s03e08 Episode Script

Mr.
Culbertson? Mr.
Culbertson.
Listen to me.
We'll give you one last chance to save your worthless life.
Do you wish to die? We're going in for a closer look.
It is no use, Taz.
Finish it.
He wasted our time.
Kill him now.
Get on your feet.
On your feet.
What's wrong with you, huh? - Who are you? - I'm Navy SEALs.
- You know how to use this? - I'm a diplomat.
Point and shoot.
Let's go.
Let's go, let's go.
My leg.
Following in his father's footsteps as a Naval aviator, Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr.
Suffered a crash while landing his Tomcat on a storm-tossed carrier at sea.
Diagnosed with night blindness, Harm transferred to the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps, which investigates, defends and prosecutes the law of the sea.
There, with fellow JAG lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie, he now fights in and out of the courtroom with the same daring and tenacity that made him a top gun in the air.
Undersecretary of State Lawrence Culbertson was rescued last night from Hamas terrorists.
A Lt.
Curtis Rivers, platoon commander from SEAL Team 7, got Culbertson out single-handedly.
- Attention on deck.
- As you were.
Leave it to the SEALs.
A worthy sentiment, commander, since they are the most effective strike force in the world.
Absolutely, admiral.
Apparently, the president agrees with me.
He asked the Secretary of Navy to nominate Lt.
Rivers for the Medal of Honour.
That must have been one hell of a rescue, sir.
Culbertson's the president's point man in the Middle East peace talks.
Rivers saved him without regard for his own personal safety and accounted for eight enemy casualties.
Anyway, SECNAV wants JAG to determine if Lt.
Rivers is actually entitled to the medal.
You want us to investigate the incident? Not just the incident, major.
The president wants assurance there is nothing in Lt.
Rivers' past that might cause embarrassment.
To Lt.
Rivers or the president? Lt.
Rivers and his men have returned to the Naval Special Warfare Centre, Coronado.
You will find him on instructor detail.
All of us to California? Unless you have other plans.
No, sir.
Good.
I expect a full and fair evaluation.
Ignore the politics.
And remember, you need testimony from two eyewitnesses.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
And don't let the fact that I'm a former SEAL influence your decision.
- No, sir.
- Absolutely not, sir.
JAG headquarters, this is We just got our orders, Harriet.
We leave in a few hours.
I know it wrecks our plans.
I'm gonna miss you too.
I can't wait to get back.
Really? No.
It's just that I've heard that stiletto heels can be bad for your ankles.
I'll get right on that, Captain Harwich.
I didn't know Bruce Harwich wore stiletto heels.
Sir, did you know that the first Navy SEAL who won the Congressional Medal of Honour was Senator Bob Kerrey? Did you know that you're beet red right now? You know, he wasn't a senator when he received the medal.
He was a lieutenant, JG, sir.
Nice diversion, Bud.
Yeah, he lost a leg leading a SEAL raid against Viet Cong snipers, but was still able to direct a counterattack which Yes, sir? Get on the computer and pull up everything you can on Lt.
Rivers.
- Let's see who we're dealing with.
- Aye, aye, sir.
I spoke with the Secretary of the Navy personally about Lt.
Rivers.
So why is the Judge Advocate General Corps involved in this? This is strictly routine, sir.
My guess is that the SECNAV is routinely covering his butt.
Well, we have no knowledge of that, sir.
Do you folks believe in heroes? Yes, sir.
I suppose so.
I never did.
When soldiers shoot at each other, l It usually means that I've failed.
But this man, this Lt.
Rivers, he risked his life to protect me.
He never hesitated, he never doubted.
He just stood there in the line of fire, shooting back, and then he carried me to safety.
He didn't even know me.
That's a true hero.
Navy beans and GI gravy Navy beans and GI gravy Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy Two-sixteen.
Halt.
Good job.
Ditch your helmets.
Get on your covers.
Hurry up.
Come on, move it.
Look sharp.
Quickly.
Class, left face.
Log bridges.
Let's go, let's go.
Go, go, go.
Get them up, ladies.
Get them up, get them up.
Hurry up.
Ready.
Begin.
Any of you little kittens wanna quit? No, sir.
I've got cocoa and cookies for anybody who wants to cash in their chips and ring the bell.
I've got cake for the officers.
- Anybody? - No, sir.
What do you think this is? GI Jane? No, sir.
Do you wanna stay and fight? Hoorah, sir.
- Let me hear you.
- Hoorah, sir.
A SEAL must focus on a mission, must accomplish his goals regardless of his injuries.
The pain, the heat, the cold.
We're here to train your minds as well as your bodies.
Your mind can teach your body how to function.
Your strength is not in your muscles, it's in your brains.
In your brains.
Why don't you get your brains to get your legs to do another five laps? Let's go.
- Move it.
Let's go.
- Move it.
Move it.
- Hurry up.
Let's go.
Hurry up.
- Move it.
Move it.
Hurry up, ladies.
Left face.
About time.
- GI grits and GI gravy - Lt.
Rivers.
GI grits and GI gravy I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb, JAG.
Major MacKenzie.
Lieutenant JG Roberts.
We'd like to talk to you.
Do I have to talk back, sir? Bronze Star for heroism in Panama.
Freeing a CIA operative in a daring raid on the Carcel Modelo prison.
And a letter of instruction for disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer.
Nominated for the Navy Cross for bravery in capturing an Iraqi oil platform in the Gulf during Desert Storm.
Denied the Cross and issued a warning for violating an order on the same mission.
If a brother improvises, especially a brother who's a mustang, he gets written up.
If a white boy from the academy does the exact same thing, he's showing individual initiative.
A brother? An African-American.
A black man.
A negro.
Don't play the race card with us, lieutenant.
Let's get a couple things straight, major.
One, I don't play.
And two, I'm just stating the facts.
Speaking of facts, lieutenant, I didn't get much out of your After Action Report on the mission in Lebanon.
The information was sketchy at best.
Some write, I fight.
You care to tell us what happened that night? I rescued an Undersecretary of State.
Any details? I'll leave that up to you, commander.
Perhaps you don't understand our assignment.
You wanna make sure I'm not an embarrassment.
The first thing the two of you asked me was about the dings in my service record.
I know all about the Navy and its lawyers.
You don't know about us, lieutenant.
And quite frankly, you're not helping your cause any.
I don't have a cause, commander.
I just do my job.
I let you pencil pushers do yours.
The Navy Cross won't make me a better SEAL.
Lieutenant, you're not up for the Navy Cross.
You've been nominated for the Medal of Honour.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.
What's the real reason? The president believes you've earned it.
Chief, we need to debrief you about the night Undersecretary Culbertson was rescued.
- I'll tell you what I know.
- That would be refreshing.
Lt.
Rivers not much of a talker, ma'am? Tell us what happened that night.
Okay.
We came ashore in two Zodiacs.
And we left them at the insert-extract point and proceeded south to an observational rally point, about 300 yards from where the hostage was being held.
We were there for recon.
A Ranger team was tasked with the rescue, and they were due in ten minutes.
What happened to change the mission, chief? Lt.
Rivers believed Culbertson was in imminent danger.
The Rangers hadn't shown up yet, so the lieutenant decided to do a closer recon on the building.
He took Douglas with him.
Douglas got hit.
The lieutenant went in on his own.
Is that standard procedure? There is nothing standard about the lieutenant's procedures, ma'am.
It's getting hot out here.
Why don't we go inside? My wife's making some lemonade.
Did you see Lt.
Rivers pull Culbertson out? No, sir.
We were taking fire from the sentries.
They had my full attention.
We've got company, honey.
Be right there.
- Please.
- Thanks.
So, what do you think about what the lieutenant did, chief? He's the real deal SEAL, sir.
So you admire him? Lieutenant is a result-oriented person, ma'am.
Is that good or bad? The men are often challenged by his orders, sir.
Well, isn't that his job to test you? To keep you combat-ready? The lieutenant likes to improvise.
Isn't that what SEALs are trained to do, improvise? No, ma'am.
No, you plan your dive and you dive your plan.
A year and a half ago, we lost our explosives man in Angola.
It didn't have to happen.
Six months ago during downed-pilot training in Nevada, three members of our team were injured rappelling into a ravine.
You don't like the lieutenant, do you, chief? The lieutenant and I have never socialized.
Does that answer your question, sir? So how does it feel to be taking orders from an African-American, chief? Anybody thirsty? I'm used to that, sir.
Commander Rabb, Major MacKenzie, my wife, Sandy.
- Hi.
- Hello.
You see, commander, I don't object to Lt.
Rivers because he's black.
I object to him because he gets people killed.
Commander Rabb.
Major MacKenzie.
Jon Barrow, special assistant to the president.
It's good to meet you.
How is the investigation going? Well, we don't have enough information to form an opinion yet, sir.
Well, that's a politician's answer, commander.
Is there a problem? Not that we know of.
We just wanna be thorough.
I support that.
The lieutenant's an African-American.
It's important he be afforded fair treatment.
- As should a man of any colour, sir.
- Agreed.
But keep in mind, in World War II, but none to African-Americans.
Until the current administration.
That's correct.
Fifty years after the fact.
Mr.
Barrow, you are not suggesting we make up for past discrimination by awarding the medal to someone who hasn't earned it, are you? Commander, the president believes that awarding the medal to a minority would promote national healing.
It would help bring us together.
For a good photo op.
GI dressed for GI training GI dressed for GI training Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy Gee, I'm glad I joined the Navy Mind if we join you, lieutenant? Come for the meat loaf? It's my favourite.
I've already told you everything you need about me.
Okay, let's talk about the meat loaf.
I bet it's a hell of a lot better than the MRE's in Desert Storm.
You led the SEAL diversion at Mina Saud, didn't you? They came up in Zodiacs, swam to shore.
Laid C-4 down along the beach.
Man, you must have been close enough to the Iraqis to smell them.
Yeah, one of them almost stepped on my head.
They detonated the plastique.
First, we planted buoys in the water.
As if you were marking the way for landing craft? Right.
When that C-4 went off, the Iraqis thought we were doing an amphibious landing.
And then Stormin' Norman took the troops and the armour right over ground.
It was great.
So it was all a feint? Right.
Just like the three of you pretending to love my sea stories.
Just trying to make conversation, lieutenant.
You got something to ask me, then ask it.
All right.
How do you get along with Chief Wilkins? That's between us.
Do you want this medal, Rivers? It's just a trinket.
You know, General Patton once said he would sell his soul for the Medal of Honour.
General Patton wasn't a SEAL.
We don't do what we do for the ribbons, ma'am.
Men die for their buddies.
Others die for their country.
And some die for no reason at all.
But no one, no one I know, ever died for a medal.
Excuse me.
Let's go, ladies, up and down, up and down.
Come on, hurry up.
Let's go.
Get up.
Get up, get up.
Rolling.
Rolling.
Rolling.
Rolling.
Let's go.
Roll, roll here.
Back in the water.
Back in the water.
Back in the water.
Back in the water.
Let's go.
It would be helpful if you moved once in a while, lieutenant.
What's going on? That's Leonard Kress from World Update Magazine.
The lieutenant is the subject of a photo essay.
Kind of a day-in-the-life diary of a battle hero.
The thing is he's not very animated.
I wouldn't ask him to smile.
We're not even sure those muscles work.
Hurry up.
Hurry up, hurry up.
Out of the water.
Out of the water.
Let's go, let's go.
Hurry up.
Go, go, go.
Hurry up, hurry up.
They got your sister, puke.
They're doing nasty things to her.
You're the only one who can save her.
Save her.
Come on, save her.
No, this crab's got a soft shell.
Throw him back in a pot and we'll have him for dinner.
Skeevers, don't do it.
Simon, get back with your class.
He's no longer a member of this class.
Catch up.
Hurry up.
Put your legs in the air.
Put your legs in the air.
- Hurry up.
- Well, that's not gonna play.
Let's go.
Hurry up.
Come on.
Hurry up, hurry up.
Come on.
What's going on? There were sentries on the roof of the building, and I took a hit in the gut.
Are you gonna be all right? I lost 6 feet of my large intestines, ma'am.
I'm gonna have to wear a bag and eat Cream of Wheat for the rest of my life.
Petty Officer Douglas, we are looking for confirmation of Lt.
Rivers' actions during the rescue.
I'm afraid I can't help you, sir.
Why is that? Because I didn't see the lieutenant's actions, other than he took out a guard and entered the building.
Then I got hit.
And after that, I didn't see anything else.
Next thing I know, Chief Wilkins was bending over me in the boat.
How do you feel about Lt.
Rivers? Lt.
Rivers is the leader of my team, sir.
Do you have an opinion about whether he deserves the Medal of Honour? Well, as far as I'm concerned, there were no heroes that night.
We're looking for details, Petty Officer Hannah.
There are gaps in our understanding of the events.
I'll do what I can, sir.
Did you witness Lt.
Rivers rescue Undersecretary Culbertson? No, sir, I did not.
I thought SEALs were trained to be observant.
Yes, ma'am.
We're also trained to be smart.
Are you saying Lt.
Rivers wasn't smart? I'm saying Lt.
Rivers was stupid.
In what way? What happened that night? Lt.
Rivers was listening to the kidnappers through a parabolic mike.
We're going in for a closer look.
Lieutenant, the Rangers will be here in ten minutes.
The hostage will be dead by then.
We're going in.
Our mission is recon, not rescue, sir.
I changed our mission.
You got a problem with that? That's affirmative.
We are not prepared for rescue.
We're prepared if I say we're prepared.
We've got no plan, no backup.
This is my plan, this is my backup.
Your plans get people killed.
What did you say? With all due respect, sir, changing this mission now is reckless and irrespon Tell that to the man inside who's gonna be executed.
We don't know that for sure.
Are you refusing to obey my order? No, sir.
- Douglas.
- Aye.
You and I are going up to the building to recon.
The others will stay here for cover and backup.
- Move it out.
- Roger.
By attacking the building, Lt.
Rivers revealed our presence.
He also endangered the hostage.
But if he believed Culbertson was about to be killed Culbertson was a valuable hostage.
Why would they suddenly kill him? So the lieutenant acted recklessly? Yes, ma'am.
That's what I've been saying.
- Thank you, petty officer.
- You're welcome, sir.
As you were.
We're trying to reward someone for needlessly endangering his men? It's only one man's testimony, Mac.
Yeah, but it's the only testimony we've got.
- Aye, aye, sir.
- What are you doing? Move it, move it, move it.
Come on.
What is your problem, mister? What is your problem? You make me sick.
You are the sorriest bunch of pukes I have ever had the misfortune to have to train.
Why don't you go join the Coast Guard? Well, not your typical medal-winning personality.
Lt.
Rivers' medal is in serious jeopardy, Bud.
He may not only lose the medal.
He could very well be facing a charge of dereliction of duty.
Ambulance chasing? Social call.
Well, I would venture a guess, lieutenant, that you have never been married.
If the Navy wanted me to have a wife, they would have issued me one with my dog tags and my seabag.
Being the wife of a Navy SEAL is no picnic.
All the separations, they don't know where you are.
Doesn't promote a real close relationship.
I saw what it did to my parents.
I don't want no part of it.
My dad, he loved the Navy.
Never made it above the rank of seaman.
That's him in the middle.
Seaman Edgar Rivers.
Would have made one hell of an officer.
Never made it out of the galley.
Do you know, in the history of the United States Navy, there wasn't a black officer until near the end of World War II? Yeah, the Navy's making up for that.
Yeah, a little too late for my father.
He lived and breathed the Navy.
Until he died.
He died in the brig.
Busted in rank and broken in spirit.
What was the offence? Someone stole some money out of the officer's wardroom.
They blamed my pop.
Court-martialed him.
He hanged himself in his cell.
I'm sorry.
Six months later, a white bosun's mate admitted to the crime after being busted doing the same thing on another ship.
JAG officer prosecuted my father.
Another one defended him.
Neither one of them believed him.
Well, that explains why you feel the way you do about Navy lawyers.
I was just a toddler at the time.
I don't really remember much.
But I did read the letters that he wrote my mom while he was in prison.
No bitterness.
Not one shred of hate in the man.
He must have had a big heart.
He did.
It doesn't run in the family, though.
Strangers in the night Exchanging glances Wondering in the night That is so sweet.
Harriet? What? I can't hear you.
It's Bud Roberts Jr.
Let me call you later when I get to the room.
I miss you.
Me too.
Bye.
- Machine? - Yeah.
Excuse me, could I get another pineapple? - Sure.
- Three in one night.
You surprise me, Bud.
I'm drowning my sorrows, ma'am.
You got it bad, lieutenant.
Permission to speak freely, ma'am? Look at the black kettle calling the pot the same thing.
I am not lovesick, Bud.
You called the commander Dalton.
I did not.
Yes, you did.
Twice.
I can't believe he didn't say anything.
I think he's just afraid of losing you, ma'am.
You're leaving JAG, aren't you, ma'am? No one's offered me anything yet, Bud.
What if they do? Excuse me.
- Where are you going? - I'm going to the thing.
I'd like to dedicate this to the most important woman in my life.
I saw the light on the night That I passed by her window I saw the flickering shadows of love On the blind She was my woman As she deceived me I watched and went out of my mind My, my, my, Delilah Why, why, why, Delilah You know, I would have I would have thought you were a cigar man.
I would be if they didn't taste like goat patties.
I like them.
Goat patties.
Well, if they could roll a bottle of Jack in a tobacco leaf, it would be a different story.
You know, my mother used to say that stars were holes poked in the black curtain of night.
It was God's way of letting us know he was watching us from the other side.
That's kind of nice.
Yeah.
I did most of my killing at night.
I guess it didn't have much influence, huh? Lieutenant, I'm gonna be honest with you.
One of your men has accused you of endangering the team and the hostage the night of the rescue.
He claims you were out of control and acted without discretion.
You must think you've got me drunk enough to answer your questions.
He blames the casualties on your inadequate leadership skills.
I'm giving you an opportunity to defend yourself.
The truth shall not set us free.
If you actually believe that, then I pity you.
Look, it's going to take a lot more than cigars and bourbon and your pity to get anything out of me.
Oh, yeah? What would it take? Do you know the secret to happiness, commander? Not yours, I don't.
Then I can't help you.
I don't know but I've been told I don't know but I've been told Eskimo women are mighty cold Eskimo women are mighty cold Admiral, I can't squeeze it out of him.
Without Lt.
Rivers' account of the events, I have to rely on the testimony of his men.
- Which is damning? - Yes, sir.
And if you had to make a decision now? I'd cancel medal considerations and proceed with an investigation into misconduct in the field.
Look, commander, the SECNAV is getting pressure from the White House.
He's expecting us to give him some relief.
I understand that, sir.
We're feeling it here too.
Well, there's gotta be another way in.
The lieutenant is a hard case, sir.
He has zero support.
With the exception of Undersecretary Culbertson.
The man saved my life, for God's sake.
I'm sorry if his men were put in danger, but correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it a dangerous job? - Damn straight.
- So, what's the problem? There seems to be some concern about Lt.
Rivers' behaviour in the field.
It's extremely rare for a SEAL team to publicly question one of their own, especially their superior.
Are you saying that the lieutenant is not worthy? His men have raised serious questions.
Was the lieutenant in control? Was his attitude acceptable? Was he correct in changing the mission? Yes, I would say, selfishly.
Here.
I understand how you feel, sir, but if the lieutenant is to be awarded this medal, I need more than just your gratitude.
For example? You were the only eyewitness to the rescue.
Can you remember anything else about it? Anything in particular? Any details you may have overlooked.
What do you remember about what went on after the firefight? Well, after the lieutenant brought me out of the building, he hid me behind some rocks, and then, when he came back, he Wait a minute.
Came back from where? I don't know.
I saw this big red flare, and then he reappeared and he carried me out of there.
Did Lt.
Rivers send up a flare after Culbertson's rescue? Yes, sir.
A red pop-up.
Thanks.
Why? That was to notify us of Petty Officer Douglas' position.
Douglas was down? Yes, sir.
So the lieutenant took responsibility for Douglas' safety as well? Oh, with all due respect, ma'am, he would not have needed to be saved if he hadn't been in danger.
You're a difficult man to impress, chief.
Sir, Petty Officer Douglas was wounded badly.
It was not a time for enthusiasm.
For the moment, put aside the fact that Lt.
Rivers changed the mission and consider the events of the rescue.
- Can you do that? - Yes, sir, I can do that.
What is your opinion now of what Lt.
Rivers did? Do you know the first rule of a SEALs team, sir? Enlighten us, chief.
Never leave your man.
What are you saying? Douglas was by himself when we got there.
The lieutenant fired the flare and then left.
With Culbertson on his back.
Yeah, but he abandoned his man, sir.
All right, what if Lt.
Rivers stayed behind to help Douglas, and as a result, the Undersecretary Culbertson was killed? That would be unfortunate.
But that rule exists for the sake of undersecretaries everywhere.
Our bond is what makes SEALs successful.
So Lt.
Rivers seriously violated the SEAL code? How the hell do you? Admiral? I'm here.
We're running out of time.
What do you have? Well, sir, apparently, Rivers left Douglas alone in the process of rescuing Undersecretary Culbertson.
Oh, this is bad news, commander.
Well, he did it to save Culbertson's life, sir.
It doesn't matter, major.
SEALs do what they do because they can rely on each other.
The team is everything.
You never leave your man.
So we've discovered, sir.
So there's no one left to talk to.
We've gotten everyone's story.
Not everyone's.
Your version of the rescue, lieutenant.
No evasions, no games, no crap.
Just straight talk, huh? Man to man.
I say what happened, and you two dedicated lawyers, seekers of the truth, will take my word for it, right? Well, that depends on what you tell us.
- I figured as much.
- Sit down, lieutenant.
We're not done.
So here's what we know so far.
You're an irresponsible leader.
A Rambo who puts his men's lives in danger.
Is there anything else we should know? If there is, you better tell us right now because, frankly, we are tired of asking.
Good.
Then maybe if you get tired enough, you'll just go away.
After what happened to your father, we understand how you feel about lawyers.
You don't know anything about me or what I do.
You don't have the right to understand me.
Oh, I know you, Rivers.
You're a hard-assed mustang with a chip on your shoulder, using your father as an excuse.
I can do anything I want because Seaman Edgar Rivers was persecuted.
Stop it.
Back off, lieutenant.
Do it.
Good thing you got a woman to protect you, commander.
Any time, any place, Rivers.
Are you stepping up to the plate? I can handle anything you got.
I got the last day of hell week.
Why don't you put on greens and join the party? What? So you can push me around? You can handle anything I got.
All right, I'll go.
You tell me your story and I'll be there.
Are you serious? You make it through the day, I'll give you my biography.
Deal.
Commander.
I hope you're ready for this.
Welcome to the last phase of SEAL training, commander.
You've been captured by the enemy.
Your task is a simple one.
All you have to do is survive.
Lawyers.
Is something wrong? That old night blindness thing acting up again? That's what it indicates in your service record, isn't it? Crashed a Tomcat on the carrier deck at night.
It's okay.
Look at me.
What was the name of your RIO, buddy, huh? Was he a nice guy? Was he your friend, huh? He liked you, didn't he? He trusted you, he had to.
He put his life in your hands.
The stupid sucker.
It's clear.
How do you like answering the questions now? What do you think? A lawyer with nothing to say.
You want to take a shot at me, commander? Lieutenant.
What? Take it easy.
You're supposed to test him, not break him.
Anything else? - Yeah.
I'll get the corpsmen.
- You do that.
You know the secret of happiness, lieutenant? You can defeat the pain, Curtis.
It's all in your mind.
Or would you rather cash in your chips and ring the bell? Tell me everything.
- What you've heard is right.
- Stop stonewalling me.
I've got nothing to add.
Make something up.
Get out of here.
No, no, no, let's go.
Come on, come on, come on.
Tell me what happened.
Tell me what you heard.
You needlessly endangered your men.
And you believe that? Three of your team were injured.
Plus the hostage.
Anything else? You broke the SEAL code.
You left your man.
Is it true? I don't have to defend myself to you, to them or to anyone.
The mission I took was to save the Undersecretary of State.
I did that.
Why do your men resent you? Resent me? They hate my guts.
Why? Because I operate instinctively, regardless of their wishes.
They still follow you.
They have to.
I outrank them.
It's not because They respect you.
You went back for Douglas? Yeah.
You lit a flare so the others would come find him.
Did Douglas tell you that? He was unconscious.
Is that what he said? Wasn't he? Whatever.
Why won't you speak on your own behalf, lieutenant? Because all the medals in the world won't make you a better leader.
Commander, what happened to you? It's a long story.
How are you feeling? About the same.
- Depressed? - A little.
- Bitter? - What do you mean, sir? Are you angry? Feel you got a raw deal? Some, I suppose.
Is that why you lied to me? Sir? You weren't unconscious during the rescue, were you? You're a lousy liar, Petty Officer Douglas.
Probably not enough practise.
Try the truth.
The truth? The truth is he gets nominated for a medal.
And I get to be an invalid for the rest of my life because he couldn't wait.
You saw him pull Culbertson out.
You saw him kill the terrorists.
You saw him carry Culbertson to safety, didn't you? Yes, sir, I did.
So what? Did Lt.
Rivers abandon you? He came over there.
I told him to get out of there, get the hostage down to the beach.
He fired a flare to mark my position.
And when he saw our men heading towards us, he left.
A minute later, the guys were there.
So he didn't abandon you? No.
Maybe he deserves the medal, I don't know.
But I wouldn't wanna serve with him again.
I mean, not that I have need to worry about that.
Lt.
Rivers deserves the medal.
You deserve a little relief.
Let go of the anger.
Forgive the man so you can get on with your life.
I won't forgive him.
But I won't lie anymore.
What are you looking for, sir? I'm looking for a second eyewitness.
You got one.
Thank you.
Together on this day, we offer a prayer for peace and a tribute to those who defend it.
Together on this day, we say thank you to those who step forward to safeguard our security and our ideals.
What better way to express our gratitude than by presenting this country's highest military decoration for valour? Mr.
Undersecretary? Mr.
President.
For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, Lt.
Curtis Rivers, United States Navy, an American hero, is hereby awarded the Medal of Honour.
Your nation thanks you and may God bless you.
Thank you, sir.
I would have followed you anywhere.