JAG s06e18 Episode Script
Liberty
Yeah, man.
Hey.
Hi.
I bet my friends over there you'd let me buy you a drink.
You win.
So, what's your name? - Colina.
Yours? - Mikey.
Mike.
Do you like to dance, Mikey Mike? Yeah.
Hey.
- He pays, huh? - Hey, hey, hey.
- You don't hit women, okay? - Okay.
Go, go, go.
- Yeah, get him.
- Get him, Mike.
That's it, Mikey, that's it.
Yeah, show him.
Man, you go.
That's enough.
That's it, that's it.
- Shore Patrol! - Run, Mike! - Jay, let's go.
- Hey! - Get - Over this way.
What do you suppose the admiral wants at 1745 on a Friday? I don't know.
But I hope you didn't make any plans.
- He's on the phone with Adm.
Guter.
- Admiral Don Guter? Yes, sir.
SECNAV Special Assistant.
Why is the admiral talking to the secretary's troubleshooter? Well, actually, lieutenant, I think they're old friends.
He's off the phone.
Enter.
Have a seat.
Petty Officer Third Class Michael Roberts was apprehended in Mazatlan in a bar last night for fighting.
I just can't picture my brother in a barroom brawl in Mexico, sir.
Are you sure it's the same Michael Roberts? Unfortunately, I am.
Fighting on liberty usually warrants an administrative action, sir.
Why is JAG involved? Because the man he was fighting with, a Mexican citizen, died earlier this morning.
Where's Mikey now, sir? On the way to the brig in San Diego pending an investigation.
- Permission - Denied, lieutenant.
Look, Bud, I know you wanna go to San Diego and help your brother.
The last time you did that, you ended up in the brig alongside him.
- But sir - As you were, lieutenant.
If there's any way I can be of service Admiral, I'll be happy to look into this.
Colonel, I need you here.
So, commander, it looks like you're going to San Diego.
Yes, sir.
- That'll be all.
- Aye, sir.
Admiral, sir, with your permission, I'd like to have Lt.
Roberts at second chair.
You keep him out of trouble.
Aye, aye, sir.
I never meant to kill anyone, and I'm not even sure how it happened.
Just tell us what you do know.
I was dancing with this girl, Colina, when this guy comes over, starts slapping her around.
So I stepped in.
You know how Dad told us watch out for the sucker punch? Yeah, well, I forgot.
- So, he hit you first? - Yes, sir.
And then he hit me again but I blocked it.
Then I hit him, and he hit me.
Next thing I know, they're pulling me off the guy.
How much did you have to drink that night? Oh, three, four beers.
Watered down beers.
So heat of passion, provocation, no intent to kill.
What were you thinking when you hit him? I wasn't thinking anything really, sir.
Witnesses say they saw you slam him against a pillar and hit him repeatedly.
It was a fight.
I mean, if I'm guilty, I'll take my punishment, only - Only what? - Only he started it, sir.
I mean, I'm sorry he's dead and all, but he started it.
Okay.
Mikey, just calm down.
Bud, I'm trying, but three years in prison? - Who told you three years? - Lt.
Ferrari, the JAG officer on base.
I talked to him.
He hadn't been detailed counsel.
- Negligent homicide? - Subject to Capt.
O'Bryan's approval.
Any offers you have for my client from here on out go through me, is that understood? In fact, don't talk to him at all unless one of us is present.
I've got a stack of files on my desk two feet high, lieutenant.
Any chance for a deal I take.
Look, lieutenant, this is not about your caseload.
- This is about my brother's life.
- You want to go to trial? Up the ante? Involuntary manslaughter.
You're gonna have a hard time proving intent.
With the eyewitnesses I've got, I don't think so, sir.
But it would be time-consuming.
Which is why I prefer to deal.
But as you say, lieutenant, it's your brother's life.
Commander.
What bilge did the Navy pump him out of, sir? Try to focus on the offer, Bud, not the man making it.
You're not considering a plea bargain, sir? - I'm not ruling it out.
- Sir, Mikey's just a kid.
Pleading guilty, his life is over.
Bud, Mikey is an adult and he's looking at a possible 15 years in Leavenworth.
Pleading guilty might be his best chance.
Particularly, if he is guilty.
You consider Sgt.
Dutch a flight risk, lance corporal? Yes, ma'am.
Definitely.
Still I hate to see him confined.
- I take it you're a friend of his? - I like to think so, ma'am.
How much do you know about his UA? Not much, ma'am.
Late one night, he snuck out of the gate and went to town.
Has this happened before? I'm his lawyer, lance corporal.
What you tell me is strictly confidential.
Well, yes, he has gone over the hill before, ma'am, but he's always been back before Friday evening parade.
But not this time? This time, the police brought him back in a paddy waggon.
He'd been gone for three days, ma'am.
During which he allegedly impregnated a civilian female.
Now her family is suing the Marine Corps.
Found himself a willing bitch, I guess, ma'am.
Lance corporal, I don't appreciate that kind of language.
Sorry, ma'am.
It seemed appropriate.
Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie, meet Sergeant Joe Dutch.
You could have told me it was the Sergeant Dutch, sir.
It was in the file.
Didn't you read the file? I glanced at it.
I figured a paternity suit - Wasn't worth your time? - No, involved humans.
- I guess I should never assume, sir.
- Well, Mac, you're a dog owner.
I thought you'd jump at the chance to defend the Marine mascot.
However, you could always pass it on to Lieutenant Singer.
- No, no.
I'll handle it, sir.
- Good.
The colonel's defending a dog? It's not just a dog, Tiner.
The bulldog is a symbol of the Marine Corps.
Sergeant Joe Dutch is a Marine with ID card, service number, rank.
Does he, like, tell other Marines what to do? Get back to work.
Lieutenant Ferrari offered you a deal, commander.
I suggest you take it.
Negligent homicide seems a little harsh, captain.
Does it? - What do you have in mind? - Sir, given the circumstances and Petty Officer Roberts' overwhelming remorse, sir, - non-judicial punishment.
- A man died, commander.
The death was unintentional, sir.
The result of a barroom brawl.
- The victim struck the first blow.
- I don't give a damn, lieutenant.
My men will behave in a civilised manner on liberty if I have to request a court martial for every last one of them starting with Petty Officer Roberts.
Sounds like you're planning to make an example of Roberts, sir.
Six months ago, I paid a thousand dollars to a guy who got hit by a pool cue by one of my chief petty officers.
I'm sick of paying damages to Mexican citizens who get beat up by my crew.
It was only a matter of time before someone died.
Captain, your men are at sea for months at a time doing arduous work, living under strict regulations.
I know how hard my men and women work, commander.
That doesn't excuse improper behaviour.
The days of drinking and fighting on liberty are over.
At least on my watch.
Negligent homicide, gentlemen.
Take it or leave it.
Sir.
Yes? Bud told me I'd find you here, commander.
Yeah.
Well, I figured you'd show up eventually.
My boy's in trouble.
I wanna help.
You're always working a con game, aren't you Roberts? What do you have to offer except bad advice? I've gone across the lines before, commander.
I admit that.
But maybe that's the kind of person you need on your team.
Yeah, well, if I do I'll let you know, okay? How's your brother? Still in a Chechen prison? - Why would that matter to you? - Just It's an awful feeling knowing that someone you care about is looking at a prison sentence and there's nothing you can do about it.
Mikey could never kill anyone.
Not on purpose.
You can take that to the bank.
Your mongrel is a menace to the community, Colonel Mackenzie.
- You should get rid of him.
- Joe's no mongrel, sir.
He's a pureblood English bulldog.
I don't care if he's descended from Mary, Queen of Scots.
He had no business going near Mishka.
- Mishka's your dog, I take it, sir? - No, she's my maid.
Of course she's my dog.
I extended the fence since your sergeant tunnelled in for his little visit.
Czarina Mishkova Katarina Makarovska.
- Mishka.
- She's beautiful.
She's been acting like that since she got pregnant.
- What is she? - Borzoi.
The Russians bred them to hunt wolves.
Good-Iooking dog.
Took best of group at Westminster.
I was gonna breed her.
Do you know how much pedigreed Borzoi pups sell for? Up to a couple thousand each.
Now I have to wait at least six months.
Yes, your Sergeant Dutch is costing me a lot of money.
- How can you be sure it was him? - I caught him.
Flagrante delicto.
It's a sight I'll never forget.
Way to go, Joe.
You did the right thing in that bar.
You acted like a man.
Great.
I'll tell Commander Rabb to go with the "acted like a man" defence.
Hey, don't wise off to me.
I'm trying to help you.
How about you, Dad.
Did you ever kill a man? No.
Hey, look, he started it, right? You think he'd care if he killed you? I don't know.
But I know how I feel and I broke the watch you gave me.
It must have happened when the fight started.
Forget the watch.
Commander, Bud.
- I was just leaving.
- Oh, no.
Wait.
Sir, can he stay? There's an official offer on the table.
Negligent homicide.
- What does he get? - Dishonourable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, three years confinement.
- Three years? - Or we can go to trial.
They'll charge you with voluntary manslaughter.
If you lose, you're looking at a possible 15 years.
He can't do three, let alone 15.
What are my chances if we go to trial, sir? I can't make any promises.
I understand Ferrari is a very good lawyer.
- Are you afraid of him, commander? - I'm afraid of his case.
Mikey? I'll do whatever you and Bud advise, sir.
Mikey, did you want him to die? I mean, even for a second.
When he slapped the girl, while you were fighting, when he hit you, - did you wanna kill him? - No, sir.
Not even for one second.
Let's go to trial.
I need background information on the victim.
A list of sailors who were there.
I wanna establish that the victim struck the first blow.
- Aye, sir.
- They're gonna try to establish that Mikey's aggressive, he solves his problems with violence.
We have Mikey's clean record, and per Captain O'Bryan, the high incidence of sailors getting involved in fights in Mazatlan.
Get me a copy of the Shore Patrol's log and the coroner's report.
Aye, sir.
Oh, man.
- Hello? - Gunny, did I wake you? No, sir.
I was up.
- I need information.
- Go ahead, sir.
A list of Mexican citizens in Mazatlan who collected damages from the U.
S.
Navy over the past five years.
Who are they? What happened? - The specifics.
- Mazatlan? Aye aye, sir.
The first flight I can get.
Ms.
Ojeda, can you describe the defendant's demeanour - when he approached you? - Demeanour? He was drunk, rude.
He tried to pick me up.
- And did you wanna be picked up? - No, I was waiting for my boyfriend.
Your boyfriend being the victim, Efren Minas? - Yes.
- Please tell us what happened.
He insisted on a dance.
So I agreed, one dance, hoping he would go away.
Then Efren came.
Naturally, he got jealous and wanted us to stop dancing, but he don't want us to stop.
So he beat Efren up.
- Thank you, Ms.
Ojeda.
- That's not how it happened, sir.
Ms.
Ojeda, was your boyfriend jealous of all your customers? - Objection.
- Are you a prostitute? - Your Honour.
- Approach.
- Do I have to rein you in, commander? - Your Honour, we have police reports and sworn affidavits from three crew members stating that they paid Ms.
Ojeda for sex.
Neither her profession nor sexual activity were brought up - and it's completely irrelevant.
- You Honour, it goes to credibility.
The witness is claiming she was waiting for her boyfriend, when the defendant made unwanted advances.
It's inflammatory, prejudicial, and it's untrue.
- Ask the question, commander.
- Thank you, sir.
Are you a prostitute, Ms.
Ojeda? And I remind you, you are under oath.
I have been.
Yes.
So men approach you all the time.
In fact, it's encouraged, isn't it? That doesn't mean I say yes to everyone.
I have rights like everyone else.
I was not working that night.
When Efren Minas arrived, he hit you, didn't he? - He slapped me, yes.
- And he would have struck you again if the defendant hadn't stopped him, wouldn't he? Still, he didn't deserve to be beaten to death.
- She's lying, sir.
- I know she's lying.
- Why didn't you go after her, sir? - We've established she's a hooker.
Members will have to draw their own conclusions about her.
But if we get rough with her, it'll look like we're bullies trying to beat up on a helpless woman.
And a pretty one at that.
- Commander Rabb.
- Commander.
Gunny.
What do you got? Sir, I've located a couple guys who collected money from the Navy.
- Did you talk to them? - I talked to one.
His name is Hector Valdez.
He's a fisherman.
What about the other one? He's up in San Diego.
His name's Ramirez.
Santos Ramirez.
R-A-M-l-R-E-Z.
Mr.
Ramirez, were you in The Iguana on the night of the homicide? Objection.
- The night of the fight? - Yes.
Please tell the court what you saw? The man went up to Colina at the bar.
He bought her a drink, they talked a little, and then they danced.
- What happened next, Mr.
Ramirez? - Efren came.
He saw that sailor with his woman.
They exchanged words and then that sailor punched him in the face.
Meaning the accused punched the victim? Yes.
And then the other sailors jumped in and there was a fight.
- What happened next? - Efren was against the How do you say, a pillar? - And then that sailor kept hitting him.
I tried to get to them but there was too many people.
I couldn't get through.
The Shore Patrol came and they took the sailors away.
Where was the victim? I found him outside where he collapsed and he died.
Thank you, Mr.
Ramirez.
Your witness.
Mr.
Ramirez, did you collect $5,000 from the United States Navy two years ago? - Yes.
- Why? - Because two sailors beat me up.
- Was that proven in court? No.
The Navy thought my bruises and my broken nose was proof enough.
So it would stand to reason you have a grudge against sailors.
Do you? I have a grudge against sailors who attack Mexicans, yes.
In fact, I'm here to see one of them punished.
- Move to strike.
Non-responsive.
- You asked, lieutenant.
Move on.
Do you know the deceased's mother, Mrs.
Maria Minas? Yes, I know her.
She's right there.
Are you aware she filed a half-a-million-dollar wrongful-death claim against the Navy? Yes, but I did not know the amount.
- Are you helping her with this claim? - I recommended a lawyer.
Petty Officer Roberts conviction would guarantee Mrs.
Minas collects, - won't it? - There are no guarantees, señor.
No indeed, there are not.
Do you expect to share in this award? Only the satisfaction of seeing this unfortunate woman compensated for the death of her only son.
Ferrari coaches his witnesses well.
Witnesses? I could go to Mazatlan and find a dozen witnesses to swear Mikey wasn't even there at all.
- I remember one time in Saigon - Dad, this is not the time - for one of your sea stories.
- Commander Rabb.
There's someone I'd like you to meet.
This is Mrs.
Minas.
- She said - I got the gist of it, lieutenant.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm saving her for the sentencing phase.
You really are a piece of work, Ferrari.
I'm a piece of work? Master Chief Bud Roberts, Big Bud.
Court martialed two years ago for illegal disposition of Navy property.
- He was acquitted.
- That's right.
And you defended him.
It's handy having a lawyer in this family, huh, master chief? That will be enough, lieutenant.
If I'm not mistaken, you prosecuted that case, commander.
A top-notch litigator like yourself, sir, yet somehow - you failed to get a conviction.
- Which leads you to believe what? Nothing, sir.
Just making an observation.
Like father, like son.
Wonder how your kids will turn out, lieutenant.
Lieutenant He just gave us our defence.
Master Chief Roberts, how long were you in the Navy? - Thirty years, sir.
- And do you remember how many port visits you made during this time? - Oh, over a hundred.
- Over a hundred.
You ever get in a fight? I've been in my share of scraps.
Of course, the other guy always struck the first blow, sir.
But you're not the type to shy away from one are you? I'm not saying we had fights all the time.
On the other hand, I couldn't trust a squid who's never mixed it up in a bar once or twice.
The Navy has changed a lot since then, wouldn't you say? Yes, sir.
In my day, kids joined up to see the world, have fun, adventure.
We'd go in a bar, people stepped aside.
Now, half the time, sailors don't even wear uniforms in port for fear of being targeted.
I remember one time in Subic Bay there was this big, jealous Filipino that came after me Your Honour, while I'm certain the master chief's stories are entertaining, - what is the point? - The point is nobody raised a stink when somebody had a little fun on liberty.
Thank you.
Your witness.
- No questions.
- You may step down, sir.
Your Honour, the defence calls Petty Officer Michael Roberts to the stand.
Do you affirm the evidence you give shall be the truth, the whole truth - and nothing but the truth? - I do.
Have a seat.
State your name and duty station.
Fire Controlman Third class Michael Roberts, USS Wake Island.
Petty Officer, did your father share any of these wildly entertaining stories that occurred during his liberty? Yes, sir.
More than once.
In fact, you were raised on sea stories about exotic ports of call, fast women, drunken brawling? Yes, sir.
But the fast women were before my dad met my mom.
Objection.
Relevance.
Your Honour, I can establish relevance if I'm allowed a little leeway here.
- You got me curious.
Proceed.
- Thank you, sir.
So you were taught from a very early age that carousing and brawling on liberty was a part of Navy life.
Well, Dad used to say, "Trouble ashore, tight ship afloat.
" Shared experiences on liberty form a bond among shipmates.
Yes, sir.
In any of these fighting stories that your father told you, did anybody die? - No, sir.
- No.
So when you got in a fight with Efren Minas in a bar in Mazatlan, - did you expect him to die? - No, sir.
No.
Did you want him to die? No, sir.
I never wanted to kill anybody in my life.
What was your intent? To protect the girl and not embarrass myself or my ship, sir.
Thank you.
Your Honour.
Looks like you've got a sea story of your own now, Petty Officer Roberts.
And like all sea stories, it changes with the telling.
- Objection.
- Ask a question, lieutenant.
So there you are, thinking you're gonna get lucky when the boyfriend shows up.
It's like getting between a dog and his bone.
- Make you mad? - Made me mad when he hit her, sir.
Even madder when he hit you, I bet.
- Did your dad ever hit you? - Objection.
Relevance.
Counsel opened the door by introducing lessons learned from Dad.
- I'm going a bit further, Your Honour.
- Objection overruled.
Answer the question, Petty Officer Roberts.
- He hit me sometimes, sir.
- Did he ever hit your mom? - I don't remember.
- Let me jog your memory.
In 1984, base security at Mayport Naval Station received a domestic disturbance call from your home.
Your mother claimed she bruised her face walking into a closet shelf.
Now, think hard.
Did your dad ever hit your mom? Yes, sir.
Sometimes.
- Did you ever wanna stop your dad? - Of course, sir.
- Did you ever wanna hit him? - I guess.
Did you ever want to kill him? - Your Honour? - Answer the question, son.
- I don't know, sir.
- You don't know? I'd know if I wanted to kill someone and I think so did you.
Objection.
Asked and answered.
I don't think so.
He wanted to kill his father like he wanted to kill Efren Minas when he hit the girl.
Lieutenant, objection sustained.
The Members will disregard counsel's comments.
Isn't it true, Petty Officer Roberts, that Efren Minas wasn't fighting back anymore? No, sir.
He was still hitting me, sir.
So you slammed him against that pillar again and again.
You wanted to kill him, didn't you? He'd never touch you or your mom ever again.
- Your Honour.
- He deserved to die? - Lieutenant.
That's enough.
- I'm done, Your Honour.
I think we know the sort of legacy Master Chief Roberts left his sons.
He's a renegade, colonel.
Constantly violates rules and regulations.
- No respect for his superiors.
- Colonel, he's a dog.
His father was a dog, too.
But that was one squared-away Marine.
- Right, Lance Corporal? - Very squared away, sir.
Master Sergeant Joe Dutch Senior.
Awarded the Good Conduct Medal twice, promoted rapidly, never had to be counselled for breach of conduct or loss of military bearing.
He did chew Slim Jims in formation, sir.
He never bit General Mullen's beagle.
The beagle tried to mount Sergeant Dutch.
He did what any Marine would do.
I understand Sergeant Dutch is popular with the local children.
Whom he visits regularly.
His unauthorized liberties are unacceptable.
Now this paternity suit.
I have no choice but to consider administrative discharge.
Begging the colonel's pardon, the sergeant is entitled to a hearing.
- Isn't he, ma'am? - As any Marine would be.
All right.
I wanna be fair.
- I assume you'll be representing him? - If he'll have me.
Lefty, right, left.
Was he provoked? Yes.
Did he repeatedly strike the victim, banging his head against the pillar? Yes.
Did he intend to kill? Now we come to it.
The defendant testified, under oath, that he never wanted to kill anyone in his life.
Yet, only seconds later, he claimed not to know whether he wanted to kill his own father? I submit when Efren Minas hit the woman and then the defendant, the defendant was overcome with blind rage.
In a fury, he struck again and again, fulfilling a long-held desire to punish the man who abused him and his mother.
It's now your unwelcome task to make sure Petty Officer Roberts is punished for his misdeed.
Thank you.
Trial counsel's distorted Oedipal theory is total nonsense.
There is no conclusive evidence that Petty Officer Roberts intended to kill Efren Minas.
Mikey Roberts was brought up to believe that he wasn't a true sailor unless he lived up to his father's riotous sea stories.
Carousing is a part of Navy life.
Fighting is the right of passage into manhood.
And nobody dies.
Petty Officer Roberts didn't go into the bar that night looking for a fight.
But when he was provoked, he fought back.
Who among you would not do the same thing? Which man here would not step in when a woman was being attacked? His death is nothing more than a tragic accident.
You can't punish a man for that.
You're the hearing officer? Yes, to effect the most expeditious disposal of the case.
Yes.
- I move you recuse yourself.
- On what grounds? - Because you've made up your mind.
- Motion denied.
I'm all you've got.
So stop whining and start convincing.
Since the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, when German soldiers labelled U.
S.
Marines "devil dogs," the English bulldog has been the Marine mascot I'm aware of the history, colonel.
Can you bring us more up to date? Well, admittedly, Sergeant Dutch is not an ideal Marine.
He has weight problems, often disobeys orders, - avoids PT - So far we're in agreement.
Yet these very flaws could make him an inspiration.
Inspiration? Excuse me, but that creature's a threat to every female canine in the community.
- Who are you, sir? - I'm the victim's owner.
- Was she in heat? - Yes.
Then sit down, sir, before I rule it was entrapment.
You were saying, colonel? If we can turn Sergeant Dutch around, he'd be an example to every Marine.
And how do you propose we accomplish - this miraculous transformation? - Boot camp.
Petty Officer Roberts, would you and your counsel rise, please? Cpt.
Costain, please announce the findings.
Petty Officer Third Class Michael Roberts, this court martial finds you on the charge and specification of voluntary manslaughter, guilty.
Sentencing will begin Monday at 0900.
This court martial is adjourned.
We'll appeal.
- I'm not a murderer.
- I know that, Mikey.
How could they think I wanted to kill that guy? Mikey, look, we still have the sentencing phase, all right? We'll get character witnesses, we'll plead mitigating circumstances Bud, it's 15 years.
Mikey, you are not going to prison for 15 years.
It's time, lieutenant.
Come here.
Bud, my personal stuff, they brought it from the Wake Island.
If you could hold that for me? For however long.
Sure, Mikey.
Bye, Bud.
Hey, Mikey.
- What happened to your watch? - It broke at the start of the fight.
Is this accurate? Bud, I'm a fire control technician.
It's accurate to the second.
It has to be.
Twenty-two forty.
Yeah, Mikey said it got broken at the start of the fight.
Shore Patrol log says the call came in at 2235.
Somebody called Shore Patrol five minutes before the fight began.
Bud, call the gunny.
Tell him were on our way down.
Already done, sir.
And I took the liberty of booking our flights.
The guy on the left is Hector Valdez.
Six months ago, a chief petty officer broke his ribs in a fight over a pool game.
The Navy paid him a thousand dollars.
Captain O'Bryan mentioned him.
Yeah, well, I spoke to the chief who hit him.
He said he didn't hit him that hard and didn't hit him in the ribs.
Hector did have broken ribs, sir.
A Navy Corpsman verified it.
Would you like company? Sure.
Have a seat.
- Hi.
I'm Bud.
- Adelita.
Would you like something to drink? Whisky sour.
- Bartender.
Whisky sour.
- Coming right up.
Who broke your ribs, Hector? I already told the Navy.
I fought with a sailor.
- The sailor hit you in the chin.
- No.
- He hit me on my chest.
- You're lying.
You cheated the Navy out of a thousand dollars.
Whoa, hey.
Hey, maybe we should go to the police.
You're gonna have to give the money back.
- I don't have the money.
- Then you're going to jail.
I did nothing wrong.
Do you know what a lie detector is, Hector? Who broke your ribs, Hector? A man asked me if I wanted to earn a thousand pesos.
And all I have to do is start a fight.
So I fight with the sailor.
And after they brought me out here and they hit me and broke my ribs.
A thousand pesos? He gave you a hundred dollars? He kept $900 for himself.
Who is the man, Hector? Who planned the fight? If I tell you his name, I'm as good as dead.
Would you like to go somewhere private to drink, Butt? My room is close by.
It's It's Bud.
And, actually, I was kind of looking for someone else.
Does Colina still come here? Colina? What did you want with her? I'm much better.
Ask around.
I'm sure that you are.
I'm just I was told to ask for Colina.
You ask for Colina, you ask for trouble.
- Is there something wrong with her? - Not her.
Her boyfriend.
I used to go with him, so believe me, I know.
Well, her boyfriend's dead.
For a dead man, he looks pretty healthy to me.
- Santos.
- He set up the fight.
Then he beat up Efren afterwards.
Only he went too far and Efren died.
Then pinned it on Mikey.
- We need to talk to Santos, sir.
- First Colina.
The base seems pretty empty without him, doesn't it? Yes, ma'am.
We all miss him.
I'm sure he'll come back from retraining a poster Marine.
Thanks for speaking up for him.
If anyone could convince the XO, it was you.
Nice of you to keep his quarters ship-shape.
I'm getting ready for the next occupant.
Sergeant Dutch is coming back, isn't he? Oh, yes, ma'am.
And when he does, there'll be a Mrs.
Dutch waiting.
That'll keep old Joe down on the farm.
And make Mr.
Ravenswood happy.
I was there looking over the litter.
Some of the guys with families are taking pups.
They're cute.
- There's one left, colonel, a male - No, thanks, lance corporal.
I've got all the cute males I can handle.
All right, who's buying? Gentlemen, Commander Rabb.
I'm with the JAG Corps.
If you'll excuse me a moment, I'd like to talk to the young lady.
Nice to see you again, Ms.
Ojeda.
Hey, your boyfriend Santos killed Efren Minas.
The fight was a setup.
Your sailor killed Efren.
Your own court said so.
Yeah.
Well, you and I both know that that is not true.
If you believe that, arrest Santos.
- What do you want from me? - You were part of the setup.
I want you to tell me exactly everything that happened.
Already, I told what happened.
Well, you know that Santos did the killing.
So how long before he realises that you are a liability, huh? - You're crazy.
- Am I? - Who is Miguel watching, me or you? - Miguel has no reason to watch me.
Well, you know Santos better than anybody.
Does he really trust you? Is he going to trust you after Miguel tells him you were talking to me? You should have left when you had the chance.
Enjoying yourself, Rabb? Mr.
Roberts, what are you doing here? Same thing you are, helping Mikey.
It looks like you're helping yourself.
Hi, sweetheart.
Do you remember me? - Let's take a walk outside.
- Hey, no, Let's not.
Why don't you take a walk and I'll sit here and entertain the lady.
Bartender.
A couple more drinks here for me and the lady.
- Come on.
- Hey, don't you grab me, commander.
Don't you ever grab me or disrespect me again.
You don't have the right.
Think about what I said.
Think about it like your life depended on it.
Think about this, Rabb.
Pocketful of pay and ready to spend it.
When did you guys get into port? About two or three hours ago.
Should of seen the other guy.
- How'd it go in there? - Your father showed up.
- Drunk? - Oh, yeah.
Come on, honey.
Hey, I just wanna talk to you, that's all.
Hey, what's your hurry? Come on.
Hey.
Hey, what is this, Mardi Gras already? - No.
- Wait a minute.
Wait.
Wait.
Dad.
Dad? Oh, God, Dad.
No, please.
- I lost him.
- Speak to me, Dad.
I called an ambulance.
It's on the way.
How is he? He's not breathing, sir.
- Can you protect me? - Take your chances with Santos.
Please.
You were right.
Santos killed Efren.
It was no accident.
After the fight, Efren met Santos and Miguel outside.
They started to hit him.
Then Santos picked up a brick.
I tried to stop him, but I couldn't.
Santos! Santos knew he could persuade Senora Minas to share the award with him.
It would be our one last big score.
Then we were going away.
Get her out of here, Bud.
- But, sir - Look, I'll take care of your dad.
Go.
The ambulance will be here soon.
- Go.
Quick.
- Come on.
Is he okay? Oh, yeah.
Nice job.
Thank you, sir.
Jeez, you look better with the mask on.
You were right, master chief.
- You were an asset to the operation.
- Thank you, sir.
We'll make a con man out of you yet.
I'm pleased to report that Sergeant Dutch is making excellent progress and will be returned to active duty in two weeks.
And the paternity suit? The sergeant's progeny have all been adopted by Marine families, and the Corps will reimburse Mr.
Ravenswood for his expenses.
- Nice job, colonel.
- Thank you, sir.
- Admiral Guter, nice to meet you.
- Same here.
Keep up the good work.
- Thank you, sir.
Aye, sir.
- That'll be all.
She defended a dog? And won.
And I thought troubleshooting for SECNAV was interesting.
Don, anytime you want this job A.
J.
, you couldn't pay me enough to be the Judge Advocate General.
Mikey, although Admiral Bennett has set aside your conviction, he says you're gonna spend the next 10 liberties chipping paint.
That suits me just fine, sir.
The Mexicans may want you to come and testify at Santos' trial.
I'm looking forward to it, sir.
I'm just glad I didn't kill anybody.
And Bud Can you tell Dad I'm sorry about what I said on the stand? You should probably do that yourself.
I love you, brother.
- Take care, Mikey.
- Yes, sir.
Oh, by the way, what ever happened with that girl? The Navy and the Mexican authorities worked out an arrangement.
She's in a witness security programme.
Any chance I could visit her, sir? Okay, I guess not.
Sir.
Stay out of trouble, Mikey.
Like father, like son, huh?
Hey.
Hi.
I bet my friends over there you'd let me buy you a drink.
You win.
So, what's your name? - Colina.
Yours? - Mikey.
Mike.
Do you like to dance, Mikey Mike? Yeah.
Hey.
- He pays, huh? - Hey, hey, hey.
- You don't hit women, okay? - Okay.
Go, go, go.
- Yeah, get him.
- Get him, Mike.
That's it, Mikey, that's it.
Yeah, show him.
Man, you go.
That's enough.
That's it, that's it.
- Shore Patrol! - Run, Mike! - Jay, let's go.
- Hey! - Get - Over this way.
What do you suppose the admiral wants at 1745 on a Friday? I don't know.
But I hope you didn't make any plans.
- He's on the phone with Adm.
Guter.
- Admiral Don Guter? Yes, sir.
SECNAV Special Assistant.
Why is the admiral talking to the secretary's troubleshooter? Well, actually, lieutenant, I think they're old friends.
He's off the phone.
Enter.
Have a seat.
Petty Officer Third Class Michael Roberts was apprehended in Mazatlan in a bar last night for fighting.
I just can't picture my brother in a barroom brawl in Mexico, sir.
Are you sure it's the same Michael Roberts? Unfortunately, I am.
Fighting on liberty usually warrants an administrative action, sir.
Why is JAG involved? Because the man he was fighting with, a Mexican citizen, died earlier this morning.
Where's Mikey now, sir? On the way to the brig in San Diego pending an investigation.
- Permission - Denied, lieutenant.
Look, Bud, I know you wanna go to San Diego and help your brother.
The last time you did that, you ended up in the brig alongside him.
- But sir - As you were, lieutenant.
If there's any way I can be of service Admiral, I'll be happy to look into this.
Colonel, I need you here.
So, commander, it looks like you're going to San Diego.
Yes, sir.
- That'll be all.
- Aye, sir.
Admiral, sir, with your permission, I'd like to have Lt.
Roberts at second chair.
You keep him out of trouble.
Aye, aye, sir.
I never meant to kill anyone, and I'm not even sure how it happened.
Just tell us what you do know.
I was dancing with this girl, Colina, when this guy comes over, starts slapping her around.
So I stepped in.
You know how Dad told us watch out for the sucker punch? Yeah, well, I forgot.
- So, he hit you first? - Yes, sir.
And then he hit me again but I blocked it.
Then I hit him, and he hit me.
Next thing I know, they're pulling me off the guy.
How much did you have to drink that night? Oh, three, four beers.
Watered down beers.
So heat of passion, provocation, no intent to kill.
What were you thinking when you hit him? I wasn't thinking anything really, sir.
Witnesses say they saw you slam him against a pillar and hit him repeatedly.
It was a fight.
I mean, if I'm guilty, I'll take my punishment, only - Only what? - Only he started it, sir.
I mean, I'm sorry he's dead and all, but he started it.
Okay.
Mikey, just calm down.
Bud, I'm trying, but three years in prison? - Who told you three years? - Lt.
Ferrari, the JAG officer on base.
I talked to him.
He hadn't been detailed counsel.
- Negligent homicide? - Subject to Capt.
O'Bryan's approval.
Any offers you have for my client from here on out go through me, is that understood? In fact, don't talk to him at all unless one of us is present.
I've got a stack of files on my desk two feet high, lieutenant.
Any chance for a deal I take.
Look, lieutenant, this is not about your caseload.
- This is about my brother's life.
- You want to go to trial? Up the ante? Involuntary manslaughter.
You're gonna have a hard time proving intent.
With the eyewitnesses I've got, I don't think so, sir.
But it would be time-consuming.
Which is why I prefer to deal.
But as you say, lieutenant, it's your brother's life.
Commander.
What bilge did the Navy pump him out of, sir? Try to focus on the offer, Bud, not the man making it.
You're not considering a plea bargain, sir? - I'm not ruling it out.
- Sir, Mikey's just a kid.
Pleading guilty, his life is over.
Bud, Mikey is an adult and he's looking at a possible 15 years in Leavenworth.
Pleading guilty might be his best chance.
Particularly, if he is guilty.
You consider Sgt.
Dutch a flight risk, lance corporal? Yes, ma'am.
Definitely.
Still I hate to see him confined.
- I take it you're a friend of his? - I like to think so, ma'am.
How much do you know about his UA? Not much, ma'am.
Late one night, he snuck out of the gate and went to town.
Has this happened before? I'm his lawyer, lance corporal.
What you tell me is strictly confidential.
Well, yes, he has gone over the hill before, ma'am, but he's always been back before Friday evening parade.
But not this time? This time, the police brought him back in a paddy waggon.
He'd been gone for three days, ma'am.
During which he allegedly impregnated a civilian female.
Now her family is suing the Marine Corps.
Found himself a willing bitch, I guess, ma'am.
Lance corporal, I don't appreciate that kind of language.
Sorry, ma'am.
It seemed appropriate.
Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie, meet Sergeant Joe Dutch.
You could have told me it was the Sergeant Dutch, sir.
It was in the file.
Didn't you read the file? I glanced at it.
I figured a paternity suit - Wasn't worth your time? - No, involved humans.
- I guess I should never assume, sir.
- Well, Mac, you're a dog owner.
I thought you'd jump at the chance to defend the Marine mascot.
However, you could always pass it on to Lieutenant Singer.
- No, no.
I'll handle it, sir.
- Good.
The colonel's defending a dog? It's not just a dog, Tiner.
The bulldog is a symbol of the Marine Corps.
Sergeant Joe Dutch is a Marine with ID card, service number, rank.
Does he, like, tell other Marines what to do? Get back to work.
Lieutenant Ferrari offered you a deal, commander.
I suggest you take it.
Negligent homicide seems a little harsh, captain.
Does it? - What do you have in mind? - Sir, given the circumstances and Petty Officer Roberts' overwhelming remorse, sir, - non-judicial punishment.
- A man died, commander.
The death was unintentional, sir.
The result of a barroom brawl.
- The victim struck the first blow.
- I don't give a damn, lieutenant.
My men will behave in a civilised manner on liberty if I have to request a court martial for every last one of them starting with Petty Officer Roberts.
Sounds like you're planning to make an example of Roberts, sir.
Six months ago, I paid a thousand dollars to a guy who got hit by a pool cue by one of my chief petty officers.
I'm sick of paying damages to Mexican citizens who get beat up by my crew.
It was only a matter of time before someone died.
Captain, your men are at sea for months at a time doing arduous work, living under strict regulations.
I know how hard my men and women work, commander.
That doesn't excuse improper behaviour.
The days of drinking and fighting on liberty are over.
At least on my watch.
Negligent homicide, gentlemen.
Take it or leave it.
Sir.
Yes? Bud told me I'd find you here, commander.
Yeah.
Well, I figured you'd show up eventually.
My boy's in trouble.
I wanna help.
You're always working a con game, aren't you Roberts? What do you have to offer except bad advice? I've gone across the lines before, commander.
I admit that.
But maybe that's the kind of person you need on your team.
Yeah, well, if I do I'll let you know, okay? How's your brother? Still in a Chechen prison? - Why would that matter to you? - Just It's an awful feeling knowing that someone you care about is looking at a prison sentence and there's nothing you can do about it.
Mikey could never kill anyone.
Not on purpose.
You can take that to the bank.
Your mongrel is a menace to the community, Colonel Mackenzie.
- You should get rid of him.
- Joe's no mongrel, sir.
He's a pureblood English bulldog.
I don't care if he's descended from Mary, Queen of Scots.
He had no business going near Mishka.
- Mishka's your dog, I take it, sir? - No, she's my maid.
Of course she's my dog.
I extended the fence since your sergeant tunnelled in for his little visit.
Czarina Mishkova Katarina Makarovska.
- Mishka.
- She's beautiful.
She's been acting like that since she got pregnant.
- What is she? - Borzoi.
The Russians bred them to hunt wolves.
Good-Iooking dog.
Took best of group at Westminster.
I was gonna breed her.
Do you know how much pedigreed Borzoi pups sell for? Up to a couple thousand each.
Now I have to wait at least six months.
Yes, your Sergeant Dutch is costing me a lot of money.
- How can you be sure it was him? - I caught him.
Flagrante delicto.
It's a sight I'll never forget.
Way to go, Joe.
You did the right thing in that bar.
You acted like a man.
Great.
I'll tell Commander Rabb to go with the "acted like a man" defence.
Hey, don't wise off to me.
I'm trying to help you.
How about you, Dad.
Did you ever kill a man? No.
Hey, look, he started it, right? You think he'd care if he killed you? I don't know.
But I know how I feel and I broke the watch you gave me.
It must have happened when the fight started.
Forget the watch.
Commander, Bud.
- I was just leaving.
- Oh, no.
Wait.
Sir, can he stay? There's an official offer on the table.
Negligent homicide.
- What does he get? - Dishonourable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, three years confinement.
- Three years? - Or we can go to trial.
They'll charge you with voluntary manslaughter.
If you lose, you're looking at a possible 15 years.
He can't do three, let alone 15.
What are my chances if we go to trial, sir? I can't make any promises.
I understand Ferrari is a very good lawyer.
- Are you afraid of him, commander? - I'm afraid of his case.
Mikey? I'll do whatever you and Bud advise, sir.
Mikey, did you want him to die? I mean, even for a second.
When he slapped the girl, while you were fighting, when he hit you, - did you wanna kill him? - No, sir.
Not even for one second.
Let's go to trial.
I need background information on the victim.
A list of sailors who were there.
I wanna establish that the victim struck the first blow.
- Aye, sir.
- They're gonna try to establish that Mikey's aggressive, he solves his problems with violence.
We have Mikey's clean record, and per Captain O'Bryan, the high incidence of sailors getting involved in fights in Mazatlan.
Get me a copy of the Shore Patrol's log and the coroner's report.
Aye, sir.
Oh, man.
- Hello? - Gunny, did I wake you? No, sir.
I was up.
- I need information.
- Go ahead, sir.
A list of Mexican citizens in Mazatlan who collected damages from the U.
S.
Navy over the past five years.
Who are they? What happened? - The specifics.
- Mazatlan? Aye aye, sir.
The first flight I can get.
Ms.
Ojeda, can you describe the defendant's demeanour - when he approached you? - Demeanour? He was drunk, rude.
He tried to pick me up.
- And did you wanna be picked up? - No, I was waiting for my boyfriend.
Your boyfriend being the victim, Efren Minas? - Yes.
- Please tell us what happened.
He insisted on a dance.
So I agreed, one dance, hoping he would go away.
Then Efren came.
Naturally, he got jealous and wanted us to stop dancing, but he don't want us to stop.
So he beat Efren up.
- Thank you, Ms.
Ojeda.
- That's not how it happened, sir.
Ms.
Ojeda, was your boyfriend jealous of all your customers? - Objection.
- Are you a prostitute? - Your Honour.
- Approach.
- Do I have to rein you in, commander? - Your Honour, we have police reports and sworn affidavits from three crew members stating that they paid Ms.
Ojeda for sex.
Neither her profession nor sexual activity were brought up - and it's completely irrelevant.
- You Honour, it goes to credibility.
The witness is claiming she was waiting for her boyfriend, when the defendant made unwanted advances.
It's inflammatory, prejudicial, and it's untrue.
- Ask the question, commander.
- Thank you, sir.
Are you a prostitute, Ms.
Ojeda? And I remind you, you are under oath.
I have been.
Yes.
So men approach you all the time.
In fact, it's encouraged, isn't it? That doesn't mean I say yes to everyone.
I have rights like everyone else.
I was not working that night.
When Efren Minas arrived, he hit you, didn't he? - He slapped me, yes.
- And he would have struck you again if the defendant hadn't stopped him, wouldn't he? Still, he didn't deserve to be beaten to death.
- She's lying, sir.
- I know she's lying.
- Why didn't you go after her, sir? - We've established she's a hooker.
Members will have to draw their own conclusions about her.
But if we get rough with her, it'll look like we're bullies trying to beat up on a helpless woman.
And a pretty one at that.
- Commander Rabb.
- Commander.
Gunny.
What do you got? Sir, I've located a couple guys who collected money from the Navy.
- Did you talk to them? - I talked to one.
His name is Hector Valdez.
He's a fisherman.
What about the other one? He's up in San Diego.
His name's Ramirez.
Santos Ramirez.
R-A-M-l-R-E-Z.
Mr.
Ramirez, were you in The Iguana on the night of the homicide? Objection.
- The night of the fight? - Yes.
Please tell the court what you saw? The man went up to Colina at the bar.
He bought her a drink, they talked a little, and then they danced.
- What happened next, Mr.
Ramirez? - Efren came.
He saw that sailor with his woman.
They exchanged words and then that sailor punched him in the face.
Meaning the accused punched the victim? Yes.
And then the other sailors jumped in and there was a fight.
- What happened next? - Efren was against the How do you say, a pillar? - And then that sailor kept hitting him.
I tried to get to them but there was too many people.
I couldn't get through.
The Shore Patrol came and they took the sailors away.
Where was the victim? I found him outside where he collapsed and he died.
Thank you, Mr.
Ramirez.
Your witness.
Mr.
Ramirez, did you collect $5,000 from the United States Navy two years ago? - Yes.
- Why? - Because two sailors beat me up.
- Was that proven in court? No.
The Navy thought my bruises and my broken nose was proof enough.
So it would stand to reason you have a grudge against sailors.
Do you? I have a grudge against sailors who attack Mexicans, yes.
In fact, I'm here to see one of them punished.
- Move to strike.
Non-responsive.
- You asked, lieutenant.
Move on.
Do you know the deceased's mother, Mrs.
Maria Minas? Yes, I know her.
She's right there.
Are you aware she filed a half-a-million-dollar wrongful-death claim against the Navy? Yes, but I did not know the amount.
- Are you helping her with this claim? - I recommended a lawyer.
Petty Officer Roberts conviction would guarantee Mrs.
Minas collects, - won't it? - There are no guarantees, señor.
No indeed, there are not.
Do you expect to share in this award? Only the satisfaction of seeing this unfortunate woman compensated for the death of her only son.
Ferrari coaches his witnesses well.
Witnesses? I could go to Mazatlan and find a dozen witnesses to swear Mikey wasn't even there at all.
- I remember one time in Saigon - Dad, this is not the time - for one of your sea stories.
- Commander Rabb.
There's someone I'd like you to meet.
This is Mrs.
Minas.
- She said - I got the gist of it, lieutenant.
I'm sorry for your loss.
I'm saving her for the sentencing phase.
You really are a piece of work, Ferrari.
I'm a piece of work? Master Chief Bud Roberts, Big Bud.
Court martialed two years ago for illegal disposition of Navy property.
- He was acquitted.
- That's right.
And you defended him.
It's handy having a lawyer in this family, huh, master chief? That will be enough, lieutenant.
If I'm not mistaken, you prosecuted that case, commander.
A top-notch litigator like yourself, sir, yet somehow - you failed to get a conviction.
- Which leads you to believe what? Nothing, sir.
Just making an observation.
Like father, like son.
Wonder how your kids will turn out, lieutenant.
Lieutenant He just gave us our defence.
Master Chief Roberts, how long were you in the Navy? - Thirty years, sir.
- And do you remember how many port visits you made during this time? - Oh, over a hundred.
- Over a hundred.
You ever get in a fight? I've been in my share of scraps.
Of course, the other guy always struck the first blow, sir.
But you're not the type to shy away from one are you? I'm not saying we had fights all the time.
On the other hand, I couldn't trust a squid who's never mixed it up in a bar once or twice.
The Navy has changed a lot since then, wouldn't you say? Yes, sir.
In my day, kids joined up to see the world, have fun, adventure.
We'd go in a bar, people stepped aside.
Now, half the time, sailors don't even wear uniforms in port for fear of being targeted.
I remember one time in Subic Bay there was this big, jealous Filipino that came after me Your Honour, while I'm certain the master chief's stories are entertaining, - what is the point? - The point is nobody raised a stink when somebody had a little fun on liberty.
Thank you.
Your witness.
- No questions.
- You may step down, sir.
Your Honour, the defence calls Petty Officer Michael Roberts to the stand.
Do you affirm the evidence you give shall be the truth, the whole truth - and nothing but the truth? - I do.
Have a seat.
State your name and duty station.
Fire Controlman Third class Michael Roberts, USS Wake Island.
Petty Officer, did your father share any of these wildly entertaining stories that occurred during his liberty? Yes, sir.
More than once.
In fact, you were raised on sea stories about exotic ports of call, fast women, drunken brawling? Yes, sir.
But the fast women were before my dad met my mom.
Objection.
Relevance.
Your Honour, I can establish relevance if I'm allowed a little leeway here.
- You got me curious.
Proceed.
- Thank you, sir.
So you were taught from a very early age that carousing and brawling on liberty was a part of Navy life.
Well, Dad used to say, "Trouble ashore, tight ship afloat.
" Shared experiences on liberty form a bond among shipmates.
Yes, sir.
In any of these fighting stories that your father told you, did anybody die? - No, sir.
- No.
So when you got in a fight with Efren Minas in a bar in Mazatlan, - did you expect him to die? - No, sir.
No.
Did you want him to die? No, sir.
I never wanted to kill anybody in my life.
What was your intent? To protect the girl and not embarrass myself or my ship, sir.
Thank you.
Your Honour.
Looks like you've got a sea story of your own now, Petty Officer Roberts.
And like all sea stories, it changes with the telling.
- Objection.
- Ask a question, lieutenant.
So there you are, thinking you're gonna get lucky when the boyfriend shows up.
It's like getting between a dog and his bone.
- Make you mad? - Made me mad when he hit her, sir.
Even madder when he hit you, I bet.
- Did your dad ever hit you? - Objection.
Relevance.
Counsel opened the door by introducing lessons learned from Dad.
- I'm going a bit further, Your Honour.
- Objection overruled.
Answer the question, Petty Officer Roberts.
- He hit me sometimes, sir.
- Did he ever hit your mom? - I don't remember.
- Let me jog your memory.
In 1984, base security at Mayport Naval Station received a domestic disturbance call from your home.
Your mother claimed she bruised her face walking into a closet shelf.
Now, think hard.
Did your dad ever hit your mom? Yes, sir.
Sometimes.
- Did you ever wanna stop your dad? - Of course, sir.
- Did you ever wanna hit him? - I guess.
Did you ever want to kill him? - Your Honour? - Answer the question, son.
- I don't know, sir.
- You don't know? I'd know if I wanted to kill someone and I think so did you.
Objection.
Asked and answered.
I don't think so.
He wanted to kill his father like he wanted to kill Efren Minas when he hit the girl.
Lieutenant, objection sustained.
The Members will disregard counsel's comments.
Isn't it true, Petty Officer Roberts, that Efren Minas wasn't fighting back anymore? No, sir.
He was still hitting me, sir.
So you slammed him against that pillar again and again.
You wanted to kill him, didn't you? He'd never touch you or your mom ever again.
- Your Honour.
- He deserved to die? - Lieutenant.
That's enough.
- I'm done, Your Honour.
I think we know the sort of legacy Master Chief Roberts left his sons.
He's a renegade, colonel.
Constantly violates rules and regulations.
- No respect for his superiors.
- Colonel, he's a dog.
His father was a dog, too.
But that was one squared-away Marine.
- Right, Lance Corporal? - Very squared away, sir.
Master Sergeant Joe Dutch Senior.
Awarded the Good Conduct Medal twice, promoted rapidly, never had to be counselled for breach of conduct or loss of military bearing.
He did chew Slim Jims in formation, sir.
He never bit General Mullen's beagle.
The beagle tried to mount Sergeant Dutch.
He did what any Marine would do.
I understand Sergeant Dutch is popular with the local children.
Whom he visits regularly.
His unauthorized liberties are unacceptable.
Now this paternity suit.
I have no choice but to consider administrative discharge.
Begging the colonel's pardon, the sergeant is entitled to a hearing.
- Isn't he, ma'am? - As any Marine would be.
All right.
I wanna be fair.
- I assume you'll be representing him? - If he'll have me.
Lefty, right, left.
Was he provoked? Yes.
Did he repeatedly strike the victim, banging his head against the pillar? Yes.
Did he intend to kill? Now we come to it.
The defendant testified, under oath, that he never wanted to kill anyone in his life.
Yet, only seconds later, he claimed not to know whether he wanted to kill his own father? I submit when Efren Minas hit the woman and then the defendant, the defendant was overcome with blind rage.
In a fury, he struck again and again, fulfilling a long-held desire to punish the man who abused him and his mother.
It's now your unwelcome task to make sure Petty Officer Roberts is punished for his misdeed.
Thank you.
Trial counsel's distorted Oedipal theory is total nonsense.
There is no conclusive evidence that Petty Officer Roberts intended to kill Efren Minas.
Mikey Roberts was brought up to believe that he wasn't a true sailor unless he lived up to his father's riotous sea stories.
Carousing is a part of Navy life.
Fighting is the right of passage into manhood.
And nobody dies.
Petty Officer Roberts didn't go into the bar that night looking for a fight.
But when he was provoked, he fought back.
Who among you would not do the same thing? Which man here would not step in when a woman was being attacked? His death is nothing more than a tragic accident.
You can't punish a man for that.
You're the hearing officer? Yes, to effect the most expeditious disposal of the case.
Yes.
- I move you recuse yourself.
- On what grounds? - Because you've made up your mind.
- Motion denied.
I'm all you've got.
So stop whining and start convincing.
Since the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918, when German soldiers labelled U.
S.
Marines "devil dogs," the English bulldog has been the Marine mascot I'm aware of the history, colonel.
Can you bring us more up to date? Well, admittedly, Sergeant Dutch is not an ideal Marine.
He has weight problems, often disobeys orders, - avoids PT - So far we're in agreement.
Yet these very flaws could make him an inspiration.
Inspiration? Excuse me, but that creature's a threat to every female canine in the community.
- Who are you, sir? - I'm the victim's owner.
- Was she in heat? - Yes.
Then sit down, sir, before I rule it was entrapment.
You were saying, colonel? If we can turn Sergeant Dutch around, he'd be an example to every Marine.
And how do you propose we accomplish - this miraculous transformation? - Boot camp.
Petty Officer Roberts, would you and your counsel rise, please? Cpt.
Costain, please announce the findings.
Petty Officer Third Class Michael Roberts, this court martial finds you on the charge and specification of voluntary manslaughter, guilty.
Sentencing will begin Monday at 0900.
This court martial is adjourned.
We'll appeal.
- I'm not a murderer.
- I know that, Mikey.
How could they think I wanted to kill that guy? Mikey, look, we still have the sentencing phase, all right? We'll get character witnesses, we'll plead mitigating circumstances Bud, it's 15 years.
Mikey, you are not going to prison for 15 years.
It's time, lieutenant.
Come here.
Bud, my personal stuff, they brought it from the Wake Island.
If you could hold that for me? For however long.
Sure, Mikey.
Bye, Bud.
Hey, Mikey.
- What happened to your watch? - It broke at the start of the fight.
Is this accurate? Bud, I'm a fire control technician.
It's accurate to the second.
It has to be.
Twenty-two forty.
Yeah, Mikey said it got broken at the start of the fight.
Shore Patrol log says the call came in at 2235.
Somebody called Shore Patrol five minutes before the fight began.
Bud, call the gunny.
Tell him were on our way down.
Already done, sir.
And I took the liberty of booking our flights.
The guy on the left is Hector Valdez.
Six months ago, a chief petty officer broke his ribs in a fight over a pool game.
The Navy paid him a thousand dollars.
Captain O'Bryan mentioned him.
Yeah, well, I spoke to the chief who hit him.
He said he didn't hit him that hard and didn't hit him in the ribs.
Hector did have broken ribs, sir.
A Navy Corpsman verified it.
Would you like company? Sure.
Have a seat.
- Hi.
I'm Bud.
- Adelita.
Would you like something to drink? Whisky sour.
- Bartender.
Whisky sour.
- Coming right up.
Who broke your ribs, Hector? I already told the Navy.
I fought with a sailor.
- The sailor hit you in the chin.
- No.
- He hit me on my chest.
- You're lying.
You cheated the Navy out of a thousand dollars.
Whoa, hey.
Hey, maybe we should go to the police.
You're gonna have to give the money back.
- I don't have the money.
- Then you're going to jail.
I did nothing wrong.
Do you know what a lie detector is, Hector? Who broke your ribs, Hector? A man asked me if I wanted to earn a thousand pesos.
And all I have to do is start a fight.
So I fight with the sailor.
And after they brought me out here and they hit me and broke my ribs.
A thousand pesos? He gave you a hundred dollars? He kept $900 for himself.
Who is the man, Hector? Who planned the fight? If I tell you his name, I'm as good as dead.
Would you like to go somewhere private to drink, Butt? My room is close by.
It's It's Bud.
And, actually, I was kind of looking for someone else.
Does Colina still come here? Colina? What did you want with her? I'm much better.
Ask around.
I'm sure that you are.
I'm just I was told to ask for Colina.
You ask for Colina, you ask for trouble.
- Is there something wrong with her? - Not her.
Her boyfriend.
I used to go with him, so believe me, I know.
Well, her boyfriend's dead.
For a dead man, he looks pretty healthy to me.
- Santos.
- He set up the fight.
Then he beat up Efren afterwards.
Only he went too far and Efren died.
Then pinned it on Mikey.
- We need to talk to Santos, sir.
- First Colina.
The base seems pretty empty without him, doesn't it? Yes, ma'am.
We all miss him.
I'm sure he'll come back from retraining a poster Marine.
Thanks for speaking up for him.
If anyone could convince the XO, it was you.
Nice of you to keep his quarters ship-shape.
I'm getting ready for the next occupant.
Sergeant Dutch is coming back, isn't he? Oh, yes, ma'am.
And when he does, there'll be a Mrs.
Dutch waiting.
That'll keep old Joe down on the farm.
And make Mr.
Ravenswood happy.
I was there looking over the litter.
Some of the guys with families are taking pups.
They're cute.
- There's one left, colonel, a male - No, thanks, lance corporal.
I've got all the cute males I can handle.
All right, who's buying? Gentlemen, Commander Rabb.
I'm with the JAG Corps.
If you'll excuse me a moment, I'd like to talk to the young lady.
Nice to see you again, Ms.
Ojeda.
Hey, your boyfriend Santos killed Efren Minas.
The fight was a setup.
Your sailor killed Efren.
Your own court said so.
Yeah.
Well, you and I both know that that is not true.
If you believe that, arrest Santos.
- What do you want from me? - You were part of the setup.
I want you to tell me exactly everything that happened.
Already, I told what happened.
Well, you know that Santos did the killing.
So how long before he realises that you are a liability, huh? - You're crazy.
- Am I? - Who is Miguel watching, me or you? - Miguel has no reason to watch me.
Well, you know Santos better than anybody.
Does he really trust you? Is he going to trust you after Miguel tells him you were talking to me? You should have left when you had the chance.
Enjoying yourself, Rabb? Mr.
Roberts, what are you doing here? Same thing you are, helping Mikey.
It looks like you're helping yourself.
Hi, sweetheart.
Do you remember me? - Let's take a walk outside.
- Hey, no, Let's not.
Why don't you take a walk and I'll sit here and entertain the lady.
Bartender.
A couple more drinks here for me and the lady.
- Come on.
- Hey, don't you grab me, commander.
Don't you ever grab me or disrespect me again.
You don't have the right.
Think about what I said.
Think about it like your life depended on it.
Think about this, Rabb.
Pocketful of pay and ready to spend it.
When did you guys get into port? About two or three hours ago.
Should of seen the other guy.
- How'd it go in there? - Your father showed up.
- Drunk? - Oh, yeah.
Come on, honey.
Hey, I just wanna talk to you, that's all.
Hey, what's your hurry? Come on.
Hey.
Hey, what is this, Mardi Gras already? - No.
- Wait a minute.
Wait.
Wait.
Dad.
Dad? Oh, God, Dad.
No, please.
- I lost him.
- Speak to me, Dad.
I called an ambulance.
It's on the way.
How is he? He's not breathing, sir.
- Can you protect me? - Take your chances with Santos.
Please.
You were right.
Santos killed Efren.
It was no accident.
After the fight, Efren met Santos and Miguel outside.
They started to hit him.
Then Santos picked up a brick.
I tried to stop him, but I couldn't.
Santos! Santos knew he could persuade Senora Minas to share the award with him.
It would be our one last big score.
Then we were going away.
Get her out of here, Bud.
- But, sir - Look, I'll take care of your dad.
Go.
The ambulance will be here soon.
- Go.
Quick.
- Come on.
Is he okay? Oh, yeah.
Nice job.
Thank you, sir.
Jeez, you look better with the mask on.
You were right, master chief.
- You were an asset to the operation.
- Thank you, sir.
We'll make a con man out of you yet.
I'm pleased to report that Sergeant Dutch is making excellent progress and will be returned to active duty in two weeks.
And the paternity suit? The sergeant's progeny have all been adopted by Marine families, and the Corps will reimburse Mr.
Ravenswood for his expenses.
- Nice job, colonel.
- Thank you, sir.
- Admiral Guter, nice to meet you.
- Same here.
Keep up the good work.
- Thank you, sir.
Aye, sir.
- That'll be all.
She defended a dog? And won.
And I thought troubleshooting for SECNAV was interesting.
Don, anytime you want this job A.
J.
, you couldn't pay me enough to be the Judge Advocate General.
Mikey, although Admiral Bennett has set aside your conviction, he says you're gonna spend the next 10 liberties chipping paint.
That suits me just fine, sir.
The Mexicans may want you to come and testify at Santos' trial.
I'm looking forward to it, sir.
I'm just glad I didn't kill anybody.
And Bud Can you tell Dad I'm sorry about what I said on the stand? You should probably do that yourself.
I love you, brother.
- Take care, Mikey.
- Yes, sir.
Oh, by the way, what ever happened with that girl? The Navy and the Mexican authorities worked out an arrangement.
She's in a witness security programme.
Any chance I could visit her, sir? Okay, I guess not.
Sir.
Stay out of trouble, Mikey.
Like father, like son, huh?