JAG s01e10 Episode Script

Get on out, recruits! Bail out and wag those tails! I don't care if you were dreaming of prince charming.
It is 0500 and all you've got is me, looking to kick some prissy butt! I want those racks tight and this area squared away.
- Do you understand me? - Ma'am, yes, ma'am! Ready, move! What is the problem with Private Whitley? Sergeant Gonzales.
Are you taking personal time this morning, Private Whitley? Ma'am, no, ma'am! The Private means yes, ma'am! Make up your mind, Private.
Which one is it? Ma'am, which one what, ma'am? Is it, "Yes, ma'am" or "No, ma'am," Private Whitley? What is your answer? Ma'am, could you repeat the question, ma'am? The question is, do you realise that this is Parris Island, not Hilton Head? Private Whitley, you have exactly I can bounce a quarter off it, or I will bounce your head off the side of this bulkhead! Do you understand me, or do I need to translate this into idiot? - Ma'am, no, ma'am! - Move it! Private Johnson! - Is something amusing you? - Ma'am, no, ma'am! Then I suggest you wipe that smile from your pathetic excuse for a face or I will do it for you! - Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
- As you were.
What a surprise.
Sergeant, Shuler's missing.
Does anyone know where Private Shuler is? - Ma'am, no, ma'am.
- Private Johnson, over here.
Ma'am, Private Johnson reporting to the drill instructor as ordered, ma'am.
- Check the head.
- Yes, ma'am.
I will have Private Shuler field-daying that head until it's shining so bright I can see my smiling face.
Ma'am, Private Shuler is not in the head, ma'am.
Carry on.
Does anyone know what the penalty for going AWOL is? - Private Whitley.
- Ma'am, yes, ma'am! Going AWOL is a court-martial offence, ma'am.
Get out of here! When I find Shuler, a court-martial is the last thing she's gonna have to worry about.
Staff Sergeant.
Shuler.
Oh, my God! The State Department is not happy with your handling of the CAG's court-martial.
They don't understand how the defending counsel wound up parachuting into Bosnia.
The Bosnia rescue was an integral part of our defence, sir.
That's what I told them, that occasionally circumstances dictate that we have to act beyond the courtroom.
Well put, sir.
Then State wanted to look at your cases for the last few months and wanted to know if staging jailbreaks in Iraq, flying missions in F-14s, and recovering stolen nuclear weapons qualify as "occasionally.
" Well, they say the Navy is not just a job, it's an adventure.
I told them that if they didn't tell me how to run JAG, I wouldn't tell them how to run State.
Really, sir? I couldn't believe I said it either, Lieutenant.
But still, a routine assignment wouldn't be such a bad idea for you, Commander.
Three days ago, a female recruit halfway through boot camp, was found hanging dead from a rappelling tower.
Accidental death, sir? That's what the Provost Marshal on Parris Island concluded.
Then the recruit's parents received an anonymous letter saying she was murdered.
- Any idea who sent it, sir? - Probably one of the recruits.
The letter also stated that one of their drill instructors was missing that night.
It could be from a disgruntled recruit who wanted to exploit the death, get the Dls to ease off.
There have been reports of female drill instructors pushing too hard.
Meg, complaints from recruits who couldn't hack boot are as old as the Navy itself.
Commander, you leave for Parris Island on Friday.
What about me, sir? You'll be approaching the investigation from a different angle, Lieutenant.
About 20% of women recruits can't cut it.
Shuler knew she'd be dropped if she couldn't pass the rappelling tower so she snuck out to practise on her own in the middle of the night.
Which Dls were on duty that night? One of the drill instructors was on emergency leave, so there were only two.
Senior drill instructor Staff Sergeant Carrington and Sergeant Gonzales.
- How well do you know them? - All this is in my report, Commander.
Your personal impressions aren't, Major.
Staff Sergeant Carrington is married to the Corps.
Has 15 years in.
She's tough, but fair.
Goes by the book.
- Sergeant Gonzales? - She's different, but just as solid.
She had two tours as a DI.
She's applied for the Enlisted Commissioning Programme.
She's smart, dedicated.
She'll probably get selected.
Anything unusual about either of them? Trouble in the past, official counselling, reprimands filed? No, Commander.
Can the Dls corroborate each other's whereabouts that night? They were asleep in the duty hut at the end of the squad bay.
Since when are the Dls suspect in this? I didn't say they were, Major.
I'm going to be blunt, Commander Rabb.
I know your reputation.
You're a heavy hitter.
If JAG sent you down here, then they must believe there's more to this than I concluded in my report.
I can assure you, Major, nothing could be further from the truth.
- Pick them up and put them down! - Pick them up and put them down! - Parris Island's my hometown! - Parris Island's my hometown! - One, two, three, four.
- One, two, three, four.
- I love the Marine Corps! - I love the Marine Corps! - Five, six, seven, eight.
- Five, six, seven, eight.
- Sissies and wimps are what I hate! - Sissies and wimps are what I hate! Move it! If you do not start looking like warriors, I will recycle you to another platoon, and you will restart boot all over again from the beginning! You must satisfy me or you will never leave this island.
And don't get any bright ideas because we have a swamp so deep, it'll take you down quicker than your boyfriend.
If my man's out there, ain't no swamp gonna stop me.
I am your only way out! You are pathetic! You are an embarrassment to the Corps! You're gonna make me puke my breakfast.
I'd pay to see that.
Everybody, hop, mop, stop! - What's so funny, Private Maclntyre? - Ma'am, nothing, ma'am.
- Are you saying that I'm a liar? - Ma'am, no, ma'am.
- That I am hard of hearing? - Ma'am, no, ma'am.
I do not like sickbay commandos, Private Maclntyre! You think because you couldn't finish boot with your first platoon, that now you're going to have a free pass at my expense? Ma'am, no, ma'am.
Do you know what would happen, Private Maclntyre, if I were to beat you within an inch of your life right here? - Ma'am, no, ma'am.
- Nothing! You would be a blip on the radar screen! But I am not gonna do that, Private Maclntyre! What I am going to do is make this entire platoon run an additional two miles! If I can't keep you quiet, they will! - Do you understand me? - Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Double-time.
Hut! Left, right, left.
Left, right, left.
Left, right, left.
Left, right, left.
So Private Shuler practising by herself fell and got her head caught in the ropes.
Simple as that.
You ever seen it happen before? Well, I've seen them let go and freefall.
I've seen them lose their footing, smack into the tower face first.
But never anyone actually hanging themselves.
No.
Commander, I have a staff meeting in 15 minutes.
On rappel! - Major Cline? - Yes, Commander.
Put your hand between these lines.
What's your point? Well, if you have a hard time getting your hand in, how did Private Shuler get her head in? You know, Shuler could have gotten the lines tangled around her neck before she jumped off.
Kind of hard to do accidentally.
What if it wasn't an accident? What if she did it on purpose? Kind of a bizarre way to commit suicide.
Last year we had a recruit who tried to kill himself by running into a brick wall over and over again.
Why didn't you include the possibility of suicide in your report, Major? For her family's sake, Commander.
Besides, I don't think it was a suicide.
Neither do you.
No, sir.
I don't.
I think it was murder.
Lieutenant Commander Rabb, this is Sergeant Gonzales.
At ease, Sergeant.
You were on duty the night Private Shuler died? Yes, sir.
Sergeant Carrington and I were in the duty hut sleeping, sir.
Which is why you didn't hear Private Shuler leave the squad bay.
Yes, sir.
None of the recruits on firewatch that night saw her leave either.
The squad bay's dark at night, sir.
You can't see from one end to the other.
But if Shuler were quiet, she could have slipped out the back hatch? Yes, sir.
Where were you standing when you first saw the body? This way, sir.
Right here, sir.
I alerted Sergeant Carrington.
- What did she do? - Nothing, sir.
She just said, "Shuler.
" But that tower's too far to see who it was.
Well, Shuler was missing, sir.
So we just assumed it was her.
What did you and Sergeant Carrington do after that? We ran out and got her down, sir.
But isn't it proper procedure to call the Provost Marshal first? Well, there was a chance she wasn't dead, sir.
But she was.
- Yes, sir.
- Thank you, Sergeant.
You have something to add, Sergeant? Sir, given the circumstances, I think it was natural for Sergeant Carrington to assume it was Shuler, sir.
I agree.
As you were, Sergeant.
- Obviously you don't.
- No, no, I No, I do.
I'm just wondering why she felt she had to make a point of it.
Keep the line moving, Privates.
I can't believe I hear somebody's voice in this chow hall.
I know nobody's talking.
I owe you for not ratting me out to Carrington.
It's no problem.
- Where are you from? - Virginia.
Falls Church.
I had a cousin from there.
- Do you know Sally Willeby? - No.
- So, where are you from? - Philadelphia.
Half the platoon's from there.
How'd you end up on a medical recycle? Pneumonia.
They put me in the hospital for a month, now I get to finish with you guys.
You sure it isn't bad luck? Carrington and Gonzales can't be that bad.
Carrington is.
Did she have it in for the private I replaced? - You heard about Shuler.
- Yeah.
I heard it was an accident.
You think it was something else? Yo, blondie.
The next time you screw up, you and I are gonna have a little night visit.
- Leave her alone.
- You want some of me? That's what I thought.
- Are you straight? - Are you? Break it up, recruits! - What was that? - Johnson.
She's from South Philly.
In case you couldn't tell.
This is pathetic! I've seen more impressive pieces of human waste floating in my toilet bowl this morning.
Not one of you has shown me you have one-tenth of what it takes to be a Marine.
Move it! Move it! Move it! Keep those butts down! Come on! Move it! Move it! Keep that butt down! Get going, ladies! What are you waiting for? Come on! Let's move it! I don't see them! Let's go! Job well done, Private Johnson.
You are well on your way.
Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
A Marine puts the Corps above herself.
It is "God, Country, Corps!" Now get your selfish ass back into that pit and help out your fellow recruit! Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Move! Let's go! Let's go! Come on, come on! Let's go! Move! Move! You're one sad recruit! Move, move, come on! I'd better not see any recruits fall off these bars! Come on! You will not fall off my Marine Corps bars! Hurry up! Hurry up! Let's move it! Come on, you bunch of sissies! Come on, come on, come on.
Come on, move, move! Let's go! Move it! On your feet, Private! I said on your damn feet! - Ma'am, she's trying, ma'am! - Excuse me, Private? Ma'am, she's dehydrated! She needs water, ma'am! Private Maclntyre, take that canteen away from Private Whitley.
- Pour it out! - Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Whitley, move out! Private Maclntyre, do you think that you know better than me - what's right for my recruits? - Ma'am, no, ma'am.
Do you think that I have somehow stopped paying attention? Ma'am, no, ma'am.
That is fortunate, because a Marine should always be alert.
I will demonstrate why! If I were not paying attention, I might not notice that one of my recruits was out slopping around like a pig! - Isn't that right, Private Maclntyre? - Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
On your face and give me 20! You think you're gonna get your nails done, and get a massage and pick up your stripes.
Well, there is a problem with that plan, Private, and the problem is me! - Do you understand me? - Yes, ma'am.
- I can't hear you! - Ma'am, yes, ma'am! - I still can't hear you! - Ma'am, yes, ma'am! Staff Sergeant Carrington, bring your platoon in.
Aye, aye, sir.
Platoon, fall in on the road.
On your feet, Private! You are following in Private Shuler's footsteps.
So you will pick up where she left off.
Field-daying the head.
Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
At ease, Staff Sergeant.
How would you characterise Private Shuler's performance, - Staff Sergeant Carrington? - Poor to unacceptable, sir.
But you hadn't dropped her yet.
I give the recruits every opportunity to prove they can be Marines.
To me and themselves.
In your opinion, Shuler was not Marine Corps calibre.
No, sir.
Not in my opinion.
And you considered it your job to prove that.
It's my job to weed out the recruits who don't have it and make the rest Marines.
I saw your work on the obstacle course.
You don't go easy on them.
If the Corps accepts less from women, that's what the Corps will get.
Well, what the Corps has now is a recruit on her way back to her parents in a box.
No recruit is allowed or encouraged to work-out on their own.
It was a stupid mistake.
Not one that any other recruit will repeat.
Now you don't sound too broken up about it.
We can't allow ourselves to get emotionally attached to the privates, sir! Or you couldn't break them down? We break them down to build them back up as Marines, sir.
You understand these are necessary questions.
Yes, sir! It must be hard to know exactly how hard to push, what the limit is.
The hardest part of the job, sir.
- Like walking a tightrope.
- Yes, sir.
What does a DI do when, by accident, someone falls off the tight rope? It's unlikely, sir.
There are safeguards in place.
But accidents do happen, don't they, Staff Sergeant? Yes, sir.
So if a recruit were to die under these circumstances, you agree the DI should come forward and make it clear that the death was an accident.
Yes, sir.
Because if she came forward too late, the charge would be murder.
And there would be nothing I could do to help.
- Understood, Staff Sergeant? - Understood, sir.
So tell me, Staff Sergeant, can I help you? Yes, sir.
You can let me get back to my platoon, sir.
Very well, Staff Sergeant.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir.
Twenty minutes of free time left! I thought I gave you orders not to use Yes, sir.
- You killed that sand flea, didn't you? - Yes, sir.
- You murdered it, didn't you? - Yes, sir.
You murdered that poor little old sand flea after I told you to let it eat all it wanted to, didn't you? - Yes, sir.
- And if we'd been in combat yesterday, you would have given away the whole platoon.
And we'd all be dead just because of you, wouldn't we? Yes, sir.
I love this part.
- I'm sorry - Sorry? A dead marine is never sorry, Owens.
A dead marine is just dead.
You people have been training all day and you think Yo, blondie! Oops.
Better go back over this part.
Clean it up.
In your dreams, blondie! Bitch! Knock it off! Private Maclntyre, get down and clean this mess up.
Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Private Johnson, get down and help her! Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Private Maclntyre, you'll get your free time privileges back when you finish! Ma'am, thank you, ma'am.
Private Johnson, you just lost yours for the rest of the week.
Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
You're dead, bitch! Do you think the Dls were especially hard on Private Shuler? No, sir.
First time I saw Shuler, I knew she didn't belong here.
She was dragging the whole platoon down! Anything else you'd like to add, Private? Sir, Shuler said she gave up college to come here.
Bad idea, sir.
Thank you, Private.
That'll be all.
Dismissed.
Aye, aye, sir! Next recruit! Sir, Private Maclntyre reporting as ordered, sir.
Close the hatch behind you, Private.
- I'm fine.
- I can see that.
And according to the rest of the platoon, so are Carrington and Gonzales.
You're an outsider.
They're not gonna tell you anything.
- How about you, the insider? - Carrington really had it in for Shuler.
She spent half her time field-daying the head.
And I found this there last night.
Her family sent it from the local paper.
She must have hidden it under the loose tile.
Why would she do that? Maybe she was afraid Carrington would ride her about it if she found it.
Harm, if Shuler was murdered, that DI's my prime suspect.
This have anything to do with what I saw on the obstacle course this morning? No! Carrington is over the edge.
She's been targeting Shuler, making an example of her.
She wakes Shuler up, gets her out on the rappelling tower to train her.
Shuler does something to make her angry and Carrington snaps.
You don't think it was an accident? You don't get those ropes around someone's neck by accident.
It's possible Carrington was trying to scare Shuler.
- Well, it's gonna be hell to prove.
- That's why I'm on the inside.
- I'm not sure you still need to be.
- I'm making it, Harm.
And don't tell me that's not what you're getting at.
You never had to go through recruit training before.
I went to Officer's Candidate School.
Yeah, you ought to know by now it's not the same thing.
And you're starting in the middle without the conditioning the rest of the platoon has.
Meaning I didn't look like I could handle it out there.
Meaning it would be perfectly understandable if you wanted to pull out now.
Carrington is dangerous and somebody needs to do something about it.
I can do it.
I want to stay in.
It's your funeral.
- School circle! - School circle, aye, aye, ma'am.
This is a pugil stick.
Like your rifle, it can be thrust, backhanded or forehanded into your opponent.
Unlike your rifle, a blow to the head will not kill you.
Matches are one-on-one.
Recruit against recruit.
Do I have a volunteer to go first? Maclntyre.
- Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
- Lf you insist.
Do I have a volunteer to go against her? Ma'am, the Private volunteers, ma'am.
Very good, Private.
Both of you into the pit.
This is hand-to-hand combat against your enemy in battle so there are no rules.
Your enemy wants to kill you.
Your job is to do it first.
For our purposes, a kill will be a headshot.
First clean hit to the head and the match is over.
Go! Let's see what you're made of, Marines.
Come on, Maclntyre.
This is not a dance! Hit her! Not yet.
Johnson's not going for a headshot.
She's just beating her up.
I went through everything in there as soon as the body was discovered.
- Is this footlocker, the way you found it? - That's right.
Well, someone got to it before you.
Now, how do you know that, Commander? Well, there's no lock, Major.
Every recruit on the island has a padlock on their footlocker or anything of value could be stolen.
I've been going over Sergeant Gonzales and Carrington's service record books.
I didn't authorise access to those.
Now, Major, you told me you'd do everything you could to help out.
I assume that meant the Sergeants' SRBs I had asked for.
Is there a problem? No, Commander.
No problem.
I just hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Now, Major, you told me that neither drill instructor had anything unusual in her record.
All Dls get complaints from recruits.
You know that.
- Major, why are you protecting the Dls? - I'm not, Commander.
I don't want to see their careers ruined by a JAG lawyer looking for headlines.
Now have you got any other questions before I get back to work, Commander? Yeah.
Could you get one of your people to get me a complete copy of The Penn Tribune for this date? Yeah.
I'll have it taken care of.
Thanks.
Keep the line moving, Privates.
That JAG officer should have been done by now.
Relax.
He doesn't know anything.
Yeah, well, he knows that one of us was out of here that night.
- How? - A letter from one of the recruits.
It doesn't matter.
There's still no way he can find out.
Let's get them back from chow.
What am I holding? Private Whitley? - Ma'am, a gas mask, ma'am.
- You are a genius, Private.
Correctly used, the gas mask will protect you from the less dangerous gases currently deployed on the battlefield.
But it is absolutely useless against nerve gas and other biological agents.
So why are we not training in full bio-warfare suits? Private Johnson.
Ma'am, because the privates have to learn to crawl before the privates can walk, ma'am.
That's right, Private.
Many of the gases are odourless and colourless.
Therefore you will not know that you are being exposed until you begin to notice some symptoms.
Sergeant, the canisters.
You will don and clear when the Sergeant gives the order to do so and no sooner.
- Am I understood? - Ma'am, yes, ma'am.
Sergeant, the gas.
The Marine Corps hymn.
From the halls of Montezuma To the shores of Tripoli We will fight our country's battles In the air, on land, and sea First to fight for right and freedom And to keep our honour clean We are proud to claim the title Of United States Marines Here's health to you and to our Corps Which we are proud to serve In many a strife we've fought for life And never lost our nerve If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven's scenes They will find the streets are guarded By United States Marines Don and clear! What the hell are you doing, Maclntyre? Corpsman! The doctor said every series, one or two recruits lose their mask in that exercise.
It was pulled off.
Somebody tried to kill me.
- Meg, inhaling teargas won't kill you.
- No, but a chokehold would.
- I'm pulling you out.
- No! Meg, someone tried to kill you.
They must know who you are.
Not necessarily.
I had a run-in with one of the recruits.
Johnson.
She said she was gonna get me.
Do you think she's involved in Shuler's death? No.
I still think it was Carrington.
I overheard her with Gonzales.
They know about the letter.
Major Cline's the only one on the island who knew.
Maybe he's involved with them.
Just a minute! Come in.
Doc says you're fit for duty.
Sergeant Gonzales sent me to escort you back to the platoon.
I was hoping for the night off.
I thought a month in sickbay would have been enough for you.
Yeah.
So did I.
But that was until I met Staff Sergeant Carrington.
Oh, yeah.
She's got it in for you like she did for Shuler.
You don't think her death was an accident, do you? The night Shuler died I saw one of the Dls coming back into the squad bay just before dawn.
- Staff Sergeant Carrington? - I'm not sure.
But which ever one it was, I'll bet she was on the rappelling tower with Shuler.
We'd better move it.
I'll meet you out front.
Okay.
Well, it looks like we found our letter writer.
It's not enough.
You have to let me rejoin the platoon.
All right.
Another 24 hours.
But don't let Carrington and Gonzales get you alone.
- You read me, Lieutenant? - Five by five, sir.
I don't know.
It's getting really complicated.
- Listen.
Relax.
- Well, he's just - Oh, my God.
- Commander Rabb.
This has nothing to do with your investigation.
I find that very hard to believe, Major.
I would, too, in your place.
You've been obstructing my investigation from the beginning.
Withholding files, passing information on to the Dls.
Not because I was trying to cover up the Shuler incident.
Why? Because you're having an affair with an enlisted woman? Not an affair, Commander.
We're married.
Marine Corps policy prohibits fraternisation between officer and enlisted ranks, much less marriage.
It would be the end of our careers.
But what do you do when you've fallen in love and it's not allowed? So that's why you applied for a commission.
It was the only way to stay in the Corps, sir.
I would've made it, too.
Where were you the night Private Shuler was killed? I was here, sir, with Major Cline.
I can vouch for that.
Well right now, Major, your credibility isn't running very high.
I'll do anything.
I'll submit an official statement, I'll take a polygraph.
She was here with me, Commander.
Well, then that leaves Staff Sergeant Carrington with no alibi.
I know Sergeant Carrington, sir.
She didn't do it.
Great.
Major Cline says you didn't do it.
You say Staff Sergeant Carrington didn't do it.
Then who the hell did it? Yeah, that's what I thought.
- Is this for me? - I'm sorry.
It came in this afternoon.
What are you going to do, Commander? - About us? - I don't know, Major.
If you're telling the truth and I find the murderer, maybe Johnson! Johnson? Help! Help! Help me! Help! Johnson, don't struggle, you'll just sink faster! Whitley? Lights on! - What the hell's going on? - Lights on! - Private Maclntyre's rack? - Over here, sir.
Staff Sergeant, where is your firewatch? Maclntyre's not here, sir.
Private Johnson, you were supposed to be on firewatch! Ma'am, the Private was out having a cigarette, ma'am.
Did you see Private Maclntyre leave? Sir, the Private saw someone heading towards the obstacle course, sir! You will be field-daying that head till the year 2000! Maclntyre, you have to help me.
It's It's pulling me in! What did you think you were doing out here? - Getting off this island.
- Why? Maclntyre, help me, please! Why are you trying to get off the island? I heard you talking with the JAG officer in the hospital.
I know you found the clipping about me.
You must have figured it out like Shuler did.
Please help me! Please! - You killed her? - I'm gonna die! Please! Did you kill her? Yes.
Yes, I did.
Please help me.
Please.
Hang on.
Hold on.
Please! Please! - Please help me! Please! - Stretch your arm out.
Come on.
Stretch your arm out.
Come on.
Reach for me! Come on! Reach for me! I'm trying! Come on! You saved my life.
Maclntyre.
Semper Fi.
Do or die.
Whitley! - Whitley! - Grab her! Meg! - Whitley! - Meg! Whitley! Meg! Give me your hand! Give me your hand! Now, pull! Pull! - Whitley killed Shuler.
- I know.
That newspaper article Shuler's parents sent her, on the flip side was a story and enough of a picture that Shuler recognised Whitley was wanted for murder.
Sergeant Gonzales has Whitley secured.
- So it's over? - Not quite.
Staff Sergeant Carrington, I'd like you to meet Lieutenant JG Austin.
Ma'am.
I know it wasn't personal.
- You were just doing your job.
- Yes, ma'am.
That's because I thought Private Maclntyre had a future in the military.
I just didn't realise how right I was, ma'am.
Nice to meet you, Staff Sergeant Carrington.
It's not easy for me to say I was wrong, Commander, but I was wrong.
Even though I don't believe our marriage affected my investigation, - I'll never be sure.
- Neither will I.
So you are gonna turn us in, sir? I'll assume that if you don't receive your commission in a month, Sergeant, you'll report yourself.
Thank you, sir! You have our word on that, Mr Rabb.
Good luck, Sergeant Gonzales.
I'll look forward to seeing your name on the promotions list in the Navy Times.
Yes, ma'am.
Lieutenant.
You want to finish your training with the platoon? No, thanks.
Platoon, halt! Platoon, left! But I would like to say goodbye.
Platoon, attention! And salute! Semper Fi, Marines.
Ready two! Semper Fi, ma'am.